Sinclair Reports $0.37 or 61% Increase in Diluted Earnings Per Share in Second Quarter 2012; Increases Quarterly Dividend Per Share 25% to $0.15

Sinclair Reports $0.37 or 61% Increase in Diluted Earnings Per Share in Second Quarter 2012; Increases Quarterly Dividend Per Share 25% to $0.15

BALTIMORE, Aug. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI), the "Company" or "Sinclair," today reported financial results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2012.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100119/PH39783LOGO )

"Second quarter results were excellent, as political advertising spending in the quarter was almost triple our expectations," commented David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair. "Despite the markets' concern about the global economy, our core revenues on a same station basis grew 4.6%."

"We continue to position the Company for long term growth as we take advantage of what we believe to be under-valued assets relative to historic public equity multiples. In the second quarter, we closed on the acquisition of the Freedom Communications television stations and recently announced the acquisition of six of the Newport Television stations. To date, we have announced approximately $1 billion in total assets acquired or to be acquired projected to represent almost $150 million of incremental blended cash flow. In addition, we were able to renew our FOX affiliation agreements seven months early, thereby removing any uncertainty regarding our on-going relationship with the network and securing our affiliation in our flagship market."



Mr. Smith continued, "As a result of the accretive acquisitions, the Board of Directors has decided to return a portion of that incremental cash flow to our shareholders in the form of a 25% increase to the quarterly dividend rate, bringing the dividend per share to $0.15 for the quarter."

Financial Results:

Net broadcast revenues from continuing operations were $220.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 38.1% versus the prior year period result of $159.4 million. The Company had operating income of $72.0 million in the three-month period, as compared to operating income of $58.2 million in the prior year period. Net income attributable to the Company was $30.1 million in the three-month period, versus net income of $18.6 million in the prior year period.

The Company reported diluted earnings per common share of $0.37 for the three-month period ended June 30, 2012, versus diluted earnings per common share of $0.23 in the prior year period.

Net broadcast revenues from continuing operations were $412.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, an increase of 30.7% versus the prior year period result of $315.3 million. The Company had operating income of $131.9 million in the six-month period, as compared to operating income of $109.7 million in the prior year period. Net income attributable to the Company was $59.4 million in the six-month period, versus net income of $33.9 million in the prior year period.

The Company reported diluted earnings per common share of $0.73 in the six-month period ended June 30, 2012, versus diluted earnings per common share of $0.42 in the prior year period.



Operating Statistics and Income Statement Highlights:


-- Political revenues were $11.4 million in the second quarter 2012, versus
$1.2 million in second quarter 2011.


-- Local net broadcast revenues, which include local time sales,
retransmission revenues, and other broadcast revenues, were up 32.1% in
the second quarter 2012, while national net broadcast revenues, which
include national time sales and other national broadcast revenues, were
up 58.2% versus the second quarter 2011. Excluding political revenues,
local net broadcast revenues were up 31.0% and national net broadcast
revenues were up 34.9% in the second quarter 2012. On a same station
basis, excluding political revenues, local net broadcast revenues were
up 4.5% and national net broadcast revenues were up 4.7%.


-- Advertising categories, on a same station basis, that reported the
largest spending increases in the second quarter 2012, as compared to
the same period last year, were automotive, services, and direct
response, while fast food, schools, and telecommunications were down the
most. Automotive, our largest category, was up 16.8% in the second
quarter 2012 on a same station basis.


-- In May, the 20 FOX stations that we own, operate or provide sales
services to extended their affiliation agreements with the FOX Broadcast
Network through December 2017. In addition to the continuation of
program license fees, FOX granted us an assignable option to acquire
their station, WUTB-TV, in Baltimore, MD. Conversely, the Company
granted FOX an option to acquire our television stations in up to three
of four markets (Raleigh, NC; Cincinnati, OH; Norfolk, VA; and Las
Vegas, NV). The Company's and FOX's options are exercisable from July
1, 2012 through March 30, 2013 at already agreed upon fair values. The
agreement calls for up to $52.7 million in cash payments to be made to
FOX, of which the Company paid $25.0 million in June 2012. Should FOX
exercise their option, the amount owed by the Company decreases by $25.0
million.


-- In July, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to
buy the assets of six television stations owned by Newport Television
and acquire Newport's rights under local marketing agreements to operate
two additional television stations. The purchase price is $412.5
million. A deposit of $41.25 million was placed into escrow in July
2012. The transaction is expected to close no earlier than December
2012, subject to closing conditions.


