Gray Reports Operating Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007

Gray Reports Operating Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007

ATLANTA, May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gray Television, Inc. ("Gray" or the "Company") (NYSE:GTN) today announced results from operations for the three months ("first quarter") ended March 31, 2007 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006.

Significant items to note for the period ended March 31, 2007:

Net revenue on an "as reported" basis increased 2%, or $1.5 million, to $69.7 million reflecting the acquisition of television station WNDU in March, 2006.

On a pro forma(1) basis, after giving effect to the acquisition of television station WNDU, Gray was able to generate additional revenue to replace all but $1.1 million of the prior year's $3.4 million of Olympic and $1.9 million of political advertising revenues.

General Comment on Expansion of Operations:

Gray has continued to grow through acquisitions of new stations and the start up of new operations. Gray's most recent acquisition was the purchase of WNDU, South Bend, IN on March 3, 2006. This station is significant to Gray and has added to Gray's Broadcast Cash Flow from its date of acquisition. Due to the significance of WNDU to Gray's results of operations, Gray's pro forma results for the three months ended March 31, 2006 have been presented to include the results of WNDU as if the station had been acquired on January 1, 2006. Gray has also continued to grow through the start up of new digital second channels in its existing television markets. The Company has increased the number of digital second channels it is operating to 39 channels as of March 31, 2007 from six channels in operation at January 1, 2006. The Company intends to launch one additional digital second channel in the second half of 2007.

Comments on Pro Forma Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007:

Revenues.

On a pro forma(1) basis, after giving effect to the acquisition of television station WNDU, total net revenue for all stations decreased 2%, or $1.1 million, due primarily to the absence of Olympic broadcasts and decreased political advertising revenues in the current year.

   -- On a pro forma(1)  basis, political advertising revenues decreased to      $1.1 million from $1.9 million reflecting the influence of the 2006      elections.   -- On a pro forma(1)  basis, local advertising revenue increased 1% to      $48.8 million and national advertising revenue decreased 4% to $17.1      million.    Operating expenses.   

On a pro forma(1) basis, after giving effect to the acquisition of television station WNDU, total broadcast expenses (before depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal of assets) increased approximately 3% to $48.8 million.

   -- On a pro forma(1)  basis, payroll related expenses increased      approximately 1% or $0.4 million.  This increase was due to an increase      in the number of operational digital second channels in the current      period compared to the prior period. This increase was partially offset      by a modest decrease in payroll related expenses for Gray's primary      channels.   -- On a pro forma(1)  basis, non-payroll related expenses increased      approximately 7% or $1.2 million.  The majority of the increase was due      to incremental expenses relating to an increase in the number of      operational digital second channels.   

Corporate and administrative expenses, before depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal of assets increased 8% to $4.1 million from $3.7 million due primarily to an incremental increase in non-cash stock based compensation expense. Gray recorded non-cash stock based compensation expense during the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 of 520,000 and 198,000, respectively.

   Other Financial Data on an "as reported" basis:                                        March 31, 2007      December 31, 2006                                                  (in thousands)    Cash                                        $1,309                 $4,741   Total debt(2)                              872,686                851,654   Available credit under    senior credit facility                     90,500                 97,000                                                 Three Months Ended March 31,                                                 2007                   2006                                                        (in thousands)    Net cash provided by (used in)    operating activities                      $(1,581)               $18,893   Net cash used in investing activities       (9,781)               (93,663)   Net cash provided by financing activities    7,930                 72,459     

Gray repurchased 647,800 shares of its common stock for $5.5 million during the first quarter of 2007 at an average price per share of $8.49. No similar purchases were made during the first quarter of the prior year. The repurchased common stock is held in treasury.

