Cox Radio Reports Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results

Cox Radio Reports Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results

ATLANTA, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cox Radio, Inc. (NYSE:CXR) today reported financial results for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2008.

Financial highlights (in thousands, except per share data and percentages) are as follows:

                 Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended                   September 30,                September 30,                   2008     2007                2008     2007                   ----     ----                ----     ----   Net    revenues     $104,864 $111,765   (6.2%)  $310,894  $330,520  (5.9%)    Station    operating    income(1)      39,232   46,880  (16.3%)   116,684   132,495 (11.9%)    Station    operating    income    margin(2)        37.4%    41.9%      -       37.5%     40.1%    -    Operating    income    (loss)        $30,513  $37,138  (17.8%)  $(53,478) $103,393     *    Net income    (loss)         15,871   20,196  (21.4%)   (46,677)   53,983     *    Net income    (loss) per    common    share -    diluted         $0.19    $0.21   (9.5%)    $(0.55)    $0.57     *    Free cash    flow(3)        28,542   26,593    7.3%     76,414    75,997   0.5%    __________________________________________   *  Results are not statistically meaningful.   (1) Station operating income is not a measure of performance calculated in       accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United       States (GAAP).  Please see the attached table for a reconciliation to       operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.   (2) Station operating income margin is station operating income as a       percentage of net revenues.   (3) Free cash flow is not a measure of performance calculated in       accordance with GAAP.  Please see the attached table for a       reconciliation to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP       financial measure.     

Robert F. Neil, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our third quarter results reflect the impact of the economic downturn across the majority of our markets, offset in part by our efforts to control costs, while continuing to make strategic investments in our programming content. Through our stations and our expanding digital platform, we strive to consistently deliver significant audiences, attractive demographics and, ultimately, results for our advertisers. Despite the weak advertising climate, we remain committed to prudently executing on our operating strategy, carefully managing our expenses and maintaining a strong balance sheet."

Operating Results - Third Quarter 2008

Net revenues for the third quarter of 2008 were $104.9 million, down 6.2% from the third quarter of 2007. Local revenues decreased 3.5%, national revenues decreased 14.4% and other revenues, which include Internet and other non-traditional revenues, decreased 6.9%, each as compared to the third quarter of 2007. Overall, revenues have declined relative to the prior year due to continued overall weakness in advertising. Our stations in Houston, Long Island, Birmingham, Tulsa and Louisville delivered revenue growth during the third quarter of 2008. Revenue growth at these stations was more than offset by results of our stations in Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, Southern Connecticut and Jacksonville, where net revenues were down for the quarter.

Cost of services is comprised of expenses incurred by our technical, news and programming departments. Cost of services increased $0.9 million, or 3.6% compared to the third quarter of 2007. This increase was primarily the result of additional costs associated with programming talent in our Atlanta and Tampa markets.

Selling, general and administrative expenses are comprised of expenses incurred by our sales, promotion and general and administrative departments. These expenses decreased $0.5 million, or 1.2% when compared to the third quarter of 2007. For the third quarter of 2008, decreases in sales commissions and bonuses were partially offset by an increase in promotion expenses in our Atlanta and Louisville markets.

Corporate general and administrative expenses decreased $0.5 million, or 8.8% when compared to the third quarter of 2007. This decrease was attributable to a decrease in incentive compensation and legal accruals, as well as a reduction in compensation expense associated with performance units awarded to corporate employees under our Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP).

Operating income for the third quarter of 2008 was $30.5 million compared to $37.1 million for the third quarter of 2007.

Interest expense during the third quarter of 2008 decreased $1.8 million, or 36.3% when compared to the third quarter of 2007, due to a lower borrowing rate under our credit facility. The average interest rate on our credit facility was 3.1% during the third quarter of 2008 and 6.2% during the third quarter of 2007.

Income tax expense decreased approximately $0.9 million to $11.4 million in the third quarter of 2008, as compared to the third quarter of 2007. This was attributable to a decrease in income before income taxes, offset in part by an increase in estimated effective state income tax rates. Our overall effective tax rate was 41.9% for the third quarter of 2008 and 38.0% for the third quarter of 2007.

Net income for the third quarter of 2008 was $15.9 million, a decrease of $4.3 million from the third quarter of 2007. This decrease was attributable to the various factors discussed above.

Operating Results - First Nine Months of 2008

Net revenues for the first nine months of 2008 decreased $19.6 million, a 5.9% decrease compared to the first nine months of 2007. Local revenues decreased 4.7%, national revenues decreased 12.2% and other revenues decreased 0.5%, each as compared to the first nine months of 2007, due to overall weakness in the economy and the advertising market. Our stations in Houston, Long Island, Birmingham and Tulsa delivered revenue growth during the first nine months of 2008. Those increases were more than offset by results of our stations in Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville and Richmond, where revenues were down for the first nine months of 2008.

Cost of services increased $1.4 million, or 2.0% over the first nine months of 2007. This increase was primarily the result of additional costs associated with programming talent.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $8.9 million, or 6.7% compared to the first nine months of 2007, due to decreased compensation expense associated with performance units awarded under our LTIP and a decline in sales commissions and bonuses.

