10-K 1 a07-5330_210k.htm 10-K

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


Form 10-K

(Mark One)

x                               ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006

or

o                                  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from: Not Applicable

Commission file number 1-14776

Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware

 

74-2717523

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

300 West 57th Street

 

 

New York, NY 10019

 

(212) 887-6800

(Address of principal
executive offices)

 

(Registrant’s telephone number,
including area code)

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered

Series A Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o  No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o  No x

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated Filer x

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company. Yes o  No x

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2006 based on the closing price for the registrant’s Series A Common Stock on such date as reported on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”), was approximately $327,954,902.

Shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of February 15, 2007: 93,293,318 shares (consisting of 51,994,670 shares of Series A Common Stock and 41,298,648 shares of Series B Common Stock).

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement relating to the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14).

 




FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report includes or incorporates forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of statements that include phrases such as “anticipate”, “will”, “may”, “likely”, “plan”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “project”, “forecast” or other such similar words and/or phrases. For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this report, concerning, among other things, trends and projections involving revenue, income, earnings, cash flow, liquidity, operating expenses, assets, liabilities, capital expenditures, dividends and capital structure, involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various important factors. Those factors include the impact on our operations from

·       Changes in Federal regulations that affect us, including changes in Federal communications laws or regulations;

·       Local regulatory actions and conditions in the areas in which our stations operate;

·       Competition in the broadcast television markets we serve;

·       Our ability to obtain quality programming for our television stations;

·       Successful integration of television stations we acquire;

·       Pricing fluctuations in local and national advertising;

·       Changes in national and regional economies;

·       Our ability to service and refinance our outstanding debt;

·       Changes in advertising trends and our advertisers’ financial condition; and

·       Volatility in programming costs, industry consolidation, technological developments, and major world events.

For a discussion of additional risk factors that are particular to our business, please refer to Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” beginning on page 17. These and other matters we discuss in this report, or in the documents we incorporate by reference into this report, may cause actual results to differ from those we describe. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.

2006 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

PART I

Item 1.

 

Business

 

4

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

17

 

Item 1B.

 

Unresolved Staff Comments

 

24

 

Item 2.

 

Properties

 

24

 

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

26

 

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

26

 

PART II

Item 5.

 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

27

 

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial Data

 

30

 

Item 7.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

32

 

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

49

 

Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

50

 

Item 9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

88

 

Item 9A.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

88

 

Item 9B.

 

Other Information

 

89

 

PART III

Item 10.

 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

90

 

Item 11.

 

Executive Compensation

 

90

 

Item 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

 

90

 

Item 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

90

 

Item 14.

 

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 

90

 

PART IV

Item 15.

 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

90

 

 

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PART I

ITEM 1.                BUSINESS

General

Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. (the “Company” or “we”) is one of the country’s largest independent, or non-network-owned, television station groups. Headquartered in New York City, we own or manage 29 television stations reaching approximately 20.2 million, or approximately 18.1%, of television households in the United States. Our 13 ABC-affiliated television stations, which reach 8.3% of U.S. television households, represent the largest ABC affiliate group. Our 10 NBC-affiliated television stations, which reach 7.2% of U.S. television households, represent the second largest NBC affiliate group. We own two CBS-affiliated television stations, one CW station and one MyNetworkTV station, and we also manage one CW station and one independent station for The Hearst Corporation (“Hearst”). Our primary objective is to maximize the revenue and profits of our media properties by optimizing audience ratings and market share. We believe that local news leadership, the effective showcasing of network and syndicated programs, and serving our local communities, drive market-competitive ratings, revenue share and station and Website profitability. We are a leader in the convergence of local broadcast television and the Internet through our investment in, and operating agreement with, Internet Broadcasting, which operates a nation-wide network of television Websites. Our stations’ Websites typically provide news, weather, community information, user generated content and entertainment content to our audience. Our stations’ Websites attracted a combined average of 3.9 million unique viewers and generated 106.9 million average page views per month during 2006. Also, as part of our ongoing initiative to explore additional uses of our digital spectrum, 12 of our stations broadcast additional channels on a multicast stream in addition to their main digital channel. Our NBC-affiliated stations multicast the NBC Weather Plus Network, the first ever 24/7, all digital, local and national broadcast network, and two of our other stations launched similar station-branded multicast weather channels in 2006. We also manage two radio stations which are owned by Hearst.

We provide, through our local television stations, free over-the-air programming to our local communities. Our programming includes three main components:

·       programs produced by networks with which we are affiliated, such as ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, NBC’s Law and Order and CBS’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and special event programs like The Academy Awards, the Olympics and the Super Bowl;

·       programs that we produce at our stations, such as local news, weather, sports and entertainment; and

·       first-run syndicated programs that we acquire, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show and Entertainment Tonight.

In keeping with our commitment to serve the public interest of the local communities in which we operate, our television stations and Websites also provide public service announcements and political coverage and sponsor community service projects and other public initiatives.

Our primary source of revenue is the sale of advertising to advertisers. We seek to attract advertising customers and increase our advertiser base by delivering mass audiences in key demographics, primarily in the top 75 U.S. television markets as measured by Nielsen Media Research. We also seek to attract our television audience by providing compelling content on multiple media platforms. We provide leading local news programming and popular network and syndicated programs at each of our television stations, 20 of which are in the top 50 U.S. television markets. In addition, we seek to make our content available to our audience as they use additional content platforms, such as the Internet and portable devices, during their day. We stream a portion of our television programming, including our news and weather forecasts, and we

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publish community information, user generated content and entertainment content on our stations’ Websites. In certain markets, we have also established a mobile presence for our stations’ Websites. We believe that aligning our content offerings with audience media consumption patterns in this manner ultimately benefits our advertisers. Our advertisers benefit from a variety of marketing opportunities, including traditional spot campaigns, community events and sponsorships at our television stations, as well as on our stations’ Internet and/or mobile Websites, enabling them to reach our audience in multiple ways.

We believe that excellence in news coverage is a key determinant to developing a loyal audience, which is instrumental to a station’s competitive, operational and financial success. We focus on the coverage of local and national issues, breaking news, accurate and timely forecasting of local weather conditions and the latest information at times of emergencies, as well as coverage of political issues, candidates, debates, and elections. We typically rank either first or second (in total household ratings and by share of demographic audience, adults aged 25-54) in local morning and evening news programs in at least 19 of the 25 markets where we produce news. In addition, our television stations have been recognized with numerous local, state and national awards for outstanding news coverage. Our stations have received numerous honors in recent years, including three consecutive Walter Cronkite Awards bestowed by the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication, Edward R. Murrow Awards, George Foster Peabody Awards, Alfred I. duPont Columbia Awards, National Headliner Awards, the NAB Service to America Award, as well as numerous state and local Emmy and Associated Press honors.

We believe that capitalizing on the opportunities afforded the television industry by digital media, such as digital multi-casting, streaming on broadband, video-on-demand and mobile and other portable devices, is important to our future success. We devote substantial energy and resources to integrating such media into our business and seek investment opportunities in companies which we believe are well-positioned for emerging trends in digital media.

For the year ended December 31, 2006, we had revenue of $785.4 million, employed 3,312 full-time and part-time employees and operated in 25 U.S. markets. Information about our financial results is discussed under Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” beginning on page 32, and presented under Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” beginning on page 50.

Hearst-Argyle is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 300 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019, and our main telephone number at that address is (212) 887-6800. Our Series A Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “HTV”.

Company Background

Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. was formed in August 1997 when Hearst combined its television broadcast group and related broadcast operations (the “Hearst Broadcast Group”) with those of Argyle Television, Inc. (“Argyle”).

Founded by William Randolph Hearst in 1887, The Hearst Corporation entered the broadcasting business in 1928 with its acquisition of radio station WSOE in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1948, Hearst launched its first television station, WBAL-TV, in Baltimore, Maryland, which was the nation’s 19th television station. That same year, WLWT(TV), in Cincinnati, Ohio, later to become an Argyle station, was launched as the nation’s 20th television station and WDSU(TV), in New Orleans, Louisiana, later to be acquired by the Pulitzer Publishing Company, was launched as the nation’s 48th television station. By 1997, when Hearst and Argyle combined their broadcast operations to form our company, the two companies had a combined total of 15 owned and managed television stations and two managed radio stations.

5




Since that time, we have acquired additional television stations through asset purchase, asset exchange or merger transactions, including merger transactions in 1999 with Pulitzer Publishing Company, in which we acquired nine television stations and five radio stations, and with Kelly Broadcasting Company, in which we acquired our television stations in Sacramento, California, and a three-party asset exchange transaction in 2001 pursuant to which we sold three Phoenix, Arizona radio stations and acquired WMUR-TV, Manchester, New Hampshire. In 2004, we purchased an ABC affiliate, WMTW-TV, in Portland, Maine and in 2006, we purchased a CW affiliate, WKCF(TV), in Orlando, Florida.

We also have a strategic equity investment in Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. (“Internet Broadcasting”). Each of our stations has a Website for which certain services and content are produced and managed by Internet Broadcasting. Our stations’ Websites typically provide news, weather, community information, user generated content and entertainment content. These Websites are part of a nation-wide network of local Websites that we and Internet Broadcasting have built with other television station groups. The Internet Broadcasting network provides local Internet coverage of 57 markets, reaching 65% of U.S. households. We also have a strategic equity investment in Ripe Digital Entertainment, Inc. (“Ripe TV”), an advertising-supported free digital video-on-demand program service for distribution via multiple platforms, including digital cable, broadband, and cell phones. In addition, we have a minority interest in the Arizona Diamondbacks major league baseball team, which we acquired in the Pulitzer transaction.

As of February 15, 2007, Hearst owned, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Hearst Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Hearst Holdings”), and Hearst Broadcasting, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Hearst Broadcasting”), 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of our Series B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, (the “Series B Common Stock,” and together with our Series A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, the “Series A Common Stock,” the “Common Stock”) and approximately 52.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of our Series A Common Stock, representing in the aggregate approximately 73.75% of the outstanding voting power of our Common Stock (except with regard to the election of directors, which is discussed below). On February 15, 2007, Hearst Broadcasting also owned 500,000 Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities due 2021 that were issued by Hearst-Argyle Capital Trust, our wholly-owned subsidiary trust. Hearst Broadcasting may convert the Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities into 986,131 shares of our Series A Common Stock, representing in the aggregate approximately 1.9% of the outstanding voting power of our Common Stock (except with respect to the election of directors, which is discussed below) as of February 15, 2007. Because of Hearst’s ownership, we are considered a “controlled company” under New York Stock Exchange rules.

Hearst Broadcasting’s ownership of our Series B Common Stock entitles it to elect as a class all but two members of our Board of Directors (the “Board”). The holders of our Series A Common Stock are entitled to elect the remaining two members of our Board. When Hearst combined the Hearst Broadcast Group with Argyle in August 1997, Hearst agreed that, for purposes of any vote to elect directors and for as long as it held any shares of our Series B Common Stock, it would vote any shares of Series A Common Stock that it owned only in the same proportion as the shares of Series A Common Stock not held by Hearst are voted in the election.

The Stations

We own 26 television stations. In addition, we manage three television stations (WMOR-TV in Tampa, Florida, WPBF(TV) in West Palm Beach, Florida and KCWE(TV) in Kansas City, Missouri) and two radio stations (WBAL(AM) and WIYY(FM) in Baltimore, Maryland), all of which are owned by Hearst. Of the 29 television stations we own or manage, 20 are in the top 50 of the 210 generally recognized geographic designated market areas (“DMAs”) according to Nielsen Media Research (“Nielsen”) estimates for the 2006-2007 television broadcasting season.

6




The following table sets forth certain information for each of our owned and managed television stations as of December 31, 2006:

Station

 

 

 

Market

 

Market
Rank(1)

 

Network
Affiliation(2)

 

Analog
Channel

 

Digital
Channel(3)

 

Percentage
Of U.S.
Television
Households(4)

 

WCVB

 

Boston, MA

 

 

7

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

2.130

%

 

WMUR

 

Manchester, NH(5)

 

 

7

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

59

 

 

 

 

 

WMOR

 

Tampa, FL

 

 

12

 

 

 

IND

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

1.577

%

 

WESH

 

Orlando, FL

 

 

19

 

 

 

NBC

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

1.254

%

 

WKCF

 

Orlando, FL(6)

 

 

19

 

 

 

CW

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

 

 

KCRA

 

Sacramento, CA

 

 

20

 

 

 

NBC

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

1.229

%

 

KQCA

 

Sacramento, CA(7)

 

 

20

 

 

 

MNT

 

 

 

58

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

WTAE

 

Pittsburgh, PA

 

 

22

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

51

 

 

 

1.045

%

 

WBAL

 

Baltimore, MD

 

 

24

 

 

 

NBC

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

59

 

 

 

0.985

%

 

KMBC

 

Kansas City, MO

 

 

31

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

0.820

%

 

KCWE

 

Kansas City, MO(8)

 

 

31

 

 

 

CW

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

WLWT

 

Cincinnati, OH

 

 

33

 

 

 

NBC

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

0.797

%

 

WISN

 

Milwaukee, WI

 

 

34

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

0.793

%

 

WYFF

 

Greenville, SC

 

 

36

 

 

 

NBC

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

59

 

 

 

0.742

%

 

WPBF

 

West Palm Beach, FL

 

 

38

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

0.693

%

 

WGAL

 

Lancaster, PA

 

 

41

 

 

 

NBC

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

58

 

 

 

0.641

%

 

KOAT

 

Albuquerque, NM

 

 

45

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

0.595

%

 

KOCO

 

Oklahoma City, OK

 

 

46

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

0.595

%

 

WXII

 

Greensboro, NC

 

 

47

 

 

 

NBC

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

0.593

%

 

WLKY

 

Louisville, KY

 

 

48

 

 

 

CBS

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

0.582

%

 

WDSU

 

New Orleans, LA

 

 

54

 

 

 

NBC

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

43

 

 

 

0.509

%

 

KITV

 

Honolulu, HI

 

 

72

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

0.376

%

 

KCCI

 

Des Moines, IA

 

 

73

 

 

 

CBS

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

0.375

%

 

WMTW

 

Portland-Auburn, ME

 

 

74

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

0.367

%

 

KETV

 

Omaha, NE

 

 

75

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

20

 

 

 

0.362

%

 

WAPT

 

Jackson, MS

 

 

87

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

0.309

%

 

WPTZ/WNNE

 

Plattsburgh, NY/
Burlington, VT

 

 

90

 

 

 

NBC

 

 

 

5/31

 

 

 

14/25

 

 

 

0.294

%

 

KHBS/KHOG

 

Fort Smith/
Fayetteville, AR

 

 

102

 

 

 

ABC

 

 

 

40/29

 

 

 

21/15

 

 

 

0.252

%

 

KSBW

 

Monterey-Salinas, CA

 

 

124

 

 

 

NBC

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

0.196

%

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18.111

%

 


(1)          Television market rank is based on the relative size of the DMAs (defined by Nielsen as geographic markets for the sale of national “spot” and local advertising time) among the 210 generally recognized DMAs in the United States, based on Nielsen estimates for the 2006-2007 season.

(2)          ABC refers to the ABC Television Network; CBS refers to the CBS Television Network; IND refers to an independent station not affiliated with a network; NBC refers to the NBC Television Network; CW refers to The CW Network, formed by the 2006 merger of the UPN and WB networks; MNT refers to MyNetworkTV, launched in 2006 by the Fox Broadcasting Company.

(3)          Our television stations are required to transition from analog television service to digital television service by February 17, 2009. At present, all of our stations are operating both analog and digital channels (with the exception of WDSU, which is in the process of reconstructing its digital

7




transmission facility due to damage sustained from Hurricane Katrina, and KMAU (satellite of KITV), which is permitted to flash cut to digital on its current analog channel at the end of the digital transition). At the end of the transition, each station must operate with only one digital channel; however, this channel may be subdivided into several sub-channels containing different content. In 2005, each station was required to elect a channel for operation after the digital transition. The elected channel is either the station’s current analog channel, current digital channel, or it may be a new channel. The FCC has tentatively approved the channel elections of each of our stations. Notwithstanding a station’s ultimate digital channel, during and after the digital transition, stations may maintain their local brand identification associated with their analog channel number through use of the Program and System Information Protocol (“PSIP”). In general and as required by the FCC, PSIP works in conjunction with digital receivers and associates a station’s digital channel with the station’s analog channel number. For example, WCVB, which operates on analog channel 5 and digital channel 20, uses channel 5 as its “major” PSIP channel, and viewers access the station’s digital channel by tuning to channel 5 on their digital receivers. Due to PSIP, the fact that WCVB’s digital station technically operates on channel 20 is not apparent to the viewer.

(4)          Based on Nielsen estimates for the 2006-2007 season.

(5)          Because WMUR and WCVB are in the same DMA, the FCC counts audience reach in this DMA only once for the two stations.

(6)          Because WESH and WKCF are in the same DMA, the FCC counts audience reach in this DMA only once for the two stations.

(7)          Because KQCA and KCRA are in the same DMA, the FCC counts audience reach in this DMA only once for the two stations.

(8)          Because KCWE and KMBC are in the same DMA, the FCC counts audience reach in this DMA only once for the two stations.

The following table sets forth certain information for each of our managed radio stations:

Station

 

 

 

Market

 

Market
Rank(1)

 

Format

WBAL(AM)

 

Baltimore, MD(2)

 

21

 

News/Talk

WIYY(FM)

 

Baltimore, MD(2)

 

21

 

Rock


(1)          Radio market rank is based on the relative size of the Metro Survey Area (defined by Arbitron as generally corresponding to the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget) for Arbitron’s Fall 2006 Radio Market Report.

(2)          We manage WBAL(AM) and WIYY(FM) under a management agreement with Hearst.

We have an option to acquire WMOR-TV and KCWE(TV) from Hearst, at their fair market value as determined by the parties, or by an independent third-party appraisal, subject to certain specified parameters (and we may withdraw any option exercise after we receive the third-party appraisal). However, if Hearst elects to sell either station during the option period, we will have a right of first refusal to acquire that station substantially on the terms agreed upon between Hearst and the potential buyer. We also have a right of first refusal to purchase WPBF(TV) if Hearst proposes to sell the station to a third party We will exercise any option or right of first refusal related to these properties by action of our independent directors. The option periods and the rights of first refusal expire in December 2007.

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Network Affiliations

General.   Twenty-eight of our 29 owned or managed television stations are affiliated with one of the following networks pursuant to a network affiliation agreement: ABC (13 stations), NBC (10 stations), CBS (two stations), CW (two stations) and MyNetworkTV (one station). WMOR-TV in Tampa, Florida currently operates as an independent station.

Each affiliation agreement provides the affiliated station with the right to broadcast all programs transmitted by the network, which constitute approximately 14 hours of programming on a typical weekday on our ABC, NBC and CBS stations. In return, the network has the right to sell a significant portion of the advertising time during those broadcasts. The duration of a majority of our stations’ affiliations with their networks has exceeded 40 years and, for certain stations, has continued for more than 50 years. Our two radio stations also have an affiliation agreement with a network that provides certain content (e.g., news and sports) for the stations. However, our radio stations are less dependent on their affiliation agreements for programming.

Network Compensation.   Historically, broadcast television networks have paid compensation to their affiliates, primarily in exchange for the broadcasting of network programming. In recent years, network compensation has been reduced and in the future may be eliminated. Our affiliation agreements with NBC and CBS provide for compensation that is weighted toward the first part of the term and declines to zero by the end of the term. In addition, more recently established networks generally have paid little or no cash compensation for the clearance of network programming or have required payment from their affiliates.

ABC.   The term of each affiliation agreement for our ABC-affiliated stations—WCVB, WMUR, WTAE, KMBC, WISN, WPBF, KOCO, KOAT, KITV, WMTW, KETV, WAPT and KHBS/KHOG—is for a period of five years, expiring December 31, 2009.

NBC.   The term of the affiliation agreement for our NBC-affiliated stations—KCRA, WESH, WBAL, WLWT, WYFF, WGAL, WDSU, WXII, WPTZ/WNNE and KSBW—is for a period of nine years, six months, expiring December 31, 2009. In addition, certain of our NBC stations have become affiliates of the NBC Weather Plus network. See “Digital Media Initiatives.”

CBS.   The term of each affiliation agreement for our CBS-affiliated stations—WLKY and KCCI—is for a period of ten years, expiring June 30, 2015.

CW.   Warner Brothers and CBS Corp., respective owners of the former WB and UPN networks, discontinued the WB and UPN networks in the fall of 2006. On September 18, 2006, Warner Brothers and CBS Corp., in a joint venture, commenced operation of a new network, The CW. Certain former WB and UPN network affiliates are now affiliated with The CW, including KCWE and WKCF. The term of each affiliation agreement for our CW-affiliated stations is for a period of five years, expiring September 18, 2011.

MyNetworkTV.   On September 5, 2006, News Corporation created a new prime-time network called MyNetworkTV. KQCA is affiliated with MyNetworkTV. The term of KQCA’s MyNetworkTV affiliation agreement is for a period of 2 years, expiring September 5, 2008.

Digital Media Initiatives

We and other television station groups have entered into operating agreements with Internet Broadcasting to operate a nation-wide network of local Websites. The Internet Broadcasting network, which covers 57 markets and reaches 65% of U.S. households, attracted on the average 12.2 million monthly unique viewers, according to Nielsen NetRatings, and generated 402.0 million average page views per month during 2006. Our stations’ local Websites are part of this national network, for which Internet Broadcasting provides content, production and management services on their technology platform. Our

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stations’ Websites typically provide news, weather, community information, user generated content and entertainment content, including live video streams of breaking news events and access to video clip archives. Our stations’ Websites attracted a combined average of 3.9 million monthly unique viewers, according to Nielsen NetRatings, and generated 106.9 million average page views per month during 2006. Three of our executive officers, Harry T. Hawks, Steven A. Hobbs and Terry Mackin, serve on the Board of Directors of Internet Broadcasting.

In addition to the Internet-based services that we and Internet Broadcasting provide, we deliver various forms of content optimized for wireless devices in 12 of our markets, including Orlando, Sacramento and Boston. We also have launched station-branded multicast weather channels in Omaha and Des Moines. We continually seek to expand and enhance our multicasting, Internet and mobile content offerings to meet the changing needs of our audience and, ultimately, to attract advertisers.

In November 2004 NBC Universal and the NBC Television Affiliates Association formed NBC Weather Plus Network LLC, a 50/50 joint venture which launched the first ever 24/7, all digital, local and national broadcast network. NBC-affiliated stations participated in the venture by investing in a limited liability company called Weather Network Affiliates Company, LLC, one of the entities which invested in NBC Weather Plus Network LLC. Stations participating in the venture broadcast 24-hour national and local weather and related community information using their digital spectrum (as a multi-cast stream which is separate from their main digital channel). We have launched NBC Weather Plus in all of our NBC markets. Terry Mackin, one of our executive officers, serves as the past Chairman of the Board of the NBC Television Affiliates Association, which is the managing member and the owner of certain ownership interests in Weather Network Affiliates Company, LLC. As past NBC Affiliate Chairman, Mr. Mackin serves as chairman of the NBC Affiliates “Futures” committee, which is responsible for developing strategic projects between NBC and the NBC Affiliates. Mr. Mackin served as the Chairman of the NBC Television Affiliates Association Board from May 2004 to May 2006. Additionally, since May 2006, Mr. Mackin has served as a member of the Board of Directors of NBC Weather Plus Network LLC.

In July 2005, we made an equity investment in Ripe TV. Ripe TV was formed in 2003 to create an advertising-supported, free, digital video-on-demand program service, consisting primarily of short-form entertainment content. Launched in October 2005, the program service targets men aged 18-34 and is available for distribution via multiple platforms, including digital cable, broadband, and cell phones. Ripe TV is currently carried on the video-on-demand tiers of both Comcast’s and Time Warner’s cable services. Two of our executive officers, Steven A. Hobbs and Terry Mackin, serve on the Board of Directors of Ripe TV.

The Commercial Television Broadcasting Industry

General.   Commercial television broadcasting began on a regular basis in the 1940s. Currently a limited number of channels are available for over-the-air broadcasting in any one geographic area, and a license to operate a television station must be granted by the FCC. All television stations in the country are grouped by Nielsen into 210 generally recognized television markets that are ranked in size based upon actual or potential audience. Each of these markets, called “Designated Market Areas” or “DMAs”, is designated as an exclusive geographic area consisting of all counties whose largest viewing share is given to stations of that same market area. Nielsen regularly publishes data on estimated audiences for the television stations in each DMA, which data is a significant factor in determining our advertising rates.

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Revenue.   Television station revenue is derived primarily from local, regional and national advertising and, to a lesser extent, from retransmission revenue (consisting of compensation paid to us by multi-channel, video program distributors (“MVPDs”) as compensation for retransmitting our stations’ signals), network compensation and other sources. Advertising rates are set based upon a variety of factors, including

·       a program’s popularity among the viewers an advertiser wishes to attract;

·       the number of advertisers competing for the available time;

·       the size and demographic makeup of the market served by the station; and

·       the availability of alternative advertising media in the market.

Also, advertising rates are determined by a station’s ratings and audience share among particular demographic groups.

Competition 

General.   Competition in the television industry takes place on three primary levels:

·       competition for audience;

·       competition for programming; and

·       competition for advertisers.

Competition for Audience.   We compete for audience on the basis of program popularity, which programming consists not only of our locally-produced news, public affairs and entertainment programming, but syndicated and network programming as well. The popularity of our programming has a significant effect on the rates we can charge our advertisers. In addition, although the commercial television broadcast industry historically has been dominated by the broadcast networks ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX, other non-broadcast networks and programming originated to be distributed solely via MVPDs, such as cable and satellite systems, have become significant competitors for the broadcast television audience. Currently, broadcast-originated programming accounts for about half of all television viewing.

In addition, while we stream a portion of our television programming, including our news and weather forecasts, and we publish community information, user generated content and entertainment content, on our stations’ Websites, and have established a mobile presence in certain of our markets, we increasingly compete for audience with other content providers who operate on these platforms, as well.

Other sources of competition for audience include

·       home entertainment and recording systems (including VCRs, DVDs, DVRs and playback systems);

·       video-on-demand and pay-per-view;

·       television game devices;

·       other sources of home entertainment.

Competition for Programming.   Competition for non-network programming involves negotiating with national program distributors or syndicators that sell first-run and off-network packages of programming. Our stations predominantly carry first-run syndicated product and compete against other local broadcast stations for exclusive local access to the most popular programs (such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, which we carry in a majority of our markets). To a lesser extent, we compete for exclusive local access to off-network reruns (such as Friends). MVPDs also compete with local stations for programming, and various national cable and satellite networks from time to time have acquired programs that otherwise would have

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been offered to local television stations. In addition, networks have recently begun to distribute their programming directly to the consumer via the Internet and portable digital devices such as video iPods and cell phones.

Competition for Advertisers.   Broadcast television stations compete for advertising revenue and marketing sponsorship with other broadcast television stations, and a station’s competitive edge is in large part determined by the success of its programming. Broadcast television stations also compete for advertising revenue with a variety of other media, such as newspapers, radio stations, magazines, outdoor advertising, transit advertising, yellow page directories, direct mail, the Internet and MVPDs serving the same market.

