nxst201110k.htm
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011
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OR
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¨
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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for the transition period from __________ to __________.
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Commission File Number: 000-50478
________________________
NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
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23-3083125
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(State of Organization or Incorporation)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
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5215 N. O’Connor Blvd., Suite 1400, Irving, Texas
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75039
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
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(Zip Code)
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(972) 373-8800
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(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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________________________
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
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NASDAQ Global Market
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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 ¨ 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 ¨ 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 it was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by checkmark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the 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, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨
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Accelerated filer x
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Non-accelerated filer ¨
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Smaller reporting company ¨
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
As of June 30, 2011, the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $89,717,410.
As of March 12, 2012, the Registrant had 15,387,131 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and 13,411,588 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be filed with the Commission within 120 days after the close of the Registrant’s fiscal year and incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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PART I
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ITEM 1.
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Business
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2
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ITEM 1A.
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Risk Factors
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14
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ITEM 1B.
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Unresolved Staff Comments
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22
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ITEM 2.
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Properties
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23
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ITEM 3.
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Legal Proceedings
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29
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ITEM 4.
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Mine Safety Disclosures
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29
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PART II
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ITEM 5.
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Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
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29
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ITEM 6.
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Selected Financial Data
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31
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ITEM 7.
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
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32
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ITEM 7A.
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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46
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ITEM 8.
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Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
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46
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ITEM 9.
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Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
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46
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ITEM 9A.
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Controls and Procedures
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47
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ITEM 9B.
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Other Information
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47
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PART III
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ITEM 10.
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Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
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48
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ITEM 11.
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Executive Compensation
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48
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ITEM 12.
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management, and Related Stockholder Matters
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48
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ITEM 13.
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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
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48
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ITEM 14.
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Principal Accountant Fees and Services
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48
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PART IV
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ITEM 15.
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Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
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48
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Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
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F-1
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Index to Exhibits
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E-1
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General
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. has time brokerage agreements, shared services agreements and joint sales agreements (which we generally refer to as local service agreements) relating to the television stations owned by Mission Broadcasting, Inc., but does not own any of the equity interests in Mission Broadcasting, Inc. For a description of the relationship between Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. and Mission Broadcasting, Inc., see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
The information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K includes information related to Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. It also includes information related to Mission Broadcasting, Inc. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and as discussed in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, the financial results of Mission Broadcasting, Inc. are consolidated into the Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein.
As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and unless the context indicates otherwise, “Nexstar” refers to Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries; “Nexstar Broadcasting” refers to Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., our wholly-owned indirect subsidiary; “Nexstar Finance Holdings” refers to Nexstar Finance Holdings, Inc., our wholly-owned direct subsidiary; “Mission” refers to Mission Broadcasting, Inc.; the “Company” refers to Nexstar and Mission collectively; “ABRY” refers to Nexstar’s principal stockholder, ABRY Partners, LLC and its affiliated funds; and all references to “we,” “our,” “ours,” and “us” refer to Nexstar.
In the context of describing ownership of television stations in a particular market, the term “duopoly” refers to owning or deriving the majority of the economic benefit, through local service agreements, from two or more stations in a particular market. For more information on how we derive economic benefit from a duopoly, see Item 1. “Business.”
There are 210 generally recognized television markets, known as Designated Market Areas, or DMAs, in the United States. DMAs are ranked in size according to various factors based upon actual or potential audience. DMA rankings contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are from Investing in Television Market Report 2011 4th Edition, as published by BIA Financial Network, Inc.
Reference is made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to the following trademarks/tradenames which are owned by the third parties referenced in parentheses: Seinfeld (Columbia Tristar Television Distribution, a unit of Sony Pictures) and Entertainment Tonight (Paramount Distribution, a division of Viacom Inc.).
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (“Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including: any projections or expectations of earnings, revenue, financial performance, liquidity and capital resources or other financial items; any assumptions or projections about the television broadcasting industry, any statements of our plans, strategies and objectives for our future operations, performance, liquidity and capital resources or other financial items; any statements concerning proposed new products, services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may include the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and other similar words.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ from a projection or assumption in any of our forward-looking statements. Our future financial position and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and inherent risks and uncertainties discussed under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” located elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The forward-looking statements made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are made only as of the date hereof, and we do not have or undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances unless otherwise required by law.
PART I
Overview
We are a television broadcasting and digital media company focused exclusively on the acquisition, development and operation of television stations and interactive community websites in medium-sized markets in the United States, primarily markets that rank from 50 to 175 out of the 210 generally recognized television markets, as reported by A.C. Nielsen Company.
As of December 31, 2011, we owned, operated, programmed or provided sales and other services to 55 television stations and 11 digital multi-cast channels, including those owned by Mission, in 32 markets in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, New York, Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan. In 20 of the 32 markets that we serve, we own, operate, program or provide sales and other services to more than one station. We refer to these markets as duopoly markets. The stations we serve are affiliates of NBC (12 stations), CBS (11 stations), ABC (11 stations), FOX (11 stations), MyNetworkTV (5 stations and one digital multi-cast channel), The CW (2 stations) and Bounce TV (10 digital multi-cast channels) and three of our stations are independent. The stations reach approximately 10.6 million viewers or 9.3% of all U.S. television households.
We believe that medium-sized markets offer significant advantages over large-sized markets, most of which result from a lower level of competition. First, because there are fewer well-capitalized acquirers with a medium-market focus, we have been successful in purchasing stations on more favorable terms than acquirers of large market stations. Second, in the majority of our markets only five or fewer local commercial television stations exist. As a result, we achieve lower programming costs than stations in larger markets because the supply of quality programming exceeds the demand.
The stations we own and operate or provide services to provide free over-the-air programming to our markets’ television viewing audiences. This programming includes (a) programs produced by networks with which the stations are affiliated; (b) programs that the stations produce; and (c) first-run and rerun syndicated programs that the stations acquire. Our primary source of revenue is the sale of commercial air time to local and national advertisers.
We seek to grow our revenue and broadcast cash flow by increasing the audience and revenue shares of the stations we own, operate, program or provide sales and other services to, as well as through our growing portfolio of Internet-based products and services. We strive to increase the audience share of the stations by creating a strong local broadcasting presence based on highly rated local news, local sports coverage and active community sponsorship. We seek to improve revenue share by employing and supporting a high-quality local sales force that leverages the stations’ strong local brand and community presence with local advertisers. We further improve broadcast cash flow by maintaining strict control over operating and programming costs. The benefits achieved through these initiatives are magnified in our duopoly markets by broadcasting the programming of multiple networks, capitalizing on multiple sales forces and achieving an increased level of operational efficiency. As a result of our operational enhancements, we expect revenue from the stations we have acquired or begun providing services to in the last four years to grow faster than that of our more mature stations.
Our principal offices are at 5215 North O’Connor Blvd., Suite 1400, Irving, TX 75039. Our telephone number is (972) 373-8800 and our website is http://www.nexstar.tv.
Operating Strategy
We seek to generate revenue and broadcast cash flow growth through the following strategies:
Develop Leading Local Franchises. Each of the stations that we own, operate, program, or provide sales and other services to creates a highly recognizable local brand, primarily through the quality of local news programming and community presence. Based on internally generated analysis, we believe that in over 70% of our markets in which we produce local newscasts, we rank among the top two stations in local news viewership. Strong local news typically generates higher ratings among attractive demographic profiles and enhances audience loyalty, which may result in higher ratings for programs both preceding and following the news. High ratings and strong community identity make the stations that we own, operate, program, or provide sales and other services to more attractive to local advertisers. For the year ended December 31, 2011 we earned approximately 30% of our advertising revenue from spots aired during local news programming. Currently, our stations and the stations we provide services to provide between 15 to 25 hours per week of local news programming. Extensive local sports coverage and active sponsorship of community events further differentiate us from our competitors and strengthen our community relationships and our local advertising appeal.
Emphasize Local Sales. We employ a high-quality local sales force in each of our markets to increase revenue from local advertisers by capitalizing on our investment in local programming. We believe that local advertising is attractive because our sales force is more effective with local advertisers, giving us a greater ability to influence this revenue source. Additionally, local advertising has historically been a more stable source of revenue than national advertising for television broadcasters. For the year ended December 31, 2011, revenue generated from local advertising represented 73.4% of our consolidated spot revenue (total of local and national advertising revenue, excluding political advertising revenue). In most of our markets, we have increased the size and quality of our local sales force. We also invest in our sales efforts by implementing comprehensive training programs and employing a sophisticated inventory tracking system to help maximize advertising rates and the amount of inventory sold in each time period.
Invest in eMedia. We are focused on new technologies and growing our portfolio of Internet products and services. Our websites provide access to our local news and information, as well as community centric business and services. We delivered a record audience across all of our web sites in 2011, with 35 million unique visitors, who utilized over 231 million page views. Also in 2011, usage of our mobile platform grew exponentially, accounting for over 40% of our page views by year end, and we launched redesigned web sites, ready for the emerging touch oriented platforms. We are committed to serving our local markets by providing local content to both online and mobile users wherever and whenever they want.
Operate Duopoly Markets. Owning or providing services to more than one station in a given market enables us to broaden our audience share, enhance our revenue share and achieve significant operating efficiencies. Duopoly markets broaden audience share by providing programming from multiple networks with different targeted demographics. These markets increase revenue share by capitalizing on multiple sales forces. Additionally, we achieve significant operating efficiencies by consolidating physical facilities, eliminating redundant management and leveraging capital expenditures between stations. We derived approximately 75% of our net broadcast revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011 from our duopoly markets.
Maintain Strict Cost Controls. We emphasize strict controls on operating and programming costs in order to increase broadcast cash flow. We continually seek to identify and implement cost savings at each of our stations and the stations we provide services to and our overall size benefits each station with respect to negotiating favorable terms with programming suppliers and other vendors. By leveraging our size and corporate management expertise, we are able to achieve economies of scale by providing programming, financial, sales and marketing support to our stations and the stations we provide services to. Our and Mission’s cash broadcast payments were 3.7%, 3.5% and 4.0% of net broadcast revenue for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Capitalize on Diverse Network Affiliations. We currently own, operate, program, or provide sales and other services to a balanced portfolio of television stations with diverse network affiliations, including NBC, CBS, FOX and ABC affiliated stations which represented approximately 29.8%, 29.3%, 18.9% and 12.9%, respectively, of our 2011 net broadcast revenue. The networks provide these stations with quality programming and numerous sporting events such as NBA basketball, Major League baseball, NFL football, NCAA sports, PGA golf and the Olympic Games. Because network programming and ratings change frequently, the diversity of our station portfolio’s network affiliations reduces our reliance on the quality of programming from a single network.
Attract and Retain High Quality Management. We seek to attract and retain station general managers with proven track records in larger television markets by providing equity incentives not typically offered by other station operators in our markets. Our station general managers have been granted stock options and have an average of over 20 years of experience in the television broadcasting industry.
Acquisition Strategy
We selectively pursue acquisitions of television stations primarily in markets ranking from 50 to 175 out of the 210 generally recognized television markets, where we believe we can improve revenue and cash flow through active management. When considering an acquisition, we evaluate the target audience share, revenue share, overall cost structure and proximity to our regional clusters. Additionally, we seek to acquire or enter into local service agreements with stations to create duopoly markets.
Relationship with Mission
Through various local service agreements with Mission, we currently provide sales, programming and other services to 17 television stations that are owned and operated by Mission. Mission is 100% owned by independent third parties. We do not own Mission or any of its television stations. In compliance with Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) regulations for both us and Mission, Mission maintains complete responsibility for and control over programming, finances, personnel and operations of its stations. However, we are deemed under U.S. GAAP to have a controlling financial interest in Mission because of (1) the local service agreements Nexstar has with the Mission stations, (2) Nexstar’s guarantee of the obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility, (3) Nexstar having power over significant activities affecting Mission’s economic performance, including budgeting for advertising revenue, advertising and hiring and firing of sales force personnel and (4) purchase options granted by Mission that permit Nexstar to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to FCC consent. Therefore, Mission is consolidated into these financial statements. We expect our option agreements with Mission to be renewed upon expiration.
