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EX-10.1 - SSA EXTENSION - NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.ssaext.htm
EX-31.1 - PERRY A. SOOK CERTIFICATION 31.1 - NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.pas31_1.htm
EX-32.2 - THOMAS E. CARTER CERTIFICATION 32.2 - NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.tec32_2.htm
EX-32.1 - PERRY A. SOOK CERTIFICATION 32.1 - NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.pas32_1.htm
EX-31.2 - THOMAS E. CARTER CERTIFICATION 31.2 - NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.tec31_2.htm
EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - NEXSTAR MEDIA GROUP, INC.Financial_Report.xls

 
 

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
  
FORM 10-Q
  
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
   
 
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: 000-50478
 
NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
 
Delaware
23-3083125
(State of Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
5215 N. O’Connor Blvd., Suite 1400, Irving, Texas
75039
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
 
(972) 373-8800
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
 
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 it 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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one):
 
Large accelerated filer
¨
Accelerated filer
x
       
Non-accelerated filer
¨
Smaller reporting company
¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
   
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x
 
As of May 7, 2012, the registrant had 15,449,131 shares of Class A Common Stock and 13,411,588 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding.

 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
Page
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
ITEM 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
1
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
2
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the three months ended March 31, 2012
3
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
4
     
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
5
     
ITEM 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
22
     
ITEM 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
30
     
ITEM 4.
Controls and Procedures
30
     
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
ITEM 1.
Legal Proceedings
31
     
ITEM 1A.
Risk Factors
31
     
ITEM 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
31
     
ITEM 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
31
     
ITEM 4.
Mine Safety Disclosure
31
     
ITEM 5.
Other Information
31
     
ITEM 6.
Exhibits
31
   
   

 
 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.
Financial Statements
 
NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share information, unaudited)
 
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31,
2011
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 11,849     $ 7,546  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,400 and $1,313 respectively
    64,317       71,279  
Current portion of broadcast rights
    12,396       16,290  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    1,644       1,734  
Total current assets
    90,206       96,849  
Property and equipment, net
    143,662       146,613  
Broadcast rights
    7,380       9,351  
Goodwill
    112,575       112,575  
FCC licenses
    119,569       119,569  
FCC licenses of Mission
    21,939       21,939  
Other intangible assets, net
    75,915       81,519  
Other noncurrent assets
    6,958       6,619  
Total assets
  $ 578,204     $ 595,034  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current portion of debt
  $ 1,500     $ 1,500  
Current portion of broadcast rights payable
    10,627       13,534  
Accounts payable
    9,284       9,175  
Accrued expenses
    10,067       13,223  
Taxes payable
    500       402  
Interest payable
    15,442       10,868  
Deferred revenue
    2,862       2,196  
Other liabilities of Mission
    4,302       5,201  
Other liabilities
    1,131       1,131  
Total current liabilities
    55,715       57,230  
Debt
    621,238       638,861  
Broadcast rights payable
    6,726       8,435  
Deferred tax liabilities
    41,392       40,278  
Deferred revenue
    338       428  
Deferred gain on sale of assets
    1,940       1,999  
Deferred representation fee incentive
    4,190       4,345  
Other liabilities of Mission
    18,435       18,729  
Other liabilities
    8,122       8,133  
Total liabilities
    758,096       778,438  
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Stockholders’ deficit:
               
Preferred stock - $0.01 par value, 200,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding at each of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
           
Class A Common stock - $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 15,449,131 and 15,387,131 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively
    154       154  
Class B Common stock - $0.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 13,411,588 shares issued and outstanding at each of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
    134       134  
Class C Common stock - $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding at each of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
           
Additional paid-in capital
    407,150       406,654  
Accumulated deficit
    (587,330 )     (590,346 )
Total stockholders’ deficit
    (179,892 )     (183,404 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
  $ 578,204     $ 595,034  
 
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
1

 

NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts, unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Net revenue
  $ 83,642     $ 69,945  
Operating expenses:
               
Direct operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization
    22,128       19,103  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization
    27,128       25,012  
Amortization of broadcast rights
    5,548       5,587  
Amortization of intangible assets
    5,604       5,839  
Depreciation
    5,748       5,230  
(Gain) loss on asset disposal, net
    (19 )     8  
Total operating expenses
    66,137       60,779  
Income from operations
    17,505       9,166  
                 
Interest expense, net
    (12,909 )     (13,705 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt
          (347 )
Income (loss) before income taxes
    4,596       (4,886 )
Income tax expense
    (1,580 )     (1,426 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 3,016     $ (6,312 )
Net income (loss) per common share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.10     $ (0.22 )
Diluted
  $ 0.10     $ (0.22 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
               
Basic
    28,807       28,450  
Diluted
    30,639       28,450  
 
The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
2

 

NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
(in thousands, except share information, unaudited)

 
               
