UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| [X] | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR
15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001
OR
| [ ] | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR
15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM __________________ TO __________________
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000-26497
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

| DELAWARE (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) |
77-0121400 (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER) |
|
4880 SANTA ROSA ROAD, SUITE 300 CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) |
93012 (ZIP CODE) |
REGISTRANTS TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (805) 987-0400
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share
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 registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES [X] NO [ ]
Indicate by check mark if the 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 registrant's 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. [ ]
Aggregate market value of voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based upon the average bid and asked price of its Class A common stock, on March 22, 2002, on the Nasdaq National Market System was approximately $210,177,564.
As of March 22, 2002 there were 17,907,317 shares of Class A common stock and 5,553,696 shares of Class B common stock of Salem Communications Corporation outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||||
PART I |
||||
Item 1. |
Business |
2 | ||
Item 2. |
Properties |
12 | ||
Item 3. |
Legal Proceedings |
12 | ||
Item 4. |
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
12 | ||
PART II |
||||
Item 5. |
Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters |
13 | ||
Item 6. |
Selected Consolidated Financial Information |
14 | ||
Item 7. |
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
16 | ||
Item 7A. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
25 | ||
Item 8. |
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
26 | ||
Item 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
26 | ||
PART III |
||||
Item 10. |
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant |
26 | ||
Item 11. |
Executive Compensation |
31 | ||
Item 12. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
36 | ||
Item 13. |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions |
38 | ||
PART IV |
||||
Item 14. |
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K |
40 | ||
Index to Exhibits |
E-1 | |||
Signatures |
II-1 | |||
Financial Statements |
F-1 | |||
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts |
S-1 | |||
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
From time to time, in both written reports (such as this report) and oral statements, Salem Communications Corporation (Salem or the company, including references to Salem by we, us and our) makes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Federal and state securities laws. Disclosures that use words such as the company believes, anticipates, expects, may or "plans" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect the company's current expectations and are based upon data available to the company at the time of the statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. These risks as well as other risks and uncertainties are detailed below at CERTAIN FACTORS AFFECTING SALEM and from time to time in Salem's periodic reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements made in this report speak as of the date hereof. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made in this report. Any such forward-looking statements, whether made in this report or elsewhere, should be considered in context with the various disclosures made by Salem about its business. These projections or forward-looking statements fall under the safe harbors of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Securities Exchange Act).
All metropolitan statistical area (MSA) rank information used in this report is from the Fall 2001 Radio Market Survey Schedule & Population Rankings published by The Arbitron Company, excluding the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. According to the Radio Market Survey, the population estimates used were based upon 2000 U.S. Bureau Census estimates updated and projected to January 2002 by Market Statistics, based on the data from Sales & Marketing Management's 2001 Survey of Buying Power.
2
GENERAL
We believe that we are the largest U.S. radio broadcasting company, measured by number of stations and audience coverage, providing programming targeted at audiences interested in religious and family themes. Our core business is the ownership and operation of radio stations in large metropolitan markets. We own and operate 82 radio stations, including 57 stations in 22 of the top 25 markets. This makes us the sixth largest operator measured by number of stations overall and the third largest operator measured by number of stations in the top 25 markets. In addition, management believes that we are the thirteenth largest radio broadcaster measured by net broadcasting revenues for the year ended December 31, 2001. We also own Salem Radio Network®, which we believe to be a leading developer, producer and syndicator of religious and family issues oriented talk, news and music, but not of general broadcast programming, with over 1,600 affiliated radio stations. In addition, we own complementary Internet and publishing businesses.
Our business strategy is to expand and improve our national radio platform in order to deliver compelling content to audiences interested in religious and family issues. We primarily program our stations with our Christian teaching and talk format which is talk programming with religious and family themes. We also feature conservative news/talk and contemporary Christian music formats. Salem Radio Network® supports our strategy by enabling us to offer a variety of program content on our radio stations.