The Stations
The following chart sets forth general information about the stations we owned, operated, programmed or provided sales and other services as of December 31, 2011:
Market
Rank (1)
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Market
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Station
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Affiliation
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Status (2)
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Commercial
Stations in
Market (3)
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FCC License
Expiration
Date
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8
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Washington, DC/Hagerstown, MD
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WHAG
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NBC
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O&O
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(4)
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(5)
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41
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Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, PA
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WLYH
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The CW
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O&O (6)
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5
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(5)
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50
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Jacksonville, FL
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WCWJ/WCWJ-D-2
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The CW/Bounce TV
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O&O
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6
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2/1/13
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54
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Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA
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WBRE
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NBC
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O&O
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7
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(5)
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WYOU
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CBS
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LSA (7)
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(5)
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56
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Little Rock-Pine Bluff, AR
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KARK
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NBC
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O&O
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7
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(5)
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KARZ/KARZ-D-2
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MyNetworkTV/Bounce TV
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O&O
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6/1/13
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69
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Green Bay-Appleton, WI
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WFRV
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CBS
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O&O
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5
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12/1/13
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75
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Springfield, MO
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KOLR
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CBS
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LSA (7)
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7
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(5)
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KOZL
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Independent
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O&O
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(5)
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79
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Rochester, NY
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WROC/WROC-D-2
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CBS/Bounce TV
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O&O
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4
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(5)
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WUHF
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FOX
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LSA (8)
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6/1/15
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82
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Champaign-Springfield-
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WCIA
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CBS
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O&O
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6
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(5)
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Decatur, IL
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WCIX
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MyNetworkTV
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O&O
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(5)
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83
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Shreveport, LA
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KTAL
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NBC
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O&O
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6
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8/1/14
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101
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Ft. Smith-Fayetteville-
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KFTA
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FOX/NBC
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O&O
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6
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6/1/13
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Springdale-Rogers, AR
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KNWA
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NBC/FOX
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O&O
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(5)
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102
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Johnstown-Altoona, PA
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WTAJ
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CBS
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O&O
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4
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(5)
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104
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Evansville, IN
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WEHT
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ABC
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O&O
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5
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(5)
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WTVW
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Independent
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LSA (7)
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8/1/13
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109
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Ft. Wayne, IN
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WFFT
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Independent
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O&O
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4
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(5)
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Commercial
Stations in
Market (3)
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FCC License
Expiration
Date
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116
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Peoria-Bloomington, IL
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WMBD/WMBD-D-2
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CBS/Bounce TV
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O&O
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5
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(5)
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|
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WYZZ
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FOX
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LSA (8)
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12/1/13
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130
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Amarillo, TX
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KAMR
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NBC
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O&O
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5
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(5)
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|
|
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KCIT
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FOX
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LSA (7)
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(5)
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|
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KCPN-LP
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MyNetworkTV
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LSA (7)
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(5)
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134
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Rockford, IL
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WQRF/WQRF-D-2
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FOX/Bounce TV
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O&O
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4
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(5)
|
|
|
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WTVO/WTVO-D-2
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ABC/MyNetworkTV
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LSA (7)
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(5)
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137
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Monroe, LA-
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KARD/KARD-D-2
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FOX/Bounce TV
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O&O
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6
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(5)
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El Dorado, AR
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KTVE
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NBC
|
LSA (7)
|
|
6/1/13
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141
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|
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
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KBTV/KBTV-D-2
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FOX/Bounce TV
|
O&O
|
4
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(5)
|
142
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|
Wichita Falls, TX-
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KFDX
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NBC
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O&O
|
5
|
(5)
|
|
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Lawton, OK
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KJTL/KJTL-D-2
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FOX/Bounce TV
|
LSA (7)
|
|
(5)
|
|
|
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KJBO-LP
|
MyNetworkTV
|
LSA (7)
|
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(5)
|
143
|
|
Lubbock, TX
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KLBK
|
CBS
|
O&O
|
5
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
KAMC/KAMC-D-2
|
ABC/Bounce TV
|
LSA (7)
|
|
(5)
|
146
|
|
Erie, PA
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WJET
|
ABC
|
O&O
|
4
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
WFXP
|
FOX
|
LSA (7)
|
|
(5)
|
149
|
|
Joplin, MO-Pittsburg, KS
|
KSNF
|
NBC
|
O&O
|
4
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
KODE
|
ABC
|
LSA (7)
|
|
(5)
|
151
|
|
Odessa-Midland, TX
|
KMID
|
ABC
|
O&O
|
5
|
(5)
|
154
|
|
Terre Haute, IN
|
WTWO
|
NBC
|
O&O
|
3
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
WAWV
|
ABC
|
LSA (7)
|
|
(5)
|
164
|
|
Abilene-Sweetwater, TX
|
KTAB
|
CBS
|
O&O
|
4
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
KRBC/KRBC-D-2
|
NBC/Bounce TV
|
LSA (7)
|
|
(5)
|
168
|
|
Billings, MT
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KSVI
|
ABC
|
O&O
|
4
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
KHMT
|
FOX
|
LSA (7)
|
|
(5)
|
169
|
|
Dothan, AL
|
WDHN
|
ABC
|
O&O
|
3
|
(5)
|
172
|
|
Utica, NY
|
WFXV
|
FOX
|
O&O
|
4
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
WPNY-LP
|
MyNetworkTV
|
O&O
|
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
WUTR
|
ABC
|
LSA (7)
|
|
(5)
|
180
|
|
Marquette, MI
|
WJMN
|
CBS
|
O&O
|
5
|
10/1/13
|
197
|
|
San Angelo, TX
|
KSAN
|
NBC
|
LSA (7)
|
4
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
KLST
|
CBS
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O&O
|
|
(5)
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200
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|
St. Joseph, MO
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KQTV
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ABC
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O&O
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1
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(5)
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(1)
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Market rank refers to ranking the size of the Designated Market Area (“DMA”) in which the station is located in relation to other DMAs. Source: Investing in Television Market Report 2011 4th Edition, as published by BIA Financial Network, Inc.
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(2)
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O&O refers to stations that we own and operate. LSA, or local service agreement, is the general term we use to refer to a contract under which we provide services utilizing our employees to a station owned and operated by independent third parties. Local service agreements include time brokerage agreements, shared services agreements, joint sales agreements and outsourcing agreements. For further information regarding the LSAs to which we are party, see Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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(3)
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The term “commercial station” means a television broadcast station and excludes non-commercial stations, religious and Spanish-language stations, cable program services or networks. Source: Investing in Television Market Report 2011 4th Edition, as published by BIA Financial Network, Inc.
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(4)
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Although WHAG is located within the Washington, DC DMA, its signal does not reach the entire Washington, DC metropolitan area. WHAG serves the Hagerstown, MD sub-market within the DMA.
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(5)
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Application for renewal of license was submitted timely to the FCC. Under the FCC’s rules, a license expiration date automatically is extended pending review of and action on the renewal application by the FCC.
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(6)
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Although Nexstar owns WLYH, this station is programmed by Newport Television pursuant to a time brokerage agreement.
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(7)
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These stations are owned by Mission.
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(8)
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These stations are owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
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Industry Background
Commercial television broadcasting began in the United States 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 A.C. Nielsen Company, a national audience measuring service, into 210 generally recognized television markets, known as designated market areas (“DMAs”), that are ranked in size according to various metrics based upon actual or potential audience. Each DMA is an exclusive geographic area consisting of all counties in which the home-market commercial stations receive the greatest percentage of total viewing hours. A.C. Nielsen periodically publishes data on estimated audiences for the television stations in the DMA. The estimates are expressed in terms of a “rating,” which is a station’s percentage of the total potential audience in the market, or a “share,” which is the station’s percentage of the audience actually watching television. A station’s rating in the market can be a factor in determining advertising rates.
Most television stations are affiliated with networks and receive a significant part of their programming, including prime-time hours, from networks. Whether or not a station is affiliated with one of the four major networks (NBC, CBS, FOX or ABC) has a significant impact on the composition of the station’s revenue, expenses and operations. Network programming is provided to the affiliate by the network in exchange for the network’s retention of a substantial majority of the advertising time during network programs. The network then sells this advertising time and retains the revenue. The affiliate retains the revenue from the remaining advertising time it sells during network programs and from advertising time it sells during non-network programs.
Broadcast television stations compete for advertising revenue primarily with other commercial broadcast television stations, cable and satellite television systems and, to a lesser extent, with newspapers, radio stations and Internet advertising serving the same market. Non-commercial, religious and Spanish-language broadcasting stations in many markets also compete with commercial stations for viewers. In addition, the Internet and other leisure activities may draw viewers away from commercial television stations.
Advertising Sales
General
Television station revenue is primarily derived from the sale of local and national advertising. All network-affiliated stations are required to carry advertising sold by their networks which reduces the amount of advertising time available for sale by stations. Our stations sell the remaining advertising to be inserted in network programming and the advertising in non-network programming, retaining all of the revenue received from these sales. A national syndicated program distributor will often retain a portion of the available advertising time for programming it supplies in exchange for no fees or reduced fees charged to stations for such programming. These programming arrangements are referred to as barter programming.
Advertisers wishing to reach a national audience usually purchase time directly from the networks, or advertise nationwide on a case-by-case basis. National advertisers who wish to reach a particular region or local audience often buy advertising time directly from local stations through national advertising sales representative firms. Local businesses purchase advertising time directly from the stations’ local sales staff.
Advertising rates are based upon a number of factors, including:
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•
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a program’s popularity among the viewers that an advertiser wishes to target;
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•
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the number of advertisers competing for the available time;
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•
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the size and the demographic composition of the market served by the station;
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•
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the availability of alternative advertising media in the market area;
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•
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the effectiveness of the station’s sales forces;
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•
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development of projects, features and programs that tie advertiser messages to programming; and
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•
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the level of spending commitment made by the advertiser.
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Advertising rates are also determined by a station’s overall ability to attract viewers in its market area, as well as the station’s ability to attract viewers among particular demographic groups that an advertiser may be targeting. Advertising revenue is positively affected by strong local economies. Conversely, declines in advertising budgets of advertisers, particularly in recessionary periods, adversely affect the broadcast industry and as a result may contribute to a decrease in the revenue of broadcast television stations.
Seasonality
Advertising revenue is positively affected by national and regional political election campaigns, and certain events such as the Olympic Games or the Super Bowl. Stations’ advertising revenue 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. In addition, advertising revenue is generally higher during even-numbered years when state, congressional and presidential elections occur and advertising is aired during the Olympic Games.
Local Sales
Local advertising time is sold by each station’s local sales staff who call upon advertising agencies and local businesses, which typically include car dealerships, retail stores and restaurants. Compared to revenue from national advertising accounts, revenue from local advertising is generally more stable and more predictable. We seek to attract new advertisers to television and to increase the amount of advertising time sold to existing local advertisers by relying on experienced local sales forces with strong community ties, producing news and other programming with local advertising appeal and sponsoring or co-promoting local events and activities. We place a strong emphasis on the experience of our local sales staff and maintain an on-going training program for sales personnel.
National Sales
National advertising time is sold through national sales representative firms which call upon advertising agencies, whose clients typically include automobile manufacturers and dealer groups, telecommunications companies, fast food franchisers, and national retailers (some of which may advertise locally).
Network Affiliations
Most of the stations that we own and operate, program or provide sales and other services to as of December 31, 2011 are affiliated with a network pursuant to an affiliation agreement, as described below:
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Station
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Market
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Affiliation
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Expiration
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WBRE
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Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA
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NBC
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March 2012
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WTWO
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Terre Haute, IN
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NBC
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March 2012
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KFDX
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Wichita Falls, TX-Lawton, OK
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NBC
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March 2012
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KSNF
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Joplin, MO-Pittsburg, KS
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NBC
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March 2012
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KTVE (1)
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Monroe, LA—El Dorado, AR
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NBC
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March 2012
|
KSAN (1)
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San Angelo, TX
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NBC
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March 2012
|
KRBC (1)
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Abilene-Sweetwater, TX
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NBC
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March 2012
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KLST
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San Angelo, TX
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CBS
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August 2012
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KTAB
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Abilene-Sweetwater, TX
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CBS
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December 2012
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WUHF (2)
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Rochester, NY
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FOX
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December 2012
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WYZZ (2)
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Peoria-Bloomington, IL
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FOX
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December 2012
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KNWA
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Ft. Smith-Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR
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NBC
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January 2013
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WROC
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Rochester, NY
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CBS
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January 2013
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KOLR (1)
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Springfield, MO
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CBS
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June 2013
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KLBK
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Lubbock, TX
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CBS
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July 2013
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WCIA
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Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, IL
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CBS
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September 2013
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WMBD
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Peoria-Bloomington, IL
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CBS
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September 2013
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KBTV
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Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
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FOX
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December 2013
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WQRF
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Rockford, IL
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FOX
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December 2013
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KARD
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Monroe, LA-El Dorado, AR
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FOX
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December 2013
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WFXV
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Utica, NY
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FOX
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December 2013
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KFTA
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Ft. Smith-Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR
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FOX
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December 2013
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KCIT (1)
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Amarillo, TX
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FOX
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December 2013
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WFXP (1)
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Erie, PA
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FOX
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December 2013
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Station |
Market |
Affiliation |
Expiration |
KJTL (1)
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Wichita Falls, TX-Lawton, OK
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FOX
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December 2013
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KHMT (1)
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Billings, MT
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FOX
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December 2013
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WEHT
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Evansville, Indiana
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ABC
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December 2013
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WFRV
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Green Bay-Appleton, WI
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CBS
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April 2014
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WJMN
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Marquette, MI
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CBS
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April 2014
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KARZ
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Little Rock-Pine Bluff, AR
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MyNetworkTV
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August 2014
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WPNY-LP
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Utica, NY
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MyNetworkTV
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August 2014
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WCIX
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Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, IL
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MyNetworkTV
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August 2014
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KCPN-LP (1)
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Amarillo, TX
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MyNetworkTV
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August 2014
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KJBO-LP (1)
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Wichita Falls, TX-Lawton, OK
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MyNetworkTV
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August 2014
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WTVO-D-2 (1)
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Rockford, IL
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MyNetworkTV
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August 2014
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WCWJ-D-2
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Jacksonville, FL
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Bounce TV
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September 2014
|
KARZ-D-2
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Little Rock-Pine Bluff, AR
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Bounce TV
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September 2014
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WROC-D-2
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Rochester, NY
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Bounce TV
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September 2014
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WMBD-D-2
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Peoria-Bloomington, IL
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Bounce TV
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September 2014
|
WQRF-D-2
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Rockford, IL
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Bounce TV
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September 2014
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KARD-D-2
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Monroe, LA-El Dorado, AR
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Bounce TV
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September 2014
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KBTV-D-2
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Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
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Bounce TV
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September 2014
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KJTL-D-2 (1)
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Wichita Falls, TX-Lawton, OK
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Bounce TV
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September 2014
|
KAMC-D-2 (1)
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Lubbock, TX
|
Bounce TV
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September 2014
|
KRBC-D-2 (1)
|
Abilene-Sweetwater, TX
|
Bounce TV
|
September 2014
|
KAMR
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Amarillo, TX
|
NBC
|
December 2014
|
KTAL
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Shreveport, LA
|
NBC
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December 2014
|
KARK
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Little Rock-Pine Bluff, AR
|
NBC
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December 2014
|
WHAG
|
Washington, DC/Hagerstown, MD(3)
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NBC
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December 2014
|
WYOU (1)
|
Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA
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CBS
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June 2015
|
WTAJ
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Johnstown-Altoona, PA
|
CBS
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May 2016
|
WCWJ
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Jacksonville, FL
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The CW
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September 2016
|
WLYH (4)
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Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York, PA
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The CW
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September 2016
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WDHN
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Dothan, AL
|
ABC
|
June 2017
|
WJET
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Erie, PA
|
ABC
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June 2017
|
KSVI
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Billings, MT
|
ABC
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June 2017
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KMID
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Odessa-Midland, TX
|
ABC
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June 2017
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KQTV
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St. Joseph, MO
|
ABC
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June 2017
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WAWV (1)
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Terre Haute, IN
|
ABC
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June 2017
|
WUTR (1)
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Utica, NY
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ABC
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June 2017
|
WTVO (1)
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Rockford, IL
|
ABC
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June 2017
|
KAMC (1)
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Lubbock, TX
|
ABC
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June 2017
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KODE (1)
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Joplin, MO-Pittsburg, KS
|
ABC
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June 2017
|
(1)
|
These stations are owned by Mission, which maintains the network affiliation agreements.
