GRAY TELEVISION, INC.
Table of Contents



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 6, 2004

GRAY TELEVISION, INC.


(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
         
Georgia   0-13796   58-0285030

 
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
         
         
4370 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Georgia   30319

 
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code      (404) 504-9828


(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
EX-99.1 PRESS RELEASE ISSUED AUGUST 6, 2004


Table of Contents

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

  (c)   Exhibits

  99.1   Press Release of Gray Television, Inc. issued August 6, 2004.

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     The information set forth under this Item 12 is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

     On August 6, 2004, Gray Television, Inc. issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004. A copy of the press release is hereby attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         
  GRAY TELEVISION, INC.
 (Registrant)
 
 
Dated: August 6, 2004  By:   /s/ James C. Ryan    
    James C. Ryan, Senior Vice President and   
    Chief Financial Officer   

 


Table of Contents

         

EXHIBIT INDEX

     
99.1
  Press Release of Gray Television, Inc. issued August 6, 2004.

 

EX-99.1 PRESS RELEASE ISSUED AUGUST 6, 2004
 

Exhibit 99.1

Gray
Television, Inc.


NEWS RELEASE

Gray Reports Operating Results

for the Three Months and Six Months ended June 30, 2004

     Atlanta, Georgia – August 6, 2004 . . . Gray Television, Inc. (the “Company”) (NYSE: GTN) today announced its results for the three months (“second quarter”) and six months ended June 30, 2004 as compared to the three months and six months ended June 30, 2003.

Highlights for the three and six months ended June 30, 2004:

                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30, 2004
  June 30, 2004
EBITDA (1) increased
    24 %     29 %
Net Income increased
    73 %     146 %
Total Broadcast Revenue increased
    12 %     15 %
Local Broadcast Revenue, excluding political revenue increased
    9 %     11 %
Net Political Revenue
  $5.4 million   $9.0 million
                 
            As of June 30, 2004
Cash on Hand
          $31.8 million
Total Debt
          $655.9 million

Acquisition of a new CBS affiliate in Charlottesville, VA has received FCC approval. The station is under construction and is currently expected to begin broadcast operations in August 2004.

Comments on Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2004:

     Revenues. Total revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2004 increased 10% over the same period of the prior year to $84.4 million reflecting increases in broadcasting and newspaper publishing revenues.

     Broadcasting revenues increased 12% over the same period of the prior year to $71.2 million. The increase in broadcasting revenue reflects increased political advertising revenue as well as increased non-political broadcasting advertising revenue. Political advertising revenue increased to $5.4 million from $1.6 million. Political advertising revenue for 2004 primarily reflects the cyclical influence of the 2004 Presidential election. Excluding Political revenues, local broadcasting advertising revenue increased 9% to $42.0 million from $38.5 million and

4370 Peachtree Road, NE * Atlanta, GA 30319
(404) 504-9828 * Fax (404)261-9607

 


 

national broadcasting advertising revenue decreased 3% to $18.8 million from $19.4 million. The Company attributes the increases in non-political local broadcasting advertising revenues to generally broad based demand for air time by local advertisers in the markets in which we operate.

     Newspaper publishing revenues increased 2% over the same period of the prior year to $11.3 million from $11.1 million. Publishing revenue increased primarily due to increases in retail advertising of 4%.

     Operating expenses. Operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets increased 3% over the same period of the prior year to $48.5 million. The increase in expenses for the current period includes non-cash charges of approximately $392,000 for common stock contributed to the Company’s 401(k) plan compared to $332,000 for the same period of 2003.

Comments on Results of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004:

     Revenues. Total revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2004 increased 12% over the same period of the prior year to $159.1 million reflecting increases in broadcasting and newspaper publishing revenue.

     Broadcasting revenues increased 15% over the same period of the prior year to $133.1 million. The increase in broadcasting revenue reflects increased political advertising revenue as well as increased non-political broadcasting revenue. Political advertising revenue increased to $9.0 million from $2.3 million during the same period of 2003. Political advertising revenue for 2004 primarily reflects the cyclical influence of the 2004 Presidential election. Local broadcasting advertising revenue increased 11% to $79.4 million from $71.6 million and national broadcasting advertising revenue increased 2% to $35.0 million from $34.3 million. The Company attributes the increases in non-political local broadcasting advertising revenues to a generally broad based demand for air time by local advertisers in the markets in which we operate.

