Radio One, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter Results

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Radio One, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROIAK and ROIA) today reported its results for the quarter ended December 31, 2016.  Net revenue was approximately $113.6 million, an increase of 3.8% from the same period in 2015. Broadcast and internet operating income¹ was approximately $43.1 million, an increase of 5.9% from the same period in 2015. The Company reported operating income of approximately $17.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016, compared to an operating loss of $11.3 million for the same period in 2015. Net loss was approximately $3.4 million or $0.07 per share (basic) compared to approximately $24.3 million or $0.50 per share (basic) for the same period in 2015. 

Alfred C. Liggins, III, Radio One's CEO and President stated, "Political advertising helped our radio broadcasting segment achieve both revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. Together with a nice rebound in TV advertising revenue, which was up 18%, this helped drive our 6% growth in consolidated Adjusted EBITDA. During the fourth quarter we booked our first income from MGM National Harbor, which had a strong opening in December. Overall I was pleased with our performance for the year, which was towards the upper end of EBITDA guidance. First quarter radio revenues have been understandably soft, given the political comps from 2016, and we are currently pacing down approximately 5%. While we expect both Radio and Reach Media to struggle against tough comps in the first quarter, our TV business and MGM investment should offset these declines, and we will be able to grow our Adjusted EBITDA again in 2017. TV One's ratings are rebounding from last year's loss of Martin, and for fourth quarter total day households were up 2% and Persons 25-54 were up 3% compared to Q4 2015. The positive ratings momentum is continuing into the first quarter of 2017, where we are up 7% and 5% in total day households and Persons 25-54, respectively."

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements represent management's current expectations and are based upon information available to Radio One at the time of this release. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Radio One's control, that may cause the actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are described in Radio One's reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Radio One does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements.

Net revenue consists of gross revenue, net of local and national agency and outside sales representative commissions. Agency and outside sales representative commissions are calculated based on a stated percentage applied to gross billing.

Net revenue increased to approximately $113.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, from approximately $109.4 million for the same period in 2015, an increase of 3.8%. Net revenues from our radio broadcasting segment increased 1.2% for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, versus the same period in 2015. We experienced net revenue growth most significantly in our Charlotte, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Raleigh and St. Louis markets; however, this growth was partially offset by declines in other markets (with Dallas, Houston and Washington D.C. experiencing the most significant declines). Reach Media's net revenues decreased 5.5% in the fourth quarter 2016, compared to the same period in 2015 due primarily to lower advertising revenue. We recognized approximately $48.0 million of revenue from our cable television segment during the three months ended December 31, 2016, compared to approximately $44.7 million for the same period in 2015, the increase was primarily from higher advertising sales. Finally, net revenues for our internet business increased 20.9% for the three months ended December 31, 2016, compared to the same period in 2015 due primarily to an increase in direct revenues.

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation and impairment of long-lived assets, increased to approximately $85.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, up 2.2% from the approximately $83.7 million incurred for the comparable quarter in 2015. The operating expense increase was primarily driven by an increase of approximately $1.7 million in programming and technical expenses at our cable television segment due primarily to higher content amortization expense.

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased to approximately $8.5 million compared to approximately $9.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. The decrease was due to the completion of useful lives for certain assets. 

Impairment of long-lived assets for the quarters ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 was approximately $1.3 million and $26.7 million, respectively. Our annual 2016 impairment testing resulted in a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $1.3 million associated with of our Columbus market radio broadcasting licenses. Our annual 2015 impairment testing resulted in a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $3.1 million related to goodwill in our Cincinnati market as well as a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $23.6 million associated with several of our radio broadcasting licenses.

Interest expense decreased to approximately $20.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, compared to approximately $20.4 million for the same period in 2015.  On April 17, 2015, the Company's 2011 Credit Agreement, and TV One notes were paid off, with balances of $367.6 million and $119.0 million, respectively. The payoffs were achieved by the Company entering into its new $350.0 million 2015 Credit Facility, issuing the 2022 Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $350.0 million and the Comcast Note in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $11.9 million. During the second quarter of 2016, the Company redeemed approximately $20 million of its 2020 Notes at a discount. The Company made cash interest payments of approximately $18.0 million on its outstanding debt for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, compared to cash interest payments of approximately $17.7 million on all outstanding instruments for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.

The provision for income taxes was approximately $1.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, compared to a benefit from income taxes of approximately $7.9 million, for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, with the change primarily attributable to the deferred tax liability ("DTL") for indefinite-lived intangible assets. The change in taxes was primarily due to a decrease in impairment charges for the comparable quarter.  The Company received a net tax refund of $21,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and paid $12,000 in taxes for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.

Other pertinent financial information includes capital expenditures of approximately $1.1 million and $1.5 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  As of December 31, 2016, the Company had total debt (net of cash and restricted cash balances and original issue discount) of approximately $959.5 million. There were no stock repurchases made during the three month period ended December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company repurchased 1,255,592 shares of Class D common stock in the aggregate amount of approximately $3.0 million. The Company, in connection with its 2009 stock plan, is authorized to purchase shares of Class D common stock to satisfy employee tax obligations in connection with the vesting of share grants under the plan. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company repurchased 330,111 shares of Class D common stock, to satisfy employee tax obligations, in the amount of $568,000.  During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company repurchased 345,293 shares of Class D common stock, to satisfy employee tax obligations, in the amount of approximately $1.4 million. There were no stock repurchases made during the three month period ended December 31, 2015.