-- In July, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to
purchase the assets of Bay Television, Inc., which owns WTTA-TV in
Tampa, FL. The Company has operated WTTA pursuant to a local marketing
agreement since January, 1999. The purchase price is $40.0 million and
the transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter 2012, subject
to closing conditions.
-- In June, the Company sold its equity interest in Rowan University
student housing and bookstore for $10.1 million, representing an
approximate 18.3% annualized return.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights:


-- Debt on the balance sheet, net of $31.1 million in cash and cash
equivalents, was $1,697.3 million at June 30, 2012 versus net debt of
$1,340.4 million at March 31, 2012.


-- On June 15, 2012, the Company paid a $0.12 per share quarterly cash
dividend to its shareholders.


-- As of June 30, 2012, 52.3 million Class A common shares and 28.9 million
Class B common shares were outstanding, for a total of 81.2 million
common shares outstanding.


-- In June 2012, the Company made a $25 million cash payment to FOX
pursuant to the agreement.


-- In July 2012, the Company made a $41.25 million deposit on the purchase
of the Newport television stations.


-- Capital expenditures in the second quarter 2012 were $11.7 million.
-- Program contract payments for continuing operations were $18.5 million
in the second quarter 2012.
Notes:

Presentation of financial information for the prior year has been reclassified to conform to the presentation of generally accepted accounting principles for the current year.

The management fees associated with the Freedom Communications local marketing agreement ("LMAs"), which was terminated April 1, 2012 upon acquisition, are recorded in other net broadcast revenues.

Forward-Looking Statements:

The matters discussed in this news release, particularly those in the section labeled "Outlook," include forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, future operating results. When used in this news release, the words "outlook," "intends to," "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "achieves," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results in the future could differ materially and adversely from those described in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including and in addition to the assumptions identified in this release, but not limited to, the impact of changes in national and regional economies, the volatility in the U.S. and global economies and financial credit markets which impact our ability to forecast, our ability to integrate acquired businesses and maximize operating synergies, our ability to obtain necessary governmental approvals to acquire the stations from Newport Television and Bay TV, successful execution of outsourcing agreements, pricing and demand fluctuations in local and national advertising, volatility in programming costs, the market's acceptance of new programming and performance of, the CW Television Network and MyNetworkTV programming, our news share strategy, our local sales initiatives, the execution of retransmission consent agreements, our ability to identify and consummate investments in attractive non-television assets and to achieve anticipated returns on those investments once consummated, and any other risk factors set forth in the Company's most recent reports on Form 10-Q, Form 10-K and Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurances that the assumptions and other factors referred to in this release will occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements except as required by law.



Outlook:

In accordance with Regulation FD, Sinclair is providing public dissemination through this news release of its expectations for certain components of its third quarter 2012 and full year 2012 financial performance. The Company assumes no obligation to update its expectations. All matters discussed in the "Outlook" section are forward-looking and, as such, readers should not place any undue reliance on this information and should refer to the "Forward-Looking Statements" section above.

All line items in this "Outlook" section include full-year expectations for the stations acquired from Four Points Media, nine-month expectations for the stations acquired from Freedom, an October 1, 2012 closing on the Tampa station, and a January 1, 2013 closing on the Newport Television stations.

"With second quarter results coming in better than expected, those same drivers are adding even more momentum as we enter the back half of the year," commented David Amy, EVP and CFO. "Automotive ad spending on a same station basis, which was up 16.8% in the second quarter, is expected to grow low to mid-teen percents in the third quarter as compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, political ad spending is at unprecedented levels. Including the Four Points and Freedom stations, political is expected to be up 61% to 85% year to date through September 30, 2012 as compared to the same period in the 2008 Presidential election."


-- The Company expects third quarter 2012 station net broadcast revenues
from continuing operations, before barter, to be approximately $223.1
million to $228.1 million, up 46.9% to 50.2% as compared to third
quarter 2011 net broadcast revenues of $151.9 million. This assumes
approximately $18.5 million to $23.5 million in political revenues in
the third quarter 2012 as compared to $2.4 million in third quarter
2011. The 2012 third quarter net broadcast revenue estimates assume
$48.8 million related to the acquisitions. Excluding the acquisitions,
same station net broadcast revenues are estimated to be up 14.8% to
18.1%, and up 8.0% excluding political.


-- The Company expects barter revenue to be approximately $17.2 million in
the third quarter 2012.


-- The Company expects barter expense to be approximately $17.2 million in
the third quarter 2012.