Additional factors relevant to a television station’s competitive position include signal strength and coverage within a geographic area and assigned frequency or channel position. Television stations that broadcast over the VHF band (channels 2-13) of the spectrum historically have had a competitive advantage over television stations that broadcast over the UHF band (channels above 13) of the spectrum because the former usually have better signal coverage and operate at a lower transmission cost. However, the improvement of UHF transmitters and receivers, the complete elimination from the marketplace of VHF-only receivers, the expansion of MVPD systems (such as cable and satellite) and the commencement of and transition to digital broadcasting have reduced the VHF signal’s competitive advantage.

Seasonality, Cyclicality and Materiality of Automotive Advertising

Our business has experienced and is expected to continue to experience seasonality due to, among other things, seasonal advertising patterns and seasonal influences on people’s viewing habits. The advertising revenue of our stations is generally highest in the second and fourth quarters of each year, due in part to increases in consumer advertising in the spring and retail advertising in the period leading up to and including the holiday season. Additionally, advertising revenue is cyclical, benefiting in even-numbered years from advertising placed by candidates for political offices and issue-oriented advertising, and demand for advertising time in Olympic broadcasts. While political and Olympic advertising cycles have been a normal pattern for our industry for decades, the variability has become more pronounced in recent years as these respective categories of revenue have grown significantly in size. The seasonality and cyclicality inherent in our business make it difficult to estimate future operating results based on the previous results of any specific quarter.

In addition, the Company derives a material portion of its ad revenue from the automotive industry. Approximately 22% of the Company’s total revenue came from the automotive category in 2006. An increase or decrease in revenue from this category therefore may disproportionately impact our operating results.

Federal Regulation of Television Broadcasting

General.   Broadcasting is subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Communications Act”). The Communications Act requires the FCC to regulate broadcasting so as to serve “the public interest, convenience and necessity.” The Communications Act prohibits the operation of broadcast stations except pursuant to licenses issued by the FCC and empowers the FCC, among other things, to

·       issue, renew, revoke and modify broadcasting licenses;

·       assign frequency bands;

·       determine stations’ frequencies, locations and power; and

·       regulate the equipment used by stations.

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The Communications Act prohibits the assignment of a license or the transfer of control of a license without the FCC’s prior approval. The FCC also regulates certain aspects of the operation of cable television systems, direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) systems and other electronic media that compete with broadcast stations. In addition, although the FCC has reduced its regulation of broadcast stations, the FCC continues to regulate matters such as television station ownership, network-affiliate relations, cable and DBS systems’ carriage of television station signals, carriage of syndicated and network programming on distant stations, political advertising practices and obscene and indecent programming. In recent years, the FCC and Congress have increased their regulatory focus on indecency, which may impact certain of our programming decisions.

The following discussion summarizes the federal statutes and regulations material to our operations, but does not purport to be a complete summary of all the provisions of the Communications Act or of other current or proposed statutes, regulations, and policies affecting our business. The summaries which follow should be read in conjunction with the text of the statutes, rules, regulations, orders, and decisions described herein.

License Renewals.   Under the Communications Act, the FCC generally may grant and renew broadcast licenses for terms of eight years, though licenses may be renewed for a shorter period under certain circumstances. The Communications Act requires the FCC to renew a broadcast license if the FCC finds that (i) the station has served the public interest, convenience and necessity; (ii) there have been no serious violations of either the Communications Act or the FCC’s rules and regulations by the licensee; and (iii) there have been no other serious violations that taken together constitute a pattern of abuse. In making its determination, the FCC may consider petitions to deny but cannot consider whether the public interest would be better served by issuing the license to a person other than the renewal applicant. In addition, competing applications for the same frequency may be accepted only after the FCC has denied an incumbent’s application for license renewal.

The following table provides the expiration dates for the full power station licenses of our owned and managed television stations:

Station

 

 

 

Market

 

Expiration of
FCC License

WCVB

 

Boston, MA

 

April 1, 2007*

WMUR

 

Manchester, NH(1)

 

April 1, 2007*

WMOR

 

Tampa, Fl

 

February 1, 2013

WESH

 

Orlando, FL

 

February 1, 2013

WKCF

 

Orlando, FL

 

February 1, 2013

KCRA

 

Sacramento, CA

 

December 1, 2014

KQCA

 

Sacramento, CA

 

December 1, 2006*

WTAE

 

Pittsburgh, PA

 

August 1, 2007

WBAL

 

Baltimore, MD

 

October 1, 2012

KMBC

 

Kansas City, MO

 

February 1, 2014

KCWE

 

Kansas City, MO

 

February 1, 2014

WLWT

 

Cincinnati, OH

 

October 1, 2013

WISN

 

Milwaukee, WI

 

December 1, 2005*

WYFF

 

Greenville, SC

 

December 1, 2012

WPBF

 

West Palm Beach, FL

 

February 1, 2013

WGAL

 

Lancaster, PA

 

August 1, 2007

KOAT

 

Albuquerque, NM

 

October 1, 2014

KOCT (satellite station of KOAT)**

 

Carlsbad, NM

 

October 1, 2014

KOVT (satellite station of KOAT)**

 

Silver City, NM

 

October 1, 2014

KOFT-DT (satellite station of KOAT)**

 

Farmington, NM

 

—(2)

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KOCO

 

Oklahoma City, OK

 

June 1, 2014

WXII

 

Greensboro, NC

 

December 1, 2012

WDSU

 

New Orleans, LA

 

June 1, 2013

WLKY

 

Louisville, KY

 

August 1, 2013

KITV

 

Honolulu, HI

 

February 1, 2007*

KHVO (satellite station of KITV)**

 

Hilo, HI

 

February 1, 2007*

KMAU (satellite station of KITV)**

 

Wailuku, HI

 

February 1, 2007*

KCCI

 

Des Moines, IA

 

February 1, 2014

WMTW

 

Portland-Auburn, ME

 

April 1, 2007*

KETV

 

Omaha, NE

 

June 1, 2014

WAPT

 

Jackson, MS

 

June 1, 2013

WPTZ

 

Plattsburgh, NY

 

June 1, 2007*

WNNE (satellite station of WPTZ)**

 

Burlington, VT

 

April 1, 2007*

KHBS

 

Fort Smith, AR

 

June 1, 2013

KHOG (satellite station of KHBS)**

 

Fayetteville, AR

 

June 1, 2013

KSBW

 

Monterey-Salinas, CA

 

December 1, 2014


(1)          Manchester, New Hampshire is determined by Nielsen to be a part of the Boston DMA.

(2)          Our satellite station KOFT-DT in Farmington, NM operates in digital mode only pursuant to a special temporary authority which the FCC must renew periodically.

*                    We have filed for renewal of licenses for these stations, and those applications are pending. A station’s authority to operate is automatically extended while a renewal application is on file and under review.

**             Satellite stations generally retransmit the signal of a primary station, and offer some locally originated programming.

Ownership Regulation.   The Communications Act and FCC rules limit the ability of individuals and entities to have ownership or other attributable interests in certain combinations of broadcast stations and other media. In June 2006, the FCC launched a rulemaking proceeding to promulgate new media ownership rules. This rulemaking is, in part, a response to the 2004 decision of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which stayed and remanded several of the ownership rule changes that the FCC had adopted in 2003. The rules adopted in 2003 would have liberalized most of the ownership rules which would have permitted us to acquire television stations in certain markets where we are currently prohibited from acquiring new stations. During the pendency of the FCC’s current rulemaking proceeding, the FCC’s pre-June 2003 broadcast ownership rules remain in effect. The FCC’s currently effective ownership rules that are material to our operations are summarized below:

·       Local Television Ownership.   Under the FCC’s current local television ownership (or “duopoly”) rule, a party may own multiple television stations without regard to signal contour overlap provided they are located in separate Nielsen DMAs. In addition, the rules permit parties to own up to two TV stations in the same DMA so long as (1) at least one of the two stations is not among the top four-ranked stations in the market based on audience share at the time an application for approval of the acquisition is filed with the FCC, and (2) at least eight independently owned and operating full-power commercial and non-commercial television stations would remain in the market after the acquisition. In addition, without regard to the number of remaining or independently owned television stations, the FCC will permit television duopolies within the same DMA so long as the Grade B signal contours of the stations involved do not overlap. Stations designated by the FCC as ‘‘satellite” stations, which are full-power stations that typically rebroadcast the programming of a ‘‘parent’’ station, are exempt from the local television ownership rule. Also, the FCC may grant a waiver of the local television ownership rule if one of the two television stations is a ‘‘failed’’ or

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‘‘failing’’ station or if the proposed transaction would result in the construction of a new television station. We are currently in compliance with the local television ownership rule.

·       National Television Ownership Cap.   The Communications Act, as amended in 2004, limits the number of television stations one entity may own nationally. Under the rule, no entity may have an attributable interest in television stations that reach, in the aggregate, more than 39% of all U.S. television households.

The FCC currently discounts the audience reach of a UHF station by 50% when computing the national television ownership cap. Further, for entities that have attributable interests in two stations in the same market, the FCC counts the audience reach of the stations in that market only once in computing the national ownership cap. The FCC is currently considering whether to retain the UHF discount. The propriety of the UHF discount will be the subject of further administrative proceedings, but the discount currently remains in effect.

·       Dual Network Rule.   The dual network rule prohibits a merger between or among any of the four major broadcast television networks—ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC.

·       Media Cross-Ownership.   The FCC’s currently effective rules prohibit the licensee of a radio or TV station from directly or indirectly owning, operating, or controlling a daily newspaper if the station’s specified service contour encompasses the entire community where the newspaper is published. While the FCC liberalized this rule in 2003, the new version of the rule remains under review and is not effective. The new rule, if it were adopted, would permit us to acquire stations in certain areas where Hearst, our controlling stockholder, owns newspapers.

The cross-ownership rules also permit cross ownership of radio and television stations under a graduated test based on the number of independently owned media voices in the local market. In large markets, (markets with at least 20 independently owned media voices), a single entity can own up to one television station and seven radio stations or, if permissible under the local television ownership rule (if eight full-power television stations would remain in the market post transaction), two television stations and six radio stations. Our television and radio stations in Baltimore, Maryland, are permanently grandfathered under this rule.

·       Attribution of Ownership.   Under the FCC’s attribution policies, the following relationships and interests generally are attributable for purposes of the FCC’s broadcast ownership restrictions:

·        holders of 5% or more of the licensee’s voting stock, unless the holder is a qualified passive investor, in which case the threshold is a 20% or greater voting stock interest;

·        all officers and directors of a licensee and its direct or indirect parent(s);

·        any equity interest in a limited partnership or limited liability company, unless properly “insulated” from management activities; and

·        equity and/or debt interests which in the aggregate exceed 33% of a licensee’s total assets, if the interest holder supplies more than 15% of the station’s total weekly programming, or is a same-market broadcast company, cable operator or newspaper (the “equity/debt plus” standard).

All non-conforming interests acquired before November 7, 1996, are permanently grandfathered and thus do not constitute attributable ownership interests.

Under the single majority shareholder exception to the FCC’s attribution policies, otherwise attributable interests under 50% are not attributable if a corporate licensee is controlled by a single majority shareholder and the minority interest holder is not otherwise attributable under the “equity/debt plus” standard. Thus, in our case, where Hearst is the single majority shareholder, ownership

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of minority stock interests of up to 33% would not be attributable absent other factors. The FCC is reviewing the single majority shareholder exception, but the exception currently remains in effect.

Digital Television Service.   The Communications Act and the FCC require television stations to transition from analog television service to digital television service. In 2006, new legislation was enacted that establishes a hard transition deadline of February 17, 2009. Until the end of the transition, in general, stations are required to operate both analog and digital facilities.

Cable and Satellite Carriage of Local Television Signals.   Pursuant to the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 (“1992 Cable Act”) and the FCC’s “must carry” regulations, cable operators are generally required to devote up to one-third of their activated channel capacity to the carriage of the analog signals of local commercial television stations. The 1992 Cable Act also prohibits cable operators and other MVPDs from retransmitting a broadcast signal without obtaining the station’s consent. On a cable system-by-cable system basis, a local television broadcast station must make a choice once every three years whether to proceed under the “must carry” rules or to waive the right to mandatory, but uncompensated, carriage and, instead, to negotiate a grant of retransmission consent to permit the cable system to carry the station’s signal, in most cases in exchange for some form of consideration from the cable operator. In 2005, we made cable carriage elections for the three-year period January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008. We opted to negotiate retransmission consent with most of the cable systems that carry our stations.

The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (“SHVIA”) established a compulsory copyright licensing system for the distribution of local television station signals by direct broadcast satellite systems to viewers in each DMA. Under SHVIA’s “carry-one, carry all” provision, a direct broadcast satellite system generally is required to retransmit the analog signal of all local television stations in a DMA if the system chooses to retransmit the analog signal of any local television station in that DMA. Television stations located in markets in which satellite carriage of local stations is offered may elect mandatory carriage or retransmission consent once every three years. In 2005, we made satellite carriage elections for the three-year period January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008. We opted to negotiate retransmission consent for all satellite systems that carry our stations.

To date, the FCC has determined that cable systems generally will be required under the FCC’s “must carry” rules to carry a single programming stream transmitted by each local digital television station at the end of the digital television transition. During the transition period, cable operators are required to carry either a station’s analog signal or a single programming stream of the digital signal, but not both. Therefore, the FCC does not require cable operators to carry additional multicast programming streams that we may create using our digital spectrum. Petitions filed by the broadcast industry requesting the FCC to reconsider that decision are pending. Nonetheless, we have retransmission consent agreements with a number of cable operators and satellite carriers that require carriage of the analog and certain digital programming streams of our stations.

The Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 (“SHVERA”) extended until December 31, 2009, the separate compulsory copyright license that permits satellite carriers to retransmit distant network signals to unserved households (i.e., those households that do not receive a signal of Grade B intensity from a local network affiliate). SHVERA also created a compulsory copyright license that permits satellite carriers to retransmit a station’s signal out of its DMA into communities in which the station is “significantly viewed” (as that term is defined by the FCC).

Indecency Regulation.   Federal law and the FCC’s rules prohibit the broadcast of obscene material at any time, and the broadcast of indecent or profane material during the period from 6 a.m. through 10 p.m. In recent years, the FCC and its indecency prohibition have received much attention. In 2006, legislation was enacted that raised the maximum monetary penalty for the broadcast of obscene, indecent, or profane language to $325,000 for each “violation,” with a cap of $3 million for any “single act.”

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Employees

As of December 31, 2006, we had approximately 2,938 full-time employees and 374 part-time employees. A total of approximately 923 of our employees are represented by five unions (the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the Directors Guild of America, and the National Association of Broadcast Electrical Technicians). We have not experienced any significant labor problems, and believe that our relations with our employees are satisfactory.

Available Information

We maintain an Internet site at www.hearstargyle.com. We make available, free of charge, on our Internet site, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file those materials with, or furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Audit Committee Charter and our Compensation Committee Charter are also posted to the corporate governance section of our Internet site. In addition, you may obtain a free copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, or our Board committee charters that we file on our Internet site by writing to us at Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., 300 West 57th St. New York, New York 10019, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

We also make available on our Internet site additional information, including news releases, earnings releases, archived audio Web casts and forthcoming corporate events.

ITEM 1A.        RISK FACTORS

The following discussion of risk factors contains “forward-looking statements,” as discussed on page 2 of this report. These risk factors may be important to understanding any statement in this report or elsewhere. The following information should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), and the consolidated financial statements and related notes in this report.

We Depend Upon Network Affiliation Agreements

Each of the television stations we own or manage is a party to a network affiliation agreement giving such station the right to rebroadcast programs transmitted by the network, except WMOR-TV, in Tampa, Florida, which operates as an independent station. These affiliations are valuable to us because programs provided by the major networks are typically the most popular with audiences, which increases our ability to attract viewers to our programs, including our local newscasts. In exchange for giving us the right to rebroadcast their programs, the networks have the right to sell a substantial majority of the advertising time during such broadcasts. Thirteen of our stations are parties to affiliation agreements with ABC, 10 with NBC, two with CBS, two with CW and one with MyNetworkTV. We may fail to renew these network affiliation agreements, or we may renew them on less favorable terms than we presently have. In addition, because networks increasingly distribute their programming on other platforms, such as the Internet or portable devices, they may become less reliant upon their affiliates to distribute their programming, which could put us at a disadvantage in future contract negotiations. The termination or non-renewal, or renewal on less favorable terms, of our stations’ network affiliation agreements could adversely affect the viewership of our stations and affect our ability to sell advertising, which could materially decrease our revenue and operating results.

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We Depend Upon Networks for Programming

Our viewership levels, and ultimately advertising revenues, for each station are materially dependent upon programming which is either supplied to us by the networks or purchased by us. First, programming which the networks provide to us may not achieve or maintain satisfactory viewership levels. Specifically, because 23 of our 29 owned or managed stations are ABC or NBC affiliates, if ABC or NBC network programming fails to generate satisfactory ratings, our revenues may be adversely affected. Additionally, we purchase syndicated programming to supplement the shows supplied to us by the networks. Generally, however, before we purchase syndicated programming for our stations, this programming must first be cleared in the largest television markets—New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Network owned and operated stations in those markets typically determine which syndicated shows will be brought to market, and therefore dictate our options for syndicated programs. If those stations do not launch new shows, or if the shows that they launch, and which in turn we acquire, fail to generate satisfactory ratings, our viewership levels may decrease and our revenues may be adversely affected

Increased Programming Costs Could Adversely Affect Our Business and Operating Results

Television programming is one of our most significant operating cost components. We may be exposed in the future to increased programming costs. Should such an increase in our programming expenses occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. In addition, television networks have been seeking arrangements with their affiliates to share the networks’ programming costs and to change the structure of network compensation. If we become party to an arrangement whereby we share our networks’ programming costs, our programming expenses would increase further. In addition, we usually acquire syndicated programming rights two or three years in advance and acquiring those rights may require multi-year commitments, making it difficult to predict accurately how a program will perform. In some instances, we must replace programs before their costs have been fully amortized, resulting in write-offs that increase station operating costs. An increase in the cost of news programming and content or in the costs for on-air and creative talent may also increase our expenses, particularly during events requiring extended news coverage, and therefore adversely affect our business and operating results. Finally, cable distributors are increasingly competing with us or the networks with which we are affiliated for the rights to carry popular sports programming, which could increase our costs, or if we were to lose the rights to broadcast such sports programming, could adversely affect our audience share and operating results.

A Decline in Advertising Expenditures Could Adversely Affect our Operating Results

We rely substantially upon sales of advertising for our revenues. Our stations compete for advertising revenues with other television stations in their respective markets. They also compete with other advertising media, such as newspapers, radio stations, magazines, outdoor advertising, transit advertising, yellow page directories, direct mail, the Internet and local cable and satellite system operators. Our stations are located in highly competitive markets. Accordingly, our operating results are and will continue to be dependent upon the ability of each of our stations to compete successfully for advertising revenues in its respective market. Our ability to generate advertising revenues is and will continue to be affected by changes in the national economy, as well as by regional economic conditions in each of the markets in which our stations operate. The size of advertisers’ budgets, which are affected by broad economic trends, affect the broadcast industry in general and the revenues of individual broadcast television stations. If the economic prospects of advertisers or the economy decline, our current or prospective advertisers may purchase less advertising time from us. In addition, the occurrence of disasters, acts of terrorism, political uncertainty or hostilities could cause us to lose our ability to broadcast our television signals or, if we are able to broadcast, our broadcast operations may shift to around-the-clock news coverage, which would

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cause the loss of advertising revenues due to the suspension of advertising-supported commercial programming.

Materiality of a Single Advertising Category Could Adversely Affect Our Business

We derive a material portion of our ad revenue from the automotive industry. For example, approximately 22% of our total revenue came from the automotive category in 2006. If automotive-related advertising revenue decreases, or if revenue from another advertising category that constitutes a material portion of our stations’ revenue in a particular period were to decrease, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.

Increased Competition Due to Technological Innovation May Adversely Impact our Business

Technological innovation, and the resulting proliferation of programming alternatives such as cable, satellite television, video provided by telephone company fiber lines, satellite radio, video-on-demand, pay-per-view, the Internet, home video and entertainment systems, portable entertainment systems, and the availability of television programs on the Internet and portable digital devices have fragmented television viewing audiences and subjected television broadcast stations to new types of competition. Over the past decade, the aggregate viewership of non-network programming distributed via MVPDs such as cable television and satellite systems has increased, while the aggregate viewership of the major television networks has declined. New technologies that enable users to view content of their own choosing, in their own time, and to fast-forward or skip advertisements, such as DVRs, portable digital devices, and the Internet, may cause changes in consumer behavior that could affect the attractiveness of our offerings to advertisers. If this were to occur, our operating results could be adversely affected.

Other advances in technology, such as increasing use of local-cable advertising “interconnects,” which allow for easier insertion of advertising on local cable systems, have also increased competition for advertisers. In addition, video compression techniques permit greater numbers of channels to be carried within existing bandwidth on cable, satellite and other television distribution systems. These compression techniques, as well as other technological developments, are applicable to all video delivery systems, including digital over-the-air broadcasting, and have the potential to provide vastly expanded programming to highly targeted audiences. Reduction in the cost of creating additional channel capacity could lower entry barriers for new channels and encourage the development of increasingly specialized niche programming on cable, satellite and other television distribution systems. We expect this ability to reach very narrowly defined audiences to increase competition both for audience and for advertising revenue. In addition, the expansion of competition due to technological innovation has increased, and may continue to increase, competitive demand for programming. Such increased demand, together with rising production costs, may in the future increase our programming costs or impair our ability to acquire programming, which will in turn impair our ability to generate revenue from the advertisers with which we seek to do business.

We May Lose Audience Share As a Result of the Transition to Digital Television

The Communications Act and the FCC’s rules require television stations to transition from analog television service to digital television service by February 17, 2009. After that time, our analog signals will no longer be available. The United States Government Accountability Office estimates that, as of February 2005, approximately 19 percent of all U.S. households, or roughly 20.8 million households, receive television exclusively by means of analog over-the-air transmissions and do not subscribe to cable or satellite services. In addition to these households, many households that subscribe to cable or satellite services also have one or more television sets that rely on over-the-air transmissions. In total, the FCC estimates that, as of February 2005, there were approximately 73 million television sets in U.S. households that relied on over-the-air transmissions. To continue to receive our stations after the conclusion of the

19




digital television transition, households that rely on over-the-air transmissions will be required to purchase digital televisions, obtain digital to analog converter equipment, or subscribe to satellite or cable service (assuming such services will continue to offer programming for analog televisions). A significant percentage of households with analog over-the-air receivers may not desire or be able to afford to purchase digital televisions. While the federal government has created a subsidy to help such households obtain digital converters, the subsidy may not be large enough to cover all households with over-the-air receivers and some of such households may not take advantage of the subsidy. As a result, the digital transition may cause some households to lose service from our stations. And, to the extent such households elect to subscribe to satellite or cable service, the additional channels available through those services may reduce our viewership from such households. Furthermore, while digital television improves the technical quality of our over-the-air television broadcasts, the digital transition may cause a loss to a portion of our audience because digital over-the-air service areas do not necessarily replicate analog service areas in all respects. While, in many cases, a station’s digital signal covers all of the station’s analog service area, in some circumstances, conversion to digital may reduce a station’s geographical coverage area. We believe that digital television is important to our long-term viability and offers many advantages such as high definition video, multi-channel digital audio and multicast capability. However, we cannot predict the precise effect digital television might have on our stations’ viewership and our operations.

Our Inability to Secure Carriage of Our Stations by Multi-Channel Video Programming Distributors May Adversely Affect Our Business

Cable operators and direct broadcast satellite systems are generally required to carry the analog signal of local commercial television stations pursuant to the FCC’s “must carry” or “carry-one, carry-all” rules. However, these MVPDs are prohibited from carrying a broadcast signal without obtaining the station’s consent. For each distributor, a local television broadcaster must make a choice once every three years whether to proceed under the “must carry” or “carry-one, carry-all” rules or to waive the right to mandatory but uncompensated carriage and negotiate a grant of retransmission consent to permit the system to carry the station’s signal, in most cases in exchange for some form of consideration from the system operator. In 2005, we elected retransmission consent for most of our stations for the three-year period commencing on January 1, 2006. At present, we have retransmission consent agreements with the majority of operators for the period January 1, 2006, to at least December 31, 2008. If our retransmission consent agreements are terminated or not renewed, or if our broadcast signal is distributed on less favorable terms, our ability to distribute our programming could be adversely affected. In many instances, the negotiation of these agreements involves the payment of compensation to us by the MVPDs as consideration. If we are unable to satisfactorily conclude those negotiations our ability to grow our retransmission consent revenue will be adversely affected.

In addition, although cable operators generally will be required, under the FCC’s current “must carry” rules, to retransmit a single programming stream transmitted by each local digital television station at the end of the digital television transition, to date, the FCC has determined that cable operators are not required to carry both a station’s analog signal and digital signal during the transition period. Also, to date and except with respect to stations licensed to Hawaii and Alaska, the FCC has not extended its “carry-one, carry-all” rule to require satellite systems to carry a station’s digital signal. At present, we have retransmission consent agreements with a number of cable systems operators and satellite providers that require carriage of the analog and certain digital signals of our stations.

Our Business is Seasonal and Cyclical and Some Years and Quarters Therefore May Be Less Profitable Than Others

Our business has experienced and is expected to continue to experience seasonality due to, among other things, seasonal advertising patterns and seasonal influences on people’s viewing habits. The

20




advertising revenue of our stations is generally highest in the second and fourth quarters of each year, due in part to increases in consumer advertising in the spring and retail advertising in the period leading up to and including the holiday season. Additionally, advertising revenue is cyclical, benefiting in even-numbered years from advertising placed by candidates for political offices and issue-oriented advertising, and demand for advertising time in Olympic broadcasts. While political and Olympic advertising cycles have been a normal pattern for our industry for decades, the variability has become more pronounced in recent years as these respective categories of revenue have grown significantly in size. The seasonality and cyclicality inherent in our business make it difficult to estimate future operating results based on the previous results of any specific quarter.

The Television Industry is Highly Competitive and Our Competitors May Have Greater Resources Than We Do

The television broadcast industry is highly competitive. Some of our competitors are owned and operated by large national or regional companies that may have greater resources, including financial resources, than we have. Competition in the television industry takes place on several levels: competition for audience, competition for programming and competition for advertisers. Our stations may not be able to maintain or increase their current audience share or revenue share. To the extent that certain of our competitors have, or may in the future obtain, greater resources than we have, we may not be able to successfully compete with them.

We Have a Controlling Stockholder

The Hearst Corporation, through its beneficial ownership of our Series A and Series B Common Stock, has voting control of our company. Through its beneficial ownership of 100% of our Series B Common Stock, Hearst also is entitled to elect as a class all but two members of our Board of Directors (currently, 11 of our 13 Board seats). As a result, Hearst is able to control substantially all actions to be taken by our stockholders, and also is able to maintain control over our operations and business. In addition, Hearst has the ability to cause the redemption of our Series B Debentures, $134.0 million aggregate principal amount of which were outstanding at December 31, 2006. This control, as well as certain provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and of Delaware law, may make us a less attractive target for a takeover than we otherwise might be, or render more difficult or discourage a merger proposal, tender offer or other transaction involving an actual or potential change of control. Hearst’s voting control also prevents other stockholders from exercising significant influence over our Company’s business decisions.

