EX-99.1 2 v090534_ex-99.htm Unassociated Document

Media General Reports Third-Quarter 2007 Results

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Media General, Inc. (NYSE: MEG) today reported net income in the third quarter of 2007 of $2.5 million, or 11 cents per diluted share, compared with net income in the 2006 third quarter of $20.6 million, or 87 cents per diluted share, an amount which included 54 cents per share from discontinued operations related to several CBS television stations sold in 2006. Income from continuing operations in the 2006 third quarter was $7.7 million, or 33 cents per diluted share. Total company revenues in the 2007 third quarter were $230.3 million, a 4.5 percent decrease from the prior year.
 
"Media General's third-quarter results primarily reflected lower Broadcast and Publishing Division profits, a loss from our share of SP Newsprint, and a write-down of an investment in a company that produces interactive entertainment," said Marshall N. Morton, president and chief executive officer. "On the other hand, we aggressively managed expenses, and total operating costs decreased 4.6 percent from last year.
 
"Expenses for healthcare, retirement-related plans and performance-based incentive compensation were down significantly from last year. Publishing Division expenses declined 7.5 percent, excluding severance costs related to process re-engineering at several newspapers," he said.
 
"The Publishing Division's performance improvements helped to mitigate the impact of a challenging advertising environment, especially in Tampa," Mr. Morton said. "Although Broadcast Division National and Local time sales grew, we were unable to fully replace $11.5 million of Political revenues in last year's third quarter.
 
"The Interactive Media Division generated record quarterly revenues of $9.7 million through strong growth in the advergaming business, as well as Local and National/Regional advertising. We are making excellent progress with our Yahoo!HotJobs partnership," said Mr. Morton.

Publishing Division
 
Publishing Division profit of $22 million declined 7.4 percent from last year, as total Publishing revenues decreased 6.7 percent to $131.5 million. Newspaper advertising revenues were down 8.3 percent from the 2006 third quarter.
 
Total Publishing Division expenses decreased 6.5 percent for the quarter, including $1 million for severance costs. Excluding this charge, expenses would have declined 7.5 percent. Salary expense decreased 2.5 percent and benefits declined 22.9 percent, due to reduced retirement and healthcare costs. Newsprint expense decreased 24.2 percent for the quarter, including 12.5 percent lower consumption. The average price per ton for newsprint decreased $81, or 13.4 percent, from last year.
 
Classified advertising revenues decreased 16.1 percent; the Tampa market experienced the greatest shortfall. The Richmond Times-Dispatch and its associated weekly newspapers were even with last year, due to higher real estate spending offset by lower help-wanted and automotive revenues. The Tampa Tribune and its associated newspapers were down 33.7 percent, with declines in all three major categories. The Winston-Salem Journal reported a decrease of 10.1 percent, including an increase in help-wanted revenues due to higher rates, offset by declines in automotive and real estate spending. In the aggregate, the Community Newspaper group reported a 6.2 percent decrease in Classified revenues.
 
Retail revenues in the third quarter decreased less than 1 percent. The Tampa market saw a 1.5 percent decline in Retail revenues, which reflected lower home improvement and home furnishings advertising, partially offset by increased revenues from new product initiatives and gains in the entertainment category. Retail revenues in the Richmond market declined nominally, reflecting lower spending in the department store and furniture store categories, partially offset by revenues from a new weekly newspaper. In the Winston-Salem market, Retail revenues were down 2.9 percent, and included decreases in the home improvement and financial categories that were partially offset by revenues from two new monthly magazines. Retail revenues for the Community Newspaper group grew 1.1 percent, with notable increases in the North Carolina, Alabama and Charlottesville and Lynchburg, Va., markets.
 
 
National advertising revenues decreased 8 percent. The Tampa market saw a 22.2 percent drop, driven by lower spending in the automotive, travel, media and financial categories. The Richmond market was up 16.9 percent, due to higher National automotive, telecommunications and medical advertising as well as increased advertising from three major oil companies. The Winston-Salem market reported a 2.1 percent gain, primarily reflecting higher insurance and utility advertising and increased spending from a major oil company.
 