Both our chief executive officer and our chairman are career radio broadcasters who have owned and operated radio stations for over 25 years. Our management team has successfully executed a strategy of identifying, acquiring and operating radio stations.
We continue to seek new ways to expand and integrate our distribution and content capabilities. We have acquired magazine, Internet and software businesses that direct their content to persons with interests that are similar to those of our primary radio audience. We will continue to pursue acquisitions of new media and other businesses that serve our audience. We plan to use these businesses, together with our radio stations and network, to attract, grow and retain a larger audience and customer base.
Salem Communications Corporation was formed in 1986 as a California corporation and was reincorporated in Delaware in 1999. Salem Communications Holding Corporation (HoldCo) was formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Salem Communications Corporation in May 2000. In May 2000, Salem Communications Corporation formed an additional wholly-owned subsidiary, Salem Communications Acquisition Corporation (AcqCo), which has since acquired nine radio stations through its wholly-owned subsidiary SCA License Corporation. In August 2000, Salem Communications Corporation assigned substantially all of its assets and liabilities (other than stock of HoldCo and AcqCo) to HoldCo.
On June 15, 2001, HoldCo effected a dividend to Salem Communications Corporation of HoldCo's publishing and Internet businesses. This transaction was effected as a dividend of the capital stock and membership interests, respectively, of HoldCo's wholly-owned subsidiaries CCM Communications, Inc. and OnePlace, LLC. As a result, CCM and OnePlace became direct subsidiaries of Salem Communications Corporation. CCM and OnePlace continue to be guarantors of borrowings under HoldCo's credit facility and of HoldCo's existing 9½% notes. Salem Communications Corporation and all of its subsidiaries (other than HoldCo) are guarantors of the borrowings under HoldCo's credit facility and HoldCo's 9½% notes and 9% notes.
3
DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS
In 2001, we completed the purchase of the following radio stations:
| MSA | |||||||||
| Rank | Purchase | ||||||||
| Date | Market | Station | (1) | Price | |||||
February 2, 2001 |
Chicago, IL |
WXRT-AM (now WYLL-AM) |
3 |
$ | 29,000,000 | ||||
February 16, 2001 |
Minneapolis, MN |
WWTC-AM |
15 |
4,882,000 | |||||
February 16, 2001 |
Milwaukee, WI |
WZER-AM (now WRRD-AM) |
31 |
2,018,000 | |||||
March 9, 2001 |
Youngstown-Warren, OH |
WRBP-AM (now WHKW-AM) |
107 |
500,000 | |||||
March 16, 2001 |
Louisville, KY |
WFIA-AM |
54 |
1,750,000 | |||||
April 1, 2001 |
Boston, MA |
WROL-AM |
8 |
10,930,000 | |||||
July 2, 2001 |
Cleveland, OH |
WCLV-FM (now WFHM-FM) |
24 |
40,500,000 | |||||
July 13, 2001 |
Richmond, VA |
WVBB-AM (now WBTK-AM) |
55 |
737,000 | |||||
July 16, 2001 |
San Francisco, CA |
KBZS-AM (now KSFB-AM) |
4 |
8,500,000 | |||||
October 17, 2001 |
Tampa, FL |
WTBN-AM |
20 |
6,746,000 | |||||
October 22, 2001 |
Milwaukee, WI |
WFZH-FM |
31 |
6,500,000 | |||||
December 26, 2001 |
Los Angeles, CA |
KSZZ-AM (now KRLH-AM) |
2 |
5,000,000 | |||||
| $ | 117,063,000 | ||||||||
On January 17, 2001, we sold the assets of radio station KALC-FM, Denver, Colorado for approximately $100 million. The net proceeds were placed in an account with a qualified intermediary under a like-kind exchange agreement in order to preserve our ability to effect a taxdeferred exchange, which was completed on July 16, 2001.
On May 1, 2001, we acquired the assets of the Dame-Gallagher Networks, LLC, including the syndicated radio program The Mike Gallagher Show for $3.0 million in cash and $1.3 million in a non-interest bearing promissory note payable in two equal installments due January 2002 and 2003. The first installment was paid in December 2001.
