Arbitron Inc. Reports 2009 Third Quarter Financial Results

Arbitron Inc. Reports 2009 Third Quarter Financial Results

Reports earnings per share (diluted) of $0.51; Reiterates full-year revenue and earnings per share guidance

COLUMBIA, Md., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Arbitron Inc. (NYSE:ARB) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Net income for the quarter was $13.7 million or $0.51 per share (diluted), compared with $17.0 million or $0.63 per share (diluted) for the third quarter of 2008.

For the third quarter of 2009, the Company reported revenue of $98.1 million, a decrease of 4.3 percent over revenue of $102.5 million during the third quarter of 2008.

Lower revenue during the current quarter compared to the third quarter of last year is largely the result of several previously disclosed factors, including: the impact of a decision by Cumulus and Clear Channel to subscribe to a competitor's diary-based radio ratings service in a limited number of small and medium sized markets, beginning with the Spring 2009 survey period; the impact of Univision electing not to subscribe to the Portable People Meter(TM) (PPM(TM)) service in certain markets; and the continued impact of the advertising recession on renewals and new business.

Comparability between the 2008 and 2009 third quarters is also affected by the previously disclosed impact of the transition of our services from diary to PPM. During the first quarter of PPM commercialization, Arbitron recognizes revenue based on the delivery of both the final quarterly diary ratings and the initial monthly PPM ratings in each market. This impact was pronounced in the third quarter of 2008 - during which the Company commercialized the PPM service in eight large markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Costs and expenses for the third quarter increased by 1.9 percent, from $72.1 million in 2008 to $73.5 million in 2009, due primarily to the recognition of a $1.8 million, or $0.04 per share (diluted), non-cash charge relating to the acceleration of pension expense for certain pension plan participants who were part of the Company's restructuring and reorganization program.

The planned increase in expenditures for the commercialization of the PPM ratings service and the introduction of cell-phone-only household sampling in diary markets were offset by savings realized from the reorganization and restructuring program.

In the third quarter of 2009, share-based compensation totaled $2.9 million compared to $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2008.

Earnings before interest and income tax expense (EBIT) for the quarter were $22.7 million, compared with EBIT of $28.2 million for the third quarter of 2008.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, revenue was $283.4 million, an increase of 3.0 percent over revenue of $275.2 million for the same period in 2008.

EBIT decreased 12.6 percent from $56.4 million in the first nine months of 2008 to $49.3 million for the same period in 2009, due primarily to $10.1 million of reorganization and restructuring expense recorded year-to-date.

Net income for the nine-month period decreased by $4.3 million to $29.6 million compared with $33.8 million in 2008. Earnings per share (diluted) for the nine months in 2009 were $1.11 compared with $1.23 per share (diluted) last year.

Trade receivables as of September 30, 2009 were $50.0 million compared to $65.0 million as of June 30, 2009 and $50.0 million as of December 31, 2008.

Management Comment on Third Quarter 2009

"In the third quarter of 2009, Arbitron commercialized the Portable People Meter radio ratings service in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, St. Louis, Denver-Boulder, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, bringing to 25 the total number of PPM markets," said Michael Skarzynski, President and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, we have built out the PPM panels and begun the pre-currency surveys for the eight additional PPM markets that we plan to commercialize in December 2009.

"We continue to receive positive feedback from the market that electronic measurement is improving broadcasters' programming and sales strategies. Our goal is to help the radio industry leverage the advantages that PPM can offer to increase the value and utility of radio for local and national advertisers in all markets.

"With the start of the Fall 2009 survey in September, Arbitron is now sampling cell-phone-only households in all our diary-based syndicated radio markets in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii, an important milestone in our continuous improvement programs.

"Also in the third quarter, the ratings consortium in Canada launched the world's largest combined panel for television and radio audience measurement, using our PPM technology.

"We created a Cross-Platform media measurement group, bringing together product development, sales and product management in a significant step toward leveraging our PPM technologies beyond our traditional radio business," said Mr. Skarzynski.

   2009 Guidance    Arbitron is reiterating the following revenue and EPS guidance:   

For the full year 2009, Arbitron continues to expect revenue to increase between two percent and six percent as compared to full year 2008 revenue of $368.8 million.

For the full year 2009, Arbitron continues to expect earnings per share (diluted) to be between $1.40 and $1.55, an increase of between three percent and 14 percent, as compared to $1.36 for the full year 2008.