Circulation revenues for the third quarter decreased by less than one percent, the result of Daily and Sunday net-paid circulation declines for the month, partially offset by rate increases in the metro newspaper markets.

Broadcast Division
 
Broadcast Division profit for the quarter of $16.2 million declined 26.2 percent, and revenues decreased 3.5 percent, to $91 million. The declines for the quarter were attributable to lower Political revenues in this off-election year.
 
Political revenues of $2.5 million this year compared with $11.5 million in the 2006 third quarter. Current year advertising included spending for Presidential candidates and image campaigns in Florida and South Carolina, gubernatorial and lieutenant governor races in Louisiana, Mississippi and Kentucky, as well as issue advertising in Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina and Georgia.
 
Local time sales increased 3.2 percent. Higher spending in the hardware/home improvement and media categories was partially offset by lower furniture, telecommunications and entertainment advertising. National time sales increased 10.3 percent. Categories showing increases for the quarter included telecommunications, financial, corporate, furniture and department stores, while automotive and media declined.
 
Broadcast expenses increased 3.6 percent, with salaries and benefits rising less than 1 percent. The increase mostly reflected higher spending on sales development initiatives and depreciation on newer digital equipment.

Interactive Media Division
 
Interactive Media Division revenues of $9.7 million increased 31.9 percent over the 2006 quarter. The results reflected strong growth in the advergaming business, which was profitable for the second consecutive quarter, on revenues that more than doubled from the prior year. National/Regional revenues grew 49 percent, due to expanded network relationships. Local revenues increased 43 percent, as the result of growth in banners and sponsorships and increased direct sales. Classified advertising was down 3.5 percent, mostly reflecting lower help-wanted and real estate volumes, partially offset by revenues from the Yahoo!HotJobs initiative. The division's quarterly loss of $3.4 million included a $2.3 million write-down of an investment in a company that produces interactive entertainment. Excluding the write-down, the division posted a loss of $1.1 million. Page views and visitor sessions increased 7.7 percent and 10 percent, respectively, excluding the Web sites associated with the new NBC stations acquired in 2006.

Other Results
 
The company's share of SP Newsprint's results was a loss of $4.9 million, compared to last year's income of $3.5 million. This decline was due to significantly lower newsprint prices, decreased sales volume and higher production costs. Interest expense decreased by $1.9 million, as a result of lower average debt levels. Corporate expense was down $1.4 million and other expenses decreased significantly, as a result of lower costs for healthcare, retirement-related plans and performance-based incentives.
 
The effective tax rate from continuing operations through nine months was 33.8 percent in 2007, compared with 37.5 percent a year ago. A favorable resolution of a state tax issue during the third quarter lowered income tax expense and resulted in a 6 percent effective rate for the third quarter.
 
EBITDA (income from continuing operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) in the third quarter of 2007 was $36.7 million, compared with $48 million in the 2006 period. After-Tax Cash Flow was $21.6 million compared to $26.4 million in the prior year. Free Cash Flow for the quarter (After-Tax Cash Flow minus capital expenditures) was $4.2 million, compared with $1.2 million in the prior-year period. The improvement was due to lower capital spending in the current quarter.
 
Media General provides the non-GAAP financial metrics EBITDA, After-Tax Cash Flow, and Free Cash Flow. The company believes these metrics are useful in evaluating financial performance and are common alternative measures used by investors, financial analysts and rating agencies. These groups use EBITDA, along with other measures, to evaluate a company's ability to service its debt requirements and to estimate the value of the company. A reconciliation of these metrics to amounts on the GAAP statements has been included in this news release.
 
2
 
Outlook
 
In the fourth quarter of 2007, the Publishing Division expects continued softness in Classified and Retail advertising, particularly in the Tampa market. Partially offsetting the softness are projected expense savings from cost reduction initiatives and lower newsprint expense.
 
While the Broadcast Division expects Local time sales to increase, it will not be able to match last year's fourth-quarter Political revenues of $34 million. The division also expects National Political spending in Tampa, Savannah, Ga., Spartanburg and Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and Mobile, Ala. In addition to Broadcast Political revenues, the company is pursuing online Political advertising.
 
The company anticipates that its share of SP Newsprint's results in the fourth quarter will be a loss of $6 million.
 