The Company also announced that it is monitoring market conditions and opportunities to refinance the approximately $345.0 million in borrowings outstanding under its existing senior credit facility, which matures in December 2018.  While the Company continually seeks to act opportunistically, there are no assurances that the Company will complete any refinancing, in whole or in part, of the existing senior credit facilities.

Supplemental Financial Information:

For comparative purposes, the following more detailed, unaudited statements of operations for the three months and year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 are included. These detailed, unaudited and adjusted statements of operations include certain reclassifications.  These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income or loss, or any other previously reported statements of operations, balance sheet or cash flow amounts.

Radio One, Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss its results for fourth fiscal quarter of 2016. The conference call is scheduled for Tuesday, March 07, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. EST. To participate on this call, U.S. callers may dial toll-free 1-800-230-1074; international callers may dial direct (+1) 612-288-0337.

A replay of the conference call will be available from 12:00 p.m. EST March 07, 2017 until 11:59 p.m. EST March 09, 2017. Callers may access the replay by calling 1-800-475-6701; international callers may dial direct (+1) 320-365-3844. The replay Access Code is 416422. Access to live audio and a replay of the conference call will also be available on Radio One's corporate website at www.radio-one.com. The replay will be made available on the website for seven days after the call.

Radio One, Inc. (radio-one.com), together with its subsidiaries, is a diversified media company that primarily targets African-American and urban consumers. It is one of the nation's largest radio broadcasting companies, currently owning and/or operating 55 stations in 15 urban markets in the United States. Through its controlling interest in Reach Media, Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), the Company also operates syndicated programming including the Tom Joyner Morning Show, the Russ Parr Morning Show, the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the DL Hughley Show, Bishop T.D. Jakes' Empowering Moments, and the Reverend Al Sharpton Show.

Beyond its core radio broadcasting franchise, Radio One owns Interactive One (interactiveone.com), the fastest growing and definitive digital resource for Black and Latin Americans, reaching millions each month through social content, news, information, and entertainment. Interactive One operates a number of branded sites including News One (news), The Urban Daily (men), Hello Beautiful (women), Global Grind (Millennials) and social networking websites such as BlackPlanet and MiGente. The Company also owns TV One, LLC (tvone.tv), a cable/satellite network programming serving more than 57 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult Black viewers.  Additionally, One Solution combines the dynamics of Radio One's holdings to provide brands with an integrated and effectively engaging marketing approach that reaches 82% of Black Americans throughout the country.

Notes:

1              "Broadcast and internet operating income" consists of net (loss) income before depreciation and amortization, corporate selling, general and administrative expenses, stock-based compensation, income taxes, noncontrolling interest in income (loss) of subsidiaries, interest expense, impairment of long-lived assets, other (income) expense, loss (gain) on retirement of debt, and interest income. Broadcast and internet operating income is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. Nevertheless, broadcast and internet operating income is a significant measure used by our management to evaluate the operating performance of our core operating segments because broadcast and internet operating income provides helpful information about our results of operations apart from expenses associated with our fixed assets and long-lived intangible assets, income taxes, investments, debt financings and retirements, overhead, stock-based compensation, impairment charges, and asset sales. Our measure of broadcast and internet operating income is similar to our historic use of station operating income, however, reflects our more diverse business and, therefore, may not be similar to "station operating income" or other similarly titled measures used by other companies. Broadcast and internet operating income does not purport to represent operating income or cash flow from operating activities, as those terms are defined under generally accepted accounting principles, and should not be considered as an alternative to those measurements as an indicator of our performance. A reconciliation of net income (loss) to broadcast and internet operating income has been provided in this release.

2              Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year balances to conform to the current year presentation.  These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported consolidated net income or loss or any other statement of operations, balance sheet or cash flow amounts.  Where applicable, these financial statements have been identified as "As Reclassified."

3              For the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, Radio One had 47,463,258 and 48,220,262 shares of common stock outstanding on a weighted average basis (basic), respectively.  For the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, Radio One had 47,924,609 and 48,027,888 shares of common stock outstanding on a weighted average basis (basic), respectively. 

4              For the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, Radio One had 47,463,258 and 48,220,262 shares of common stock outstanding on a weighted average basis (fully diluted for outstanding stock options), respectively.  For the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, Radio One had 47,924,609 and 48,027,888 shares of common stock outstanding on a weighted average basis (fully diluted for outstanding stock options), respectively.

5              "Adjusted EBITDA" consists of net loss plus (1) depreciation, amortization, income taxes, interest expense, noncontrolling interest in (loss) income of subsidiaries, impairment of long-lived assets, stock-based compensation, (gain) loss on retirement of debt, Employment Agreement and incentive plan award expenses, severance-related costs, cost investment income, less (2) other income and interest income. Net income before interest income, interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization is commonly referred to in our business as "EBITDA." Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA are not measures of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. However, we believe Adjusted EBITDA is often a useful measure of a company's operating performance and is a significant measure used by our management to evaluate the operating performance of our business because Adjusted EBITDA excludes charges for depreciation, amortization and interest expense that have resulted from our acquisitions and debt financing, our taxes, impairment charges, gain on retirements of debt, and any discontinued operations. Accordingly, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information about the operating performance of our business, apart from the expenses associated with our fixed assets and long-lived intangible assets, capital structure or the results of our affiliated company. Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used as one of the measures for comparing businesses in our industry, although our measure of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, including, but not limited to the fact that our definition includes the results of all four segments (radio broadcasting, Reach Media, internet and cable television).  Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA do not purport to represent operating income or cash flow from operating activities, as those terms are defined under generally accepted accounting principles, and should not be considered as alternatives to those measurements as an indicator of our performance. A reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA has been provided in this release.

SOURCE Radio One