Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

Quarterly Report pursuant to Section 13 OR 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

 

Commission file number: 001-31311

 

Commission file number: 000-25206

 

LIN TV Corp.

 

LIN Television Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as

 

(Exact name of registrant as

specified in its charter)

 

specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

incorporation or organization)

 

05-0501252

 

13-3581627

(I.R.S. Employer

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

Identification No.)

 

One West Exchange Street, Suite 5A, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(401) 454-2880

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted to its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Date File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o No x

 

This combined Form 10-Q is separately filed by (i) LIN TV Corp. and (ii) LIN Television Corporation. LIN Television Corporation meets the conditions set forth in general instruction H (1) (a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is, therefore, filing this form with the reduced disclosure format permitted by such instruction.

 

LIN TV Corp. Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding as of November 1, 2011: 32,973,883 shares

LIN TV Corp. Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding as of November 1, 2011: 23,502,059 shares.

LIN TV Corp. Class C common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding as of November 1, 2011: 2 shares.

LIN Television Corporation common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding as of November 1, 2011: 1,000 shares.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

Table of Contents

 

Part I. Financial Information

 

 

Item 1. Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements of LIN TV Corp.

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

3

Consolidated Statements of Operations

4

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit and Comprehensive Income

5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

7

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (See separate index for financial statements of LIN Television Corporation)

8

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

21

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

28

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

29

 

 

Part II. Other Information

 

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

29

Item 1A. Risk Factors

29

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

29

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

30

Item 4. Reserved

30

Item 5. Other Information

30

Item 6. Exhibits

30

Signature Page

31

 

2



Table of Contents

 

Part 1. Financial Information

Item 1. Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

LIN TV Corp.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(in thousands, except share data)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

37,574

 

$

11,648

 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2011 - $2,860; 2010 - $2,233)

 

80,303

 

82,486

 

Other current assets

 

7,596

 

5,921

 

Total current assets

 

125,473

 

100,055

 

Property and equipment, net

 

146,373

 

154,127

 

Deferred financing costs

 

6,131

 

7,759

 

Equity investments

 

272

 

 

Goodwill

 

117,655

 

117,259

 

Broadcast licenses and other intangible assets, net

 

406,449

 

397,280

 

Other assets

 

13,417

 

13,989

 

Total assets (a)

 

$

815,770

 

$

790,469

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

184

 

$

9,573

 

Accounts payable

 

8,673

 

8,003

 

Accrued expenses

 

47,936

 

42,353

 

Program obligations

 

12,089

 

9,528

 

Total current liabilities

 

68,882

 

69,457

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

 

615,431

 

613,687

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

198,640

 

185,997

 

Program obligations

 

6,273

 

7,240

 

Other liabilities

 

41,574

 

45,520

 

Total liabilities (a)

 

930,800

 

921,901

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingenices (Note 11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIN TV Corp. stockholders’ deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized,
Issued: 33,838,061 and 32,509,759 shares as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively Outstanding: 32,965,243 and 31,636,941 shares as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively

 

308

 

294

 

Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 23,502,059 shares as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, issued and outstanding; convertible into an equal number of shares of Class A or Class C common stock

 

235

 

235

 

Class C common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 2 shares as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, issued and outstanding; convertible into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock

 

 

 

Treasury stock, 872,818 shares of Class A common stock as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, at cost

 

(7,869

)

(7,869

)

Additional paid-in capital

 

1,120,102

 

1,109,814

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(1,200,352

)

(1,205,967

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(27,607

)

(27,939

)

Total LIN TV Corp. stockholders’ deficit:

 

(115,183

)

(131,432

)

Noncontrolling interest

 

153

 

 

Total deficit

 

(115,030

)

(131,432

)

Total liabilities and deficit

 

$

815,770

 

$

790,469

 

 


(a) Our consolidated assets as of September 30, 2011 include total assets of $11,335 of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) that can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE. These assets include broadcast licenses and other intangible assets of $7,817 and program rights of $1,749. Our consolidated liabilities as of September 30, 2011 include $3,169 of total liabilities of the VIE for which the VIE’s creditors have no recourse to the Company, including $2,218 of program obligations. See further description in Note 1 — “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

LIN TV Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

100,813

 

$

103,616

 

$

297,567

 

$

294,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct operating

 

34,652

 

31,708

 

98,947

 

90,836

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

26,427

 

26,660

 

80,789

 

78,736

 

Amortization of program rights

 

5,723

 

6,024

 

16,859

 

18,070

 

Corporate

 

5,881

 

6,047

 

19,702

 

17,925

 

Depreciation

 

6,741

 

7,079

 

19,837

 

21,127

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

245

 

411

 

817

 

1,232

 

Restructuring charge

 

498

 

 

498

 

2,181

 

Loss (gain) from asset dispositions

 

51

 

(1,148

)

409

 

(3,359

)

Operating income

 

20,595

 

26,835

 

59,709

 

68,173

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

12,608

 

13,313

 

38,257

 

38,456

 

Share of loss in equity investments

 

3,071

 

40

 

4,238

 

134

 

(Gain) loss on derivative instruments

 

(565

)

(481

)

(1,768

)

2,584

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

192

 

2,749

 

Other expense (income), net

 

60

 

(28

)

58

 

(710

)

Total other expense, net

 

15,174

 

12,844

 

40,977

 

43,213

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

5,421

 

13,991

 

18,732

 

24,960

 

Provision for income taxes

 

2,310

 

5,720

 

12,964

 

9,544

 

Net income

 

3,111

 

8,271

 

5,768

 

15,416

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

153

 

 

153

 

 

Net income attributable to LIN TV Corp.

 

$

2,958

 

$

8,271

 

$

5,615

 

$

15,416

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income per common share attributable to LIN TV Corp.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to LIN TV Corp.

 

$

0.05

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used in calculating basic income per common share

 

55,953

 

54,734

 

55,541

 

53,705

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income per common share attributable to LIN TV Corp.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to LIN TV Corp.

 

$

0.05

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used in calculating diluted income per common share

 

57,032

 

56,113

 

56,852

 

55,264

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

LIN TV Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit and Comprehensive Income

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

Total LIN TV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Treasury

 

Additional

 

 

 

Other

 

Corp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Class C

 

Stock

 

Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

Comprehensive

 

Stockholders’

 

Noncontrolling

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

Deficit

 

Amount

 

Amount

 

Amount

 

(at cost)

 

Capital

 

Deficit

 

Loss

 

Deficit

 

Interest

 

Income

 

Balance as of December 31, 2010

 

$

(131,432

)

$

294

 

$

235

 

$

 

$

(7,869

)

$

1,109,814

 

$

(1,205,967

)

$

(27,939

)

$

(131,432

)

$

 

 

 

Amortization of pension net loss, net of tax of $260

 

332

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

332

 

332

 

 

$

332

 

Stock-based compensation

 

5,529

 

2

 

 

 

 

5,527

 

 

 

5,529

 

 

 

Issuance of LIN TV Corp. Class A common stock (See Note 2 - “Acquisitions”)

 

4,773

 

12

 

 

 

 

4,761

 

 

 

4,773

 

 

 

Net income

 

5,768

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,615

 

 

5,615

 

153

 

5,768

 

Comprehensive income - September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

153

 

$

6,100

 

Balance as of September 30, 2011

 

$

(115,030

)

$

308

 

$

235

 

$

 

$

(7,869

)

$

1,120,102

 

$

(1,200,352

)

$

(27,607

)

$

(115,183

)

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

LIN TV Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit and Comprehensive Income

(unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Treasury

 

Additional

 

 

 

Accumulated Other

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Class C

 

Stock

 

Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

Comprehensive

 

Stockholders’

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

Amount

 

Amount

 

Amount

 

(at cost)

 

Capital

 

Deficit

 

Loss

 

Deficit

 

Income

 

Balance as of December 31, 2009

 

$

294

 

$

235

 

$

 

$

(7,869

)

$

1,104,161

 

$

(1,242,465

)

$

(27,917

)

$

(173,561

)

 

 

Amortization of pension net loss, net of tax of $112

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

171

 

171

 

$

171

 

Reclassification of unrealized loss on cash flow hedge, net of tax of $1,603

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,516

 

2,516

 

2,516

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

4,153

 

 

 

4,153

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,416

 

 

15,416

 

15,416

 

Comprehensive income - September 30, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

18,103

 

Balance as of September 30, 2010

 

$

294

 

$

235

 

$

 

$

(7,869

)

$

1,108,314

 

$

(1,227,049

)

$

(25,230

)

$

(151,305

)

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

LIN TV Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

5,768

 

$

15,416

 

Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

19,837

 

21,127

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

817

 

1,232

 

Amortization of financing costs and note discounts

 

2,858

 

3,440

 

Amortization of program rights

 

16,859

 

18,070

 

Program payments

 

(20,345

)

(20,763

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

192

 

2,749

 

(Gain) loss on derivative instruments

 

(1,768

)

2,584

 

Share of loss in equity investments

 

4,238

 

134

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

12,839

 

9,444

 

Stock-based compensation

 

4,856

 

3,641

 

Loss (gain) from asset dispositions

 

409

 

(3,359

)

Other, net

 

332

 

(129

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

2,183

 

(6,333

)

Other assets

 

(261

)

1,050

 

Accounts payable

 

670

 

425

 

Accrued interest expense

 

11,049

 

14,627

 

Other liabilities and accrued expenses

 

(5,866

)

323

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

54,667

 

63,678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(11,682

)

(13,023

)

Change in restricted cash

 

 

2,000

 

Payments for business combinations

 

(5,244

)

(575

)

Proceeds from the sale of assets

 

48

 

180

 

Payments on derivative instruments

 

(1,822

)

(1,525

)

Shortfall loan to joint venture with NBCUniversal

 

(1,408

)

(4,079

)

Other investments, net

 

(250

)

(1,980

)

Net cash used in investing activities, continuing operations

 

(20,358

)

(19,002

)

Net cash provided by investing activities, discontinued operations

 

 

660

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(20,358

)

(18,342

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net proceeds on exercises of employee and director stock-based compensation

 

673

 

512

 

Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt

 

920

 

213,000

 

Principal payments on long-term debt

 

(9,666

)

(255,855

)

Payment of long-term debt issue costs

 

(310

)

(4,887

)

Net cash used in financing activities, continuing operations

 

(8,383

)

(47,230

)

Net cash used in financing activities, discontinued operations

 

 

(445

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(8,383

)

(47,675

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

25,926

 

(2,339

)

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

 

11,648

 

11,105

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

 

$

37,574

 

$

8,766

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

LIN TV Corp.

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 1 — Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Description of Business

 

LIN TV Corp. (“LIN TV”), together with its subsidiaries, including LIN Television Corporation (“LIN Television”), is a local television and digital media company operating in the United States. LIN TV and its subsidiaries are affiliates of HM Capital Partners LLC (“HMC”). In these notes, the terms “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean LIN TV Corp. and all subsidiaries included in our consolidated financial statements.

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to state fairly our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

 

Principles of consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of our Company, its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned, and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which we are the primary beneficiary. We review all arrangements with third parties, including our local marketing agreements, shared services agreements and joint sales agreements, to evaluate whether consolidation of entities that are parties to such arrangements is required. We conduct our business through our subsidiaries and VIEs, and have no operations or assets other than our investment in our subsidiaries, VIEs and equity-method investments. A noncontrolling interest represents a third party’s proportionate share of the interest in certain of our consolidated entities.  All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation. We operate in one reportable segment.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes, we consider whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and whether we have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE.  We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary.

 

On May 20, 2011, we acquired certain assets of WBDT-TV in the Dayton, OH market, and WBDT Television, LLC (“WBDT”) acquired other assets, including the FCC license of WBDT-TV as further described in Note 2 — “Acquisitions”.  During 2011, we also entered into a Joint Sales Agreement (“JSA”) and Shared Services Agreement (“SSA”) with WBDT. Under these agreements, we provide sales and administrative services to WBDT, have an obligation to reimburse certain of WBDT’s expenses, and we are compensated through a performance-based fee structure that provides us the benefit of certain returns from the operation of WBDT-TV.

 

We determined that upon the completion of the acquisition of certain assets of WBDT-TV, as further described in Note 2 — “Acquisitions”, WBDT is a VIE, and as a result of the JSA and SSA, we have a variable interest in WBDT. The sole business of WBDT is the ownership and operation of WBDT-TV. We are the primary beneficiary of that entity because of our obligation to reimburse certain of WBDT’s expenses that could result in losses that are significant to the VIE, the potential for us to participate in returns of WBDT-TV through a performance-based bonus, and our power to direct certain activities related to the operation of WBDT-TV, including its advertising sales, and certain of its programming, which significantly impact the economic performance of WBDT. Therefore, we consolidate WBDT within our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The carrying amounts and classifications of the assets, liabilities and membership interest of WBDT, which have been included in our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011, were as follows (in thousands):

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

237

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

1,099

 

Other current assets

 

3

 

Total current assets

 

1,339

 

Property and equipment, net

 

429

 

Program rights

 

1,749

 

Broadcast licenses and other intangible assets, net

 

7,817

 

Other assets

 

1

 

Total assets

 

$

11,335

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S INTEREST

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

184

 

Accounts payable

 

862

 

Accrued expenses

 

89

 

Program obligations

 

227

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,362

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

 

644

 

Program obligations

 

1,991

 

Other liabilities

 

7,185

 

Total liabilities

 

11,182

 

 

 

 

 

Member’s interest

 

153

 

Total liabilities and member’s interest

 

$

11,335

 

 

The assets of our consolidated VIE can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE, and may not be sold, or otherwise disposed of, except for assets sold or replaced with others of like kind or value. Other liabilities of WBDT of $7.2 million serve to reduce the carrying value of the entity, to reflect the fact that as of September 30, 2011, LIN Television has an option described below that it may exercise if the FCC attribution rules change. The option would allow LIN Television to acquire the assets or membership interest of WBDT for a nominal exercise price, which is significantly less than the carrying value of the tangible and intangible net assets of WBDT. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, $0.2 million was attributable to noncontrolling interest related to this VIE in our consolidated statement of operations. As of September 30, 2011, the noncontrolling interest on our consolidated balance sheet is $0.2 million.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. Our actual results could differ from these estimates. Estimates are used for the allowance for doubtful accounts in receivables, valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, amortization and impairment of program rights and intangible assets, stock-based compensation, pension costs, barter transactions, income taxes, employee medical insurance claims, useful lives of property and equipment, contingencies, litigation and net assets of businesses or VIEs acquired or consolidated.

 

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Earnings per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is based upon net income divided by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the effect of the assumed exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted shares only in the periods in which such effect would have been dilutive.

 

The following is a reconciliation of income available to common shareholders from operations and weighted-average common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted income per common share (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Numerator for earnings per common share calculation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to LIN TV

 

$

2,958

 

$

8,271

 

$

5,615

 

$

15,416

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator for earnings per common share calculation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares, basic

 

55,953

 

54,734

 

55,541

 

53,705

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options and restricted stock

 

1,079

 

1,379

 

1,311

 

1,559

 

Weighted-average common shares, diluted

 

57,032

 

56,113

 

56,852

 

55,264

 

 

We apply the treasury stock method to measure the dilutive effect of our outstanding stock option and restricted stock awards and include the respective common share equivalents in the denominator of our diluted income per common share calculation. Potentially dilutive securities representing 2.6 million shares and 2.5 million shares of common stock for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and 0.4 million shares and 1.5 million shares of common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted income per common share for these periods because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. The net income per share amounts are the same for our class A, class B and class C common stock because the holders of each class are legally entitled to equal per share distributions whether through dividends or in liquidation.