The Interests and Assets of Our Controlling Stockholder May Adversely Impact Our Ability to Make Certain Acquisitions

The interests of Hearst, which owns or has significant investments in other businesses, including cable television networks, newspapers, magazines and electronic media, may from time to time be competitive with, or otherwise diverge from, our interests, particularly with respect to new business opportunities and future acquisitions. We and Hearst have agreed that, without the prior written consent of the other, neither we nor they will make any acquisition or purchase any assets if such an acquisition or purchase by one party would require the other party to divest or otherwise dispose of any of its assets because of regulatory or other legal prohibitions.

Under current FCC regulations, given the newspaper and other media interests held by Hearst, we are precluded from acquiring television stations in various markets in the United States. While divestiture of a prohibited interest could permit such acquisitions, such a divestiture may not occur or may otherwise adversely impact potential acquisitions. Additionally, Hearst is not precluded from purchasing television

21




stations, newspapers or other assets in other markets. If Hearst were to make such purchases, the FCC rules would preclude us from owning television stations in those markets in the future.

We May Encounter Conflicts of Interest with Our Controlling Stockholder

We and Hearst also have ongoing relationships that may create situations where the interests of the two parties could conflict. For example, we and Hearst are parties to a series of agreements with each other, including

·       a Lease Agreement (whereby we lease one floor of the newly constructed Hearst Tower in Manhattan for our corporate offices

·       a Management Agreement (whereby we provide certain management services, such as sales, news, programming and financial and accounting management services with respect to certain Hearst-owned or managed television and radio stations);

·       an Option Agreement (whereby Hearst has granted us an option to acquire two television stations it owns (KCWE and WMOR), as well as a right of first refusal with respect to a prospective purchaser if Hearst proposes to sell WPBF);

·       a Studio Lease Agreement (whereby Hearst leases space from us for Hearst’s radio broadcast stations);

·       a Name License Agreement (whereby Hearst permits us to use the Hearst name in connection with our name and operation of our business); and

·       a Services Agreement (whereby Hearst provides us certain administrative services, such as accounting, financial, legal, tax, insurance, data processing and employee benefits).

Because we and Hearst are affiliates, it is possible that our interests concerning these agreements may from time to time conflict and that more favorable terms than those we have negotiated with Hearst may be available from third parties.

Changes in FCC Regulations and Enforcement Policies May Adversely Affect Our Business

As discussed more fully in Item 1 “Business; Federal Regulation of Television Broadcasting”, our broadcast operations are subject to extensive regulation by the FCC under the Communications Act. If we do not comply with these regulations, in particular the specific regulations discussed below, or if the FCC adopts a rigorous enforcement policy concerning them, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.

Ownership Rules.   We must comply with extensive FCC regulations and policies in the ownership of our broadcast stations, which restrict our ability to consummate future transactions and, in certain circumstances, could require us to divest some stations. In general, the FCC’s ownership rules limit the number of television and radio stations that we can own in a market, the number of television stations we can own nationwide, and prohibit ownership of stations in markets where Hearst has interests in newspapers. As described in Item 1 “Business; Federal Regulation of Television Broadcasting,” the FCC’s ownership rules are currently under review. The actions Congress or the FCC may take and changes in the FCC’s ownership rules may adversely impact our business.

Indecency Rules.   Federal law and the FCC’s rules prohibit the broadcast of obscene material at any time, and the broadcast of indecent or profane material during the period from 6 a.m. through 10 p.m. In recent years, the FCC has vigorously enforced its indecency prohibition, and in 2006, legislation was enacted that raised the maximum monetary penalty for the broadcast of obscene, indecent, or profane language to $325,000 for each “violation,” with a cap of $3 million for any “single act.” The determination

22




of whether content is indecent or profane is inherently subjective, creates uncertainty as to our ability to comply with the rules (in particular during live programming), and impacts our programming decisions. Violation of the indecency rules could lead to sanctions which may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Monetary Forfeitures and Penalties.   In recent years, the FCC has also vigorously enforced a number of other rules, typically in connection with license renewals. For example, in recent years, the FCC issued monetary forfeitures and sanctions for violations of its equal employment opportunity rules, public inspection file rules, children’s programming rules, closed captioning rules, and emergency alert system rules. Our stations were not the subject of monetary sanctions in 2006.

Possible Acquisitions, Divestitures or Other Strategic Initiatives May Adversely Impact Our Business

Our management is evaluating, and will continue to evaluate, the nature and scope of our operations and various short-term and long-term strategic considerations. These may include acquisitions or divestitures of, or strategic alliances, joint ventures, mergers or integration or consolidation with, television stations or other businesses, including digital media businesses, as well as discussions with third parties regarding any of these considerations. In the alternative, our management may decide from time to time that such initiatives are not appropriate.

There are uncertainties and risks relating to each of these strategic initiatives. For example, acquisition opportunities may become more limited as a consequence of the consolidation of ownership occurring in the television broadcast industry. Also, prospective competitors may have greater financial resources than we have. Future acquisitions may not be available on attractive terms, or at all. Also, if we do make acquisitions, we may not be able to successfully integrate the acquired stations or businesses. With respect to divestitures, we may experience varying success in making such divestitures on favorable terms, if at all, or in reducing fixed costs or transferring liabilities previously associated with the divested television stations or businesses. In addition, any such acquisitions or divestitures may be subject to FCC approval and FCC rules and regulations. Finally, strategic minority investments we choose to make in digital media projects may ultimately prove unprofitable. Any of these efforts would require varying levels of management resources, which may divert our attention from other business operations. If we do not realize the expected benefits or synergies of such transactions, or, conversely, if we do not realize such benefits or synergies because we chose not to pursue any such transaction, there may be an adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

We Could Suffer Losses Due to Asset Impairment Charges for Goodwill and FCC Licenses

At December 31, 2006, 84% of our total assets consisted of goodwill and intangible assets. We test our goodwill and intangible assets, including FCC licenses, for impairment during the fourth quarter of every year, and on an interim date should factors or indicators become apparent that would require an interim test, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” If the fair value of a reporting unit or an intangible asset is revised downward below its net carrying value, an impairment under SFAS 142 could result and a non-cash charge could be required. This could materially affect our reported net earnings and our balance sheet.

23




The Loss of Key Personnel Could Disrupt our Management or Operations and Adversely Affect our Business

Our business depends upon the continued efforts, abilities and expertise of our chief executive officer and other key employees. We believe that the rare combination of skills and years of media experience possessed by our executive officers would be difficult to replace, and that the loss of our executive officers could have a material adverse effect on our business. Additionally, our stations employ several on-air personnel, including anchors and reporters, with significant loyal audiences. Our failure to retain these personnel could adversely affect our operating results.

Strikes and Other Union Activity Could Adversely Affect Our Business

Certain employees, such as on-air talent and engineers, at some of our stations are subject to collective bargaining agreements. If we are unable to renew expiring collective bargaining agreements, it is possible that the affected unions could take action in the form of strikes or work stoppages. Such actions, higher costs in connection with these agreements, or significant labor disputes could adversely affect our business by disrupting our ability to operate our affected stations.

Our Share Repurchase Program and Hearst’s Share Purchase Program May Affect the Market Price of Our Series A Common Stock.

We have a share repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors, pursuant to which we may repurchase up to $300 million of our Series A Common Stock from time to time, in the open market or in private transactions, subject to market conditions. In addition, The Hearst Corporation’s Board of Directors authorized a share purchase program, pursuant to which Hearst or its subsidiaries may purchase on the open market or through private transactions up to 25 million shares of our Series A Common Stock. Such repurchases and purchases, or the absence thereof, may increase or decrease the market price of our Series A Common Stock.

ITEM 1B.       UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2.                PROPERTIES

Our principal executive offices are located at 300 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019. The real property of each of our stations generally includes owned or leased offices, studios, transmitters and tower sites. Offices and main studios are typically located together, while transmitters and tower sites are often in separate locations that are more suitable for optimizing signal strength and coverage. Set forth below are our stations’ principal facilities as of December 31, 2006. In addition to the property listed below, we and the stations also lease other property primarily for communications equipment.

Station

 

 

 

Location

 

Use

 

Ownership

 

Approximate
Size

 

Corporate

 

Washington D.C.

 

Washington D.C. Office

 

Leased

 

4,007 sq. ft.

 

 

New York, NY

 

New York Office(1)

 

Leased

 

19,866 sq. ft.

 

WCVB

 

Boston, MA

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

90,002sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Leased

 

1,600 sq. ft.

 

WMUR

 

Manchester, NH

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

67,440 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

4.5 acres

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Leased

 

1,963 sq. ft.

 

24




 

KCRA/KQCA

 

Sacramento, CA

 

Office, studio and tower

 

Owned

 

75,000 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

2,400 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Leased

 

1,200 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Leased

 

3,085 sq. ft.

 

WTAE

 

Pittsburgh, PA

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

68,033 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

37 acres

 

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Leased

 

609 sq. ft.

 

WESH/WKCF

 

Orlando, FL

 

Studio, transmitter, tower

 

Owned

 

61,300 sq. ft.

 

 

Daytona Beach, FL

 

Studio and office

 

Leased

 

1,472 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Leased

 

775 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Leased

 

535 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Transmitter

 

Leased

 

2,025 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower

 

Partnership*

 

190 acres

 

 

 

 

Transmitter

 

Partnership*

 

8,050 sq. ft.

 

WBAL

 

Baltimore, MD

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

63,000 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower

 

Partnership*

 

0.2 acres

 

KMBC

 

Kansas City, MO

 

Office and studio

 

Leased

 

58,514 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

11.6 acres

 

 

 

 

Land(2)

 

Owned

 

8.4 acres

 

WLWT

 

Cincinnati, OH

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

52,000 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

4.2 acres

 

WISN

 

Milwaukee, WI

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

88,000 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter land

 

Leased

 

5.5 acres

 

 

 

 

Transmitter building

 

Owned

 

3,192 sq. ft.

 

WYFF

 

Greenville, SC

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

57,500 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

1.5 acres

 

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Leased

 

3,000 sq. ft.

 

WDSU

 

New Orleans, LA

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

50,525 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Transmitter

 

Owned

 

8.3 acres

 

KOCO

 

Oklahoma City, OK

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

28,000 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

85 acres

 

WGAL

 

Lancaster, PA

 

Office, studio and tower

 

Owned

 

58,900 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Leased

 

2,380 sq. ft.

 

WXII

 

Winston-Salem, NC

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

38,027 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

223.6 acres

 

WLKY

 

Louisville, KY

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

37,842 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

40.0 acres

 

 

 

 

Transmitter

 

Leased

 

1,350 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Transmitter building

 

Owned

 

2,000 sq. ft.

 

KOAT

 

Albuquerque, NM

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

37,315 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

328.5 acres

 

KCCI

 

Des Moines, IA

 

Office, studio and transmitter

 

Owned

 

52,000 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

119.5 acres

 

WMTW

 

Portland-Auburn, ME

 

Office and studio

 

Leased

 

11,703 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

296 acres

 

 

 

 

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

16,300 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Transmitter building

 

Owned

 

5,120 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Office land

 

Owned

 

13.9 acres

 

25




 

KITV

 

Honolulu, HI

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

35,000 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Leased

 

130 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Leased

 

304 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Leased

 

2.6 acres

 

KETV

 

Omaha, NE

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

39,204 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

23.3 acres

 

 

 

 

 

Transmitter building

 

Owned

 

30,492 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Leased

 

597 sq. ft.

 

WAPT

 

Jackson, MS

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

18,000 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

24 acres

 

WPTZ

 

Plattsburgh, NY

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

12,800 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Leased

 

5,441 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and Transmitter

 

Owned

 

2,432 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

13.4 acres

 

WNNE

 

White River Junction, VT

 

Office and studio

 

Leased

 

5,600 sq. ft.

 

KHBS/KHOG

 

Fort Smith/Fayetteville, AR

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

44,904 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Office and studio

 

Leased

 

1,110 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Transmitter Building

 

Owned

 

2100 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Leased

 

2.5 acres

 

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

26.7 acres

 

KSBW

 

Monterey-Salinas, CA

 

Office and studio

 

Owned

 

44,000 sq. ft.

 

 

 

 

Tower and transmitter

 

Owned

 

160.2 acres

 

 

 

 

Office

 

Leased

 

900 sq. ft.

 


*                     Owned by the Company in partnership with certain third parties.

(1)           We also sublease to third parties 21,789 square feet of space at 888 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York, the previous location of our corporate headquarters.

(2)           In 2005 we commenced construction of an office and studio facility for KMBC on land we purchased in 2004. When the facility is completed, we will move our operations to the new facility and terminate this station’s office space lease.

ITEM 3.                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

From time to time, we become involved in various claims and lawsuits that are incidental to our business. In our opinion, there are no legal proceedings pending against us or any of our subsidiaries that are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 4.                SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

Not applicable.

26




PART II

ITEM 5.                MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

(a)   Market Performance of Common Stock and Dividends on Common Stock.   Our Series A Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “HTV.” All of the outstanding shares of our Series B Common Stock are currently held by Hearst Broadcasting, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hearst Holdings, which is in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hearst. Our Series B Common Stock is not publicly traded. The table below sets forth, for the calendar quarters indicated, the reported high and low sales prices of our Series A Common Stock on the NYSE and the dividends declared on our Series A and Series B Common Stock:

 

 

High

 

Low

 

Dividend

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

24.17

 

$

23.23

 

 

$

0.07

 

 

Second Quarter

 

23.37

 

21.67

 

 

0.07

 

 

Third Quarter

 

23.81

 

20.00

 

 

0.07

 

 

Fourth Quarter

 

26.04

 

22.93

 

 

0.07

 

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

26.15

 

$

24.59

 

 

$

0.07

 

 

Second Quarter

 

25.71

 

24.50

 

 

0.07

 

 

Third Quarter

 

26.20

 

23.85

 

 

0.07

 

 

Fourth Quarter

 

25.76

 

23.33

 

 

0.07

 

 

 

On February 15, 2007, the closing price for our Series A Common Stock was $26.38.

(b)   Holders.   On February 15, 2007 there were approximately 816 Series A Common Stock shareholders of record and Hearst Broadcasting was the sole holder of our Series B Common Stock.

(c)   Dividends.   In December 2006, we declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share on our Series A Common Stock and our Series B Common Stock, which we paid on January 15, 2007 to holders of record on January 5, 2007, for a total of $6.5 million. During 2006, we paid a total of $26.0 million in dividends. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

(d)   Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans.   The following table summarizes our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2006:

 

 

 

 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

 

Plan Category

 

 

 

Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(1)

 

Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights

 

Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance (2)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

 

8,806,296

 

 

 

$

23.85

 

 

 

4,474,174

 

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

Total

 

 

8,806,296

 

 

 

$

23.85

 

 

 

4,474,174

 

 


(1)          Includes shares of Series A Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of stock options granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan and the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan. The Company has also awarded 167,000 shares of restricted stock under the 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan.

(2)          Includes 252,800 shares of Series A Common Stock available for future stock option and restricted stock grants under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan and 4,221,374 shares of Series A Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

27




(e)   Performance Graph.   The following graph compares the annual cumulative total stockholder return on an investment of $100 in the Series A Common Stock on December 31, 2001, based on the market price of the Series A Common Stock and assuming reinvestment of dividends, with the cumulative total return of a similar investment in (i) companies on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index and (ii) a group of peer companies selected by us on a line-of-business basis and weighted for market capitalization.

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
Based upon an initial investment of $100 on December 31, 2001
with dividends reinvested

GRAPHIC

 

 

Dec-01

 

Dec-02

 

Dec-03

 

Dec-04

 

Dec-05

 

Dec-06

 

Hearst-Argyle Television

 

 

$

100

 

 

 

$

112

 

 

 

$

128

 

 

 

$

123

 

 

 

$

113

 

 

 

$

122

 

 

S&P 500®

 

 

$

100

 

 

 

$

78

 

 

 

$

100

 

 

 

$

111

 

 

 

$

117

 

 

 

$

135

 

 

Custom Composite Index (6 Stocks)

 

 

$

100

 

 

 

$

114

 

 

 

$

148

 

 

 

$

125

 

 

 

$

95

 

 

 

$

88

 

 

 

The Custom Composite Index consists of Belo Corp., Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., Young Broadcasting Inc., Lin TV Corp. (Begin 3Q02), Nexstar Broadcasting Corp, (Begin 1Q04), and Gray Television Inc. (Begin 3Q02).

(f)   Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers.   The following table reflects purchases made during the three months ended December 31, 2006, of our Series A Common Stock by Hearst Broadcasting, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hearst:

Period

 

 

 

Total Number of
Shares
Purchased

 

Average Price
Paid Per Share

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Program

 

Maximum Number of
Shares that May Yet
Be Purchased Under
the Program

October 1 – October 31

 

0

 

$0.00

 

0

 

 

November 1 – November 30

 

0

 

$0.00

 

0

 

 

December 1 – December 31

 

0

 

$0.00

 

0

 

1,184,656

Total

 

0

 

$0.00

 

0

 

 


(1)          On September 28, 2005, Hearst increased Hearst Broadcasting’s authorization to purchase the Company’s Series A Common Stock from 20 million to 25 million shares. Hearst may effect such purchases from time to time in the open market or in private transactions, subject to market conditions and management’s discretion. As of December 31, 2006, Hearst has purchased approximately 23.8 million shares of the Company’s outstanding Series A Common Stock. As of

28




December 31, 2006, Hearst owned approximately 53.0% of the Company’s outstanding Series A Common Stock and 100% of the Company’s Series B Common Stock, representing in the aggregate approximately 73.8% of our outstanding common stock.

The following table reflects purchases made by the Company of its Series A Common Stock during the three months ended December 31, 2006.

Period

 

 

 

Total Number of
Shares
Purchased

 

Average Price
Paid Per Share

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Program

 

Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the Program

October 1 – October 31

 

0

 

$0.00

 

0

 

 

November 1 – November 30

 

0

 

$0.00

 

0

 

 

December 1 – December 31

 

0

 

$0.00

 

0

 

$196,710,259

Total

 

0

 

$0.00

 

0

 

 


(1)          In May 1998, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of its outstanding Series A Common Stock. Such purchases may be effected from time to time in the open market or in private transactions, subject to market conditions and management’s discretion. As of December 31, 2006, the Company has spent approximately $110.8 million to repurchase approximately 4.5 million shares of Series A Common Stock at an average price of $24.87. There can be no assurance that such repurchases will occur in the future or, if they do occur, what the terms of such repurchases will be.

29




ITEM 6.                SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere herein and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.
(In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006(a)

 

2005(b)

 

2004(b)

 

2003(c)

 

2002(c)

 

Statement of income data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

785,402

 

$

706,883

 

$

779,879

 

$

686,775

 

$

721,311

 

Station operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, benefits and other operating costs

 

397,604

 

364,421

 

355,641

 

330,519

 

331,643

 

Amortization of program rights

 

68,601

 

60,912

 

63,843

 

62,845

 

60,821

 

Depreciation and amortization.

 

59,161

 

51,728

 

50,376

 

55,467

 

43,566

 

Impairment loss(d)

 

 

29,235

 

 

 

 

Corporate, general and administrative expenses

 

31,261

 

23,149

 

25,268

 

19,122

 

19,650

 

Operating income

 

$

228,775

 

$

177,438

 

$

284,751

 

$

218,822

 

$

265,631

 

Interest expense

 

66,103

 

66,777

 

65,445

 

68,726

 

74,142

 

Interest income

 

(6,229

)

(3,402

)

(1,715

)

(511

)

(699

)

Interest expense, net—Capital Trust(e)

 

9,750

 

9,750

 

18,675

 

15,000

 

15,000

 

Other (income) expense, net(f)(g)(h)(i)

 

2,501

 

2,500

 

3,700

 

 

(299

)

Income before income taxes

 

$

156,650

 

$

101,813

 

$

198,646

 

$

135,607

 

$

177,487

 

Income taxes(m)

 

58,410

 

3,012

 

75,724

 

41,958

 

64,959

 

Equity in (income) loss of affiliates, net of tax(j)

 

(483

)

(1,416

)

(1,020

)

(572

)

4,511

 

Net income

 

$

98,723

 

$

100,217

 

$

123,942

 

$

94,221

 

$

108,017

 

Less preferred stock dividends(k)

 

 

2

 

1,067

 

1,211

 

1,377

 

Income applicable to common stockholders

 

$

98,723

 

$

100,215

 

$

122,875

 

$

93,010

 

$

106,640

 

Income per common share—basic

 

$

1.06

 

$

1.08

 

$

1.32

 

$

1.00

 

$

1.16

 

Number of common shares used in the
calculation

 

92,745

 

92,826

 

92,928

 

92,575

 

92,148

 

Income per common share—diluted

 

$

1.06

 

$

1.08

 

$

1.30

 

$

1.00

 

$

1.15

 

Number of common shares used in the
calculation

 

93,353

 

93,214

 

101,406

 

92,990

 

92,550

 

Dividends declared per share(l)

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.06

 

 

Balance sheet data (at year-end):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

18,610

 

$

120,065

 

$

92,208

 

$

71,528

 

$

4,442

 

Total assets

 

$

3,958,088

 

$

3,832,359

 

$

3,842,140

 

$

3,799,087

 

$

3,769,111

 

Long-term debt

 

$

777,122

 

$

777,170

 

$

882,221

 

$

882,409

 

$

973,378

 

Note payable to Capital Trust

 

$

134,021

 

$

134,021

 

$

134,021

 

$

206,186

 

$

206,186

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

$

1,882,807

 

$

1,821,459

 

$

1,753,837

 

$

1,672,382

 

$

1,579,262

 

Other data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

200,384

 

$

128,730

 

$

193,631

 

$

179,075

 

$

205,452

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(282,893

)

$

(41,008

)

$

(72,069

)

$

(25,541

)

$

(25,818

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

$

(18,946

)

$

(59,865

)

$

(100,883

)

$

(86,448

)

$

(178,452

)

Capital expenditures

 

$

64,229

 

$

35,839

 

$

36,380

 

$

25,392

 

$

25,920

 

Program payments

 

$

67,817

 

$

64,104

 

$

62,247

 

$

62,039

 

$

59,870

 

Dividends paid on common stock

 

$

25,954

 

$

25,997

 

$

22,301

 

 

 

Series A Common Stock repurchases

 

$

2,780

 

$

16,385

 

$

10,920

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes.

30




 

Notes to Selected Financial Data

(a)           Includes (i) the results of our 25 stations which were owned for the entire period presented and the management fees derived from three television stations (WMOR-TV, WPBF-TV and KCWE-TV) and two radio stations (WBAL-AM and WIYY-FM) managed by us for the entire period presented and (ii) the results of WKCF-TV, after its acquisition by us, from August 31, 2006 through December 31, 2006.

(b)          Includes (i) the results of our 24 stations which were owned for the entire period presented and the management fees derived from three television stations (WMOR-TV, WPBF-TV and KCWE-TV) and two radio stations (WBAL-AM and WIYY-FM) managed by us for the entire period presented and (ii) the results of WMTW-TV, after its acquisition by us, from July 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005.

(c)           Includes the results of our 24 television stations which were owned for the entire period presented and the management fees earned by us from the stations we manage for Hearst for the entire period presented.

(d)          In December 2005, we recorded an impairment charge of $29.2 million to write down to fair value WDSU’s FCC license and goodwill. Due to Hurricane Katrina, the future cash flows of our station in New Orleans were negatively impacted resulting in the impairment.

(e)           Represents interest expense on the note payable to our wholly-owned unconsolidated subsidiary trust, which holds solely parent company debentures in the amounts of $134.0 million at December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 and $206.2 million at December 31, 2003 and 2002, and a $3.7 million premium paid to redeem the Series A Debentures in the amount of $72.2 million on December 31, 2004, offset by our equity interest in the earnings of the trust.

(f)             In July 2006, USDTV filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and as a result, the Company wrote off its investment of $2.5 million.

(g)           In the year ended December 31, 2005, we concluded our joint venture with NBC Universal and recorded a loss of $2.5 million. The investment had been accounted for using the equity method.

(h)          In 2004, ProAct Technologies Corporation sold substantially all of its operating assets to a third party as part of an overall plan of liquidation. The Company wrote-down our investment in ProAct by $3.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2004.

(i)             In the year ended December 31, 2002, Other (income) expense, net represents a supplemental closing fee paid to us in connection with the sale of the Phoenix Stations in March 2001.

(j)              Represents our equity interest in the operating results of: (i) Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. from December 2, 1999 through December 31, 2006; (ii) IBS/HATV LLC from September 1, 2002 through December 31, 2005; (iii) NBC/Hearst-Argyle Syndication, LLC from April 1, 2002 through December 31, 2005; and (iv) Ripe Digital Entertainment, Inc. from July 27, 2005 through December 31, 2006.

(k)          Represents dividends on the preferred stock issued in connection with the acquisition of KHBS-TV/KHOG-TV.

(l)             During 2006, our Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends on our Series A and Series B Common Stock for a total amount of $26.0 million. Included in this amount was $19.0 million payable to Hearst. During 2005, our Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends on our Series A and Series B Common Stock for a total amount of $26.0 million. Included in this amount was $18.0 million payable to Hearst. During 2004, our Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends on our Series A and Series B Common Stock for a total amount of $23.2 million. Included in this amount was $15.4 million payable to Hearst. On December 3, 2003, our Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.06 per share on our Series A and Series B Common Stock in the amount of $5.6 million. We did not declare or pay any dividends on Common Stock in 2002.

(m)      During the year ended December 31, 2005, $31.9 million in tax benefits were recorded as a result of the settlement of certain tax return examinations and $5.5 million in tax benefits were recorded as a result of a change in Ohio tax law.

31




ITEM 7.                MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Organization of Information

Management’s Discussion and Analysis provides a narrative on our financial performance and condition that should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements. It includes the following sections:

·       Forward-Looking Statements

·       Executive Summary

·       Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

·       Results of Operations

·       Liquidity and Capital Resources

·       Impact of Inflation

·       Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

·       New Accounting Pronouncements

Forward-Looking Statements

This report includes or incorporates forward-looking statements. We base these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of statements that include phrases such as “anticipate”, “will”, “may”, “likely”, “plan”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “project”, “forecast” or other such similar words and/or phrases. For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this report, concerning, among other things, trends and projections involving revenue, income, earnings, cash flow, liquidity, operating expenses, assets, liabilities, capital expenditures, dividends and capital structure, involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various important factors. Those factors include the impact on our operations from

·       Changes in Federal regulations that affect us, including changes in Federal communications laws or regulations;

·       Local regulatory actions and conditions in the areas in which our stations operate;

·       Competition in the broadcast television markets we serve;

·       Our ability to obtain quality programming for our television stations;

·       Successful integration of television stations we acquire;

·       Pricing fluctuations in local and national advertising;

·       Changes in national and regional economies;

·       Our ability to service and refinance our outstanding debt;

·       Changes in advertising trends and our advertisers’ financial condition; and

·       Volatility in programming costs, industry consolidation, technological developments, and major world events.

