Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. Reports Results for the Third Quarter 2009


COCONUT GROVE, Fla., Nov. 12, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. (the "Company" or "SBS") (Nasdaq:SBSA) today reported financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009.

Discussion and Results

Raul Alarcon, Jr., Chairman and CEO, commented, "Our third quarter operating income improved significantly over the prior year as a result of our disciplined focus on cost management, combined with improving top-line trends at our radio station group. While our results were impacted by the economic recession and industry-wide weak advertising market, we continue to execute our strategy and deliver valuable, market-leading audiences across our multi-media footprint. We remain focused on expanding Mega TV's national reach, strengthening our content and increasing our online presence among Hispanic audiences. Looking ahead, our sales teams are working aggressively to convert our solid audience shares into revenues and we are beginning to see some signs of improvement in the environment in many of our markets. As the economy begins to recover and advertising spending increases, we believe we are well positioned to benefit from the improved operating leverage in our model."

Quarter Results

For the quarter ended September 30, 2009, consolidated net revenue totaled $38.6 million compared to $41.3 million for the same prior year period, resulting in a decrease of $2.7 million or 6%. This consolidated decrease was mainly attributable to the decrease in our radio segment net revenue of $1.9 million or 5%. Our radio segment net revenue decreased due to lower local and barter sales caused mainly by the decline in economic conditions. The decrease in local sales occurred in all of our markets, with the exception of our San Francisco market. The decrease in barter sales occurred in all of our markets, with the exception of our New York and Miami markets. Our television segment net revenue decreased $0.8 million or 17%, primarily due to a decrease in barter sales and local spot sales.

Operating income before depreciation and amortization, gain on the disposal of assets, net, and impairment of FCC broadcasting licenses and restructuring costs, a non-GAAP measure, totaled $13.9 million compared to $8.0 million for the same prior year period, representing an increase of $5.9 million or 74%. This increase was primarily attributed to the decreases in station operating expenses of $8.2 million and corporate expenses of $0.4 million, offset by a decrease in net revenue of $2.7 million. Please refer to the Unaudited Segment Data and Non-GAAP Financial Measures sections for definitions and a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.

Operating income totaled $12.3 million compared to $4.0 million for the same prior year period. The increase in operating income was mainly due to decreases in our operating expenses and corporate expenses, offset by a decrease in our net revenue. Also contributing to the increase in operating income was the decrease in our impairment of FCC broadcasting licenses and restructuring costs of $2.2 million. Please refer to the Impairment of FCC Broadcasting Licenses and Restructuring Costs sections for detailed discussions.

Income before income taxes totaled $6.5 million compared to $1.9 million for the same prior year period.

Nine-month Results

For the nine-months ended September 30, 2009, consolidated net revenue totaled $103.4 million compared to $122.8 million for the same prior year period, resulting in a decrease of $19.4 million or 16%. This consolidated decrease was mainly attributable to the decrease in our radio segment net revenue of $18.5 million or 17%. Our radio segment net revenue decreased due to lower local, national and barter sales caused mainly by the decline in economic conditions. The decrease in local, national and barter sales occurred in all of our markets. Our television segment net revenue decreased $0.9 million or 7%, primarily due to a decrease in barter sales and local spot sales.

Operating income before depreciation and amortization, gain on the disposal of assets, net, and impairment of FCC broadcasting licenses and restructuring costs, a non-GAAP measure, totaled $27.5 million compared to $15.0 million for the same prior year period, representing an increase of $12.5 million or 83%. This increase was primarily attributed to the decreases in station operating expenses of $29.5 million and corporate expenses of $2.4 million, offset by a decrease in net revenue of $19.4 million. Please refer to the Unaudited Segment Data and Non-GAAP Financial Measures sections for definitions and a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.

Operating income totaled $12.1 million compared to an operating loss of $(388.0) million for the same prior year period. The increase in operating income was mainly due to the decrease in impairment of FCC broadcasting licenses and restructuring costs of $398.5 million. Also contributing to the increase in operating income were the decreases in our operating expenses and corporate expenses, offset by a decrease in our net revenue. Please refer to the Impairment of FCC Broadcasting Licenses and Restructuring Costs sections for detailed discussions.