 

Comprehensive Income

 

Our total comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income items listed in the table below (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

3,111

 

$

8,271

 

$

5,768

 

$

15,416

 

Amortization of pension net loss

 

120

 

57

 

332

 

171

 

Unrealized loss on cash flow hedge

 

 

 

 

2,516

 

Comprehensive income

 

3,231

 

8,328

 

6,100

 

18,103

 

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

153

 

 

153

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to LIN TV

 

$

3,078

 

$

8,328

 

$

5,947

 

$

18,103

 

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In September 2011, there were revisions to the accounting standard for goodwill impairment tests. A company will now have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The revisions are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted during 2011 if an entity’s financial statements have not yet been issued. We will early adopt this guidance effective December 31, 2011, and we do not expect it to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

In June 2011, there were revisions to the accounting standard for reporting comprehensive income.  A company will now have the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The revisions are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, and should be applied retrospectively.  We will adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2012, and we do not expect it to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

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In October 2009, there were revisions to the accounting standard for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. The revisions address how to separate deliverables and how to measure and allocate arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. The revisions are effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. We adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2011, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

Note 2 — Acquisitions

 

On May 28, 2010, we entered into an SSA and related agreements with ACME Communications, Inc. (“ACME”) with respect to ACME’s television stations KWBQ-TV, KRWB-TV, and KASY-TV in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM market; WBDT-TV in the Dayton, OH market; and WCWF-TV (f/k/a WIWB-TV) in the Green-Bay-Appleton, WI market. Additionally, we entered into a JSA with ACME for WBDT-TV and WCWF-TV. Concurrent with the execution of these agreements, we entered into an option agreement, giving us the right to acquire certain assets of the stations covered under these agreements, or giving ACME the right, starting in January 2013 and subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approval, to put any or all of those assets to us at the greater of a defined purchase price or the then-current fair market value.

 

On August 26, 2010, we exercised our option to acquire WCWF-TV and certain assets of WBDT-TV. Because current FCC attribution rules restrict us from owning the FCC license of WBDT-TV, we assigned our rights to acquire other WBDT-TV assets, including the FCC license, to WBDT. WBDT is wholly owned by Vaughan Media, LLC (“Vaughan”), an unrelated third party. We have an option to purchase all of the membership interest in WBDT from Vaughan, or all of WBDT’s assets related to WBDT-TV, that would be exercisable by us if the FCC attribution rules change.

 

On May 20, 2011, we completed our acquisition of WCWF-TV. We acquired WCWF-TV as part of our multi-channel strategy, which enables us to expand our presence in our local markets beyond that of a single television station. This added channel and distribution capacity allows us to appeal to a wider audience and market of advertisers, while also providing us with economies of scale within our station operations.

 

Also, on May 20, 2011, we completed the acquisition of certain station assets of WBDT-TV and entered into a JSA and SSA with WBDT. WBDT completed the acquisition of the other station assets of WBDT-TV, including the FCC license. In addition, we continue to provide certain services to ACME’s television stations KWBQ-TV, KRWB-TV and KASY-TV. Utilizing the assets in our existing markets to support the operations of another television station creates economies of scale to further leverage our existing infrastructure.

 

Total cash consideration for these acquisitions was $5.8 million, including $0.9 million contributed by WBDT, which was funded by a $0.9 million term loan from an unrelated third party as described further in Note 5 — “Debt”, and $0.6 million that was funded by us into an escrow account in 2010.  As part of the consideration, we also issued 1,150,000 shares of our class A common stock having a fair value of $4.8 million.

 

In connection with the acquisition, we recognized $0.4 million of goodwill. We also recognized $9.0 million of broadcast licenses and $1.0 million of finite-lived intangible assets. These finite-lived intangible assets are primarily comprised of network affiliation and retransmission consent agreements and have a weighted-average life of approximately 5 years. Additionally, we assumed net program obligations of $0.8 million pursuant to unfavorable contracts.

 

The following table summarizes the final allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed by both us and WBDT (a consolidated VIE) in the acquisition (in thousands):

 

Goodwill

 

$

396

 

Broadcast licenses and other intangible assets

 

9,986

 

Non-current assets

 

4,227

 

Long-term liabilities

 

(4,017

)

Total

 

$

10,592

 

 

 

 

 

Cash consideration

 

$

5,819

 

Equity consideration

 

4,773

 

Total consideration

 

$

10,592

 

 

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Note 3 — Equity Investments

 

Joint Venture with NBCUniversal

 

We own an approximate 20% interest in Station Venture Holdings, LLC (“SVH”), a joint venture with NBCUniversal Media, LLC (“NBCUniversal”), and account for our interest using the equity method, as we do not have a controlling interest. SVH holds a 99.75% interest in Station Venture Operations, LP (“SVO”), which is the operating company that manages KXAS-TV and KNSD-TV, the television stations that comprise the joint venture. The following presents summarized financial information of SVH and SVO (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash distributions to SVH from SVO

 

$

14,763

 

$

15,760

 

$

42,424

 

$

29,535

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income to SVH from SVO

 

$

11,467

 

$

15,457

 

$

33,246

 

$

40,429

 

Interest expense, net

 

(17,301

)

(16,569

)

(51,109

)

(49,553

)

Net loss of SVH

 

$

(5,834

)

$

(1,112

)

$

(17,863

)

$

(9,124

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales of SVO

 

$

29,752

 

$

31,956

 

$

87,641

 

$

95,096

 

Operating expenses of SVO

 

(18,493

)

(18,565

)

(54,526

)

(55,925

)

Income from operations of SVO

 

11,270

 

13,379

 

33,154

 

39,157

 

Net income of SVO

 

11,250

 

13,329

 

33,083

 

39,007

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortfall loans outstanding and accrued interest payable to LIN Television from SVH

 

$

5,982

 

$

4,225

 

Shortfall loans outstanding and accrued interest payable to NBCUniversal and General Electric from SVH

 

23,372

 

16,508

 

 

In 2008, we recorded an impairment charge that reduced the carrying value of our investment in SVH to $0. Subsequent to the reduction of the SVH carrying value to $0, and as a result of our guarantee of the debt financing provided by General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”) of SVH as further described in Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies”, we continue to track our share of the income or loss of SVH, but currently are not recording such loss in our financial statements until, or unless, our proportionate share of SVH losses exceeds previously recognized impairment charges.  When SVH generates income, we will begin recording our proportionate share of such income once it exceeds the operating losses not previously recognized in our financial statements.

 

We record any shortfall liability, pursuant to the shortfall funding agreements described further in Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies”, when it is probable and estimable that there will be a shortfall at the SVH level requiring funding from us.  As of December 31, 2010, we had a shortfall liability of $1.9 million recognized for all probable and estimable shortfall loans to the joint venture.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, joint venture management provided us with a preliminary 2012 budget.  Also, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, NBCUniversal publicly discussed its intent to secure additional retransmission consent fees for the NBC owned television stations, which would include the joint venture stations that comprise SVO.

 

Based on that information, we believe the joint venture’s operating results in 2012 will improve as a result of, among other things, the upcoming 2012 election cycle, and NBC’s broadcast of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Superbowl XLVI. In September, 2011 we also learned that joint venture management has planned significant capital investments at the joint venture stations that will largely offset any expected 2012 increases in operating cash flows. As a result, we expect the joint venture to require additional shortfall loans in 2012 and into 2013. While there can be no assurances, we believe, that beginning in 2013, operating results will improve over 2012 as a result of further economic recovery, forecasted growth in retransmission consent fees, and further growth in digital revenues.

 

For these reasons, and based on our assumption that we and GE will continue to enter into future shortfall funding agreements, as of September 30, 2011, we estimate our share of debt service shortfalls to be approximately $1.3 million for the remainder of 2011 and approximately $3.3 million for 2012 and into 2013. Accordingly, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we have recognized additional shortfall liabilities of $3.0 million and $4.1 million, respectively, for our approximate 20% share of joint venture debt service shortfalls for the remainder of 2011, and during 2012 and into 2013.

 

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Table of Contents

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, pursuant to the current shortfall funding agreement with General Electric Company (“GE”) as further described in Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies”, we funded shortfall loans in the aggregate principal amount of $0.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, to the joint venture, representing our approximate 20% share of 2011 debt service shortfalls at the joint venture, and GE funded shortfall loans in the aggregate principal amount of $1.5 million and $5.5 million, respectively, to the joint venture, representing its approximate 80% share in 2011 debt service shortfalls at the joint venture. As a result, our remaining shortfall liability as of September 30, 2011 is $4.6 million for our approximate 20% share of estimated cash shortfalls for the remainder of 2011, and during 2012 and into 2013. While there can be no assurances, we believe cash shortfalls beyond the amounts currently accrued are not probable. However, our prospective shortfall obligations could vary from our estimate based upon changes in the performance of the joint venture stations and any changes to the proportionate share of each party’s debt service shortfall.

 

Because of uncertainty surrounding the joint venture’s ability to repay shortfall loans, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the additional amounts recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 for accrued shortfall loans will not be recovered within a reasonable period of time. Accordingly, we recognized charges of $3.0 million and $4.1 million, to reflect the impairment of the shortfall loans, which were classified as share of loss in equity investments in our consolidated statement of operations, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. Additionally, during 2009 and 2010 we fully impaired all amounts recognized for shortfall loans to the joint venture. Therefore, the amounts receivable under the shortfall loans, and all accrued interest due from the joint venture, are carried at zero on our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Should there be sufficient evidence in the future to suggest that collectability of the shortfall loans and accrued interest is reasonably certain, we would reverse the previously recognized impairment charges, reestablish notes receivable for all previously funded and accrued shortfall loans to the joint venture, and establish accrued interest receivable for all previously funded shortfall loans to the joint venture. For further information on recognition of shortfall funding liabilities, see Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies”.

 

Note 4 — Intangible Assets

 

The following table summarizes the carrying amounts of intangible assets (in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

December 31, 2010

 

 

 

Gross Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Gross Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Goodwill

 

$

117,655

 

$

 

$

117,259

 

$

 

Broadcast licenses

 

400,786

 

 

391,801

 

 

Intangible assets subject to amortization (1)

 

15,404

 

(9,741

)

14,403

 

(8,924

)

Total intangible assets

 

$

533,845

 

$

(9,741

)

$

523,463

 

$

(8,924

)

 


(1)                      Intangible assets subject to amortization are amortized on a straight line basis and include acquired customer relationships, brand names, non-compete agreements, internal-use software, favorable operating leases, tower rental income leases, retransmission consent agreements and network affiliations.

 

There were no events during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 that warranted an interim impairment test of our indefinite-lived intangible assets.

 

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Note 5 — Debt

 

We guarantee all of LIN Television’s debt. All of the consolidated 100% owned subsidiaries of LIN Television fully and unconditionally guarantee LIN Television’s senior secured credit facility (the “2009 senior secured credit facility”), 83/8% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Senior Notes”), 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 and 6½%  Senior Subordinated Notes — Class B due 2013 (together the “Senior Subordinated Notes”) on a joint-and-several basis.

 

Debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Senior Secured Credit Facility:

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit loans

 

$

 

$

 

Term loans

 

 

9,573

 

83/8% Senior Notes due 2018

 

200,000

 

200,000

 

6½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013

 

275,883

 

275,883

 

$141,316 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 - Class B, net of discount of $2,412 and $3,512 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively

 

138,904

 

137,804

 

WBDT Television, LLC term loan due 2016

 

828

 

 

Total debt

 

615,615

 

623,260

 

Less current portion

 

184

 

9,573

 

Total long-term debt

 

$

615,431

 

$

613,687

 

 

On October 26, 2011, LIN Television entered into a credit agreement governing a senior secured credit facility (the “2011 senior secured credit facility”) with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Administrative Agent, and the banks and other financial institutions party thereto, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto. The 2011 senior secured credit facility is comprised of a six-year, $125.0 million term loan and a five-year, $75.0 million revolving credit facility, and bears interest at a rate based on, at our option, either a) the LIBOR interest rate, or b) the ABR rate, which is an interest rate that is equal to the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus ½ of 1 percent, and (iii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1%. In addition, the rate we select also bears an applicable margin based upon our Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio, currently set at 3.00% and 2.00% for LIBOR based loans and ABR rate loans, respectively. Concurrent with the closing of the 2011 senior secured credit facility, we terminated the credit agreement governing the 2009 senior secured credit facility.

 

Additionally, on October 26, 2011, we issued a notice to redeem $109.1 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes, and $55.9 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes - Class B.  The redemption of these notes, at par, will be funded in part by proceeds from the term loan, the revolving credit facility and cash on hand. We expect the redemption to become effective during November 2011. The 2011 senior secured credit facility includes provisions for certain incremental term loan and revolving credit facilities that we may utilize to redeem the remaining outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes, at or prior to November 13, 2012. If we do not redeem, refinance or discharge the remaining Senior Subordinated Notes prior to November 13, 2012 (or enter into arrangements pursuant to which we will do so on or prior to December 31, 2012), the maturity of both the revolving credit loans and term loans under the 2011 senior secured credit facility will accelerate to November 13, 2012.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we paid the remaining balance of $9.6 million on our term loans, and our available revolving credit commitments decreased from $76.1 million to $48.7 million under our 2009 senior secured credit facility, based on a computation of excess cash flow for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. As a result, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, consisting of a write-down of deferred financing fees related to the revolving credit facility and term loans. Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, WBDT, a consolidated VIE, entered into a term loan with an unrelated third party in an original principal amount of $0.9 million to fund a portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of certain assets of WBDT-TV. This term loan matures in equal quarterly installments through May 2016. LIN Television fully and unconditionally guarantees this loan.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, LIN Television completed an offering of its Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $200.0 million.  Proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes were used to repay $148.9 million of principal on our revolving credit facility and $45.9 million of principal on our term loans, plus accrued interest, pursuant to the mandatory prepayment terms of the credit agreement governing the terms of our senior secured credit facility.  As a result, during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.7 million, consisting of a write-down of deferred financing fees related to the revolving credit facility and term loans.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The fair values of our long-term debt are estimated based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues, or based on the current rates offered to us for debt of the same remaining maturities. The carrying amounts and fair values of our long-term debt were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30,
2011

 

December 31,
2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying amount

 

$

615,615

 

$

623,260

 

Fair value

 

611,394

 

634,245

 

 

Note 6 — Derivative Financial Instruments

 

We have used derivative financial instruments in the management of our interest rate exposure for our long-term debt, principally our 2009 senior secured credit facility. In accordance with our policy, we do not enter into derivative instruments unless there is an underlying exposure and we do not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes.

 

During the second quarter of 2006, we entered into a contract to hedge a notional amount of the declining balances of our term loans (the “2006 interest rate hedge”) to mitigate changes in our cash flows resulting from fluctuations in interest rates. The 2006 interest rate hedge effectively converted the floating LIBOR rate-based-payments to fixed payments at 5.33% plus an applicable margin rate calculated under the 2009 senior secured credit facility, which we terminated on October 26, 2011 concurrent with our entry into the 2011 senior secured credit facility.  The 2006 interest rate hedge expired on November 4, 2011.

 

We have historically designated the 2006 interest rate hedge as a cash flow hedge. However, as a result of a repayment of $45.9 million of principal on our term loans during 2010, the 2006 interest rate hedge ceased to be highly effective in hedging the variable rate cash flows associated with our term loans; accordingly, all changes in fair value are now recorded to our consolidated statement of operations. We recorded a gain on derivative instruments of $0.6 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.  Additionally, we recognized a gain of $(0.5) million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, and a loss of $2.6 million, which included a charge of $3.6 million for the reclassification of the fair value recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss to our consolidated statement of operations, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

The fair value of the 2006 interest rate hedge liability was $0.2 million and $2.0 million as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and is included in accrued expenses in our consolidated balance sheet. The fair value is calculated using the discounted expected future cash outflows from a series of three-month LIBOR strips through November 4, 2011, the same maturity date as our 2009 senior secured credit facility. The fair value of this derivative was calculated by using observable inputs (Level 2) as defined under the three-level fair value hierarchy.

 

The following table summarizes our derivative activity during the three and nine months ended September 30 (in thousands):

 

 

 

(Gain) Loss on Derivative Instruments

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Mark-to-Market Adjustments on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 interest rate hedge

 

$

(565

)

$

(481

)

$

(1,768

)

$

2,584

 

 

 

 

Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Mark-to-Market Adjustments on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 interest rate hedge

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

2,516

 

 

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Note 7 — Fair Value Measurements

 

We record the fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities on a recurring basis. The following table summarizes the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the accompanying financial statements using the three-level fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Quoted prices in
active markets

 

Significant
observable inputs

 

 

 

 

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

Total

 

September 30, 2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation related investments

 

$

523

 

$

1,266

 

$

1,789

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 interest rate hedge

 

$

 

$

198

 

$

198

 

Deferred compensation related liabilities

 

$

1,712

 

$

 

$

1,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation related investments

 

$

1,435

 

$

577

 

$

2,012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 interest rate hedge

 

$

 

$

1,960

 

$

1,960

 

Deferred compensation related liabilities

 

$

2,010

 

$

 

$

2,010

 

 

As of the dates presented, we had no financial assets or liabilities for which the fair value was determined using Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  The fair value of our deferred compensation related investments is based on the cash surrender values of life insurance policies underlying our supplemental income deferral plan, as well as the fair value of the investments selected by employees. The fair value of our deferred compensation related liabilities is determined based on the fair value of the investments selected by employees.

