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Thursday, November 08, 2007

New Frontier Media Reports Fiscal 2008 Second Quarter Results

New Frontier Media Reports Fiscal 2008 Second Quarter Results

BOULDER, Colo., Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New Frontier Media, Inc. (NASDAQ:NOOF) , a worldwide producer and distributor of general and adult- themed motion picture entertainment, today reported earnings per share of $0.09 for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, as compared to $0.15 per share for the same period last year. The Company reported quarterly revenue of $12.4 million, representing a decline of $3.8 million as compared to the same period in the prior year.

"On a consecutive quarter basis, we believe New Frontier Media is now returning to a growth trend both in terms of adjusted EBITDA and earnings per share" said Michael Weiner, Chief Executive Officer of New Frontier Media, Inc. "We believe that our newly announced distribution and programming contracts will provide us with continued and material growth as we move into the second half of the fiscal year."

During the second fiscal quarter, New Frontier Media, Inc. provided shareholders with a $0.125 quarterly dividend and repurchased almost 570,000 shares of its common stock. Since fiscal 2007, the Company has provided shareholders with over $20.6 million in cash dividends, and has repurchased approximately $5.8 million of its common stock.

Quarterly Results

On a quarterly basis, the Company reported a decrease in second quarter revenue to $12.4 million from $16.2 million for the same quarter a year ago. Net income for the current year quarter was $2.1 million compared to $3.7 million for the same quarter a year ago. The Company reported earnings per share of $0.09 for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, as compared with $0.15 per share for the same quarter a year ago.

Pay TV

The Company's Pay TV segment reported revenue of $10.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, as compared to $12.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, representing a decrease of 18%. Within the Pay TV segment, the following detailed results were reported for the current quarter compared to the same quarter last year:

   * Pay-per-view ("PPV") revenue declined 33% to $5.0 million from     $7.5 million for the same period last year.  The decrease is primarily a     result of the renegotiated agreement with one of our key customers in     October 2006, which resulted in a downward adjustment of our historical     revenue split.    * Video-on-demand ("VOD") revenue was $4.7 million representing a 12%     increase from the $4.2 million in revenue recognized during the same     prior year quarter.  The increase is attributable to an improvement in     the performance of our services.    * C-Band revenue decreased 40% to $0.3 million from $0.5 million in the     prior year.    

Operating income for the Pay TV segment was $5.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, as compared to operating income of $7.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, representing a decrease of 35%. Gross margin for the Pay TV segment decreased to 72% for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 from 77% for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. Operating expenses increased 31% to $2.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 from $1.6 million for the quarter a year ago primarily as a result of higher costs associated with promotion and marketing activities in anticipation of new channel launches. The Company launched two of these new channels in October 2007 on the largest direct broadcast satellite platform in the U.S.

Film Production

The Company's Film Production segment reported revenue of $2.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 as compared to revenue of $3.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, representing a decrease of 39%. The decline in revenue is primarily related to different delivery schedules between years. In the prior year quarter, the Film Production segment delivered four episodes of a 13 episode series. This same episodic business has completed production and is expected to be delivered during the third quarter of the current fiscal year. Offsetting these revenue declines was higher revenue from the delivery of the Film Production segment's content on the video-on-demand platforms of four major cable operators in the U.S. and higher revenue from the distribution of several horror films to home video and video-on-demand platforms through a mainstream film distributor.

Cost of sales declined 76% to $0.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 from $2.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. This decline is primarily from lower film amortization from a decline in revenue and from the Film Production segment's monetization of titles produced subsequent to its acquisition by New Frontier Media in February 2006. Also contributing to the decline was the delivery and recognition of revenue for several older titles and a horror title whose film costs had been fully amortized in prior periods. As a result of this decline in cost of sales, the Film Production segment's gross margin increased to 75% for the current fiscal quarter as compared to 36% for the same quarter in the prior year.

The Film Production segment generated operating income of $0.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 as compared to $0.1 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 as a result of the higher gross margins.

Internet

The Company's Internet segment reported net revenue of $0.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 as compared to net revenue of $0.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, representing a decrease of 33%. Operating income for the Internet segment was $0.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and breakeven for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.

Corporate Administration Expenses

Corporate administration expenses were $2.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and were relatively flat from the $2.3 million in corporate administration expenses reported for the comparable quarter last year.

Other Results

The Company reported Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 of $2.4 million compared to $6.3 million last year. A schedule reconciling Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP (defined below) financial measure -- Net Income -- is provided below. The Company believes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are important financial measures and they are used by management to monitor the financial performance of the Company. The decline in Adjusted EBITDA compared to the same period last year is primarily attributable to the following:

   * lower net income attributable to a decline in the PPV revenue reported     in the Pay TV segment from the renegotiated contract with a key     customer;    * lower revenue from the Film Production segment primarily due to     different delivery schedules associated with a 13 episode series.  The     series was delivered in the first half of fiscal 2007 but is not     scheduled to occur until the third quarter of fiscal 2008;    * the impact of lower amortization expenses in the Film Production     segment; and    * increased capital expenditure investments related to investments in our     digital production facility.    

