EX-99.1 2 v14242exv99w1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 exv99w1
 

EXHIBIT 99.1
     
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  (FISHER LOGO)
CONTACT:             Rob Bateman, CFO of Fisher Communications, Inc. (206) 404-6776
FISHER COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2005 RESULTS
SEATTLE—(BUSINESS WIRE)—November 7, 2005—Fisher Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSCI) today announced its financial results for the third quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2005.
Fisher Communications reported total revenue of $38.8 million in the third quarter of 2005, compared to $40.3 million in the third quarter of 2004. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company reported revenue of $109.9 million, compared to $111.5 million in the comparable nine-month period in 2004. For both the three and nine-month period comparisons, broadcasting revenue was lower in 2005 due primarily to lower political advertising as compared to 2004; these declines were offset somewhat by higher revenue at Fisher Plaza as a result of increased occupancy levels.
In comparison to the nine months ended September 30, 2004, year-to-date 2005 local broadcasting revenue increased at most stations, including the television and radio station group in Fisher’s largest markets of Seattle and Portland. Excluding political revenue, year-to-date 2005 national broadcasting revenue increased at Fisher’s ABC-affiliated stations and generally declined at Fisher’s smaller-market CBS-affiliated stations and at Fisher’s radio stations. The Company’s two ABC-affiliated stations accounted for 44% of the Company’s total year-to-date 2005 revenue.
Total operating expenses decreased 3% to $38.0 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005, as compared to the three-month period ended September 30, 2004. The decline in the third quarter of 2005 was due primarily to lower levels of depreciation as certain assets have become fully depreciated, as well as somewhat lower consulting and accounting expenses in the 2005 period as the Company is in the second year of compliance with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and has reduced certain consulting and accounting expenses.

 


 

Operating expenses increased 1% to $114.1 million in the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2005, compared to the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2004. The increase in 2005 was due primarily to certain increased syndicated television expenses, offset in part by lower levels of depreciation as certain assets have become fully depreciated.
On October 4, 2005, the Company announced the appointment of Colleen B. Brown as President and Chief Executive Officer of Fisher Communications, effective October 10, 2005. Benjamin W. Tucker, Jr., who had held the position of Fisher Communications’ Acting President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2005, left the Company to pursue other interests in October 2005. The Company expects to recognize separation expenses of approximately $600,000 in the fourth quarter of 2005 relating to Mr. Tucker’s departure. General and administrative expenses in the first nine months of 2005 include approximately $1.0 million in severance-related expenses for the Company’s former chief executive officer, who left the Company in January 2005.
The Company had no derivative instruments during the first nine months of 2005; however, the Company had pre-tax losses on derivative instruments of $2.7 million ($1.8 million after tax) in the third quarter of 2004 and $13.2 million ($8.6 million after tax) in the nine months ended September 30, 2004. Historical derivative instruments related to prior borrowing arrangements that were replaced in 2004.
The Company reported a net loss of $790,000 in the third quarter of 2005, compared to a net loss of $5.2 million in the third quarter of 2004. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Company reported a net loss of $6.9 million, compared to a net loss of $16.5 million in the comparable period in 2004.
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Fisher Communications, Inc. is a Seattle-based integrated media company. Its nine network-affiliated television stations, and a tenth station 50% owned by Fisher Communications, are located in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and its 27 radio stations broadcast in Washington and Montana. It also owns and operates Fisher Plaza, a facility located near downtown Seattle.

 


 

FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                 
    Nine months ended     Three months ended  
    September 30     September 30  
(in thousands, except per-share amounts) Unaudited   2005     2004     2005     2004  
     
Revenue
  $ 109,883     $ 111,517     $ 38,804     $ 40,251  
Costs and expenses
                               
Cost of services sold
    57,853       53,449       20,611       19,870  
Selling expenses
    20,659       20,857       7,330       7,343  
General and administrative expenses
    25,163       26,093       7,368       8,117  
Depreciation and amortization
    10,445       12,255       2,694       3,940  
     
 
    114,120       112,654       38,003       39,270  
     
Income (loss) from operations
    (4,237 )     (1,137 )     801       981  
Net loss on derivative instruments
          (13,245 )           (2,700 )
Loss from extinguishment of long-term debt
          (5,034 )           (5,034 )
Other income, net
    2,692       2,247       911       780  
Interest expense
    (10,241 )     (8,321 )     (3,466 )     (2,554 )
     
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
    (11,786 )     (25,490 )     (1,754 )     (8,527 )
Benefit for federal and state income taxes
    (4,838 )     (9,121 )     (964 )     (3,315 )
     
Loss from continuing operations
    (6,948 )     (16,369 )     (790 )     (5,212 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes
          (132 )            
     
Net loss
  $ (6,948 )   $ (16,501 )   $ (790 )   $ (5,212 )
     
 
                               
Loss per share:
                               
From continuing operations
  $ (0.80 )   $ (1.90 )   $ (0.09 )   $ (0.60 )
From discontinued operations
            (0.01 )                
     
Net loss per share
  $ (0.80 )   $ (1.91 )   $ (0.09 )   $ (0.60 )
     
Weighted average shares outstanding
    8,671       8,617       8,695       8,619  

 


 

FISHER COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                 
    September 30     December 31  
(in thousands) Unaudited   2005     2004  
 
Assets
               
Current assets
  $ 53,202     $ 60,601  
Marketable securities, at market value
    160,237       157,102  
Other assets
    65,970       67,876  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    146,329       150,293  
 
Total assets
  $ 425,738     $ 435,872  
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Notes payable
  $     $ 53  
Other current liabilities
    22,077       27,367  
Long-term debt
    150,000       150,000  
Deferred income taxes
    31,690       36,133  
Other liabilities
    20,822       19,866  
 
Total liabilities
    224,589       233,419  
 
Stockholders’ equity, other than accumulated other comprehensive income
    99,865       103,261  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes
    101,284       99,192  
 
Total stockholders’ equity
    201,149       202,453  
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 425,738     $ 435,872