 

For a description of how the fair value of our 2006 interest rate hedge is determined, see Note 6 — “Derivative Financial Instruments.”

 

Note 8 — Retirement Plans

 

The following table shows the components of the net periodic pension (benefit) cost and the contributions to the 401(k) Plan and the retirement plans (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Net periodic pension (benefit) cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest cost

 

$

1,495

 

$

1,523

 

$

4,484

 

$

4,569

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(1,700

)

(1,611

)

(5,100

)

(4,834

)

Amortization of pension net loss

 

197

 

94

 

592

 

282

 

Net periodic pension (benefit) cost:

 

$

(8

)

$

6

 

$

(24

)

$

17

 

Contributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

401(k) Plan

 

$

944

 

$

785

 

$

2,811

 

$

2,557

 

Defined contribution retirement plans

 

48

 

180

 

120

 

180

 

Defined benefit retirement plans

 

1,850

 

2,600

 

4,175

 

3,500

 

Total contributions

 

$

2,842

 

$

3,565

 

$

7,106

 

$

6,237

 

 

We expect to make contributions of $0.8 million to our defined benefit retirement plans during the remainder of 2011. See Note 11 — “Retirement Plans” included in Item 15 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (“10-K”) for a full description of our retirement plans.

 

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Note 9 — Restructuring

 

During the year ended December 31, 2010, we recorded a restructuring charge of $3.3 million as a result of the consolidation of certain activities at our stations and our corporate headquarters, which resulted in the termination of 66 employees. As of December 31, 2010, we had a remaining accrual of $0.9 million related to these restructuring actions. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we made cash payments of $54 thousand and $0.8 million, respectively, related to these restructuring actions and expect to make cash payments of $58 thousand during the remainder of 2011.

 

Note 10 — Income Taxes

 

We recorded a provision for income taxes of $2.3 million and $13.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to a provision for income taxes of $5.7 million and $9.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 69.8%, compared to 38.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in the tax provision was primarily a result of state tax legislation enacted in Michigan in May 2011, which repealed the Michigan business tax (“MBT”), and implemented a corporate income tax instead, effective January 2012.  As a result of the elimination of the MBT, certain future tax deductions that were available to be utilized beginning in 2015, and had been recognized as deferred tax assets in our financial statements, will not be deductible. Therefore, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recognized incremental deferred income tax expense of $5.1 million, net of federal benefit, for the reversal of these previously established deferred tax assets.

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had a valuation allowance of $60.0 million placed against our deferred tax assets, of which $35.1 million related to federal net operating loss carryforwards generated from 1999 to 2002. It is reasonably possible that some or all of this federal valuation allowance related to 1999 to 2002 may decrease within the next 12 months, primarily due to the Company’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income prior to the expiration of those net operating loss carryforwards. Although realization is not assured, management believes that during the next 12 months it will become more likely than not that some or all of these deferred tax assets will be realizable. The Company expects that any such changes would have a material impact on its annual effective tax rate.

 

Note 11 — Commitments and Contingencies

 

Commitments

 

We lease land, buildings, vehicles and equipment pursuant to non-cancelable operating lease agreements and we contract for general services pursuant to non-cancelable operating leases and agreements that expire at various dates through 2036. In addition, we have entered into commitments for future syndicated entertainment and sports programming. The following table summarizes all of our estimated future cash payments, after giving effect to amendments to certain of these agreements since December 31, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

Syndicated

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Leases

 

Television

 

 

 

 

 

and Agreements

 

Programming

 

Total

 

Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

$

20,365

 

25,918

 

$

46,283

 

2012

 

22,198

 

23,313

 

45,511

 

2013

 

12,907

 

20,161

 

33,068

 

2014

 

9,630

 

9,795

 

19,425

 

2015

 

6,172

 

782

 

6,954

 

Thereafter

 

11,181

 

 

11,181

 

Total obligations

 

82,453

 

79,969

 

162,422

 

Less recorded contracts

 

 

31,577

 

31,577

 

Future contracts

 

$

82,453

 

$

48,392

 

$

130,845

 

 

Contingencies

 

GECC Note

 

GECC provided debt financing for the joint venture between NBCUniversal and us, in the form of an $815.5 million non-amortizing senior secured note due 2023 bearing interest at an initial rate of 8% per annum until March 2, 2013 and 9% per annum thereafter (“GECC Note”). The GECC Note is an obligation of the joint venture. We have an approximate 20% equity interest in the joint venture and NBCUniversal has the remaining approximate 80% equity interest, in which we and NBCUniversal each have a 50%

 

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voting interest. NBCUniversal operates the two television stations held by the joint venture, KXAS-TV, an NBC affiliate in Dallas, and KNSD-TV, an NBC affiliate in San Diego, pursuant to a management agreement. LIN TV has guaranteed the payment of principal and interest on the GECC Note.

 

In January 2011, Comcast acquired control of the business of NBCUniversal, Inc. through acquisition of a 51% interest in NBCUniversal, LLC, while GE owns the remaining 49%. GECC remains a majority-owned subsidiary of GE, and LIN TV remains the guarantor of the GECC Note.

 

In light of the adverse effect of the economic downturn on the joint venture’s operating results, in 2009 we entered into an agreement with NBCUniversal, which covered the period from March 6, 2009 through April 1, 2010 (the “Original Shortfall Funding Agreement”) and in 2010 we entered into a second agreement, which covered the period from April 2, 2010 through April 1, 2011 (“2010 Shortfall Funding Agreement”). These agreements provided that: i) we and NBCUniversal waived the requirement that the joint venture maintain debt service reserve cash balances of at least $15 million; ii) the joint venture would use a portion of its existing debt service reserve cash balances to fund interest payments on the GECC Note in 2009 and 2010; iii) NBCUniversal agreed to defer its receipt of 2008, 2009 and 2010 management fees; and iv) we agreed that if the joint venture does not have sufficient cash to fund interest payments on the GECC Note through April 1, 2011, we and NBCUniversal would each provide the joint venture with a shortfall loan on the basis of our percentage of economic interest in the joint venture.

 

Because of anticipated future cash shortfalls at the joint venture, on March 14, 2011, we and GE entered into an agreement (the “2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement” and together with the Original Shortfall Funding Agreement and the 2010 Shortfall Funding Agreement the “Shortfall Funding Agreements”) covering the period from April 2, 2011 through April 1, 2012. Under the terms of the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement, we agreed that if the joint venture does not have sufficient cash to fund interest payments on the GECC Note through April 1, 2012, we and GE would each provide the joint venture with a shortfall loan. Any shortfall loans funded by LIN under the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement will be calculated on the basis of our percentage of economic interest in the joint venture, and GE’s share of shortfall loans will be calculated on the basis of NBCUniversal’s percentage of economic interest in the joint venture. Solely to enable the joint venture with NBCUniversal to obtain shortfall loans from GE under the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement, during the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the joint venture (i) amended its credit agreement with GECC, (ii) amended the LLC Agreement governing the operation of the joint venture, and (iii) received the consent of Comcast Corporation to the terms and conditions on which GE provides its proportionate share of any joint venture debt service shortfall.

 

Under the terms of the joint venture’s TV Master Service Agreement with NBCUniversal, management fees incurred by the joint venture to NBCUniversal during the term of the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement will continue to accrue, but are not payable if any existing joint venture shortfall loans remain outstanding. Management fees payable in arrears attributable to 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 are also not payable to NBCUniversal if any joint venture shortfall loans remain outstanding.

 

We recognize shortfall funding liabilities to the joint venture on our consolidated balance sheet when those liabilities become both probable and estimable, which results when joint venture management provides us with budget or forecast information of operating cash flows and working capital needs indicating that a debt service shortfall is probable to occur and when we have reached or intend to reach a shortfall funding agreement covering the budgeted or forecasted period. For debt service shortfalls beyond the April 1, 2012 expiration of the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement, and in the absence of a renewed shortfall funding arrangement, we have the option, but not the obligation, to fund the entire amount of the shortfall. Our ability to provide such funding would be subject to amounts available pursuant to our existing and future covenants in our debt agreements. The source of such funds would likely be cash flows from operations. We do not believe any such future funding is probable as of September 30, 2011. As of December 31, 2010, we had a shortfall liability of $1.9 million recognized for all probable and estimable shortfall loans to the joint venture.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, joint venture management provided us with a preliminary 2012 budget.  Also, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, NBCUniversal publicly discussed its intent to secure additional retransmission consent fees for the NBC owned television stations, which would include the joint venture stations that comprise SVO.

 

Based on that information, we believe the joint venture’s operating results in 2012 will improve as a result of, among other things, the upcoming 2012 election cycle, and NBC’s broadcast of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Superbowl XLVI. In September, 2011 we also learned that joint venture management has planned significant capital investments at the joint venture stations that will largely offset any expected 2012 increases in operating cash flows. As a result, we expect the joint venture to require additional shortfall loans in 2012 and into 2013. While there can be no assurances, we believe, that beginning in 2013, operating results will improve over 2012 as a result of further economic recovery, forecasted growth in retransmission consent fees, and further growth in digital revenues.

 

For these reasons, and based on our assumption that we and GE will continue to enter into future shortfall funding agreements, as of September 30, 2011, we estimate our share of debt service shortfalls to be approximately $1.3 million for the remainder of 2011 and approximately $3.3 million for 2012 and into 2013. Accordingly, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we have recognized additional shortfall liabilities of $3.0 million and $4.1 million, respectively, for our approximate 20% share of joint venture debt service shortfalls for the remainder of 2011 and during 2012 and into 2013.

 

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Because of uncertainty surrounding the joint venture’s ability to repay shortfall loans, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the additional amounts recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 for accrued shortfall loans will not be recovered within a reasonable period of time. Accordingly, we recognized charges of $3.0 million and $4.1 million, to reflect the impairment of the shortfall loans, which were classified as share of loss in equity investments in our consolidated statement of operations, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. Additionally, during 2009 and 2010 we fully impaired all amounts recognized for shortfall loans to the joint venture. Therefore, the amounts receivable under the shortfall loans, and all accrued interest due from the joint venture, are carried at zero on our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Should there be sufficient evidence in the future to suggest that collectability of the shortfall loans and accrued interest is reasonably certain, we would reverse the previously recognized impairment charges and reestablish notes receivable for all previously funded and accrued shortfall loans to the joint venture, and establish accrued interest receivable for all previously funded shortfall loans to the joint venture.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, pursuant to the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement with GE, we funded shortfall loans in the aggregate principal amount of $0.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, to the joint venture, representing our approximate 20% share of 2011 debt service shortfalls at the joint venture, and GE funded shortfall loans in the aggregate principal amount of $1.5 million and $5.5 million, respectively, to the joint venture, representing its approximate 80% share of 2011 debt service shortfalls at the joint venture.  As a result, our remaining shortfall liability as of September 30, 2011 is $4.6 million for our approximate 20% share of estimated cash shortfalls for the remainder of 2011, and during 2012 and into 2013. While there can be no assurances, we believe cash shortfalls beyond the amounts currently accrued are not probable. However, our prospective shortfall obligations could vary from our estimate based upon changes in the performance of the joint venture stations and any changes to the proportionate share of each party’s debt service shortfall.

 

Our ability to honor our shortfall loan obligations under the Shortfall Funding Agreements is limited by certain covenants contained in the 2011 senior secured credit facility and the indentures governing our Senior Notes and our Senior Subordinated Notes. Based on the current 2011 and 2012 forecast provided by joint venture management, and our forecast of total leverage and consolidated EBITDA during 2011 and into 2013, we expect to have the capacity within these restrictions to provide shortfall funding to the joint venture up to the $4.6 million of total accrued shortfall funding liabilities.

 

As of September 30, 2011, we had availability under applicable debt covenants to fund future shortfall loans as follows: (i) approximately $7.0 million of availability under the 2009 senior secured credit facility, (ii) approximately $1.0 billion of availability under the indentures governing our Senior Subordinated Notes, (iii) approximately $131.0 million of availability under the indenture governing our 8 3/8% Senior Notes.  Additionally, as of October 26, 2011, we had $50.0 million of availability under the 2011 senior secured credit facility.

 

The possibility exists that debt service shortfalls at the joint venture could exceed current expectations, including the possibility that neither GE nor Comcast will continue to fund a share of such debt service shortfall loans. Should circumstances arise in which we desire to make shortfall loans to the joint venture in excess of the limitations imposed by the covenants contained in the 2011 senior secured credit facility or the indentures, we could seek an amendment or waiver of such limitations, but there is no assurance that we would be able to obtain such amendment or waiver on a timely basis, or at all, or on terms satisfactory to us. For further information see Item 1A. Risk Factors “The GECC note could result in significant liabilities, including (i) requiring us to make short-term cash payments to the NBCUniversal joint venture to fund interest payments and (ii) potentially giving rise to the acceleration of our existing indebtedness, which would cause such existing indebtedness to become immediately due and payable” in our 10-K.

 

If we are unable to make payments under the Shortfall Funding Agreements, or any future joint venture debt service shortfalls, the joint venture may be unable to fund interest obligations under the GECC Note, resulting in an event of default. An event of default under the GECC Note will occur if the joint venture fails to make any scheduled interest payment within 90 days of the date due and payable, or to pay the principal amount on the maturity date. If the joint venture fails to pay interest on the GECC Note, and no shortfall loan to fund the interest payment is made within 90 days of the date due and payable, an event of default would occur and GECC could accelerate the maturity of the entire amount due under the GECC Note. Other than the acceleration of the principal amount upon an event of default, prepayment of the principal of the note is prohibited unless agreed upon by both NBCUniversal and us. Upon an event of default under the GECC Note, GECC’s only recourse is to the joint venture, our equity interest in the joint venture and, after exhausting all remedies against the assets of the joint venture and the other equity interests in the joint venture, to LIN TV pursuant to its guarantee of the GECC Note.

 

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Under the terms of its guarantee of the GECC Note, LIN TV would be required to make a payment for an amount to be determined upon occurrence of the following events: i) there is an event of default; ii) the default is not remedied; and iii) after GECC exhausts all remedies against the assets of the joint venture, the total amount realized upon exercise of those remedies is less than the $815.5 million principal amount of the GECC Note. Upon the occurrence of such events, the amount owed by LIN TV to GECC pursuant to the guarantee would be calculated as the difference between i) the total amount at which the joint venture’s assets were sold and ii) the principal amount and any unpaid interest due under the GECC Note. As of December 31, 2010, we estimated the fair value of the television stations in the joint venture to be approximately $254.1 million less than the outstanding balance of the GECC Note of $815.5 million.

 

Although we believe the probability is remote that there would be an event of default and therefore an acceleration of the principal amount of the GECC Note, there can be no assurances that such an event of default will not occur. There are no financial or similar covenants in the GECC Note. In addition, since both GE and LIN Television have agreed to fund interest payments through April 1, 2012, if the joint venture is unable to generate sufficient cash to service interest payments on the GECC Note, GE and LIN Television are able to control the occurrence of a default under the GECC Note. Since 2009, LIN Television and its joint venture partners have prevented the occurrence of a default by entering into shortfall funding agreements and funding shortfall loans to the joint venture as further described above.

 

If an event of default occurs under the GECC Note, LIN TV, which conducts all of its operations through its subsidiaries, could experience material adverse consequences, including:

 

·                  GECC, after exhausting all remedies against the joint venture, could enforce its rights under the guarantee, which could cause LIN TV to determine that LIN Television should seek to sell material assets owned by it in order to satisfy LIN TV’s obligations under the guarantee;

 

·                  GECC’s initiation of proceedings against LIN TV under the guarantee could result in a change of control or other material adverse consequences to LIN Television, which could cause an acceleration of LIN Television’s outstanding indebtedness; and

 

·                  if the GECC Note is prepaid because of an acceleration on default or otherwise, LIN TV would incur a substantial tax gain of approximately $815.5 million related to its deferred gain associated with the formation of the joint venture.  This amount of gain, exclusive of any potential utilization of net operating loss carryforwards, would be subject to U.S. Federal and various State tax rates of 35% and approximately 3% (net of Federal benefit), respectively.

