Note 3 - Acquisitions and Divestitures

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Notes to Financial Statements

Mergers, Acquisitions and Dispositions Disclosures [Text Block]

3. Acquisitions and Divestitures

During 2023, 2022 and 2021, we completed a number of acquisition and divestiture transactions. The acquisition transactions were and are expected to, among other things, increase our revenues and cash flows from operating activities, and allow us to operate more efficiently and effectively by increasing our scale and providing us, among other things, with the ability to negotiate more favorable terms in our agreements with third parties. For each television station described, the DMA rank presented is the DMA rank at the time of acquisition.

2023 Acquisition and Divestiture

On May 1, 2023, we and Marquee Broadcasting, Inc. (“Marquee”) completed transactions in which we sold television station KNIN (FOX) in the Boise, Idaho market (DMA 102) for $6 million, and purchased television station WPGA (MeTV) in the Macon, Georgia market (DMA 126) for $6 million.

The following table summarizes the values of the assets acquired of WPGA (in millions):

Property and equipment	$	2
Broadcast licenses		4
Total	$	6

These amounts are based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. In determining the fair value of the acquired assets, the fair values were determined based on, among other factors, expected future revenue and cash flows, expected future growth rates and estimated discount rates.

Property and equipment are recorded at their fair value and are being depreciated over their estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 40 years.

In this transaction, an immaterial amount of goodwill was acquired.

The sale of television station KNIN resulted in a loss on disposal of $14 million.

2022 Acquisition

On April 1, 2022, we acquired television station WKTB-TV the Telemundo Network Group, LLC affiliate in the Atlanta, Georgia market (DMA 6), as well as certain digital media assets, for a combined purchase price of $31 million, using cash on hand (the “Telemundo Atlanta Transaction”).

The following table summarizes the values of the assets acquired and resulting goodwill of the Telemundo Atlanta Transaction (in millions):

Accounts receivable, net	$	1
Property and equipment		1
Goodwill		10
Broadcast licenses		1
Network affiliation		14
Other intangible assets		4
Total	$	31

These amounts are based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. In determining the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, the fair values were determined based on, among other factors, expected future revenue and cash flows, expected future growth rates and estimated discount rates.

Property and equipment are recorded at their fair value and are being depreciated over their estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 40 years.

Amounts related to network affiliation and other intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives of approximately 1 to 4 years.

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, as well as future synergies that we expect to generate from each acquisition. The goodwill recognized related to this acquisition is deductible for income tax purposes.

In addition, we acquired broadcast licenses totaling approximately $27 million that did not qualify as acquisitions of businesses.

2021 Acquisitions

Meredith Transaction. On December 1, 2021, we completed the acquisition of all the equity interests of Meredith, immediately after the spinoff of Meredith’s National Media Group to the current Meredith shareholders, for an adjusted purchase price of $2.8 billion in total enterprise value. Meredith owned and operated television stations in 12 markets. To facilitate regulatory approvals for the Meredith Transaction, on September 23, 2021, we divested our existing television station WJRT (ABC) in the Flint-Saginaw, Michigan market (DMA 66), to Allen Media ("Allen") for an adjusted purchase price of $72 million in cash, including working capital (the “Flint Divestiture”). The Flint Divestiture resulted in a non-cash loss of $4 million. We refer to the acquisition of Meredith and the WJRT Divestiture collectively as the “Meredith Transaction”.

The following table lists the 17 television stations in 12 local markets that were acquired, adding 11 new markets to our operations:

Then-Current		Station Call	Network
DMA Rank	DMA	Letters	Affiliations
10	Atlanta, GA	WCGL/WPCH	CBS/Ind.
12	Phoenix, AZ	KPHO/KTVK	CBS/Ind.
23	St. Louis, MO	KMOV	CBS
26	Portland, OR	KPTV/KPDX	FOX/MY
28	Nashville, TN	WSMV	NBC
29	Hartford - New Haven, CT	WFSB	CBS
32	Kansas City, MO	KCTV/KSMO	CBS/MY
38	Greenville - Spartanburg, SC	WHNS	FOX
41	Las Vegas, NV	KVVU	FOX
60	Mobile, AL - Pensacola, FL	WALA	FOX
66	Flint - Saginaw, MI	WNEM	CBS
113	Springfield, MA	WGGB/WSHM	ABC/FOX/CBS

Quincy Transaction. On August 2, 2021, we completed the acquisition of all the equity interests of Quincy for an adjusted purchase price of $936 million, which amount includes an additional $6 million for working capital. Also on August 2, 2021, and concurrently with the acquisition of Quincy, we completed the divestiture to Allen of television stations in seven markets previously owned by Quincy and located in our existing television markets, for an adjusted divestiture price of $401 million, which amount includes $21 million for working capital (the “Quincy Divestiture”). Consistent with the acquisition of equity interests, for tax purposes, the divested stations recorded values included a deferred tax liability. Upon the subsequent sale, a tax gain was recognized and the deferred tax libility was relieved resulting in a book loss. The Quincy Divestiture resulted in a non-cash loss of $45 million, which is included in loss on disposal of assets, net in our consolidated statement of operations in the year ended December 31, 2021. We refer to the acquisition of Quincy and the Quincy Divestiture collectively as the “Quincy Transaction.”

