LBI Media, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2010 Results

BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- LBI Media, Inc. reported its financial results today for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations incorporates restated financial results for the three and months ended June 30, 2009.  Due to our restatement for accounting errors relating to the classification and valuation of certain deferred tax accounts relating to our indefinite-lived intangible assets, all comparisons to June 30, 2009 contained within this press release reflect restated financial results.

For the three months ended June 30, 2010, net revenues increased by $2.6 million, or 9.4%, to $30.7 million, from $28.1 million for the same period in 2009.  Net revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2010 increased by $4.8 million, or 9.6%, to $54.3 million, from $49.5 million for the same period in 2009.

Commenting on the company’s earnings results, Lenard Liberman, Chief Executive Officer and President said, “Our second quarter results represent our second consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth, which was driven by improvement in our TV segment and by the performance of EstrellaTV, our national television network.

“We remain pleased with the performance and steady distribution gains of EstrellaTV.  Over the last three months, we have signed agreements with three new affiliates in Wichita, Kansas, Reno, Nevada and Tulsa, Oklahoma.  We also recently completed the purchase of television station KETD serving Denver, Colorado, the nation’s 15th largest Hispanic television market.  Upon completion of our purchase of selected television station assets in Chicago, the nation’s 6th largest Hispanic television market, EstrellaTV will be distributed in 35 markets covering over 76% of U.S. Hispanic television households.  We continue to be in active discussions with potential affiliation partners and are working to finalize a number of additional distribution platforms.

“EstrellaTV continues to deliver solid performance in the Nielsen ratings.  We ranked fourth among the many nationally rated Spanish language television networks in primetime for May sweeps in the adult demographics.  We expect our ratings performance to improve as we continue to invest in our internally-produced programming, add new affiliates and further expand our distribution platform.”

“Moving forward, we are focused on strengthening our programming lineup through the development and introduction of compelling content, securing further distribution gains for EstrellaTV, and positioning our radio and television broadcasting assets for growth as the advertising market recovers.”

Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2010

Net revenues increased by $2.6 million, or 9.4%, to $30.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $28.1 million for the same period in 2009.  The change was primarily attributable to increased advertising revenue in our television segment, partially offset by a modest decline in our radio segment.

Net revenues for our radio segment decreased by $0.3 million, or 1.7%, to $16.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $16.7 million for the same period in 2009.  

Net revenues for our television segment increased by $2.9 million, or 25.7%, to $14.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $11.4 million for the same period in 2009.  This increase was primarily attributable to increased advertising revenue in our television segment, reflecting incremental revenue from our EstrellaTV television network, as well as growth in our California and Texas markets.

Total operating expenses increased by $6.0 million, or 31.5%, to $25.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $19.2 million for the same period in 2009.  This increase was primarily attributable to a $4.9 million increase in program and technical expenses, and resulted from (1) an increase in amortization of capitalized costs related to the production of original programming content and the production of a new hit show that was not produced in the second quarter of 2009, and (2) incremental ratings service fees and satellite costs related to our EstrellaTV network.  The increase was also attributable to a $1.8 million increase in broadcast license and long-lived asset impairment charges, a $0.2 million increase in selling, general and administrative expenses and a $0.1 million increase in depreciation expense.  These increases were partially offset by a $1.0 million change in (gain) loss on sale and disposal of property and equipment.

Adjusted EBITDA(1) decreased by $2.4 million, or 20.1%, to $9.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, from $12.2 million for the same period in 2009.  The decrease was primarily the result of the increase in program and technical expenses, partially offset by increased advertising revenue in our television segment, as discussed above.

We recognized a net loss of $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to a net income of $0.5 million for the same period in 2009, a change of $1.8 million.  This change was primarily attributable to the increases in program and technical expenses and broadcast license and long-lived asset impairment charges, partially offset by higher net revenues, and lower income tax expenses, as noted above.

Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010

Net revenues increased by $4.8 million, or 9.6%, to $54.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, from $49.5 million for the same period in 2009.  The change was primarily attributable to increased advertising revenue in our television segment, partially offset by a modest decline in our radio segment.

Net revenues for our radio segment decreased by $0.2 million, or 0.8%, to $28.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, from $28.5 million for the same period in 2009.  

Net revenues for our television segment increased by $5.0 million, or 23.8%, to $26.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, from $21.0 million for the same period in 2009.  This increase was primarily attributable to increased advertising revenue in our television segment, reflecting incremental revenue from our EstrellaTV television network, as well as growth in our California and Texas markets.