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(2)
|
These stations are owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., which maintains the network affiliation agreements.
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(3)
|
Although WHAG is located within the Washington, DC DMA, its signal does not reach the entire Washington, DC metropolitan area. WHAG serves the Hagerstown, MD sub-market within the DMA.
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(4)
|
Under a time brokerage agreement, Nexstar allows Newport Television License, LLC, Inc. to program most of WLYH’s broadcast time, sell its advertising time and retain the advertising revenue generated in exchange for monthly payments to Nexstar.
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Each affiliation agreement provides the affiliated station with the right to broadcast all programs transmitted by the network with which it is affiliated. In exchange, the network has the right to sell a substantial majority of the advertising time during these broadcasts. We expect the network affiliation agreements listed above to be renewed upon expiration.
Competition
Competition in the television industry takes place on several levels: competition for audience, competition for programming and competition for advertising.
Audience. We compete for audience share specifically on the basis of program popularity. The popularity of a station’s programming has a direct effect on the adverting rates it can charge its advertisers. A portion of the daily programming on the stations that we own or provide services to is supplied by the network with which each station is affiliated. In those periods, the stations are dependent upon the performance of the network programs in attracting viewers. Stations program non-network time periods with a combination of self-produced news, public affairs and other entertainment programming, including movies and syndicated programs. The major television networks have also begun to sell their programming directly to the consumer via portal digital devices such as video iPods and cell phones, which presents an additional source of competition for television broadcaster audience share. Other sources of competition for audience include home entertainment systems (such as VCRs, DVDs and DVRs), video-on-demand and pay-per-view, the Internet (including network distribution of programming through websites) and gaming devices.
Although the commercial television broadcast industry historically has been dominated by the ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX television networks, other newer television networks and the growth in popularity of subscription systems, such as local cable and direct broadcast satellite (“DBS”) systems which air exclusive programming not otherwise available in a market, have become significant competitors for the over-the-air television audience.
Programming. Competition for programming involves negotiating with national program distributors or syndicators that sell first-run and rerun packages of programming. Stations compete against in-market broadcast station operators for exclusive access to off-network reruns (such as Seinfeld) and first-run product (such as Entertainment Tonight) in their respective markets. Cable systems generally do not compete with local stations for programming, although various national cable networks from time to time have acquired programs that would have otherwise been offered to local television stations. Time Warner, Inc., Comcast Corporation, Viacom Inc., The News Corporation Limited and the Walt Disney Company each owns a television network and also owns or controls major production studios, which are the primary source of programming for the networks. It is uncertain whether in the future such programming, which is generally subject to short-term agreements between the studios and the networks, will be moved to the networks. Television broadcasters also compete for non-network programming unique to the markets they serve. As such, stations strive to provide exclusive news stories, unique features such as investigative reporting and coverage of community events and to secure broadcast rights for regional and local sporting events.
Advertising. Stations compete for advertising revenue with other television stations in their respective markets; and other advertising media such as newspapers, radio stations, magazines, outdoor advertising, transit advertising, yellow page directories, direct mail, local cable systems, DBS systems and the Internet. Competition for advertising dollars in the broadcasting industry occurs primarily within individual markets. Generally, a television broadcast station in a particular market does not compete with stations in other market areas.
The broadcasting industry is continually faced with technological change and innovation which increase the popularity of competing entertainment and communications media. Further advances in technology may increase competition for household audiences and advertisers. The increased use of digital technology by cable systems and DBS, along with video compression techniques, will reduce the bandwidth required for television signal transmission. These technological developments are applicable to all video delivery systems, including over-the-air broadcasting, and have the potential to provide vastly expanded programming to highly targeted audiences. Reductions in the cost of creating additional channel capacity could lower entry barriers for new channels and encourage the development of increasingly specialized “niche” programming. This ability to reach very narrowly defined audiences is expected to alter the competitive dynamics for advertising expenditures. We are unable to predict the effect that these or other technological changes will have on the broadcast television industry or on the future results of our operations or the operations of the stations to which we provide services.
Federal Regulation
Television broadcasting is subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (“the Communications Act”). The following is a brief discussion of certain provisions of the Communications Act and the FCC’s regulations and policies that affect the business operations of television broadcast stations. Over the years, Congress and the FCC have added, amended and deleted statutory and regulatory requirements to which station owners are subject. Some of these changes have a minimal business impact whereas others may significantly affect the business or operation of individual stations or the broadcast industry as a whole. For more information about the nature and extent of FCC regulation of television broadcast stations, you should refer to the Communications Act and the FCC’s rules, public notices and policies.
License Grant and Renewal. The Communications Act prohibits the operation of broadcast stations except under licenses issued by the FCC. Television broadcast licenses are granted for a maximum term of eight years and are subject to renewal upon application to the FCC. The FCC is required to grant an application for license renewal if during the preceding term the station served the public interest, the licensee did not commit any serious violations of the Communications Act or the FCC’s rules, and the licensee committed no other violations of the Communications Act or the FCC’s rules which, taken together, would constitute a pattern of abuse. A majority of renewal applications are routinely granted under this standard. If a licensee fails to meet this standard the FCC may still grant renewal on terms and conditions that it deems appropriate, including a monetary forfeiture or renewal for a term less than the normal eight-year period.
After a renewal application is filed, interested parties, including members of the public, may file petitions to deny the application, to which the licensee/renewal applicant is entitled to respond. After reviewing the pleadings, if the FCC determines that there is a substantial and material question of fact whether grant of the renewal application would serve the public interest, the FCC is required to hold a trial-type hearing on the issues presented. If, after the hearing, the FCC determines that the renewal applicant has met the renewal standard, the FCC will grant the renewal application. If the licensee/renewal applicant fails to meet the renewal standard or show that there are mitigating factors entitling it to renewal subject to appropriate sanctions, the FCC can deny the renewal application. In the vast majority of cases where a petition to deny is filed against a renewal application, the FCC ultimately grants the renewal without a hearing. No competing application for authority to operate a station and replace the incumbent licensee may be filed against a renewal application.
In addition to considering rule violations in connection with a license renewal application, the FCC may sanction a station licensee for failing to observe FCC rules and policies during the license term, including the imposition of a monetary forfeiture.
Station Transfer. The Communications Act prohibits the assignment or the transfer of control of a broadcast license without prior FCC approval.
Ownership Restrictions. The Communications Act limits the extent of non-U.S. ownership of companies that own U.S. broadcast stations. Under this restriction, a U.S. broadcast company such as ours may have no more than 25% non-U.S. ownership (by vote and by equity).
The FCC also has rules which establish limits on the ownership of broadcast stations. These ownership limits apply to attributable interests in a station licensee held by an individual, corporation, partnership or other entity. In the case of corporations, officers, directors and voting stock interests of 5% or more (20% or more in the case of qualified investment companies, such as insurance companies and bank trust departments) are considered attributable interests. For partnerships, all general partners and non-insulated limited partners are attributable. Limited liability companies are treated the same as partnerships. The FCC also considers attributable the holder of more than 33% of a licensee’s total assets (defined as total debt plus total equity), if that person or entity also provides over 15% of the station’s total weekly broadcast programming or has an attributable interest in another media entity in the same market which is subject to the FCC’s ownership rules, such as a radio or television station or daily newspaper.
Local Television Ownership (Duopoly Rule). Under the current local television ownership, or “duopoly,” rule, a single entity is allowed to own or have attributable interests in two television stations in a market if (1) the two stations do not have overlapping service areas, or (2) after the combination there are at least eight independently owned and operating full-power television stations in the DMA with overlapping service contours and one of the combining stations is not ranked among the top four stations in the DMA. The duopoly rule allows the FCC to consider waivers to permit the ownership of a second station only in cases where the second station has failed or is failing or unbuilt.
Under the duopoly rule, the FCC attributes toward the local television ownership limits another in-market station when one station owner programs a second in-market station pursuant to a time brokerage or local marketing agreement, if the programmer provides more than 15% of the second station’s weekly broadcast programming. However, local marketing agreements entered into prior to November 5, 1996 are exempt attributable interests until the FCC determines otherwise. This “grandfathering,” when reviewed by the FCC, is subject to possible extension or termination.
In certain markets, we and Mission own and operate both full-power and low-power television broadcast stations (in Utica, Nexstar owns and operates WFXV and WPNY-LP; in Wichita Falls, Mission owns and operates KJTL and KJBO-LP; and in Amarillo, Mission owns and operates KCIT and KCPN-LP). The FCC’s duopoly rules and policies regarding ownership of television stations in the same market apply only to full-power television stations and not low-power television stations such as WPNY-LP, KJBO-LP and KCPN-LP.
The only markets in which we currently are permitted to own two stations under the duopoly rule are the Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Illinois market and the Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas market. However, we also are permitted to own two stations in the Fort Smith-Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Arkansas market pursuant to a waiver under the FCC’s rules permitting common ownership of a “satellite” television station in a market where a licensee also owns the “primary” station. In all of the markets where we have entered into local service agreements, except for two, we do not provide programming other than news (comprising less than 15% of the second station’s programming) to the second station and, therefore, we are not attributed with ownership of the second station. In the two markets where we provide more programming to the second station—WFXP in Erie, Pennsylvania and KHMT in Billings, Montana—the local marketing agreements were entered into prior to November 5, 1996. Therefore, we may continue to program these stations under the terms of these agreements until the FCC determines otherwise.
National Television Ownership. There is no nationwide limit on the number of television stations which a party may own. However, the FCC’s rules limit the percentage of U.S. television households which a party may reach through its attributable interests in television stations. This rule provides that when calculating a party’s nationwide aggregate audience coverage, the ownership of a UHF station is counted as 50% of a market’s percentage of total national audience. In 2004, Congress determined that one party may have an attributable interest in television stations which reach, in the aggregate, 39% of all U.S. television households; and the FCC thereafter modified its corresponding rule. The FCC currently is considering whether this act has any impact on the FCC’s authority to examine and modify the UHF discount.
The stations that Nexstar owns have a combined national audience reach of 5.2% of television households with the UHF discount.
Radio/Television Cross-Ownership Rule (One-to-a-Market Rule). In markets with at least 20 independently owned media “voices”, ownership of one television station and up to seven radio stations, or two television stations (if allowed under the television duopoly rule) and six radio stations is permitted. If the number of independently owned media “voices” is fewer than 20 but greater than or equal to 10, ownership of one television station (or two if allowed) and four radio stations is permitted. In markets with fewer than 10 independent media “voices”, ownership of one television station (or two if allowed) and one radio station is permitted. In calculating the number of independent media “voices” in a market, the FCC includes all radio and television stations, independently owned cable systems (counted as one voice), and independently owned daily newspapers which have circulation that exceeds 5% of the households in the market. In all cases, the television and radio components of the combination must also comply, respectively, with the local television ownership rule and the local radio ownership rule.
Local Television/Newspaper Cross-Ownership Rule. Under this rule, a party is prohibited from having an attributable interest in a television station and a daily newspaper.
As a result of the FCC’s 2006 rulemaking proceeding, which provided a comprehensive review of all of its media ownership rules, in February 2008, the FCC adopted modest changes to its newspaper cross-ownership rule, while retaining the rest of its rules as then currently in effect. In July 2011, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacated the FCC’s changes to the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule while upholding the FCC’s retention of its other media ownership rules.
The FCC is required to review its media ownership rules every four years and to eliminate those rules it finds no longer serve the “public interest, convenience and necessity”. During 2009, the FCC held a series of hearings designed to evaluate possible changes to its rules. In May 2010, the FCC formally initiated its 2010 review of its media ownership rules with the issuance of a Notice of Inquiry (NOI). The NOI was intended to assist the Commission in establishing a framework within which to analyze whether its media ownership rules remain “necessary in the public interest as a result of competition,” due to the dramatic changes occurring in the media marketplace. Numerous parties filed comments and reply comments in response to the NOI. In June and July 2011, the FCC released to the public eleven economic studies related to its media ownership rules. In December 2011, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to seek comment on specific proposed changes to its ownership rules. Among the specific changes proposed in the NPRM are (1) elimination of the contour overlap provision of the local television ownership rule (making the rule entirely DMA-based), (2) elimination of the radio/television cross-ownership rule and (3) modest relaxation of the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule along the lines of the changes in the 2006 proceeding that the court vacated. The NPRM also seeks comment on shared services agreements (SSAs) and other joint operating arrangements between television stations, and whether such agreements should be considered attributable. Initial comments on the NPRM were filed on March 5, 2012, and reply comments are due in April 2012. We cannot predict what rules the FCC will adopt or when they will be adopted.