     Newspaper publishing revenues increased 3% to $22.3 million from $21.5 million. Publishing revenue increased primarily due to increases in retail advertising of 5%.

     Operating expenses. Operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets increased 5% to $97.7 million. The 2004 expense includes non-cash charges of approximately $952,000 for common stock contributed to the Company’s 401(k) plan compared to $1.2 million for the same period of 2003.

Balance Sheet:

     The Company’s cash balance was $31.8 million at June 30, 2004 compared to $11.9 million at December 31, 2003. The increase in cash reflects cash generated by the Company’s operations. Total debt outstanding at June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 was $655.9 million (2).

Detailed table of operating results follows on the next page.

     

Gray Television, Inc.
Earnings Release for the Three Months and Six Months ended June 30, 2004
  Page 2 of 5

 


 

Gray Television, Inc.
(in thousands, except per share data and percentages)

                                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30,
  June 30,
                    %                   %
    2004
  2003
  Change
  2004
  2003
  Change
Selected operating data:
                                               
OPERATING REVENUES
                                               
Broadcasting (less agency commissions)
  $ 71,235     $ 63,551       12 %   $ 133,144     $ 116,152       15 %
Publishing
    11,320       11,143       2 %     22,283       21,540       3 %
Paging
    1,798       1,953       (8 )%     3,654       3,930       (7 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES
    84,353       76,647       10 %     159,081       141,622       12 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
EXPENSES
                                               
Operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets:
                                               
Broadcasting
    37,053       35,744       4 %     74,451       70,642       5 %
Publishing
    8,040       7,933       1 %     16,088       15,688       3 %
Paging
    1,238       1,381       (10 )%     2,591       2,850       (9 )%
Corporate and administrative
    2,163       2,084       4 %     4,536       4,199       8 %
Depreciation
    5,870       5,336       10 %     11,672       10,526       11 %
Amortization of intangible assets
    237       1,781       (87 )%     519       3,643       (86 )%
Amortization of restricted stock award
    94       23     NA     189       44     NA
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net
    (626 )     25     NA     (622 )     37     NA
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
TOTAL EXPENSES
    54,069       54,307       (0 )%     109,424       107,629       2 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Operating income
    30,284       22,340       36 %     49,657       33,993       46 %
Miscellaneous income, net
    262       76       245 %     407       153       166 %
Interest expense
    (10,474 )     (10,972 )     (5 )%     (20,935 )     (22,242 )     (6 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    20,072       11,444       75 %     29,129       11,904       145 %
Income tax expense
    7,875       4,412       78 %     11,429       4,701       143 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
NET INCOME
    12,197       7,032       73 %     17,700       7,203       146 %
Preferred dividends
    821       821       0 %     1,643       1,643       0 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
  $ 11,376     $ 6,211       83 %   $ 16,057     $ 5,560       189 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Diluted per share information:
                                               
Net income per share available to common stockholders
  $ 0.22     $ 0.12       84 %   $ 0.32     $ 0.11       189 %
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Weighted average shares outstanding
    50,588       50,697       (0 )%     50,546       50,559       (0 )%
 
   
 
     
 
             
 
     
 
         
Political revenue (less agency commission)
  $ 5,422     $ 1,552       249 %   $ 8,956     $ 2,293       291 %
         
Gray Television, Inc.
Earnings Release for the Three Months and Six Months ended June 30, 2004
  Page 3 of 5

 


 

Guidance for the Third Quarter of 2004

     The Company currently anticipates that its results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2004 will approximate the ranges presented in the table below (dollars in thousands).