 

Note 12 — Related Party

 

As a result of the shares issued by us to ACME as part of the consideration for WCWF-TV and certain assets of WBDT-TV, as described in Note 2 — “Acquisitions”, ACME became a related party to us. With respect to the SSA we have with ACME’s television stations KWBQ-TV, KRWB-TV, and KASY-TV in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM market, we earned $0.2 million in service fee income for the three months ended September 30, 2011, and $0.3 million in service fee income since the May 20, 2011 acquisition date during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

 

We have a noncontrolling investment in an interactive service provider that hosts our web sites.  During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we incurred charges from, and made cash payments to, the provider of $0.6 million and during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we incurred charges from, and made cash payments to, the provider of $1.9 million, for web hosting services and web site development and customization. Additionally, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we incurred charges of $0.4 million and $0.9 million, respectively, and made cash payments of $1.3 million and $1.9 million, respectively, for web hosting services and web site development and customization.

 

Note 13 — Subsequent Event

 

On November 7, 2011, we announced a stock repurchase program for the purchase of up to $25.0 million of our class A common stock over a 12 month period. The class A common stock acquired through the repurchase program will be held as treasury shares and may be used for general corporate purposes, including reissuances in connection with acquisitions, stock option exercises or other employee and director stock plans.

 

On October 26, 2011, LIN Television entered into the 2011 senior secured credit facility with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Administrative Agent, and the banks and other financial institutions party thereto. The 2011 senior secured credit facility is comprised of a six-year, $125.0 million term loan and a five-year, $75.0 million revolving credit facility. Concurrent with the closing of the 2011 senior secured credit facility, we terminated the credit agreement governing the 2009 senior secured credit facility. Additionally, on October 26, 2011, we issued a notice to redeem $109.1 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes, and $55.9 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes - Class B.  The redemption of these notes will be funded in part by proceeds from the term loan, the revolving credit facility and cash on hand. We expect the redemption to become effective during November 2011. For further information see Note 5 — “Debt”.

 

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 LIN TV Corp.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Special Note about Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business, including statements under this caption Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” All of these forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by our management, which, although we believe them to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance upon such estimates and statements. We cannot assure you that any of such estimates or statements will be realized and actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include those discussed under the caption Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (“10-K”) and under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” below.

 

Many of these factors are beyond our control. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

Executive Summary

 

Our Company owns, operates or services 32 broadcast television stations and interactive television station and niche web sites in 17 mid-sized markets. Our operating revenues are derived primarily from the sale of advertising time to local, national and political advertisers and, to a lesser extent, from digital revenues, network compensation, barter and other revenues.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, net revenues decreased $2.8 million and increased $2.6 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year.  The decrease during the three months ended September 30, 2011 is primarily a result of a decrease in political time sales of $9.7 million, partially offset by an increase in digital revenues, which include Internet advertising revenues and retransmission consent fees, of $6.1 million, compared to the same periods in the prior year. The increase during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is primarily due to an increase in digital revenues of $17.4 million, partially offset by a decrease in political time sales of $15.1 million, compared to the same periods in the prior year. Additionally, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, local time sales increased $0.9 million and $1.3 million, respectively, while national time sales decreased $1.0 million and $3.2 million, respectively, for the same periods compared to their respective prior periods.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we acquired the assets of WCWF-TV in Green Bay, WI and certain assets of WBDT-TV in Dayton, OH. Total cash consideration for these acquisitions was $5.8 million, which includes $0.6 million that was funded by us into escrow during 2010. Of the remaining $5.2 million, $0.9 million was funded by WBDT Television, LLC (“WBDT”), a consolidated variable interest entity (“VIE”).

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recognized additional shortfall liabilities of $3.0 million and $4.1 million, respectively, for our approximate 20% share of potential shortfall loan obligations to the joint venture with NBCUniversal for the remainder of 2011, and during 2012 and into 2013. Additionally, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we made shortfall loans in the aggregate principal amounts of $0.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, to the joint venture. As a result, we have a remaining shortfall liability of $4.6 million as of September 30, 2011 for our approximate 20% share of estimated cash shortfalls for the remainder of 2011 and during 2012 and into 2013. For further information see Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies”.

 

On October 26, 2011, LIN Television entered into a credit agreement governing a senior secured credit facility (the “2011 senior secured credit facility”) with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Administrative Agent, and the banks and other financial institutions party thereto. The 2011 senior secured credit facility is comprised of a six-year, $125.0 million term loan and a five-year, $75.0 million revolving credit facility.   Concurrent with the closing of the 2011 senior secured credit facility, we terminated the credit agreement governing the senior secured credit facility expiring on November 4, 2011 (the “2009 senior secured credit facility”). Additionally, on October 26, 2011, we issued a notice to redeem $109.1 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes, and $55.9 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes - Class B.  The redemption of these notes will be funded in part by proceeds from the term loan, the revolving credit facility and cash on hand. We expect the redemption to become effective during November 2011.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Certain of our accounting policies, as well as estimates we make, are critical to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations since they are particularly sensitive to our judgment. Some of these policies and estimates relate to matters that are inherently uncertain. The estimates and judgments we make affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to intangible assets and goodwill, consolidation of VIEs, including the determination of the primary beneficiary of such entities, receivables and investments, shortfall loan obligations related to our joint venture with NBCUniversal, program rights, income taxes, stock-based compensation, employee medical insurance claims, pensions, useful lives of property and equipment, contingencies, barter transactions, acquired asset valuations and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions, and it is possible that such differences could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. For a more detailed explanation of the judgments made in these areas and a discussion of our accounting policies, refer to “Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements” included in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 1 - “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in Item 15. “Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules” of our 10-K.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In September 2011, there were revisions to the accounting standard for goodwill impairment tests. A company will now have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The revisions are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted during 2011 if an entity’s financial statements have not yet been issued. We will early adopt this guidance effective December 31, 2011, and we do not expect it to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

In June 2011, there were revisions to the accounting standard for reporting comprehensive income.  A company will now have the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The revisions are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, and should be applied retrospectively.  We will adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2012, and we do not expect it to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

In October 2009, there were revisions to the accounting standard for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. The revisions address how to separate deliverables and how to measure and allocate arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. The revisions are effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. We adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2011, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Set forth below are key components that contributed to our operating results (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

%

 

Gross

 

 

 

 

 

%

 

Gross

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

change

 

revenues

 

2011

 

2010

 

Change

 

revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local time sales

 

$

56,591

 

$

55,676

 

2

%

50

%

$

172,258

 

$

170,970

 

1

%

52

%

National time sales

 

28,437

 

29,390

 

(3

)%

25

%

84,430

 

87,675

 

(4

)%

25

%

Political time sales

 

2,785

 

12,488

 

(78

)%

2

%

6,058

 

21,183

 

(71

)%

2

%

Digital revenues

 

22,063

 

15,977

 

38

%

20

%

61,193

 

43,789

 

40

%

18

%

Other revenues

 

3,062

 

3,730

 

(18

)%

3

%

9,892

 

10,170

 

(3

)%

3

%

Total gross revenues

 

112,938

 

117,261

 

(4

)%

100

%

333,831

 

333,787

 

 

100

%

Agency commissions

 

(12,125

)

(13,645

)

(11

)%

(11

)%

(36,264

)

(38,866

)

(7

)%

(11

)%

Net revenues

 

100,813

 

103,616

 

(3

)%

89

%

297,567

 

294,921

 

1

%

89

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct operating

 

34,652

 

31,708

 

9

%

 

 

98,947

 

90,836

 

9

%

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

26,427

 

26,660

 

(1

)%

 

 

80,789

 

78,736

 

3

%

 

 

Amortization of program rights

 

5,723

 

6,024

 

(5

)%

 

 

16,859

 

18,070

 

(7

)%

 

 

Corporate

 

5,881

 

6,047

 

(3

)%

 

 

19,702

 

17,925

 

10

%

 

 

Depreciation

 

6,741

 

7,079

 

(5

)%

 

 

19,837

 

21,127

 

(6

)%

 

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

245

 

411

 

(40

)%

 

 

817

 

1,232

 

(34

)%

 

 

Restructuring charge

 

498

 

 

100

%

 

 

498

 

2,181

 

(77

)%

 

 

Loss (gain) from asset dispositions

 

51

 

(1,148

)

(104

)%

 

 

409

 

(3,359

)

(112

)%

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

80,218

 

76,781

 

4

%

 

 

237,858

 

226,748

 

5

%

 

 

Operating income

 

$

20,595

 

$

26,835

 

(23

)%

 

 

$

59,709

 

$

68,173

 

(12

)%

 

 

 

Period Comparison

 

Revenues

 

Net revenues consist primarily of national, local and political advertising revenues, net of sales adjustments and agency commissions. Additional amounts are generated from Internet revenues, retransmission consent fees, barter revenues, network compensation, production revenues, tower rental income and station copyright royalties.

 

Net revenues decreased $2.8 million, or 3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to: (a) a decrease in political time sales of $9.7 million; (b) a decrease in national time sales of $1.0 million; and (c) a decrease in other revenues of $0.7 million. These decreases were partially offset by: (a) an increase in digital revenues of $6.1 million; (b) an increase in local time sales of $0.9 million; and (c) a decrease in agency commissions of $1.5 million.

 

Net revenues increased $2.6 million, or 1%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to: (a) an increase in digital revenues of $17.4 million; (b) a decrease in agency commissions of $2.6 million; and (c) an increase in local time sales of $1.3 million. These increases were partially offset by: (a) a decrease in political time sales of $15.1 million; (b) a decrease in national time sales of $3.2 million; and (c) a decrease in other revenues of $0.3 million.

 

The increase in digital revenues during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 is a result of growth in Internet advertising revenues resulting from increased advertising sales on RMM’s online advertising network, increased traffic to our Internet web sites, and growth in retransmission consent revenues, primarily as a result of contractual rate increases. The increase in digital revenues was offset in part by a decrease in political time sales primarily due to Congressional, state and local elections which take place in even numbered years. Additionally, local and national time sales continue to be unfavorably impacted by economic uncertainty. Local and national times sales combined were flat for the three months ended September 30, 2011, and had a combined decrease of $2.0 million, or 1%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same periods last year. Time sales in the automotive category, which represented 24% of our local and national time sales for the three months ended September 30, 2011, decreased by 3% to $20.4 million, compared to $21.0 million for the same period in 2010.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, time sales in the automotive category, which represented 23% of local and national time sales, decreased by 4% to $58.9 million, compared to $61.1 million for the same period in 2010, in part as a result of disruptions in the automotive supply chain due to the March 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.

 

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Operating Costs and Expenses

 

Operating costs and expenses increased $3.4 million and $11.1 million, or 4% and 5%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year. The increase during the three months ended September 30, 2011, is primarily due to an increase in direct operating expenses of $2.9 million as a result of an increase in variable costs related to growth in our digital revenues and growth in programming expense compared to the same period in the prior year.  The increase during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, is primarily due to increases in direct operating, selling, general and administrative and corporate expenses. The increases in direct operating and selling, general and administrative expenses are primarily due to an increase in variable costs related to growth in our digital revenues and growth in programming expense compared to the same periods in the prior year. Additionally, the increase in selling, general and administrative expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is due in part to the result of a benefit from a litigation settlement that occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, which did not recur during the same period of 2011. Corporate expenses increased during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as a result of increases in legal and professional fees, and stock-based compensation compared to the same periods in the prior year.

 

Operating costs and expenses also reflects the effect of a gain from asset dispositions of $1.1 million and $3.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, that was primarily attributable to a gain on the exchange of certain equipment with Sprint Nextel that did not recur in the same periods of 2011. Additionally, operating costs and expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 also reflected a decrease in restructuring costs of $1.7 million compared to the same period in the prior year.

 

Other expense

 

Other expense, net increased $2.3 million and decreased $2.2 million, or 18% and 5%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the same periods last year.  The increase during the three months ended September 30, 2011 is primarily due to an increase in share of loss on equity investments of $3.0 million, partially offset by a decrease in interest expense of $0.7 million. The decrease during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is primarily due to an increase in gain (loss) on derivative instruments of $4.4 million and a decrease in loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.6 million, which was offset in part by an increase in share of loss on equity investments of $4.1 million, compared to the same periods last year. The increase in share of loss on equity investments for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 is due to an increase in shortfall liabilities to our joint venture with NBCUniversal compared to the same periods in the prior year. The variances for gain (loss) on derivative instruments and loss on extinguishment of debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 are attributable to charges associated with the issuance of our 83/8% Senior Notes during the second quarter of 2010 that did not recur in 2011.

 

Interest expense, net decreased $0.7 million and $0.2 million, or 5% and 1%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year primarily due to reductions in interest expense on borrowings under our 2009 senior secured credit facility as a result of a reduction of balances outstanding under the facility during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same periods in the prior year. The decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was partially offset by additional interest expense resulting from the issuance of our 83/8% Senior Notes during the second quarter of 2010.  The following summarizes the components of our interest expense, net (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Components of interest expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Secured Credit Facility

 

$

164

 

$

630

 

$

808

 

$

5,008

 

83/8% Senior Notes

 

4,347

 

4,341

 

12,995

 

8,115

 

6 ½% Senior Subordinated Notes

 

4,664

 

4,664

 

14,042

 

14,042

 

6 ½% Senior Subordinated Notes — Class B

 

2,757

 

2,754

 

8,295

 

8,285

 

Other interest costs

 

676

 

924

 

2,117

 

3,006

 

Total interest expense, net

 

$

12,608

 

$

13,313

 

$

38,257

 

$

38,456

 

 

Provision for Income Taxes

 

Provision for income taxes decreased $3.4 million and increased $3.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year. Our effective income tax rate was 69.8% and 38.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in the tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was primarily a result of state tax legislation enacted in Michigan in May 2011, which repealed the Michigan business tax (“MBT”), and implemented a corporate income tax instead, effective January 2012.  As a result of the elimination of the MBT, certain future tax deductions that were available to be utilized beginning in 2015, and had been recognized as deferred tax assets in our

 

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financial statements, will not be deductible. Therefore, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recognized incremental deferred income tax expense of $5.1 million, net of federal benefit, for the reversal of these previously established deferred tax assets.

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had a valuation allowance of $60.0 million placed against our deferred tax assets, of which $35.1 million related to federal net operating loss carryforwards generated from 1999 to 2002. It is reasonably possible that some or all of this federal valuation allowance related to 1999 to 2002 may decrease within the next 12 months, primarily due to the Company’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income prior to the expiration of those net operating loss carryforwards. Although realization is not assured, management believes that during the next 12 months it will become more likely than not that some or all of these deferred tax assets will be realizable. The Company expects that any such changes would have a material impact on its annual effective tax rate.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our principal sources of funds for working capital have historically been cash from operations and borrowings under our 2009 senior secured credit facility. As of September 30, 2011, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $37.6 million, and a $48.7 million revolving credit facility, all of which was available, subject to certain covenant restrictions.

 

Our total outstanding debt as of September 30, 2011 was $615.6 million. This excludes the contingent obligation associated with our guarantee of the $815.5 million GECC Note associated with the joint venture with NBCUniversal (see Note 11 - “Commitments and Contingencies” for further details). As of September 30, 2011, we had no amounts outstanding under the 2009 senior secured credit facility, which we terminated on October 26, 2011.  Both of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes and 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes — Class B (together the “Senior Subordinated Notes”) are due May 15, 2013, and our 83/8% Senior Notes (“Senior Notes”) are due April 15, 2018.

 

Our operating plan for the next twelve months requires that we generate cash from operations and repay amounts, including mandatory repayments of term loans under our 2011 senior secured credit facility as described below. Our ability to make use of the revolving credit facility is contingent on our compliance with certain financial covenants, which are measured, in part, by the level of earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) we generate from our operations. As of September 30, 2011, we were in compliance with all financial and non-financial covenants under the 2009 senior secured credit facility.

 

Our future ability to generate cash from operations and from borrowings under our senior secured credit facility could be adversely affected by a number of risks, which are discussed in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section within Item 7.  “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our 10-K.