-- The Company expects continuing operations station production expenses
and station selling, general and administrative expenses (together,
"television expenses"), before barter expense, to be approximately
$106.0 million in the third quarter and $417.6 million for 2012, as
compared to the 2011 actuals of $72.8 million and $302.6 million for the
third quarter and year, respectively. The 2012 estimates assume $24.5
million and $91.5 million related to the acquisitions for the quarter
and year, respectively. As previously disclosed, also included in the
2012 full year estimate is $5.3 million of corporate expense allocated
to all of our television stations. The 2012 expense forecast includes
$1.4 million of stock-based compensation expense for the year, as
compared to $1.3 million for 2011. Excluding the acquisitions,
corporate expense allocation and stock based compensation, same station
TV operating expenses are expected to be up 10.1% and 8.8% in the third
quarter and full year 2012, respectively.


-- The Company expects program contract amortization expense to be
approximately $16.6 million in the third quarter and $65.5 million for
2012, as compared to the 2011 actuals of $12.8 million and $52.1 million
for the quarter and year, respectively. The 2012 estimates assume $2.1
million and $7.6 million for the quarter and year respectively, related
to the acquisitions.


-- The Company expects program contract payments to be approximately $17.1
million in the third quarter and $70.0 million for 2012, as compared to
the 2011 actuals of $15.8 million and $67.3 million for the quarter and
year, respectively. The 2012 estimates assume $2.3 million and $8.1
million for the quarter and year respectively, related to the
acquisitions.


-- The Company expects corporate overhead to be approximately $8.1 million
in the third quarter and $32.7 million for 2012, as compared to the 2011
actuals of $5.8 million and $28.3 million for the quarter and year,
respectively. This assumes $5.3 million of corporate overhead being
allocated to television station expenses for full year 2012, and
includes $3.9 million of stock-based compensation expense for 2012 as
compared to $3.5 million for 2011.


-- The Company expects other operating division revenues less other
operating division expenses to be $2.4 million of income in the third
quarter and $8.6 million of income for 2012 (assuming current equity
interests), as compared to the 2011 actuals of $2.3 million of income in
the quarter and $5.0 million of income for the year.


-- The Company expects depreciation on property and equipment to be
approximately $13.3 million in the third quarter and $48.9 million for
2012 (assuming the capital expenditure assumptions below), as compared
to the 2011 actuals of $7.6 million and $32.9 million for the quarter
and year, respectively. The 2012 estimates assume $4.9 million and
$16.8 million for the quarter and year respectively, related to the
acquisitions.


-- The Company expects amortization of acquired intangibles to be
approximately $10.9 million in the third quarter and $37.9 million for
2012, as compared to the 2011 actuals of $4.4 million and $18.2 million
for the quarter and year, respectively. The 2012 estimates assume $4.1
million and $13.8 million for the quarter and year respectively, related
to the acquisitions.


-- The Company expects net interest expense to be approximately $29.9
million in the third quarter and $116.2 million for 2012 (approximately
$105.9 million on a cash basis), assuming no changes in the current
interest rate yield curve or changes in debt levels based on the
assumptions discussed in this "Outlook" section. This compares to the
2011 actuals of $24.5 million and $106.0 million ($96.9 million on a
cash basis) for the third quarter and year, respectively.


-- The Company expects a current tax provision from continuing operations
of approximately $14.5 million and $58.2 million in the third quarter
and for the full year 2012, respectively, based on the assumptions
discussed in this "Outlook" section. The Company expects the effective
tax rate to be approximately 37.3% and 33.4% for the third quarter and
2012, respectively.
-- The Company expects to spend approximately $14.5 million in capital
expenditures in the third quarter and approximately $45.0 million for
2012. The 2012 estimates assume $7.0 million related to the
acquisitions, $10.5 million in building projects, and $12.5 million to
complete high-definition news and master control upgrades.
Sinclair Conference Call:

The senior management of Sinclair will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2012 results on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. ET. After the call, an audio replay will be available at www.sbgi.net under "Investor Information/Earnings Webcast." The press and the public will be welcome on the call in a listen-only mode. The dial-in number is (877) 407-9205.