The Company's earnings per share guidance for the full year 2009 currently contemplates the impact of $10.1 million in pre-tax expense, related to the restructuring and reorganization program.

Earnings conference call: schedule and access

Arbitron will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company invites you to listen to the call by dialing (toll free) 888-562-3356. The conference call can be accessed from outside of the United States by dialing 973-582-2700. To participate, users will need to use the following code: 32982459. The call will also be available live on the Internet at the following sites: www.arbitron.com, www.ccbn.com and www.streetevents.com.

A replay of the call will be available from 12:00 p.m. on October 20, 2009 through 11:59 p.m. on October 27, 2009. To access the replay, please call (toll free) 800-642-1687 in the United States, or 706-645-9291 if you're calling from outside of the United States. To access the replay, users will need to enter the following code: 32982459.

Presentation of Non-GAAP Information

The terms EBIT (earnings before interest and income taxes) and EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) are non-GAAP financial measures that the management of Arbitron believes are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's results. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement for, or superior to, either income from continuing operations, as an indicator of Arbitron's operating performance, or cash flow, as a measure of Arbitron's liquidity. In addition, because EBIT and EBITDA may not be calculated identically by all companies, the presentation here may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP equivalent, see the EBIT and EBITDA Non-GAAP Reconciliation, along with related footnotes, below.

About Arbitron

Arbitron Inc. (NYSE:ARB) is a media and marketing research firm serving the media - radio, television, cable, online radio and out-of-home - as well as advertisers and advertising agencies. Arbitron's core businesses are measuring network and local market radio audiences across the United States; surveying the retail, media and product patterns of local market consumers; and providing application software used for analyzing media audience and marketing information data. The Company has developed the Portable People Meter, a new technology for media and marketing research.

Portable People Meter(TM) and PPM(TM) are marks of Arbitron Inc.

PPM ratings are based on audience estimates and are the opinion of Arbitron and should not be relied on for precise accuracy or precise representativeness of a demographic or radio market.

Arbitron Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements regarding Arbitron Inc. and its subsidiaries in this document that are not historical in nature, particularly those that utilize terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," or "plans," or comparable terminology, are forward-looking statements based on current expectations about future events, which we have derived from information currently available to us. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our results to be materially different from results implied in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, in no particular order, whether we will be able to:

   --  absorb costs related to legal proceedings and governmental entity       interactions and avoid related fines, limitations, or conditions on       our business activities, including, without limitation, by meeting or       exceeding our commitments and agreements with various governmental       entities;   --  successfully commercialize our Portable People Meter service;   --  successfully manage the impact on our business of the current economic       downturn generally, and in the advertising market, in particular,       including, without limitation, the insolvency of any of our customers       or the impact of such downturn on our customers' ability to fulfill       their payment obligations to us;   --  successfully maintain and promote industry usage of our services, a       critical mass of broadcaster encoding, and the proper understanding of       our audience measurement services and methodology in light of       governmental actions, including investigation, regulation,       legislation, or litigation, customer or industry group activism, or       adverse community or public relations efforts;   --  compete with companies that may have financial, marketing, sales,       technical, or other advantages over us;   --  successfully design, recruit and maintain PPM panels that       appropriately balance research quality, panel size, and operational       cost;   --  successfully develop, implement, and fund initiatives designed to       increase sample quality;   --  complete the Media Rating Council, Inc. ("MRC") audits of our local       market PPM ratings services in a timely manner and successfully obtain       and/or maintain MRC accreditation for our audience measurement       business;   --  renew contracts with key customers;   --  successfully execute our business strategies, including entering into       potential acquisition, joint-venture or other material third-party       agreements;   --  effectively manage the impact, if any, of any further ownership shifts       in the radio and advertising agency industries;   --  effectively respond to rapidly changing technological needs of our       customer base, including creating new proprietary software systems,       such as software systems to support our cell phone-only sampling       plans, and new customer services that meet these needs in a timely       manner;   --  successfully manage the impact on costs of data collection due to       lower respondent cooperation in surveys, consumer trends including a       trend toward increasing incidence of cell phone-only households,       privacy concerns, technology changes, and/or government regulations;   --  successfully develop and implement technology solutions to encode       and/or measure new forms of media content, delivery and advertising in       an increasingly competitive environment;   --  successfully integrate our new management team;   --  realize the anticipated savings from the Company's workforce and       expense reduction program; and    --  provide appropriate levels of operational capacity and funding to       support the more labor intensive identification and recruitment of       cell-phone-only households into our panels and samples    

There are a number of additional important factors that could cause actual events or our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the risk factors set forth in the caption "ITEM 1A. -- RISK FACTORS" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and elsewhere, and any subsequent periodic or current reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In addition, any forward-looking statements contained in this document represent our estimates only as of the date hereof, and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change.