 

Our liquidity position during 2011 has been, and over the next 12 months and beyond will primarily be affected by, but is not limited to, the following:

 

·                  Economic uncertainty. Local and national time sales, which exclude political time sales, were flat for the three months ended September 30, 2011, and decreased $2.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same periods in the prior year. There remains significant economic uncertainty nationally and in our markets, which could adversely affect local and national revenues during the remainder of 2011, and beyond. We expect that growth in digital revenues will continue to partially offset declines in local and national time sales during the remainder of 2011, and beyond, however, there can be no assurance that this will occur.

 

·                  Entry into 2011 senior secured credit facility and Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2013.  On October 26, 2011, we entered into the 2011 senior secured credit facility, comprised of a $125.0 million term loan and a $75.0 million revolving credit facility, of which there were no amounts drawn against the revolving credit facility as of the date of this report. Concurrent with the closing of the 2011 senior secured credit facility, we terminated the credit agreement governing the 2009 senior secured credit facility. Additionally, on October 26, 2011, we issued a notice to redeem $109.1 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes, and $55.9 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes - Class B.  The redemption of these notes will be funded in part by proceeds from the term loan, the revolving credit facility and cash on hand. We expect the redemption to become effective during November 2011. After the redemption, there will remain outstanding $166.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 and $85.4 million in aggregate principal amount of the 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 — Class B. The 2011 senior secured credit facility includes provisions for certain incremental term loan and revolving credit facilities. We expect to use these or other financing sources available to us to redeem the remaining amounts due under the Senior Subordinated Notes prior to November 13, 2012. If we do not redeem, refinance or discharge the Senior Subordinated Notes prior to November 13, 2012 (or enter into arrangements pursuant to which we will do so on or prior to December 31, 2012), the maturity of both the revolving credit loans and term loans under

 

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the 2011 senior secured credit facility will accelerate to November 13, 2012. While we believe the Company will be successful in completing the repayment of the Senior Subordinated Notes prior to November 13, 2012, we can make no assurances as to the timing, capacity or terms on which we may complete such a transaction.

 

·                  Cash requirements related to the NBCUniversal joint venture. As of December 31, 2010, we had a shortfall liability of $1.9 million recognized for all probable and estimable shortfall loans to our joint venture with NBCUniversal. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we made shortfall loans to the joint venture in the aggregate principal amount of $1.4 million, representing our approximate 20% share of 2011 debt service shortfalls at the joint venture. As of September 30, 2011, we estimate our share of debt service shortfalls to be $4.6 million for the remainder of 2011, and during 2012 and into 2013.  As a result, we have an accrued shortfall funding liability of $4.6 million as of September 30, 2011, which we expect to fund during the remainder of 2011, and during 2012 and into 2013. While there can be no assurances, we believe cash shortfalls beyond the amounts currently accrued are not probable. Actual cash shortfalls at the joint venture could vary from our current estimates.

 

·                  Acquisition of WCWF-TV and certain assets of WBDT-TV.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we acquired the assets of WCWF-TV in Green Bay, WI and certain assets of WBDT-TV in Dayton, OH. Total cash consideration for these acquisitions was $5.8 million, which includes $0.6 million that was funded by us into escrow during 2010. Of the remaining $5.2 million, $0.9 million was contributed by WBDT, a consolidated VIE. The contribution from WBDT was financed through a $0.9 million term loan with an unrelated third party entered into by WBDT.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table summarizes the estimated future cash payments related to our debt obligations after giving effect to the 2011 senior secured credit facility entered into on October 26, 2011, and amendments to certain program obligations, operating leases and operating contracts since December 31, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016 and

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

2012-2013

 

2014-2015

 

thereafter

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principal payments and mandatory redemptions on debt(1)

 

$

174,711

 

$

258,817

 

$

31,618

 

$

287,546

 

$

752,692

 

Cash interest on debt(2)

 

45,284

 

68,139

 

43,090

 

47,052

 

203,565

 

Program payments(3)

 

25,918

 

43,474

 

10,577

 

 

79,969

 

Operating leases(4)

 

1,249

 

2,031

 

1,174

 

2,668

 

7,122

 

Operating agreements(5)

 

19,116

 

33,074

 

14,628

 

8,513

 

75,331

 

 


(1)          We are obligated to make mandatory quarterly principal payments and to use proceeds of asset sales not reinvested to pay-down the term loan under the 2011 senior secured credit facility. The credit agreement governing the 2011 senior secured credit facility also requires on an annual basis, following the delivery of our year-end financial statements, mandatory prepayments of principal of the term loans based on a computation of excess cash flow for the preceding fiscal year, as more fully set forth in the credit agreement. 2011 includes obligations under the notice we issued on October 26, 2011 to redeem $109.1 million of the 61/2% Senior Subordinated Notes and $55.9 million of the 61/2% Senior Subordinated Notes — Class B. We are also obligated to repay the remainder of each of the 61/2% Senior Subordinated Notes and 61/2% Senior Subordinated Notes — Class B and repay in full the 83/8% Senior Notes on April 15, 2018 as described below in Item 1A. “Risk Factors - We may not be able to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness or obtain additional financing on satisfactory terms.” The amount does not include any potential amounts that may be paid related to the GECC Note as described in Item 1A. “Risk Factors - The General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”) Note could result in significant liabilities, including (i) requiring us to make short-term cash payments to the NBCUniversal joint venture to fund interest payments and (ii) potentially giving rise to the acceleration of our existing indebtedness, which would cause such existing indebtedness to become immediately due and payable” in our 10-K.

 

(2)          We have contractual obligations to pay cash interest on the 2009 senior secured credit facility, (as well as commitment fees of 0.50% on our revolving credit facility through November 4, 2011), on the 2011 senior secured credit facility, (as well as commitments fees of 0.50% on our revolving credit facility), effective October 26, 2011, on each of the 61/2% Senior Subordinated Notes and the 61/2% Senior Subordinated Notes—Class B through May 15, 2013 and on the 83/8% Senior Notes through April 15, 2018.

 

(3)          We have entered into commitments for future syndicated news, entertainment and sports programming. We have recorded $31.6 million of program obligations as of September 30, 2011 and we have unrecorded commitments of $48.4 million for programming that is not available to air as of September 30, 2011.

 

(4)          We lease land, buildings, vehicles and equipment under non-cancelable operating lease agreements.

 

(5)          We have entered into a variety of agreements for services used in the operation of our stations including ratings services, consulting and research services, news video services, news weather services, marketing services and other operating contracts under non-cancelable operating agreements.

 

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Other than as shown above, there were no material changes in our contractual obligations from those shown in Liquidity and Capital Resources within Item 7.  “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our 10-K.

 

Summary of Cash Flows

 

The following presents summarized cash flow information (in thousands):

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011 vs. 2010

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

$

54,667

 

$

63,678

 

$

(9,011

)

Cash used in investing activities

 

(20,358

)

(18,342

)

(2,016

)

Cash used in financing activities

 

(8,383

)

(47,675

)

39,292

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

$

25,926

 

$

(2,339

)

$

28,265

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $9.0 million to $54.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease was primarily attributable to changes in working capital as a result of the timing of collections and payments outstanding compared to the same period last year.

 

Net cash used in investing activities increased $2.0 million to $20.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase is primarily due to the payment of $5.2 million for the acquisition of WCWF-TV and certain assets of WBDT-TV during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in shortfall loans to the joint venture with NBCUniversal of $2.7 million compared to the same period in the prior year.

 

Net cash used in financing activities decreased $39.3 million to $8.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in net principal payments on long-term debt when compared to the same periods in the prior year.

 

Description of Indebtedness

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Senior Secured Credit Facility:

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit loans

 

$

 

$

 

Term loans

 

 

9,573

 

83/8% Senior Notes due 2018

 

200,000

 

200,000

 

6½% Senior Subordinated Note due 2013

 

275,883

 

275,883

 

$141,316 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 - Class B, net of discount of $2,412 and $3,512 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively

 

138,904

 

137,804

 

WBDT Television, LLC term loan due 2016

 

828

 

 

Total debt

 

615,615

 

623,260

 

Less current portion

 

184

 

9,573

 

Total long-term debt

 

$

615,431

 

$

613,687

 

 

On October 26, 2011, LIN Television entered into the 2011 senior secured credit facility with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Administrative Agent, and the banks and other financial institutions party thereto, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto. The 2011 senior secured credit facility is comprised of a six-year, $125.0 million term loan and a five-year, $75.0 million revolving credit facility, and bears interest at a rate based on, at our option, either a) the LIBOR interest rate, or b) the ABR rate, which is an interest rate that is equal to the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus ½ of 1 percent, and (iii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1%. In addition, the rate we select also bears an applicable margin based upon our Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio, currently set at 3.00% and 2.00% for LIBOR based loans and ABR rate loans, respectively. Concurrent with the closing of the 2011 senior secured credit facility, we terminated the credit agreement governing the 2009 senior secured credit facility.

 

Additionally, on October 26, 2011, we issued a notice to redeem $109.1 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes, and $55.9 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes - Class B.  The redemption of these notes, at par, will be funded in part by proceeds from the term loan, the revolving credit facility and cash on hand. We expect the redemption to become effective during November 2011. Upon completion of the redemption, we will recognize an approximate $1.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt associated with a write down of deferred financing fees and unamortized discount during the fourth quarter of 2011. The 2011 senior secured credit facility includes provisions for certain incremental term loan and revolving credit facilities that we may utilize to redeem the remaining outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes, at or prior to November 13, 2012. If we do not redeem, refinance or discharge the

 

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Senior Subordinated Notes prior to November 13, 2012 (or enter into arrangements pursuant to which we will do so on or prior to December 31, 2012), the maturity of both the revolving credit loans and term loans under the 2011 senior secured credit facility will accelerate to November 13, 2012.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we paid the remaining balance of $9.6 million on our term loans, and our available revolving credit commitments decreased from $76.1 million to $48.7 million under our 2009 senior secured credit facility, based on a computation of excess cash flow for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. As a result, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, consisting of a write-down of deferred financing fees related to the revolving credit facility and term loans. Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, WBDT, a consolidated VIE, entered into a term loan with an unrelated third party in an original principal amount of $0.9 million to fund a portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of certain assets of WBDT-TV. The term loan matures in equal quarterly installments through May 2016. LIN Television fully and unconditionally guarantees this loan.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, LIN Television completed an offering of its Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $200.0 million.  Proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes were used to repay $148.9 million of principal on our revolving credit facility and $45.9 million of principal on our term loans, plus accrued interest, pursuant to the mandatory prepayment terms of the credit agreement governing the terms of our senior secured credit facility.  As a result, during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.7 million, consisting of a write-down of deferred financing fees related to the revolving credit facility and term loans.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of September 30, 2011, there had been no material changes in our off-balance sheet arrangements from those disclosed in our 10-K.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

We are exposed to market risk related to interest rates on borrowings under our senior secured credit facility. We have used derivative financial instruments to mitigate our exposure to market risks from fluctuations in interest rates. In accordance with our policy, we do not enter into derivative instruments unless there is an underlying exposure, and we do not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

Our long-term debt as of September 30, 2011 was $615.6 million, including a current portion of $0.2 million, of which the Senior Subordinated Notes and Senior Notes bear a fixed interest rate.  The 2011 senior secured credit facility bears interest at a rate based on, at our option, either a) the LIBOR interest rate, or b) the ABR rate, which is an interest rate that is equal to the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus ½ of 1 percent, and (iii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1%. In addition, the rate we select also bears an applicable margin based upon our Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio, currently set at 3.00% and 2.00% for LIBOR based loans and ABR rate loans, respectively.

 

As of September 30, 2011 we had no amounts outstanding under our 2009 senior secured credit facility, and no other material debt bearing interest at variable rates.  Accordingly, a hypothetical 1% increase in the floating rate used as the basis for the interest charged on the 2009 senior secured credit facility as of September 30, 2011 would not impact our annualized interest expense.

 

Upon the funding of the 2011 senior secured credit facility on October 26, 2011, we had a $125.0 million term loan outstanding and we have no amounts drawn against the revolving credit facility as of the date of this report.  In this case, a hypothetical 1% increase in the floating rate used as the basis for the interest charged on the 2011 senior secured credit facility as of the date of this report would increase our annualized interest expense by $1.3 million, assuming such amounts remain outstanding under the facility.

 

During the second quarter of 2006, we entered into a contract to hedge a notional amount of the declining balances of our term loans (the “2006 interest rate hedge”) to mitigate changes in our cash flows resulting from fluctuations in interest rates. The 2006 interest rate hedge effectively converted the floating LIBOR rate-based-payments to fixed payments at 5.33% plus an applicable margin rate calculated under the 2009 senior secured credit facility, which was terminated on October 26, 2011 concurrent with our entry into the 2011 senior secured credit facility.  The 2006 interest rate hedge expired on November 4, 2011.

 

We have historically designated the 2006 interest rate hedge as a cash flow hedge. However, as a result of a repayment of $45.9 million of principal on our term loans during 2010, the interest rate hedge ceased to be highly effective in hedging the variable rate

 

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cash flows associated with our term loans; accordingly, all changes in fair value are now recorded to our consolidated statement of operations. As a result, we recorded a gain on derivative instruments of $0.6 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.

 

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2011. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving its objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2011, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 

b) Changes in internal controls.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Part II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

We are involved in various claims and lawsuits that are generally incidental to our business. We are vigorously contesting all of these matters and believe that their ultimate resolution will not have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

The risk factors discussed below should be read together with the factors discussed in Part 1 Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our 10-K.  These risk factors could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results.

 

We may not be able to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness or obtain additional financing on satisfactory terms.

 

The outstanding revolving credit loans and term loans under our 2011 senior secured credit facility are due October 26, 2016 and October 26, 2017, respectively. The outstanding 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes and 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes - Class B are due on May 15, 2013, and the outstanding 8 3/8% Senior Notes are due on April 15, 2018. The 2011 senior secured credit facility includes provisions for certain incremental term loan and revolving credit facilities that we may utilize to redeem the outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes, at or prior to November 13, 2012. If we do not redeem, refinance or discharge the Senior Subordinated Notes prior to November 13, 2012 (or enter into arrangements pursuant to which we will do so on or prior to December 31, 2012), the maturity of both the revolving credit loans and term loans under the 2011 senior secured credit facility will accelerate to November 13, 2012. While we expect to redeem, refinance or discharge all of the Senior Subordinated Notes prior to November 13, 2012, we can provide no assurances that this will occur. Our inability to refinance our Senior Subordinated Notes prior to November 13, 2012, and the resulting acceleration of the term loans and the revolving credit facility would have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity and results of operations.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

On May 20, 2011, we acquired WCWF-TV in the Green Bay-Appleton, WI market and certain assets of WBDT-TV in the Dayton, OH market. As part of the purchase consideration, LIN TV issued 1,150,000 shares of class A common stock to the former owner of

 

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Table of Contents

 

these assets having an aggregate value of $4.8 million. The issuance of these shares was exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933. Refer to Note 2 — “Acquisitions” for further information.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4. Reserved

 

None.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

3.1

 

Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of LIN TV Corp., as amended (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed as of August 9, 2004 (File Nos. 001-31311 and 000-25206) and incorporated by reference herein)

 

 

 

3.2

 

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of LIN TV Corp., filed as Exhibit 3.2 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Report on Form 10-K filed as of March 14, 2008 (File Nos. 001-31311 and 000-25206) and incorporated by reference herein)

 

 

 

3.3

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of LIN Television Corporation (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of LIN TV Corp. and LIN Television Corporation for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2003 (File No. 000-25206) and incorporated by reference herein)

 

 

 

3.4

 

Restated Bylaws of LIN Television Corporation (filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of LIN Television Corporation and LIN Holding Corp. (Registration No. 333-54003 and incorporated by reference herein))

 

 

 

4.1

 

Specimen of stock certificate representing LIN TV Corp. Class A Common stock, par value $.01 per share (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to LIN TV Corp.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-83068) and incorporated by reference herein)

 

 

 

10.1

 

Credit Agreement dated as of October 26, 2011 among LIN Television Corporation, as the Borrower, the lenders party named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, as an Issuing Lender and as Swingline Lender, Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Co-Syndication Agents, Suntrust Bank, Bank of America, N.A., and U.S. Bank, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agents, and J. P. Morgan Securities, LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities , Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Suntrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and U.S. Bank, N.A.as Co-Lead Arrangers.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Executive Officer of LIN TV Corp.

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Financial Officer of LIN TV Corp.