Corporate general and administrative expenses decreased 14.3%, or $2.3 million compared to the third quarter of 2007, primarily due to a reduction in compensation expense associated with performance units awarded to corporate employees under our LTIP.

Our operating loss for the first nine months of 2008 was $53.5 million, compared to operating income of $103.4 million for the first nine months of 2007. This decline was primarily due to a $147.6 million non-cash impairment charge ($96.8 million net of tax), recorded in the second quarter of 2008 to reduce the carrying value of intangible assets in certain markets to their estimated fair values.

Interest expense during the first nine months of 2008 totaled $10.1 million, as compared to $16.1 million for the first nine months of 2007. This decrease was primarily attributable to a lower borrowing rate under our credit facility. The average rate on our credit facility was 3.6% during the first nine months of 2008 and 6.1% during the first nine months of 2007.

Income tax expense decreased to a net income tax benefit of $16.9 million in the first nine months of 2008, as compared to the first nine months of 2007, due primarily to the non-cash impairment charge discussed above. Our effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2008 and 2007 was 26.6% and 38.7%, respectively.

Our net loss for the first nine months of 2008 was $46.7 million, compared to net income of $54.0 million for the first nine months of 2007, due to lower revenues and the non-cash impairment charge recognized in the second quarter of 2008.

Other Matters

On August 1, 2008, we consummated the acquisition of six radio stations serving the Athens, Georgia market. The six stations -- WNGC-FM, WGMG-FM, WPUP-FM, WGAU-AM, WRFC-AM and WXKT-FM -- were acquired for approximately $60 million, less $12 million previously paid to the sellers.

As of September 30, 2008, we had implemented three share repurchase programs through which Cox Radio, from time to time, may repurchase shares of its Class A common stock in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. Repurchased shares are held in treasury, and we may commence, suspend or terminate repurchases without prior notice, depending on market conditions and various other factors.

During the third quarter of 2008, we repurchased 4.4 million shares of Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $46.5 million, including commissions and fees. As of September 30, 2008, we had purchased a total of approximately 20.6 million shares under all of our repurchase programs for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $256.5 million, including commissions and fees, at an average price of $12.44 per share. Approximately $43.5 million remained authorized for additional repurchases as of September 30, 2008.

Cox Radio is one of the largest radio companies in the United States based on revenues. Cox Radio owns, operates or provides sales or marketing services for 86 stations (71 FM and 15 AM) clustered in 19 markets, including major markets such as Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Orlando, San Antonio and Tampa. Cox Radio shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: CXR.

Cox Radio will host a teleconference to discuss its financial results on Wednesday, November 5th at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the teleconference, please dial (973) 582-2854 ten minutes prior to the start of the call. A live webcast of the teleconference will be available on the investor relations section of our website at www.coxradio.com. If you cannot listen to the teleconference at its scheduled time, a replay of the teleconference will be available through Wednesday, November 12, 2008 and can be accessed by dialing (800) 642-1687 (U.S.) or (706) 645-9291 (Int'l), passcode 67725186. The webcast will also be archived on our website for 30 days.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this release, including statements relating to our operating strategy, are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are statements that relate to future plans, objectives, expectations, performance, and similar projections, as well as any facts or assumptions underlying these statements or projections. Actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements due to various risks, uncertainties or other factors. These factors include competition within the radio broadcasting industry, advertising demand in our markets, the possibility that advertisers may cancel or postpone schedules in response to political events, competition for audience share, our success in executing and integrating acquisitions, our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet our debt service obligations and finance operations, and other risk factors described from time to time in Cox Radio's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Cox Radio's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Cox Radio assumes no responsibility to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