   .                                  Arbitron Inc.                     Consolidated Statements of Income              Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008                   (In thousands, except per share data)                                (Unaudited)                                    Three Months Ended                                      September 30,                  %                                     2009        2008    Change    Change    Revenue                        $98,123    $102,526   $(4,403)    (4.3%)   Costs and expenses     Cost of revenue               44,454      41,795     2,659       6.4%     Selling, general and      administrative               16,908      20,058    (3,150)   (15.7%)     Research and development      10,385      10,274       111       1.1%     Restructuring and                                                 NM      reorganization                1,718           -     1,718      Total costs and expenses     73,465      72,127     1,338       1.9%    Operating income                24,658      30,399    (5,741)   (18.9%)      Equity in net loss of      affiliate                    (1,948)     (2,194)      246    (11.2%)    Earnings before interest and    income taxes  (1)              22,710      28,205    (5,495)   (19.5%)     Interest income                   11         127      (116)   (91.3%)     Interest expense                 365         644      (279)   (43.3%)    Income from continuing    operations before income    taxes                          22,356      27,688    (5,332)   (19.3%)     Income tax expense             8,637      10,788    (2,151)   (19.9%)    Income from continuing    operations                     13,719      16,900    (3,181)   (18.8%)    Discontinued Operations     Gain from discontinued                                            NM      operations, net of taxes          -          57       (57)     Loss from sale of                                                 NM      discontinued operations,      net of taxes                      -          (2)        2     Net gain from discontinued                                        NM      operations, net of taxes          -          55       (55)    Net Income                     $13,719     $16,955   $(3,236)   (19.1%)     Basic weighted average    common share     Income from continuing      operations                    $0.52       $0.63    $(0.11)   (17.5%)      Net gain from discontinued       operations, net of taxes         -           -         -         -     Net income                     $0.52       $0.64    $(0.12)   (18.8%)    Diluted weighted average    common share     Income from continuing      operations                    $0.51       $0.63    $(0.12)   (19.0%)       Net gain from discontinued        operations, net of taxes        -           -         -         -     Net income                     $0.51       $0.63    $(0.12)   (19.0%)     Weighted average shares used    in calculations     Basic                         26,515      26,652      (137)    (0.5%)     Diluted                       26,688      26,900      (212)    (0.8%)     Dividends per common share       $0.10       $0.10         -         -     Other data:   EBITDA   (1)                   $28,694     $32,763   $(4,069)   (12.4%)     (1) The terms EBIT (earnings before interest and income taxes) and EBITDA   (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization)   are non-GAAP financial measures that the management of Arbitron believes   are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's results. For a   reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable   GAAP equivalent, see the EBIT and EBITDA Non-GAAP Reconciliation, along   with related footnotes, below.    NM= Not meaningful.   Certain per share amounts may not total due to rounding.                                  Arbitron Inc.                     Consolidated Statements of Income              Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008                  (In thousands, except per share data)                              (Unaudited)                                     Nine Months Ended                                       September 30,                 %                                     2009        2008    Change    Change    Revenue                       $283,411    $275,246    $8,165       3.0%     Costs and expenses     Cost of revenue              139,745     129,490    10,255       7.9%     Selling, general and      administrative               54,683      58,587    (3,904)    (6.7%)     Research and development      30,275      29,802       473       1.6%     Restructuring and                                                 NM      reorganization               10,074           -    10,074      Total costs and expenses    234,777     217,879    16,898       7.8%    Operating income                48,634      57,367    (8,733)   (15.2%)      Equity in net income (loss)                                       NM      of affiliate(s)                 633        (973)    1,606    Earnings before interest and    income taxes  (1)              49,267      56,394    (7,127)   (12.6%)     Interest income                   44         582      (538)   (92.4%)     Interest expense               1,063       1,524      (461)   (30.2%)    Income from continuing    operations before income    taxes                          48,248      55,452    (7,204)   (13.0%)     Income tax expense            18,692      21,615    (2,923)   (13.5%)    Income from continuing    operations                     29,556      33,837    (4,281)   (12.7%)    Discontinued Operations     Loss from discontinued                                            NM      operations, net of taxes          -        (438)      438     Gain from sale of                                                 NM      discontinued operations,      net of taxes                      -         423      (423)     Net loss from