Media General's 2007 fourth quarter has 13 weeks compared with 14 weeks in 2006.
 
Media General expects 2008 will be a much stronger year than 2007, when its performance will reflect the benefit of Political and Olympics revenues, operating synergies realized at the four new NBC stations, this year's cost reductions, new products and services, and online growth. The company anticipates capital spending in 2008 to be in the range of $40 to 45 million. A possible sale of SP Newsprint would generate proceeds for debt reduction.
 
In addition, Media General said it has no plans to separate its newspaper and broadcast businesses. Customers and shareholders alike benefit from the company's focus on being the local multimedia leader in strong growth markets, principally in the Southeast. Media General's integrated presence in print, broadcast and on the Web enables the company to produce better journalism, deliver a higher-quality product, draw more audience, and improve its market position better than it otherwise could.

Conference Call and Webcast
 
The company will hold a conference call with financial analysts today at 11 a.m. ET. The conference call will be available to the media and general public through a limited number of listen-only dial-in conference lines and via simultaneous Webcast. To dial in to the call, listeners may call 1-800-291-5365 about 10 minutes prior to the 11 a.m. start. Listeners may also access the live Webcast by logging on to www.mediageneral.com and clicking on the "Live Earnings Conference" link on the homepage about 10 minutes in advance. A replay of the Webcast will be available online at www.mediageneral.com beginning at 1 p.m. on October 18, 2007. A telephone replay will also be available, beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 12 p.m. October 25, 2007, by dialing 1-888-286-8010 or 617-801-6888, and using the passcode 44884818.

Forward-Looking Statements
 
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties and should be understood in the context of the company's publicly available reports filed with the
 
Securities and Exchange Commission. Media General's future performance could differ materially from its current expectations.

About Media General
 
Media General is a multimedia company operating leading newspapers, television stations and online enterprises primarily in the Southeastern United States. The company's publishing assets include three metropolitan newspapers, The Tampa Tribune, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Winston-Salem Journal; 22 daily community newspapers in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina; and more than 150 weekly newspapers and other publications. The company's broadcasting assets include 23 network-affiliated television stations that reach more than 32 percent of the television households in the Southeast and nearly 9.5 percent of those in the United States. The company's interactive media assets include more than 75 online enterprises that are associated with its newspapers and television stations. Media General also owns a 33 percent interest in SP Newsprint Company, a manufacturer of recycled newsprint.

3
 
Media General, Inc.
              
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
             
     
Thirteen Weeks Ending 
    
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ending 
  
     
September 30, 
    
September 24, 
    
September 30, 
    
September 24, 
  
(Unaudited, in thousands except per share amounts)
    
2007 
    
2006 
    
2007 
    
2006 
  
Revenues
  
$
230,254
  
$
240,992
  
$
701,796
  
$
688,493
  
                           
Operating costs:
                          
Production
   
103,204
   
109,270
   
319,834
   
302,791
 
Selling, general and administrative
    
83,385
   
87,574
   
265,398
   
256,204
 
Depreciation and amortization
    
19,096
   
18,695
   
60,169
   
52,902
 
Total operating costs 
    
205,685
   
215,539
   
645,401
   
611,897
 
                           
Operating income
    
24,569
   
25,453
   
56,395
   
76,596
 
                           
Other income (expense):
                          
Interest expense
    
(14,942
)
  
(16,837
)
  
(45,102
)
  
(32,485
)
Investment income (loss) - unconsolidated affiliates
    
(4,936
)
  
3,450
   
(9,542
)
  
8,289
 
Other, net
    
(2,052
)
  
444
   
(1,281
)
  
909
 
Total other expense 
    
(21,930
)
  
(12,943
)
  
(55,925
)
  
(23,287
)
                           
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    
2,639
   
12,510
   
470
   
53,309
 
                           
Income taxes
    
157
   
4,766
   
(628
)
  
19,964
 
                           
Income from continuing operations
    
2,482
   
7,744
   
1,098
   
33,345
 
Discontinued operations:
                          
Income from discontinued operations (net of tax)
    
---
   
1,024
   
---
   
2,266
 
Net gain of sale of operations (net of tax)
    