On May 17, 2001, we entered into a local marketing agreement whereby we operate KLNA-FM (now KKFS-FM), Sacramento, California. We acquired the assets of the radio station for $8.7 million on January 11, 2002.
In June 2001, HoldCo, our wholly-owned subsidiary, completed an offering of $150.0 million 9% senior subordinated notes and used the net proceeds of the offering to repay approximately $145.5 million of borrowings under the credit facility.
On July 2, 2001, we sold the assets of radio stations WHKK-AM, Cleveland, Ohio, and WHK-FM, Canton, Ohio, for $30.0 million. The net proceeds were placed in an account with a qualified intermediary under a like-kind exchange agreement in order to preserve our ability to effect a tax-deferred exchange, which was completed on December 29, 2001.
On July 27, 2001, we agreed to acquire the assets of radio station KJUN-FM, Portland, Oregon, for $35.8 million. We began to operate this radio station under a local marketing agreement on September 1, 2001. We anticipate this transaction to close in 2002.
On August 1, 2001, we purchased the property and building housing our corporate headquarters for $6.6 million.
On December 27, 2001, we sold the assets of radio station KEZY-AM, San Bernardino, California for $4.0 million to a corporation owned by one of our Board members. The acquiring corporation had been operating the station under a local marketing agreement since September 14, 2001. This transaction is described in CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS in Part III, Item 13 of this report. The net proceeds were placed in an account with a qualified intermediary under a like-kind exchange agreement in order to preserve our ability to effect a tax-deferred exchange.
On December 31, 2001, we sold the assets of radio station WHLO-AM, Akron, Ohio for $4.5 million. The net proceeds were placed in an account with a qualified intermediary under a like-kind exchange agreement in order to preserve our ability to effect a tax-deferred exchange.
(1)MSA means metropolitan statistical area.
4
RADIO STATIONS
After completing our pending transactions, the company will own and/or operate a national portfolio of 82 radio stations in 35 markets, including 25 FM stations and 57 AM stations. The following table sets forth information about each of Salem's stations, in order of market size:
| MSA | Station | Year | ||||||
| Market (1) | Rank (2) | Call Letters | Acquired | Format | ||||
New York, NY (3) |
1 |
WMCA-AM |
1989 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WWDJ-AM |
1994 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
Los Angeles, CA |
2 |
KKLA-FM |
1985 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KRLA-AM |
1998 |
Conservative News/Talk |
||||||
KFSH-FM |
2000 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||||
KXMX-AM |
2000 |
Ethnic Brokered Programming |
||||||
Chicago, IL |
3 |
WZFS-FM |
1990 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||
WYLL-AM |
2001 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
San Francisco, CA |
4 |
KFAX-AM |
1984 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KSFB-FM |
2000 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||||
KSFB-AM |
2001 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX |
5 |
KLTY-FM |
1996 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||
KWRD-FM |
2000 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
KSKY-AM |
2000 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
Philadelphia, PA |
6 |
WFIL-AM |
1993 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WZZD-AM |
1994 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
Washington, D.C. |
7 |
WAVA-FM |
1992 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WABS-AM |
2000 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
Boston, MA |
8 |
WEZE-AM |
1997 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WROL-AM |
2001 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
HoustonGalveston, TX |
9 |
KKHT-AM |
1995 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KTEK-AM |
1998 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
Atlanta, GA |
11 |
WNIV-AM |
2000 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WLTA-AM |
2000 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
WGKA-AM |
2000 |
Southern Gospel |
||||||
WFSH-FM |
2000 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||||
SeattleTacoma, WA |
13 |
KGNW-AM |
1986 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KLFE-AM |
1994 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