Local Television/Cable Cross-Ownership. There is no FCC rule prohibiting common ownership of a cable television system and a television broadcast station in the same area.
Cable and Satellite Carriage of Local Television Signals. Broadcasters may obtain carriage of their stations’ signals on cable, satellite and other multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”) through either mandatory carriage or through “retransmission consent.” Every three years all stations must formally elect either mandatory carriage (“must-carry” for cable distributors and “carry one-carry all” for satellite television providers) or retransmission consent. The next election must be made by October 1, 2014, and will be effective January 1, 2015. Must-carry elections require that the MVPD carry one station programming stream and related data in the station’s local market. However, MVPDs may decline a must-carry election in certain circumstances. MVPDs do not pay a fee to stations that elect mandatory carriage.
A broadcaster that elects retransmission consent waives its mandatory carriage rights, and the broadcaster and the MVPD must negotiate in good faith for carriage of the station’s signal. Negotiated terms may include channel position, service tier carriage, carriage of multiple program streams, compensation and other consideration. If a broadcaster elects to negotiate retransmission terms, it is possible that the broadcaster and the MVPD will not reach agreement and that the MVPD will not carry the station’s signal.
MVPD operators are actively seeking to change the regulations under which retransmission consent is negotiated before both the U.S. Congress and the FCC in order to increase their bargaining leverage with television stations. On March 3, 2011, the FCC initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to reexamine its rules (i) governing the requirements for good faith negotiations between MVPDs and broadcasters, including implementing a prohibition on one station negotiating retransmission consent terms for another station under a local service agreement; (ii) for providing advance notice to consumers in the event of dispute; and (iii) to extend certain cable-only obligations to all MVPDs. The FCC has also asked for comment on eliminating the network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity protection rules, which may permit MVPDs to import out-of-market television stations during a retransmission consent dispute.
The FCC’s rules also govern which local television signals a satellite subscriber may receive. Congress and the FCC have also imposed certain requirements relating to satellite distribution of local television signals to “unserved” households that do not receive a useable signal from a local network-affiliated station and to cable and satellite carriage of out-of-market signals.
We and Mission elected to exercise retransmission consent rights for all of our stations where we have a legal right to do so. We and Mission have negotiated retransmission consent agreements with all of the MVPDs which carry the stations’ signals.
Programming and Operation. The Communications Act requires broadcasters to serve “the public interest.” Since the late 1970s, the FCC gradually has relaxed or eliminated many of the more formalized procedures it had developed to promote the broadcast of certain types of programming responsive to the needs of a station’s community of license. However, television station licensees are still required to present programming that is responsive to community problems, needs and interests and to maintain certain records demonstrating such responsiveness. The FCC may consider complaints from viewers concerning programming when it evaluates a station’s license renewal application, although viewer complaints also may be filed and considered by the FCC at any time. Stations also must follow various rules promulgated under the Communications Act that regulate, among other things:
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political advertising (its price and availability);
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sponsorship identification;
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contest and lottery advertising;
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obscene and indecent broadcasts;
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technical operations, including limits on radio frequency radiation;
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discrimination and equal employment opportunities;
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closed captioning (and, under recently reinstated rules, video description);
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children’s programming;
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program ratings guidelines; and
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network affiliation agreements.
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Technical Regulation. FCC rules govern the technical operating parameters of television stations, including permissible operating channel, power and antenna height and interference protections between stations. Under various FCC rules and procedures, full power television stations completed the transition from analog to digital television (DTV) broadcasting in June 2009. The FCC has adopted rules with respect to the conversion of existing low power and television translator stations to digital operation, establishing a September 1, 2015 deadline by which low power and television translator stations must cease analog operation.
Employees
As of December 31, 2011, we had a total of 2,230 employees, comprised of 1,953 full-time and 277 part-time employees. As of December 31, 2011, 155 of our employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements. We believe that our employee relations are satisfactory, and we have not experienced any work stoppages at any of our facilities. However, we cannot assure you that our collective bargaining agreements will be renewed in the future, or that we will not experience a prolonged labor dispute, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Available Information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed by us at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. Please call (800) SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address for the SEC’s website is http://www.sec.gov. Due to the availability of our filings on the SEC website, we do not currently make available our filings on our Internet website. Upon request, we will provide copies of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and any other filings with the SEC. Requests can be sent to Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Attn: Investor Relations, 5215 N. O’Connor Blvd., Suite 1400, Irving, TX 75039. Additional information about us, or stations and the stations we program or provide services to can be found on our website at www.nexstar.tv. We do not incorporate the information contained on or accessible through our corporate web site into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the following risk factors, which we believe are the most significant risks related to our business, as well as the other information contained in this document.
Risks Related to Our Operations
General trends in the television industry could adversely affect demand for television advertising as consumers flock to alternative media, including the Internet, for entertainment.
Television viewing among consumers has been negatively impacted by the increasing availability of alternative media, including the Internet. As a result, in recent years demand for television advertising has been declining and demand for advertising in alternative media has been increasing, and we expect this trend to continue.
In recent years, the networks have streamed their programming on the Internet and other distribution platforms in close proximity to network programming broadcast on local television stations, including those we own. These and other practices by the networks dilute the exclusivity and value of network programming originally broadcast by the local stations and could adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations of our stations.
We and Mission have a history of net losses.
We and Mission had aggregate net losses of $11.9 million, $1.8 million and $12.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. We and Mission may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability.
Our substantial debt could limit our ability to grow and compete.
As of December 31, 2011, we and Mission had $640.4 million of debt, which represented 140.1% of our and Mission’s total combined capitalization. The companies’ high level of debt could have important consequences to our business. For example, it could:
• limit our ability to borrow additional funds or obtain additional financing in the future;
• limit our ability to pursue acquisition opportunities;
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expose us to greater interest rate risk since the interest rate on borrowings under the senior credit facilities is variable;
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• limit our flexibility to plan for and react to changes in our business and our industry; and
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impair our ability to withstand a general downturn in our business and place us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors that are less leveraged.
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See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contractual Obligations” for disclosure of the approximate aggregate amount of principal indebtedness scheduled to mature.
We and Mission could also incur additional debt in the future. The terms of our and Mission’s senior credit facilities, as well as the indentures governing our publicly-held notes, limit, but do not prohibit us or Mission from incurring substantial amounts of additional debt. To the extent we or Mission incur additional debt we would become even more susceptible to the leverage-related risks described above.
The agreements governing our debt contain various covenants that limit our management’s discretion in the operation of our business.
Our senior secured credit facility and the indentures governing our publicly-held notes contain various covenants that restrict our ability to, among other things:
• incur additional debt and issue preferred stock;
• pay dividends and make other distributions;
• make investments and other restricted payments;
• make acquisitions;
• merge, consolidate or transfer all or substantially all of our assets;
• enter into sale and leaseback transactions;
• create liens;
• sell assets or stock of our subsidiaries; and
• enter into transactions with affiliates.
In addition, our senior secured credit facility requires us to maintain or meet certain financial ratios, including consolidated leverage ratios and fixed charges coverage ratios. Future financing agreements may contain similar, or even more restrictive, provisions and covenants. As a result of these restrictions and covenants, our management’s ability to operate our business at its discretion is limited, and we may be unable to compete effectively, pursue acquisitions or take advantage of new business opportunities, any of which could harm our business. Mission’s senior secured credit facility contains similar terms and restrictions.
If we fail to comply with the restrictions in present or future financing agreements, a default may occur. A default could allow creditors to accelerate the related debt as well as any other debt to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies. A default could also allow creditors to foreclose on any collateral securing such debt.
Our senior secured credit facility agreement contains covenants which require us to comply with certain financial ratios, including maximum total and first lien ratios and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. The covenants, which are calculated on a quarterly basis, include the combined results of Nexstar Broadcasting and Mission. Mission’s senior secured credit facility agreement does not contain financial covenant ratio requirements; however it does include an event of default if Nexstar does not comply with all covenants contained in its credit agreement. The senior subordinated notes and senior secured second lien notes contain restrictive covenants customary for borrowing arrangements of this type.
Mission may make decisions regarding the operation of its stations that could reduce the amount of cash we receive under our local service agreements.
Mission is 100% owned by independent third parties. Mission owns and operates 17 television stations as of December 31, 2011. We have entered into local service agreements with Mission, pursuant to which we provide services to Mission’s stations. In return for the services we provide, we receive substantially all of Mission’s available cash, after satisfaction of operating costs and debt obligations. We also guarantee all of the obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility, which were incurred primarily in connection with Mission’s acquisition of its stations. Mission has granted to us purchase options to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to FCC consent, for consideration equal to the greater of (1) seven times the station’s cash flow, as defined in the option agreement, less the amount of its indebtedness as defined in the option agreement or (2) the amount of its indebtedness.
We do not own Mission or its television stations. However, we are deemed under U.S. GAAP to have a controlling financial interest in Mission because of (1) the local service agreements Nexstar has with the Mission stations, (2) Nexstar’s guarantee of the obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility, (3) Nexstar having power over significant activities affecting Mission’s economic performance, including budgeting for advertising revenue, advertising and hiring and firing of sales force personnel and (4) purchase options granted by Mission that permit Nexstar to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to FCC consent. In compliance with FCC regulations for both us and Mission, Mission maintains complete responsibility for and control over programming, finances and personnel for its stations. As a result, Mission’s board of directors and officers can make decisions with which we disagree and which could reduce the cash flow generated by these stations and, as a consequence, the amounts we receive under our local service agreements with Mission. For instance, we may disagree with Mission’s programming decisions, which programming may prove unpopular and/or may generate less advertising revenue. Furthermore, subject to Mission’s agreement with its lenders, Mission’s board of directors, comprised solely of shareholders, could choose to pay themselves a dividend.
The revenue generated by stations we operate or provide services to could decline substantially if they fail to maintain or renew their network affiliation agreements on favorable terms, or at all.
Due to the quality of the programming provided by the networks, stations that are affiliated with a network generally have higher ratings than unaffiliated independent stations in the same market. As a result, it is important for stations to maintain their network affiliations. Most of the stations that we operate or provide services to have network affiliation agreements––12 stations have primary affiliation agreements with NBC, 11 with CBS, 11 with ABC, 11 with FOX, 5 with MyNetworkTV, and 2 with The CW. Additionally, eleven of the stations have secondary affiliation agreements – one with MyNetworkTV and 10 with Bounce TV. Each of NBC, CBS and ABC generally provides affiliated stations with up to 22 hours of prime time programming per week, while each of FOX, MyNetworkTV and The CW provides affiliated stations with up to 15 hours of prime time programming per week. In return, affiliated stations broadcast the respective network’s commercials during the network programming.
All of the network affiliation agreements of the stations that we own, operate, program or provide sales and other services to are scheduled to expire at various times through June 2017. Our and Mission’s NBC network agreements for seven stations expire On March 31, 2012. In order to renew certain of our affiliation agreements we may be required to make cash payments to the network and to accept other material modifications of existing affiliation agreements. If any of our stations cease to maintain affiliation agreements with networks for any reason, we would need to find alternative sources of programming, which may be less attractive and more expensive. Further, some of our network affiliation agreements are subject to earlier termination by the networks under specified circumstances.
For more information regarding these network affiliation agreements, see “Business—Network Affiliations.”
The loss of or material reduction in retransmission consent revenues could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Nexstar’s retransmission consent agreements with cable operators, direct broadcast satellite operators, and others permit the operators to carry our stations’ signals in exchange for the payment of compensation to us from the system operators as consideration. The television networks have recently asserted to their local television station affiliates the networks’ position that they, as the owners or licensees of programming we broadcast and provide for retransmission, are entitled to a portion of the compensation under the retransmission consent agreements and are including these provisions in their network affiliation agreements. In addition, our affiliation agreements with some broadcast networks include certain terms that may affect our ability to allow MVPDs to retransmit network programming, and in some cases, we may lose the right to grant retransmission consent to such providers. Inclusion of these or similar provisions in our network affiliation agreements could materially reduce this revenue source to Nexstar and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In addition, system operators are actively seeking to change the regulations under which retransmission consent is negotiated before both the U.S. Congress and the FCC in order to increase their bargaining leverage with television stations. On March 3, 2011, the FCC initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to reexamine its rules (1) governing the requirements for good faith negotiations between MVPDs and broadcasters, including implementing a prohibition on one station negotiating retransmission consent terms for another station under a local service agreement; (2) for providing advance notice to consumers in the event of dispute; and (3) to extend certain cable-only obligations to all MVPDs. The FCC has also asked for comment on eliminating the network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity protection rules, which may permit MVPDs to import out-of-market television stations during a retransmission consent dispute. If the FCC prohibits joint negotiations or modifies the network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity protection rules, such changes could materially reduce this revenue source and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The FCC could decide not to grant renewal of the FCC license of any of the stations we operate or provide services to which would require that station to cease operations.
Television broadcast licenses are granted for a maximum term of eight years and are subject to renewal upon application to the FCC. The FCC is required to grant an application for license renewal if, during the preceding term, the station served the public interest, the licensee did not commit any serious violations of the Communications Act or the FCC’s rules, and the licensee committed no other violations of the Communications Act or the FCC’s rules which, taken together, would constitute a pattern of abuse. A majority of renewal applications are routinely granted under this standard. If a licensee fails to meet this standard the FCC may still grant renewal on terms and conditions that it deems appropriate, including a monetary forfeiture or renewal for a term less than the normal eight-year period.
