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STUDIO CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 2008--Crown Media Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWN) today reported its operating results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2008.
Operating Highlights for the Quarter
-- Revenue growth. Crown Media's net revenue in the second quarter of 2008 increased 28% to $71.5 million, from $55.9 million in the prior year's second quarter. This increase was primarily due to a 15% increase in advertising revenues and a 124% increase in subscriber fee revenues. For the first six months of the year, revenue grew 30% to $142.1 million from $109.5 million in 2007, due to a 19% increase in advertising revenue and a 103% increase in subscriber fee revenue.
-- Upfront advertising market success. The Company recently completed its negotiations with advertisers for the 2008/2009 broadcast season, selling approximately 50% of its inventory at CPM increases of 7% above the CPM rates in the prior year. The Company obtained nearly $10 million in business from new advertising clients, including Microsoft, Met Life, IHOP, IKEA, H&R Block and Nivea.
-- Launch of Hallmark Movie Channel High Definition. During the second quarter of 2008, Crown Media launched the high definition version of Hallmark Movie Channel, home of the greatest family movies of all time. Hallmark Movie Channel currently has over 9 million subscribers, and the Company expects to see further dramatic growth in the distribution of this popular emerging network as the result of newly signed agreements for carriage with Comcast, Cox and NCTC.
-- Record ratings. For the second quarter of 2008, Hallmark Channel delivered its highest-rated second quarter in terms of household delivery for both Prime Time and Total Day. The channel maintained its position as a top-ten rated cable channel, ranking ninth in Prime Time and tenth in Total Day among all 73 ad-supported cable networks according to Nielsen. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, Hallmark Channel ranked 7th in Prime Time for the month of July, marking the 26th consecutive month in the top ten for Prime Time.
-- Popular original programming. The Company's ratings success year-to-date has been fueled in part by the popularity of the Company's original programming. According to Nielsen, for the first half of the year Hallmark Channel accounted for four of the top ten ad-supported cable Original Movie premieres and delivered the original movie with the largest audience of upscale women 25-54. Hallmark Channel is the clear leader in this area, delivering more than 25% of all original movie premiere hours on ad-supported cable networks.
"The continued strong growth in our advertising revenues and the favorable terms of our renewed distribution agreements have resulted in our operating successes being translated into financial success," noted Henry Schleiff, President and CEO of Crown Media. "For the second quarter, we generated a 28% increase in our operating revenues, which yielded nearly $20 million in Adjusted EBITDA for a total of $34 million in Adjusted EBITDA for the first half of the year.
"For over two years Hallmark Channel has been a top ten rated cable channel in Prime Time. As a leader in original movie premieres on cable, the broad appeal and wholesome quality of our programming attracts a growing and important audience of baby boomers. This in turn has led to the continued strength of our appeal to advertisers, evidenced most recently by our success in the upfront process for next season, and has helped to drive the dramatic growth in distribution for Hallmark Movie Channel. These are the very same forces that will enable us to deliver strong operating results as well as financial success for the remainder of 2008 and beyond."
Financial Results
Historical financial information is provided in tables at the end of this release.
Operating Results
Crown Media reported revenue of $71.5 million for the second quarter of 2008, a 28% increase from $55.9 million for the second quarter of 2007. Subscriber fee revenue increased 124% to $14.6 million, from $6.5 million in the prior year's quarter as a result of higher net effective rates on average, primarily due to higher contractual rates, a decrease in subscriber acquisition fees applied against revenue and an increase in paying subscribers as a result of previously amended distribution agreements. Advertising revenue increased 15% to $56.6 million during the quarter, from $49.3 million in the second quarter of 2007, primarily due to an increase in advertising rates and increased advertising on Hallmark Movie Channel.
Crown Media reported revenue of $142.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, a 30% increase from $109.5 million for the same period of 2007. Subscriber fee revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2008, increased 103% to $28.4 million, from $14.0 million in the prior year's period, as a result of higher contractual rates, a decrease in subscriber acquisition fees applied against revenue and an increase in paying subscribers as a result of previously amended distribution agreements. Advertising revenue increased 19% to $113.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2008, from $95.3 million for the same period of 2007, reflecting higher advertising rates and growth in advertising on Hallmark Movie Channel.
For the second quarter of 2008, cost of services decreased 19% to $39.2 million from $48.3 million during the same quarter of 2007. Within cost of services, programming expenses decreased 7% quarter over quarter to $35.6 million, due to the expiration of the programming agreement with NICC and the Company's effort to reduce costs. This was offset in part by the Company licensing Hallmark Hall of Fame programming under a new 2008 agreement with Hallmark Cards.
