Gray Finishes 2023 In A Strong Position and Issues Positive Outlook for 2024

ATLANTA, Feb. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gray Television, Inc. (“Gray,” “we,” “us” or “our”) (NYSE: GTN) today announced strong financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023, including total revenue of $864 million, which was in-line with the high end of our revenue guidance and total operating expenses (before depreciation, amortization, impairment and loss on disposal of assets) of $664 million, which was below the low end of our expense guidance for the quarter.

Gray continued to execute across its portfolio of high-quality television stations and digital platforms as it combines its market-leading local news with strong network programming to deliver unparalleled reach for advertisers. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Gray’s total revenue increased by $143 million or 20% compared to 2021, our most recent non-political year.

We are particularly pleased with the performance of our television stations during the quarter, whose core advertising revenue increased 2% on a year-over-year basis. We saw continued improvement in the automobile advertising category with a 16% year-over-year increase. In addition, political advertising revenues in a non-political year were relatively strong at $33 million.

In the fourth quarter, NBCUniversal completed its initial move-in activities and began its lease with us for the soundstages, offices, warehouses, mill spaces, parking and related facilities in our Assembly Studios real estate complex located in the Atlanta metro area. We are continuing to evaluate opportunities to maximize the value of the undeveloped portion of this unique real estate development. We currently anticipate that the mixed-use complex will be fully constructed by 2030. Based on current expectations, we anticipate capital expenditures of $52 million in 2024 to complete the studio complex and certain infrastructure projects at the complex.  In addition, we anticipate receiving $31 million of proceeds from certain incentive payments that reimburse us for a portion of prior and planned 2024 capital projects at the complex.

On February 8, 2024, we received $110 million in pre-tax cash proceeds from the closing of the previously announced sale of Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”) to a shareholder group led by New Mountain Capital, LLC. $50 million of the net proceeds from the sale of BMI were used to pay in full the amount then outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility. We intend to use the remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes. 

On February 16, 2024, we completed the extension and upsizing of our revolving credit facility. Due to strong demand, our banking group increased their commitments to our revolving credit facilities to $625 million, which includes a new $552.5 million revolving credit facility maturing on December 31, 2027, and $72.5 million facility maturing on December 1, 2026.   

On February 20, 2024, we announced that our Chief Financial Officer, Jim Ryan has notified us of his voluntary decision to transition into retirement after 2025. We also announced the hiring of Jeff Gignac, who currently serves as a Managing Director and Head of Media & Telecom Investment Banking at Wells Fargo Securities. Mr. Gignac will join us initially as Executive Vice President, Finance, on April 1, 2024, and he will step into Mr. Ryan’s role as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer on July 1, 2024. Mr. Ryan will work closely with Mr. Gignac and our entire executive team until he retires at the end of 2025.

Operating Highlights (the respective 2023 periods reflect the “off-year” of the two-year political advertising cycle):

• Total revenue was $864 million, a decrease of 19% from the fourth quarter of 2022, entirely as a result of the decrease in political advertising revenue in this off-year of the two-year political advertising cycle.
• Core Advertising Revenue was $415 million, an increase of 2% from the fourth quarter of 2022.
• Retransmission revenue was $365 million, an increase of 3% from the fourth quarter of 2022.
• Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $22 million, or $0.24 per share.
• Broadcast Cash Flow was $245 million, a decrease of 49% from the fourth quarter of 2022, due primarily to the decrease in political advertising.
  

Other Key Metrics

• As of December 31, 2023, our Total Leverage Ratio, Net of all Cash, was 5.60 times on a trailing eight-quarter basis, netting our total cash balance of $21 million and giving effect to all Transaction Related Expenses, which is calculated as set forth in our Senior Credit Facility.
• Non-cash stock compensation was $6 million and $5 million during the fourth quarters of 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Taxes

• During 2023 and 2022, we made aggregate federal and state income tax payments of $50 million and $180 million, respectively. Based on current forecasts, during 2024, we anticipate making income tax payments within a range of $190 million to $210 million.
• As of December 31, 2023, we have an aggregate of $299 million of various state operating loss carryforwards, of which we expect that approximately one-third will be utilized.
• During 2020, we carried back certain net operating losses, resulting in a refund of $21 million, excluding interest, that is outstanding.