 

 

 

31.3

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Executive Officer of LIN Television Corporation

 

 

 

31.4

 

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Financial Officer of LIN Television Corporation

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of LIN TV Corp.

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of LIN Television Corporation

 

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Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of LIN TV Corp. and LIN Television Corporation, has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

LIN TV CORP.

 

 

LIN TELEVISION CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

Dated: November 8, 2011

 

By:

/s/ Richard J. Schmaeling

 

 

Richard J. Schmaeling

 

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

Dated: November 8, 2011

 

By:

/s/ Nicholas N. Mohamed

 

 

Nicholas N. Mohamed

 

 

Vice President Controller

 

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 1. Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements of LIN Television Corporation

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

33

Consolidated Statements of Operations

34

Consolidated Statements of Stockholder’s Deficit and Comprehensive Income

35

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

37

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

38

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 1. Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

LIN Television Corporation

Consolidated Balance Sheet

(unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

37,574

 

$

11,648

 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2011 - $2,860; 2010 - $2,233)

 

80,303

 

82,486

 

Other current assets

 

7,596

 

5,921

 

Total current assets

 

125,473

 

100,055

 

Property and equipment, net

 

146,373

 

154,127

 

Deferred financing costs

 

6,131

 

7,759

 

Equity investments

 

272

 

 

Goodwill

 

117,655

 

117,259

 

Broadcast licenses and other intangible assets, net

 

406,449

 

397,280

 

Other assets

 

13,417

 

13,989

 

Total assets (a)

 

$

815,770

 

$

790,469

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

184

 

$

9,573

 

Accounts payable

 

8,673

 

8,003

 

Accrued expenses

 

47,936

 

42,353

 

Program obligations

 

12,089

 

9,528

 

Total current liabilities

 

68,882

 

69,457

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

 

615,431

 

613,687

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

198,640

 

185,997

 

Program obligations

 

6,273

 

7,240

 

Other liabilities

 

41,574

 

45,520

 

Total liabilities (a)

 

930,800

 

921,901

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingenices (Note 11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIN Television Corporation stockholder’s deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares

 

 

 

Investment in parent company’s stock, at cost

 

(7,869

)

(7,869

)

Additional paid-in capital

 

1,120,645

 

1,110,343

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(1,200,352

)

(1,205,967

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(27,607

)

(27,939

)

Total LIN Television Corporation stockholder’s deficit

 

(115,183

)

(131,432

)

Noncontrolling interest

 

153

 

 

Total deficit

 

(115,030

)

(131,432

)

Total liabilities and deficit

 

$

815,770

 

$

790,469

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 


(a) Our consolidated assets as of September 30, 2011 include total assets of $11,335 of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) that can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE. These assets include broadcast licenses and other intangible assets of $7,817 and program rights of $1,749. Our consolidated liabilities as of September 30, 2011 include $3,169 of total liabilities of the VIE for which the VIE’s creditors have no recourse to the Company, including $2,218 of program obligations. See further description in Note 1 — “Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

LIN Television Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenues

 

$

100,813

 

$

103,616

 

$

297,567

 

$

294,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct operating

 

34,652

 

31,708

 

98,947

 

90,836

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

26,427

 

26,660

 

80,789

 

78,736

 

Amortization of program rights

 

5,723

 

6,024

 

16,859

 

18,070

 

Corporate

 

5,881

 

6,047

 

19,702

 

17,925

 

Depreciation

 

6,741

 

7,079

 

19,837

 

21,127

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

245

 

411

 

817

 

1,232

 

Restructuring charge

 

498

 

 

498

 

2,181

 

Loss (gain) from asset dispositions

 

51

 

(1,148

)

409

 

(3,359

)

Operating income

 

20,595

 

26,835

 

59,709

 

68,173

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other expense:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

12,608

 

13,313

 

38,257

 

38,456

 

Share of loss in equity investments

 

3,071

 

40

 

4,238

 

134

 

(Gain) loss on derivative instruments

 

(565

)

(481

)

(1,768

)

2,584

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

192

 

2,749

 

Other expense (income), net

 

60

 

(28

)

58

 

(710

)

Total other expense, net

 

15,174

 

12,844

 

40,977

 

43,213

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

5,421

 

13,991

 

18,732

 

24,960

 

Provision for income taxes

 

2,310

 

5,720

 

12,964

 

9,544

 

Net income

 

3,111

 

8,271

 

5,768

 

15,416

 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

153

 

 

153

 

 

Net income attributable to LIN TV Corp.

 

$

2,958

 

$

8,271

 

$

5,615

 

$

15,416

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

LIN Television Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Stockholder’s Deficit and Comprehensive Income

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in
Parent
Company’s

 

Additional

 

 

 

Accumulated
Other

 

Total LIN
Television
Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

Common Stock

 

Common

 

Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

Comprehensive

 

Stockholder’s

 

Noncontrolling

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

Deficit

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Stock, at cost

 

Capital

 

Deficit

 

Loss

 

Deficit

 

Interest

 

Income

 

Balance as of December 31, 2010

 

$

(131,432

)

1,000

 

$

 

$

(7,869

)

$

1,110,343

 

$

(1,205,967

)

$

(27,939

)

$

(131,432

)

$

 

 

 

Amortization of pension net loss, net of tax of $260

 

332

 

 

 

 

 

 

332

 

332

 

 

$

332

 

Stock-based compensation

 

5,529

 

 

 

 

5,529

 

 

 

5,529

 

 

 

Issuance of LIN TV Corp. class A common stock (See Note 2 - “Acquisitions”)

 

4,773

 

 

 

 

4,773

 

 

 

4,773

 

 

 

Net income

 

5,768

 

 

 

 

 

5,615

 

 

5,615

 

153

 

5,768

 

Comprehensive income - September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

153

 

$

6,100

 

Balance as of September 30, 2011

 

$

(115,030

)

1,000

 

$

 

$

(7,869

)

$

1,120,645

 

$

(1,200,352

)

$

(27,607

)

$

(115,183

)

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

LIN Television Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit and Comprehensive Income

(unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent Company’s

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Common

 

Paid-In

 

Accumulated

 

Accumulated Other

 

Stockholder’s

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

Shares

 

Amount

 

Stock, at cost

 

Capital

 

Deficit

 

Comprehensive Loss

 

Deficit

 

Income

 

Balance as of December 31, 2009

 

1,000

 

$

 

$

(7,869

)

$

1,104,690

 

$

(1,242,465

)

$

(27,917

)

$

(173,561

)

 

 

Amortization of pension net loss, net of tax of $112

 

 

 

 

 

 

171

 

171

 

$

171

 

Reclassification of unrealized loss on cash flow hedge, net of tax of $1,603

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,516

 

2,516

 

2,516

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

 

 

4,153

 

 

 

4,153

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

15,416

 

 

15,416

 

15,416

 

Comprehensive income - September 30, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

18,103

 

Balance as of September 30, 2010

 

1,000

 

$

 

$

(7,869

)

$

1,108,843

 

$

(1,227,049

)

$

(25,230

)

$

(151,305

)

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

LIN Television Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

5,768

 

$

15,416

 

Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

19,837

 

21,127

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

817

 

1,232

 

Amortization of financing costs and note discounts

 

2,858

 

3,440

 

Amortization of program rights

 

16,859

 

18,070

 

Program payments

 

(20,345

)

(20,763

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

192

 

2,749

 

(Gain) loss on derivative instruments

 

(1,768

)

2,584

 

Share of loss in equity investments

 

4,238

 

134

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

12,839

 

9,444

 

Stock-based compensation

 

4,856

 

3,641

 

Loss (gain) from asset dispositions

 

409

 

(3,359

)

Other, net

 

332

 

(129

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

2,183

 

(6,333

)

Other assets

 

(261

)

1,050

 

Accounts payable

 

670

 

425

 

Accrued interest expense

 

11,049

 

14,627

 

Other liabilities and accrued expenses

 

(5,866

)

323

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

54,667

 

63,678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(11,682

)

(13,023

)

Change in restricted cash

 

 

2,000

 

Payments for business combinations

 

(5,244

)

(575

)

Proceeds from the sale of assets

 

48

 

180

 

Payments on derivative instruments

 

(1,822

)

(1,525

)

Shortfall loan to joint venture with NBCUniversal

 

(1,408

)

(4,079

)

Other investments, net

 

(250

)

(1,980

)

Net cash used in investing activities, continuing operations

 

(20,358

)

(19,002

)

Net cash provided by investing activities, discontinued operations

 

 

660

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(20,358

)

(18,342

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net proceeds on exercises of employee and director stock-based compensation

 

673

 

512

 

Proceeds from borrowings on long-term debt

 

920

 

213,000

 

Principal payments on long-term debt

 

(9,666

)

(255,855

)

Payment of long-term debt issue costs

 

(310

)

(4,887

)

Net cash used in financing activities, continuing operations

 

(8,383

)

(47,230

)

Net cash used in financing activities, discontinued operations

 

 

(445

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(8,383

)

(47,675

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

25,926

 

(2,339

)

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

 

11,648

 

11,105

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

 

$

37,574

 

$

8,766

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

LIN Television Corporation

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 1—Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Description of Business

 

LIN Television Corporation (“LIN Television”), together with its subsidiaries, is a local television and digital media company operating in the United States. LIN Television and its subsidiaries are affiliates of HM Capital Partners LLC (“HMC”). In these notes, the terms “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean LIN Television Corporation and all subsidiaries included in our consolidated financial statements. LIN Television is a wholly-owned subsidiary of LIN TV Corp. (“LIN TV”).

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to state fairly our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

 

Principles of consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of our Company, its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned, and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which we are the primary beneficiary. We review all arrangements with third parties, including our local marketing agreements, shared services agreements and joint sales agreements, to evaluate whether consolidation of entities that are parties to such arrangements is required. We conduct our business through our subsidiaries and VIEs, and have no operations or assets other than our investment in our subsidiaries, VIEs and equity-method investments. A noncontrolling interest represents a third party’s proportionate share of the interest in certain of our consolidated entities.  All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation. We operate in one reportable segment.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE for financial reporting purposes, we consider whether we have the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and whether we have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns that would be significant to the VIE.  We consolidate VIEs when we are the primary beneficiary.

 

On May 20, 2011, we acquired certain assets of WBDT-TV in the Dayton, OH market, and WBDT Television, LLC (“WBDT”) acquired other assets, including the FCC license of WBDT-TV as further described in Note 2 — “Acquisitions”.  During 2011, we also entered into a Joint Sales Agreement (“JSA”) and Shared Services Agreement (“SSA”) with WBDT. Under these agreements, we provide sales and administrative services to WBDT, have an obligation to reimburse certain of WBDT’s expenses, and we are compensated through a performance-based fee structure that provides us the benefit of certain returns from the operation of WBDT-TV.

 

We determined that upon the completion of the acquisition of certain assets of WBDT-TV, as further described in Note 2 — “Acquisitions”, WBDT is a VIE, and as a result of the JSA and SSA, we have a variable interest in WBDT. The sole business of WBDT is the ownership and operation of WBDT-TV. We are the primary beneficiary of that entity because of our obligation to reimburse certain of WBDT’s expenses that could result in losses that are significant to the VIE, the potential for us to participate in returns of WBDT-TV through a performance-based bonus, and our power to direct certain activities related to the operation of WBDT-TV, including its advertising sales, and certain of its programming, which significantly impact the economic performance of WBDT. Therefore, we consolidate WBDT within our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The carrying amounts and classifications of the assets, liabilities and membership interest of WBDT, which have been included in our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011, were as follows (in thousands):

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash

 

$

237

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

1,099

 

Other current assets

 

3

 

Total current assets

 

1,339

 

Property and equipment, net

 

429

 

Program rights

 

1,749

 

Broadcast licenses and other intangible assets, net

 

7,817

 

Other assets

 

1

 

Total assets

 

$

11,335

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND MEMBER’S INTEREST

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

184

 

Accounts payable

 

862

 

Accrued expenses

 

89

 

Program obligations

 

227

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,362

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

 

644

 

Program obligations

 

1,991

 

Other liabilities

 

7,185

 

Total liabilities

 

11,182

 

 

 

 

 

Member’s interest

 

153

 

Total liabilities and member’s interest

 

$

11,335

 

 

The assets of our consolidated VIE can only be used to settle the obligations of the VIE, and may not be sold, or otherwise disposed of, except for assets sold or replaced with others of like kind or value. Other liabilities of WBDT of $7.2 million serve to reduce the carrying value of the entity, to reflect the fact that as of September 30, 2011, LIN Television has an option described below that it may exercise if the FCC attribution rules change. The option would allow LIN Television to acquire the assets or membership interest of WBDT for a nominal exercise price, which is significantly less than the carrying value of the tangible and intangible net assets of WBDT. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, $0.2 million was attributable to noncontrolling interest related to this VIE in our consolidated statement of operations. As of September 30, 2011, the noncontrolling interest on our consolidated balance sheet is $0.2 million.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. Our actual results could differ from these estimates. Estimates are used for the allowance for doubtful accounts in receivables, valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, amortization and impairment of program rights and intangible assets, stock-based compensation, pension costs, barter transactions, income taxes, employee medical insurance claims, useful lives of property and equipment, contingencies, litigation and net assets of businesses or VIEs acquired or consolidated.

 

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Comprehensive Income

 

Our total comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income items listed in the table below (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

3,111

 

$

8,271

 

$

5,768

 

$

15,416

 

Amortization of pension net loss

 

120

 

57

 

332

 

171

 

Unrealized loss on cash flow hedge

 

 

 

 

2,516

 

Comprehensive income

 

3,231

 

8,328

 

6,100

 

18,103

 

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

153

 

 

153

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to LIN Television

 

$

3,078

 

$

8,328

 

$

5,947

 

$

18,103

 

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In September 2011, there were revisions to the accounting standard for goodwill impairment tests. A company will now have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The revisions are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted during 2011 if an entity’s financial statements have not yet been issued. We will early adopt this guidance effective December 31, 2011, and we do not expect it to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

In June 2011, there were revisions to the accounting standard for reporting comprehensive income.  A company will now have the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The revisions are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, and should be applied retrospectively.  We will adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2012, and we do not expect it to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

In October 2009, there were revisions to the accounting standard for revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables. The revisions address how to separate deliverables and how to measure and allocate arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. The revisions are effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. We adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2011, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

Note 2 — Acquisitions

 

On May 28, 2010, we entered into an SSA and related agreements with ACME Communications, Inc. (“ACME”) with respect to ACME’s television stations KWBQ-TV, KRWB-TV, and KASY-TV in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM market; WBDT-TV in the Dayton, OH market; and WCWF-TV (f/k/a WIWB-TV) in the Green-Bay-Appleton, WI market. Additionally, we entered into a JSA with ACME for WBDT-TV and WCWF-TV. Concurrent with the execution of these agreements, we entered into an option agreement, giving us the right to acquire certain assets of the stations covered under these agreements, or giving ACME the right, starting in January 2013 and subject to certain conditions, including regulatory approval, to put any or all of those assets to us at the greater of a defined purchase price or the then-current fair market value.

 

On August 26, 2010, we exercised our option to acquire WCWF-TV and certain assets of WBDT-TV. Because current FCC attribution rules restrict us from owning the FCC license of WBDT-TV, we assigned our rights to acquire other WBDT-TV assets, including the FCC license, to WBDT. WBDT is wholly owned by Vaughan Media, LLC (“Vaughan”), an unrelated third party. We have an option to purchase all of the membership interest in WBDT from Vaughan, or all of WBDT’s assets related to WBDT-TV, that would be exercisable by us if the FCC attribution rules change.

 

On May 20, 2011, we completed our acquisition of WCWF-TV. We acquired WCWF-TV as part of our multi-channel strategy, which enables us to expand our presence in our local markets beyond that of a single television station. This added channel and distribution capacity allows us to appeal to a wider audience and market of advertisers, while also providing us with economies of scale within our station operations.

 

Also, on May 20, 2011, we completed the acquisition of certain station assets of WBDT-TV and entered into a JSA and SSA with WBDT. WBDT completed the acquisition of the other station assets of WBDT-TV, including the FCC license. In addition, we

 

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continue to provide certain services to ACME’s television stations KWBQ-TV, KRWB-TV and KASY-TV. Utilizing the assets in our existing markets to support the operations of another television station creates economies of scale to further leverage our existing infrastructure.