On March 19, 2007, Gray completed the previously announced refinancing of its senior credit facility. The new senior credit facility consists of a $100 million revolving credit facility and a $925 million institutional term loan facility. The Company drew $8 million on the revolving credit facility and drew $610 million on the term loan facility to fund the payoff of all outstanding amounts under its former senior credit facility, to pay fees and expenses relating to the refinancing and for other general corporate purposes. In connection with this refinancing, Gray incurred fees of approximately $3.2 million and recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt expense of $6.5 million. See "Subsequent Events" discussed below for information concerning the Company's redemption of all of Gray's outstanding 9.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011 and the Company's planned redemption of its outstanding Series C Preferred Stock during the second quarter of 2007.

   Detailed table of operating results:                            Gray Television, Inc.       Selected As Reported and Pro Forma Operating Data (Unaudited)          (in thousands except for per share data and percentages)                                                   As Reported                                               Three Months Ended                                                    March 31,                                                                          %                                                2007         2006      Change    Revenues (less agency commissions)         $69,681     $68,234         2 %   Operating expenses:     Operating expenses before depreciation,      amortization and loss on disposal of      assets, net:                             48,818      45,064         8 %     Corporate and administrative               4,061       3,743         8 %   Depreciation and amortization of    intangible assets                           9,776       8,329        17 %   (Gain) loss on disposals of assets, net         (3)         82      (104)%                                               62,652      57,218         9 %   Operating income                             7,029      11,016       (36)%   Other income (expense):     Miscellaneous income, net                    359         346         4 %     Interest expense                         (17,272)    (15,466)       12 %     Loss on early extinguishment of debt      (6,492)       (110)     5802 %   Loss before income tax benefit             (16,376)     (4,214)      289 %   Income tax benefit                          (5,862)     (1,660)      253 %   Net loss                                   (10,514)     (2,554)      312 %   Preferred dividends (includes accretion    of issuance cost of $21, $22, $21, $22,    respectively)                                 778         815        (5)%   Net loss available to common stockholders $(11,292)    $(3,369)      235 %    Basic and diluted per share information:     Net loss available to common      stockholders                             $(0.24)     $(0.07)     Weighted average shares outstanding       47,734      48,741        (2)%    Political revenue (less agency commission)  $1,097      $1,776       (38)%    Revenue related to Olympic broadcasts    (less agency commission)                   $    -      $2,880                                                         Pro Forma(1)                                                   Three Months Ended                                                        March 31,                                                                          %                                                2007         2006      Change    Revenues (less agency commissions)        $69,681      $70,819        (2)%   Operating expenses:     Operating expenses before depreciation,      amortization and loss on disposal of      assets, net:                            48,818       47,201         3 %     Corporate and administrative              4,061        3,743         8 %   Depreciation and amortization of    intangible assets                          9,776        8,997         9 %   (Gain) loss on disposals of assets, net        (3)          82      (104)%                                              62,652       60,023         4 %   Operating income                            7,029       10,796       (35)%   Other income (expense):     Miscellaneous income, net                   359          346         4 %     Interest expense                        (17,272)     (15,891)        9 %     Loss on early extinguishment of debt     (6,492)        (110)     5802 %   Loss before income tax benefit            (16,376)      (4,859)      237 %   Income tax benefit                         (5,862)      (1,895)      209 %   Net loss                                  (10,514)      (2,964)      255 %   Preferred dividends (includes accretion    of issuance cost of $21, $22, $21, $22,    respectively)                                778          815        (5)%   Net loss available to common    stockholders                            $(11,292)     $(3,779)      199 %    Basic and diluted per share information:     Net loss available to common      stockholders                            $(0.24)     $(0.08)     Weighted average shares outstanding      47,734      48,741         (2)%    Political revenue (less agency commission) $1,097      $1,856        (41)%    Revenue related to Olympic broadcasts    (less agency commission)                  $    -      $3,390     Subsequent Events:   

On April 18, 2007, Gray drew $275 million on the term loan facility of its senior credit agreement to redeem all of the Company's outstanding 9.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011 (the "9.25% Notes"), pay applicable redemption premiums, pay accrued interest and pay fees and expenses related to the redemption. As a result of redeeming the 9.25% Notes, Gray will record a loss on early extinguishment of debt of approximately $16.4 million during the second quarter of 2007.