KKMO-AM |
1998 |
Spanish Language Programming |
||||||
KKOL-AM |
1999 |
Conservative News/Talk |
||||||
KIKN-AM |
2002 |
Conservative News/Talk |
||||||
Phoenix, AZ |
14 |
KCTK-AM |
1996 |
Conservative News/Talk |
||||
KPXQ-AM |
1999 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
MinneapolisSt. Paul, MN |
15 |
KKMS-AM |
1996 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KYCR-AM |
1998 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
WWTC-AM |
2001 |
Conservative News/Talk |
||||||
San Diego, CA |
16 |
KPRZ-AM |
1987 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KCBQ-AM |
2000 |
Conservative News/Talk |
||||||
Baltimore, MD |
19 |
WITH-AM |
1997 (4) |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
Tampa, FL |
20 |
WTWD-AM |
2000 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WTBN-AM |
2001 (5) |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
DenverBoulder, CO |
21 |
KRKS-FM |
1993 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KRKS-AM |
1994 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
KNUS-AM |
1996 |
Conservative News/Talk |
||||||
KBJD-AM |
1999 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||||
Pittsburgh, PA |
22 |
WORD-FM |
1993 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WPIT-AM |
1993 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
Portland, OR |
23 |
KPDQ-FM |
1986 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KPDQ-AM |
1986 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
KFIS-FM |
2001 (6) |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||||
Cleveland, OH (6) |
24 |
WCCD-AM |
1997 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WHK-AM |
2000 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
WKNR-AM |
2000 |
Sports/Talk |
||||||
WFHM-FM |
2001 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
5
RADIO STATIONS, CONT.
| MSA | Station | Year | ||||||
| Market (1) | Rank (2) | Call Letters | Acquired | Format | ||||
Cincinnati, OH |
25 |
WTSJ-AM |
1997 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WBOB-AM |
2000 |
Sports/Talk |
||||||
WYGY-FM |
2000 |
Country |
||||||
Sacramento, CA |
26 |
KFIA-AM |
1995 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KTKZ-AM |
1997 |
Conservative News/Talk |
||||||
KKFS-FM |
2002 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||||
RiversideSan Bernardino, CA |
27 |
KRLH-AM |
2001 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
San Antonio, TX |
30 |
KSLR-AM |
1994 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KLUP-AM |
2000 |
Adult Nostalgia |
||||||
Milwaukee, WI |
31 |
WRRD-AM |
2001 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WFZH-FM |
2001 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||||
Columbus, OH |
35 |
WRFD-AM |
1987 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
Nashville, TN |
43 |
WBOZ-FM |
2000 |
Southern Gospel |
||||
WVRY-FM |
2000 |
Southern Gospel |
||||||
Louisville, KY |
54 |
WLSY-FM |
1999 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
WRVI-FM |
1999 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||||
WGTK-AM |
2000 |
Conservative News/Talk |
||||||
WFIA-AM |
2001 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||||
Richmond, VA |
55 |
WBTK-AM |
2001 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
Honolulu, HI |
61 |
KAIM-AM |
2000 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KAIM-FM |
2000 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||||
KGU-AM |
2000 |
Conservative News/Talk |
||||||
KHNR-AM |
2000 |
News/Talk |
||||||
Colorado Springs, CO |
95 |
KGFT-FM |
1996 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
KBIQ-FM |
1996 |
Contemporary Christian Music |
||||||
Youngstown-Warren, OH |
107 |
WHKW-AM |
2001 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
Oxnard, CA |
114 |
KDAR-FM |
1974 |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
||||
Tyler-Longview, TX |
145 |
KPXI-FM |
2000 (7) |
Christian Teaching and Talk |
(1) Actual city of license may differ from metropolitan market served.
(2) MSA means metropolitan statistical area.
(3) This market includes the Nassau-Suffolk, NY Metro market which independently has a MSA rank of 17.
(4) WITH-AM is simulcast with WAVA-FM, Washington, D.C.
(5) WTBN-AM is simulcast with WTWD-AM, Tampa, FL.
(6) We operate this station pursuant to a local marketing agreement and will do so until we complete its acquisition.
(7) KPXI-FM is simulcast with KWRD-FM, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.