Subscriber acquisition fee amortization expense was $0 in the second quarter of 2008 versus $7.8 million in the same period of 2007. Due to the increase in subscriber fee revenues and the significant decrease in subscriber acquisition fees, subscriber acquisition fee amortization expense decreased 100% as all of the expense was netted against revenue during the three months ended June 30, 2008. Other cost of services and amortization of our capital lease increased 73% from $2.1 million to $3.6 million for the second quarter of 2008. The Company's bad debt expense was $40,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2008, as compared to the Company's negative bad debt expense of $343,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2007. Additionally, in 2007, the Company settled a residual and participation liability for $521,000 less than it had originally accrued in conjunction with the sale of its film library.
For the six months ended June 30, 2008, cost of services decreased to $78.1 million from $99.1 million during the same period of 2007. Within cost of services, programming expenses decreased 9% period over period to $71.0 million, following the December 31, 2007, expiration of our programming agreement with NICC and the Company's effort to reduce costs, offset in part by the Company's licensing Hallmark Hall of Fame movies under an agreement, which was entered into during 2008.
Subscriber acquisition fee amortization expense was $0 for the six months ended June 30, 2008 versus $15.7 million in the same period of 2007. Due to the increase in subscriber fee revenues and the significant decrease in subscriber acquisition fees, subscriber acquisition fee amortization expense decreased 100% as all of the expense was netted against revenue during the six months ended June 30, 2008. Other cost of services increased 33% from $5.3 million to $7.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, primarily due to miscellaneous incremental increases. In addition to the settlement mentioned above, the Company's salary and playback transponder expenses increased.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $11.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, from $14.1 million in the year earlier period primarily due to a $2.8 million decrease in compensation expense related to our share-based obligations. Marketing expenses of $2.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, decreased from $4.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. The Company did not hold a marketing promotion for movies in the second quarter of 2008 as compared to holding one promotion in the second quarter of 2007.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $25.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, from $28.3 million in the year earlier period primarily due to a $3.5 million decrease in compensation expense related to our share-based obligations. Marketing expenses remained relatively flat due to the Company holding two marketing promotions in each of the periods being compared.
Adjusted EBITDA was $19.7 million for the second quarter of 2008 compared to $1.1 million for the same period last year. Cash provided by operating activities totaled $16.7 million for the second quarter of 2008 compared to $4.7 million for the same period last year. The net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, totaled $5.9 million, or $0.06 per share, compared to $43.7 million, or $0.42 per share, in the second quarter of 2007.
Adjusted EBITDA totaled $34.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $4.0 million for the same period last year. Cash provided by operating activities totaled $17.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to cash used in operating activities of $8.1 million for the same period last year. The net loss for the six month period ended June 30, 2008, totaled $20.6 million, or $0.20 per share, compared to $83.9 million, or $0.80 per share, in the same period of 2007.
Conference Call and Webcast to be Held Wednesday, August 6th at 11:00 a.m. ET
Crown Media Holdings' management will conduct a conference call this morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results of the second quarter of 2008. Investors and interested parties may listen to the call via a live webcast accessible through the investor relations' section of the Company's web site at www.hallmarkchannel.com, or by dialing (800) 688-0796 (Domestic) or (617) 614-4070 (International) and requesting the "Second Quarter Earnings for Crown Media" call. For those listeners accessing the call through the Company's website, please register and download audio software at the site at least 15 minutes prior to the start time. The webcast will be archived on the site, while a telephone replay of the call is available for 7 days beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, August 6th, at 888-286-8010 or 617-801-6888 (international callers), using reservation number 64628316.
About Crown Media Holdings
Crown Media Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWN) owns and operates cable television channels dedicated to high quality, broad appeal, entertainment programming. The Company currently operates and distributes the Hallmark Channel in the U.S. to approximately 83 million subscribers. The program service is distributed through 5,450 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel consistently ranks among the top ten ad-supported cable networks in Total Day and Prime Time household ratings and is the nation's leading network in providing quality family programming. Crown Media also operates a second 24-hour linear channel, Hallmark Movie Channel, which is distributed in both standard and high definition as Hallmark Movie Channel HD. Significant investors in Crown Media Holdings include: Hallmark Entertainment Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Incorporated, Liberty Media Corp., and J.P. Morgan Partners (BHCA), LP, each through their investments in Hallmark Entertainment Investments Co.; VISN Management Corp., a for-profit subsidiary of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition; and The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
Forward-looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release may contain forward-looking statements as contemplated by the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include: competition for distribution of channels, viewers, advertisers, and the acquisition of programming; fluctuations in the availability of programming; fluctuations in demand for the programming Crown Media airs on its channels; Crown Media's ability to address its liquidity needs; Crown Media's incurrence of losses; and Crown Media's substantial indebtedness affecting its financial condition and results; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Risk Factors stated in the Company's 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2007. Crown Media Holdings is not undertaking any obligation to release publicly any updates to any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Use of Adjusted EBITDA
Crown Media evaluates operating performance based on several factors, including Adjusted EBITDA. Our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA adds back to net loss non-cash expenses and other items mentioned below.
