News Release


News Release

Contact: David Amy, EVP & Chief Financial Officer

Lucy Rutishauser, VP-Corporate Finance & Treasurer

(410) 568-1500

SINCLAIR REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2008 RESULTS

Operating Income Up 23%

BALTIMORE (May 7, 2008) -- Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI), the "Company" or "Sinclair," today reported financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

Commenting on the quarter, David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair, stated, "Despite the economic challenges facing many commercial and consumer sectors, we were successful in growing our net broadcast revenues by $12.6 million or 8.5% in the first quarter due to increased spending by the automotive, services and media sectors, having the Super Bowl on our 20 FOX stations which brought in an additional $4.9 million in revenues, and cash payments from multi-channel video program distributors."

Financial Results:

Net broadcast revenues from continuing operations were $160.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, an increase of 8.5% versus the prior year period result of $148.3 million. Operating income was $46.2 million in the three-month period as compared to $37.6 million in the prior year period, an increase of 23.0%. The Company had net income available to common shareholders of $16.4 million in the three-month period versus a net loss to common shareholders of $2.4 million in the prior year period. The Company reported diluted earnings per common share of $0.19 for the three-month period versus a diluted loss per common share of $0.03 in the prior year period.

Operating Statistics and Income Statement Highlights:

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights:

Forward-Looking Statements:

The matters discussed in this press release, particularly those in the section labeled "Outlook," include forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, future operating results. When used in this press 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, the impact of changes in national and regional economies, successful execution of outsourcing agreements, pricing and demand fluctuations in local and national advertising, volatility in programming costs, the market acceptance of new programming, the CW Television Network and MyNetworkTV programming, our news share strategy, our local sales initiatives, the execution of retransmission consent agreements and the other risk factors set forth in the Company's most recent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 10-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 press release of its expectations for certain of its second quarter 2008 and full year 2008 financial performance. The Company assumes no obligation to update its expectations, except as required by law. All matters discussed in the "Outlook" section are forward-looking and, as such, persons relying on this information should refer to the "Forward-Looking Statements" section above.

All assumptions and historical periods have been adjusted to exclude WGGB-TV, which was sold November 1, 2007, and which was accounted for under discontinued operations accounting. KGAN-TV and KFXA-TV are consolidated in February and March 2008 and in the forward-looking assumptions. Previously, KGAN-TV had been accounted for under a Joint Sales Agreement.

"All of our affiliate groups are currently pacing higher as compared to this time last year, with the exception of our ABC stations which lost momentum as a result of the writers strike that ended in February," commented David Amy, EVP and CFO. "However, we are confident that the stations' performance will improve as ABC adds the network programs back to the line-up. Meanwhile, our FOX stations continue to over-perform on the strength of our local news and network prime-time. With our expectation of core revenue growth in the second quarter, we remain cautiously optimistic for the remainder of the year but have some concern given the market's recessionary fears and the impact of potential higher inflation on consumer spending. We continue to be upbeat, however, about full year political advertising of which we expect record levels of spending."

The senior management of Sinclair will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2008 results on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, at 8:30 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.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies, owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 58 television stations in 35 markets. Sinclair's television group reaches approximately 22% of U.S. television households and is affiliated with all major networks. Sinclair owns equity interests in various non-broadcast related companies.

Notes:

"Discontinued Operations" accounting has been adopted in the financial statements for all periods presented in this press release. As such, the results from operations, net of related income taxes, have been reclassified from income from continuing operations and reflected as net income from discontinued operations.

Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year GAAP presentation.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share data)

 Three Months Ended March 31,
 2008  2007
REVENUES:    
Station broadcast revenues, net of agency commissions $ 160,892  $ 148,334
Revenues realized from station barter arrangements 14,638  13,715
Other operating divisions' revenues 11,127  2,887
Total revenues 186,657  164,936
    
OPERATING EXPENSES:    
Station production expenses 38,855  35,547
Station selling, general and administrative expenses 34,611  33,653
Expenses recognized from station barter arrangements 13,517  12,430
Amortization of program contract costs and net realizable value adjustments 19,709  21,316
Other operating divisions' expenses 11,934  3,546
Depreciation of property and equipment 10,553  10,650
Corporate general and administrative expenses 6,721  5,964
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets and other assets 4,539  4,244
Total operating expenses 140,439  127,350
Operating income 46,218  37,586
    
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):    
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs (20,202)  (26,382)
Interest income 181  388
Gain (loss) from sale of assets 38  (12)
Loss from extinguishment of debt (286)  (15,681)
Gain from derivative instruments 999  1,057
Income (loss) from equity and cost method investments 695  (12)
Other income, net 367  222
Total other expense (18,208)  (40,420)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 28,010  (2,834)
    
INCOME TAX (PROVISION )BENEFIT (11,466)  721
Income (loss) from continuing operations 16,544  (2,113)
    
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:    
Loss from discontinued operations, net of related income tax provision of $139 and $17, respectively (131)  (276)
NET INCOME (LOSS) $ 16,413  $ (2,389)
    
BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE:    
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations $ 0.19  $ (0.03)
Earnings per share from discontinued operations $ -  $ -
Earnings (loss) per share $ 0.19  $ (0.03)
Weighted average common shares outstanding 87,246  86,140
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding 93,958  86,140
Dividends declared per share $ 0.20  $ 0.15

Unaudited Consolidated Historical Selected Balance Sheet Data:

(In thousands)

Unaudited Consolidated Historical Selected Statement of Cash Flows Data:

(In thousands)

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