 

Total cash consideration for these acquisitions was $5.8 million, including $0.9 million contributed by WBDT, which was funded by a $0.9 million term loan from an unrelated third party as described further in Note 5 — “Debt”, and $0.6 million that was funded by us into an escrow account in 2010.  As part of the consideration, LIN TV also issued 1,150,000 shares of its class A common stock having a fair value of $4.8 million.

 

In connection with the acquisition, we recognized $0.4 million of goodwill. We also recognized $9.0 million of broadcast licenses and $1.0 million of finite-lived intangible assets. These finite-lived intangible assets are primarily comprised of network affiliation and retransmission consent agreements and have a weighted-average life of approximately 5 years. Additionally, we assumed net program obligations of $0.8 million pursuant to unfavorable contracts.

 

The following table summarizes the final allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed by both us and WBDT (a consolidated VIE) in the acquisition (in thousands):

 

Goodwill

 

$

396

 

Broadcast licenses and other intangible assets

 

9,986

 

Non-current assets

 

4,227

 

Long-term liabilities

 

(4,017

)

Total

 

$

10,592

 

 

 

 

 

Cash consideration

 

$

5,819

 

Equity consideration

 

4,773

 

Total consideration

 

$

10,592

 

 

Note 3 — Equity Investments

 

Joint Venture with NBCUniversal

 

We own an approximate 20% interest in Station Venture Holdings, LLC (“SVH”), a joint venture with NBCUniversal Media, LLC (“NBCUniversal”), and account for our interest using the equity method, as we do not have a controlling interest. SVH holds a 99.75% interest in Station Venture Operations, LP (“SVO”), which is the operating company that manages KXAS-TV and KNSD-TV, the television stations that comprise the joint venture. The following presents summarized financial information of SVH and SVO (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash distributions to SVH from SVO

 

$

14,763

 

$

15,760

 

$

42,424

 

$

29,535

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income to SVH from SVO

 

$

11,467

 

$

15,457

 

$

33,246

 

$

40,429

 

Interest expense, net

 

(17,301

)

(16,569

)

(51,109

)

(49,553

)

Net loss of SVH

 

$

(5,834

)

$

(1,112

)

$

(17,863

)

$

(9,124

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales of SVO

 

$

29,752

 

$

31,956

 

$

87,641

 

$

95,096

 

Operating expenses of SVO

 

(18,493

)

(18,565

)

(54,526

)

(55,925

)

Income from operations of SVO

 

11,270

 

13,379

 

33,154

 

39,157

 

Net income of SVO

 

11,250

 

13,329

 

33,083

 

39,007

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortfall loans outstanding and accrued interest payable to LIN Television from SVH

 

$

5,982

 

$

4,225

 

Shortfall loans outstanding and accrued interest payable to NBCUniversal and General Electric from SVH

 

23,372

 

16,508

 

 

In 2008, we recorded an impairment charge that reduced the carrying value of our investment in SVH to $0. Subsequent to the reduction of the SVH carrying value to $0, and as a result of our guarantee of the debt financing provided by General Electric Capital Corporation (“GECC”) of SVH as further described in Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies”, we continue to track our share

 

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of the income or loss of SVH, but currently are not recording such loss in our financial statements until, or unless, our proportionate share of SVH losses exceeds previously recognized impairment charges.  When SVH generates income, we will begin recording our proportionate share of such income once it exceeds the operating losses not previously recognized in our financial statements.

 

We record any shortfall liability, pursuant to the shortfall funding agreements described further in Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies”, when it is probable and estimable that there will be a shortfall at the SVH level requiring funding from us.  As of December 31, 2010, we had a shortfall liability of $1.9 million recognized for all probable and estimable shortfall loans to the joint venture.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, joint venture management provided us with a preliminary 2012 budget.  Also, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, NBCUniversal publicly discussed its intent to secure additional retransmission consent fees for the NBC owned television stations, which would include the joint venture stations that comprise SVO.

 

Based on that information, we believe the joint venture’s operating results in 2012 will improve as a result of, among other things, the upcoming 2012 election cycle, and NBC’s broadcast of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Superbowl XLVI. In September, 2011 we also learned that joint venture management has planned significant capital investments at the joint venture stations that will largely offset any expected 2012 increases in operating cash flows. As a result, we expect the joint venture to require additional shortfall loans in 2012 and into 2013. While there can be no assurances, we believe, that beginning in 2013, operating results will improve over 2012 as a result of further economic recovery, forecasted growth in retransmission consent fees, and further growth in digital revenues.

 

For these reasons, and based on our assumption that we and GE will continue to enter into future shortfall funding agreements, as of September 30, 2011, we estimate our share of debt service shortfalls to be approximately $1.3 million for the remainder of 2011 and approximately $3.3 million for 2012 and into 2013. Accordingly, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we have recognized additional shortfall liabilities of $3.0 million and $4.1 million, respectively, for our approximate 20% share of joint venture debt service shortfalls for the remainder of 2011, and during 2012 and into 2013.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, pursuant to the current shortfall funding agreement with General Electric Company (“GE”) as further described in Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies”, we funded shortfall loans in the aggregate principal amount of $0.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, to the joint venture, representing our approximate 20% share of 2011 debt service shortfalls at the joint venture, and GE funded shortfall loans in the aggregate principal amount of $1.5 million and $5.5 million, respectively, to the joint venture, representing its approximate 80% share in 2011 debt service shortfalls at the joint venture. As a result, our remaining shortfall liability as of September 30, 2011 is $4.6 million for our approximate 20% share of estimated cash shortfalls for the remainder of 2011, and during 2012 and into 2013. While there can be no assurances, we believe cash shortfalls beyond the amounts currently accrued are not probable. However, our prospective shortfall obligations could vary from our estimate based upon changes in the performance of the joint venture stations and any changes to the proportionate share of each party’s debt service shortfall.

 

Because of uncertainty surrounding the joint venture’s ability to repay shortfall loans, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the additional amounts recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 for accrued shortfall loans will not be recovered within a reasonable period of time. Accordingly, we recognized charges of $3.0 million and $4.1 million, to reflect the impairment of the shortfall loans, which were classified as share of loss in equity investments in our consolidated statement of operations, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. Additionally, during 2009 and 2010 we fully impaired all amounts recognized for shortfall loans to the joint venture. Therefore, the amounts receivable under the shortfall loans, and all accrued interest due from the joint venture, are carried at zero on our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Should there be sufficient evidence in the future to suggest that collectability of the shortfall loans and accrued interest is reasonably certain, we would reverse the previously recognized impairment charges, reestablish notes receivable for all previously funded and accrued shortfall loans to the joint venture, and establish accrued interest receivable for all previously funded shortfall loans to the joint venture. For further information on recognition of shortfall funding liabilities, see Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies”.

 

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Note 4 — Intangible Assets

 

The following table summarizes the carrying amounts of intangible assets (in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30, 2011

 

December 31, 2010

 

 

 

Gross Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Gross Carrying
Amount

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Goodwill

 

$

117,655

 

$

 

$

117,259

 

$

 

Broadcast licenses

 

400,786

 

 

391,801

 

 

Intangible assets subject to amortization (1)

 

15,404

 

(9,741

)

14,403

 

(8,924

)

Total intangible assets

 

$

533,845

 

$

(9,741

)

$

523,463

 

$

(8,924

)

 


(1)                      Intangible assets subject to amortization are amortized on a straight line basis and include acquired customer relationships, brand names, non-compete agreements, internal-use software, favorable operating leases, tower rental income leases, retransmission consent agreements and network affiliations.

 

There were no events during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 that warranted an interim impairment test of our indefinite-lived intangible assets.

 

Note 5 — Debt

 

LIN TV guarantees all of our debt. All of the consolidated 100% owned subsidiaries of LIN Television fully and unconditionally guarantee our senior secured credit facility (the “2009 senior secured credit facility”), 83/8% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Senior Notes”), 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 and 6½%  Senior Subordinated Notes — Class B due 2013 (together the “Senior Subordinated Notes”) on a joint-and-several basis.

 

Debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Senior Secured Credit Facility:

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit loans

 

$

 

$

 

Term loans

 

 

9,573

 

83/8% Senior Notes due 2018

 

200,000

 

200,000

 

6½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013

 

275,883

 

275,883

 

$141,316 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 - Class B, net of discount of $2,412 and $3,512 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively

 

138,904

 

137,804

 

WBDT Television, LLC term loan due 2016

 

828

 

 

Total debt

 

615,615

 

623,260

 

Less current portion

 

184

 

9,573

 

Total long-term debt

 

$

615,431

 

$

613,687

 

 

On October 26, 2011, we entered into a credit agreement governing a senior secured credit facility (the “2011 senior secured credit facility”) with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Administrative Agent, and the banks and other financial institutions party thereto, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto. The 2011 senior secured credit facility is comprised of a six-year, $125.0 million term loan and a five-year, $75.0 million revolving credit facility, and bears interest at a rate based on, at our option, either a) the LIBOR interest rate, or b) the ABR rate, which is an interest rate that is equal to the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus ½ of 1 percent, and (iii) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1%. In addition, the rate we select also bears an applicable margin based upon our Consolidated Senior Secured Leverage Ratio, currently set at 3.00% and 2.00% for LIBOR based loans and ABR rate loans, respectively. Concurrent with the closing of the 2011 senior secured credit facility, we terminated the credit agreement governing the 2009 senior secured credit facility.

 

Additionally, on October 26, 2011, we issued a notice to redeem $109.1 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes, and $55.9 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes - Class B.  The redemption of these notes, at par, will be funded in part by proceeds from the term loan, the revolving credit facility and cash on hand. We expect the redemption to become effective during November 2011. The 2011 senior secured credit facility includes provisions for certain incremental term loan and revolving credit facilities that we may utilize to redeem the remaining outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes, at or prior to November 13, 2012. If we do not redeem, refinance or discharge the remaining Senior Subordinated Notes prior to November 13, 2012 (or enter into arrangements

 

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pursuant to which we will do so on or prior to December 31, 2012), the maturity of both the revolving credit loans and term loans under the 2011 senior secured credit facility will accelerate to November 13, 2012.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we paid the remaining balance of $9.6 million on our term loans, and our available revolving credit commitments decreased from $76.1 million to $48.7 million under our 2009 senior secured credit facility, based on a computation of excess cash flow for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. As a result, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, consisting of a write-down of deferred financing fees related to the revolving credit facility and term loans. Additionally, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, WBDT, a consolidated VIE, entered into a term loan with an unrelated third party in an original principal amount of $0.9 million to fund a portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of certain assets of WBDT-TV. This term loan matures in equal quarterly installments through May 2016. LIN Television fully and unconditionally guarantees this loan.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, LIN Television completed an offering of its Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $200.0 million.  Proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes were used to repay $148.9 million of principal on our revolving credit facility and $45.9 million of principal on our term loans, plus accrued interest, pursuant to the mandatory prepayment terms of the credit agreement governing the terms of our senior secured credit facility.  As a result, during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.7 million, consisting of a write-down of deferred financing fees related to the revolving credit facility and term loans.

 

The fair values of our long-term debt are estimated based on quoted market prices for the same or similar issues, or based on the current rates offered to us for debt of the same remaining maturities. The carrying amounts and fair values of our long-term debt were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30,
2011

 

December 31,
2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carrying amount

 

$

615,615

 

$

623,260

 

Fair value

 

611,394

 

634,245

 

 

Note 6 — Derivative Financial Instruments

 

We have used derivative financial instruments in the management of our interest rate exposure for our long-term debt, principally our 2009 senior secured credit facility. In accordance with our policy, we do not enter into derivative instruments unless there is an underlying exposure and we do not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes.

 

During the second quarter of 2006, we entered into a contract to hedge a notional amount of the declining balances of our term loans (the “2006 interest rate hedge”) to mitigate changes in our cash flows resulting from fluctuations in interest rates. The 2006 interest rate hedge effectively converted the floating LIBOR rate-based-payments to fixed payments at 5.33% plus an applicable margin rate calculated under the 2009 senior secured credit facility, which we terminated on October 26, 2011 concurrent with our entry into the 2011 senior secured credit facility.  The 2006 interest rate hedge expired on November 4, 2011.

 

We have historically designated the 2006 interest rate hedge as a cash flow hedge. However, as a result of a repayment of $45.9 million of principal on our term loans during 2010, the 2006 interest rate hedge ceased to be highly effective in hedging the variable rate cash flows associated with our term loans; accordingly, all changes in fair value are now recorded to our consolidated statement of operations. We recorded a gain on derivative instruments of $0.6 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.  Additionally, we recognized a gain of $(0.5) million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, and a loss of $2.6 million, which included a charge of $3.6 million for the reclassification of the fair value recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss to our consolidated statement of operations, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 

The fair value of the 2006 interest rate hedge liability was $0.2 million and $2.0 million as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and is included in accrued expenses in our consolidated balance sheet. The fair value is calculated using the discounted expected future cash outflows from a series of three-month LIBOR strips through November 4, 2011, the same maturity date as our 2009 senior secured credit facility. The fair value of this derivative was calculated by using observable inputs (Level 2) as defined under the three-level fair value hierarchy.

 

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The following table summarizes our derivative activity during the three and nine months ended September 30 (in thousands):

 

 

 

(Gain) Loss on Derivative Instruments

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Mark-to-Market Adjustments on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 interest rate hedge

 

$

(565

)

$

(481

)

$

(1,768

)

$

2,584

 

 

 

 

Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Mark-to-Market Adjustments on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 interest rate hedge

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

2,516

 

 

Note 7 — Fair Value Measurements

 

We record the fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities on a recurring basis. The following table summarizes the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the accompanying financial statements using the three-level fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Quoted prices in
active markets

 

Significant
observable inputs

 

 

 

 

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

Total

 

September 30, 2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation related investments

 

$

523

 

$

1,266

 

$

1,789

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 interest rate hedge

 

$

 

$

198

 

$

198

 

Deferred compensation related liabilities

 

$

1,712

 

$

 

$

1,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred compensation related investments

 

$

1,435

 

$

577

 

$

2,012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006 interest rate hedge

 

$

 

$

1,960

 

$

1,960

 

Deferred compensation related liabilities

 

$

2,010

 

$

 

$

2,010

 

 

As of the dates presented, we had no financial assets or liabilities for which the fair value was determined using Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  The fair value of our deferred compensation related investments is based on the cash surrender values of life insurance policies underlying our supplemental income deferral plan, as well as the fair value of the investments selected by employees. The fair value of our deferred compensation related liabilities is determined based on the fair value of the investments selected by employees.

 

For a description of how the fair value of our 2006 interest rate hedge is determined, see Note 6 — “Derivative Financial Instruments.”

 

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Note 8 — Retirement Plans

 

The following table shows the components of the net periodic pension (benefit) cost and the contributions to the 401(k) Plan and the retirement plans (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Net periodic pension (benefit) cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest cost

 

$

1,495

 

$

1,523

 

$

4,484

 

$

4,569

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(1,700

)

(1,611

)

(5,100

)

(4,834

)

Amortization of pension net loss

 

197

 

94

 

592

 

282

 

Net periodic pension (benefit) cost:

 

$

(8

)

$

6

 

$

(24

)

$

17

 

Contributions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

401(k) Plan

 

$

944

 

$

785

 

$

2,811

 

$

2,557

 

Defined contribution retirement plans

 

48

 

180

 

120

 

180

 

Defined benefit retirement plans

 

1,850

 

2,600

 

4,175

 

3,500

 

Total contributions

 

$

2,842

 

$

3,565

 

$

7,106

 

$

6,237

 

 

We expect to make contributions of $0.8 million to our defined benefit retirement plans during the remainder of 2011. See Note 11 — “Retirement Plans” included in Item 15 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (“10-K”) for a full description of our retirement plans.

 

Note 9 — Restructuring

 

During the year ended December 31, 2010, we recorded a restructuring charge of $3.3 million as a result of the consolidation of certain activities at our stations and our corporate headquarters, which resulted in the termination of 66 employees. As of December 31, 2010, we had a remaining accrual of $0.9 million related to these restructuring actions. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we made cash payments of $54 thousand and $0.8 million, respectively, related to these restructuring actions and expect to make cash payments of $58 thousand during the remainder of 2011.