---
   
11,802
   
---
   
11,802
 
Net income
  
$
2,482
  
$
20,570
  
$
1,098
  
$
47,413
  
                           
Net income per common share:
                          
Income from continuing operations
  
$
0.11
  
$
0.33
  
$
0.05
  
$
1.41
  
Discontinued operations
    
---
   
0.54
   
---
   
0.60
 
Net income
  
$
0.11
  
$
0.87
  
$
0.05
  
$
2.01
  
                           
Net income per common share - assuming dilution:
                          
Income from continuing operations
  
$
0.11
  
$
0.33
  
$
0.05
  
$
1.40
  
Discontinued operations
    
---
   
0.54
   
---
   
0.59
 
Net income
  
$
0.11
  
$
0.87
  
$
0.05
  
$
1.99
  
                           
                           
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
                          
Basic
    
22,165
   
23,601
   
22,819
   
23,593
 
Diluted
    
22,300
   
23,772
   
23,004
   
23,782
 
                           
 
4

Media General, Inc.
                      
BUSINESS SEGMENTS
                      
                       
           
Interactive
          
(Unaudited, in thousands)
  
Publishing
  
Broadcast
  
Media
  
Eliminations
  
Total
  
Quarter Ended September 30, 2007
                      
Consolidated revenues
  
$
131,532
  
$
90,944
  
$
9,662
  
$
(1,884
)
$
230,254
  
Segment operating cash flow
  
$
28,164
  
$
22,792
  
$
(626
)
      
$
50,330
  
Write-down of investment
                
(2,264
)
        
(2,264
)
Depreciation and amortization
    
(6,162
)
  
(6,616
)
  
(474
)
        
(13,252
)
Segment profit (loss) 
  
$
22,002
  
$
16,176
  
$
(3,364
)
        
34,814
 
                                 
Unallocated amounts:
                                
Interest expense
                            
(14,942
)
Equity in net loss of unconsolidated affiliates
                            
(4,936
)
Acquisition intangibles amortization
                            
(4,639
)
Corporate expense
                            
(9,044
)
Other
                           
1,386
 
Consolidated income before income taxes 
                          
$
2,639
  
                                 
Quarter Ended September 24, 2006
                                
Consolidated revenues
  
$
140,914
  
$
94,245
  
$
7,323
  
$
(1,490
)
$
240,992
  
Segment operating cash flow
  
$
30,074
  
$
27,753
  
$
(114
)
      
$
57,713
  
Depreciation and amortization
    
(6,306
)
  
(5,834
)
  
(323
)
        
(12,463
)
Segment profit (loss) 
  
$
23,768
  
$
21,919
  
$
(437
)
        
45,250
 
                                 
Unallocated amounts:
                                
Interest expense
                            
(16,837
)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates
                            
3,450
 
Acquisition intangibles amortization
                            
(4,924
)
Corporate expense
                            
(10,472
)
Other
                           
(3,957
)
Consolidated income from continuing operations before income taxes 
                          
$
12,510
  
                                 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
                                
Consolidated revenues
  
$
407,655
  
$
272,317
  
$
27,119
  
$
(5,295
)
$
701,796
  
Segment operating cash flow
  
$
82,483
  
$
65,795
  
$
(211
)
      
$
148,067
  
Net write-down of investments
                
(2,076
)
        
(2,076
)
Depreciation and amortization
    
(19,051
)
  
(21,696
)
  
(1,334
)
        
(42,081
)
Segment profit (loss) 
  
$
63,432
  
$
44,099
  
$
(3,621
)
        
103,910
 
                                 
Unallocated amounts:
                                
Interest expense
                            
(45,102
)
Equity in net loss of unconsolidated affiliates
                            
(9,542
)
Acquisition intangibles amortization
                            
(14,409
)
Corporate expense
                            
(29,319
)
Other
                           
(5,068
)
Consolidated income before income taxes 
                          
$
470
  
                                 
Nine Months Ended September 24, 2006
                                
Consolidated revenues
  
$
439,928
  
$
233,176
  
$
20,039
  
$
(4,650
)
$
688,493
  
Segment operating cash flow
  
$
101,934
  
$
69,930
  
$
(1,099
)
      