Based on our current forecasts for the quarter ending March 31, 2024, we anticipate the following key financial results, as outlined below in approximate ranges. We present revenue net of agency commissions. We present operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and gain/loss on disposal of assets.

• Revenue:
  
  • Total Core Revenue of $365 million to $375 million, up low to mid-single digit percentage increases.
    
    • In the three months ended March 31, 2024, we anticipate approximately $18 million of net revenue from the broadcast of the Super Bowl on our 49 CBS channels compared to an aggregate of $6 million of net revenue relating to the broadcast of the Super Bowl on our 27 FOX channels during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
  • Retransmission revenue of $375 million to $380 million.
  • Political revenue of $30 million to $33 million.
  • Production company revenue of $23 million to $24 million.
  • Total revenue of $810 million to $830 million.
    
    
• Operating Expenses:
  
  
  
  • Broadcasting expenses of $585 million to $595 million, including retransmission expense of approximately $235 million and non-cash stock-based compensation expense of approximately $1 million.
  • Production company expenses of approximately $21 million to $22 million.
  • Corporate expenses of $35 million to $40 million, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of approximately $4 million.

The Company
We are a multimedia company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and the nation’s largest owner of top-rated local television stations and digital assets in the United States. Our television stations serve 113 television markets that collectively reach approximately 36 percent of US television households. This portfolio includes 79 markets with the top-rated television station and 102 markets with the first and/or second highest rated television station. We also own video program companies Raycom Sports, Tupelo Media Group, and PowerNation Studios, as well as the studio production facilities Assembly Atlanta and Third Rail Studios. Gray owns a majority interest in Swirl Films. For more information, please visit www.gray.tv.

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

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based largely on our current expectations and reflect various estimates and assumptions by us. These statements are statements other than those of historical fact and may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will,” “implied,” “assume” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results and achievements to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such risks, trends and uncertainties, which in some instances are beyond our control, include: estimates of future revenue, future expenses, future tax payments and utilization of various state operating loss carryforwards, future proceeds from Assembly Atlanta property sales, future proceeds from any quasi-governmental entities related to Assembly Atlanta and other future events. We are subject to additional risks and uncertainties described in our quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including in the “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections contained therein, which reports are made publicly available via our website, www.gray.tv. Any forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. This press release reflects management’s views as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, Gray undertakes no obligation to update or revise any information contained in this press release beyond the published date, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information about certain potential factors that could affect our business and financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements are included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and may be contained in reports subsequently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov.

Conference Call Information

We will host a conference call to discuss our fourth quarter operating results on February 23, 2024. The call will begin at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The live dial-in number is 1 (800) 285-6670. 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) 556-3470, Confirmation Code: 898476 until March 22, 2024.

Gray Contacts:

Web-site: www.gray.tv

Hilton H. Howell, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, (404) 266-5513

Pat LaPlatney, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, (334) 206-1400

Jim Ryan, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (404) 504-9828

Kevin P. Latek, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Development Officer, (404) 266-8333

During 2020 and 2021, we completed several acquisition and divestiture transactions. As more fully described in our Form 10-K, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission today, and in our prior disclosures, these transactions materially affected our operations. We refer to all television stations acquired or divested in these transactions as the “Acquisitions”. Related to the Acquisitions, we incurred certain specified transaction costs including legal, consulting, accounting, contract modification and employee-related expenses that we refer to as “Transaction Related Expenses”.