On April 22, 2007, the Company issued a notice of redemption setting May 22, 2007 as the date it will redeem all of its outstanding Series C Preferred Stock at its aggregate liquidation value of $37.9 million plus accrued and unpaid dividends through, but not including, the redemption date. The Company intends to fund this redemption by drawing, subject to customary borrowing conditions, $40 million under its existing term loan facility. If the redemption of the Series C Preferred Stock is not completed as of May 31, 2007, the corresponding $40 million commitment under the term loan facility will permanently reduce.

After completion of both of the redemption transactions discussed above, Gray expects the outstanding balance of its term loan to equal $925 million.

Guidance for the Second Quarter of 2007

We currently anticipate that Gray's broadcasting results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2007 will approximate the ranges presented in the table below.

                                               %                %                                      2007   Change    2007   Change                                    Guidance  From   Guidance  From                                      Low    Actual    High   Actual   Actual   Selected operating data:          Range    2006     Range   2006     2006                                              (dollars in millions)   OPERATING REVENUES:   Revenues (less agency    commissions)                    $80,000    (2)%  $81,500    0 %   $81,391    OPERATING EXPENSES:   (before depreciation,   amortization and other   expenses)     Broadcast                      $49,500     9 %  $49,750    9 %   $45,538     Corporate                       $3,400    17 %   $3,700   27 %    $2,916    OTHER SELECTED DATA:     Broadcast political revenues     (less agency commissions)       $2,000           $2,100           $4,706    Expense for non-cash   contributions to 401(k) plan        $600             $625             $570    Expense for corporate non-cash   stock based compensation            $300             $325             $193      Comments on Guidance:   

The total revenue results anticipated for the second quarter of 2007 reflect the incremental decline in political revenues and continued softness in non-political national advertising. Local non-political advertising is currently anticipated to increase on a percentage basis in the "middle single digit" range.

The incremental costs of the digital second channels discussed above account for approximately $1.5 million of the expected increase in total broadcast operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal of assets.

With respect to the Company's digital second channels for the full year of 2007, Gray currently anticipates the total operating costs, before depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal of assets, of its digital second channels will increase approximately $4.8 million to a total of $10 million. This expected increase reflects the impact of expanding digital second channel operations to a total of 40 channels by December 31, 2007 compared to operating six digital second channels at January 1, 2006.

The Company currently anticipates that the total operating costs of its primary channels for the full year of 2007 will increase less than $1.5 million over the pro forma results for the full year of 2006 and that the majority of this increase is attributable to the non-recurring expense of installing a uniform sales billing system at all of the Company's television stations.

Estimated increases in corporate expenses for the second quarter of 2007, as compared to the second quarter of 2006, primarily reflects the timing of the incurrance of various professional services between the two periods. For the full year of 2007, the Company currently anticipates that total corporate expense will be below the $15.1 million of corporate expense reported for 2006.

Changes in the classification of certain items:

The classification of certain prior year amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been changed in order to conform to the current year presentation.

Conference Call Information

Gray Television, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter operating results on May 7, 2007. The call will begin at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. The live dial-in number is 1-800-811-0667 and the confirmation code is 3145818. The call will be webcast live and available for replay at www.gray.tv. The taped replay of the conference call will be available at 1- 888-203-1112, Confirmation Code: 3145818 until June 7, 2007.