Our measure of Adjusted EBITDA differs from the normal definition of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) used by most companies. We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, subscriber acquisition fee amortization, amortization of film assets, impairment charges, and other non-cash expenses.. For this purpose, restricted stock unit compensation and retention program are treated as non-cash items, although they may result in cash payments during subsequent periods. Our credit facility contained a covenant that used this adjusted EBITDA measure. The Company no longer has an EBITDA covenant in its bank credit agreement. See "Selected Second Quarter Unaudited Financial Information" below for a reconciliation to GAAP net income. Management views Adjusted EBITDA as a critical measure of our operating performance and monitors this measure closely. We disclose Adjusted EBITDA so that our investors can have some of the same information available to our management to evaluate their investment in our Company.
We also believe that an Adjusted EBITDA provides an indication of the Company's ability to generate cash flows from operating activities since our non-cash expenses are excluded from our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. A significant portion of the Company's cost structure related to the amortization of subscriber acquisition costs, which were significant non-cash charges. The Adjusted EBITDA calculation allows the Company to assess how much is available to pay debt service and gives a further indication of how much remains to fund discretionary expenditures such as the acquisition of programming or additional subscriber base. However, Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, historical operating income or loss, net loss, cash flow from operations and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Adjusted EBITDA differs significantly from cash flows from operating activities reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Cash flow from operating activities is net of interest and taxes paid and is a more comprehensive determination of periodic income on a cash basis, exclusive of non-cash items of income and expenses such as depreciation, amortization, loss from discontinued operations and impairment of film assets. In contrast, Adjusted EBITDA is derived from accrual basis income and is not reduced for cash invested in working capital. Consequently, Adjusted EBITDA is not affected by the timing of receivable collections or when accrued expenses are paid. We are not aware of any uniform standards for determining EBITDA or our Adjusted EBITDA and believe that our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA is probably calculated differently than presentations of EBITDA by other entities because our calculation was based upon the definition in a bank credit agreement.
Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Selected Second Quarter Unaudited Financial Information
($ in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2008 2007 2008 2007
---------------------------------------
Revenues:
Subscriber fees $ 14,579 $ 6,507 $ 28,432 $ 14,002
Advertising 56,538 49,081 112,886 94,931
Advertising by Hallmark
Cards 82 242 157 390
Other revenue 321 77 609 156
---------------------------------------
Total revenue 71,520 55,907 142,084 109,479
Cost of services:
Affiliate programming 541 4,340 935 9,902
Non-affiliate programming 35,100 34,049 70,111 68,179
Amortization of film assets - (521) - (521)
Subscriber acquisition fee
amortization - 7,832 - 15,680
Amortization of capital
lease 290 290 579 579
Other cost of services 3,304 2,312 6,484 5,260
---------------------------------------
Total cost of services 39,235 48,302 78,109 99,079
Selling, general &
administrative expenses 11,865 14,057 25,326 28,250
Marketing expense 2,060 4,073 8,458 8,285
Depreciation and amortization 492 396 924 893
---------------------------------------
Income (loss) from operations
before interest expense 17,868 (10,921) 29,267 (27,028)
Interest expense (23,792) (32,741) (49,906) (56,842)
---------------------------------------
Net loss $ (5,924) $(43,662) $(20,639) $(83,870)
---------------------------------------
Net loss per share $ (0.06) $ (0.42) $ (0.20) $ (0.80)
---------------------------------------
Weighted average shares
outstanding 104,788 104,788 104,764 104,788
Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(In thousands)
As of June 30, As of December 31,
---------------------------------
2008 2007
---------------------------------
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 277 $ 1,974
Accounts receivable, less allowance
for doubtful
accounts of $247 and $242,
respectively 67,247 68,603
Program license fees - affiliates 975 166
Program license fees - non-
affiliates 100,206 119,523
Prepaid and other assets 4,601 4,478
Prepaid program license fee assets 20,195 8,361
---------------------------------
Total current assets 193,501 203,105
Program license fees - affiliates 7,641 653
Program license fees - non-
affiliates 137,835 129,268