32




For a discussion of additional risk factors that are particular to our business, please refer to Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” beginning on page 17. These and other matters we discuss in this report, or in the documents we incorporate by reference into this report, may cause actual results to differ from those we describe. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Executive Summary

Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. and its subsidiaries (hereafter “we” or the “Company”) own and operate 26 network-affiliated television stations. Additionally, we provide management services to two network-affiliated stations and one independent television station and two radio stations owned by The Hearst Corporation (“Hearst”) in exchange for management fees. We are a leader in the convergence of local broadcast television and the Internet through our investment in, and operating agreement with, Internet Broadcasting, which operates a nation-wide network of television Websites. Our stations’ Websites typically provide news, weather, community information, user generated content and entertainment content to our audience. Also, 11 of our stations broadcast additional channels on a multicast stream with their main digital channel.

Events and other factors that have influenced our 2006 results

·       For the year ended December 31, 2006, total revenue increased 11.1%. Results for the year ended reflect record political revenue in a mid-term election year, the positive impact of strategic developments including the successful completion of certain retransmission consent negotiations and a station acquisition, and expanded focus on digital media. These results were offset by the dampening impact of weak automotive advertising.

·       On August 31, 2006, the Company purchased the assets related to broadcast television station WKCF-TV, the CW affiliate in Orlando, Florida, for $217.5 million in cash funded with a combination of cash on hand and a $100 million advance under the Company’s Credit Facility.

·       For the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company recorded digital media revenue and associated expenses of $15.5 million and $10.1 million, respectively. This is primarily due to the restructuring of our relationship with Internet Broadcasting and IBS/HATV LLC which increased our equity interest in Internet Broadcasting to 38% and dissolved IBS/HATV LLC. As of January 1, 2006, we now recognize results of local Websites directly in our income statement.

·       As a result of the adoption of the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123(R) as of January 1, 2006, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $7.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2006.

·       In 2006, we recognized insurance proceeds of $5.0 million for a portion of the property damages and expenses incurred at our station WDSU-TV in New Orleans, Louisiana as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Of this amount, $2.4 million offset a receivable from our property insurers established in 2005 while the remaining $2.6 million was recorded as an offset to Salaries, benefits and other operating costs. Additional recoveries are expected in future periods.

·       The Company wrote off its investment of $2.5 million in USDTV which filed for bankruptcy in July 2006.

·       At December 31, 2006, total debt was $867.2 million, unchanged from December 31, 2005.

33




Industry Trends

·       Political advertising increases in even-numbered years, such as 2006, consistent with the increase in the number of candidates running for political office in the interim national election cycle, as well as select state and local elections.

·       Revenue from Olympic advertising occurs exclusively in even-numbered years, such as 2006, with the alternating Winter and Summer Games occurring every two years. Our 10 NBC stations aired the 2006 Winter Olympics in February 2006.

·       The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has permitted broadcast television station licensees to use their digital spectrum for a wide variety of services such as high-definition television programming, audio, data and other types of communication, subject to the requirement that each broadcaster provide at least one free video channel equal in quality to the current technical standards. Our NBC stations currently broadcast the Weather Plus network, a 24/7 local and national weather broadcast network, on a multicast stream in addition to their main digital channels. In addition, two of our other stations launched similar station-branded multicast weather channels in 2006.

·       Compensation from networks to their affiliates in exchange for broadcasting of network programming has been sharply reduced in recent years and may be eliminated in the future.

·       Pursuant to the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 (“1992 Cable Act”) and the FCC’s “must carry” regulations, cable operators are generally required to devote up to one-third of their activated channel capacity to the carriage of the analog signal of local commercial television stations. On a cable system-by-cable system basis, a local television broadcast station must choose once every three years whether to waive the right to mandatory, but uncompensated, carriage and, instead, to negotiate a grant of retransmission consent. We opted to negotiate retransmission consent with most of the cable systems that carry our stations and we record income from most of these relationships.

·       The Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999 (“SHVIA”) established a compulsory copyright licensing system for the distribution of local television station signals by direct broadcast satellite systems to viewers in each DMA. Under SHVIA’s “carry-one, carry-all” provision, a direct broadcast satellite system generally is required to retransmit the analog signal of all local television stations in a DMA if the system chooses to retransmit the analog signal of any local television station in that DMA. Television stations located in markets in which satellite carriage of local stations is offered may elect mandatory carriage or retransmission consent once every three years. We opted to negotiate retransmission consent for all satellite systems that carry our stations and we record income from most of these relationship.

·       Legislation that guides the transition from analog to digital television broadcasting includes a deadline of February 17, 2009 for completion of the transition to digital broadcasting and the return of the analog spectrum to the government. As a result, the Company accelerated the depreciation of certain equipment that may have a shorter useful life as a result of the digital conversion.

·       In 2006 Nextel was granted the right from the FCC to reclaim from Broadcasters in each market across the country the 1.9 GHz spectrum to use for an emergency communications system. In order to claim this signal, Nextel must replace all analog equipment currently using this spectrum with digital equipment. All broadcasters have agreed to use the digital substitute that Nextel will provide. The transition will be completed on a market by market basis beginning in 2007. As the transition takes place in each market, we expect to record gains to the extent that the fair market value of the equipment we receive exceeds the book value of the analog equipment.

34




Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to allowances for doubtful accounts; program rights, barter and trade transactions; useful lives of property, plant and equipment; intangible assets; carrying value of investments; accrued liabilities; contingent liabilities; income taxes; pension benefits; and fair value of financial instruments and stock options. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Had we used different assumptions in determining our estimates, our reported results may have varied. The different types of estimates that are required to be made by us in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements vary significantly in the level of subjectivity involved in their determination. We have identified the estimates below as those which contain a relatively high level of subjectivity in their determination and, therefore, could have a more material effect upon our reported results if different assumptions were used.

Impairment Testing of Intangible Assets—In performing our annual impairment testing of goodwill and FCC licenses, which are both considered to be intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, we must make a significant number of assumptions and estimates in determining the fair value based on the present value of future cash flows. To assist in this process, we utilize the services of an independent valuation consulting firm. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements. The assumptions and estimates required under the impairment testing of goodwill and FCC licenses include future market revenue growth, operating profit margins, perpetual growth rates, market revenue share, and weighted-average cost of capital, among others. For the year ended December 31, 2006, estimates of the present value of future cash flows for our stations exceeded the book value of our FCC licenses and goodwill indicating no impairment of these assets. For the year ended December 31, 2005, estimates of future cash flows for our station in New Orleans were reduced significantly from prior year due to the negative impact of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans market. As a result, the Company wrote down its book value of indefinite lived intangible assets and goodwill by $29.2 million, which was comprised of $26.2 million of FCC license and $3.0 million of goodwill.

Pension AssumptionsIn computing projected benefit obligations and the resulting pension expense, we are required to make a number of assumptions. To assist in this process, we use the services of an independent consulting firm. See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements. To compute our projected benefit obligations as of the measurement date of September 30, 2006, we used the discount rate of 5.75% and an average rate of compensation increase of 4.0%. In determining the discount rate assumption of 5.75%, we used a measurement date of September 30, 2006 and constructed a portfolio of bonds to match the benefit payment stream that is projected to be paid from the Company’s pension plans. The benefit payment stream is assumed to be funded from bond coupons and maturities as well as interest on the excess cash flows from the bond portfolio. To compute our pension expense in the year ended December 31, 2006, we assumed a discount rate of 6.0%, an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 7.75%, and an average rate of compensation increase of 4.0%. See Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion on management’s methodology for developing the expected long-term rate of return assumption. We consider the assumptions used in our determination of our projected benefit obligations and pension expense to be reasonable.

Pension Assumptions Sensitivity Analysis

The weighted-average assumptions used in computing our net pension expense and projected benefit obligation have a significant effect on the amounts reported. A one-percentage point change in each of the

35




assumptions below would have the following effects upon net pension expense and projected benefit obligation, respectively, in the year ended and as of December 31, 2006:

 

 

One Percentage Point Increase

 

One Percentage Point Decrease

 

 

 

Discount
Rate

 

Expected long-
term rate of
return

 

Rate of
compensation
increase

 

Discount
Rate

 

Expected long-
term rate of
return

 

Rate of
compensation
increase

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Net pension (benefit)
expense

 

(4,187

)

 

(1,434

)

 

 

910

 

 

 

4,748

 

 

 

1,435

 

 

 

(852

)

 

Projected benefit obligation

 

(26,326

)

 

N/A

 

 

 

5,011

 

 

 

31,300

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

(4,184

)

 

 

Income TaxesIncome taxes are accounted for in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“SFAS 109”), which requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be recognized for the differences in the book and tax bases of certain assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. SFAS 109 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not, that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Income tax expense was $58.4 million or 37.3% of pre-tax income in our Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2006. Deferred tax assets were approximately $4.7 million and deferred tax liabilities were approximately $838.2 million as of December 31, 2006. Our estimates of income taxes and the significant items giving rise to the deferred assets and liabilities are set forth in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. These estimates reflect our assessment of future taxes to be paid on items reflected in the consolidated financial statements, giving consideration to both timing and probability. Actual income taxes could vary from such estimates as a result of future changes in income tax law or reviews by the Internal Revenue Service or other tax authorities.

Investment Carrying ValuesWe have investments in unconsolidated affiliates, which are accounted for under the equity method if our equity interest is from 20% to 50%, and under the cost method if our equity interest is less than 20% and we do not exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies. We review the carrying value of investments on an ongoing basis and adjust them to reflect net realizable value, where necessary. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. As part of our analysis and determination of the net realizable value of investments, we must make assumptions and estimates regarding expected future cash flows, which involve assessing the financial results, forecasts, and strategic direction of each company. During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company wrote off its investment of $2.5 million in USDTV. In December 2005, NBC and the Company concluded the NBC/Hearst-Argyle Syndication, LLC joint venture and as a result, the Company recorded a loss of $2.5 million. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company recorded a $3.7 million write-down to net realizable value of the Company’s investment in ProAct Technologies Corporation. We consider the assumptions used in our determination of investment carrying values to be reasonable.

Results of Operations

Results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 include (i) the results of our 24 television stations, which were owned for the entire period presented, and the management fees derived by the three television and two radio stations managed by us for the entire period presented; (ii) the results of operations of WKCF-TV, after our acquisition of the station, on August 31, 2006; and (iii) the results of operations of WMTW-TV, after our acquisition of the station, on July 1, 2004.

36




Year Ended December 31, 2006
Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

 

For the years ended
December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

785,402

 

$

706,883

 

$

78,519

 

 

11.1

%

 

Station operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, benefits and other operating costs

 

397,604

 

364,421

 

33,183

 

 

9.1

%

 

Amortization of program rights

 

68,601

 

60,912

 

7,689

 

 

12.6

%

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

59,161

 

51,728

 

7,433

 

 

14.4

%

 

Impairment loss

 

 

29,235

 

(29,235

)

 

-100.0

%

 

Corporate, general and administrative expenses

 

31,261

 

23,149

 

8,112

 

 

35.0

%

 

Operating income

 

$

228,775

 

$

177,438

 

$

51,337

 

 

28.9

%

 

Interest expense

 

66,103

 

66,777

 

(674

)

 

-1.0

%

 

Interest income

 

(6,229

)

(3,402

)

(2,827

)

 

83.1

%

 

Interest expense, net—Capital Trust

 

9,750

 

9,750

 

 

 

0.0

%

 

Other expense

 

2,501

 

2,500

 

1

 

 

0.0

%

 

Income before income taxes and equity

 

$

156,650

 

$

101,813

 

$

54,837

 

 

53.9

%

 

Income tax expense

 

$

58,410

 

$

3,012

 

$

55,398

 

 

1839.2

%

 

Equity in income of affiliates, net of tax

 

(483

)

(1,416

)

933

 

 

-65.9

%

 

Net income

 

$

98,723

 

$

100,217

 

$

(1,494

)

 

-1.5

%

 

 

Total revenue.

Total revenue includes:

(i)            cash advertising revenue, net of agency and national representatives’ commissions;

(ii)        retransmission consent revenue;

(iii)    net digital media revenue, which includes primarily Internet advertising revenue and, to a lesser extent, revenue from advertising on multicast weather channels;

(iv)      network compensation; and

(v)          other revenue, primarily barter and trade revenue.

 

 

For the years ended
December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Net local & national ad revenue (excluding political)

 

$

614,257

 

$

629,837

 

$

(15,580

)

 

-2.5

%

 

Net digital media revenue

 

15,513

 

335

 

15,178

 

 

4530.7

%

 

Net political revenue

 

88,040

 

12,393

 

75,647

 

 

610.5

%

 

Network compensation

 

9,810

 

19,087

 

(9,277

)

 

-48.6

%

 

Retransmission consent revenue

 

17,908

 

6,765

 

11,143

 

 

164.7

%

 

Other revenues

 

39,874

 

38,466

 

1,408

 

 

3.7

%

 

Total revenue

 

$

785,402

 

$

706,883

 

$

78,519

 

 

11.1

%

 

 

37




Total revenue in the year ended December 31, 2006 increased $78.5 million or 11.1%. This increase was primarily attributable to the following factors:

(i)            a $75.6 million increase in net political advertising revenue resulting from the normal, cyclical nature of the television broadcasting business, in which the demand for advertising by candidates running for political office significantly increases in even-numbered election years (such as 2006);

(ii)        a $11.1 million increase in retransmission consent revenue; and

(iii)    $15.2 million increase in net digital media revenue;

(iv)      an increase in the furniture and housewares, attractions, retail and telecommunications categories, advertising associated with the Olympics on our NBC-affiliated stations and the acquisition of WKCF-TV; partially offset by

(v)          a $9.3 million decrease in network compensation; and

(vi)      a decrease in the automotive, pharmaceutical, fast food and beverages categories.

Salaries, benefits and other operating costs.

Salaries, benefits and other operating costs were $397.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $364.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $33.2 million or 9.1%. This increase was primarily due to:

(i)            a $10.2 million increase in compensation, pension and employee benefits expense;

(ii)        a $10.0 million increase in digital media expenses;

(iii)    $3.8 million in stock-based compensation expense;

(iv)      an increase in expenses due to the acquisition of WKCF-TV on August 31, 2006; partially offset by

(v)          $2.6 million of insurance proceeds recognized for a portion of the property damages and expenses incurred at our station WDSU-TV in New Orleans, Louisiana as a result of Hurricane Katrina; and

(vi)      a $1.9 million decrease in Trade/Barter Expense.

Amortization of program rights.

Amortization of program rights was $68.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $60.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $7.7 million or 12.6%. This increase was primarily due to:

(i)            renewal of popular shows at higher rates; and

(ii)        an increase in amortization due to the purchase of WKCF-TV which has a higher cost of programming due to the number of syndicated programming that air on the station.

Depreciation and amortization.

Depreciation and amortization was $59.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $51.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $7.4 million or 14.4%. Depreciation expense was $52.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $45.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $7.1 million or 19.7%. This increase was primarily due to higher

38




capital expenditures, additional depreciation from WKCF-TV which we acquired on August 31, 2006 and accelerated depreciation of analog equipment.

Amortization was $6.3 million and $6.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

Impairment loss.

The Company recorded a $29.2 million write down of its indefinite lived intangible assets and goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2005 which was comprised of $26.2 million in respect of FCC license and $3.0 million in respect of goodwill. In performing its annual review for impairment the Company reduced its estimates of future cash flows for our station in New Orleans due to the negative impact of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans market.

Corporate, general and administrative expenses.

Corporate, general and administrative expenses were $31.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $23.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $8.1 million or 35.0%. The increase was primarily due to:

(i)            a $2.0 million increase in salaries and incentive costs, a portion of which is related to our investment in our digital media initiatives;

(ii)        $3.7 million in stock-based compensation expense; and

(iii)    a $1.6 million increase due in large part to the timing of professional services expenses.

Operating income.

Operating income was $228.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $177.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $51.3 million or 28.9%. This net increase in operating income was due to the items discussed above.

Interest expense.

Interest expense was $66.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $66.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, a decrease of $0.7 million or 1.0%. This decrease was primarily due to:

(i)            a decrease in interest expense as a result of the repurchase of $10 million and $15 million of our senior notes and the related decrease in the amortization of deferred financing fees, partially offset by;

(ii)        an increase in interest expense due to the borrowing of $100 million on our credit facility in August 2006.

Interest income.

Interest income was $6.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $3.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $2.8 million or 83.1%. This increase is due to higher cash balances on average and higher interest rates in the 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005.

Interest Expense, net—Capital Trust.

Interest expense, net, to the Capital Trust, was $9.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.

39




Other expense.

Other expense was $2.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. In July 2006, USDTV filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and as a result, the Company wrote off its investment of $2.5 million. In December 2005, NBC and the Company concluded the NBC/Hearst-Argyle Syndication, LLC joint venture and as a result, the Company recorded a loss of $2.5 million.

Income taxes.

Income tax expense was $58.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $3.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, an increase of $55.4 million. This increase in income tax expense was primarily due to:

(i)            an increase in income before income taxes from $101.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $156.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2006; and

(ii)        $37.4 million in tax benefits recorded as a result of the settlement of certain tax return examinations and changes in Ohio tax law in the year ended December 31, 2005.

We expect our effective tax rate for the year ending December 31, 2007 to be approximately 39.5%.

Equity in (income) of affiliates, net of tax.

Equity in (income) of affiliates, net of tax was $0.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $1.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, a decrease of $0.9 million or 65.9%. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. For the year ended December 31, 2006, our share of income in Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. (“Internet Broadcasting”) was offset by our share of losses in Ripe Digital Entertainment, Inc. (“Ripe TV”). For the year ended December 31, 2005, our equity represented our share of income in IBS/HATV LLC, offset by our share of losses at Internet Broadcasting and Ripe TV.

Net income.

Net income was $98.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2006, as compared to $100.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, a decrease of $1.5 million or 1.5%. This decrease was due to the items discussed above.

40




Year Ended December 31, 2005
Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2004

 

 

For the years ended
December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$

706,883

 

$

779,879

 

$

(72,996

)

 

-9.4

%

 

Station operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, benefits and other operating costs

 

364,421

 

355,641

 

8,780

 

 

2.5

%

 

Amortization of program rights

 

60,912

 

63,843

 

(2,931

)

 

-4.6

%

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

51,728

 

50,376

 

1,352

 

 

2.7

%

 

Impairment loss

 

29,235

 

 

29,235

 

 

N/A

 

 

Corporate, general and administrative expenses

 

23,149

 

25,268

 

(2,119

)

 

-8.4

%

 

Operating income

 

$

177,438

 

$

284,751

 

$

(107,313

)

 

-37.7

%

 

Interest expense

 

66,777

 

65,445

 

1,332

 

 

2.0

%

 

Interest income

 

(3,402

)

(1,715

)

(1,687

)

 

98.4

%

 

Interest expense, net—Capital Trust

 

9,750

 

18,675

 

(8,925

)

 

-47.8

%

 

Other expense

 

2,500

 

3,700

 

(1,200

)

 

-32.4

%

 

Income before income taxes and equity

 

$

101,813

 

$

198,646

 

$

(96,833

)

 

-48.7

%

 

Income tax expense

 

$

3,012

 

$

75,724

 

$

(72,712

)

 

-96.0

%

 

Equity in income of affiliates, net of tax

 

(1,416

)

(1,020

)

(396

)

 

38.8

%

 

Net income

 

$

100,217

 

$

123,942

 

$

(23,725

)

 

-19.1

%

 

 

Total revenue.

Total revenue includes:

(i)            cash advertising revenue, net of agency and national representatives’ commissions;

(ii)        network compensation;

(iii)    retransmission consent revenue; and

(iv)      other revenue, primarily barter and trade revenue.

 

 

For the years ended
December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

Net local & national ad revenue (excluding political)

 

$

629,837

 

$

621,805

 

$

8,032

 

 

1.3

%

 

Net digital media revenue

 

335

 

 

335

 

 

N/A

 

 

Net political revenue

 

12,393

 

86,733

 

(74,340

)

 

-85.7

%

 

Network compensation

 

19,087

 

28,980

 

(9,893

)

 

-34.1

%

 

Retransmission consent revenue

 

6,765

 

1,822

 

4,943

 

 

271.3

%

 

Other revenues

 

38,466

 

40,539

 

(2,073

)

 

-5.1

%

 

Total revenue

 

$

706,883

 

$

779,879

 

$

(72,996

)

 

-9.4

%

 

 

Total revenue in the year ended December 31, 2005 was $706.9 million, as compared to $779.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, a decrease of $73.0 million or 9.4%. This decrease was primarily attributable to the following factors:

(i)            a $74.3 million decrease in net political advertising revenue resulting from the normal, cyclical nature of the television broadcasting business, in which the demand for advertising by candidates running for political office significantly increases in even-numbered election years (such as 2004);

41




(ii)        a $19.7 million decrease representing the absence of net Olympic revenue; and

(iii)    a $9.9 million decrease in network compensation; partially offset by

(iv)      an increase in the automotive, financial services, and furniture and housewares categories; and

(v)          a $5.4 million increase in retransmission consent revenue.

Salaries, benefits and other operating costs.

Salaries, benefits and other operating costs were $364.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $355.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $8.8 million or 2.5%. This increase was primarily due to:

(i)            a $4.9 million increase in payroll expense;

(ii)        a $4.1 million increase in pension and employee benefit expense; and

(iii)    $3.7 million in incremental expenses due to Hurricane Katrina; partially offset by

(iv)      a $2.1 million decrease in Trade/Barter Expense; and

(v)          a $2.5 million decrease in property and casualty insurance expense.

Amortization of program rights.

Amortization of program rights was $60.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $63.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, a decrease of $2.9 million or 4.6%. This decrease was primarily due to:

(i)            cost savings by replacing certain higher cost first-run programs; and

(ii)        a $2.2 million write-down of certain syndicated programs in 2004; partially offset by

(iii)    the additional programming cost for WMTW-TV, which we acquired on July 1, 2004;

Depreciation and amortization.

Depreciation and amortization was $51.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $50.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $1.4 million or 2.7%. Depreciation expense was $45.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $44.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $1.3 million or 2.9%. This increase was primarily due to additional depreciation from WMTW-TV, which we acquired on July 1, 2004.

Amortization was $6.0 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.

Impairment loss.

The Company recorded a $29.2 million write down of its indefinite lived intangible assets and goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2005 which was comprised of $26.2 million of FCC license and $3.0 million of goodwill. In performing its annual review for impairment the Company reduced its estimates of future cash flows for our station in New Orleans due to the negative impact of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans market.

42




Corporate, general and administrative expenses.

Corporate, general and administrative expenses were $23.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $25.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, a decrease of $2.1 million or 8.4%. The decrease was primarily due to:

(i)            a decrease in salaries and incentive costs; and

(ii)        a decrease in accounting and consulting fees primarily as a result of a reduction of costs associated with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance.

Operating income.

Operating income was $177.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $284.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, a decrease of $107.3 million or 37.7%. This net decrease in operating income was due to the items discussed above.

Interest expense.

Interest expense was $66.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $65.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $1.3 million or 2.0%. This increase was primarily due to:

(i)            the $0.7 million premium paid in the fourth quarter of 2005 on the repurchase of $15 million of our 7.5% Senior Notes due 2027; and

(ii)        the acceleration of $0.7 million of deferred financing costs related to the repurchase of those Senior Notes.

Interest income.

Interest income was $3.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $1.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $1.7 million or 98.4%. This increase was due in part to higher cash balances.

Interest Expense, net—Capital Trust.

Interest expense, net, to the Capital Trust, was $9.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, compared to $18.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, a decrease of $8.9 million, or 47.8%. The decrease results from $5.4 million in interest savings due to the redemption of the $72.2 million Series A Debentures in December 2004 and the absence of a $3.7 million premium we paid in 2004 for the redemption of those Debentures.

Other expense.

Other expense was $2.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $3.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, a decrease of $1.2 million or 32.4%. In December 2005, NBC and the Company concluded the NBC/Hearst-Argyle Syndication, LLC joint venture and as a result, the Company recorded a loss of $2.5 million. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company recorded a $3.7 million write-down to net realizable value of the Company’s investment in ProAct Technologies Corporation.

43




Income taxes.

Income tax expense was $3.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $75.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, a decrease of $72.7 million or 96.0%. This decrease in income tax expense was primarily due to

(i)            a decrease in income before income taxes from $198.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 to $101.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2005;

(ii)        $31.9 million in tax benefits recorded as a result of the settlement of certain tax return examinations in the period ended June 30, 2005; and

(iii)    a net deferred tax benefit of $5.5 million as a result of Ohio tax law changes.

Equity in (income) of affiliates, net.

Equity in income of affiliates, net of tax was $1.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $1.0 million of income in the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of $0.4 million or 38.8%. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. This increase was primarily due to the improved operating results of Internet Broadcasting, IBS HATV LLC and related Websites partially offset by a loss from our investment in Ripe TV. Our share in the financial results of Internet Broadcasting entities was $1.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $1.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2004.

Net income.

Net income was $100.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $123.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, a decrease of $23.7 million or 19.1%. This decrease was due to the items discussed above, primarily:

(i)            a decrease of $107.3 million in Operating income; and

(ii)        a decrease of $8.9 million in Interest expense, net—Capital Trust; partially offset by

(iii)    a decrease of $72.4 million in Income taxes, in the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

 

For the years ended
December 31,

 

2006 vs 2005

 

2006 vs 2005

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

$ Change

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

200,384

 

$

128,730

 

 

$

71,654

 

 

 

56

%

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(282,893

)

$

(41,008

)

 

$

(241,885

)

 

 

590

%

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

$

(18,946

)

$

(59,865

)

 

$

40,919

 

 

 

-68

%

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

18,610

 

$

120,065

 

 

$

(101,455

)

 

 

-85

%

 

Cash paid during the year for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

65,144

 

$

64,320

 

 

$

824

 

 

 

1

%

 

Interest on Note payable to Capital Trust

 

$

9,750

 

$

9,750

 

 

$

 

 

 

0

%

 

Taxes, net of refunds

 

$

38,518

 

$

39,892

 

 

$

(1,374

)

 

 

-3

%

 

Dividends paid on common stock

 

$

25,954

 

$

25,997

 

 

$

(43

)

 

 

0

%

 

Series A Common Stock repurchases

 

$

2,780

 

$

16,385

 

 

$

(13,605

)

 

 

-83

%

 

 

As of December 31, 2006, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance was $18.6 million, as compared to $120.1 million as of December 31, 2005. The net decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $101.5 million during 2006 was due to the factors described below under Operating Activities, Investing Activities, and Financing Activities.

44




Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $200.4 million and $128.7 million in the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 respectively. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities of $71.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2006 was primarily due to:

(i)            the increase in our revenue, driven by political advertising for which we receive cash in advance;

(ii)        contributions to the pension plans in 2005 of approximately $18.9 million that were not made in 2006;

(iii)    the timing of tax payments and accounts payable; and

(iv)      cash received due to the dissolution of IBS/HATV LLC.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $282.9 million and $41.0 million in the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Investing activities in 2006 included the acquisition of WKCF-TV for $217.5 million in cash and investments in digital media companies. In 2006 and 2005, we invested an aggregate of $10.6 million and $8.5 million, respectively, in Internet Broadcasting, Ripe TV, USDTV and to unwind our joint venture with NBC Universal. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.