6
PROGRAM REVENUE. For the year ended December 31, 2001, we derived 25.8% and 14.7% of our gross revenue, or $37.8 million and $21.5 million, respectively, from the sale of nationally syndicated and local block program time. We derive nationally syndicated program revenue from a programming customer base consisting primarily of geographically diverse, well-established non-profit religious and educational organizations that purchase time on stations in a large number of markets in the United States. Nationally syndicated program producers typically purchase 13, 26 or 52 minute blocks on a Monday through Friday basis and may offer supplemental programming for weekend release. We obtain local program revenue from community organizations and churches that typically purchase time primarily for weekend release and from local speakers who purchase daily releases. We have been successful in assisting quality local programs to expand into national syndication.
ADVERTISING REVENUE. For the year ended December 31, 2001, we derived 39.8% of our gross revenue, or $58.1 million from the sale of local spot advertising and 5.0% of our gross revenue, or $7.3 million from the sale of national spot advertising.
OPERATIONS. Each of the radio markets in which we have a presence has a general manager who is responsible for day-to-day operations, local spot advertising sales and, where applicable, local program sales for all of our stations in the market. We pay our general managers a base salary plus a percentage of the respective station's net operating income. For each station we also have a staff of full and part-time engineering, programming and sales personnel. We pay our sales staff on a commission basis.
We have decentralized our operations in response to the rapid growth we have experienced in recent years. Our operations vice presidents, some of whom are also station general managers, oversee several markets on a regional basis. Our operations vice presidents are experienced radio broadcasters with expertise in sales, programming and production. We will continue to rely on this strategy of decentralization and encourage operations vice presidents to apply innovative techniques to the operations they oversee which, if successful, can be implemented in our other stations.
Our corporate headquarters personnel oversee the placement and rate negotiation for all nationally syndicated programs. Centralized oversight of this component of company revenue is necessary because our key program customers purchase time in many of our markets. Corporate headquarters personnel also are responsible for centralized reporting and financial functions, human resources, engineering oversight and other support functions designed to provide resources to local management.
We believe that the listening audiences for our radio stations formatted with our primary format, which provide the financial support for program producers purchasing time on these stations, are responsive to affinity advertisers that promote products targeted to audiences interested in religious and family issues and are receptive to direct response appeals such as those offered through infomercials. All of such stations have affinity advertising customers in their respective markets. Local church groups and many community organizations such as rescue missions and family crisis support services can often effectively reach their natural constituencies by advertising on religious format stations. Advertising is also purchased by local and nationally affiliated religious bookstores, publishers specializing in inspirational and religious literature and other businesses that desire to specifically target audiences interested in religious and family issues. Our stations generate spot advertising revenue from general market advertisers.
SALEM RADIO NETWORK®
In 1993, we established Salem Radio Network® in connection with our acquisition of certain assets of the former CBN Radio Network. Establishment of Salem Radio Network® was a part of our overall business strategy to develop a national network of affiliated radio stations anchored by our owned and operated radio stations in major markets. Salem Radio Network® which is headquartered in Dallas, develops, produces and syndicates a broad range of programming specifically targeted to religious and family issues talk and music stations as well as general market news/talk stations. Currently, we have rights to eight full-time satellite channels and all Salem Radio Network® product is delivered to affiliates via satellite.
Salem Radio Network® has more than 1,600 affiliate stations, including our owned and operated stations, that broadcast one or more of the offered programming options. These programming options feature talk shows, news and music. Network operations also include commission revenue of Salem Radio Representatives from unaffiliated customers and an allocation of operating expenses estimated to relate to such commissions. Salem Radio Network's® gross revenue, including commission revenue for Salem Radio Representatives, for the year ended December 31, 2001 was $12.1 million.