About Sinclair:

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., the largest and one of the most diversified television broadcasting companies, owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 74 television stations in 45 markets. Sinclair's television portfolio consists of 20 FOX, 18 MNT, 14 CW, 11 ABC, 9 CBS, 1 NBC, and 1 Azteca station, in addition to 82 sub-channels. Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 26.3% of U.S. television households and is affiliated with all major networks. Sinclair owns equity interests in various non-broadcast related companies. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information and can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Preliminary Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share data)


Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
--------------------------- -------------------------
2012 2011 2012 2011
---- ---- ---- ----
REVENUES:
Station broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions $220,014 $159,370 $412,218 $315,331
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements 21,391 18,498 39,075 35,720
Other operating divisions revenues 12,149 10,992 26,097 20,418
------ ------ ------ ------
Total revenues 253,554 188,860 477,390 371,469
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Station production expenses 63,350 42,917 123,553 85,262
Station selling, general and administrative expenses 42,234 30,192 78,363 60,754
Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements 19,714 16,531 35,971 32,258
Amortization of program contract costs and net 15,467 12,666 29,747 25,284
realizable value adjustments
Other operating divisions expenses 10,503 8,770 22,793 16,733
Depreciation of property and equipment 12,655 7,861 22,144 15,921
Corporate general and administrative expenses 7,513 7,073 16,880 15,737
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets 10,126 4,614 16,025 9,410
Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other assets - - - 398
--- --- --- ---
Total operating expenses 181,562 130,624 345,476 261,757
------- ------- ------- -------
Operating income 71,992 58,236 131,914 109,712
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and (29,320) (24,934) (56,707) (54,101)
deferred financing costs
Loss from extinguishment of debt - (3,478) (335) (4,402)
Income (loss) from equity and cost method investments 5,148 815 6,424 826
Gain on insurance settlement 10 - 29 1,723
Other income, net 705 496 1,157 861
--- --- ----- ---
Total other expense (23,457) (27,101) (49,432) (55,093)
------- ------- ------- -------
Income from continuing operations before income 48,535 31,135 82,482 54,619
taxes
INCOME TAX PROVISION (18,336) (12,576) (23,142) (20,826)
------- ------- ------- -------
Income from continuing operations 30,199 18,559 59,340 33,793
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Loss from discontinued operations, includes income tax (67) (82) (134) (189)
provision of $67, $82, $134 and $189, respectively

NET INCOME 30,132 18,477 59,206 33,604
Net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling (72) 102 213 254
interests

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR $30,060 $18,579 $59,419 $33,858
BROADCAST GROUP

Dividends declared per share $0.12 $0.12 $0.24 $0.24
===== ===== ===== =====

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO
SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP:
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations $0.37 $0.23 $0.74 $0.42
===== ===== ===== =====
Basic earnings per share $0.37 $0.23 $0.73 $0.42
===== ===== ===== =====
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $0.37 $0.23 $0.73 $0.42
===== ===== ===== =====
Diluted earnings per share $0.37 $0.23 $0.73 $0.42
===== ===== ===== =====
Weighted average common shares outstanding 81,036 80,734 80,944 80,551
====== ====== ====== ======
Weighted average common and common equivalent 81,294 81,028 81,211 80,860
shares outstanding


AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SINCLAIR BROADCAST
GROUP COMMON SHAREHOLDERS:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax $30,127 $18,661 $59,553 $34,047
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (67) (82) (134) (189)
--- --- ---- ----
Net income $30,060 $18,579 $59,419 $33,858
======= ======= ======= =======




Preliminary Unaudited Consolidated Historical Selected Balance Sheet Data:
(In thousands)


June 30, March 31,
2012 2012
---- ----
Cash & cash equivalents $31,078 $26,802
Total current assets 230,368 222,264
Total long term assets 1,929,873 1,548,981
Total assets 2,160,241 1,771,245

Current portion of debt 45,630 39,342
Total current liabilities 231,778 218,403
Long term portion of debt 1,682,701 1,327,856
Total long term liabilities 1,994,745 1,640,053
Total liabilities 2,226,523 1,858,456

Total stockholders' deficit (66,282) (87,321)
Total liabilities &
stockholders' deficit $2,160,241 $1,771,245


Unaudited Consolidated Historical Selected Statement of Cash Flows Data:
(In thousands)


Three
Months Six Months
Ended Ended
June 30, June 30,
2012 2012
---- ----
Net cash flow from operating
activities $12,792 $80,275
Net cash flow used in
investing activities (355,436) (556,396)
Net cash flow from financing
activities 346,920 494,232
------- -------

Net increase in cash & cash
equivalents 4,276 18,111
Cash & cash equivalents,
beginning of period 26,802 12,967
------ ------
Cash & cash equivalents, end
of period $31,078 $31,078






SOURCE Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100119/PH39783LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

CONTACT: David Amy, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, or Lucy Rutishauser, VP-Corporate Finance & Treasurer, +1-410-568-1500

Web Site: http://www.sbgi.net


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