On October 26, 2005, the Director of the Central Illinois Chapter of the Parents Television Council (“PTC”) submitted an informal objection to the application for renewal of license for Nexstar’s station WCIA in Champaign, Illinois, requesting the FCC withhold action on WCIA’s license renewal application until the FCC acts on the PTC’s complaint regarding an allegedly indecent broadcast on WCIA.
On January 3, 2006, Cable America Corporation submitted a petition to deny the applications for renewal of license for Nexstar’s station KOZL and Mission’s station KOLR, both licensed to Springfield, Missouri. Cable America alleged that Nexstar’s local service agreements with Mission give Nexstar improper control over Mission’s operations. Nexstar and Mission submitted a joint opposition to this petition to deny and Cable America submitted a reply. Cable America subsequently requested that the FCC dismiss its petition. However, the petition remains pending with the FCC.
Nexstar and Mission filed renewal of license applications for their stations between June 2004 and April 2008. The majority of these applications, including the WCIA, KOZL and KOLR applications discussed above, remain pending with the FCC. Once a renewal application is timely filed, a station may continue to operate under its license even if its expiration date has passed. We and Mission expect the FCC to renew the licenses for our stations in due course but cannot provide any assurances that the FCC will do so.
The loss of the services of our chief executive officer could disrupt management of our business and impair the execution of our business strategies.
We believe that our success depends upon our ability to retain the services of Perry A. Sook, our founder and President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Sook has been instrumental in determining our strategic direction and focus. The loss of Mr. Sook’s services could adversely affect our ability to manage effectively our overall operations and successfully execute current or future business strategies.
Our growth may be limited if we are unable to implement our acquisition strategy.
We intend to continue our growth by selectively pursuing acquisitions of television stations. The television broadcast industry is undergoing consolidation, which may reduce the number of acquisition targets and increase the purchase price of future acquisitions. Some of our competitors may have greater financial or management resources with which to pursue acquisition targets. Therefore, even if we are successful in identifying attractive acquisition targets, we may face considerable competition and our acquisition strategy may not be successful.
FCC rules and policies may also make it more difficult for us to acquire additional television stations. Television station acquisitions are subject to the approval of the FCC and, potentially, other regulatory authorities. FCC rules limit the number of television stations a company may own, and those rules are subject to change. The need for FCC and other regulatory approvals could restrict our ability to consummate future transactions if, for example, the FCC or other government agencies believe that a proposed transaction would result in excessive concentration in a market, even if the proposed combinations may otherwise comply with FCC ownership limitations.
Growing our business through acquisitions involves risks and if we are unable to manage effectively our growth, our operating results will suffer.
Since January 1, 2003, we have more than doubled the number of stations that we own, operate, program or provide sales and other services to, having acquired 23 stations and contracted to provide service to 10 additional stations. We will continue to actively pursue additional acquisition opportunities. To manage effectively our growth and address the increased reporting requirements and administrative demands that will result from future acquisitions, we will need, among other things, to continue to develop our financial and management controls and management information systems. We will also need to continue to identify, attract and retain highly skilled finance and management personnel. Failure to do any of these tasks in an efficient and timely manner could seriously harm our business.
There are other risks associated with growing our business through acquisitions. For example, with any past or future acquisition, there is the possibility that:
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we may not be able to successfully reduce costs, increase advertising revenue or audience share or realize anticipated synergies and economies of scale with respect to any acquired station;
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an acquisition may increase our leverage and debt service requirements or may result in our assuming unexpected liabilities;
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our management may be reassigned from overseeing existing operations by the need to integrate the acquired business;
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• we may experience difficulties integrating operations and systems, as well as company policies and cultures;
• we may fail to retain and assimilate employees of the acquired business; and
• problems may arise in entering new markets in which we have little or no experience.
The occurrence of any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, particularly during the period immediately following any acquisition.
FCC actions may restrict our ability to create duopolies under local service agreements, which would harm our existing operations and impair our acquisition strategy.
In some of our markets, we have created duopolies by entering into what we refer to as local service agreements. While these agreements take varying forms, a typical local service agreement is an agreement between two separately owned television stations serving the same market, whereby the owner of one station provides operational assistance to the other station, subject to ultimate editorial and other controls being exercised by the latter station’s owner. By operating or entering into local service agreements with more than one station in a market, we (and the other station) achieve significant operational efficiencies. We also broaden our audience reach and enhance our ability to capture more advertising spending in a given market.
While all of our existing local service agreements comply with FCC rules and policies, the FCC may not continue to permit local service agreements as a means of creating duopoly-type opportunities.
On August 2, 2004, the FCC initiated a rule making proceeding to determine whether to make TV joint sales agreements attributable under its ownership rules. Comments and reply comments were filed in this proceeding in the fourth quarter of 2004. The FCC has not yet issued a decision in this proceeding.
In addition, the FCC is required by statute to review its media ownership rules every four years and to eliminate those rules it finds no longer serve the “public interest, convenience and necessity”. The FCC initiated its statutory review of its ownership rules in May 2010, and in December 2011 it issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in that review. The NPRM specifically requests comment on shared services agreements and other joint operating arrangements between television stations, and whether such agreements should be considered attributable. We believe the FCC will continue its review during 2012 but we cannot predict when the FCC will issue a decision on any proposed rule changes. However, if the FCC adopts a joint sales agreement attribution rule, or any other new or modified rule affecting the ownership of or local service agreements between television stations, we will be required to comply with such rules.
The FCC may decide to terminate “grandfathered” time brokerage agreements.
The FCC attributes time brokerage agreements and local marketing agreements (“TBAs”) to the programmer under its ownership limits if the programmer provides more than 15% of a station’s weekly broadcast programming. However, TBAs entered into prior to November 5, 1996 are exempt attributable interests for now.
The FCC will review these “grandfathered” TBAs in the future. During this review, the FCC may determine to terminate the “grandfathered” period and make all TBAs fully attributable to the programmer. If the FCC does so, we and Mission will be required to terminate the TBAs for stations WFXP and KHMT unless the FCC simultaneously changes its duopoly rules to allow ownership of two stations in the applicable markets.
The level of foreign investments held by our principal stockholder, ABRY Partners, LLC and its affiliated funds (“ABRY”), may limit additional foreign investments made in us.
The Communications Act limits the extent of non-U.S. ownership of companies that own U.S. broadcast stations. Under this restriction, a U.S. broadcast company such as ours may have no more than 25% non-U.S. ownership (by vote and by equity). Because our majority shareholder, ABRY, has a substantial level of foreign investment, the amount of additional foreign investment that may be made in us is limited to approximately 12% of our total outstanding equity.
The interest of our principal stockholder, ABRY, in other media may limit our ability to acquire television stations in particular markets, restricting our ability to execute our acquisition strategy.
The number of television stations we may acquire in any market is limited by FCC rules and may vary depending upon whether the interests in other television stations or other media properties of persons affiliated with us are attributable under FCC rules. The broadcast or other media interests of our officers, directors and stockholders with 5% or greater voting power are generally attributable under the FCC’s rules, which may limit us from acquiring or owning television stations in particular markets while those officers, directors or stockholders are associated with us. In addition, the holder of otherwise non-attributable equity and/or debt in a licensee in excess of 33% of the total debt and equity of the licensee will be attributable where the holder is either a major program supplier to that licensee or the holder has an attributable interest in another broadcast station or daily newspaper in the same market.
ABRY, our principal stockholder, is one of the largest private firms specializing in media and broadcasting investments. As a result of ABRY’s interest in us, we could be prevented from acquiring broadcast companies in markets where ABRY has an attributable interest in television stations or other media, which could impair our ability to execute our acquisition strategy. Our certificate of incorporation allows ABRY and its affiliates to identify, pursue and consummate additional acquisitions of television stations or other broadcast-related businesses that may be complementary to our business and therefore such acquisition opportunities may not be available to us.
We are controlled by one principal stockholder, ABRY, and its interests may differ from your interests.
As a result of ABRY’s controlling interest in us, ABRY is able to exercise a controlling influence over our business and affairs. ABRY is able to unilaterally determine the outcome of any matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including the election and removal of directors and the approval of any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, five of our directors are or were affiliated with ABRY. ABRY’s interests may differ from the interests of other security holders and ABRY could take actions or make decisions that are not in the best interests of our security holders. Furthermore, this concentration of ownership by ABRY may have the effect of impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving us or discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer for our shares.
Our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, debt instruments and Delaware law contain anti-takeover protections that may discourage or prevent a takeover of us, even if an acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders.
Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, could delay or make it more difficult to remove incumbent directors or for a third party to acquire us, even if a takeover would benefit our stockholders. The provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws:
• authorize the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock by our board of directors without a stockholder vote;
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do not permit cumulative voting in the election of directors, which would otherwise allow less than a majority of stockholders to elect director candidates; and
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• set forth specific advance notice procedures for matters to be raised at stockholder meetings.
The Delaware General Corporation Law prohibits us from engaging in “business combinations” with “interested shareholders” (with some exceptions) unless such transaction is approved in a prescribed manner. The existence of this provision could have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for our common stock.
In addition, a change in control would be an event of default under our senior secured credit facility and trigger the rights of holders of our publicly-traded notes to cause us to repurchase such notes. These events would add to the cost of an acquisition, which could deter a third party from acquiring us.
We and Mission have a material amount of goodwill and intangible assets, and therefore we and Mission could suffer losses due to future asset impairment charges.
As of December 31, 2011, $335.6 million, or 56.4%, of our and Mission’s combined total assets consisted of goodwill and intangible assets, including FCC licenses and network affiliation agreements. We recorded an impairment charge of $16.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2009 that included an impairment to the carrying values of FCC licenses of $8.8 million, related to 19 of our stations and an impairment to the carrying values of goodwill of $7.4 million, related to four reporting units consisting of five of our stations. We and Mission test goodwill and FCC licenses annually, and on an interim date if factors or indicators become apparent that would require an interim test of these assets, in accordance with accounting and disclosure requirements for goodwill and other intangible assets. We and Mission test network affiliation agreements whenever circumstances or indicators become apparent the asset may not be recoverable through expected future cash flows. The methods used to evaluate the impairment of Nexstar’s and Mission’s goodwill and intangible assets would be affected by a significant reduction in operating results or cash flows at one or more of Nexstar’s and Mission’s television stations, or a forecast of such reductions, a significant adverse change in the advertising marketplaces in which Nexstar’s and Mission’s television stations operate, the loss of network affiliations, or by adverse changes to FCC ownership rules, among others, which may be beyond our or Mission’s control. If the carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets is revised downward due to impairment, such non-cash charge could materially affect Nexstar’s and Mission’s financial position and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Industry
Our operating results are dependent on advertising revenue and as a result, we may be more vulnerable to economic downturns and other factors beyond our control than businesses not dependent on advertising.
We derive revenue primarily from the sale of advertising time. Our ability to sell advertising time depends on numerous factors that may be beyond our control, including:
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the health of the economy in the local markets where our stations are located and in the nation as a whole;
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the popularity of our programming;
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fluctuations in pricing for local and national advertising;
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the activities of our competitors, including increased competition from other forms of advertising-based media, particularly newspapers, cable television, Internet and radio;
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the decreased demand for political advertising in non-election years; and
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changes in the makeup of the population in the areas where our stations are located.
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Because businesses generally reduce their advertising budgets during economic recessions or downturns, the reliance upon advertising revenue makes our operating results particularly susceptible to prevailing economic conditions. Our programming may not attract sufficient targeted viewership, and we may not achieve favorable ratings. Our ratings depend partly upon unpredictable and volatile factors beyond our control, such as viewer preferences, competing programming and the availability of other entertainment activities. A shift in viewer preferences could cause our programming not to gain popularity or to decline in popularity, which could cause our advertising revenue to decline. In addition, we and the programming providers upon which we rely may not be able to anticipate, and effectively react to, shifts in viewer tastes and interests in our markets.
Because a high percentage of our operating expenses are fixed, a relatively small decrease in advertising revenue could have a significant negative impact on our financial results.
Our business is characterized generally by high fixed costs, primarily for debt service, broadcast rights and personnel. Other than commissions paid to our sales staff and outside sales agencies, our expenses do not vary significantly with the increase or decrease in advertising revenue. As a result, a relatively small change in advertising prices could have a disproportionate effect on our financial results. Accordingly, a minor shortfall in expected revenue could have a significant negative impact on our financial results.
Preemption of regularly scheduled programming by network news coverage may affect our revenue and results of operations.
Nexstar may experience a loss of advertising revenue and incur additional broadcasting expenses due to preemption of our regularly scheduled programming by network coverage of a major global news event such as a war or terrorist attack. As a result, advertising may not be aired and the revenue for such advertising may be lost unless the station is able to run the advertising at agreed-upon times in the future. Advertisers may not agree to run such advertising in future time periods, and space may not be available for such advertising. The duration of such preemption of local programming cannot be predicted if it occurs. In addition, our stations and the stations we provide services to may incur additional expenses as a result of expanded news coverage of a war or terrorist attack. The loss of revenue and increased expenses could negatively affect our results of operations.
If we are unable to respond to changes in technology and evolving industry trends, our television businesses may not be able to compete effectively.
New technologies could also adversely affect our television stations. Information delivery and programming alternatives such as cable, direct satellite-to-home services, pay-per-view, the Internet, telephone company services, mobile devices, digital video recorders and home video and entertainment systems have fractionalized television viewing audiences and expanded the numbers and types of distribution channels for advertisers to access. Over the past decade, cable television programming services, other emerging video distribution platforms and the Internet have captured an increasing market share, while the aggregate viewership of the major television networks has declined. In addition, the expansion of cable and satellite television, the Internet and other technological changes have increased, and may continue to increase, the competitive demand for programming. Such increased demand, together with rising production costs, may increase our programming costs or impair our ability to acquire or develop desired programming.