During the year ended December 31, 2006, we invested $64.2 million in capital expenditures as compared to $35.8 million invested in the year ended December 31, 2005. The increased level of capital investment relates primarily to special projects as follows:

(i)            $24 million on building projects in Kansas City, Baltimore, New York and Orlando,

(ii)        $12 million on digital television projects,

(iii)    $9 million on news acquisition and editing equipment,

(iv)      $4 million on information technology projects,

(v)          $1 million on repairs related to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $18.9 million and $59.9 million in the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. In the year ended December 31, 2006, we used cash provided by operating activities primarily to pay the first installment of $90 million principal of our private placement debt, fund $26.0 million in dividends and to repurchase of $10.0 million of our 7% senior notes due 2018. In the year ended December 31, 2005, we used cash provided by operating activities to fund $26.0 million of dividends to our holders of Series A and B Common Stock, repurchase $16.4 million of Series A Common Stock and repurchase $15 million of our 7.5% senior notes due 2027.

45




Long-term debt outstanding was relatively unchanged at December 31, 2006 from December 31, 2005 notwithstanding the $100 million borrowed to finance our acquisition of WKCF-TV and the $90 million payment on our private placement debt. The changes in long-term debt in the year ended December 31, 2006 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Revolving Credit
 Facility

 

Senior Notes

 

Private Placement 
Debt

 

Capital Lease 
Obligations

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2005

 

 

$         —

 

 

 

$ 417,110

 

 

 

$ 450,000

 

 

 

$ 60

 

 

$ 867,170

 

Payments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(90,000

)

 

 

(48

)

 

(90,048

)

Borrowings

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

Repurchases

 

 

 

 

 

(10,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,000

)

Balance at December 31, 2006

 

 

$ 100,000

 

 

 

$ 407,110

 

 

 

$ 360,000

 

 

 

$ 12

 

 

$ 867,122

 

 

Certain of our debt obligations contain financial and other covenants and restrictions on the Company. None of these covenants or restrictions includes any triggers explicitly tied to the Company’s credit ratings or stock price. We are in compliance with all such covenants and restrictions as of December 31, 2006. All of our long-term debt obligations as of December 31, 2006, exclusive of capital lease obligations and the credit facility, bear interest at a fixed rate. Our credit ratings for long-term debt obligations, respectively, were BBB- by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings, and Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, as of December 31, 2006. Such credit ratings are considered to be investment grade.

In November 2006, we increased our five-year unsecured revolving credit facility which matures on April 15, 2010 to $500 million. The credit facility can be used for general corporate purposes including working capital, investments, acquisitions, debt repayment and dividend payments. Outstanding principal balances under the credit facility will bear interest at our option at LIBOR or the alternate base rate (“ABR”), plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin for ABR loans is zero. The applicable margin for LIBOR loans varies between 0.50% and 1.00% depending on the ratio of our total debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as defined by the credit agreement (the “Leverage Ratio”). The ABR is the greater of (i) the prime rate or (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect plus 0.5%. We are required to pay a commitment fee based on the unused portion of the credit facility. The commitment fee ranges from 0.15% to 0.25% depending on our Leverage Ratio. The credit facility is a general unsecured obligation of the Company. We have borrowed $100.0 million under the credit facility as of December 31, 2006.

On December 31, 2004, we redeemed a portion of the Series A Debentures. We originally issued $206.2 million of Series A and Series B Debentures on December 20, 2001 to our wholly-owned unconsolidated subsidiary Capital Trust in exchange for the proceeds of a $200.0 million private placement of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities which the Capital Trust issued to institutional investors. We redeemed the Series A Debentures in their entirety in the aggregate principal amount of $72.2 million, at a price of $52.625 per $50.00 principal amount in accordance with the terms of the indenture. The redemption of the Series A Debentures triggered a simultaneous redemption by the Capital Trust of 1.4 million shares of its Series A Securities, as well as the redemption of 43,299 shares of the Capital Trust’s common stock, which were held by us. The Series A Securities were effectively convertible, at the option of the holder, into shares of our Series A Common Stock at a rate of 2.005133 shares of Series A Common Stock per $50 principal amount of Series A Debentures (an effective conversion price of $24.9360). The redemption of the Series A Debentures will remove the potential dilution of 2.8 million shares and reduce Interest expense, net—Capital Trust by $5.3 million per year starting in 2005. We recognized a pre-tax loss of $3.7 million related to the redemption premium, which is included in Interest expense, net—Capital Trust in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2004. See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.

As of December 31, 2006, the Company has outstanding $134.0 million aggregate principal amount of Series B Debentures which are convertible into 5,128 shares of Series A Common Stock in the aggregate.

46




The Series B Debentures mature on December 31, 2021 and bear interest at a rate of 7.5% per year. The Company has the right to defer interest on the Debentures (and therefore distributions on the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities) by extending the interest payment period from time to time in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities. The Series B Debentures may be redeemed at the option of the Company (or at the direction of Hearst) at any time on or after December 31, 2006. The redemption prices (per $50 principal amount) of the Series B Debentures range from $51.875 in 2007, declining to $50.375 in 2011 and $50 thereafter to maturity. The Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities issued by the Capital Trust are effectively convertible, at the option of the holder at any time, into shares of the Company’s Series A Common Stock, par value $.0l per share through an exchange of such Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities for a portion of the Debentures of the corresponding series held by the Capital Trust.

We redeemed 1,600 shares of Series A Preferred Stock on January 1, 2004 and 5,468 shares of Series B Preferred Stock on December 10, 2004 for an aggregate amount of $7.1 million. We redeemed 5,781 shares outstanding of Series A Preferred Stock and 5,470 shares outstanding of Series B Preferred Stock for $11.3 million on January 1, 2005.

During 2006, our Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.07 per share on our Series A and Series B Common Stock for a total amount of $26.0 million. Included in this amount was $18.0 million payable to Hearst. During 2005, our Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends on our Series A and Series B Common Stock for a total amount of $26.0 million. Included in this amount was $19.0 million payable to Hearst. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.

During 2006, the Company repurchased 129,150 shares of Series A Common Stock at a cost of $2.8 million and an average per share price of $21.52. Between May 1998 and December 31, 2006, the Company repurchased approximately 4.5 million shares of Series A Common Stock at a cost of approximately $110.8 million and an average price of $24.87. In May 1998, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of its outstanding Series A Common Stock. Such repurchases may be effected from time to time in the open market or in private transactions, subject to market conditions and management’s discretion. We cannot assure you that we will make such repurchases in the future or, if they do occur, on what terms such repurchases will be made.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our future cash obligations as of December 31, 2006 under existing debt repayment schedules, non-cancelable leases, future payments for program rights, employment and talent contracts and Note payable to Capital Trust:

 

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

2010

 

2011

 

Long-term debt(1)(2)(3)

 

$ 215,048

 

$ 90,012

 

$ 90,000

 

$ 190,000

 

 

Note payable to Capital Trust(2)

 

 

 

 

134,021

 

 

Net non-cancelable operating lease obligations

 

6,157

 

4,875

 

4,019

 

2,805

 

2,078

 

Program rights

 

95,884

 

88,628

 

78,201

 

70,442

 

44,933

 

Employee, talent and other contracts

 

75,909

 

43,642

 

15,870

 

3,999

 

1,416

 

Common Stock Dividend

 

6,523

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 399,521

 

$ 227,157

 

$ 188,090

 

$ 401,267

 

$ 48,427

 


(1)          Includes capital lease obligations.

(2)          Excludes interest.

(3)          The Company has the ability and intent to refinance its $125,000 principal amount of 7% senior notes due November 2007 and therefore has continued to classify the debt at a long-term obligation on the consolidated balance sheet.

47




The above table does not include cash requirements for the payment of any dividends that our Board of Directors may decide to declare in the future on our Series A and Series B Common Stock. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

We anticipate that our primary sources of cash, which include current cash balances, net cash provided by operating activities and the remaining availability on our $500 million credit facility, will be sufficient to finance the operating and working capital requirements of our stations, our debt service requirements, sinking fund payment, anticipated capital expenditures, dividend payments, and our other obligations for both the next 12 months and the foreseeable future thereafter.

Impact of Inflation

The impact of inflation on our operations has not been significant to date. There can be no assurance, however, that a high rate of inflation in the future would not have an adverse impact on our operating results.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Other than contractual commitments and other legal contingencies incurred in the normal course of business, agreements for future barter and program rights not yet available for broadcast as of December 31, 2006, and employment contracts for key employees discussed above, the Company does not have any off-balance sheet financings or liabilities. Other than its wholly-owned unconsolidated subsidiary trust, which is reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as Note payable to Capital Trust, the Company does not have any majority-owned subsidiaries that are not included in the consolidated financial statements, nor does the Company have any interests in, or relationships with, any special-purpose entities that are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS 159”) which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. SFAS 159 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 159 on its financial position, cash flows, and results of operations.

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FIN 48, Financial Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold for tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2006. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of FIN 48 but does not believe that it will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”), which applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. SFAS 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop the assumption that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not believe the adoption of SFAS 157 will have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 158, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plan (“SFAS 158”), which requires employers to fully recognize the obligations associated with single-employer defined benefit

48




pension, retiree healthcare and other postretirement plans in their financial statements. It requires employers to recognize an asset or liability for a plan’s overfunded or underfunded status, measure a plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year and recognize in comprehensive income changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in the year in which changes occur. The requirement to recognize the funded status of a benefit plan and the disclosure requirements are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006. We have adopted the requirement to recognize the funded status of a benefit plan as of December 31, 2006. As a result, Accumulated other comprehensive loss increased $26.4 million, net of tax. The requirement to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the employer’s fiscal year end is effective for all years ending after December 15, 2008.

In September 2006, the Staff of the SEC issued SAB 108 Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”). SAB 108 provides guidance on the consideration of the effects of prior year misstatements in quantifying current year misstatements for the purpose of determining whether the current year’s financial statements are materially misstated. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006. The adoption of SAB 108 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

ITEM 7A:   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our long-term debt obligations as of December 31, 2006 are at 1)fixed interest rates and therefore are not sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates and 2) variable rate debt at LIBOR or the alternative base rate plus the applicable margin. See Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements. The following table presents the fair value of long-term debt obligations (excluding capital lease obligations) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 and the future cash flows by expected maturity dates, based upon outstanding principal balances as of December 31, 2006. See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

Expected Maturity

 

Fair

 

Carrying

 

Fair

 

 

 

2007

 

2008

 

2009

 

2010

 

2011

 

Thereafter

 

Total

 

Value

 

Value

 

Value

 

Long-term debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed rate:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes

 

$ 125,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 282,110

 

 

$ 407,110

 

$ 427,487

 

 

$ 417,110

 

 

$ 434,830

 

Private Placement Debt

 

$ 90,000

 

$ 90,000

 

$ 90,000

 

$ 90,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 360,000

 

$ 372,147

 

 

$ 450,000

 

 

$ 484,676

 

Variable rate debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving Credit Facility

 

 

 

 

$ 100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 100,000

 

$ 100,000

 

 

 

 

 

Note payable to Capital Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 134,021

 

 

$ 134,021

 

$ 143,303

 

 

$ 134,021

 

 

$ 144,546

 

 

The annualized weighted average interest rate for our fixed interest long-term debt outstanding is 7.2% for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. See Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements. The Note payable to Capital Trust carries a fixed interest rate of 7.5%. See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.

Our debt obligations contain certain financial and other covenants and restrictions on the Company. Such covenants and restrictions do not include any triggers of default related to our overall credit rating or stock prices. As of December 31, 2006, we were in compliance with all such covenants and restrictions.

Our Credit Facility stipulates that an event of default exists at such time that Hearst’s (and certain of its affiliates’) equity ownership in us becomes less than 35% of the total equity which gives the banks the right to terminate commitments and declare outstanding loans due and payable.

As of December 31, 2006, we are not involved in any derivative financial instruments. However, we may consider certain interest rate risk strategies in the future.

49







REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006. Our audits also included the consolidated financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2006, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, as of January 1, 2006, which changed its method of accounting for stock-based compensation. Also, as discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, as of December 31, 2006, which changed its method of accounting for pension and postretirement benefits.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 26, 2007 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

New York, New York

 

February 26, 2007

 

 

51




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31

 

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

(In thousands, except share data)

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

$

18,610

 

 

 

$

120,065

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,380 and $2,943 in 2006 and 2005, respectively

 

 

161,783

 

 

 

157,672

 

 

 

Program and barter rights

 

 

67,949

 

 

 

46,807

 

 

 

Deferred income tax asset

 

 

4,672

 

 

 

4,029

 

 

 

Other

 

 

5,671

 

 

 

9,153

 

 

 

Total current assets

 

 

$

258,685

 

 

 

$

337,726

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land, building and improvements

 

 

$

157,255

 

 

 

$

152,480

 

 

 

Broadcasting equipment

 

 

390,379

 

 

 

373,571

 

 

 

Office furniture, equipment and other

 

 

46,534

 

 

 

42,024

 

 

 

Construction in progress

 

 

21,705

 

 

 

5,580

 

 

 

 

 

 

615,873

 

 

 

573,655

 

 

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

(320,779

)

 

 

(294,416

)

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

$

295,094

 

 

 

$

279,239

 

 

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

2,520,040

 

 

 

2,396,086

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

816,724

 

 

 

731,687

 

 

 

Total intangible assets and goodwill, net

 

 

$

3,336,764

 

 

 

$

3,127,773

 

 

 

Other assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $18,472 and $16,568 in 2006 and 2005, respectively

 

 

$

9,648

 

 

 

$

11,276

 

 

 

Investments

 

 

40,454

 

 

 

31,321

 

 

 

Program and barter rights, noncurrent

 

 

15,227

 

 

 

1,312

 

 

 

Pension and other assets

 

 

2,216

 

 

 

43,712

 

 

 

Total other assets

 

 

$

67,545

 

 

 

$

87,621

 

 

 

Total assets

 

 

$

3,958,088

 

 

 

$

3,832,359

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

 

$

90,048

 

 

 

$

90,047

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

 

18,208

 

 

 

15,256

 

 

 

Accrued liabilities

 

 

66,515

 

 

 

51,133

 

 

 

Program and barter rights payable

 

 

65,473

 

 

 

47,285

 

 

 

Payable to The Hearst Corporation, net

 

 

7,317

 

 

 

6,981

 

 

 

Other liabilities

 

 

2,693

 

 

 

6,868

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

$

250,254

 

 

 

$

217,570

 

 

 

Program and barter rights payable, noncurrent

 

 

22,411

 

 

 

1,818

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

 

777,122

 

 

 

777,170

 

 

 

Note payable to Capital Trust

 

 

134,021

 

 

 

134,021

 

 

 

Deferred income tax liability

 

 

838,229

 

 

 

845,272

 

 

 

Pension and other liabilities

 

 

53,244

 

 

 

35,049

 

 

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

 

 

$

1,825,027

 

 

 

$

1,793,330

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 1,000,000 shares authorized

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 200,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and 56,343,894 and 55,677,979 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively

 

 

563

 

 

 

557

 

 

 

Series B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2006 and 2005, and 41,298,648 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 2005

 

 

413

 

 

 

413

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

1,309,578

 

 

 

1,291,388

 

 

 

Retained earnings

 

 

716,146

 

 

 

643,414

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefit of $17,757 and $4,171 in 2006 and 2005, respectively

 

 

(33,109

)

 

 

(6,309

)

 

 

Treasury stock, at cost, 4,454,029 and 4,324,879 shares of Series A common stock at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively

 

 

(110,784

)

 

 

(108,004

)

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

$

1,882,807

 

 

 

$

1,821,459

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

 

$

3,958,088

 

 

 

$

3,832,359

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

52




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Total revenue

 

$

785,402

 

$

706,883

 

$

779,879

 

Station operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries, benefits and other operating costs

 

397,604

 

364,421

 

355,641

 

Amortization of program rights

 

68,601

 

60,912

 

63,843

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

59,161

 

51,728

 

50,376

 

Impairment loss

 

 

29,235

 

 

Corporate, general and administrative expenses

 

31,261

 

23,149

 

25,268

 

Operating income

 

$

228,775

 

$

177,438

 

$

284,751

 

Interest expense

 

66,103

 

66,777

 

65,445

 

Interest income

 

(6,229

)

(3,402

)

(1,715

)

Interest expense, net—Capital Trust

 

9,750

 

9,750

 

18,675

 

Other expense

 

2,501

 

2,500

 

3,700

 

Income before income taxes and equity earnings

 

$

156,650

 

$

101,813

 

$

198,646

 

Income tax expense

 

58,410

 

3,012

 

75,724

 

Equity in income of affiliates, net of tax

 

(483

)

(1,416

)

(1,020

)

Net income

 

$

98,723

 

$

100,217

 

$

123,942

 

Less preferred stock dividends

 

 

(2

)

(1,067

)

Income applicable to common stockholders

 

$

98,723

 

$

100,215

 

$

122,875

 

Income per common share—basic:

 

$

1.06

 

$

1.08

 

$

1.32

 

Number of common shares used in the calculation

 

92,745

 

92,826

 

92,928

 

Income per common share—diluted:

 

$

1.06

 

$

1.08

 

$

1.30

 

Number of common shares used in the calculation

 

93,353

 

93,214

 

101,406

 

Dividends per common share—declared

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.25

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

53




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income

 

 

Series A

 

Series B

 

Preferred
Stock

 

Additional
Paid
in Capital

 

Retained
Earnings

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss

 

Treasury
Stock

 

Total

 

Total
Comprehensive
Income

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Balances—January 1, 2004

 

 

$

547

 

 

 

$

413

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

1,269,514

 

 

 

$

469,537

 

 

 

$

(5,249

)

 

$

(80,699

)

$

1,654,063

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

123,942

 

 

 

 

 

 

123,942

 

 

$

123,942

 

 

Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax benefit of $602

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(912

)

 

 

(912

)

 

(912

)

 

Dividends on preferred stock ($65.00
per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,067

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,067

)

 

$

123,030

 

 

Dividends on common stock ($0.25
per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(23,234

)

 

 

 

 

 

(23,234

)

 

 

 

 

Employee stock purchase plan proceeds

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,027

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,028

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options exercised

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,633

 

 

 

 

 

Tax benefit from stock plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,304

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,304

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock purchased—Series A Common Stock (458,500 shares)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,920

)

(10,920

)

 

 

 

 

Balances—December 31, 2004

 

 

$

552

 

 

 

$

413

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

1,281,474

 

 

 

$

569,178

 

 

 

$

(6,161

)

 

$

(91,619

)

$

1,753,837

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,217

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,217

 

 

$

100,217

 

 

Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax benefit of $98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(148

)

 

 

(148

)

 

(148

)

 

Dividends on preferred stock ($65.00
per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2

)

 

 

 

 

 

(2

)

 

$

100,069

 

 

Dividends on common stock ($0.28
per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(25,979

)

 

 

 

 

 

(25,979

)

 

 

 

 

Employee stock purchase plan proceeds

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,192

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,193

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options exercised

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,757

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,761

 

 

 

 

 

Tax benefit from stock plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

965

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

965

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock purchased—Series A Common Stock (669,227 shares)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(16,385

)

(16,385

)

 

 

 

 

Balances—December 31, 2005

 

 

$

557

 

 

 

$

413

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

1,291,388

 

 

 

$

643,414

 

 

 

$

(6,309

)

 

$

(108,004

)

$

1,821,459

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

98,723

 

 

 

 

 

 

98,723

 

 

$

98,723

 

 

Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax benefit of $238

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(360

)

 

 

(360

)

 

(360

)

 

Recognition of prior service cost and net loss under SFAS 158, net of tax benefit of $17,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(26,440

)

 

 

(26,440

)

 

$

98,363

 

 

Dividends on common stock ($0.28
per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(25,991

)

 

 

 

 

 

(25,991

)

 

 

 

 

Employee stock purchase plan proceeds

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,125

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,126

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options exercised

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,705

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,710

 

 

 

 

 

Tax benefit from stock plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

784

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

784

 

 

 

 

 

Stock based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,576

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,576

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock purchased—Series A Common Stock (129,150 shares)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,780

)

(2,780

)

 

 

 

 

Balances—December 31, 2006

 

 

$

563

 

 

 

$

413

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

$

1,309,578

 

 

 

$

716,146

 

 

 

$

(33,109

)

 

$

(110,784

)

$

1,882,807

 

 

 

 

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

54




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

98,723

 

$

100,217

 

$

123,942

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

52,817

 

45,724

 

44,376

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

6,344

 

6,003

 

6,000

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

1,742

 

2,424

 

1,943

 

Amortization of program rights

 

68,601

 

60,912

 

63,843

 

Impairment loss

 

 

29,235

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

9,391

 

5,669

 

19,488

 

Equity in (income) loss of affiliates, net

 

(483

)

(1,416

)

(1,020

)

(Benefit from) provision for doubtful accounts

 

916

 

888

 

125

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

7,576

 

 

 

(Gain) / loss on disposal of fixed assets

 

(465

)

(1,210

)

977

 

Distributions from affiliates

 

 

2,030

 

3,376

 

Other expense, net

 

2,501

 

 

3,700

 

Program payments

 

(67,817

)

(64,104

)

(62,247

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease (increase) in Accounts receivable

 

(7,728

)

(7,392

)

(146

)

Decrease (increase) in Other assets

 

11,766

 

(4,130

)

(9,179

)

(Decrease) increase in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

14,811

 

(7,617

)

11,817

 

(Decrease) increase in Other liabilities

 

1,689

 

(38,503

)

(13,364

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

200,384

 

$

128,730

 

$

193,631

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

(64,229

)

(35,839

)

(36,380

)

Accrued purchases of property, plant & equipment

 

3,790

 

2,563

 

2,036

 

Cash proceeds from insurance recoveries

 

5,654

 

 

 

Investment in affiliates and other, net

 

(10,597

)

(7,732

)

350

 

Acquisitions

 

(217,511

)

 

(38,074

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(282,893

)

$

(41,008

)

$

(72,068

)

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings on credit facility

 

100,000

 

 

 

Payments on private placement

 

(90,000

)

 

 

Dividends paid on preferred stock

 

 

(2

)

(1,067

)

Dividends paid on common stock

 

(25,954

)

(25,997

)

(22,301

)

Redemption of Series A Note from Capital Trust, net

 

 

 

(70,000

)

Series A Common Stock repurchases

 

(2,780

)

(16,385

)

(10,920

)

Redemption of preferred stock

 

 

(11,251

)

(7,068

)

Repurchase of senior notes

 

(10,000

)

(15,000

)

 

Principal payments on capital lease obligations

 

(48

)

(184

)

(188

)

Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan and stock option exercises

 

9,836

 

8,954

 

10,661

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

$

(18,946

)

$

(59,865

)

$

(100,883

)

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

$

(101,455

)

$

27,857

 

$

20,680

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$

120,065

 

$

92,208

 

$

71,528

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

18,610

 

$

120,065

 

$

92,208

 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business acquired in purchase transaction:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair market value of assets acquired, net

 

$

245,169

 

 

$

38,716

 

Fair market value of liabilities assumed, net

 

(27,658

)

 

(642

)

Net cash paid, including acquisition costs

 

$

217,511

 

 

$

38,074

 

Cash paid during the year for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest

 

$

65,144

 

$

64,320

 

$

63,502

 

Interest on Note payable to Capital Trust

 

$

9,750

 

$

9,750

 

$

18,675

 

Taxes, net of refunds

 

$

38,518

 

$

39,892

 

$

59,318

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued property, plant & equipment purchases

 

$

3,790

 

$

2,563

 

$

2,036

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

55




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.                 Nature of Operations

Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“we” or the “Company”) own and operate 26 network-affiliated television stations in geographically diverse markets in the United States. Ten of the stations are affiliates of the National Broadcasting Company, Inc. (“NBC”), 12 of the stations are affiliates of the American Broadcasting Companies (“ABC”), two of the stations are affiliates of Columbia Broadcasting Systems (“CBS”), one station is affiliated with The CW network (“CW”) and one station is affiliated with MyNetworkTV (“MNT”). Additionally, the Company provides management services to two network-affiliated and one independent television stations and two radio stations that are owned by The Hearst Corporation (“Hearst”). We are a leader in the convergence of local broadcast television and the Internet through our investment in, and operating agreement with, Internet Broadcasting, which operates a nation-wide network of television Websites. Our stations’ Websites typically provide news, weather, community information, user generated content and entertainment content to our audience. Also, 11 of our stations broadcast additional channels on a multicast stream with their main digital channel.

The Company has determined that it operates one reportable segment. The economic characteristics, services, production process, customer type and distribution methods for the Company’s business units are substantially similar and have therefore been aggregated as one reportable segment.

2.                 Summary of Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

General

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, except for the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary trust which was required to be de-consolidated upon adoption of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN 46(R)”). The net effect of such deconsolidation was to eliminate the Convertible Preferred Securities and show the Note payable to the Capital Trust in noncurrent liabilities. With the exception of the unconsolidated subsidiary trust, all significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to allowances for doubtful accounts; program rights, barter and trade transactions; useful lives of property, plant and equipment; intangible assets; carrying value of investments; accrued liabilities; contingent liabilities; income taxes; pension benefits; and fair value of financial instruments and stock options. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Comprehensive Income

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, the Company is required to display comprehensive income and its components as part of its complete set of financial statements. Comprehensive income represents the change in stockholders’ equity resulting from transactions other then stockholder investments and distributions. Included in comprehensive income are changes in equity that are excluded from the Company’s net income, specifically, additional minimum pension liabilities, net of tax.

56




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable

The Company extends credit based upon its evaluation of a customer’s credit worthiness and financial condition. For certain advertisers, the Company does not extend credit and requires cash payment in advance. The Company monitors the collection of receivables and maintains an allowance for estimated losses based upon the aging of such receivables and specific collection issues that may be identified. While a large percentage of our revenue is generated from advertising by the automotive industry, concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is generally limited due to the large number of geographically diverse customers, individually small balances, and short payment terms.

Program Rights

Program rights and the corresponding contractual obligations are recorded when the license period begins and the programs are available for use. Program rights are carried at the lower of unamortized cost or estimated net realizable value on a program by program basis. Any reduction in unamortized costs to net realizable value is included in amortization of program rights in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Such reductions in unamortized costs were $2.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, and were negligible in the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006. Programming rights are amortized over the license period. The majority of the Company’s programming rights are for first-run programming which is generally amortized over one year. Rights for off-network syndicated products, feature films and cartoons are amortized based on the projected number of airings on an accelerated basis contemplating the estimated revenue to be earned per showing, but generally not exceeding five years. Program rights and the corresponding contractual obligations are classified as current or long-term based on estimated usage and payment terms.