Loss before income taxes totaled $(4.3) million compared to $(398.6) million for the same prior year period.

Impairment of FCC Broadcasting Licenses

For the nine-months ended September 30, 2009, we recorded a non-cash impairment loss of approximately $10.1 million that reduced the carrying values of our FCC broadcasting licenses in our Chicago and San Francisco markets as a result of our impairment testing of our indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill. The impairment loss was due to changes in estimates and assumptions which were primarily: (a) lower industry advertising revenue growth projections in our respective markets, and (b) lower industry profit margins.

Restructuring Costs

As a result of the continued deterioration of the economy and the decrease in the demand for advertising, we began to implement a restructuring plan in the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 to reduce expenses throughout the Company. We have incurred restructuring costs totaling $3.0 million to date, which include $0.6 million for the nine-months ended September 30, 2009, related to the termination of various programming contracts and personnel. In addition, we will continue to review further cost-cutting measures, as we continue to evaluate the scope and duration of the current economic slowdown and its impact on our operations and financial position.

About Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. is the largest publicly traded Hispanic-controlled media and entertainment company in the United States. SBS owns and/or operates 21 radio stations located in the top U.S. Hispanic markets of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco and Puerto Rico, including the #1 Spanish-language radio station in America, WSKQ-FM in New York City, as well as leading radio stations airing the Tropical, Mexican Regional, Spanish Adult Contemporary and Hurban format genres. The Company also owns and operates Mega TV, a television operation with over-the-air, cable and satellite distribution and affiliates throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. SBS also produces live concerts and events in the major U.S. markets and Puerto Rico. In addition, the Company operates www.LaMusica.com , a bilingual Spanish-English online site providing content related to Latin music, entertainment, news and culture. The Company's corporate Web site can be accessed at www.spanishbroadcasting.com .

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this press release. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from these expectations, and the Company disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements made by the Company. From time to time, these risks, uncertainties and other factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(Financial Table Follows)

Below are the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and other information as of and for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008.



                                Three-Months Ended   Nine-Months Ended
                                    Sept. 30,            Sept. 30,
                                ------------------  ------------------
 Amounts in thousands             2009      2008      2009      2008
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
                                    (Unaudited)         (Unaudited)

 Net revenue                    $ 38,582    41,253  $103,428   122,866
 Station operating expenses       22,366    30,577    68,430    97,907
 Corporate expenses                2,372     2,707     7,545     9,972
 Depreciation and amortization     1,574     1,792     4,737     4,596
 Gain on the disposal of
  assets, net                        (14)       (5)      (29)      (10)
 
 Impairment of FCC broadcasting
  licenses and restructuring
  costs                               --     2,199    10,686   398,451
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
   Operating income (loss)        12,284     3,983    12,059  (388,050)
 Interest expense, net            (6,723)   (5,686)  (19,841)  (16,085)
 Changes in fair value of
  derivative instrument              958     3,585     3,448     3,585
 Other income, net                    --        --         1     1,928
                                --------  --------  --------  --------

 Income (loss) before income
  taxes                            6,519     1,882    (4,333) (398,622)
 Income tax expense (benefit)      1,976     2,325     1,611   (98,207)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
   Net income (loss)               4,543      (443)   (5,944) (300,415)

 Dividends on Series B
  preferred stock                 (2,482)   (2,417)   (7,446)   (7,251)
                                --------  --------  --------  --------
   Net income (loss) applicable
    to common stockholders      $  2,061    (2,860) $(13,390) (307,666)
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Net income (loss) per common
  share:
   Basic and Diluted            $   0.03     (0.04) $  (0.18)    (4.25)
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

 Weighted average common shares
  outstanding:
   Basic                          72,515    72,418    72,507    72,409
                                ========  ========  ========  ========
   Diluted                        72,555    72,418    72,507    72,409
                                ========  ========  ========  ========

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Included below are tables that reconcile the three- and nine-month ended reported results in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to Non-GAAP results. The tables reconcile Operating Income (Loss) to Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization, Gain on the Disposal of Assets, net, and Impairment of FCC Broadcasting Licenses and Restructuring costs.