   Consolidated Statements of Income - Unaudited   (In thousands, except per share data)                             Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended                             September 30,             September 30,                           2008           2007      2008            2007   Net revenues:      Local             $  74,549   $    77,227  $ 222,328   $     233,262      National             20,941        24,472     61,646          70,204      Other                 9,374        10,066     26,920          27,054        Total revenues    104,864       111,765    310,894         330,520    Operating    expenses:      Cost of services       (exclusive of       depreciation       and amortization       shown below)        25,114        24,242     71,217          69,825      Selling,       general and       administrative      41,715        42,229    123,714         132,626      Corporate       general and       administrative       4,865         5,334     13,752          16,043      Depreciation       and amortization     2,584         2,741      7,922           8,467      Impairment of       intangible       assets                   -             -    147,633               -      Other operating       expenses, net           73            81        134             166    Operating    income (loss)          30,513        37,138    (53,478)        103,393    Other income    (expense):     Interest expense      (3,214)       (5,044)   (10,114)        (16,119)     Other items, net           -           471         27             791   Income (loss)    before income    taxes                  27,299        32,565    (63,565)         88,065     Current income      tax expense           1,380         7,487     13,308          21,142     Deferred income tax      expense (benefit)    10,048         4,882    (30,196)         12,940        Total income         tax expense         (benefit)         11,428        12,369    (16,888)         34,082   Net income (loss)    $  15,871   $    20,196  $ (46,677)  $      53,983    Net income    (loss) per    share - basic       Net income        (loss) per        common share    $    0.19   $      0.22  $   (0.55)  $        0.57    Net income    (loss) per    share -  diluted       Net income        (loss) per        common share    $    0.19   $      0.21  $   (0.55)  $        0.57    Weighted    average basic    common shares    outstanding            82,793        93,896     85,364          94,691    Weighted    average diluted    common shares    outstanding            83,383        94,458     85,364          95,279      Selected Balance Sheet Data - Unaudited   (In thousands)                                              September     December                                               30,           31,                                              2008          2007     Cash                                $      1,805 $     2,009    Total assets                           1,899,861   1,997,364     Amounts due to Cox Enterprises, Inc.       5,533      16,602    Long-term debt(1)                        415,000     320,000    Total liabilities                        891,853     843,124    Total shareholders' equity             1,008,008   1,154,240                                           _________   _________    (1) Consists of amounts borrowed under our revolving credit facility that       expires in July 2011.      Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures - Unaudited   (In thousands)                                        Nine Months Ended                                         September 30,                                     2008              2007       Net cash provided by       operating activities       $ 80,462          $ 79,738      Net cash used in       investing activities        (61,548)          (12,227)      Net cash used in       financing activities        (19,118)          (68,312)       Capital expenditures           5,275             7,105      Cash paid during the       period for interest          10,545            16,419      Cash paid during the       period for income taxes      18,792            20,115      Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures   

Cox Radio utilizes certain financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP to assess its financial performance. A non-GAAP financial measure is defined as a numerical measure of a company's financial performance that: (i) excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statement of income or statement of cash flows; or (ii) includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the comparable measure so calculated and presented. The non-GAAP financial measures used in this release are station operating income, station operating income margin and free cash flow.

   --  Station operating income is operating income excluding other operating       expenses, net, certain non-recurring items, depreciation and       amortization, non-cash compensation expense and corporate general and       administrative expenses.    --  Station operating income margin is station operating income as a       percentage of net revenues calculated in accordance with GAAP.    --  Free cash flow is net income plus deferred income tax expense, other       operating expenses, net, depreciation and amortization and non-cash       compensation expense, minus capital expenditures, and adjusted to       eliminate other items, net and other non-recurring items.   

Cox Radio's management believes that station operating income, station operating income margin and free cash flow provide useful data to evaluate Cox Radio's overall financial condition and operating results and the means to evaluate our radio stations' performance and operations. Management also believes that these measures are useful to an investor in evaluating our performance because they are commonly used financial analysis tools for measuring and comparing media companies. In addition, management uses these measures to evaluate individual radio station and market-level performance, as well as our overall operations. Station operating income and free cash flow should not be considered as alternatives to operating income or net income as indicators of Cox Radio's financial performance. Free cash flow should not be considered an alternative to net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Each of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The following table reconciles operating income, from Cox Radio's financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, to station operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure.

                                Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended                                   September 30,            September 30,                                 2008        2007        2008         2007                                                 (Unaudited)                                                (In thousands)    Operating income    (loss)                      $30,513     $37,138    $(53,478)   $103,393   Adjustments:       Other operating        expense, net                 73          81         134         166        Non-recurring item:            Impairment of             intangible assets        -           -     147,633           -       Depreciation and        amortization              2,584       2,741       7,922       8,467       Non-cash compensation        expense                   1,719       2,261       1,250       6,387       Corporate general and        administrative excludes        $0.5 million and $0.7        million of non-cash        compensation expense for        the three months ended        September 30, 2008        and 2007, respectively,        and $0.5 million and        $2.0 million of non-cash        compensation expense for        the nine months ended        September 30, 2008        and 2007, respectively)   4,343       4,659      13,223      14,082   Station operating income     $39,232     $46,880    $116,684    $132,495     

The following table reconciles net income, from Cox Radio's financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, to free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure.

                          Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended                             September 30,         September 30,                            2008       2007       2008       2007                                          (Unaudited)                                         (In thousands)    Net income (loss)        $15,871   $20,196    $(46,677)  $53,983   Adjustments:       Deferred income        tax expense        (benefit)            10,048     4,882     (30,196)   12,940       Other items, net           -      (471)        (27)     (791)       Other operating        expense, net             73        81         134       166       Depreciation and        amortization          2,584     2,741       7,922     8,467       Non-cash        compensation        expense               1,719     2,261       1,250     6,387       Capital        expenditures         (1,753)   (3,097)     (5,275)   (7,105)       Non-recurring items:          Impairment of           intangible           assets                 -         -     147,633         -          Proceeds from           insurance           recovery               -         -       1,650     1,950   Free cash flow           $28,542   $26,593     $76,414   $75,997  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Cox Radio, Inc.

CONTACT: Analysts and Investors, Neil Johnston, Vice President & Chief
Financial Officer, Cox Radio, Inc., +1-678-645-4310, or Analysts, Investors,
Press or Media, Dru Ortega, Brainerd Communicators, Inc., +1-212-986-6667,
Ortega@braincomm.com

Web Site: http://coxradio.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment