(Mark One)
| þ | Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 or |
| o | Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from __________ to __________. |
Commission File Number 1-13796
| Georgia (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
58-0285030 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 4370 Peachtree Road, NE Atlanta, GA (Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
30319 (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (404) 504-9828
| Title of each class Class A Common Stock (no par value) Common Stock (no par value) |
Name of each exchange on which registered New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE
________________________________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes þ No o
The aggregate market value of the voting stock (based upon the closing sales price quoted on the New York Stock Exchange) held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2004: Class A and Common Stock; no par value $578,012,923.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrants classes of common stock as of February 1, 2005: Class A Common Stock; no par value 5,763,220 shares; Common Stock, no par value 42,872,904 shares
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrants definitive proxy statement for the annual meeting of shareholders to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A is incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.
Gray Television
Inc.
INDEX
2
PART 1
Item 1. Business.
In this Annual Report, unless otherwise indicated, the words Gray, Company, our, us and we refer to Gray Television, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Our discussion of the television stations that we own and operate does not include our interest in the stations owned by Sarkes Tarzian, Inc., which we refer to as Tarzian.
The Companys common stock, no par value, (the Common Stock) and its class A common stock, no par value, (the Class A Common Stock) have been listed and traded on The New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) since September 24, 1996 and June 30, 1995, respectively. The ticker symbols are GTN for its Common Stock and GTN.A for its Class A Common Stock.
Unless otherwise indicated, all station rank, in-market share and television household data herein are derived from reports prepared by A.C. Nielsen Company (Nielsen).
General
As of the filing date of the Annual Report, the Company owns 31 television stations serving 27 television markets. Sixteen of the stations are affiliated with CBS Inc., or CBS, eight are affiliated with the National Broadcasting Company, Inc., or NBC and seven are affiliated with the American Broadcasting Company, or ABC. The combined station group has 23 stations ranked #1 in local news audience and 22 stations ranked #1 in overall audience within their respective markets based on the results of the average of the Nielsen February, May, July and November 2004 ratings reports. The combined TV station group reaches approximately 5.5% of total U.S. TV households. In addition, with 16 CBS affiliated stations, the Company is the largest independent owner of CBS affiliates in the country.
The Company also owns and operates five daily newspapers, four located in Georgia and one in Goshen, Indiana.
In 1993, the Company implemented a strategy to foster growth through strategic acquisitions and certain select divestitures. Since January 1, 1994, the Companys significant acquisitions have included 29 television stations, three newspapers and a paging business and the divestiture of two television stations. As a result of the Companys acquisitions and in support of its growth strategy, the Company has added certain key members of management and has greatly expanded its operations in the television broadcasting and newspaper publishing businesses.
Acquisitions, Investments and Divestitures
2005 Acquisition
On January 31, 2005, the Company announced that it had completed the acquisition of KKCO-TV from Eagle III Broadcasting, LLC for approximately $13.5 million plus fees. KKCO-TV, Channel 11 serves the Grand Junction, Colorado television market and is an NBC affiliate. The Company used a portion of its cash on hand to fully fund this acquisition.
2004 Purchase of Federal Communications Commission License
On August 17, 2004, the Company completed the acquisition of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) television license for WCAV-TV, Channel 19, in Charlottesville, Virginia from Charlottesville Broadcasting Corporation. Grays cost to acquire that FCC license was approximately $1
3
million. CBS, Inc. has agreed to a ten-year affiliation agreement to allow Gray to operate WCAV-TV as a CBS-affiliated station.
Gray also has an FCC license to operate a low power television station, WVAW-TV, in the Charlottesville, Virginia television market. The American Broadcasting Company has agreed to an affiliation agreement expiring December 31, 2013 to allow Gray to operate WVAW-TV as an ABC affiliate.
Both WCAV-TV and WVAW-TV began broadcasting in August 2004. Grays total cost to construct the combined broadcast facilities for both stations is currently estimated to be approximately $7.0 million. As of December 31, 2004 the majority of such construction costs had been incurred and paid.
2002 Acquisitions
On October 25, 2002 the Company completed its acquisition of Stations Holding Company, Inc. (Stations Holding) by acquiring all of Stations Holdings outstanding capital stock in a merger transaction. Effective with the completion of the transaction, Stations Holding changed its name to Gray MidAmerica Television, Inc. (Gray MidAmerica Television). With this transaction the Company acquired 15 network affiliated television stations serving 13 television markets. On December 18, 2002 the Company completed its acquisition of the assets of KOLO-TV, the ABC affiliate serving Reno, Nevada.
The Company paid $516.5 million in aggregate cash consideration for Gray MidAmerica Television. This amount included a base purchase price of $502.5 million plus certain net working capital adjustments of approximately $5.7 million and fees of $8.3 million associated with the transaction. The Company funded the acquisition and related fees and expenses by issuing 30.0 million shares of Gray Common Stock to the public for net proceeds of $232.7 million, issuing additional debt totaling $275.0 million and cash on hand.
For advisory services rendered by Bull Run Corp. (Bull Run) a related party, in connection with the acquisition of Gray MidAmerica Television, the Company paid to Bull Run an advisory fee of $5.0 million. This amount is included in the fees described above. The Company does not intend to engage Bull Run for any such advisory or similar services in the future.
The Company paid $41.9 million in cash consideration for KOLO-TV. This purchase price included a base purchase price of $41.5 million and related fees of approximately $400,000. The Company financed this transaction by utilizing cash on hand and net proceeds of $34.9 million from the issuance of an additional 4.5 million shares of Gray Common Stock.
Television Broadcasting
The Companys Stations and their Markets
As used in the table for the Companys stations (i) in-market share of households viewing television represents the average percentage of the stations audience as a percentage of all viewing by households of local commercial stations in the market from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Saturday, as reported by Nielsen for November, July, May & February 2004; (ii) station rank in DMA is based on the average of Nielsen estimates for November, July, May & February 2004 for the period from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Saturday; (iii)station news rank in DMA is based on managements review of the Nielsen estimates for November, July, May & February 2004, (iv) estimates of population, average household income, effective buying income and retail business sales growth projections are as reported in
4
the BIA Guide; and (v) television households are as reported by Nielsen for the 2004-2005 television season. Designated Market Area is defined herein as DMA.
The following is a list of all our owned and operated television stations. In markets where we have satellite stations and stations that serve distant communities, the figures have been combined.
Broadcasting Summary
| FCC | Station | In Market | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| License | Station | News | Commercial | Share of | Television | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DMA | Analog | Affiliation | Expiration | Rank in | Rank in | Stations in | Household | Households (a) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank(a) | Market | Station | Channel | Network | Expiration | Date | DMA(b) | DMA(c) | DMA(d) | Viewing (b) | (in thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
59
|
Knoxville, TN | WVLT | 8 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 08/01/05 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 23 | % | 514 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
64
|
Lexington, KY | WKYT | 27 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 08/01/05 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 36 | % | 481 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note(f)
|
Hazard, KY | WYMT | 57 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 08/01/05 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 | % | 169 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
66
|
WichitaHutchinson, KS | KAKE | 10 | ABC | 12/31/13 | 06/01/06 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 23 | % | 446 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Colby, KS) | KLBY (e) | 4 | ABC | 12/31/13 | 06/01/06 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Garden City, KS) | KUPK (e) | 13 | ABC | 12/31/13 | 06/01/06 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
76
|
Omaha, NE | WOWT | 6 | NBC | 01/01/12 | 06/01/06 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 33 | % | 396 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
85
|
Madison, WI | WMTV | 15 | NBC | 01/01/12 | 12/01/05 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 26 | % | 364 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
92
|
Colorado Springs, CO | KKTV | 10 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 04/01/06 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 34 | % | 313 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
95
|
Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX | KWTX | 10 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 08/01/06 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 44 | % | 309 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Bryan, TX) | KBTX (g) | 3 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 08/01/06 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
103
|
LincolnHastings | KOLN | 10 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 06/01/06 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 53 | % | 275 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kearney, NE | KGIN (h) | 11 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 06/01/06 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Grand Island, NE) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
105
|
GreenvilleNew Bern | WITN | 7 | NBC | 01/01/12 | 12/01/04(k) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 33 | % | 270 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington, NC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