SALEM RADIO REPRESENTATIVES. We established Salem Radio Representatives in 1992 as a sales representation company specializing in placing national advertising on religious format radio stations. Salem Radio Network® has an exclusive relationship with Salem Radio Representatives for the sale of available Salem Radio Network® spot advertising. Salem Radio Representatives receives a commission on all Salem Radio Network® sales. Salem Radio Representatives also contracts with individual radio stations to sell air time to national advertisers desiring to include selected company stations in national buys covering multiple markets.
7
OTHER MEDIA
INTERNET. In 1999 we established an Internet business, OnePlace, in connection with our purchase of the assets of OnePlace, LLC, AudioCentral, GospelMedia Network (which was sold in 2000) and Involved Christian Radio Network. OnePlace's activities enhance and support our core radio strategy by providing on-demand audio streaming for Salem's program producers. The OnePlace business model mirrors our radio station business model: revenue from ministries and advertising (banners and sponsorships). We also introduced SonicPlace.com, which provides on-demand audio streaming for Salem's Christian music channels.
PUBLISHING. In 1999, we purchased CCM Communications, Inc. (CCM). CCM, based in Nashville, Tennessee, has published magazines since 1978 which follow the contemporary Christian music industry. CCM's flagship publication, CCM Magazine®, is a monthly music magazine offering interviews with artists, issue-oriented features, album reviews and concert schedules. Through CCM's trade publications, we are uniquely positioned to track contemporary Christian music audience trends.
SATELLITE RADIO. In August 1998, we expanded our reach by entering into an exclusive agreement with XM Satellite Radio, Inc. to develop, produce, supply and market religious and family issues audio programming which will be distributed by a subscriber-based satellite digital audio radio service. XM Satellite Radio, Inc. is one of two Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensees for this service and it has the capability of providing up to 100 channels of audio programming. We have agreed to provide religious and family themes talk programming on one channel and youth and adult religious music programming on two additional channels.
COMPETITION
RADIO. The radio broadcasting industry, including the religious and family themes format segment of this industry, is a highly competitive business. The financial success of each of our radio stations that features the religious and family issues format is dependent, to a significant degree, upon its ability to generate revenue from the sale of block program time to national and local religious and educational organizations. We compete for this program revenue with a number of different commercial and noncommercial radio station licensees. While no group owner in the United States specializing in the religious format approaches Salem in size of potential listening audience and presence in major markets, religious format stations exist and enjoy varying degrees of prominence and success in all markets.
We also compete for revenue in the spot advertising market with other commercial religious format and general format radio station licensees. We compete in the spot advertising market with other media as well, including broadcast television, cable television, newspapers, magazines, direct mail and billboard advertising.
Competition may also come from new media technologies and services that are being developed or introduced. These include delivery of audio programming by cable television and satellite systems, digital audio radio services, the Internet, personal communications services and the authorization by the FCC of a new service of low powered, limited coverage FM radio stations. Digital audio broadcasting may deliver multiformat digital radio services by satellite to national and regional audiences. The quality of programming delivered by digital audio broadcasting would be equivalent to compact disc.
The delivery of live and stored audio programming through the Internet has also created new competition. In addition, the anticipated commencement of satellite delivered digital audio radio services, which are intended to deliver multiple audio programming formats to local and national audiences, may create additional competition. We have attempted to address these existing and potential competitive threats through OnePlace and through our exclusive arrangement to provide religious and family issues talk and music formats on one of the two FCC licensees of satellite digital audio radio services.
NETWORK. Salem Radio Network® competes with other commercial radio networks that offer news and talk programming to religious and general format stations and two noncommercial networks that offer religious music formats. Salem Radio Network® also competes with other radio networks for the services of talk show personalities.
OTHER MEDIA. Our magazines compete for readers and advertisers with other publications that follow the religious music industry and publications that address themes of interest to church leadership. Our Internet business competes with other companies that deliver on-line audio programming.
8
EMPLOYEES
At March 1, 2002, Salem employed 990 full-time and 390 part-time employees. None of Salem's employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.