Subscriber acquisition fees, net 4,436 3,333
Property and equipment, net 16,070 15,962
Goodwill 314,033 314,033
Prepaid and other assets 8,403 9,887
---------------------------------
Total assets $681,919 $676,241
---------------------------------
Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
(In thousands)
As of June 30, As of December 31,
---------------------------------
2008 2007
---------------------------------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities $ 18,569 $ 25,255
Audience deficiency reserve 15,390 15,620
Accrued restricted stock units 3,040 4,609
License fees payable to affiliates 1,365 1,628
License fees payable to non-
affiliates 114,015 107,749
Payables to affiliates 17,054 18,951
Credit facility and interest
payable 54,502 19,583
Other current liabilities 4,146 5,979
---------------------------------
Total current liabilities 228,081 199,374
Accrued liabilities 17,236 18,056
License fees payable to affiliates 7,391 -
License fees payable to non-
affiliates 56,385 56,521
Payables to affiliates 1,784 4,041
Credit facility - 50,000
Line of credit and interest
payable to HC Crown 105,445 101,360
Line of credit and interest
payable to Hallmark Cards
affiliate 60,186 57,868
Note and interest payable to
Hallmark Cards affiliate 165,113 158,753
Note and interest payable to
Hallmark Cards 11,088 22,075
Senior unsecured note to HC Crown,
including accrued interest 653,106 621,266
Company obligated mandatorily
redeemable preferred interest 19,888 18,690
Other liabilities 17,701 19,232
Obligation to NICC for the
repurchase of Class A common
stock, extinguished January 2,
2008, $.01 par value; 0 and
4,357,066 shares issued and
outstanding as of June 30, 2008
and December 31, 2007,
respectively 0 32,765
---------------------------------
Total liabilities 1,343,404 1,360,001
Commitments and contingencies
STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Class A common stock, $.01 par
value; 200,000,000 shares
authorized; 74,117,654 and
69,760,588 shares issued and
outstanding as of June 30, 2008,
and December 31, 2007,
respectively 741 698
Class B common stock, $.01 par
value; 120,000,000 shares
authorized; 30,670,422 shares
issued and outstanding as of both
June 30, 2008, and December 31,
2007 307 307
Paid-in capital 1,454,162 1,411,291
Accumulated deficit (2,116,695) (2,096,056)
---------------------------------
Total stockholders' deficit (661,485) (683,760)
---------------------------------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' deficit $ 681,919 $ 676,241
---------------------------------
Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Selected Second Quarter Unaudited Financial Information
($ in thousands)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2008 2007 2008 2007
---------------------------------------
Net loss $ (5,924) $(43,662) $(20,639) $(83,870)
Subscriber acquisition fee
amortization expense 676 9,755 1,340 18,585
Depreciation and
amortization 782 686 1,503 1,472
Residual and participation
expense - - 96 -
Amortization of film asset 80 (521) 147 (521)
Impairment of film asset - - 176 -
Interest expense 23,792 32,741 49,906 56,842
Restricted stock unit
compensation 328 2,101 1,732 3,461
---------------------------------------
Adjusted earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization $ 19,734 $ 1,100 $ 34,261 $ (4,031)
---------------------------------------
Programming and other
amortization 35,492 39,648 70,593 79,340
Provision for allowance for
doubtful account 40 (343) 5 (13)
Changes in operating assets
and liabilities:
Additions to program license
fees (47,859) (32,882) (68,093) (76,648)
Change to subscriber
acquisition fees (693) (56) (2,443) 120
Change in subscriber
acquisition fees payable (788) 15 933 (218)
Interest paid (1,233) (2,288) (2,899) (4,494)
Changes in other operating
assets and liabilities, net
of adjustments above 12,000 (497) (15,358) (2,193)
---------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities $ 16,693 $ 4,697 $ 16,999 $ (8,137)
---------------------------------------
Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Selected Second Quarter Unaudited Financial Information
($ in thousands)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2008 2007 2008 2007
-------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities $ 16,693 $ 4,697 $ 16,999 $(8,137)
Net cash used in investing
activities (1,999) (1,384) (3,286) (2,567)
Net cash (used in) provided by
financing activities (17,463) (2,166) (15,410) 3,672
-------------------------------------
Net (decrease) increase in cash
and cash equivalents (2,769) 1,147 (1,697) (7,032)
Cash equivalents, beginning of
period 3,046 5,786 1,974 13,965
-------------------------------------
Cash equivalents, end of period $ 277 $ 6,933 $ 277 $ 6,933
-------------------------------------
CONTACT: Investors and Press
IR Focus
Mindy Tucker, 914-725-8128
mindy@irfocusllc.com
or
Media
Crown Media
Nancy Carr, 818-755-2643
nancycarr@hallmarkchannel.com
SOURCE: Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
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