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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[X]

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2003

OR

[   ]

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 000-26497

SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (805) 987-0400

      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 whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). YES [X] NO [   ]

      As of May 5, 2003, there were 17,930,417 shares of Class A common stock and 5,553,696 shares of Class B common stock of Salem Communications Corporation outstanding.

SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
INDEX

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SPECIAL CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING 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 including, but not limited to, Salem’s ability to close and integrate announced transactions, competition in the radio broadcast, publishing and Internet industries and from new technologies, market acceptance of recently launched music formats and adverse economic conditions. These risks as well as other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in Salem’s reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). 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 (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

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SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)

See accompanying notes

4

SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)
(UNAUDITED)

See accompanying notes

5

SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)

See accompanying notes

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SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

      Information with respect to the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 is unaudited. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the company, for the periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

NOTE 2. RECLASSIFICATIONS

      We have reclassified our statements of operations data for all periods presented to reflect increases to revenues and expenses as appropriate for barter transactions, eliminating the practice of reporting these transactions net in our statements of operations. In addition, we have reclassified our statements of operations data for all periods presented to reflect our sale on September 30, 2002 of the assets of radio station WYGY–FM, Cincinnati, Ohio, which has been accounted for as a discontinued operation.

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NOTE 3. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

      Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143

      In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” SFAS No. 143 applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from acquisition, construction, development and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset. SFAS No. 143 is effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2002. Salem adopted this statement and its adoption did not have a material impact on Salem’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

      Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144

      On January 1, 2002, the company adopted SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” SFAS No. 144 supersedes SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of,” and the accounting and reporting provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30, “Reporting the Results of Operations-Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions,” for the disposal of a segment of a business. SFAS No. 144 also amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements,” to eliminate the exception to consolidation for a subsidiary for which control is likely to be temporary. Adoption of SFAS No. 144 did not materially impact the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the company. The adoption of SFAS No. 144 did result in the treatment of the sale of WYGY-FM, Cincinnati, Ohio as a discontinued operation.

      Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 145

      In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections.” This statement rescinds SFAS No. 4, “Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt,” and an amendment of that statement, SFAS Statement No. 64, “Extinguishments of Debt Made to Satisfy Sinking-Fund Requirements.” In addition, SFAS No. 145 amends FASB Statement No. 13, “Accounting for Leases.” Salem adopted this statement and its adoption did not have a material impact on Salem’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

      Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146

      In July 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.” SFAS No. 146 address the accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Terminations Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity.” It also substantially nullifies EITF Issue No. 88-10, “Costs Associated with Lease Modification or Termination.” SFAS No. 146 is effective for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. Salem adopted this statement and its adoption did not have a material impact on Salem’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

      Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148

      In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation–Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of SFAS No. 123.” This statement amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, this statement amends the disclosure requirement of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosure in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. Salem adopted this statement and its adoption did not have a material impact on Salem’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. As permitted under the statement Salem continues to measure any expense related to stock options under the intrinsic value method and provides the required disclosures under the fair value method in Note 8.

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NOTE 4. COSTS OF DENIED TOWER SITE AND LICENSE UPGRADE

      In April 2003, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors denied Salem’s motion to relocate its radio towers for radio station KCBQ–AM, San Diego, California. As a result of the denial, the company recorded a write-off of approximately $1.3 million in capitalized costs related to the project. Additionally, in May 2003, the FCC denied Salem’s motion to increase the night-time coverage of radio station WGKA–AM, Atlanta, Georgia. As a result of the denial, the company recorded a write-off of approximately $0.9 million in capitalized costs related to the project. These write-offs were recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2003 in Salem’s Statement of Operations as “Cost of denied tower site and license upgrade.”