CERTAIN FACTORS AFFECTING SALEM
We may not pursue potentially more profitable business opportunities outside of our religious and family themes formats which may have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are fundamentally committed to broadcasting formats emphasizing religious and family themes. We may not switch to other formats or pursue potentially more profitable business opportunities in response to changing audience preferences. We do not intend to pursue business opportunities that would conflict with our core commitment to religious and family themes formats even if such opportunities would be more profitable. Our decision not to pursue other formats might result in lower operating revenues than we might otherwise achieve.
If we are unable to successfully execute our acquisition strategy, our business may not continue to grow as expected.
We intend to continue to acquire radio stations as well as other complementary media businesses. Our acquisition strategy has been, and will continue to focus on, the acquisition of strong signal stations in the top 25 markets. However, we may not be able to successfully identify and consummate future acquisitions, and stations that we do acquire may not increase our broadcast cash flow or yield other anticipated benefits. Acquisitions in markets in which we already have a presence may not increase our broadcast cash flow due to saturation of audience demand. Acquisitions in smaller markets may have less potential to increase operating revenues. Our failure to execute our acquisition strategy successfully in the future could limit our ability to continue to grow in terms of number of stations or profitability.
We may be unable to integrate the operations and management of acquired stations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.
Since January 1, 2001 we acquired or agreed to acquire and/or operate 14 radio stations and we expect to make acquisitions of other stations and station groups in the future.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to integrate successfully the operations or management of acquired stations, or the operations or management of stations that might be acquired in the future. Acquisitions of stations will require us to manage a significantly larger and likely more geographically diverse radio station portfolio than historically has been the case. Our inability to integrate and manage newly acquired stations successfully could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.
If we are unable to implement our cluster strategy, we may not realize anticipated operating efficiencies.
As part of our operating strategy, we attempt to realize efficiencies of operating costs and cross-selling of programming and advertising by clustering the operations of two or more radio stations in a single market. However, there can be no assurances that this operating strategy will be successful. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that the clustering of radio stations in one market will not result in downward pressure on advertising and programming rates at one or more of the existing or new radio stations within the cluster. There can be no assurance that any of our stations will be able to maintain or increase its current listening audience and operating revenue in circumstances where we implement our clustering strategy.
Additionally, FCC rules and policies allow a broadcaster to own a number of radio stations in a given market and permit, within limits, joint arrangements with other stations in a market relating to programming, advertising sales and station operations. We believe that radio stations that elect to take advantage of these clustering opportunities may, in certain circumstances, have lower operating costs and may be able to offer advertisers more attractive rates and services. The future development of our business in new markets, as well as the maintenance of our business growth in those markets in which we do not currently have radio station clusters, may be negatively impacted by competitors who are taking advantage of these clustering opportunities by operating multiple radio stations within markets.
The restrictions on ownership of multiple stations in each market may prevent us from implementing our cluster strategy.
As part of our growth strategy, we seek to acquire additional radio stations in markets in which we already have existing stations. However, our ability to acquire, operate and integrate any such future acquisition as part of a cluster may be limited by antitrust and FCC regulations affecting acquisitions where the proposed buyer or manager already owns one or more radio stations in the relevant market. We cannot predict whether the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or a private party will challenge a proposed acquisition, and such challenges could affect our ability to implement our cluster acquisition strategy.
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Government regulation of the broadcasting industry by the FTC and DOJ may limit our ability to acquire or dispose of radio stations.
The FTC and the DOJ evaluate transactions to determine whether those transactions should be challenged under federal antitrust laws. We are aware that the FTC and the DOJ have been increasingly active in their review of radio station acquisitions. This is particularly the case when a radio broadcast company proposes to acquire an additional station in an existing market. As we have gained a presence in a greater number of markets and a greater percentage of the top 25 markets, our future proposed transactions may more frequently be subject to more aggressive review by the FTC or the DOJ due to market concentration concerns. This increased level of review may be accentuated in instances where we propose to engage in a transaction with parties who themselves have multiple stations in the relevant market. The FCC might not approve a proposed radio station acquisition or disposition when the DOJ has expressed market concentration concerns with respect to the buy or sell side of a given transaction, even if the proposed transaction would otherwise comply with the FCC's numerical limits on in-market ownership. We cannot be sure that the DOJ or the FTC will not seek to prohibit or require the restructuring of our future acquisitions on these or other bases.