 UNAUDITED GAAP REPORTED RESULTS RECONCILED TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
 --------------------------------------------------------------

                                          Three-Months Ended
                                             September 30,
                                          ------------------     %
 (Amounts in millions)                      2009      2008     Change
                                          --------  --------  --------
 Operating Income                         $   12.3       4.0
 add back: Gain on the disposal of
  assets, net                                   --        --
 add back: Impairment of FCC broadcasting
  licenses and restructuring costs              --       2.2
 add back: Depreciation & amortization         1.6       1.8
                                          --------  --------
 Operating Income before Depreciation &
  Amortization,
   Gain on the Disposal of Assets, net,
    and Impairment of
   FCC Broadcasting Licenses and
    Restructuring Costs                   $   13.9       8.0       74%
                                          ========  ========

 UNAUDITED GAAP REPORTED RESULTS RECONCILED TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
 --------------------------------------------------------------

                                          Nine-Months Ended
                                             September 30,
                                          ------------------     %
 (Amounts in millions)                      2009      2008     Change
                                          --------  --------  --------

 Operating Income (Loss)                  $   12.1    (388.1)
 add back: Gain on the disposal of
  assets, net                                   --        --
 add back: Impairment of FCC broadcasting
  licenses and restructuring costs            10.7     398.5
 add back: Depreciation & amortization         4.7       4.6
                                          --------  --------
 Operating Income before Depreciation
  & Amortization,
   Gain on the Disposal of Assets, net,
    and Impairment of
   FCC Broadcasting Licenses and
    Restructuring  Costs                  $   27.5      15.0       83%
                                          ========  ========

Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization, Gain on the Disposal of Assets, net, and Impairment of FCC Broadcasting Licenses and Restructuring costs are not measures of performance or liquidity determined in accordance with GAAP in the United States. However, we believe that these measures are useful in evaluating our performance because they reflect a measure of performance for our stations before considering costs and expenses related to our capital structure and dispositions. These measures are widely used in the broadcast industry to evaluate a company's operating performance and are used by us for internal budgeting purposes and to evaluate the performance of our stations, segments, management and consolidated operations. However, these measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for Operating Income, Net Income (Loss), Cash Flows from Operating Activities or any other measure used in determining our operating performance or liquidity that is calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because Operating Income (Loss) before Depreciation and Amortization, Gain on the Disposal of Assets, net, and Impairment of FCC Broadcasting Licenses and Restructuring costs, is not calculated in accordance with GAAP, it is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Unaudited Segment Data

We have two reportable segments: radio and television. The following summary table presents separate financial data for each of our operating segments (in thousands):



                                Three-Months Ended
                                   September 30,          Change
                                ------------------  ------------------
                                  2009      2008       $         %
                                  ----      ----      ---       ---