Barter and Trade Transactions

Barter transactions represent the exchange of commercial air time for programming. Trade transactions represent the exchange of commercial air time for merchandise or services. Barter transactions are recorded at the fair market value of the commercial air time relinquished. Trade transactions are generally recorded at fair market value of services either rendered or received. Barter program rights and payables are recorded for barter transactions when the program is available for broadcast. Revenue is recognized on barter and trade transactions when the commercials are broadcast; expenses are recorded when the programming airs or when the merchandise or service is utilized. Barter and trade revenue are included in total revenue on the Consolidated Statements of Income and were approximately $24.5 million, $25.0 million and $27.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Barter and trade expenses are included in Salaries, benefits and other operating costs under Station operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income and were approximately $23.2 million, $25.1 million, and $27.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives as follows: buildings—40 years; towers and transmitters—15 to 20 years; other broadcasting equipment—five to eight years; office furniture, computers, equipment and

57




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

other—three to eight years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the asset. Management reviews, on a continuing basis, the financial statement carrying value of property, plant and equipment for impairment. If events or changes in circumstances were to indicate that an asset carrying value may not be recoverable utilizing related undiscounted cash flows, a write-down of the asset would be recorded through a charge to operations. Management also reviews the continuing appropriateness of the useful lives assigned to property, plant and equipment. Prospective adjustments to such lives are made when warranted.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets include Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) licenses, network affiliations, goodwill, and other intangible assets such as advertiser client base and favorable leases. The Company performs a review for impairment of its recorded goodwill and FCC licenses, which are its only intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, annually in the fourth quarter or earlier if indicators of potential impairment exist. The impairment test for FCC license consists of a comparison of its carrying value with its fair value, determined using a discounted cash flow analysis. If the carrying value of the intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

Goodwill impairment is determined using a two-step process. The first step of the goodwill impairment test is to compare the carrying value of the reporting unit to its fair value, which is estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step of the goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

Various judgmental assumptions about cash flows, growth rates and discount rates are used in developing a discounted cash flow analysis. Discount rate assumptions are based on the weighted average cost of capital of industry participants. The Company considers the assumptions used in its estimates to be reasonable, however, had the Company used different assumptions, the Company’s reported results may have varied.

The Company amortizes intangible assets with determinable useful lives over their respective estimated useful lives which range from one to 28.5 years. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, the Company evaluates the remaining useful life of its intangible assets with determinable lives each reporting period to determine whether events or circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining period of amortization.

Investments

The Company has investments in non-consolidated affiliates, which are accounted for under the equity method if the Company’s equity interest is from 20% to 50%, and under the cost method if the Company’s equity interest is less than 20% and the Company does not exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies. In addition, the Company has a wholly-owned unconsolidated subsidiary trust which is accounted for under the equity method. See Note 7. The Company evaluates its investments to determine if impairment has occurred. Carrying values are adjusted to reflect realizable value, where necessary.

58




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Revenue Recognition

The Company’s primary source of revenue is television advertising. Other sources include retransmission consent revenue, digital media revenue and network compensation. Net advertising revenue, retransmission consent revenue, net digital media revenue and network compensation together represented approximately 95% of the Company’s total revenue in each of the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004.

·       Net Advertising Revenue.   Advertising revenue is recognized net of national agency and national representatives’ commissions and in the period when the commercials are broadcast.

·       Retransmission Consent Revenue.   Lifetime Entertainment Services acts as our agent with respect to the negotiation of our agreements with cable, satellite and certain other multi-channel video programming distributors for retransmission consent. Revenue is recognized based on the number of subscribers over the contract period or is a fixed amount recognized over the contract period. (See Note 13)

·       Net Digital Media Revenue.   Digital media revenues are recognized net of agency and national representatives’ commissions over the contract period, generally as impressions are delivered. Digital media revenue includes primarily Internet advertising revenue and, to a lesser extent, revenue from weather channel multicasting.

·       Network Compensation.   In connection with the ABC and CBS affiliation agreements, revenue is recognized when the Company’s station broadcasts specific network television programs based upon a negotiated value for each program. In connection with the NBC affiliation agreements, revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis, based upon the cash compensation to be paid to the Company’s stations by NBC each year.

·       Other Revenue.   The Company generates revenue from other sources, which include the following types of transactions and activities: (i) barter and trade revenue which is recognized when the commercials are broadcast, (ii) management fees earned from Hearst (see Note 13); (iii) services revenue from the production of commercials for advertising customers or from the production of programs to be sold in syndication; (iv) rental income pursuant to tower lease agreements with third parties providing for attachment of antennas to the Company’s towers; and (v) other miscellaneous revenue, such as licenses and royalties. These revenues are generally recognized as earned.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is computed based on the pretax income included in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company provides for federal and state income taxes currently payable, as well as for those deferred because of timing differences between reporting income and expenses for financial statement purposes versus tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

The Company records reserves for estimates of probable settlements of federal and state audits. The results of these audits and negotiations with taxing authorities may affect the ultimate settlement of these issues. The timing of any payments related to such settlements cannot be determined but the Company

59




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

expects that these payments will not be made within one year and, as such, these tax reserves are included in Other Liabilities (noncurrent). The Company also records a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets arising from certain net operating and capital losses when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of such losses will not be realized. The Company’s effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may be materially impacted by changes in the level of earnings by taxing jurisdiction, changes in the expected outcome of tax audits, or changes in the deferred tax valuation allowance.

Earnings Per Share (“EPS”)

Basic EPS is calculated by dividing net income less preferred stock dividends by the weighted average common shares outstanding (see Note 8). Diluted EPS is calculated similarly, except that it includes the dilutive effect, if any, of shares issuable under the Company’s 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan and Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan (see Note 12), the conversion of the Company’s Preferred Stock (see Note 11), or the conversion of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities held by the Company’s wholly-owned unconsolidated subsidiary trust (see Note 7).

Off-Balance Sheet Financings and Liabilities

Other than contractual commitments and other legal contingencies incurred in the normal course of business, agreements for future barter and program rights not yet available for broadcast as of December 31, 2006, and employment contracts for key employees, which are disclosed in Note 14, the Company does not have any off-balance sheet financings or liabilities. Other than its wholly-owned unconsolidated subsidiary trust, which is reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as Note payable to Capital Trust, the Company does not have any majority-owned subsidiaries that are not included in the consolidated financial statements, nor does the Company have any interests in, or relationships with, any special-purpose entities that are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements.

Purchase Accounting

When allocating the purchase price to the acquired assets (tangible and intangible) and assumed liabilities of acquired businesses, it is necessary to develop estimates of fair value. The Company utilizes the services of an independent valuation consulting firm to assist in estimating fair values. The specialized tangible assets in use at a broadcasting business are typically valued on the basis of the replacement cost of a new asset less observed depreciation. The appraisal of other fixed assets, such as furnishings, vehicles, and office machines, is based upon a comparable market approach. Identified intangible assets, including FCC licenses, are valued at estimated fair value. FCC licenses are valued using a direct approach. The direct approach measures the future economic benefits that the FCC license brings to its holder and discounts them to the present. The fair market value of the FCC license is determined by discounting these future benefits utilizing discounted cash flows. The key assumptions used in the discounted cash flow analysis include initial and subsequent capital costs, network affiliation, VHF or UHF status, market revenue growth and station market share projections, operating profit margins, discount rates and terminal value estimates.

Stock-Based Compensation

On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123(R)”) using a modified prospective transition method. Accordingly, because we have adopted a prospective method prior periods have not been restated. For the year ended December 31, 2006, the

60




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

adoption of SFAS 123(R) resulted in incremental stock-based compensation expense and a decrease in income before income taxes of $7.6 million, and a decrease in net income of $4.8 million. Additionally, the incremental stock-based compensation expense caused both basic and diluted earnings per share to decrease by $0.05 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company applied Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Stock Issued to Employees (“APB 25”), to account for its stock-based awards, and the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, as amended (“SFAS 123”), to present stock-based compensation disclosure. Under APB 25, because the exercise price of the Company’s employee stock options equaled the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, the stock options had no intrinsic value and therefore no compensation expense was recognized. The following table details the pro forma effects on net income and earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 had compensation expense been recorded based on the fair value method under SFAS 123, utilizing the Black-Scholes option valuation model:

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

           2005           

 

           2004           

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Reported net income

 

 

$

100,217

 

 

 

$

123,942

 

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value method for all awards, net of related tax

 

 

(4,823

)

 

 

(4,875

)

 

Pro forma net income

 

 

95,394

 

 

 

199,067

 

 

Less: Preferred stock dividends

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(1,067

)

 

Pro forma net income applicable to common stockholders (Basic)

 

 

$

95,392

 

 

 

$

118,000

 

 

Add: Interest Expense, Net—Capital Trust, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

9,285

 

 

Pro forma net income applicable to common stockholders (Diluted)

 

 

$

95,392

 

 

 

$

127,285

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic—as reported

 

 

$

1.08

 

 

 

$

1.32

 

 

Basic—pro forma

 

 

$

1.03

 

 

 

$

1.27

 

 

Diluted—as reported

 

 

$

1.08

 

 

 

$

1.30

 

 

Diluted—pro forma

 

 

$

1.02

 

 

 

$

1.26

 

 

 

Reclassifications

For comparability, certain immaterial prior year amounts have been reclassified in the consolidated statements of cash flows to conform to the 2006 presentation. On the consolidated statements of income, we have reclassified Equity in income of affiliates, net of tax from Income before income taxes to below Income tax expense (benefit). As a result, we have reclassified amounts from 2005 and 2004 to conform to this presentation. Additionally, we have reclassified interest income as a separate component of income before income taxes and equity. These reclassifications had no impact on reported net income.

61




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

New Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS 159”) which permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. SFAS 159 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 159 on its financial position, cash flows, and results of operations.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, Financial Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold for tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2006. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of FIN 48 but does not believe that it will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”), which applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. SFAS 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop the assumption that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not believe the adoption of SFAS 157 will have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plan (“SFAS 158”), which requires employers to fully recognize the obligations associated with single-employer defined benefit pension, retiree healthcare and other postretirement plans in their financial statements. It requires employers to recognize an asset or liability for a plan’s overfunded or underfunded status, measure a plan’s assets and obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the employer’s fiscal year and recognize in comprehensive income changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in the year in which changes occur. The requirement to recognize the funded status of a benefit plan and the disclosure requirements are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006. We have adopted the requirement to recognize the funded status of a benefit plan as of December 31, 2006. As a result, Accumulated other comprehensive loss increased $26.4 million, net of tax. Additionally, the requirement to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the employer’s fiscal year end is effective for all years ending after December 15, 2008.

In September 2006, the Staff of the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”). SAB 108 provides guidance on the consideration of the effects of prior year misstatements in quantifying current year misstatements for the purpose of determining whether the current year’s financial statements are materially misstated. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006. The adoption of SAB 108 did not have a material impact on our financial statements.

3.                 Acquisitions, Dispositions and Investments

Acquisition of WKCF-TV Clermont, Florida (“WKCF-TV”)   On August 31, 2006, the Company purchased the assets related to broadcast television station WKCF-TV, a CW affiliate in Orlando, Florida, for $217.5 million in cash funded with a combination of cash on hand and a borrowing of $100 million under the Company’s $500 million credit facility. This acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase

62




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

business combination and the pro-forma results of operations and related per share information have not been presented as the amounts are considered immaterial.

Acquisition of WMTW.   On July 1, 2004, the Company acquired the television broadcast assets of WMTW-TV, Channel 8, the ABC affiliate serving the Portland-Auburn, Maine television market, for approximately $38.1 million in cash, inclusive of acquisition costs. This acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase business combination and the pro-forma results of operations and related per share information have not been presented as the amounts are considered immaterial.

Investments as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Internet Broadcasting

 

$

19,158

 

$

11,308

 

Ripe TV

 

7,313

 

4,479

 

Arizona Diamondbacks

 

5,982

 

5,982

 

Capital Trust

 

4,021

 

4,021

 

USDTV

 

 

1,529

 

ProAct

 

60

 

60

 

Other

 

3,920

 

3,942

 

Total investments

 

$

40,454

 

$

31,321

 

 

Investment in Ripe Digital Entertainment, Inc.   On August 14, 2006, the Company made an additional investment of $4.1 million in Ripe Digital Entertainment, Inc. (“Ripe TV”) resulting in a total investment of $9.1 million which represents a 24.7% ownership interest. In addition, the Company has committed to invest an additional $1.9 million in Ripe TV in 2007. Ripe TV was formed in 2003 to start an advertising-supported digital video-on-demand program network. Launched in October 2005, the program service targets men aged 18-34 and is available for distribution via digital cable, broadband and/or wireless systems. Since July 27, 2005, Steven A. Hobbs, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Development Officer, and since August 14, 2006, Terry Mackin, Executive Vice President, have served on the Board of Directors of Ripe TV, from which they do not receive compensation for their services. We account for this investment using the equity method.

Investment in USDTV.   During the year December 31, 2006, the Company owned 6.175% of U.S. Digital Television, Inc. (“USDTV”). USDTV was formed to provide a national digital subscription-based television programming distribution service using portions of the digital television spectrum. In July 2006, USDTV filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and as a result, the Company wrote off its investment of $2.5 million and included the write off in Other Expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. In September 2006, USDTV sold substantially all its assets to a third party and assigned its spectrum lease with KOAT, our Albuquerque, New Mexico station, to the buyer.

Investment in Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc.   During the periods presented the Company had an investment in Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. (“Internet Broadcasting”) and, during the periods presented through December 22, 2005, the Company had an investment in IBS/HATV LLC, the parent company of 26 wholly-owned subsidiary limited liability companies. Internet Broadcasting operates a national network of station Websites under operating agreements with various television station groups, including the Company. IBS/HATV LLC owned the Websites for each of the Company’s television

63




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

stations. The initial $20 million investment in exchange for shares of preferred stock (representing an approximately 24% equity interest in Internet Broadcasting) was made in December 1999, followed by an additional $6 million investment in bridge loans issued by Internet Broadcasting in May 2001.

On December 22, 2005, the investment in Internet Broadcasting and the IBS/HATV LLC relationship were strategically restructured to provide for new content initiatives, new sales opportunities and enhanced capital resources for Internet Broadcasting. Under the new arrangement, Internet Broadcasting continues to manage a national network of station Websites under various operating agreements. However, IBS/HATV LLC and its subsidiaries were dissolved resulting in the recognition of local Website operating results directly on the books of the Company’s television stations as of January 2006.

·       Investment in Internet Broadcasting.   As a result of the restructuring on December 22, 2005, the Company’s investment in preferred stock and bridge loans was converted into shares of Internet Broadcasting common stock, increasing the Company’s ownership percentage from 24% to 31.1%. Subsequently, in January 2006, the Company purchased Internet Broadcasting common stock from an existing Internet Broadcasting investor for $5.5 million, increasing its ownership percentage to 39.2%. We continue to account for our investment in Internet Broadcasting using the equity method.

·       IBS/HATV LLC (Limited Liability Company).   As described above, a component of the restructuring was the dissolution of IBS/HATV LLC, effective December 31, 2005. In 2006, the Company received its share of the LLC’s assets. IBS/HATV LLC was owned 49.9% by HTV and 50.1% by Internet Broadcasting. Controlled and managed by Internet Broadcasting, IBS/HATV LLC was the parent company of 26 wholly-owned subsidiary limited liability companies established to own and operate the Websites for each of the Company’s television stations. As a result of the restructuring, those 26 subsidiaries were also dissolved and their assets were transferred to the Company. Prior to the restructuring, we accounted for our investment in IBS/HATV LLC using the equity method.

Investment in NBC/Hearst-Argyle Syndication, LLC.   Effective December 31, 2005, NBC and the Company concluded the NBC/Hearst-Argyle syndication venture and the Company recorded a loss of $2.5 million within Other expense. The Company’s 20% share in the results of NBC/Hearst-Argyle Syndication, LLC was included in Equity in (income) loss of affiliates, net of tax in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2004. We accounted for this investment using the equity method.

Investment in Capital Trust.   On December 20, 2001, the Company purchased all of the Capital Trust’s common stock (valued at $6.2 million) as part of the initial capitalization of the Capital Trust, and the Company received $200.0 million in connection with the issuance of the Subordinated Debentures (valued at $206.2 million) to the Capital Trust. On December 31, 2004, the Company redeemed a portion of the subordinated debentures (valued at $72.2 million) and the Capital Trust concurrently redeemed $2.2 million of its common stock and $70.0 million of preferred securities. The Subordinated Debentures are presented as Note payable to Capital Trust of $134.0 million in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Capital Trust does not hold any other significant assets other than note receivable from the Company for the Subordinated Debentures. In accordance with the provisions of FIN 46(R), the Company does not consolidate the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Capital Trust, in its consolidated financial statements. Therefore, we account for this investment using the equity method.

64




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The earnings attributable to this investment are the Company’s interest payments made on $6.2 million of the Subordinated Debentures outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2004 and $4.0 million of the Subordinated Debentures outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006. The Company has recorded its share in the earnings of the Capital Trust as an offset to the interest expense that the Company pays on the Subordinated Debentures (see Note 7).

Investment in NBC Weather Plus.   In November 2004, NBC Weather Plus Network (“Weather Plus”) was formed to launch the first digital local and national weather network using a portion of the digital spectrum of NBC-affiliated television stations. Weather Plus is a 50/50 joint venture between two member limited liability companies: NBC News Bureaus, Inc. and Weather Network Affiliates Company, LLC. NBC-affiliated stations participated in the venture by investing in Weather Network Affiliates Company, LLC. We have a minority interest in Weather Network Affiliates Company, LLC. Since November 2004 we have launched Weather Plus in all ten of our NBC-affiliated markets. We account for this investment using the cost method.

Other Investments.   The majority of the other investments are broadcast tower partnerships.

4.                 Goodwill and Intangible Assets

The carrying value of goodwill and intangible assets as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Total intangible assets subject to amortization

 

 

$

106,783

 

 

 

$

111,983

 

 

Intangible assets not subject to amortization—FCC
licenses

 

 

2,413,257

 

 

 

2,284,103

 

 

Total intangible assets, net

 

 

$

2,520,040

 

 

 

$

2,396,086

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

$

816,724

 

 

 

$

731,687

 

 

 

The increase in goodwill and intangible assets is due to purchase accounting related to the WKCF-TV acquisition, completed on August 31, 2006. The Company’s final valuation resulted in $85.0 million in goodwill and $129.2 million in FCC licenses, each of which have an indefinite life and are therefore not amortized for book purposes but will be amortized for tax purposes. Additionally, the Company’s final valuation resulted in $1.1 million in advertiser client base which will be amortized over a period of one year.

In accordance with SFAS 142, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, (“SFAS 142”) the Company assesses its goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives at least annually by applying a fair value-based test. The Company’s intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are licenses to operate its television stations which have been granted by the FCC. SFAS 142 also requires that intangible assets with determinable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with SFAS 144.

In performing the annual impairment test, the estimated fair value of each station’s FCC license and enterprise value is determined based on the present value of future cash flows. For the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company has determined based on the present value of future cash flows that no impairment of each station’s FCC license and enterprise value exists. When performing the annual

65




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

impairment test in 2005, we determined that the estimates of future cash flows at our station, WDSU-TV in New Orleans, Louisiana, were negatively impacted due to Hurricane Katrina and as a result, the Company recorded a $29.2 million write down of its indefinite lived intangible assets and goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2005 which was comprised of $26.2 million of FCC license and $3.0 million of goodwill.

The Company, as an FCC licensee, enjoys an expectancy of continued renewal of its licenses, so long as it continues to provide service in the public interest. The FCC has historically renewed the Company’s licenses in the ordinary course of business, without compelling challenge and at little cost to the Company. Furthermore, the Company believes that over-the-air broadcasting will continue as a video distribution mode for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the cash flows derived from the Company’s FCC licenses are expected to continue indefinitely and as such, and in accordance with SFAS 142, the life of the FCC license intangible asset is deemed to be indefinite.

Summarized below are the carrying value and accumulated amortization of intangible assets that continue to be amortized under SFAS 142 as of December 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

Gross Carrying

 

Accumulated

 

Net Carrying

 

Gross Carrying

 

Accumulated

 

Net Carrying

 

 

 

Value

 

Amortization

 

Value

 

Value

 

Amortization

 

Value

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Intangible assets subject to amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advertiser client base

 

 

$

124,035

 

 

 

$

73,967

 

 

 

$

50,068

 

 

 

$

122,891

 

 

 

$

70,050

 

 

 

$

52,841

 

 

Network affiliations

 

 

95,493

 

 

 

38,880

 

 

 

56,613

 

 

 

95,493

 

 

 

36,489

 

 

 

59,004

 

 

Other

 

 

743

 

 

 

641

 

 

 

102

 

 

 

743

 

 

 

605

 

 

 

138

 

 

Total intangible assets subject to amortization

 

 

$

220,271

 

 

 

$

113,488

 

 

 

$

106,783

 

 

 

$

219,127

 

 

 

$

107,144

 

 

 

$

111,983

 

 

 

The Company’s amortization expense for definite-lived intangible assets was approximately $6.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2006. Estimated annual intangible asset amortization expense is approximately $6.8 million in 2007 and $6.0 million in each of the next four years.

5.                 Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Payroll, benefits and related costs

 

$

20,738

 

$

17,075

 

Accrued income taxes

 

18,692

 

10,307

 

Accrued interest

 

8,792

 

9,462

 

Accrued vacation

 

5,855

 

5,438

 

Accrued payables

 

4,128

 

3,111

 

Other taxes payable

 

1,826

 

1,777

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

6,484

 

3,963

 

Total accrued liabilities

 

$

66,515

 

$

51,133

 

 

66




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

6.                 Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Revolving Credit Facility

 

$

100,000

 

$

 

Senior Notes

 

407,110

 

417,110

 

Private Placement Debt

 

360,000

 

450,000

 

Capital Lease Obligations

 

60

 

107

 

 

 

$

867,170

 

$

867,217

 

Less: Current maturities

 

(90,048

)

(90,047

)

Total long-term debt

 

$

777,122

 

$

777,170

 

 

Credit Facility

In November 2006, we increased our five-year unsecured revolving credit facility which matures on April 15, 2010 to $500 million. The credit facility can be used for general corporate purposes including working capital, investments, acquisitions, debt repayment and dividend payments. Outstanding principal balances under the credit facility bear interest at our option at LIBOR or the alternate base rate (“ABR”), plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin for ABR loans is zero. The applicable margin for LIBOR loans varies between 0.50% and 1.00% depending on the ratio of our total debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as defined by the credit agreement (the “Leverage Ratio”). The ABR is the greater of (i) the prime rate or (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect plus 0.5%. We are required to pay a commitment fee based on the unused portion of the credit facility. The commitment fee ranges from 0.15% to 0.25% depending on our Leverage Ratio. We have borrowed $100.0 million under the credit facility as of December 31, 2006. The annualized weighted average interest rate for our credit facility outstanding is 6.2% for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Senior Notes

At December 31, 2006, the Senior Notes, which are unsecured obligations, consisted of $125 million principal amount of 7.0% senior notes due November 2007; $166 million principal amount of 7.0% senior notes due 2018 and $116.1 million principal amount of 7.5% senior notes due 2027. In the first quarter of 2006, the Company repurchased $10 million of 7.00% senior notes due 2018.  As of December 31, 2006, the Company has the ability and intent to refinance its 7% senior notes due November 2007 and therefore has continued to classify the debt as a long-term obligation.

At December 31, 2005, the Senior Notes, which are unsecured obligations, consisted of $125 million principal amount of 7.0% senior notes due November 2007; $176 million principal amount of 7.0% senior notes due 2018 and $116.1 million principal amount of 7.5% senior notes due 2027. Initially issued in November 1997 and January 1998, proceeds from the senior notes were used to repay then existing debt. On December 13, 2005, we repurchased $15 million of our 7.5% senior notes due 2027.

Private Placement Debt

At December 31, 2006, the Private Placement Debt consists of $360 million in senior, unsecured notes, which bear interest at 7.18% per year. The first of five mandatory $90 million annual payment

67




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

installments was made on December 15, 2006. The second mandatory $90 million payment will be made on December 15, 2007. The Notes were initially issued in connection with the January 1, 1999 acquisition of KCRA-TV in Sacramento, California.

Capital Lease Obligations

We have capitalized the future minimum lease payments of equipment under leases that qualify as capital leases. We had capital lease obligations of approximately $0.1 million as of December 31, 2006 and 2005. The capital leases have terms which expire at various dates through 2008.

Aggregate Maturities of Total Debt

Approximate aggregate annual maturities of total debt (including capital lease obligations) are as follows (in thousands):

2007

 

215,048

(1)

2008

 

90,012

 

2009

 

90,000

 

2010

 

190,000

 

2011

 

0

 

Thereafter

 

282,110

 

Total

 

$

867,170

 


(1)          The Company has the ability and intent to refinance its $125,000 principal amount of 7% senior notes due November 2007 and therefore has continued to classify the debt at a long-term obligation on the consolidated balance sheet.

Debt Covenants and Restrictions

The Company’s debt obligations contain certain financial and other covenants and restrictions on the Company. None of these covenants or restrictions include any triggers explicitly tied to the Company’s credit ratings or stock price. The Company is in compliance with all such covenants and restrictions as of December 31, 2006.

Interest Rate Risk Management

The Company is not involved in any derivative financial instruments. However, we may consider certain interest rate risk strategies in the future. We may also consider in the future certain interest rate swap arrangements or debt-for-debt exchanges.

68




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Interest Expense, net

Interest expense, net for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 consisted of the following:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Interest on borrowings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit Facility

 

$

2,663

 

$

465

 

$

289

 

Senior Notes

 

29,514

 

31,578

 

30,903

 

Private Placement Debt

 

32,023

 

32,310

 

32,310

 

Amortization of deferred financings costs and other

 

1,903

 

2,424

 

1,943

 

Total interest expense

 

66,103

 

66,777

 

65,445

 

Interest income

 

(6,229

)

(3,402

)

(1,715

)

Total interest expense, net

 

$

59,874

 

$

63,375

 

$

63,730

 

 

7.                 Note Payable to Capital Trust

As of December 31, 2006, the Company has outstanding $134.0 million aggregate principal amount of Series B Debentures which are convertible into 5,128 shares of Series A Common Stock in the aggregate.

The Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities issued by the Capital Trust are effectively convertible, at the option of the holder at any time, into shares of the Company’s Series A Common Stock, par value $.0l per share through an exchange of such Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities for a portion of the Debentures of the corresponding series held by the Capital Trust. The conversion terms are identical for all holders of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities, including Hearst. The Series B Debentures are convertible into the Company’s Common Stock at an initial rate of 1.972262 shares of the Company’s Common Stock per $50 principal amount of Series B Debentures (equivalent to a conversion price of $25.3516 per share of the Company’s Common Stock). When the Debentures are repaid or redeemed, the same amount of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities will simultaneously be redeemed with the proceeds from the repayment or redemption of the Debentures.

The Series B Debentures mature on December 31, 2021 and bear interest at a rate of 7.5% per year. The Company has the right to defer interest on the Debentures (and therefore distributions on the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities) by extending the interest payment period from time to time in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities. The Series B Debentures may be redeemed at the option of the Company (or at the direction of Hearst) at any time on or after December 31, 2006. The redemption prices (per $50 principal amount) of the Series B Debentures range from $51.875 in 2007, declining to $50.375 in 2011 and $50 thereafter to maturity.

The Company redeemed all of its outstanding Series A Debentures on December 31, 2004 (the “Redemption Date”), at a price of $52.625 per $50.00 principal amount of the Series A Debentures in accordance with the terms of the indenture. The redemption of the Series A Debentures triggered a simultaneous redemption by the Capital Trust of 1.4 million shares of its Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities. Also, the Capital Trust redeemed 43,299 shares of its common stock, held by the Company. As a result of the redemption, Notes payable to Capital Trust was reduced by $72.2 million and Investments was reduced by $2.2 million.