Total cash and investments as of September 30, 2007 were $16.6 million, down from $23.9 million as of June 30, 2007. The decrease from the previous quarter is primarily attributable to the following second quarter activities:

   * $3.6 million used to repurchase outstanding common stock during the     quarter;    * $3.0 million used to fund the $0.125 quarterly dividend to stockholders     during the quarter;    * $2.2 million used to acquire content and produce owned content during     the quarter; and    * $2.1 million used to fund a large "producer-for-hire" project in the     Film Production segment during the quarter.     Conference Call Information  

New Frontier Media, Inc. will be conducting its conference call and web cast to discuss earnings today at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. The participant phone number for the conference call is (800) 366-3964. To participate in the web cast please log on to www.noof.com and click on "Investor Relations" and then "Webcasts & Events". A replay of the conference call will be available for seven days beginning after 1 p.m. Eastern Time on November 8, 2007 at (800) 405-2236, access code 11100423#. The replay will also be archived for twelve months on the Corporate web site at www.noof.com. This press release can be found on the Company's corporate web site, www.noof.com, under "Investor Relations/News Releases".

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections made by management. The Company intends for the forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", or variations of such words are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements included in this news release whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Please refer to the Company's most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC for additional information regarding risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed from time to time in such SEC reports. Copies of these filings are available through the SEC's electronic data gathering analysis and retrieval system (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains "non-GAAP financial measure(s)" as defined in Item 10 of Regulation S-K, including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006 and the six months ended September 30, 2007 and September 30, 2006.

The Company believes these measures provide useful information to management and to investors; however, these "non-GAAP" measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States ("GAAP"). A reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, as compared to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is presented in a reconciliation table that follows our presentation of Consolidated Operating Results below. EBITDA is calculated as net income plus depreciation, amortization (excluding content amortization), income taxes and interest expense less interest income. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as EBITDA plus content amortization and share based compensation expenses, less cash investments for content and capital expenditures.

ABOUT NEW FRONTIER MEDIA, INC.

New Frontier Media, Inc. is a worldwide producer and distributor of adult-themed and general motion picture entertainment. Under the "The Erotic Networks"(R) trademark, the Company delivers seven, full-time adult-themed pay-per-view networks to cable and satellite operators across the United States. Additionally, the Company is a leading provider of adult-themed Video-on-Demand content to cable and satellite platforms. These services reach approximately 160 million network homes.

New Frontier Media's Film Production segment produces original, adult-themed content and series that are distributed on premium movie channels in the United States and around the world. The Film Production segment also develops and produces original, adult-themed event programming that is widely distributed on satellite and cable platforms in the United States. Additionally, the Film Production segment manages a sales operation, which matches independent, mainstream film producers with film distributors around the world.

New Frontier Media owns and operates a digital broadcast infrastructure in Colorado, which serves content to broadcast, IP and wireless networks around the world.

For more information about New Frontier Media, Inc. contact Grant Williams, Corporate Controller, at (303) 444-0900, extension 185, and please visit our web site at www.noof.com.