109
|
Tallahassee, FL | WCTV | 6 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 04/01/05(k) | 1 | 1 | 4 | 58 | % | 260 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thomasville, GA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
110
|
Lansing, MI | WILX | 10 | NBC | 01/01/12 | 10/01/05 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 34 | % | 259 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
114
|
Reno, NV | KOLO | 8 | ABC | 12/31/13 | 10/01/06 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 30 | % | 247 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
115
|
Augusta, GA | WRDW | 12 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 04/01/05(k) | 1 | 1 | 4 | 39 | % | 247 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
127
|
La Crosse Eau Claire, WI |
WEAU | 13 | NBC | 1/1/12 | 12/01/05 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 36 | % | 206 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
133
|
WausauRhinelander, WI | WSAW | 7 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 12/01/05 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 43 | % | 182 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
134
|
Rockford, IL | WIFR | 23 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 12/01/05 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 30 | % | 181 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
137
|
Topeka, KS | WIBW | 13 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 06/01/06 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 50 | % | 171 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
160
|
Panama City, FL | WJHG | 7 | NBC | 1/1/12 | 02/01/05(k) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 49 | % | 135 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
161
|
Sherman,TXAda, OK | KXII | 12 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 08/01/06 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 68 | % | 124 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
172
|
Dothan, AL | WTVY | 4 | CBS | 12/31/14 | 04/01/05(k) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 73 | % | 99 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
181
|
Harrisonburg, VA | WHSV | 3 | ABC | 12/31/13 | 10/01/12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 96 | % | 86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
182
|
Bowling Green, KY | WBKO | 13 | ABC | 12/31/13 | 08/01/05 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 85 | % | 81 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
184
|
Meridian, MS | WTOK | 11 | ABC | 12/31/13 | 06/01/05 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 67 | % | 72 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
185
|
Charlottesville, VA | WCAV | 19 | CBS | 8/15/14 | NA (m) | 2 | 2 | 2 | (l | ) | 70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WVAW(i) | 27 | ABC | 12/31/13 | 10/01/12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
187
|
Parkersburg, WV | WTAP | 15 | NBC | 01/01/12 | 10/01/04(k) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 96 | % | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
189
|
Grand Junction, CO | KKCO | 11 | NBC | 7/30/06 | 04/01/06 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 37 | % | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6,086 | (j) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Based on data published by Nielsen. | |
| (b) | Based on the average of Nielsen data for November, July, May and February 2004 rating period, Sunday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. |
5
| (c) | Except for WYMT, in market share data is based on our review of the Nielsen data for the November, July, May and February 2004 rating period during various news hours. For WYMT, in market share data is based on our review of the Nielsen data for the November, May and February 2004 rating period during various news hours. WYMT does not receive data for the July period. | |
| (d) | We have included only stations that BIA has reported at one share or more in three of the four most recent rating periods. The Company considers WYMTs service area as a separate television market (see Note f below) and does not include the station in the reported number of commercial television stations in the Lexington, KY DMA. | |
| (e) | KLBY and KUPK are satellite stations of KAKE under FCC rules. | |
| (f) | Special 16 county trading area as defined by Nielsen and is part of the Lexington, KY DMA. | |
| (g) | KBTX is a satellite station of KWTX under FCC rules. |
|
| (h) | KGIN is a satellite station of KOLN under FCC rules. | |
| (i) | WCAV/WVAW began broadcasting in August 2004. Currently, there is no ranking data available. | |
| (j) | Approximately 5% of all US television households. | |
| (k) | License renewal application has been filed with the Federal Communication Commission (the FCC) and renewal is pending. As of the date of filing this Annual Report, the Company anticipates that all pending applications will be renewed in due course. | |
| (l) | Data not yet available due to the station only beginning operations in the fourth quarter of 2004. | |
| (m) | Original license application pending with the Federal Communications Commission. If license is granted as expected, the expiration date of the license is expected to be October 1, 2012. |
The percentage of the Companys total revenues contributed by the Companys television broadcasting segment was approximately 85%, 82%, and 74% for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Television Industry Background
There are currently a limited number of channels available for broadcasting in any one geographic area, and the license to operate a television station is granted by the FCC. Television stations which broadcast over the very high frequency (VHF) band (channels 2-13) of the spectrum generally have some competitive advantage over television stations which broadcast over the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band (channels above 13) of the spectrum, because the former usually have better signal coverage and operate at a lower transmission cost.
Television station revenues are primarily derived from local, regional and national ad