In addition, video compression techniques, now in use with direct broadcast satellites, cable and wireless cable are expected to permit greater numbers of channels to be carried within existing bandwidth. These compression techniques as well as other technological developments are applicable to all video delivery systems, including over-the-air broadcasting, and have the potential to provide vastly expanded programming to 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, resulting in more audience fractionalization. This ability to reach very narrowly defined audiences may alter the competitive dynamics for advertising expenditures. We are unable to predict the effect that these and other technological changes will have on the television industry or our results of operations.
The FCC can sanction us for programming broadcast on our stations which it finds to be indecent.
In 2004, the FCC began to impose substantial fines on television broadcasters for the broadcast of indecent material in violation of the Communications Act and its rules. The FCC also revised its indecency review analysis to more strictly prohibit the use of certain language on broadcast television. In one of several judicial appeals of FCC enforcement actions, a Federal court in July 2010 held the FCC’s indecency standards to be unconstitutionally vague under the First Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed to review that decision and heard oral argument in the case in January 2012. Because our and Mission’s stations’ programming is in large part comprised of programming provided by the networks with which the stations are affiliated, we and Mission do not have full control over what is broadcast on our stations, and we and Mission may be subject to the imposition of fines if the FCC finds such programming to be indecent. Fines may be imposed on a television broadcaster for an indecency violation to a maximum of $325,000 per violation.
Intense competition in the television industry could limit our growth and impair our ability to become profitable.
As a television broadcasting company, we face a significant level of competition, both directly and indirectly. Generally we compete for our audience against all the other leisure activities in which one could choose to engage rather than watch television. Specifically, stations we own or provide services to compete for audience share, programming and advertising revenue with other television stations in their respective markets and with other advertising media, including newspapers, radio stations, cable television, DBS systems and the Internet.
The entertainment and television industries are highly competitive and are undergoing a period of consolidation. Many of our current and potential competitors have greater financial, marketing, programming and broadcasting resources than we do. The markets in which we operate are also in a constant state of change arising from, among other things, technological improvements and economic and regulatory developments. Technological innovation and the resulting proliferation of television entertainment, such as cable television, wireless cable, satellite-to-home distribution services, pay-per-view, home video and entertainment systems and Internet and mobile distribution of video programming have fractionalized television viewing audiences and have subjected free over-the-air television broadcast stations to increased competition. We may not be able to compete effectively or adjust our business plans to meet changing market conditions. We are unable to predict what form of competition will develop in the future, the extent of the competition or its possible effects on our business.
The FCC could implement regulations or Congress could adopt legislation that might have a significant impact on the operations of the stations we own and the stations we provide services to or the television broadcasting industry as a whole.
The FCC has initiated proceedings to determine whether to make TV joint sales agreements and shared services agreements attributable interests under its ownership rules; to determine whether it should establish more detailed criteria and additional recordkeeping and reporting obligations with respect to broadcasters’ requirements to serve the local public interest; to determine whether to require TV stations to maintain their public inspection files online (with additional information disclosed); and to determine whether to modify or eliminate certain of its broadcast ownership rules, including the radio-television cross-ownership rule and the newspaper-television cross-ownership rule. Changes to any of these rules may have significant impact on us and the stations to which we provide services.
In addition, the FCC has sought comment on whether there are alternatives to the use of DMAs to define local markets such that certain viewers whose current DMAs straddle multiple states would be provided with more in-state broadcast programming. If the FCC determines to modify the use of existing DMAs to determine a station’s local market, such change might materially alter current station operations and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The FCC also may decide to initiate other new rule making proceedings on its own or in response to requests from outside parties, any of which might have such an impact. Congress also may act to amend the Communications Act in a manner that could impact our stations and the stations we provide services to or the television broadcast industry in general.
The FCC may reallocate some portion of the spectrum available for use by television broadcasters to wireless broadband use which alteration could substantially impact our future operations and may reduce viewer access to our programming.
The FCC has initiated various proceedings to assess the availability of spectrum to meet future wireless broadband needs. The FCC’s March 2010 “National Broadband Plan” recommends the reallocation of 120 megahertz of the spectrum currently used for broadcast television for wireless broadband use. The FCC has thus far requested comment on proposals that include, among other things, whether to add new frequency allocations in the television bands for licensed fixed and mobile wireless uses, whether to permit two television stations to share a single 6 megahertz channel and whether to implement technical rule modifications to improve the viability of certain channels that are underutilized by digital television stations. In February 2012, Congress adopted legislation authorizing the FCC to conduct incentive auctions whereby spectrum holders, including television broadcasters, could voluntarily relinquish all or part of their spectrum in exchange for consideration. A reallocation of television spectrum for wireless broadband use would likely involve a “repacking” of the television broadcast band, which would require some television stations to change channel or otherwise modify their technical facilities. Future steps to reallocate television spectrum to broadband use may be to the detriment of our investment in digital facilities, could require substantial additional investment to continue our current operations, and may require viewers to invest in additional equipment or subscription services to continue receiving broadcast television signals. We cannot predict the timing or results of television spectrum reallocation efforts or their impact to our business.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
Nexstar owns and leases facilities in the following locations:
Station Metropolitan Area and Use
|
Owned or Leased
|
Approximate Size
|
Expiration of Lease
|
WBRE—Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
0.80 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
49,556 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Office-Studio—Williamsport News Bureau
|
Leased
|
460 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
Office-Studio—Stroudsburg News Bureau
|
Leased
|
320 Sq. Ft.
|
12/31/12
|
Office-Studio—Scranton News Bureau
|
Leased
|
1,627 Sq. Ft.
|
11/30/13
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Williamsport
|
33% Owned
|
1.33 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Sharp Mountain
|
33% Owned
|
0.23 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Blue Mountain
|
100% Owned
|
0.998 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Penobscot Mountain
|
100% Owned
|
20 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Pimple Hill
|
Leased
|
400 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
|
|
|
|
KARK/KARZ—Little Rock-Pine Bluff, AR
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
Leased
|
34,835 Sq. Ft.
|
3/31/22
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
40 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
1 Sq. Ft.
|
4/30/16
|
|
|
|
|
KTAL—Shreveport, LA
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
2 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
16,000 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Equipment Building—Texarkana
|
100% Owned
|
0.0808 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio—Texarkana
|
Leased
|
2,941 Sq. Ft.
|
9/30/13
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
109 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
2,284 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WROC—Rochester, NY
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
3.9 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
48,864 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
0.24 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
2,400 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
50% Owned
|
1.90 Acres
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WCIA/WCIX—Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, IL
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
20,000 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
1.5 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio—Sales Bureau
|
Leased
|
1,600 Sq. Ft.
|
1/31/12
|
Office-Studio—News Bureau
|
Leased
|
350 Sq. Ft.
|
2/28/13
|
Office-Studio—Decatur News Bureau
|
Leased
|
300 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
Roof Top & Boiler Space—Danville Tower
|
Leased
|
20 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—WCIA Tower
|
100% Owned
|
38.06 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Springfield Tower
|
100% Owned
|
2.0 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Dewitt Tower
|
100% Owned
|
1.0 Acres
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WMBD—Peoria-Bloomington, IL
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
0.556 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
18,360 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Building-Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
2,350 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Building-Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
800 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
34.93 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
1.0 Acres
|
—
|
Station Metropolitan Area and Use
|
|
|
|
KBTV—Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
Leased
|
7,861 Sq. Ft.
|
1/31/13
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
40 Acres
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WTWO—Terre Haute, IN
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
4.774 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio—Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
17,375 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WJET—Erie, PA
|
|
|
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
2 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
9.87 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
15,533 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
KFDX—Wichita Falls, TX—Lawton, OK
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio-Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
28.06 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
13,568 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
KSNF—Joplin, MO-Pittsburg, KS
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
13.36 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
13,169 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
900 Sq. Ft.
|
3/31/12
|
|
|
|
|
KMID—Odessa-Midland, TX
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
1.127 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
14,000 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
69.87 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
0.322 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
.29 Acres
|
12/1/23
|
|
|
|
|
KTAB—Abilene-Sweetwater, TX
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (1)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
25.55 Acres
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
KQTV—St Joseph, MO
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
3 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
15,100 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
9,360 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Offsite Storage
|
Leased
|
130 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
|
|
|
|
WDHN—Dothan, AL
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio—Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
10 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
7,812 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
KLST—San Angelo, TX
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
7.31 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
8 Acres
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WHAG—Washington, DC/Hagerstown, MD
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
Leased
|
12,000 Sq. Ft.
|
6/30/12
|
Sales Office-Frederick
|
Leased
|
885 Sq. Ft.
|
3/31/16
|
Office-Studio—Berryville News Bureau
|
Leased
|
700 Sq. Ft.
|
7/31/13
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
11.2 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
Station Metropolitan Area and Use
|
|
|
|
WEHT—Evansville, IN
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio-Evanvsille, IN
|
100% Owned
|
1.834 Acres
|
––
|
Office-Studio-Evansville, IN
|
100% Owned
|
14,280 Sq. Ft.
|
––
|
Office-Studio-Henderson, KY
|
100% Owned
|
10.22 Acres
|
––
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
144 Sq. Ft.
|
2/28/14
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
144 Sq. Ft.
|
5/31/14
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
400 Sq. Ft.
|
1/31/12
|
|
|
|
|
KOZL—Springfield, MO
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (2)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Kimberling City
|
100% Owned
|
.25 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
0.5 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
|
|
|
|
WFFT—Fort Wayne, IN
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
21.84 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
0.5 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
|
|
|
|
KAMR—Amarillo, TX
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
26,000 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
110.2 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
Translator Site
|
Leased
|
0.5 Acres
|
Month to Month
|
|
|
|
|
KARD—Monroe, LA
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
14,450 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
26 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
80 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
|
|
|
|
KLBK—Lubbock, TX
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
11.5 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
0.5 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
|
|
|
|
WFXV—Utica, NY
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (3)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Burlington Flats
|
100% Owned
|
6.316 Acres
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WPNY–LP—Utica, NY
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (4)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
KSVI—Billings, MT
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
9,700 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
10 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
75 Sq. Ft.
|
6/30/11
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Coburn Road
|
Leased
|
75 Sq. Ft.
|
10/31/15
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
75 Sq. Ft.
|
12/31/22
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Rapeljie
|
Leased
|
1 Acre
|
2/1/11
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Hardin
|
Leased
|
1 Acre
|
12/1/14
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Columbus
|
Leased
|
75 Sq. Ft.
|
5/31/24
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Sarpy
|
Leased
|
75 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Rosebud
|
Leased
|
1 Acre
|
Year to Year
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Miles City
|
Leased
|
.25 Acre
|
3/23/15
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—McCullough Pks, WY
|
Leased
|
75 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
Station Metropolitan Area and Use
|
|
|
|
WCWJ—Jacksonville, FL
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
19,847 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Office-Studio—Tower Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
7.92 Acres
|
—
|
Building-Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
200 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WQRF—Rockford, IL
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (5)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
2,000 Sq. Ft.
|
5/12/21
|
|
|
|
|
KFTA/KNWA—Fort Smith-Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR
|
|
|
|
Office—Fayetteville
|
Leased
|
2,848 Sq. Ft.
|
4/30/15
|
Office—Rogers
|
Leased
|
1,612 Sq. Ft.
|
7/31/13
|
Office-Studio—Fayetteville
|
Leased
|
6,512 Sq. Ft.
|
3/31/15
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
216 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
3.7 Acres
|
7/31/15
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
1.61 Acres
|
—
|
Microwave Relay Site
|
100% Owned
|
166 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Microwave Site
|
Leased
|
216 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
|
|
|
|
WTAJ–Altoona-Johnstown, PA
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
Leased
|
22,367 Sq. Ft.
|
5/31/14
|
Office-Johnstown
|
Leased
|
672 Sq. Ft.
|
2/28/14
|
Office-State College Bureau
|
Leased
|
2,915 Sq. Ft.
|
2/28/13
|
Office-Dubois Bureau
|
Leased
|
315 Sq. Ft.
|
7/31/13
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Owned
|
4,400 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WFRV/WJMN-Green Bay-Appleton, WI and Marquette, MI
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
Owned
|
19,200 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Office-Marquette Bureau
|
Leased
|
125 Sq. Ft.
|
2/28/12
|
Tower/Transmitter Site-De Pere
|
Owned
|
8.8 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site-Rapid River
|
Owned
|
1.0 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site-Paper Valley
|
Leased
|
4 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
Tower/Transmitter Site-Oshkosh Museum
|
Leased
|
4 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate Office—Irving, TX
|
Leased
|
18,168 Sq. Ft.
|
12/31/13
|
GoLocal.Biz Office—St. George, UT
|
Leased
|
1,860 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
Corporate Office Offsite Storage—Dallas, TX
|
Leased
|
475 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
(1)
|
The office space and studio used by KTAB are owned by KRBC.
|
(2)
|
The office space and studio used by KOZL are owned by KOLR.
|
(3)
|
The office space and studio used by WFXV are owned by WUTR.
|
(4)
|
The office space and studio used by WPNY-LP are owned by WUTR.
|
(5)
|
The office space and studio used by WQRF are owned by WTVO.
|
Mission owns and leases facilities in the following locations:
|
|
|
|
Station Metropolitan Area and Use
|
Owned or Leased
|
Approximate Size
|
Expiration of Lease
|
WYOU—Wilkes Barre-Scranton, PA
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (1)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Penobscot Mountain
|
100% Owned
|
120.33 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Bald Mountain
|
100% Owned
|
7.2 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Williamsport
|
33% Owned
|
1.35 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Sharp Mountain
|
33% Owned
|
0.23 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Stroudsburg
|
Leased
|
10,000 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
|
|
|
|
WAWV—Terre Haute, IN
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (2)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
1 Acre
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WFXP—Erie, PA
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (3)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site (3)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
KJTL/KJBO-LP—Wichita Falls, TX—Lawton, OK
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (4)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
40 Acres
|
1/30/15
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
5 Acres
|
Year to Year
|
|
|
|
|
KODE—Joplin, MO-Pittsburg, KS
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
2.74 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
215 Sq. Ft.
|
4/30/27
|
|
|
|
|
KRBC—Abilene-Sweetwater, TX
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
5.42 Acres
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
19,312 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site (9)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
KTVE—Monroe, LA/El Dorado, AR
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (10)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
2 Acres
|
4/30/32
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—El Dorado
|
Leased
|
3 Acres
|
4/30/32
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Bolding
|
Leased
|
11.5 Acres
|
4/30/32
|
|
|
|
|
KSAN—San Angelo, TX
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (5)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
10 Acres
|
5/15/15
|
|
|
|
|
KOLR—Springfield, MO
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
30,000 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
7 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
0.5 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
|
|
|
|
KCIT/KCPN-LP—Amarillo, TX
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (6)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
100 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Parmer County, TX
|
Leased
|
80 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Guyman, OK
|
Leased
|
80 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Curry County, NM
|
Leased
|
6 Acres
|
Month to Month
|
Station Metropolitan Area and Use
|
|
|
|
KAMC—Lubbock, TX
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (7)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
40 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
1,200 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
|
|
|
|
KHMT—Billings, MT
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (8)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
4 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
|
|
|
|
WUTR—Utica, NY
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio
|
100% Owned
|
12,100 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
21 Acres
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site—Mohawk
|
Leased
|
48 Sq. Ft.
|
Month to Month
|
|
|
|
|
WTVO—Rockford, IL
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio-Tower/Transmitter Site
|
100% Owned
|
20,000 Sq. Ft.