   Consolidated Operating Results   (in thousands, except per share amounts)                                              (Unaudited)       (Unaudited)                                           Quarter Ended    Six Months Ended                                            September 30,     September 30,                                            2007     2006     2007     2006    Net sales                              $12,430  $16,166  $25,370  $32,494   Cost of sales                            3,459    5,195    7,256   10,524   Gross margin                             8,971   10,971   18,114   21,970   Operating expenses                       5,719    5,332   12,723   10,840   Operating income                         3,252    5,639    5,391   11,130   Other income                               149      298      385      500   Income before provision for income    taxes                                   3,401    5,937    5,776   11,630   Provision for income taxes              (1,256)  (2,283)  (2,134)  (4,427)   Net income                              $2,145   $3,654   $3,642   $7,203   Basic income per share                   $0.09    $0.15    $0.15    $0.30   Diluted income per share                 $0.09    $0.15    $0.15    $0.30   Dividends declared per common share      $0.13     $-      $0.25     $-   Average outstanding shares of common    stock                                  24,120   23,830   24,232   23,832   Common stock and common stock    equivalents                            24,225   24,276   24,424   24,287      Reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted  EBITDA                                             (Unaudited)        (Unaudited)                                          Quarter Ended    Six Months Ended                                           September 30,      September 30,                                           2007     2006     2007      2006    Net Income                             $2,145   $3,654   $3,642    $7,203    Adjustments:         Depreciation/Amortization (1)       556      488    1,081       951         Interest Expense                     53       28       96        57         Interest Income                    (215)    (322)    (469)     (560)         Income taxes                      1,256    2,283    2,134     4,427   EBITDA                                  3,795    6,131    6,484    12,078          Content Amortization              1,159    2,750    2,530     5,626         Cash Investments in Content      (2,196)  (2,569)  (4,540)   (3,965)         Capital Expenditures               (653)    (286)  (1,160)     (586)         Stock Based Compensation            288      225      563       428    Adjusted EBITDA                        $2,393   $6,251   $3,877   $13,581     (1) Amortization excludes amortization of content      Consolidated Balance Sheets   (In thousands)                              (Unaudited)                                              September 30,       March 31,                                                   2007              2007   CURRENT ASSETS:         Cash and Cash Equivalents               $12,205           $17,345         Restricted Cash                              10             1,710         Marketable Securities                     3,845             8,681         Accounts Receivable, net                 11,262            12,249         Deferred Cost                             2,106                 -         Deferred Tax Asset                          407               528         Other Current Assets                      2,175             2,863                 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS             32,010            43,376          Equipment and Furniture, net              4,722             4,534         Prepaid Distribution Rights, net          9,872             9,084         Marketable Securities                       583               587         Recoupable Costs and Producer Advances    1,610             1,278         Film Costs, net                           8,213             6,991         Goodwill                                 18,608            18,608         Other Identifiable Intangible          Assets, net                              2,390             2,771         Other Assets                                984               987                 TOTAL ASSETS                    $78,992           $88,216    CURRENT LIABILITIES:         Accounts Payable                         $2,137            $1,942         Producer Payable                            638             1,049         Deferred Revenue                          1,131               889         Due to Related Party                         92               647         Accrued Compensation                      1,751             3,298         Deferred Producer Liabilities             2,309             1,344         Accrued and Other Liabilities               857             3,664                 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES         8,915            12,833          Deferred Tax Liability                      355               976         Taxes Payable                             1,849             1,726         Other Long-Term Liabilities                 962               982                 TOTAL LIABILITIES                12,081            16,517    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY         Common Stock                                  2                 2         Additional Paid-in Capital               61,789            64,191         Retained Earnings                         5,136             7,536         Accumulated Other          Comprehensive Loss                         (16)              (30)                 TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY       66,911            71,699                  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND                  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY           $78,992           $88,216      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows   (In thousands)                                                         (Unaudited)                                                      Six Months Ended                                                        September 30,   Cash flows from operating activities:           2007               2006   Net income                                     $3,642             $7,203     Adjustments to reconcile net      income to net cash provided by      operating activities:     Depreciation and amortization                 3,611              6,577     Tax benefit from option/warrant exercises       167                134     Stock-based compensation                        563                428     Charge for asset disposition and      impairment                                     363                  -   Changes in operating assets and    liabilities         Accounts receivable                         987                 11         Accounts payable                            195               (441)         Prepaid distribution rights              (2,388)            (2,468)         Capitalized film costs                   (2,152)            (1,497)         Deferred costs                           (2,106)                 -         Deferred revenue, net                       242                510         Producer payable                           (411)                58         Taxes receivable and payable, net           275              1,288         Deferred tax asset and          liability, net                            (508)            (1,218)         Accrued compensation                     (1,547)               (21)         Other assets and liabilities, net           (45)               247              Net cash provided by              operating activities                   888             10,811    Cash flows from investing activities:     Payment for business acquisitions                 -                (18)     Purchase of investments      available-for-sale                          (2,671)           (12,571)     Redemption of investments      available-for-sale                           7,532              2,753     Purchase of equipment and furniture          (1,160)              (586)     Payment of related party note arising      from business acquisition                     (555)              (468)            Net cash provided by (used in)            investing activities                   3,146            (10,890)    Cash flows from financing activities:     Proceeds from exercise of stock      options/warrants                               512                636     Purchase of common stock                     (3,618)            (2,160)     Payment of dividend                          (6,042)                 -     Excess tax benefit from      option/warrant exercise                        (26)               323            Net cash used in financing            activities                            (9,174)            (1,201)    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents      (5,140)            (1,280)   Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of    period                                        17,345             12,611    Cash and cash equivalents, end of period      $12,205            $11,331  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: hpatton@noof.com

Source: New Frontier Media, Inc.

CONTACT: Grant Williams, Corporate Controller of New Frontier Media,
Inc., +1-303-444-0900, ext. 185, gwilliams@noof.com

Web site: http://www.noof.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

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