If we are not able to obtain financing or generate sufficient cash flows from operations, we may be unable to fund future acquisitions.
We will require significant financing to fund our acquisition strategy and implement our business plan. This financing may not be available to us. The availability of funds under the credit facility at any time will be dependent upon, among other factors, our ability to satisfy financial covenants. Our future operating performance will be subject to financial, economic, business, competitive, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that our future cash flows or borrowing capacity will be sufficient to allow us to complete future acquisitions or implement our business plan, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
If we cannot attract the anticipated listener and advertiser base for our new formats, we may not recoup associated launch costs or achieve profitability for stations broadcasting in these formats.
We have launched music formats, including a contemporary Christian music format called The Fish, as well as a conservative news/talk format, in several markets. We have traditionally relied on Christian teaching and talk block programming as the primary source of our revenue and there is no guarantee that the implementation of these new formats will attract a sufficient listener and advertiser base. Our strategy to launch and develop new formats is unproven and may not result in any significant revenues or net income. Our management may be unable to successfully market these additional formats due to less operational experience compared to Christian teaching and talk formats. In addition, the introduction of these new formats involves significant promotional costs which will negatively impact our profitability.
If we do not maintain or increase our block program revenue share compared to other broadcast companies, our business and operating results may be adversely affected.
The financial success of each of our radio stations that features Christian teaching and talk programming is dependent, to a significant degree, upon our ability to generate revenue from the sale of block program time to national and local religious organizations, which currently accounts for more than 40% of our revenue. We compete for this program revenue with a number of commercial and non-commercial radio stations. Due to the significant competition for this block programming, we cannot be sure that we will be able to maintain or increase our current block programming revenue.
If we are unable to maintain or grow our advertising revenue share compared to other broadcast and media companies, our business and operating results may be adversely affected.
In the advertising market, we compete for revenue with other commercial religious format and general format radio stations, as well as with other media, including broadcast and cable television, newspapers, magazines, direct mail and billboard advertising. Our radio stations with our contemporary Christian music and conservative news/talk formats are substantially dependent upon advertising for their revenues. Due to this significant competition, we cannot be sure that we will be able to maintain or increase our current advertising revenue.
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A general economic downturn could negatively impact our ability to generate advertising revenue.
We derive a substantial part of our revenues from the sale of advertising on our radio stations. For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, 44.8%, 40.5%, and 37.3% of our broadcast revenues, respectively, were generated from the sale of advertising. Because advertisers generally reduce their spending during economic downturns, we could be adversely affected by a national recession. In addition, because a substantial portion of our revenues are derived from local advertisers, our ability to generate advertising revenues in specific markets could be adversely affected by local or regional economic downturns. We are particularly dependent on advertising revenue from the Los Angeles, Dallas and New York markets, which generated 8.2%, 6.7% and 1.9%, respectively, of our gross broadcast revenues in 2001.
Acts of war and terrorism may reduce our advertising revenue and have other negative effects on our business.
In response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., we increased our news and community service programming, which decreased the amount of broadcast time available for commercial advertising. In addition, these events caused advertisers to cancel advertisements on our stations. Acts of war and terrorism against the United States, and the country's response thereto, including current military operations in Afghanistan, may also cause a general slowdown in the U.S. advertising market, which could cause our advertising revenues to decline due to advertising cancellations, delays or defaults in payment for advertising time, and other factors. In addition, these events may have other negative effects on our business, the nature and duration of which we cannot predict.
If we lose the services of our founders, the management and operation of our business could be disrupted.
Our business is dependent upon the performance and continued efforts of certain key individuals, particularly Edward G. Atsinger III, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Stuart W. Epperson, our Chairman of the Board. The loss of the services of either Messrs. Atsinger or Epperson