The following table lists the stations acquired and retained, net of divestitures:

Then-Current		Station Call	Network
DMA Rank	DMA	Letters	Affiliations
103	Fort Wayne, IN	WPTA/WISE	ABC/NBC/CW
119	Peoria, IL	WEEK	NBC/ABC/CW
134	Duluth, MN, Superior, WI	KBJR/KDLH	NBC/CBS/CW
147	Sioux City, IA	KTIV	NBC/CW
152	Binghamton, NY	WBNG	CBS/CW
153	Rochester, MN - Mason City, IA	KTTC	NBC/CW
161	Bluefield-Beckley, WV	WVVA	NBC/CW
174	Quincy, IL	WGEM	NBC/FOX/CW

The following stations were acquired and divested in the Quincy Transaction:

Then-Current		Station Call	Network
DMA Rank	DMA	Letters	Affiliations
76	Madison, WI	WKOW	ABC
80	Tucson, AZ	KVOA	NBC
92	Paducah, KY - Harrisburg, IL	WSIL	ABC
94	Cedar Rapids, IA	KWWL	NBC
128	La Crosse-Eau Claire, WI	WXOW	ABC
135	Wausau-Stevens Point, WI	WAOW	ABC
136	Rockford, IL	WREX	NBC

The following table summarizes the allocation of consideration paid in the Quincy Transaction (in millions):

Adjusted purchase price	$	936
Less - consideration allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed for the Quincy overlap markets thatwere divested on August 2, 2021		383
Purchase consideration for assets acquired and liabilities assumed, net of divestitures	$	553

Third Rail Acquisition. On September 13, 2021, we acquired the studio, production and office facilities as well as the related production and administrative assets and liabilities of Third Rail Studios (“Third Rail”) from Third Rail Studios, LLC and Studio Sixty, LLC for an adjusted purchase price of $27 million of cash. We refer to this transaction as the “Third Rail Acquisition”. This transaction represents an initial step in the broader development of our planned studio production facilities.

Purchase Price Allocations. The following table summarizes the values of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and resulting goodwill of the Meredith Transaction, Quincy Transaction and the Third Rail Acquisition (together, the “2021 Acquisitions”), in millions:

	Meredith			Quincy			Third Rail			Total
Cash	$	1		$	4		$	-		$	5
Accounts receivable, net		146			23			-			169
Other current assets		15			5			-			20
Property and equipment		235			74			24			333
Operating lease right of use asset		15			1			-			16
Goodwill		1,016			190			4			1,210
Broadcast licenses		1,516			245			-			1,761
Other intangible assets		455			85			-			540
Other non-current assets		3			-			-			3
Other current liabilities		(104	)		(7	)		(1	)		(112	)
Deferred income taxes		(477	)		(66	)		-			(543	)
Operating lease liabilities		(15	)		(1	)		-			(16	)
Other non-current liabilities		(3	)		-			-			(3	)
Total	$	2,803		$	553		$	27		$	3,383

These amounts are based upon management’s estimate of the fair values using valuation techniques including income, cost and market approaches. In determining the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities, the fair values were estimated based on, among other factors, expected future revenue and cash flows, expected future growth rates and estimated discount rates.

Accounts receivable are recorded at their fair value representing the amount we expect to collect. Gross contractual amounts receivable were approximately $3 million more than their recorded fair value. Property and equipment are recorded at their fair value and are being depreciated over their estimated useful lives ranging from three years to 40 years. Amounts related to other intangible assets represent primarily the estimated fair values of retransmission agreements of $374 million, and network affiliation agreements of $136 million. These intangible assets are each being amortized over their estimated useful lives of approximately 5 years. Amounts related to other intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful lives of approximately 1 to 10 years.

Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, as well as future synergies that we expect to generate from each acquisition. A portion of the goodwill acquired in the Meredith and Quincy Transactions, in the amount of $89 million, will be deductible by us for income tax purposes.

In addition, we acquired broadcast licenses totaling approximately $4 million that did not qualify as acquisitions of businesses.

The Company’s consolidated results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 included the results of the Meredith Transaction beginning on December 1, 2021, the Quincy Transaction beginning on August 2, 2021 and the Third Rail Acquisition beginning on September 13, 2021. Revenues attributable to the 2021 Acquisitions included in our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $128 million.

The following table summarizes the approximate “Transaction Related Expenses” incurred in connection with the 2021 Acquisitions and the Flint Divestiture during the year ended December 31, 2021, by type and by financial statement line item (in millions):

	Year Ended
	December 31,
	2021
Transaction Related Expenses by type:
Legal, consulting and other professional fees	$	80
Termination of sales representation and other agreements		1
Total Transaction Related Expenses	$	81
Transaction Related Expenses by financial statement line item:
Operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and loss (gain) on disposal of assets, net:
Broadcasting	$	3
Corporate and administrative		71
Miscellaneous Expense		7
Total Transaction Related Expenses	$	81

Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information – 2021 Acquisitions. The following table sets forth certain unaudited pro forma information for the year December 31, 2021, assuming that the 2021 Acquisitions and the Flint Divestiture occurred on January 1, 2021 (in millions, except per share data):

	Year Ended
	December 31,
	2021
Revenue (less agency commissions)	$	3,153
Net income	$	199
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	147
Basic net income attributable to common stockholders, per share	$	1.55
Diluted net income attributable to common stockholders, per share	$	1.55

This pro forma financial information is based on our historical results of operations and the historical results of operations of the businesses acquired, net of divestitures, included in the 2021 Acquisitions and the Flint Divestiture, adjusted for the effects of fair value estimates and other acquisition accounting adjustments, and is not necessarily indicative of what our results would have been had we completed the 2021 Acquisitions and the Flint Divestiture, on January 1, 2021, or on any other historical date, nor is it reflective of our expected results of operations for any future period. The pro forma adjustments for the year ended December 31, 2021 reflect depreciation expense and amortization of finite-lived intangible assets related to the fair value of the assets acquired, Transaction Related Expenses and related tax effects of the adjustments. This pro forma financial information has been prepared based on estimates and assumptions that we believe are reasonable as of the date hereof, and are subject to change based on, among other things, changes in the fair value estimates or underlying assumptions.