69




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Interest Expense, net—Capital Trust

Interest expense, net—Capital Trust is interest expense incurred net of equity interest in earnings of the Company’s Series B Debentures issued by its wholly owned unconsolidated subsidiary trust (the “Capital Trust”). Interest expense, net in 2004 includes a $3.7 million premium paid for the redemption of the Series A Debentures. For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 the Company incurred interest expense on the Debentures issued by the Capital Trust as follows:

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Interest on Subordinated Debentures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series B Subordinated Debentures

 

$

10,052

 

$

10,052

 

$

10,052

 

Series A Subordinated Debentures

 

 

 

5,412

 

Premium paid on redemption of Series A Subordinated Debentures

 

 

 

3,789

 

Gain on redemption of Capital Trust common stock

 

 

 

(114

)

Total interest expense

 

10,052

 

10,052

 

19,139

 

Equity in earnings of Capital Trust

 

(302

)

(302

)

(464

)

Total interest expense, net—Capital Trust

 

$

9,750

 

$

9,750

 

$

18,675

 

 

8.                 Earnings Per Share

The calculation of basic EPS for each period is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The calculation of dilutive EPS for each period is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, plus the effect, if any, of dilutive common stock equivalent shares. The following tables set forth a reconciliation between basic EPS and diluted EPS, in accordance with SFAS 128, Earnings Per Share (in thousands except per share data):

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Reported net income

 

$

98,723

 

$

100,217

 

$

123,942

 

Less: Preferred stock dividends

 

 

(2

)

(1,067

)

Income applicable to common stockholders (Basic)

 

$

98,723

 

$

100,215

 

$

122,875

 

Add: Interest Expense, Net—Capital Trust, net of tax

 

 

 

9,285

 

Income applicable to common stockholders (Diluted)

 

$

98,723

 

$

100,215

 

$

132,160

 

Basic shares

 

92,745

 

92,826

 

92,928

 

Basic EPS

 

$

1.06

 

$

1.08

 

$

1.32

 

Diluted shares

 

93,353

 

93,214

 

101,406

 

Diluted EPS

 

$

1.06

 

$

1.08

 

$

1.30

 

Basic shares

 

92,745

 

92,826

 

92,928

 

Add: Shares issued upon assumed exercise of stock options

 

608

 

388

 

543

 

Add: Shares issued upon conversion of Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities—if dilutive

 

 

 

2,807

 

Add: Shares issued upon conversion of Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities—if dilutive

 

 

 

5,128

 

Diluted shares

 

93,353

 

93,214

 

101,406

 

 

70




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Common stock options for 6,566,936, 3,657,174 and 2,916,270 shares of Series A Common Stock (before application of the treasury stock method), outstanding as of December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because the exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares during the calculation period.

The dilution test for the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities related to the Capital Trust is performed for all periods. This test considers only the total number of shares that could be issued if converted and does not consider either the conversion price or the share price of the underlying common shares. When the securities related to the Capital Trust are dilutive, the interest, net of tax, related to the Capital Trust is added back to Income applicable to common stockholders for purposes of the diluted EPS calculation. The Series A Convertible Preferred Securities were redeemed on December 31, 2004 and therefore had no impact on the 2005 or 2006 periods. For the year ended December 31, 2004, 7,935,068 shares of Series A Common Stock to be issued upon the conversion of 1,400,000 shares of Series A 7.5% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities and 2,600,000 shares of Series B 7.5% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities, related to the Capital Trust, are included in the number of common shares used in the calculation of diluted EPS.

The Series A and B Preferred Stock were redeemed in full as of January 1, 2005. For the year ended December 31, 2004, 5,781,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and 5,470,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the related dividends were included in the calculation of diluted EPS.

9.                 Income Taxes

The provision (benefit) for income taxes relating to income for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, consisted of the following:

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State and local

 

$

7,593

 

$

5,671

 

$

6,761

 

Federal

 

41,426

 

(8,328

)

49,475

 

 

 

$

49,019

 

$

(2,657

)

$

56,236

 

Deferred:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

State and local

 

$

1,534

 

$

(7,096

)

$

1,976

 

Federal

 

7,857

 

12,765

 

17,512

 

 

 

$

9,391

 

$

5,669

 

$

19,488

 

Provision for income taxes

 

$

58,410

 

$

3,012

 

$

75,724

 

 

71




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The Company’s effective income tax rate in a given financial statement period may be materially impacted by changes in the level of earnings by taxing jurisdiction, changes in the expected outcome of tax examinations, amount of deductions or changes in the deferred tax valuation allowance. The effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 varied from the statutory U.S. Federal income tax rate due to the following:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Statutory U. S. Federal income tax

 

35.0

%

35.0

%

35.0

%

State income taxes, net of Federal tax benefit

 

3.8

 

(0.9

)

2.9

 

Other non-deductible business expenses

 

0.2

 

1.3

 

0.3

 

Change in valuation allowances and other estimates

 

(1.6

)

(31.6

)

 

Other

 

(0.1

)

(0.8

)

(0.1

)

Effective income tax rate

 

37.3

%

3.0

%

38.1

%

 

The increase in our Federal current tax expense and effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2006, primarily relates to an increase in income before income taxes from $101.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 to $156.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2006; and $37.4 million in tax benefits recorded as a result of the settlement of certain tax return examinations and changes in Ohio tax law in the year ended December 31, 2005.

Deferred income tax liabilities and assets at December 31, 2006 and 2005 consisted of the following:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Deferred income tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Difference between book and tax basis of property, plant and equipment

 

$

39,267

 

$

26,994

 

Accelerated funding of pension benefit obligation

 

(21,823

)

13,352

 

Difference between book and tax basis of intangible assets

 

820,785

 

804,926

 

Total deferred income tax liabilities

 

$

838,229

 

$

845,272

 

Deferred income tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and other

 

$

4,672

 

$

4,029

 

Operating and Capital loss carryforwards

 

31,098

 

33,265

 

 

 

35,770

 

37,294

 

Less: Valuation allowance

 

(31,098

)

(33,265

)

Total deferred income tax assets

 

4,672

 

4,029

 

Net deferred income tax liabilities

 

$

833,557

 

$

841,243

 

 

At December 31, 2006, net deferred tax liabilities include a deferred tax asset of $2.8 relating to stock-based compensation expense under SFAS 123(R). Full realization of this deferred tax asset requires stock options to be exercised at a price equaling or exceeding the sum of the grant price plus the fair value of the option at the grant date. The provisions of SFAS 123(R), however, do not allow a valuation allowance to be recorded unless the company’s future taxable income is expected to be insufficient to recover the asset. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the stock price of our Series A Common Stock will rise to levels sufficient to realize the entire tax benefit currently reflected in our balance sheet. See Note 12 for additional discussion of SFAS 123(R).

72




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

At December 31, 2006, we had state net operating loss carryforwards (tax effected) of $25.5 million and other capital loss carryforwards (tax effected) of $5.5 million, respectively expiring through 2026 and in 2009. The valuation allowance represents the uncertainty associated with the realization of these tax benefits. The change in the valuation allowance for 2006 is the result of the Company’s utilization of approximately $2.1 million in capital loss carryforwards.

The net deferred income tax liabilities are presented under the following captions on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Deferred income tax liability

 

$

838,229

 

$

845,272

 

Deferred income tax asset (current)

 

4,672

 

4,029

 

Net deferred income tax liability

 

$

833,557

 

$

841,243

 

 

The deferred tax liabilities primarily relate to differences between book and tax basis of the Company’s FCC licenses. In accordance with the adoption of SFAS 142 on January 1, 2002, the Company no longer amortizes its FCC licenses, but instead tests them for impairment annually. As the tax basis in the Company’s FCC licenses continues to amortize, the deferred tax liabilities will increase over time.

10.          Common Stock

General

The Company has authorized 300 million common shares, par value $0.01 per share, which includes 200 million of Series A Common Stock and 100 million Series B Common Stock. Except as otherwise described below, the issued and outstanding shares of Series A Common Stock and Series B Common Stock vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, with each issued and outstanding share of Series A Common Stock and Series B Common Stock entitling the holder thereof to one vote on all such matters. With respect to any election of directors, (i) the holders of the shares of Series A Common Stock are entitled to vote separately as a class to elect two members of the Company’s Board of Directors (the Series A Directors) and (ii) the holders of the shares of the Company’s Series B Common Stock are entitled to vote separately as a class to elect the balance of the Company’s Board of Directors (the Series B Directors); provided, however, that the number of Series B Directors shall not constitute less than a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors.

All of the outstanding shares of Series B Common Stock are held by a subsidiary of Hearst. No holder of shares of Series B Common Stock may transfer any such shares to any person other than to (i) Hearst; (ii) any corporation into which Hearst is merged or consolidated; (iii) any entity to which all or substantially all of Hearst’s assets are transferred; or (iv) any entity controlled by Hearst (each a “Permitted Transferee”). Series B Common Stock, however, may be converted at any time into Series A Common Stock and freely transferred, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and to applicable securities laws limitations.

Common Stock Repurchase

In May 1998 the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $300 million of its outstanding Series A Common Stock. Such repurchases may be effected from time to time in the open

73




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

market or in private transactions, subject to market conditions and management’s discretion. During 2006, the Company repurchased 129,150 shares of Series A Common Stock at a cost of $2.8 million and an average per share price of $21.52. Between May 1998 and December 31, 2006, the Company repurchased approximately 4.5 million shares of Series A Common Stock at a cost of approximately $110.8 million and an average price of $24.87. There can be no assurance that such repurchases will occur in the future or, if they do occur, what the terms of such repurchases will be.

Hearst and its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary Hearst Broadcasting, Inc. (“Hearst Broadcasting”) are authorized by Hearst’s Board of Directors to purchase up to 25 million shares of the Company’s Series A Common Stock from time to time in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. As of December 31, 2006, under this plan Hearst had purchased approximately 23.8 million shares of the Company’s outstanding Series A Common Stock. Hearst’s ownership of the Company’s outstanding common stock was 73.8% and 70.5% as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Common Stock Dividends

During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors declared cash dividends as follows:

Dividend 
Amount

 

 

 

Declaration 
Date

 

Record 
Date

 

Payment 
Date

 

Total 
Dividend

 

Hearst 
Portion

 

$0.07

 

March 31, 2006

 

April 5, 2006

 

April 15, 2006

 

 

$

6,485

 

 

$

4,636

 

$0.07

 

May 4, 2006

 

July 5, 2006

 

July 15, 2006

 

 

$

6,493

 

 

$

4,768

 

$0.07

 

September 21, 2006

 

October 5, 2006

 

October 15, 2006

 

 

$

6,490

 

 

$

4,816

 

$0.07

 

December 7, 2006

 

January 5, 2007

 

January 15, 2007

 

 

$

6,523

 

 

$

4,816

 

 

11.          Preferred Stock

Under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company has one million authorized shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share. At December 31, 2006 and 2005, there was no Preferred Stock outstanding. There were 5,470,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and 5,781,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2004. The Preferred Stock had a cash dividend feature whereby each share accrued $65 per share annually, to be paid quarterly.

On January 1, 2004, the Company redeemed 1,600,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and on December 10, 2004, the Company redeemed 5,468,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock. On January 1, 2005, 5,781,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 5,470,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock were redeemed.

12.          Employee Stock Plans

On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123(R)”) using a modified prospective transition method. Accordingly, because we have adopted a prospective method prior periods have not been restated. For the year ended December 31, 2006, the adoption of SFAS 123(R) resulted in incremental stock-based compensation expense, as well as a decrease in income before income taxes of $7.6 million, and a decrease in net income of $4.8 million. Additionally, the incremental stock-based compensation expense caused both basic and diluted earnings per share to decrease by $0.05 for the year ended December 31, 2006.

74




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

On May 5, 2004, the Company’s stockholders and Board of Directors approved the 2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan, which the Board further amended in July 2006 (as amended, the “Incentive Compensation Plan”). The Incentive Compensation Plan is intended to replace the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”) with respect to new grants and all grants made after May 5, 2004 are made under the new Incentive Compensation Plan. Under the Incentive Compensation Plan the Company may award various forms of incentive compensation, including stock options and restricted stock, to officers, other key employees and non-employee directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company reserved for issuance under the Incentive Compensation Plan 3.6 million shares of Series A Common Stock. As of December 31, 2006, under the Incentive Compensation Plan stock options were granted with exercise prices equal to the market price of the underlying stock as of the date of grant. Each option is exercisable after the period or periods specified in the applicable option agreement, but no option can be exercised after the expiration of 10 years from the date of grant. Generally, options granted to employees under the Incentive Compensation Plan cliff-vest after three years commencing on the effective date of the grant.

Under the Stock Option Plan, 8.7 million shares of Series A Common Stock were reserved for issuance. Under the Stock Option Plan, stock options were granted with exercise prices equal to the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant. Generally, options granted prior to December 2000 either (i) cliff-vest after three years commencing on the effective date of the grant or (ii) vest either after nine years or in one-third increments upon attainment of certain market price goals of the Company’s Series A Common Stock. Options granted in December 2000 vest in one-third increments per year commencing one year from the date of the grant. Generally, options granted after December 2000 cliff-vest after three years commencing on the effective date of the grant. All options granted pursuant to the Stock Option Plan will expire no later than ten years from the date of grant.

A summary of the status of the Company’s Stock Option Plan and Incentive Compensation Plan, and changes for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 is presented below (not in thousands):

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

Options

 

Exercise Price

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2003

 

7,424,472

 

 

$

22.71

 

 

Granted

 

1,272,900

 

 

25.63

 

 

Exercised

 

(455,056

)

 

18.97

 

 

Forfeited

 

(181,887

)

 

24.06

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2004

 

8,060,429

 

 

$

23.36

 

 

Granted

 

1,273,400

 

 

24.14

 

 

Exercised

 

(362,719

)

 

18.64

 

 

Forfeited

 

(450,263

)

 

26.02

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2005

 

8,520,847

 

 

$

23.53

 

 

Granted

 

756,650

 

 

25.40

 

 

Exercised

 

(391,213

)

 

19.70

 

 

Forfeited

 

(79,988

)

 

24.92

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2006

 

8,806,296

 

 

$

23.85

 

 

Exercisable at December 31, 2004

 

4,392,112

 

 

$

21.84

 

 

Exercisable at December 31, 2005

 

4,720,837

 

 

$

22.25

 

 

Exercisable at December 31, 2006

 

5,490,211

 

 

$

23.10

 

 

 

75




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2006 (not in thousands):

 

 

Options Outstanding

 

Range of Exercise Prices

 

 

 

Number Outstanding 
at December 31, 2006

 

Weighted 
Average 
Remaining 
Contractual Life

 

Intrinsic Value of In the 
Money Outstanding 
Options at
December 31, 2006

 

Weighted Average 
Outstanding Price

 

$18.56-$21.59

 

 

2,206,760

 

 

 

4.35

 

 

 

$

13,084,646

 

 

 

$

19.57

 

 

$22.08-$24.89

 

 

2,345,400

 

 

 

7.61

 

 

 

3,327,950

 

 

 

$

24.08

 

 

$25.13-$26.81

 

 

4,092,022

 

 

 

6.01

 

 

 

222,163

 

 

 

$

25.80

 

 

$27.75-$29.00

 

 

148,114

 

 

 

1.21

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

28.87

 

 

$35.25-$36.44

 

 

14,000

 

 

 

1.61

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

36.44

 

 

 

 

 

8,806,296

 

 

 

5.93

 

 

 

$

16,634,759

 

 

 

$

23.85

 

 

 

 

 

Options Exercisable

 

Range of Exercise Prices

 

 

 

Number Exercisable 
at December 31, 2006

 

Weighted 
Average 
Remaining 
Contractual Life

 

Intrinsic Value of In the 
Money Outstanding 
Options at
December 31, 2006

 

Weighted Average 
Exercise Price

 

$18.56-$21.59

 

 

2,186,760

 

 

 

4.30

 

 

 

$

12,996,046

 

 

 

$

19.56

 

 

$22.08-$24.89

 

 

1,062,000

 

 

 

6.04

 

 

 

1,506,220

 

 

 

$

24.08

 

 

$25.13-$26.81

 

 

2,095,837

 

 

 

4.08

 

 

 

222,103

 

 

 

$

25.85

 

 

$27.75-$29.00

 

 

131,614

 

 

 

1.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

28.93

 

 

$35.25-$36.44

 

 

14,000

 

 

 

1.61

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

36.44

 

 

 

 

 

5,490,211

 

 

 

4.47

 

 

 

$

14,724,369

 

 

 

$

23.10

 

 

 

Under SFAS No. 123(R), options are valued at their date of grant and then expensed over their vesting period. The values of the Company’s options were calculated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted was $7.49 for the year ended December 31, 2006. The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted was $7.63 for the year ended December 31, 2005. The total intrinsic value (the difference between market price and exercise price) of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2006 was $2.0 million. The total intrinsic value (the difference between market price and exercise price) of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2005 was $4.2 million. The total fair value of shares vested during the year ended December 31, 2006 was $7.7 million. The total fair value of shares vested during the year ended December 31, 2005 was $7.4 million.

The following assumptions were used in the Black Scholes option-pricing model to value options granted during the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004:

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Expected life

 

5.9 Years

 

5.9 years

 

5.0 years

 

Volatility factor

 

25.09

%

27.71

%

30.14

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

4.45

%

4.43

%

3.72

%

Dividend yield

 

1.20

%

1.12

%

0.94

%

 

76




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The expected life of options granted was estimated based on the historical exercise behavior of employees. The expected volatility factor was based on historical volatility over the period equal to the stock option’s expected life. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. treasury yield curve in effect at the date of the grant for a period equal to the expected term of the option.

Under the Incentive Compensation Plan, the Company awarded an aggregate of 167,000 restricted stock units to certain non-employee directors and employees during the year ended December 31, 2006. Non-employee directors received 5,000 shares which will vest two years from their grant date. Certain employees of the Company received 162,000 shares which will vest three years from their grant date. The fair value is equal to the market value on the date of grant. A summary of the outstanding unvested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2006 and activity during the year ended December 31, 2006 is presented below:

 

 

Restricted Stock Outstanding

 

 

 

Number of Restricted

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

Stock Units

 

Common Stock Price

 

Balance at January 1, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

Granted

 

 

167,000

 

 

 

25.62

 

 

Vested

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2006

 

 

167,000

 

 

 

$

25.62

 

 

 

The grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted to non-employee directors was $21.07. The grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted to employees was $25.64. Because this is a time based award, the expense is charged ratably over the vesting period.

In April 1999, we implemented a non-compensatory employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 423. The ESPP allows employees to purchase shares of our Series A Common Stock, at 85% of its market price, through after-tax payroll deductions. We reserved and made available for issuance and purchases under the Stock Purchase Plan 5,000,000 shares of Series A Common Stock. Employees purchased 107,702 and 102,934 shares for aggregate proceeds of approximately $2.1 million and $2.2 million in the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.  In accordance with SFAS 123(R), we recorded $0.4 million in stock-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2006.

The total compensation cost of share-based awards recognized for the year ended December 31, 2006 was $7.6 million. The total tax benefit related thereto was $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. For the year ended December 31, 2006 the tax benefit realized from the exercise of stock options was $0.8 million. As of December 31 2006, there was $16.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation awards granted under the equity compensation plans which does not include the effect of future grants of equity compensation, if any. Of the total $16.1 million, we expect to recognize approximately 49% in 2007, 35% in 2008 and 16% in 2009, assuming average forfeitures. We received $7.7 million upon the exercise of stock options during the year ended December 31, 2006, and we received $6.8 million upon the exercise of stock options during the year ended December 31, 2005.

77




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

13.   Related Party Transactions

The Hearst Corporation.   As of December 31, 2006, Hearst beneficially owned approximately 53.0% of our Series A Common Stock and 100% of our Series B Common Stock, representing in the aggregate approximately 73.8% of the outstanding voting power of our common stock, except with regard to the election of directors. With regard to the election of directors, Hearst’s beneficial ownership of our Series B Common Stock entitles Hearst to elect as a class 11 of the 13 directors of our Board of Directors. During the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, we entered into the following transactions with Hearst or parties related to Hearst:

·       Hearst Lease.   On May 5, 2006 the Company entered into a Lease Agreement with Hearst to lease one floor of the newly constructed Hearst Tower in Manhattan for our corporate offices. Under the terms of the lease we are entitled to a tenant improvement allowance of $1.9 million. We expect to record approximately $1.4 million in rent expense annually under the terms of the Lease Agreement with Hearst, net of the tenant improvement allowance, which we will amortize over the lease term.

·       Management Agreement.   We recorded revenue of approximately $6.7 million, $4.6 million, and $4.2 million in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, relating to a management agreement with Hearst (the “Management Agreement”). Pursuant to the Management Agreement, we provide certain management services, such as sales, news, programming, and financial and accounting management services, to certain Hearst owned or operated television and radio stations. We believe that the terms of the Management Agreement are reasonable to both parties; however, there can be no assurance that more favorable terms would not be available from third parties.

·       Services Agreement.   We incurred expenses of approximately $5.0 million, $4.8 million and $3.8 million in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, relating to a services agreement with Hearst (the “Services Agreement”). Pursuant to the Services Agreement, Hearst provides the Company certain administrative services such as accounting, financial, legal, insurance, data processing, and employee benefits administration. We believe that the terms of the Services Agreement are reasonable to both parties; however, there can be no assurance that more favorable terms would not be available from third parties.

·       Interest Expense, Net—Capital Trust.   We incurred interest expense, net, relating to the Subordinated Debentures issued to our wholly-owned unconsolidated subsidiary, the Capital Trust, of $9.8 million, $9.8 million and $18.7 million in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The Capital Trust then paid comparable amounts to its Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities holders of which $1.9 million, $1.9 million and $3.7 million in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively, was paid to Hearst.

·       Dividend on Common Stock.   Our Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $0.07 per share on our Series A and Series B Common Stock, respectively, for a total amount of $26.0 million. Included in this amount was $19.0 million payable to Hearst. On December 7, 2006, our Board declared a cash dividend of $0.07 per share on our Series A and Series B Common Stock for a total of $6.5 million. Included in this amount was $4.8 million payable to Hearst. In the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company paid cash dividends of $26.0 million. Included in this amount was $18.0 million payable to Hearst. See Note 10.

78




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

·       Radio Facilities Lease.   Pursuant to a lease agreement, Hearst paid us approximately $0.8 million, $0.9 million and $0.7 million in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Under this agreement, Hearst leases from the Company premises for WBAL-AM and WIYY-FM, Hearst’s Baltimore, Maryland radio stations.

·       Lifetime Entertainment Services.   We have agreements with Lifetime Entertainment Services (“Lifetime”), an entity owned 50% by an affiliate of Hearst and 50% by The Walt Disney Company, whereby (i) we assist Lifetime in securing distribution and subscribers for the Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network and/or Lifetime Real Women programming services; and (ii) Lifetime acts as our agent with respect to the negotiation of our agreements with cable, satellite and certain other multi-channel video programming distributors. Amounts payable to us by Lifetime depend on the specific terms of these agreements. In certain instances, revenue is a fixed amount and, to a larger extent, revenue is recognized based on the number of subscribers over the contract period.  We have recorded revenue from the agreements of $17.7 million, $6.7 million and $1.8 million in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

·       Wide Orbit, Inc.   In November 2004, we entered into an agreement with Wide Orbit, Inc. (“Wide Orbit”) for licensing and servicing of Wide Orbit’s Traffic Sales and Billing Solutions software. Hearst owns approximately 8% of Wide Orbit, Inc. In the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, we paid Wide Orbit approximately $1.4 million, $1.7 million and $0.9 million, respectively, under the agreement.

·       Other Transactions with Hearst.   In the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we recorded net revenue of approximately $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, relating to advertising sales to Hearst on behalf of Good Housekeeping, which is owned by Hearst. In the year ended December 31, 2004, we did not receive advertising revenue from Hearst.

Internet Broadcasting.   As of December 31, 2006, we owned 39.2% of Internet Broadcasting. Our share of the (income) loss of Internet Broadcasting included in Equity in (income) loss of affiliates, net of tax was ($1.5) million, $0.2 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. Our share of income for IBS/HATV LLC included in Equity in (income) loss of affiliates, net of tax, was $1.9 million and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. We also have an agreement with Internet Broadcasting pursuant to which they provide hosting services for our corporate Internet site for a nominal amount. Since January 2001, Harry T. Hawks, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, since October 2002, Terry Mackin, our Executive Vice President, and since December 2005, Steven A. Hobbs, our Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Development Officer, have served on the Board of Directors of Internet Broadcasting, from which they do not receive compensation for their services.

Small Business Television.   The Company utilizes Small Business Television’s (“SBTV”) services to provide television stations with additional revenue through the marketing and sale of commercial time to smaller businesses that do not traditionally use television advertising due to costs. In the year ended December 31, 2006 these sales generated revenue of approximately $1.6 million, of which approximately $0.9 million was distributed to the Company. In the year ended December 31, 2005 these sales generated revenue of approximately $1.4 million, of which approximately $0.8 million was distributed to the Company. In the year ended December 31, 2004 these sales generated revenue of approximately $1.2 million, of which approximately $0.7 million was distributed to the Company. Mr. Dean Conomikes, the owner of SBTV, is the son of John G. Conomikes, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.

79




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

NBC Weather Plus.   In 2004, we invested in Weather Network Affiliates Company, LLC (“WNAC”), which owns the NBC Weather Plus Network (“Weather Plus”). We have launched Weather Plus in all of our NBC-affiliated markets. Terry Mackin, one of our executive officers, serves as the past Chairman of the Board of the NBC Television Affiliates Association, which is the managing member and the owner of certain ownership interests in WNAC. As past NBC Affiliate Chairman, Mr. Mackin serves as chairman of the NBC Affiliates “Futures” committee, which is responsible for developing strategic projects between NBC and the NBC Affiliates. Mr. Mackin served as the Chairman of the NBC Television Affiliates Association Board from May 2004 to May 2006. Additionally, since May 2006, Mr. Mackin has served as a member of the Board of Directors of NBC Weather Plus Network LLC. Mr. Mackin does not receive compensation for his Board service.

USDTV.   During the year ended December 31, 2006, we and Hearst each owned approximately 6.175% of USDTV. In addition, our station KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had an agreement to lease a portion of its digital spectrum to USDTV. In July 2006, USDTV filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and the Company wrote off its investment. In September 2006, USDTV sold substantially all its assets to a third party and assigned its spectrum lease with KOAT to the buyer.  From September 23, 2005 to June 20, 2006, Steven A. Hobbs, our Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Development Officer, served on the Board of Directors of USDTV, from which he did not receive compensation for his services.

Other Related Parties.   In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into transactions with other related parties, none of which were significant to our financial results in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004.

14.   Other Commitments and Contingencies

We have obligations to various program syndicators and distributors in accordance with current contracts for the rights to broadcast programs. Future payments and barter obligations as of December 31, 2006, scheduled under contracts for programs which are currently available are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Program Rights

 

Barter Rights

 

2007

 

 

$

50,693

 

 

 

$

14,780

 

 

2008

 

 

8,094

 

 

 

147

 

 

2009

 

 

5,602

 

 

 

78

 

 

2010

 

 

4,793

 

 

 

77

 

 

2011

 

 

2,632

 

 

 

14

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

974

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

$

72,788

 

 

 

$

15,096

 

 

 

80




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The Company has various agreements relating to non-cancelable operating leases with an initial term of one year or more (some of which contain renewal options), future barter and program rights not available for broadcast at December 31, 2006, and employment contracts for key employees. Future minimum cash payments (and barter obligations) under the terms of these agreements as of December 31, 2006 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employment and

 

 

 

Operating Leases

 

Program Rights

 

Barter Rights

 

Talent Contracts

 

2007

 

 

$

6,157

 

 

 

$

34,345

 

 

 

$

10,846

 

 

 

$

75,909

 

 

2008

 

 

4,875

 

 

 

62,574

 

 

 

17,960

 

 

 

43,642

 

 

2009

 

 

4,019

 

 

 

54,909

 

 

 

17,690

 

 

 

15,870

 

 

2010

 

 

2,805

 

 

 

49,881

 

 

 

15,768

 

 

 

3,999

 

 

2011

 

 

2,078

 

 

 

30,132

 

 

 

12,169

 

 

 

1,416

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

7,929

 

 

 

15,073

 

 

 

8,975

 

 

 

291

 

 

Total

 

 

$

27,863

 

 

 

$

246,914

 

 

 

$

83,408

 

 

 

$

141,127

 

 

 

Rent expense, net, for operating leases was approximately $8.4 million, $10.4 million and $9.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

From time to time, the Company becomes involved in various claims and lawsuits that are incidental to its business. In the opinion of the Company, there are no legal proceedings pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

The Company has guaranteed the payments by its wholly-owned unconsolidated subsidiary trust (the Capital Trust) on the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities in the amount of $134.0 million (see Note 7). The guarantee is irrevocable and unconditional, and guarantees the payment in full of all (i) distributions on the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities to the extent of available funds of the Capital Trust; (ii) amounts payable upon redemption of the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities to the extent of available funds of the Capital Trust; and (iii) amounts payable upon a dissolution of the Capital Trust. The guarantee is unsecured and ranks (i) subordinate to all other liabilities of the Company, except liabilities that are expressly made pari passu; (ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred stock issued by the Company, and pari passu with any guarantee of the Company in respect of any preferred stock of the Company or any preferred security of any of the Company’s controlled affiliates; and (iii) senior to the Company’s Common Stock. The Company made the guarantee in 2001 to enable the Capital Trust to issue the Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities in the amount of $200.0 million to the holders, of which $70 million par amount was redeemed in 2004.

15.   Retirement Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits

Overview

The Company maintains seven defined benefit pension plans, 12 employee savings plans, and other post-retirement benefit plans for active, retired and former employees. The seven defined benefit pension plans are hereafter collectively referred to as the “Pension Plans.” In addition, the Company makes contributions to three multi-employer union pension plan that provide retirement benefits to certain union employees.

81




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Pension Plans and Other Post-Retirement Benefits

Benefits under the Pension Plans are generally based on years of credited service, age at retirement and average of the highest five consecutive years’ compensation. The cost of the Pension Plans is computed on the basis of the Project Unit Credit Actuarial Cost Method. Past service cost is amortized over the expected future service periods of the employees.

Pension Plan Assets

The Pension Plans’ weighted average asset allocations as of the measurement dates September 30, 2006 and 2005, by asset category, are as follows:

 

 

Percentage of Plan

 

 

 

Assets as of September 30,

 

Asset Category

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Equity

 

 

73.5

%

 

 

69.3

%

 

Fixed income

 

 

22.8

%

 

 

25.2

%

 

Real estate

 

 

3.7

%

 

 

2.3

%

 

Other

 

 

0.0

%

 

 

3.2

%

 

Total

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

100.0

%

 

 

The assets of the Pension Plans are invested with the objective of being able to meet current and future benefit payment needs while controlling pension expense volatility. Plan assets are invested with a number of investment managers and are diversified among equities, fixed income, real estate and other investments, as shown in the table above. Approximately 80% of the assets of the Pension Plans are invested in a master trust, which has a target allocation of approximately 70% equities and 30% fixed income. When adding the remaining 20% of the assets of the Pension Plans which are outside of the master trust, the aggregate allocation is comparable to that of the master trust, but with a slightly higher allocation percentage for fixed income investments. Each of the Pension Plans employs active investment management programs, and each has an Investment Committee which reviews the respective plan’s asset allocation on a periodic basis and determines when and how to re-balance the portfolio when appropriate. None of the Pension Plans has any dedicated target allocation to the Company’s Common Stock.

Net Periodic Pension and Post-Retirement Cost

The following schedule presents net periodic pension cost for the Company’s Pension Plans in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004:

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Service cost

 

$

9,985

 

$

9,031

 

$

7,376

 

Interest cost

 

9,419

 

8,660

 

7,663

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(11,116

)

(9,789

)

(8,940

)

Amortization of initial net obligation

 

1

 

5

 

(95

)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

432

 

432

 

493

 

Amortization of net loss

 

3,868

 

2,955

 

1,435

 

Net periodic pension cost

 

$

12,589

 

$

11,294

 

$

7,932

 

 

82




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The following schedule presents net periodic pension cost for the Company’s post-retirement benefit plan in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004:

 

 

Post-Retirement Benefits

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Service cost

 

$ 132

 

$ 94

 

$ 55

 

Interest cost

 

462

 

374

 

307

 

Amortization of initial net obligation

 

18

 

18

 

18

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

18

 

18

 

17

 

Amortization of net loss

 

243

 

120

 

15

 

Net periodic pension cost

 

$ 873

 

$ 624

 

$ 412

 

 

Summary Disclosure Schedule

The following schedule (in thousands) presents the change in benefit obligation, change in plan assets, a reconciliation of the funded status, amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, and additional year-end information for the Company’s Pension Plans and post-retirement benefit plan. The measurement dates for the determination of the benefit obligation, plan assets, and assumptions were September 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Post-Retirement
Benefits

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change in benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

 

$ 166,048

 

$ 146,398

 

$ 6,577

 

$ 5,137

 

Service cost

 

9,985

 

9,031

 

132

 

94

 

Interest cost

 

9,419

 

8,660

 

461

 

373

 

Participant contributions

 

9

 

8

 

 

8

 

Benefits and administrative expenses paid

 

(4,949

)

(4,334

)

(575

)

(502

)

Actuarial loss

 

2,079

 

6,284

 

1,472

 

1,467

 

Benefit obligation at end of year

 

$ 182,591

 

$ 166,047

 

$ 8,067

 

$ 6,577

 

Change in plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

$ 148,460

 

$ 117,633

 

 

 

Actual gain on plan assets, net

 

12,613

 

15,589

 

 

 

Employer contributions

 

1,554

 

19,562

 

575

 

502

 

Participant contributions

 

9

 

8

 

 

 

Benefits and administrative expenses paid

 

(4,949

)

(4,334

)

(575

)

(502

)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

$ 157,687

 

$ 148,458

 

 

 

Reconciliation of funded status:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded status

 

$ (24,904

)

$ (17,589

)

$ (8,067

)

$ (6,577

)

Contributions paid during the fourth quarter

 

11

 

787

 

138

 

110

 

Unrecognized actuarial loss

 

0

 

53,014

 

 

2,262

 

Unrecognized prior service cost

 

0

 

2,033

 

 

106

 

Unrecognized transition asset

 

0

 

1

 

 

111

 

Net amount recognized at end of year

 

$ (24,893

)

$ 38,246

 

$ (7,929

)

$ (3,988

)

83




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (as of December 31) for years prior to the adoption of SFAS 158:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets

 

N/A

 

$ 42,204

 

N/A

 

 

Other liabilities

 

N/A

 

(14,438

)

N/A

 

(3,988

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

N/A

 

10,480

 

N/A

 

 

 

Net amount recognized at end of year

 

N/A

 

$ 38,246

 

N/A

 

$ (3,988

)

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (as of December 31) for years after the adoption of SFAS 158:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets

 

$      893

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

Other liabilities

 

(25,786

)

N/A

 

(7,929

)

N/A

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

Net amount recognized at end of year

 

$ 24,893

 

N/A

 

$ (7,929

)

N/A

 

Amounts not yet recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost and recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial net obligation

 

$        —

 

$        —

 

$    (93

)

N/A

 

Prior service cost

 

(1,601

)

N/A

 

(88

)

N/A

 

Net loss

 

(49,726

)

N/A

 

(3,491

)

N/A

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

$ (51,327

)

N/A

 

$ (3,672

)

N/A

 

Cumulative employer contributions in excess of net periodic benefit cost

 

$ 26,434

 

N/A

 

$ (4,257

)

N/A

 

Net amount recognized at end of year

 

$ (24,893

)

N/A

 

$ (7,929

)

N/A

 

Components of net periodic benefit cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$  9,985

 

$  9,030

 

$   133

 

$     94

 

Interest cost

 

9,419

 

8,661

 

461

 

373

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(11,116

)

(9,789

)

 

 

Amortization of initial net asset

 

1

 

5

 

18

 

18

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

432

 

432

 

18

 

18

 

Amortization of net loss

 

3,868

 

2,955

 

243

 

121

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$ 12,589

 

$ 11,294

 

$   873

 

$   624

 

Changes recognized in other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive (income) loss

 

$      (39

)

$      243

 

$      —

 

$      —

 

Increase in Accumulated other comprehensive income (before tax) to reflect the adoption of SFAS 158

 

40,886

 

N/A

 

3,672

 

N/A

 

Total recognized in other comprehensive loss

 

$ 40,847

 

$      243

 

$ 3,672

 

$      —

 

Estimated amounts that will be amortized from Accumulated other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial net asset

 

$        —

 

 

 

$     18

 

 

 

Prior service cost

 

$      431

 

 

 

$     18

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$  3,693

 

 

 

$   269

 

 

 

Additional year-end information for all defined benefit plans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated benefit obligation

 

$ 160,236

 

$ 147,662

 

 

 

 

 

Additional year-end information for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Projected benefit obligation

 

$ 68,070

 

$ 62,349

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated benefit obligation

 

$ 58,491

 

$ 54,758

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets

 

$ 42,274

 

$ 40,958

 

 

 

 

 

 

84




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Contributions

During the year 2007, the Company expects to contribute approximately $6 million to the Pension Plans and approximately $0.5 million to the post-retirement benefit plan.

Expected Benefit Payments

Benefit payments for the pension plans and post retirement benefit plan for the next 10 years are expected to be as follows (in thousands):

Pension Benefits

 

 

Post-Retirement Benefits

 

Year ending December 31,

 

 

Year ending December 31,

 

2007

 

 

$ 5,130

 

 

2007

 

$  544

 

2008

 

 

$ 5,547

 

 

2008

 

$  503

 

2009

 

 

$ 6,449

 

 

2009

 

$  521

 

2010

 

 

$ 7,484

 

 

2010

 

$  540

 

2011

 

 

$ 8,244

 

 

2011

 

$  547

 

2012-2016

 

 

$ 58,039

 

 

2012-2016

 

$ 2,836

 

 

Assumptions

The weighted-average assumptions used for computing the projected benefit obligation for the Company’s Pension Plans as of the measurement dates of September 30, 2006 and 2005 were as follows:

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

 

 

  2006  

 

  2005  

 

Discount rate

 

 

6.00

%

 

 

5.75

%

 

Rate of compensation increase

 

 

4.00

%

 

 

4.00

%

 

 

The weighted-average assumptions used for computing the net periodic pension cost for the Company’s Pension Plans in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Discount rate

 

5.75

%

6.00

%

6.25

%

Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets

 

7.75

%

7.75

%

7.75

%

Rate of compensation increase

 

4.00

%

4.00

%

4.00

%

 

To develop the expected long-term rate of return on assets assumptions, the Company considered the current level of expected returns on risk free investments (primarily government bonds), the historical level of the risk premium associated with the other asset classes in which the portfolio is invested, and the expectations for future returns of each asset class. The expected return for each asset class was then weighted based on the aggregate target asset allocation to develop the expected long-term rate of return on assets assumption for the portfolio. The expected rate of return assumption is then adjusted to reflect investment and trading expenses. Since the Company’s investment policy is to actively manage certain asset classes where the potential exists to outperform the broader market, the expected returns for those asset classes were adjusted to reflect the expected additional returns. The Company reviews the expected long-term rate of return on an annual basis and revises it as appropriate.

85




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The weighted-average assumptions used for computing the projected benefit obligation for the Company’s post-retirement benefit plan as of the measurement dates of September 30, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:

 

 

Post-Retirement Benefits

 

 

 

     2006      

 

      2005      

 

Discount rate

 

 

6.00

%

 

 

5.75

%

 

 

The weighted-average assumptions used for computing the net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s post-retirement benefit plan in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 are as follows:

 

 

Post-Retirement Benefits

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004 

 

Discount rate

 

5.75

%

6.00

%

 

6.25

%

 

 

For measurement purposes, the Company assumed a per capita health care benefit cost trend rate of 9.4% and 10.2% for persons retiring before and after age 65, respectively. These rates are assumed to decrease gradually to 5% in 2013 and remain level thereafter. A Part D Subsidy trend rate of 12% was assumed for the Company. These rates are assumed to decrease gradually to 5% in 2013 and remain level thereafter. Previously, a per capita health care benefit cost trend rate of 10.3% and 11% for persons retiring before and after age 65, respectively was assumed for 2005. These rates are assumed to decrease gradually to 5% by 2013 and remain at that level thereafter.

The assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plan. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:

 

 

One-Percentage-
Point Increase

 

One-Percentage-
Point Decrease

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Effect on total of service cost and interest cost components

 

 

$ 72

 

 

 

$ (60

)

 

Effect on postretirement benefit obligation

 

 

$ 895

 

 

 

$ (757

)

 

 

Savings Plans

The Company’s qualified employees may contribute from 2% to 16% of their compensation up to certain dollar limits to self-directed 401(k) savings plans. In certain of the Company’s (but not all) 401(k) savings plans, the Company matches in cash, one-half of the employee contribution up to 6% (i.e. the Company matches up to 3%) of the employee’s compensation. The assets in the 401(k) savings plans are invested in a variety of diversified mutual funds. The Company contributions to the 401(k) savings plans in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 were approximately $2.8 million, $2.7 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

Multi-Employer Pension Plan

The Company participates in three multi-employer pension plans providing retirement benefits to certain union employees. The Company’s contributions to the multiemployer union pension plans were

86




HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

$0.9 million, $0.8 million and $0.8 million in the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004. No information is available for each of the other contributing employers for this plan. 

16.          Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts and the estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate fair value are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

December 31, 2006

 

December 31, 2005

 

 

 

Carrying Value

 

Fair Value

 

Carrying Value

 

Fair Value

 

Senior Notes

 

 

$ 407,110

 

 

$ 427,487

 

 

$ 417,110

 

 

$ 434,830

 

Private Placement Debt

 

 

$ 360,000

 

 

$ 372,147

 

 

$ 450,000

 

 

$ 484,676

 

Note Payable to Capital Trust

 

 

$ 134,021

 

 

$ 143,302

 

 

$ 134,021

 

 

$ 144,546

 

 

The fair values of the Senior Notes were determined based on the quoted market prices and the fair values of the Private Placement Debt and the Note Payable to Capital Trust were determined using quoted market prices on comparable debt instruments.

For instruments including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other debt the carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. In accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 107, Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments, the Company believes it is not practicable to estimate the current fair value of the related party receivables and related party payables because of the related party nature of the transactions.

17.          Quarterly Information (unaudited)

 

 

1st Quarter

 

2nd Quarter

 

3rd Quarter

 

4th Quarter

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005(b)

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005(c)

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Total revenue

 

$ 174,017

 

$ 162,279

 

$ 193,964

 

$ 188,453

 

$ 182,993

 

$ 164,173

 

$ 234,428

 

$ 191,978

 

Operating income

 

$ 39,237

 

$ 39,268

 

$ 56,653

 

$ 63,700

 

$ 43,166

 

$ 36,538

 

$ 89,719

 

$ 37,935

 

Net income

 

$ 13,017

 

$ 13,075

 

$ 25,017

 

$ 65,614

 

$ 16,543

 

$ 11,678

 

$ 44,146

 

$   9,850

 

Income applicable to common stockholders

 

$ 13,017

 

$ 13,073

 

$ 25,017

 

$ 65,614

 

$ 16,543

 

$ 11,678

 

$ 44,146

 

$   9,850

 

Income per common share basic:(a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$      0.14

 

$      0.14

 

$      0.27

 

$      0.71

 

$      0.18

 

$      0.13

 

$      0.48

 

$      0.11

 

Number of common shares used in the calculation

 

92,655

 

92,849

 

92,733

 

92,810

 

92,721

 

92,867

 

92,871

 

92,777

 

Income per common share diluted:(a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$      0.14

 

$      0.14

 

$      0.27

 

$      0.68

 

$      0.18

 

$      0.13

 

$      0.46

 

$      0.11

 

Number of common shares used in the calculation

 

93,191

 

93,319

 

93,197

 

98,334

 

93,154

 

93,254

 

98,971

 

93,076

 

Dividends declared per share

 

$      0.07

 

$      0.07

 

$      0.07

 

$      0.07

 

$      0.07

 

$      0.07

 

$      0.07

 

$      0.07

 


(a)                 Per common share amounts for the quarters and the full years have each been calculated separately. Accordingly, quarterly amounts may not add to the annual amounts because of differences in the average common shares outstanding during each period and, with regard to diluted per common share amounts only, because of the inclusion of the effect of potentially dilutive securities only in the periods in which such effect would have been dilutive.

(b)                During the second quarter of 2005, $31.9 million in tax benefits were recorded as a result of the settlement of certain tax return examinations and $5.5 million in tax benefits were recorded as a result of a change in Ohio tax law.

(c)                 In December 2005, we recorded an impairment charge of $29.2 million to write down to fair value WDSU’s FCC license and goodwill.

87




ITEM 9.                CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

ITEM 9A.        CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a)   Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.   Our management performed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of December 31, 2006. Based on that evaluation, our management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2006.

(b)   Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.   Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as that term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)). To evaluate the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, the Company uses the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO Framework”). Using the COSO Framework our management, including the CEO and CFO, evaluated the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2006. Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audits our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, has issued an attestation report on our management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting, which is included below.

(c)   Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, that Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to

88




provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, management’s assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006 of the Company and our report dated February 26, 2007 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule and included an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

New York, New York
February 26, 2007

(d)   Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.   Our management, including the CEO and CFO, performed an evaluation of any changes that occurred in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006. That evaluation did not identify any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.       OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

89




PART III

ITEM 10.         DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Information called for by Item 10 will be set forth in our definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 3, 2007, which will be filed within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (the “2007 Proxy Statement”), and is incorporated by reference into this report.

ITEM 11.         EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information called for by Item 11 will be set forth in the 2007 Proxy Statement, and is incorporated by reference into this report.

ITEM 12.         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Information called for by Item 12 will be set forth in our 2007 Proxy Statement, and is incorporated by reference into this report.

ITEM 13.         CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Information called for by Item 13 will be set forth in our 2007 Proxy Statement, and is incorporated by reference into this report.

ITEM 14.         PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

Information called for by Item 14 will be set forth in the 2007 Proxy Statement, and is incorporated by reference into this report.

PART IV

ITEM 15.         EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)         Financial Statements, Schedules and Exhibits

(1)         The financial statements listed in the Index for Item 8 hereof are filed as part of this report.

(2)         The financial statement schedules required by Regulation S-X are included as part of this report or are included in the information provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which are filed as part of this report.

90




SCHEDULE II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.

 

 

 

 

Additions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at

 

Charged to

 

 

 

Balance at

 

 

 

Beginning of

 

Costs and

 

 

 

End of

 

Description

 

 

 

Year

 

Expenses

 

Deductions(1)

 

Year

 

Year Ended December 31, 2004:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for uncollectible accounts

 

$

4,109,000

 

 

$

125,000

 

 

 

$

(950,000

)

 

$

3,284,000

 

Year Ended December 31, 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for uncollectible accounts

 

$

3,284,000

 

 

$

888,000

 

 

 

$

(1,229,000

)

 

$

2,943,000

 

Year Ended December 31, 2006:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allowance for uncollectible accounts

 

$

2,943,000

 

 

$

916,000

 

 

 

$

(1,479,000

)

 

$

2,380,000

 


(1)          Net write-off of accounts receivable.

(3)   The following exhibits are filed as a part of this report:

Exhibit

 

 

 

No.

 

 

 

Description

 

10.5

 

Amendment No. 9 to Service Agreement, dated as January 1, 2007, between the Company and The Hearst Corporation.

 

10.6

 

Fourth Extension of the Amended and Renewed Option Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2007, between the Company and The Hearst Corporation.

 

10.7

 

Fourth Extension of the Amended Studio Lease Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2007, between the Company and The Hearst Corporation.

 

10.10

 

Incremental Credit Agreement dated as of November 21, 2006, among the Company, the Incremental Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent.

 

10.15

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2005, between the Company and Harry T. Hawks.

 

10.18

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2007, between the Company and Philip M. Stolz.

 

21.1

 

List of Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

24.1

 

Powers of Attorney (contained on signature page).

 

31.1

 

Certification by David J. Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

 

31.2

 

Certification by Harry T. Hawks, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

 

32.1

 

Certification by David J. Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Harry T. Hawks, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

91




(b)    Exhibits

The following documents are filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to this report.

Exhibit

 

 

No.

 

 

 

Description

2.1

 

Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 26, 1997, among The Hearst Corporation, HAT Merger Sub, Inc., HAT Contribution Sub, Inc. and Argyle (incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the proxy statement/prospectus included in our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-32487)).

2.2

 

Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 25, 1998, by and among Pulitzer Publishing Company, Pulitzer Inc. and the Company (incorporated by reference to Annex I to our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-72207)).

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Appendix C the proxy statement/prospectus included in our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-32487)).

3.2

 

Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998).

3.3

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-72207)).

4.1

 

Indenture, dated as of November 13, 1997, between the Company and Bank of Montreal Trust Company, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 12, 1997 (File No. 000-27000)).

4.2

 

First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 13, 1997, between the Company and Bank of Montreal Trust Company, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 12, 1997 (File No. 000-27000)).

4.3

 

Global Note representing $125,000,000 of 7% Senior Notes Due November 15, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 12, 1997 (File No. 000-27000)).

4.4

 

Global Note representing $175,000,000 of 7½% Debentures Due November 15, 2027 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 12, 1997 (File No. 000-27000)).

4.5

 

Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 13, 1998, between the Company and Bank of Montreal Trust Company, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 13, 1998 (File No. 000-27000)).

4.6

 

Specimen of the stock certificate for the Company’s Series A Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998).

4.7

 

Form of Registration Rights Agreement among the Company and the Holders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit B to Exhibit 2.1 of our Schedule 13D/A, filed on September 5, 1997 (File No. 005-45627)).

4.8

 

Form of Note Purchase Agreement, dated December 1, 1998, by and among the Company, as issuer of the notes, and the note purchasers named therein (including form of note attached as an exhibit thereto) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 of our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-72207)).

92




 

4.9

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Hearst-Argyle Capital Trust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 20, 2001).

4.10

 

Terms of 7.5% Series B Convertible Preferred Securities and 7.5% Series B Convertible Common Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 20, 2001).

4.11

 

Indenture, dated as of December 20, 2001, by Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. to Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 20, 2001).

4.12

 

Registration Rights Agreement, by and among Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. and the purchasers of the Trust Preferred Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 of our Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 20, 2001).

10.1

 

Letter Agreement between the Company and NBC Television Network dated June 30, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Quarterly Report for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2000).

10.2

 

Affiliation Agreement, dated as of December 4, 2005, between the ABC Television Network and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005).

10.3

 

Affiliation Agreement, dated as of November 28, 2005, between Hearst-Argyle Properties, Inc. and CBS Broadcasting, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 29, 2005).

10.4

 

Affiliation Agreement, dated as of November 28, 2005, between the Company and CBS Broadcasting, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 29, 2005).

10.5

 

Amendment No. 9 to Service Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2007, between the Company and The Hearst Corporation.

10.6

 

Fourth Extension of the Amended and Renewed Option Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2007, between the Company and The Hearst Corporation.

10.7

 

Fourth Extension of the Amended Studio Lease Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2007, between the Company and The Hearst Corporation.

10.8

 

Amended and Restated Retransmission Rights Agency Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2006, between Lifetime Entertainment Services and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005).

10.9

 

Five-Year Credit Agreement dated April 15, 2005, among the Company, the Lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent, Bank of America, N.A., and Wachovia Bank, National Association as Co-Syndication Agents, and Harris Nesbitt and BNP Paribas as Co-Documentation Agents (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 21, 2005).

10.10

 

Incremental Credit Agreement dated as of November 21, 2006, among the Company, the Incremental Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent.

10.11

 

Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002).

93




 

10.12

 

2003 Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002).

10.13

 

2004 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 28, 2004).

10.14

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2005, between the Company and David J. Barrett (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 22, 2005).

10.15

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2005, between the Company and Harry T. Hawks.

10.16

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2006, between the Company and Steven A. Hobbs (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 10, 2006).

10.17

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2006, between the Company and Terry Mackin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 10, 2006).

10.18

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2007, between the Company and Philip M. Stolz.

21.1

 

List of Subsidiaries of the Company.

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

24.1

 

Powers of Attorney (contained on signature page).

31.1

 

Certification by David J. Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2

 

Certification by Harry T. Hawks, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

 

Certification by David J. Barrett, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Harry T. Hawks, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

 

94




SIGNATURES

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

HEARST-ARGYLE TELEVISION, INC.

 

By:

/s/ JONATHAN C. MINTZER

 

 

Name: Jonathan C. Mintzer

 

 

Title:  Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

Dated: February 23, 2007

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Company in the capacities indicated.

Signatures

 

 

 

Title

 

 

 

Date

 

/s/ DAVID J. BARRETT

 

President, Chief Executive

 

February 23, 2007

David J. Barrett

 

Officer and Director

 

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

/s/ HARRY T. HAWKS

 

Executive Vice President and

 

February 23, 2007

Harry T. Hawks

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

/s/ LYDIA G. BROWN

 

Corporate Controller

 

February 23, 2007

Lydia G. Brown

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

/s/ VICTOR F. GANZI

 

Chairman of the Board

 

February 23, 2007

Victor F. Ganzi

 

 

 

 

/s/ FRANK A. BENNACK, JR.

 

Director

 

February 23, 2007

Frank A. Bennack, Jr.

 

 

 

 

/s/ JOHN G. CONOMIKES

 

Director

 

February 23, 2007

John G. Conomikes

 

 

 

 

/s/ KEN J. ELKINS

 

Director

 

February 23, 2007

Ken J. Elkins

 

 

 

 

/s/ GEORGE R. HEARST, JR.

 

Director

 

February 23, 2007

George R. Hearst, Jr.

 

 

 

 

/s/ WILLIAM R. HEARST, III

 

Director

 

February 23, 2007

William R. Hearst, III

 

 

 

 

/s/ BOB MARBUT

 

Director

 

February 23, 2007

Bob Marbut

 

 

 

 

95




 

/s/ GILBERT C. MAURER

 

Director

 

February 23, 2007

Gilbert C. Maurer

 

 

 

 

/s/ MICHAEL E. PULITZER, SR.

 

Director

 

February 23, 2007

Michael E. Pulitzer, Sr.

 

 

 

 

/s/ DAVID PULVER

 

Director

 

February 23, 2007

David Pulver

 

 

 

 

/s/ CAROLINE L. WILLIAMS

 

Director

 

February 23, 2007

Caroline L. Williams

 

 

 

 

 

96