From time to time, we supplement our financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP by disclosing the non-GAAP financial measures, Broadcast Cash Flow, Broadcast Cash Flow Less Cash Corporate Expenses, Operating Cash Flow as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement, Free Cash Flow and Total Leverage Ratio, Net of All Cash. These non-GAAP amounts are used by us to approximate amounts used to calculate key financial performance covenants contained in our debt agreements and are used with our GAAP data to evaluate our results and liquidity.

We define Broadcast Cash Flow as net income or loss plus loss on early extinguishment of debt, non-cash corporate and administrative expenses, non-cash stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets and program broadcast rights), any loss on disposal of assets, any miscellaneous expense, interest expense, any income tax expense, non-cash 401(k) expense, Broadcast Transactions Related Expenses and broadcast other adjustments less any gain on disposal of assets, any miscellaneous income, any income tax benefits and payments for program broadcast rights.

We define Broadcast Cash Flow Less Cash Corporate Expenses as net income or loss plus loss on early extinguishment of debt, non-cash stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets and program broadcast rights), any loss on disposal of assets, any miscellaneous expense, interest expense, any income tax expense, non-cash 401(k) expense, Transaction Related Expenses and other adjustments less any gain on disposal of assets, any miscellaneous income, any income tax benefits and payments for program broadcast rights.

We define Operating Cash Flow as defined in our Senior Credit Agreement as net income or loss plus loss on early extinguishment of debt, non-cash stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets and program broadcast rights), any loss on disposal of assets, any miscellaneous expense, interest expense, any income tax expense, non-cash 401(k) expense, Transaction Related Expenses, other adjustments, certain pension expenses, synergies and other adjustments less any gain on disposal of assets, any miscellaneous income, any income tax benefits, payments for program broadcast rights, pension income and contributions to pension plans.

We define Free Cash Flow as net income or loss, plus loss on early extinguishment of debt, non-cash stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangible assets and program broadcast rights), any loss on disposal of assets, any miscellaneous expense, any income tax expense, non-cash 401(k) expense, Transactions Related Expenses, broadcast other adjustments, certain pension expenses, synergies, other adjustments and amortization of deferred financing costs less any gain on disposal of assets, any miscellaneous income, any income tax benefits, payments for program broadcast rights, pension income, contributions to pension plans, preferred and common dividends, purchase of property and equipment (net of reimbursements and certain defined purchases) and income taxes paid (net of any refunds).

Operating Cash Flow as defined in our Senior Credit Agreement gives effect to the revenue and broadcast expenses of all completed acquisitions and divestitures as if they had been acquired or divested, respectively, on January 1, 2022. It also gives effect to certain operating synergies expected from the acquisitions and related financings and adds back professional fees incurred in completing the acquisitions. Certain of the financial information related to the acquisitions has been derived from, and adjusted based on, unaudited, un-reviewed financial information prepared by other entities, which Gray cannot independently verify. We cannot assure you that such financial information would not be materially different if such information were audited or reviewed and no assurances can be provided as to the accuracy of such information, or that our actual results would not differ materially from this financial information if the acquisitions had been completed on the stated date. In addition, the presentation of Operating Cash Flow as defined in the Senior Credit Agreement and the adjustments to such information, including expected synergies resulting from such transactions, may not comply with GAAP or the requirements for pro forma financial information under Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933. Our Total Leverage Ratio, Net of All Cash is determined by dividing our Adjusted Total Indebtedness, Net of All Cash, by our Operating Cash Flow as defined in our Senior Credit Agreement, divided by two. Our Adjusted Total Indebtedness, Net of All Cash, represents the total outstanding principal of our long-term debt, plus certain other obligations as defined in our Senior Credit Agreement, less all cash (excluding restricted cash). Our Operating Cash Flow, as defined in our Senior Credit Agreement, divided by two, represents our average annual Operating Cash Flow as defined in our Senior Credit Agreement for the preceding eight quarters.

These non-GAAP terms are not defined in GAAP and our definitions may differ from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies, thereby limiting their usefulness. Such terms are used by management 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 and cash flows reported in accordance with GAAP.