NOTE 5. REDEMPTION OF $100.0 MILLION 9½% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007

      On January 22, 2003, Salem redeemed all of its $100.0 million 9½% senior subordinated notes due 2007 (“9½% Notes”). Salem used the proceeds of its $100.0 million 7¾% senior subordinated notes due 2010 (“7¾% Notes”) issued in December 2002 to redeem the 9½% Notes. The proceeds of the issuance of the 7¾% Notes was recorded on Salem’s balance sheet as “Restricted cash” at December 31, 2002.

NOTE 6. AMORTIZABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS

      The following tables provide details, by major category, of the significant classes of amortizable intangible assets:

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      Based on the amortizable intangible assets as of March 31, 2003, we estimate amortization expense for the next five years to be as follows:

NOTE 7. BASIC AND DILUTED NET EARNINGS PER SHARE

      Basic net earnings per share has been computed using the weighted average number of Class A and Class B shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of Class A and Class B shares of common stock outstanding during the period plus the dilutive effects of outstanding stock options.

      Options to purchase 527,105 and 597,065 shares of Class A common stock were outstanding at March 31, 2002 and 2003, respectively. These options were excluded from the respective computations of diluted net income or loss per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive.

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NOTE 8. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

      The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and net loss per share if Salem had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to stock-based employee compensation:

NOTE 9. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

      We are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. We actively monitor these fluctuations and use derivative instruments from time to time to manage the related risk. In accordance with the our risk management strategy, we use derivative instruments only for the purpose of managing risk associated with an asset, liability, committed transaction, or probable forecasted transaction that is identified by management. Our use of derivative instruments may result in short-term gains or losses and may increase volatility in our earnings.

      We had one interest rate swap agreement outstanding as of March 31, 2003, which is used to manage our exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability that may result due to changes in interest rates. The counter party to this interest rate swap agreement is a major financial institution. Although we are exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counter party, we do not anticipate nonperformance by the counter party nor would we expect any such loss to be material.

      At March 31, 2003, an interest rate swap agreement with a notional principal amount of $66.0 million was outstanding. This agreement relates to our $150.0 million 9% senior subordinated notes due 2011 (“9% Notes”). This agreement expires in 2011 when the 9% Notes mature, and effectively swaps the 9% fixed interest rate on $66.0 million of the 9% Notes for a floating rate equal to the LIBOR rate plus 3.09%. The estimated fair value of this swap agreement and the fair value of the debt hedged by the swap, based on current market rates, was $7.2 million at March 31, 2003. Changes in the fair value of the swap and the changes in the fair value of debt being hedged are recorded as part of interest expense. The fair value of the swap agreement is included with long-term assets, and the fair value of the debt hedged by the swap is recorded in long-term debt consistent with the maturity date of the swap. Because this fair value hedge is 100% effective (that is, the change in the fair value of the hedge instrument is designed to be equal to the change in the fair value of the item being hedged), there was no income statement effect relative to the change in the fair value of the swap agreement. Interest expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 was reduced by $0.7 million as a result of the 9.0% fixed interest rate on our debt and the floating interest rate under the swap agreement, which was 5.04% for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.

NOTE 10. CONTINGENCIES

      Incident to our business activities, we are party to a number of legal proceedings, lawsuits and other claims. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties and outcomes are not predictable with assurance. Also, we maintain insurance which may provide coverage for such matters. Consequently, our management is unable to ascertain the ultimate aggregate amount of monetary liability or the financial impact with respect to these matters. However, our management believes, at this time, that the final resolution of these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect upon our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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NOTE 11. SEGMENT DATA

      SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures About Segments of An Enterprise and Related Information,” requires companies to provide certain information about their operating segments. The company has one reportable operating segment–radio broadcasting–which includes our talk and music formats and our various radio networks. The remaining non-reportable segments consist of the Salem Web Network (our Internet division) and CCM Communications, Inc. (“CCM”, our publishing business), which do not meet the reportable segment quantitative threshholds and accordingly are aggregated below as “other media”. Revenue and expenses earned and charged between segments are recorded at fair value.

      Management uses operating income before depreciation, amortization and unusual charges as its measure of profitability for purposes of assessing performance and allocating resources.