                                         
    Three Months Ended September 30,
    2004   %   2004   %    
    Guidance   Change   Guidance   Change    
    Low   From   High   From   Actual
    Range
  2003
  Range
  2003
  2003
Selected operating data:
                                       
OPERATING REVENUES
                                       
Broadcasting (less agency commissions)
  $ 71,000       18 %   $ 72,250       20 %   $ 60,372  
Publishing
    11,500       5 %     11,600       6 %     10,995  
Paging
    1,850       (7 )%     1,900       (4 )%     1,985  
 
   
 
             
 
             
 
 
TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES
    84,350       15 %     85,750       17 %     73,352  
 
   
 
             
 
             
 
 
OPERATING EXPENSES
                                       
Operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and other expenses:
                                       
Broadcasting
    37,400       5 %     37,700       6 %     35,657  
Publishing
    8,200       4 %     8,300       5 %     7,917  
Paging
    1,400       1 %     1,450       5 %     1,384  
Corporate and administrative
    2,100       10 %     2,200       15 %     1,916  
Depreciation and amortization of intangibles
    6,200       (11 )%     6,300       (10 )%     6,990  
Other expenses, net
    150       249 %     200       365 %     43  
 
   
 
             
 
             
 
 
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES
    55,450       3 %     56,150       4 %     53,907  
 
   
 
             
 
             
 
 
OPERATING INCOME
  $ 28,900       49 %   $ 29,600       52 %   $ 19,445  
 
   
 
             
 
             
 
 
Other Selected Data
                                       
Political revenue (less agency commissions)
  $ 7,750       590 %   $ 9,000       701 %   $ 1,124  

     Included within the operating expense estimates presented above, the Company currently estimates that non-cash 401(k) plan expense will range between $450,000 and $500,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2004 compared with $315,000 for the same period of 2003.

Conference Call Information

     Gray Television, Inc. will release its second quarter earnings and host a conference call to discuss its second quarter operating results on August 6, 2004. The call will begin at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. The live dial-in number is (888) 280-8771 and the reservation number is T513268G. The call will be webcast live and available for replay at www.graytvinc.com. The taped replay of the conference call will be available at (888) 509-0081 until August 20, 2004.

         
Gray Television, Inc.
Earnings Release for the Three Months and Six Months ended June 30, 2004
  Page 4 of 5

 


 

     
For information contact:
   
Bob Prather
  Jim Ryan
President and Chief Operating Officer
  Senior V. P. and Chief Financial Officer
(404) 266-8333
  (404) 504-9828
 
   
Web site: www.graytvinc.com
   

The Company

     Gray Television, Inc. is a communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and currently owns 29 television stations serving 25 television markets. The stations include 15 CBS affiliates, seven NBC affiliates and seven ABC affiliates. Gray Television, Inc. has 22 stations ranked #1 in local news audience and 22 stations ranked #1 in overall audience within their respective markets based on the average results of the 2003 Nielsen ratings reports. The TV station group reaches approximately 5.3% of total U.S. TV households. The Company also owns five daily newspapers, four in Georgia and one in Indiana.

Notes:

(1)   Reconciliation of Net Income to the Non-GAAP term “EBITDA” ($ in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    June 30,
  June 30,
    2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
Net income
  $ 12,197     $ 7,032     $ 17,700     $ 7,203  
Add:
                               
Income tax expense
    7,875       4,412       11,429       4,701  
Interest expense
    10,474       10,972       20,935       22,242  
Amortization of restricted stock award
    94       23       189       44  
Amortization of intangible assets
    237       1,781       519       3,643  
Depreciation
    5,870       5,336       11,672       10,526  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
EBITDA
  $ 36,747     $ 29,556     $ 62,444     $ 48,359  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

(2)   Total debt as of June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003 does not include $1.1 million and $1.2 million, respectively, of unamortized debt discount on the Company’s 9 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due March 2011.

Reclassifications

     Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2004 presentation. Specifically, the Company has reclassified amounts relating to the (gain) loss on disposal of assets from miscellaneous income, net to a separate line item entitled “Loss on disposal of assets, net” included in operating expenses.

Cautionary Statements for Purposes of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act

     The preceding comments on Gray’s current expectations of operating results for the third quarter of 2004 are “forward looking” for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results of operations are subject to a number of risks and may differ materially from the current expectations discussed in this press release. See the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10K for a discussion of risk factors that may affect the Company and its ability to achieve the results contemplated by such forward looking statements.

         
Gray Television, Inc.
Earnings Release for the Three Months and Six Months ended June 30, 2004
  Page 5 of 5