 

Note 10 — Income Taxes

 

We recorded a provision for income taxes of $2.3 million and $13.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to a provision for income taxes of $5.7 million and $9.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. Our effective income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 69.8%, compared to 38.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in the tax provision was primarily a result of state tax legislation enacted in Michigan in May 2011, which repealed the Michigan business tax (“MBT”), and implemented a corporate income tax instead, effective January 2012.  As a result of the elimination of the MBT, certain future tax deductions that were available to be utilized beginning in 2015, and had been recognized as deferred tax assets in our financial statements, will not be deductible. Therefore, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recognized incremental deferred income tax expense of $5.1 million, net of federal benefit, for the reversal of these previously established deferred tax assets.

 

As of December 31, 2010, we had a valuation allowance of $60.0 million placed against our deferred tax assets, of which $35.1 million related to federal net operating loss carryforwards generated from 1999 to 2002. It is reasonably possible that some or all of this federal valuation allowance related to 1999 to 2002 may decrease within the next 12 months, primarily due to the Company’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income prior to the expiration of those net operating loss carryforwards. Although realization is not assured, management believes that during the next 12 months it will become more likely than not that some or all of these deferred tax assets will be realizable. The Company expects that any such changes would have a material impact on its annual effective tax rate.

 

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Note 11 — Commitments and Contingencies

 

Commitments

 

We lease land, buildings, vehicles and equipment pursuant to non-cancelable operating lease agreements and we contract for general services pursuant to non-cancelable operating leases and agreements that expire at various dates through 2036. In addition, we have entered into commitments for future syndicated entertainment and sports programming. The following table summarizes all of our estimated future cash payments, after giving effect to amendments to certain of these agreements since December 31, 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

Syndicated

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Leases

 

Television

 

 

 

 

 

and Agreements

 

Programming

 

Total

 

Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

$

20,365

 

25,918

 

$

46,283

 

2012

 

22,198

 

23,313

 

45,511

 

2013

 

12,907

 

20,161

 

33,068

 

2014

 

9,630

 

9,795

 

19,425

 

2015

 

6,172

 

782

 

6,954

 

Thereafter

 

11,181

 

 

11,181

 

Total obligations

 

82,453

 

79,969

 

162,422

 

Less recorded contracts

 

 

31,577

 

31,577

 

Future contracts

 

$

82,453

 

$

48,392

 

$

130,845

 

 

Contingencies

 

GECC Note

 

GECC provided debt financing for the joint venture between NBCUniversal and us, in the form of an $815.5 million non-amortizing senior secured note due 2023 bearing interest at an initial rate of 8% per annum until March 2, 2013 and 9% per annum thereafter (“GECC Note”). The GECC Note is an obligation of the joint venture. We have an approximate 20% equity interest in the joint venture and NBCUniversal has the remaining approximate 80% equity interest, in which we and NBCUniversal each have a 50% voting interest. NBCUniversal operates the two television stations held by the joint venture, KXAS-TV, an NBC affiliate in Dallas, and KNSD-TV, an NBC affiliate in San Diego, pursuant to a management agreement. LIN TV has guaranteed the payment of principal and interest on the GECC Note.

 

In January 2011, Comcast acquired control of the business of NBCUniversal, Inc. through acquisition of a 51% interest in NBCUniversal, LLC, while GE owns the remaining 49%. GECC remains a majority-owned subsidiary of GE, and LIN TV remains the guarantor of the GECC Note.

 

In light of the adverse effect of the economic downturn on the joint venture’s operating results, in 2009 we entered into an agreement with NBCUniversal, which covered the period from March 6, 2009 through April 1, 2010 (the “Original Shortfall Funding Agreement”) and in 2010 we entered into a second agreement, which covered the period from April 2, 2010 through April 1, 2011 (“2010 Shortfall Funding Agreement”). These agreements provided that: i) we and NBCUniversal waived the requirement that the joint venture maintain debt service reserve cash balances of at least $15 million; ii) the joint venture would use a portion of its existing debt service reserve cash balances to fund interest payments on the GECC Note in 2009 and 2010; iii) NBCUniversal agreed to defer its receipt of 2008, 2009 and 2010 management fees; and iv) we agreed that if the joint venture does not have sufficient cash to fund interest payments on the GECC Note through April 1, 2011, we and NBCUniversal would each provide the joint venture with a shortfall loan on the basis of our percentage of economic interest in the joint venture.

 

Because of anticipated future cash shortfalls at the joint venture, on March 14, 2011, we and GE entered into an agreement (the “2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement” and together with the Original Shortfall Funding Agreement and the 2010 Shortfall Funding Agreement the “Shortfall Funding Agreements”) covering the period from April 2, 2011 through April 1, 2012. Under the terms of the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement, we agreed that if the joint venture does not have sufficient cash to fund interest payments on the GECC Note through April 1, 2012, we and GE would each provide the joint venture with a shortfall loan. Any shortfall loans funded by LIN under the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement will be calculated on the basis of our percentage of economic interest in the joint venture, and GE’s share of shortfall loans will be calculated on the basis of NBCUniversal’s percentage of economic interest in the joint venture. Solely to enable the joint venture with NBCUniversal to obtain shortfall loans from GE under the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement, during the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the joint venture (i) amended its credit agreement with GECC,

 

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(ii) amended the LLC Agreement governing the operation of the joint venture, and (iii) received the consent of Comcast Corporation to the terms and conditions on which GE provides its proportionate share of any joint venture debt service shortfall.

 

Under the terms of the joint venture’s TV Master Service Agreement with NBCUniversal, management fees incurred by the joint venture to NBCUniversal during the term of the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement will continue to accrue, but are not payable if any existing joint venture shortfall loans remain outstanding. Management fees payable in arrears attributable to 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 are also not payable to NBCUniversal if any joint venture shortfall loans remain outstanding.

 

We recognize shortfall funding liabilities to the joint venture on our consolidated balance sheet when those liabilities become both probable and estimable, which results when joint venture management provides us with budget or forecast information of operating cash flows and working capital needs indicating that a debt service shortfall is probable to occur and when we have reached or intend to reach a shortfall funding agreement covering the budgeted or forecasted period. For debt service shortfalls beyond the April 1, 2012 expiration of the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement, and in the absence of a renewed shortfall funding arrangement, we have the option, but not the obligation, to fund the entire amount of the shortfall. Our ability to provide such funding would be subject to amounts available pursuant to our existing and future covenants in our debt agreements. The source of such funds would likely be cash flows from operations. We do not believe any such future funding is probable as of September 30, 2011. As of December 31, 2010, we had a shortfall liability of $1.9 million recognized for all probable and estimable shortfall loans to the joint venture.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2011, joint venture management provided us with a preliminary 2012 budget.  Also, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, NBCUniversal publicly discussed its intent to secure additional retransmission consent fees for the NBC owned television stations, which would include the joint venture stations that comprise SVO.

 

Based on that information, we believe the joint venture’s operating results in 2012 will improve as a result of, among other things, the upcoming 2012 election cycle, and NBC’s broadcast of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Superbowl XLVI. In September, 2011 we also learned that joint venture management has planned significant capital investments at the joint venture stations that will largely offset any expected 2012 increases in operating cash flows. As a result, we expect the joint venture to require additional shortfall loans in 2012 and into 2013. While there can be no assurances, we believe, that beginning in 2013, operating results will improve over 2012 as a result of further economic recovery, forecasted growth in retransmission consent fees, and further growth in digital revenues.

 

For these reasons, and based on our assumption that we and GE will continue to enter into future shortfall funding agreements, as of September 30, 2011, we estimate our share of debt service shortfalls to be approximately $1.3 million for the remainder of 2011 and approximately $3.3 million for 2012 and into 2013. Accordingly, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we have recognized additional shortfall liabilities of $3.0 million and $4.1 million, respectively, for our approximate 20% share of joint venture debt service shortfalls for the remainder of 2011 and during 2012 and into 2013.

 

Because of uncertainty surrounding the joint venture’s ability to repay shortfall loans, we concluded that it was more likely than not that the additional amounts recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 for accrued shortfall loans will not be recovered within a reasonable period of time. Accordingly, we recognized charges of $3.0 million and $4.1 million, to reflect the impairment of the shortfall loans, which were classified as share of loss in equity investments in our consolidated statement of operations, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. Additionally, during 2009 and 2010 we fully impaired all amounts recognized for shortfall loans to the joint venture. Therefore, the amounts receivable under the shortfall loans, and all accrued interest due from the joint venture, are carried at zero on our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Should there be sufficient evidence in the future to suggest that collectability of the shortfall loans and accrued interest is reasonably certain, we would reverse the previously recognized impairment charges and reestablish notes receivable for all previously funded and accrued shortfall loans to the joint venture, and establish accrued interest receivable for all previously funded shortfall loans to the joint venture.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, pursuant to the 2011 Shortfall Funding Agreement with GE, we funded shortfall loans in the aggregate principal amount of $0.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, to the joint venture, representing our approximate 20% share of 2011 debt service shortfalls at the joint venture, and GE funded shortfall loans in the aggregate principal amount of $1.5 million and $5.5 million, respectively, to the joint venture, representing its approximate 80% share of 2011 debt service shortfalls at the joint venture.  As a result, our remaining shortfall liability as of September 30, 2011 is $4.6 million for our approximate 20% share of estimated cash shortfalls for the remainder of 2011, and during 2012 and into 2013. While there can be no assurances, we believe cash shortfalls beyond the amounts currently accrued are not probable. However, our prospective shortfall obligations could vary from our estimate based upon changes in the performance of the joint venture stations and any changes to the proportionate share of each party’s debt service shortfall.

 

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Our ability to honor our shortfall loan obligations under the Shortfall Funding Agreements is limited by certain covenants contained in the 2011 senior secured credit facility and the indentures governing our Senior Notes and our Senior Subordinated Notes. Based on the current 2011 and 2012 forecast provided by joint venture management, and our forecast of total leverage and consolidated EBITDA during 2011 and into 2013, we expect to have the capacity within these restrictions to provide shortfall funding to the joint venture up to the $4.6 million of total accrued shortfall funding liabilities.

 

As of September 30, 2011, we had availability under applicable debt covenants to fund future shortfall loans as follows: (i) approximately $7.0 million of availability under the 2009 senior secured credit facility, (ii) approximately $1.0 billion of availability under the indentures governing our Senior Subordinated Notes, (iii) approximately $131.0 million of availability under the indenture governing our 8 3/8% Senior Notes.  Additionally, as of October 26, 2011, we had $50.0 million of availability under the 2011 senior secured credit facility.

 

The possibility exists that debt service shortfalls at the joint venture could exceed current expectations, including the possibility that neither GE nor Comcast will continue to fund a share of such debt service shortfall loans. Should circumstances arise in which we desire to make shortfall loans to the joint venture in excess of the limitations imposed by the covenants contained in the 2011 senior secured credit facility or the indentures, we could seek an amendment or waiver of such limitations, but there is no assurance that we would be able to obtain such amendment or waiver on a timely basis, or at all, or on terms satisfactory to us. For further information see Item 1A. Risk Factors “The GECC note could result in significant liabilities, including (i) requiring us to make short-term cash payments to the NBCUniversal joint venture to fund interest payments and (ii) potentially giving rise to the acceleration of our existing indebtedness, which would cause such existing indebtedness to become immediately due and payable” in our 10-K.

 

If we are unable to make payments under the Shortfall Funding Agreements, or any future joint venture debt service shortfalls, the joint venture may be unable to fund interest obligations under the GECC Note, resulting in an event of default. An event of default under the GECC Note will occur if the joint venture fails to make any scheduled interest payment within 90 days of the date due and payable, or to pay the principal amount on the maturity date. If the joint venture fails to pay interest on the GECC Note, and no shortfall loan to fund the interest payment is made within 90 days of the date due and payable, an event of default would occur and GECC could accelerate the maturity of the entire amount due under the GECC Note. Other than the acceleration of the principal amount upon an event of default, prepayment of the principal of the note is prohibited unless agreed upon by both NBCUniversal and us. Upon an event of default under the GECC Note, GECC’s only recourse is to the joint venture, our equity interest in the joint venture and, after exhausting all remedies against the assets of the joint venture and the other equity interests in the joint venture, to LIN TV pursuant to its guarantee of the GECC Note.

 

Under the terms of its guarantee of the GECC Note, LIN TV would be required to make a payment for an amount to be determined upon occurrence of the following events: i) there is an event of default; ii) the default is not remedied; and iii) after GECC exhausts all remedies against the assets of the joint venture, the total amount realized upon exercise of those remedies is less than the $815.5 million principal amount of the GECC Note. Upon the occurrence of such events, the amount owed by LIN TV to GECC pursuant to the guarantee would be calculated as the difference between i) the total amount at which the joint venture’s assets were sold and ii) the principal amount and any unpaid interest due under the GECC Note. As of December 31, 2010, we estimated the fair value of the television stations in the joint venture to be approximately $254.1 million less than the outstanding balance of the GECC Note of $815.5 million.

 

Although we believe the probability is remote that there would be an event of default and therefore an acceleration of the principal amount of the GECC Note, there can be no assurances that such an event of default will not occur. There are no financial or similar covenants in the GECC Note. In addition, since both GE and LIN Television have agreed to fund interest payments through April 1, 2012, if the joint venture is unable to generate sufficient cash to service interest payments on the GECC Note, GE and LIN Television are able to control the occurrence of a default under the GECC Note. Since 2009, LIN Television and its joint venture partners have prevented the occurrence of a default by entering into shortfall funding agreements and funding shortfall loans to the joint venture as further described above.

 

If an event of default occurs under the GECC Note, LIN TV, which conducts all of its operations through its subsidiaries, could experience material adverse consequences, including:

 

·                  GECC, after exhausting all remedies against the joint venture, could enforce its rights under the guarantee, which could cause LIN TV to determine that LIN Television should seek to sell material assets owned by it in order to satisfy LIN TV’s obligations under the guarantee;

 

·                  GECC’s initiation of proceedings against LIN TV under the guarantee could result in a change of control or other material adverse consequences to LIN Television, which could cause an acceleration of LIN Television’s outstanding indebtedness; and

 

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·                  if the GECC Note is prepaid because of an acceleration on default or otherwise, LIN TV would incur a substantial tax gain of approximately $815.5 million related to its deferred gain associated with the formation of the joint venture.  This amount of gain, exclusive of any potential utilization of net operating loss carryforwards, would be subject to U.S. Federal and various State tax rates of 35% and approximately 3% (net of Federal benefit), respectively.

 

Note 12 — Related Party

 

As a result of the shares issued by LIN TV to ACME as part of the consideration for WCWF-TV and certain assets of WBDT-TV, as described in Note 2 — “Acquisitions”, ACME became a related party to us. With respect to the SSA we have with ACME’s television stations KWBQ-TV, KRWB-TV, and KASY-TV in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM market, we earned $0.2 million in service fee income for the three months ended September 30, 2011, and $0.3 million in service fee income since the May 20, 2011 acquisition date during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

 

We have a noncontrolling investment in an interactive service provider that hosts our web sites.  During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we incurred charges from, and made cash payments to, the provider of $0.6 million and during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we incurred charges from, and made cash payments to, the provider of $1.9 million, for web hosting services and web site development and customization. Additionally, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we incurred charges of $0.4 million and $0.9 million, respectively, and made cash payments of $1.3 million and $1.9 million, respectively, for web hosting services and web site development and customization.

 

Note 13 — Subsequent Event

 

On November 7, 2011, LIN TV announced a stock repurchase program for the purchase of up to $25.0 million of its class A common stock over a 12 month period. The class A common stock acquired through the repurchase program will be held as treasury shares and may be used for general corporate purposes, including reissuances in connection with acquisitions, stock option exercises or other employee and director stock plans.

 

On October 26, 2011, LIN Television entered into the 2011 senior secured credit facility with JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., Administrative Agent, and the banks and other financial institutions party thereto. The 2011 senior secured credit facility is comprised of a six-year, $125.0 million term loan and a five-year, $75.0 million revolving credit facility. Concurrent with the closing of the 2011 senior secured credit facility, we terminated the credit agreement governing the 2009 senior secured credit facility. Additionally, on October 26, 2011, we issued a notice to redeem $109.1 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes, and $55.9 million of our 6½% Senior Subordinated Notes - Class B.  The redemption of these notes will be funded in part by proceeds from the term loan, the revolving credit facility and cash on hand. We expect the redemption to become effective during November 2011. For further information see Note 5 — “Debt”.

 

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