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
WTVW-Evansville, IN
|
|
|
|
Office-Studio (11)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Tower/Transmitter Site
|
Leased
|
16.36 Acres
|
5/12/21
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate Office-Westlake, OH
|
Leased
|
640 Sq. Ft.
|
12/31/13
|
(1)
|
The office space and studio used by WYOU are owned by WBRE.
|
(2)
|
The office space and studio used by WAWV are owned by WTWO.
|
(3)
|
The office space, studio and tower used by WFXP are owned by WJET.
|
(4)
|
The office space and studio used by KJTL and KJBO-LP are owned by KFDX.
|
(5)
|
The office space and studio used by KSAN are owned by KLST.
|
(6)
|
The office space and studio used by KCIT/KCPN-LP are owned by KAMR.
|
(7)
|
The office space and studio used by KAMC are owned by KLBK.
|
(8)
|
The office space and studio used by KHMT are owned by KSVI.
|
(9)
|
The tower/transmitter used by KRBC is owned by KTAB.
|
(10)
|
The office space and studio used by KTVE are owned by KARD.
|
(11)
|
The office space and studio used by WTVW are owned by WEHT.
|
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, Nexstar and Mission are involved in litigation that arises from the ordinary course of business, such as contractual or employment disputes or other general actions. In the event of an adverse outcome of these legal proceedings, Nexstar and Mission believe the resulting liabilities would not have a material adverse effect on Nexstar’s or Mission’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
PART II
Item 5.
|
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
|
|
Market Prices; Record Holders and Dividends
|
Our Class A Common Stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “NXST.”
The following were the high and low sales prices of our Class A Common Stock for the periods indicated, as reported by NASDAQ:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st Quarter 2010
|
|
$ |
4.99 |
|
|
$ |
3.81 |
|
2nd Quarter 2010
|
|
$ |
7.56 |
|
|
$ |
4.35 |
|
3rd Quarter 2010
|
|
$ |
5.75 |
|
|
$ |
3.64 |
|
4th Quarter 2010
|
|
$ |
6.05 |
|
|
$ |
4.25 |
|
1st Quarter 2011
|
|
$ |
8.69 |
|
|
$ |
4.59 |
|
2nd Quarter 2011
|
|
$ |
9.26 |
|
|
$ |
6.40 |
|
3rd Quarter 2011
|
|
$ |
10.28 |
|
|
$ |
5.53 |
|
4th Quarter 2011
|
|
$ |
9.60 |
|
|
$ |
6.33 |
|
We had the following shares outstanding of common stock held by stockholders of record as of March 12, 2012:
|
|
|
Common—Class A
|
15,387,131
|
46(1)
|
Common—Class B
|
13,411,588
|
3
|
(1)
|
The majority of these shares are held in nominee names by brokers and other institutions on behalf of approximately 1,000 stockholders.
|
Our senior secured credit agreement prohibits us from paying more than an aggregate of $5.0 million in dividends to stockholders over the term of the agreement. We have not paid and do not expect to pay any dividends or distribution on our common stock for the foreseeable future. We currently expect to retain future earnings, if any, for use in the operation and expansion of our business.
|
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans as of December 31, 2011
|
|
|
Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of
outstanding options
|
|
|
Weighted average exercise
price of outstanding options
|
|
|
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance excluding securitiesreflected in column (a)
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
3,771,000 |
|
|
$ |
4.05 |
|
|
|
628,000 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total
|
|
|
3,771,000 |
|
|
$ |
4.05 |
|
|
|
628,000 |
|
For a more detailed description of our option plans and grants, we refer you to Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part IV, Item 15(a) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Comparative Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the total return of our Class A Common Stock based on closing prices for the period from December 31, 2006 through December 31, 2011 with the total return of the NASDAQ Composite Index and our peer index of pure play television companies. Our peer index consists of the following publicly traded companies: Gray Television, Inc., LIN TV Corp. and Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (the “Peer Group”). The graph assumes the investment of $100 in our Class A Common Stock and in both of the indices on December 31, 2006. The performance shown is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
|
|
12/31/06
|
|
|
12/31/07
|
|
|
12/31/08
|
|
|
12/31/09
|
|
|
12/31/10
|
|
|
12/31/11
|
|
Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. (NXST)
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
$ |
196.58 |
|
|
$ |
10.99 |
|
|
$ |
87.13 |
|
|
$ |
128.86 |
|
|
$ |
168.66 |
|
NASDAQ Composite Index
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
$ |
110.65 |
|
|
$ |
66.42 |
|
|
$ |
96.54 |
|
|
$ |
114.07 |
|
|
$ |
113.17 |
|
Peer Group
|
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
|
$ |
99.59 |
|
|
$ |
23.03 |
|
|
$ |
44.00 |
|
|
$ |
74.37 |
|
|
$ |
90.51 |
|
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
We derived the following statements of operations and cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 and balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 from our Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. We derived the following statements of operations and cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 and balance sheet data as of December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 from our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. This information should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included herein. Amounts below are presented in thousands, except per share amounts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement of Operations Data, for the years ended December 31:
|
|
|
|
Net revenue
|
|
$ |
306,491 |
|
|
$ |
313,350 |
|
|
$ |
251,979 |
|
|
$ |
284,919 |
|
|
$ |
266,801 |
|
Operating expenses (income):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Direct operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
81,657 |
|
|
|
78,322 |
|
|
|
77,233 |
|
|
|
78,287 |
|
|
|
74,128 |
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
105,167 |
|
|
|
100,891 |
|
|
|
89,525 |
|
|
|
90,468 |
|
|
|
86,773 |
|
Restructure Charge
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
670 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Non-cash contract termination fees
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
191 |
|
|
|
7,167 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Impairment of goodwill(1)
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
7,360 |
|
|
|
38,856 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Impairment of other intangible assets(1)
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
8,804 |
|
|
|
43,539 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Amortization of broadcast rights
|
|
|
23,389 |
|
|
|
21,481 |
|
|
|
25,263 |
|
|
|
20,423 |
|
|
|
21,457 |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
47,824 |
|
|
|
44,844 |
|
|
|
45,385 |
|
|
|
49,153 |
|
|
|
45,880 |
|
Gain on asset exchange
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(30 |
) |
|
|
(8,093 |
) |
|
|
(4,776 |
) |
|
|
(1,962 |
) |
Loss (gain) on asset disposal, net
|
|
|
461 |
|
|
|
294 |
|
|
|
(2,560 |
) |
|
|
(43 |
) |
|
|
(17 |
) |
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
|
47,993 |
|
|
|
67,548 |
|
|
|
8,201 |
|
|
|
(38,155 |
) |
|
|
40,542 |
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(53,004 |
) |
|
|
(54,266 |
) |
|
|
(39,182 |
) |
|
|
(48,117 |
) |
|
|
(54,508 |
) |
(Loss) gain on extinguishment of debt
|
|
|
(1,155 |
) |
|
|
(8,356 |
) |
|
|
18,567 |
|
|
|
2,897 |
|
|
|
— |
|
(Loss) income before income taxes
|
|
|
(6,166 |
) |
|
|
4,926 |
|
|
|
(12,414 |
) |
|
|
(83,375 |
) |
|
|
(13,966 |
) |
Income tax (expense) benefit
|
|
|
(5,725 |
) |
|
|
(6,741 |
) |
|
|
(200 |
) |
|
|
5,316 |
|
|
|
(5,807 |
) |
Net loss
|
|
$ |
(11,891 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,815 |
) |
|
$ |
(12,614 |
) |
|
$ |
(78,059 |
) |
|
$ |
(19,773 |
) |
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted
|
|
$ |
(0.42 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.06 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.44 |
) |
|
$ |
(2.75 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.70 |
) |
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted
|
|
|
28,626 |
|
|
|
28,434 |
|
|
|
28,427 |
|
|
|
28,423 |
|
|
|
28,401 |
|
Balance Sheet data, as of December 31:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
7,546 |
|
|
$ |
23,658 |
|
|
$ |
12,752 |
|
|
$ |
15,834 |
|
|
$ |
16,226 |
|
Working capital (deficit)
|
|
|
39,619 |
|
|
|
53,622 |
|
|
|
36,875 |
|
|
|
27,391 |
|
|
|
(11,472 |
) |
Net intangible assets and goodwill
|
|
|
335,602 |
|
|
|
339,040 |
|
|
|
362,762 |
|
|
|
390,540 |
|
|
|
494,092 |
|
Total assets
|
|
|
595,034 |
|
|
|
602,536 |
|
|
|
619,826 |
|
|
|
626,587 |
|
|
|
708,702 |
|
Total debt
|
|
|
640,361 |
|
|
|
643,100 |
|
|
|
670,374 |
|
|
|
662,117 |
|
|
|
681,176 |
|
Total stockholders’ deficit
|
|
|
(183,404 |
) |
|
|
(175,165 |
) |
|
|
(176,263 |
) |
|
|
(165,156 |
) |
|
|
(89,390 |
) |
Statement of Cash Flows data, for the years ended December 31:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating activities
|
|
$ |
40,340 |
|
|
$ |
59,268 |
|
|
$ |
22,993 |
|
|
$ |
60,648 |
|
|
$ |
36,987 |
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
(54,579 |
) |
|
|
(13,340 |
) |
|
|
(35,590 |
) |
|
|
(38,492 |
) |
|
|
(18,608 |
) |
Financing activities
|
|
|
(1,873 |
) |
|
|
(35,022 |
) |
|
|
9,515 |
|
|
|
(22,548 |
) |
|
|
(13,332 |
) |
Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from asset sales
|
|
|
13,316 |
|
|
|
13,799 |
|
|
|
18,838 |
|
|
|
30,687 |
|
|
|
18,221 |
|
Cash payments for broadcast rights
|
|
|
10,149 |
|
|
|
9,870 |
|
|
|
9,315 |
|
|
|
8,239 |
|
|
|
8,376 |
|
(1)
|
The Company recognized impairment charges on goodwill and FCC licenses during the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 and on network affiliation agreements for the year ended December 31, 2008. See Note 5 of our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
|
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with Item 6. “Selected Financial Data” and our Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included in Part IV, Item 15(a) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
As a result of our deemed controlling financial interest in Mission, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we consolidate the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Mission as if it were a wholly-owned entity. We believe this presentation is meaningful for understanding our financial performance. Refer to Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our determination that we are required to consolidate Mission’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows under the authoritative guidance for variable interest entities. Therefore, the following discussion of our financial position and results of operations includes Mission’s financial position and results of operations.