   Reconciliations:   Reconciliation of net loss to the Non-GAAP terms:                                           As Reported         Pro Forma(1)                                     Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended                                          March 31,            March 31,                                      2007       2006       2007        2006                                       (in thousands)       (in thousands)    Net loss                       $(10,514)   $(2,554)  $(10,514)    $(2,964)     Adjustments to reconcile      to Broadcast      Cash Flow Less        Cash Corporate Expenses:         Depreciation and         amortization of         intangible assets           9,776      8,329      9,776       8,997         Amortization of non-cash          stock based compensation     520        198        520         198         (Gain) loss on disposals          of assets, net                (3)        82         (3)         82         Miscellaneous (income)          expense, net                (359)      (346)      (359)       (346)         Interest expense           17,272     15,466     17,272      15,891         Loss on early          extinguishment of debt     6,492        110      6,492         110         Income tax expense          (benefit)                 (5,862)    (1,660)    (5,862)     (1,895)         Amortization of program          broadcast rights           3,793      3,304      3,793       3,304         Common stock contributed          to 401(k) plan excluding          corporate 401(k)          contributions                618        573        618         573         Network compensation          revenue recognized          (188)      (220)      (188)       (220)         Network compensation per          network affiliation          agreement                     78        524         78         524         Payments for program          broadcast rights          (3,804)    (3,286)    (3,804)     (3,286)    Broadcast Cash Flow Less Cash    Corporate Expenses              17,819     20,520     17,819      20,968     Corporate and administrative      expenses excluding      amortization of non-cash      stock based compensation       3,541      3,545      3,541       3,545   Broadcast Cash Flow             $21,360    $24,065    $21,360     $24,513      Non-GAAP Terms  

This press release includes the non-GAAP financial measure of Broadcast Cash Flow and Broadcast Cash Flow Less Cash Corporate Expenses. These non- GAAP amounts are used by the Company to approximate the amount used to calculate key financial performance covenants including, but not limited to, limitations on debt, interest coverage, and fixed charge coverage ratios as defined in the Company's senior credit facility and/or senior subordinated note indenture. Broadcast Cash Flow is defined as operating income, plus corporate expense, depreciation and amortization (including amortization of program broadcast rights), non-cash compensation and (gain) loss on disposal of assets and cash payments received or receivable under network affiliation agreements less payments for program broadcast obligations, less network compensation revenue and less income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes. Corporate expenses (excluding depreciation, amortization and non-cash stock based compensation) are deducted from Broadcast Cash Flow to calculate "Broadcast Cash Flow Less Cash Corporate Expenses". These non-GAAP terms are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should be considered as supplements to, and not as substitutes for, net income (loss) calculated in accordance with GAAP.

   Notes   (1) The pro forma presentation gives effect to the results of operations       for the acquisition of television station WNDU, South Bend, IN on       March 3, 2006 as if the station had been acquired on January 1, 2006.   (2) Total debt as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 does not include       $621,000 and $653,000, respectively, of unamortized debt discount on       Gray's 9.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011.  The decrease is due       to the amortization of the discount.    The Company   

Gray Television, Inc. is a television broadcast company headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Gray currently operates 36 television stations serving 30 markets. Each of the stations are affiliated with either CBS (17 stations), NBC (10 stations), ABC (8 stations) or FOX (1 station). In addition, Gray currently operates 39 digital second channels including 1 ABC, 5 Fox, 8 CW and 16 MyNetworkTV affiliates plus 7 local news/weather channels and 2 "independent" channels in certain of its existing markets. Gray intends to start an additional local news/weather channel during 2007.

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

The comments on Gray's current expectations of operating results for the second quarter of 2007 and other future events are "forward looking statements" for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results of operations are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and may differ materially from the current expectations discussed in this press release. All information set forth in this release and its attachments is as of May 7, 2007. Gray does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances. Information about potential factors that could affect Gray's business and financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is included under the captions, "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in Gray's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 which is on file with the SEC and available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

FCMN Contact: dottie@gray.tv

Source: Gray Television, Inc.

CONTACT: Bob Prather, President and Chief Operating Officer,
+1-404-266-8333, or Jim Ryan, Senior V.P. and Chief Financial Officer,
+1-404-504-9828, both of Gray Television, Inc.

Web site: http://www.gray.tv/

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