 Net revenue:
   Radio                        $ 34,558    36,411    (1,853)   (5%)
   Television                      4,024     4,842      (818)   (17%)
                                ------------------  --------
    Consolidated                $ 38,582    41,253    (2,671)   (6%)
                                ==================  ========
 Operating income before
  depreciation and amortization,
  (gain) loss on the disposal
  of assets, net, and impairment
  of FCC broadcasting licenses
  and restructuring costs:
   Radio                        $ 17,178    13,394     3,784     28%
   Television                       (962)   (2,718)    1,756    (65%)
   Corporate                      (2,372)   (2,707)      335    (12%)
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $ 13,844     7,969     5,875     74%
                                ==================  ========
 Depreciation and amortization:
   Radio                        $    781       817       (36)    (4%)
   Television                        556       578       (22)    (4%)
   Corporate                         237       397      (160)   (40%)
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $  1,574     1,792      (218)   (12%)
                                ==================  ========
 (Gain) loss on the disposal
  of assets, net:
   Radio                        $     (6)       (5)       (1)   (20%)
   Television                         --        --        --      0%
   Corporate                          (8)       --        (8)   100%
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $    (14)       (5)       (9)   180%
                                ==================  ========
 Impairment of FCC broadcasting
  licenses and restructuring
  costs:
   Radio                        $     --     2,191    (2,191)  (100%)
   Television                         --         8        (8)  (100%)
   Corporate                          --        --        --      0%
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $     --     2,199    (2,199)  (100%)
                                ==================  ========
 Operating income (loss):
   Radio                        $ 16,403    10,391     6,012     58%
   Television                     (1,518)   (3,304)    1,786    (54%)
   Corporate                      (2,601)   (3,104)      503    (16%)
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $ 12,284     3,983     8,301    208%
                                ==================  ========


                                 Nine-Months Ended
                                   September 30,          Change
                                ------------------  ------------------
                                  2009      2008       $          %
                                  ----      ----      ---        ---

 Net revenue:
   Radio                        $ 91,923   110,445   (18,522)   (17%)
   Television                     11,505    12,421      (916)    (7%)
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $103,428   122,866   (19,438)   (16%)
                                ==================  ========
 Operating income before
  depreciation and amortization,
  (gain) loss on the disposal
  of assets, net, and impairment
  of FCC broadcasting licenses
  and restructuring costs:
   Radio                        $ 40,593    35,406     5,187     15%
   Television                     (5,595)  (10,447)    4,852    (46%)
   Corporate                      (7,545)   (9,972)    2,427    (24%)
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $ 27,453    14,987    12,466     83%
                                ==================  ========
 Depreciation and amortization:
   Radio                        $  2,374     2,397       (23)    (1%)
   Television                      1,646     1,022       624     61%
   Corporate                         717     1,177      (460)   (39%)
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $  4,737     4,596       141      3%
                                ==================  ========
 (Gain) loss on the disposal
  of assets, net:
   Radio                        $    (26)      (10)      (16)   160%
   Television                         19        --        19    100%
   Corporate                         (22)       --       (22)   100%
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $    (29)      (10)      (19)   190%
                                ==================  ========
 Impairment of FCC broadcasting
  licenses and restructuring
  costs:
   Radio                        $ 10,614   381,606  (370,992)   (97%)
   Television                         24    16,845   (16,821)  (100%)
   Corporate                          48        --        48    100%
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $ 10,686   398,451  (387,765)   (97%)
                                ==================  ========
 Operating income (loss):
   Radio                        $ 27,631  (348,587)  376,218   (108%)
   Television                     (7,284)  (28,314)   21,030    (74%)
   Corporate                      (8,288)  (11,149)    2,861    (26%)
                                ------------------  --------
     Consolidated               $ 12,059  (388,050)  400,109   (103%)
                                ==================  ========

Selected Unaudited Balance Sheet Information and Other Data:


                                                      As of
                                                  September 30,
 (Amounts in thousands)                               2009
                                                    --------

 Cash and cash equivalents                          $ 45,768
                                                    ========

 Total assets                                       $486,862
                                                    ========

 Senior secured credit revolver due 2010            $ 15,000
 Senior secured credit facility term loan due 2012   310,375
 Other debt                                            7,163
                                                    --------
   Total debt                                       $332,538
                                                    ========

 Series B preferred stock                           $ 92,349
                                                    ========

 Total stockholders' deficit                        $(46,582)
                                                    --------

 Total capitalization                               $378,305
                                                    ========


                                                         For the
                                                     Nine-Months Ended
                                                       September 30,
                                                    ------------------
 (Amounts in thousands)                               2009      2008
                                                    --------  --------

 Capital expenditures                               $    815    15,591
                                                    ========  ========
 Cash paid for income taxes, net                    $     29        22
                                                    ========  ========


            

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