Total operating expenses decreased by $44.9 million, or 50.4%, to $44.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $89.1 million for the same period in 2009.  This decrease was primarily the result of a $49.7 million reduction in broadcast license and long-lived asset impairment charges.  Excluding the impact of the impairment charges, total operating expenses increased by $4.8 million, or 12.6%, to $42.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  This increase was primarily attributable to a $7.4 million increase in program and technical expenses, and resulted from (1) an increase in amortization of capitalized costs related to the production of original programming content and (2) incremental ratings service fees and satellite costs related to our EstrellaTV network.  The increase in program and technical expenses was partially offset by a $1.6 million gain on our assignment of the asset purchase agreement to acquire radio station KDES-FM and a $1.0 million change in (gain) loss on sale and disposal of property and equipment.

Adjusted EBITDA(1) decreased by $0.8 million, or 4.7%, to $16.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $17.6 million for the same period in 2009.  The decrease was primarily the result of higher program and technical expenses, partially offset by the $1.6 million cash gain realized on the assignment of the asset purchase agreement related to radio station KDES-FM, and increased advertising revenues in our television segment, as described above.

We recognized a net loss of $3.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to a net loss of $37.2 million for the same period in 2009, a decrease in net loss of $33.4 million.  This change was primarily attributable to the $49.7 million decrease in broadcast license and long-lived asset impairment charges, partially offset by the $15.5 million change in income tax (provision) benefit and the other changes noted above.

Second Quarter 2010 Conference Call

We will host a conference call to discuss our financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 on Monday, August 16, 2010 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.  Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing (877) 879-6174 beginning fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the call, asking for the "LBI Media, Inc. Second Quarter 2010 Results Conference Call”, and providing confirmation code 2486774 to the operator. The conference call will be recorded and made available for replay through Friday, August 20, 2010.  Investors may listen to the replay of the call by dialing (888) 203-1112, then entering the passcode 2486774.

Information for Holders of LBI Media’s 8-1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2017

The financial results for LBI Media, Inc.’s second quarter ended June 30, 2010 will be posted on our website at www.lbimedia.com/investors.html.  Holders and beneficial owners of LBI Media, Inc.’s 8-1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2017 may access this information by contacting Wisdom Lu at (818) 729-5316 to receive a temporary username and password.

About LBI Media, Inc.

We are one of the largest owners and operators of Spanish-language radio and television stations in the United States, based on revenues and number of stations.  We own 21 radio stations (fifteen FM and six AM) and eight television stations in greater Los Angeles, California (including Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties), Houston, Texas, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas, San Diego, California, New York, New York, Salt Lake City, Utah, Phoenix, Arizona and Denver, Colorado, and have entered into an asset purchase agreement to purchase the selected assets of an additional television station serving the Chicago, Illinois market.  We use one of our television production facilities, located in Burbank, California, to produce our television programming.  We are affiliated with twenty-six television stations in various states serving specific market areas including seven in Texas, four in Florida, five in California, two in Nevada and one each in Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Oregon.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. securities laws. These statements are based upon current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties, including those related to the expected future operating performance of our radio stations, television stations and studio operations. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to information preceded by, or that include the words, “believes”, “expects”, “prospects”, “pacings”, “anticipates”, “could”, “estimates”, “forecasts” or similar expressions. The reader should note that these statements may be impacted by several factors, including economic changes, regulatory changes, increased competition, the timing of announced acquisitions or station upgrades, the successful integration of television and radio assets we acquire, changes in the broadcasting industry generally, and changes in interest rates. Accordingly, our actual performance and results may differ significantly from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Please see the recent public filings of our parent, LBI Media Holdings, Inc., for information about these and other risks that may affect us. We and our parent, LBI Media Holdings, Inc., undertake no obligation to update or revise the information contained herein because of new information, future events or otherwise.

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(1) We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss less discontinued operations, net of income taxes, plus income tax expense or benefit, gain or loss on sale and/or disposal of property and equipment, net interest expense, interest rate swap expense or income, impairment of broadcast licenses and long-lived assets, depreciation, stock-based compensation expense and other non-cash gains and losses. Management considers this measure an important indicator of our liquidity relating to our operations because it eliminates the effects of certain non-cash items, our discontinued operations and our capital structure. This measure should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, or superior to, other measures of liquidity and financial performance prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., such as cash flows from operating activities, operating income or loss and net income or loss. In addition, our definition of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from those of many companies reporting similarly named measures. See tables at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of net cash (used in) provided by operating activities to Adjusted EBITDA.

Results of Operations:

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(2) Refer to our definition of Adjusted EBITDA in footnote (1). Also, see the tables at the end of this press release for a reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to Adjusted EBITDA.

Results of Operations (continued):

(3) See footnote (1). Also, see the tables at the end of this release for a reconciliation of operating income (loss) for each segment to Adjusted EBITDA for such segment.

Results of Operations (continued):

Results of Operations (continued):

The table set forth below reconciles net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, to Adjusted EBITDA:

The following is a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the company's radio division:

The following is a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the company's television division:

SOURCE LBI Media, Inc.