$
170,765
  
Depreciation and amortization
    
(19,056
)
  
(15,670
)
  
(1,048
)
        
(35,774
)
Segment profit (loss) 
  
$
82,878
  
$
54,260
  
$
(2,147
)
        
134,991
 
                                 
Unallocated amounts:
                                
Interest expense
                            
(32,485
)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates
                            
8,289
 
Acquisition intangibles amortization
                            
(13,251
)
Corporate expense
                            
(31,884
)
Other
                           
(12,351
)
Consolidated income from continuing operations before income taxes 
                          
$
53,309
  
 
5

Media General, Inc.
          
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
          
   
September 30,
  
December 31,
  
(Unaudited, in thousands)
  
2007
  
2006
  
           
ASSETS
          
           
Current assets:
          
Cash and cash equivalents 
  
$
9,938
  
$
11,930
  
Accounts receivable-net 
    
128,304
   
139,538
 
Inventories 
    
7,696
   
9,650
 
Other 
    
63,854
   
41,630
 
 Total current assets
   
209,792
   
202,748
 
               
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
    
70,319
   
84,854
 
               
Other assets
    
75,425
   
71,117
 
               
Property, plant and equipment - net
    
490,986
   
490,049
 
               
Excess of cost over fair value of net identifiable assets
              
of acquired businesses - net  
    
936,523
   
935,023
 
               
FCC licenses and other intangibles - net
    
707,437
   
721,437
 
Total assets
  
$
2,490,482
  
$
2,505,228
  
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
              
               
Current liabilities:
              
Accounts payable 
  
$
26,113
  
$
34,292
  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 
    
109,705
   
92,712
 
Income taxes payable 
    
-
   
4,516
 
 Total current liabilities
   
135,818
   
131,520
 
               
Long-term debt
    
938,000
   
916,320
 
               
Deferred income taxes
    
291,049
   
281,670
 
               
Other liabilities and deferred credits
    
247,843
   
238,358
 
               
Stockholders' equity 1
    
877,772
   
937,360
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  
$
2,490,482
  
$
2,505,228
  
 
1  2007 Includes a $4.9 million direct charge related to the adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. 
 
 
6

Media General, Inc.
                  
EBITDA, After-tax Cash Flow, and Free Cash Flow
                  
   
 
            
   
Thirteen Weeks Ending 
  
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ending 
  
   
September 30,
  
September 24,
  
September 30,
  
September 24,
  
(Unaudited, in thousands)
  
2007
  
2006
  
2007
  
2006
  
                   
Income from continuing operations
  
$
2,482
  
$
7,744
  
$
1,098
  
$
33,345
  
Interest
    
14,942
   
16,837
   
45,102
   
32,485
 
Taxes
    
157
   
4,766
   
(628
)
  
19,964
 
Depreciation and amortization
    
19,096
   
18,695
   
60,169
   
52,902
 
EBITDA from continuing operations
  
$
36,677
  
$
48,042
  
$
105,741
  
$
138,696
  
                           
Income from continuing operations
  
$
2,482
  
$
7,744
  
$
1,098
  
$
33,345
  
Depreciation and amortization
    
19,096
   
18,695
   
60,169
   
52,902
 
After-tax cash flow
  
$
21,578
  
$
26,439
  
$
61,267
  
$
86,247
  
                           
After-tax cash flow
  
$
21,578
  
$
26,439
  
$
61,267
  
$
86,247
  
Capital expenditures
    
17,337
   
25,236
   
55,128
   
69,667
 
Free cash flow
  
$
4,241
  
$
1,203
  
$
6,139
  
$
16,580
  
 
SOURCE Media General
-0- 10/18/2007
/CONTACT: Investors, Lou Anne J. Nabhan, +1-804-649-6103, Media, Ray Kozakewicz, +1-804-649-6748/
/First Call Analyst: /
/FCMN Contact: mgoodhead@mediageneral.com /
/Web site: http://www.mediageneral.com /
(MEG)

CO: Media General
ST: Virginia
IN: PUB TVN MLM PAP CPR ENT REA
SU: ERN ERP CCA
 
7