discontinued                                        NM      operations, net of taxes          -         (15)       15    Net Income                     $29,556     $33,822   $(4,266)   (12.6%)     Basic weighted average    common share     Income from continuing      operations                    $1.12       $1.24    $(0.12)    (9.7%)      Net loss from discontinued       operations, net of taxes         -           -         -         -     Net income                     $1.12       $1.24    $(0.12)    (9.7%)    Diluted weighted average    common share     Income from continuing      operations                    $1.11       $1.23    $(0.12)    (9.8%)      Net loss from discontinued       operations, net of taxes         -           -         -         -     Net income                     $1.11       $1.23    $(0.12)    (9.8%)     Weighted average shares used    in calculations     Basic                         26,478      27,339      (861)    (3.1%)     Diluted                       26,629      27,546      (917)    (3.3%)     Dividends per common share       $0.30       $0.30         -         -     Other data:   EBITDA   (1)                   $66,132     $69,053   $(2,921)    (4.2%)    (1) The terms EBIT (earnings before interest and income taxes) and EBITDA   (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization)   are non-GAAP financial measures that the management of Arbitron believes   are useful to investors in evaluating the Company's results. For a   reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable   GAAP equivalent, see the EBIT and EBITDA Non-GAAP Reconciliation, along   with related footnotes, below.    NM=Not meaningful.                                       Arbitron Inc.                      EBIT and EBITDA Non-GAAP Reconciliation             Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008                                  (In thousands)                                    (Unaudited)                             Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended                              September 30,         September 30,                             2009       2008       2009      2008    Income from continuing    operations             $13,719    $16,900    $29,556   $33,837   Income tax expense        8,637     10,788     18,692    21,615   Net interest expense        354        517      1,019       942    EBIT (2)                $22,710    $28,205    $49,267   $56,394    Depreciation and    amortization             5,984      4,558     16,865    12,659    EBITDA (2)              $28,694    $32,763    $66,132   $69,053     (2) Arbitron's management believes that presenting EBIT (earnings before   interest and income taxes) and EBITDA (earnings before interest, income   taxes, depreciation and amortization), both non-GAAP financial measures,   as supplemental information helps investors, analysts, and others, if they   so choose, in understanding and evaluating Arbitron's operating   performance in some of the same manners that management does because EBIT   and EBITDA exclude certain items that are not directly related to   Arbitron's core operating performance. Arbitron's management references   these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing current performance and   making decisions about internal budgets, resource allocation and financial   goals. EBIT is calculated by adding back net interest expense and income   tax expense to income from continuing operations. EBITDA is calculated by   adding back net interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and   amortization to income from continuing operations. EBIT and EBITDA should   not be considered substitutes either for income from continuing   operations, as indicators of Arbitron's operating performance, or for cash   flow, as measures of Arbitron's liquidity. In addition, because EBIT and   EBITDA may not be calculated identically by all companies, the   presentation here may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures   of other companies.                                     Arbitron Inc.                    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets                  September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008                               (In thousands)                                                  September 30,  December 31,                                                     2009           2008                                                 (Unaudited)      (Audited)   Assets:   Cash and cash equivalents                        $12,307        $8,658   Trade receivables                                 50,038        50,037   Property and equipment, net                       68,459        62,930   Goodwill, net                                     38,500        38,500   Other assets                                      30,195        39,472       Total assets                                 $199,499      $199,597    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity    (Deficit):   Deferred revenue                                 $48,519       $57,304   Other liabilities                                 47,830        71,788   Long term debt                                    85,000        85,000   Stockholders' equity (deficit)                    18,150       (14,495)       Total liabilities and stockholders' equity       (deficit)                                   $199,499      $199,597   

Note: The December 31, 2008 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet is derived from the audited Balance Sheet included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Arbitron Inc.

CONTACT: Investor Contact: Thom Mocarsky, +1-410-312-8239,
thom.mocarsky@arbitron.com; or Press Contacts: Didi Blackwood,
+1-410-312-8523, didi.blackwood@arbitron.com, or Jessica Benbow,
+1-410-312-8363, jessica.benbow@arbitron.com, all of Arbitron Inc.

Web Site: http://www.arbitron.com/

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