Executive Summary
|
•
|
Net revenue decreased 2.2% during 2011 compared to 2010. Political advertising decreased by $33.0 million, which was partially offset by the acquisitions of WFRV, WJMN and WEHT along with increases in eMedia advertising revenue and retransmission compensation.
|
|
•
|
On July 1, 2011, we acquired the assets of WFRV and WJMN, the CBS affiliates serving the Green Bay, Wisconsin and Marquette, Michigan markets, respectively, from an affiliate of Liberty Media Corporation for $19.1 million in cash and the issuance of 334,292 shares of our Class A common stock, valued at $2.4 million. The cash consideration was funded by borrowing from the revolver under our senior secured credit facility.
|
|
•
|
On December 1, 2011, we acquired the assets of WEHT, the ABC affiliate serving the Evansville, Indiana market, from Gilmore Broadcasting Corporation for $20.3 million in cash, funded with cash on hand and borrowings from our senior secured credit agreement. In addition, on December 1, 2011, Nexstar sold the FCC licenses, broadcast rights and related liabilities and certain equipment of WTVW to Mission for $6.7 million in cash and entered into local service agreements with Mission for WTVW, similar to Nexstar’s existing local service arrangements with Mission.
|
|
•
|
We and Mission renewed our affiliation agreements with ABC through June 2017 for all nine of the Company’s ABC stations. Additionally, Mission signed an agreement with ABC for affiliation of its station in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Terre Haute station, previously the FOX affiliate WFXW, launched with ABC on September 1, 2011 as WAWV.
|
|
•
|
On July 1, 2011, WTVW, the Evansville, Indiana station, launched LOCAL 7, an independent station. WTVW’s FOX affiliation agreement terminated on June 30, 2011. On August 1, 2011, WFFT, our Ft. Wayne, Indiana owned and operated station, launched WFFT LOCAL, an independent station. WFFT’s FOX affiliation agreement terminated on July 31, 2011. On September 1, 2011, KSFX, our Springfield, Missouri owned and operated station, launched OZARKS LOCAL, an independent station, with the call letters KOZL. KSFX’s FOX affiliation agreement terminated on August 31, 2011. We and Mission renewed our affiliation agreements with FOX through December 2013 for all 9 of the Company’s remaining FOX affiliate stations.
|
|
•
|
On September 26, 2011, we launched 10 new digital multicasts as affiliates of Bounce TV network, the first broadcast television network targeting African-American audiences.
|
|
•
|
In June 2011, our Board of Directors retained Moelis & Company as its financial advisor to assist with the exploration and evaluation of strategic alternatives intended to maximize stockholder value, including a possible sale of Nexstar. We have not made a decision to pursue any specific strategic transaction or other strategic alternative and there is no set timetable for the process, so there can be no assurance that the exploration of strategic alternatives will result in a sale of Nexstar or any other transaction.
|
|
•
|
On January 3, 2012, Four Points sold their stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group. We served Four Points’ seven stations in four markets through a management services agreement, which comprised our management fee revenue. The management services agreement terminated upon the closing of the sale. On January 3, 2012, we received a payment of $6.7 million which included our management incentive fee earned for the year ended December 31, 2011 and a contract termination fee of $1.9 million, which will be recognized in the first quarter of 2012.
|
|
•
|
In April 2011, we amended our senior secured credit facility, adding $50 million to our term loan, which was used to repurchase various outstanding notes, as discussed below.
|
|
•
|
During 2011, we and Mission made various borrowings of our revolving loans in our senior secured credit facilities, primarily related to acquisitions. During 2011, we also made payments on such revolving loans, funded through operating cash flow. The Company’s net borrowing of revolving loans for the year was $24.3 million.
|
|
•
|
During 2011, we redeemed and repurchased the $45.9 million remaining balance of our 11.375% senior discount notes due 2013 (“11.375% Notes”) at prices from 100% to 102%, resulting in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.7 million.
|
|
•
|
During 2011, we repurchased $24.2 million of our outstanding 7% senior subordinated PIK notes due 2014 (“7% PIK Notes”) at prices from 97.75% to 100.5%, resulting in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.3 million.
|
|
•
|
During 2011, we repurchased $7.5 million of our outstanding 7% senior subordinated notes due 2014 (“7% Notes”) at prices from 98.25% to 100.5%, resulting in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million.
|
Overview of Operations
We owned and operated 36 television stations as of December 31, 2011. Through various local service agreements, we programmed or provided sales and other services to 19 additional television stations and four digital multicast channels, including 17 television stations and four digital multicast channels owned and operated by Mission as of December 31, 2011. All of the stations that we program or provide sales and other services to, including Mission, are 100% owned by independent third parties.
The following table summarizes the various local service agreements we had in effect as of December 31, 2011 with Mission:
|
|
TBA Only(1)
|
WFXP and KHMT
|
SSA & JSA(2)
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KJTL, KJBO-LP, KOLR, KCIT, KCPN-LP, KAMC, KRBC, KSAN, WUTR, WAWV, WYOU, KODE, WTVO, KTVE and WTVW
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(1)
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We have a time brokerage agreement (“TBA”) with each of these stations which allows us to program most of each station’s broadcast time, sell each station’s advertising time and retain the advertising revenue generated in exchange for monthly payments to Mission.
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(2)
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We have both a shared services agreement (“SSA”) and a joint sales agreement (“JSA”) with each of these stations. Each SSA allows the our station in the market to provide services including news production, technical maintenance and security, in exchange for our right to receive certain payments from Mission as described in the SSAs. Each JSA permits us to sell the station’s advertising time and retain a percentage of the station’s net advertising revenue, as described in the JSAs.
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Our ability to receive cash from Mission is governed by these local service agreements. Under the local service agreements, we have received substantially all of Mission’s available cash, after satisfaction of its operating costs and debt obligations. We anticipate we will continue to receive substantially all of Mission’s available cash, after satisfaction of its operating costs and debt obligations.
We also guarantee all obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility. Similarly, Mission is a guarantor of our senior secured credit facility and senior subordinated notes. In consideration of our guarantee of Mission’s senior secured credit facility, Mission has granted us purchase options to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to FCC consent, for an amount equal to the greater of (1) seven times the station’s cash flow, as defined in the option agreement, less the amount of its indebtedness as defined in the option agreement, or (2) the amount of its indebtedness. These option agreements expire on various dates between 2012 and 2021 and are freely exercisable or assignable by us without consent or approval by Mission. We expect these option agreements to be renewed upon expiration.
We do not own Mission or its television stations. However, we are deemed under U.S. GAAP to have a controlling financial interest in Mission because of (1) the local service agreements Nexstar has with the Mission stations, (2) Nexstar’s guarantee of the obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility, (3) Nexstar having power over significant activities affecting Mission’s economic performance, including budgeting for advertising revenue, advertising and hiring and firing of sales force personnel and (4) purchase options granted by Mission that permit Nexstar to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to FCC consent. In compliance with FCC regulations for both us and Mission, Mission maintains complete responsibility for and control over programming, finances and personnel for its stations.
The operating revenue of our stations is derived primarily from broadcast and website advertising revenue, which is affected by a number of factors, including the economic conditions of the markets in which we operate, the demographic makeup of those markets and the marketing strategy we employ in each market. Most advertising contracts are short-term and generally run for a few weeks. For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, revenue generated from local broadcast advertising represented 73.4% and 73.7%, respectively, of our consolidated spot revenue (total of local and national broadcast advertising revenue, excluding political advertising revenue). The remaining broadcast advertising revenue represents inventory sold for national or political advertising. All national and political revenue is derived from advertisements placed through advertising agencies. The agencies receive a commission rate of 15.0% of the gross amount of advertising schedules placed by them. While the majority of local spot revenue is placed by local agencies, some advertisers place their schedules directly with the stations’ local sales staff, thereby eliminating the agency commission. Each station also has an agreement with a national representative firm that provides for sales representation outside the particular station’s market. Advertising schedules received through the national representative firm are for national or large regional accounts that advertise in several markets simultaneously. National commission rates vary within the industry and are governed by each station’s agreement.
Most of our stations have a network affiliation agreement pursuant to which the network provides programming to the stations during specified time periods, including prime time. NBC and CBS compensate some of the stations for distributing the network’s programming over the air and for allowing the network to keep a portion of advertising inventory during those time periods. The affiliation agreements with ABC, FOX, MyNetworkTV, The CW and Bounce TV do not provide for compensation. In recent years, in conjunction with the renewal of affiliation agreements with NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX, network compensation is being eliminated and many of the networks are now seeking cash payments from their affiliates.
Each station acquires licenses to broadcast programming in non-news and non-network time periods. The licenses are either purchased from a program distributor for cash and/or the program distributor is allowed to sell some of the advertising inventory as compensation to eliminate or reduce the cash cost for the license. The latter practice is referred to as barter broadcast rights. The station records the estimated fair market value of the licenses, including any advertising inventory given to the program distributor, as a broadcast right asset and liability. Barter broadcast rights are recorded at management’s estimate of the value of the advertising time exchanged using historical advertising rates, which approximates the fair value of the program material received. The assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the license period or period of usage, whichever ends earlier. The cash broadcast rights liabilities are reduced by monthly payments while the barter liability is amortized over the same amortization period as the asset as barter revenue.
Our primary operating expenses consist of commissions on advertising revenue, employee compensation and benefits, newsgathering and programming costs. A large percentage of the costs involved in the operation of our stations and the stations we provide services to remains relatively fixed.
Seasonality
Advertising revenue is positively affected by national and regional political election campaigns and certain events such as the Olympic Games or the Super Bowl. The Company’s stations’ advertising revenue 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. In addition, advertising revenue is generally higher during even-numbered years, when state, congressional and presidential elections occur and from advertising aired during the Olympic Games. As 2011 was not an election year, we are reporting significantly less political advertising revenue in 2011 compared to 2010, which is consistent with our expectations.
Debt Transactions
On April 15, 2011, we entered into the Fourth Amendment to our Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The amendment expanded our Term Loan B by $50.0 million to $149.5 million, allowed the proceeds of the credit facility to be used to refinance our existing notes and retained our incremental term loan capacity of $100.0 million. The net proceeds of the additional Term Loan B funding were used to redeem the remaining balance of the 11.375% Notes, for additional repurchases of outstanding notes and for general corporate purposes. The additional $50.0 million Term Loan B was funded on May 15, 2011.
On July 29, 2011, we entered into the Fifth Amendment to our Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Mission entered into the Third Amendment to its Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The amendments, among other things, removed as an event of default the termination of more than three stations’ network affiliation agreements with major networks and lowered the maximum consolidated Nexstar Broadcasting and Mission total leverage ratio to 7.50 to 1.00 through December 30, 2012 and 6.50 to 1.00 thereafter.
On July 1, 2011, we borrowed $19.3 million of our revolving loan in our senior secured credit facility in connection with the acquisition of the assets of WFRV and WJMN. On December 1, 2011, we borrowed $13.3 million of our revolving loan in our senior secured credit facility in connection with the acquisition of the assets of WEHT and Mission borrowed $6.7 million of its revolving loan in its senior secured credit facility in connection with the acquisition of the FCC license, broadcast rights and related liabilities, and certain equipment of WTVW from Nexstar. Throughout 2011, Nexstar made various net repayments on its revolving loans, resulting in a consolidated revolving loan balance of $24.3 million as of December 31, 2011.
On January 15, 2011, Nexstar Holdings redeemed, on a pro rata basis, $12.5 million of its 11.375% Notes. Nexstar Holdings also repurchased $0.2 million outstanding 11.375% Notes in January 2011. Both transactions were priced at approximately 102%. On May 16, 2011, Nexstar Holdings redeemed the remaining $33.2 million balance of its 11.375% Notes at the redemption price of 100.0%. These transactions resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.7 million.
In the year ended December 31, 2011, Nexstar Broadcasting repurchased an aggregate of $24.2 million of its outstanding 7% PIK Notes at prices from 97.75% to 100.5%. These repurchases resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.3 million.
In the year ended December 31, 2011, Nexstar Broadcasting repurchased an aggregate of $7.5 million of its outstanding 7% Notes at prices from 98.25% to 100.5%. These repurchases resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.2 million.
Throughout 2011, we and Mission each paid the contractual maturities under our senior secured credit facilities, for a total payment of $1.4 million.
Historical Performance
Revenue
The following table sets forth the amounts of the Company’s principal types of revenue (in thousands) and each type of revenue (other than trade and barter) and agency commissions as a percentage of total gross revenue for the years ended December 31:
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Local
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$ |
181,569 |
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57.3 |
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$ |
173,901 |
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52.9 |
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$ |
157,429 |
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60.6 |
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National
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65,728 |
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20.8 |
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61,995 |
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18.8 |
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55,052 |
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21.2 |
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Political
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6,326 |
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2.0 |
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39,318 |
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12.0 |
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5,949 |
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2.3 |
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Retransmission compensation(1)
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37,393 |
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11.8 |
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29,911 |
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9.1 |
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24,252 |
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9.3 |
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eMedia revenue
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16,224 |
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5.1 |
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13,821 |
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4.2 |
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11,687 |
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4.5 |
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Network compensation
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987 |
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0.3 |
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2,050 |
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0.6 |
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2,136 |
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0.8 |
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Management fee
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6,189 |
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2.0 |
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5,674 |
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1.7 |
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1,758 |
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0.7 |
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Other
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2,307 |
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0.7 |
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2,270 |
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0.7 |
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1,644 |
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0.6 |
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Total gross revenue
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316,723 |
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100.0 |
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328,940 |
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100.0 |
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259,907 |
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100.0 |
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Less: Agency commissions
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(31,689 |
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(10.0 |
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(35,317 |
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(10.7 |
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(27,328 |
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(10.5 |
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Net broadcast revenue
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285,034 |
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90.0 |
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293,623 |
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89.3 |
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232,579 |
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89.5 |
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Trade and barter revenue
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21,457 |
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19,727 |
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19,400 |
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Net revenue
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$ |
306,491 |
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$ |
313,350 |
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$ |
251,979 |
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(1)
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Retransmission compensation consists of a per subscriber-based compensatory fee and excludes advertising revenue generated from retransmission consent agreements, which is included in gross local advertising revenue.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth a summary of the Company’s operations for the years ended December 31 and the components as a percentage of net revenue (dollars in thousands):
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Net revenue
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$ |
306,491 |
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100.0 |
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$ |
313,350 |
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100.0 |
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$ |
251,979 |
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100.0 |
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Operating expenses (income):
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Corporate expenses
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19,780 |
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6.4 |
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19,890 |
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6.3 |
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18,561 |
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7.4 |
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Station direct operating expenses, net of trade
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73,829 |
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24.1 |
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70,674 |
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22.6 |
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70,549 |
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28.0 |
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Selling, general and administrative expenses
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85,387 |
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27.9 |
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81,001 |
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25.8 |
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70,964 |
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28.2 |
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Impairment of goodwill
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— |
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