Common Stock
   
Additional
         
Total
 
   
Preferred Stock
   
Class A
   
Class B
   
Class C
   
Paid-In
   
Accumulated
   
Stockholders’
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Deficit
   
Deficit
 
Balance as of December 31, 2011
        $       15,387,131     $ 154       13,411,588     $ 134           $     $ 406,654     $ (590,346 )   $ (183,404 )
Stock-based compensation expense
                                                    217             217  
Exercise of stock options
                62,000                                     279             279  
Net income
                                                          3,016       3,016  
Balance as of March 31, 2012
        $       15,449,131     $ 154       13,411,588     $ 134           $     $ 407,150     $ (587,330 )   $ (179,892 )
 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
3

 

NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands, unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income (loss)
  $ 3,016     $ (6,312 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Deferred income taxes
    1,417       1,276  
Provision for bad debts
    621       843  
Depreciation of property and equipment
    5,748       5,230  
Amortization of intangible assets
    5,604       5,839  
Amortization of debt financing costs
    425       450  
Amortization of broadcast rights, excluding barter
    2,111       2,250  
Payments for broadcast rights
    (2,313 )     (2,478 )
Payment-in-kind interest accrued to debt
          21  
Loss (gain) on asset disposal, net
    (19 )     8  
Loss on extinguishment of debt
          347  
Premium on debt extinguishment, net
          (156 )
PIK interest paid upon debt extinguishment
          (33 )
Issue discount paid upon debt extinguishment
          (450 )
Deferred gain recognition
    (109 )     (109 )
Amortization of debt discount
    352       716  
Amortization of deferred representation fee incentive
    (155 )     (155 )
Stock-based compensation expense
    217       285  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
Accounts receivable
    6,341       4,326  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    89       (2,296 )
Other noncurrent assets
    60       (2 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (2,437 )     244  
Taxes payable
    98       87  
Interest payable
    4,574       8,447  
Deferred revenue
    576       (390 )
Other liabilities of Mission
    (19 )     (95 )
Other noncurrent liabilities
    (155 )     (187 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    26,042       17,706  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (4,076 )     (4,168 )
Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment
    33       18  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (4,043 )     (4,150 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Repayments of long-term debt
    (23,975 )     (16,398 )
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
    6,000        
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
    279        
Net cash used in financing activities
    (17,696 )     (16,398 )
Net increase (decrease)  in cash and cash equivalents
    4,303       (2,842 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    7,546       23,658  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 11,849     $ 20,816  
Supplemental information:
               
Interest paid
  $ 7,508     $ 4,515  
Income taxes paid, net
  $ 43     $ 44  
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
Accrued debt financing costs
  $     $ 4  
Accrued purchases of property and equipment
  $ 928     $ 466  
Purchases of property and equipment through trade
  $ 153     $ 95  

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
4

 

NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1.
Organization and Business Operations
 
As of March 31, 2012, Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. (“Nexstar”) owned, operated, programmed or provided sales and other services to 55 television stations and 11 digital multi-cast channels, including those owned by Mission Broadcasting, Inc. (“Mission”), in 32 markets in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Texas, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, New York, Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan. The stations are affiliates of NBC (12 stations), CBS (11 stations), ABC (11 stations), FOX (11 stations), MyNetworkTV (5 stations and one digital multi-cast channel), The CW (2 stations), and Bounce TV (10 digital multi-cast channels) and three are independent. Through various local service agreements, Nexstar provided sales, programming and other services to 19 stations and four digital multi-cast channels owned and/or operated by independent third parties. Nexstar operates in one reportable television broadcasting segment. The economic characteristics, services, production process, customer type and distribution methods for Nexstar’s operations are substantially similar and are therefore aggregated as a single reportable segment.

2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation
 
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Nexstar and its subsidiaries. Also included in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are the accounts of the independently-owned variable interest entity (“VIE”), Mission (Nexstar and Mission are collectively referred to as the “Company”). Where the assets of Mission are not available to be used to settle the obligations of Nexstar, they are presented as the assets of Mission on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Conversely, where the creditors of Mission do not have recourse to the general credit of Nexstar, the related liabilities are presented as the liabilities of Mission on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Nexstar management evaluates each arrangement that may include variable interests and determines the need to consolidate an entity where it determines Nexstar is the primary beneficiary of a VIE in accordance with related authoritative literature and interpretive guidance.
 
All intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Liquidity

Nexstar is highly leveraged, which makes it vulnerable to changes in general economic conditions. Nexstar’s ability to repay or refinance its debt will depend on, among other things, financial, business, market, competitive and other conditions, many of which are beyond Nexstar’s control.


Interim Financial Statements

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of March 31, 2012 and for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, such financial statements include all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for the fair statement of the financial information included herein in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included in Nexstar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. The balance sheet at December 31, 2011 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. 

 
5

 

Mission
 
Mission is included in these Consolidated Financial Statements because Nexstar is deemed under U.S. GAAP to have a controlling financial interest in Mission as a VIE for financial reporting purposes as a result of (1) local service agreements Nexstar has with the Mission stations, (2) Nexstar’s guarantee of the obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility (see Note 5), (3) Nexstar having power over significant activities affecting Mission’s economic performance, including budgeting for advertising revenue, advertising and hiring and firing of sales force personnel and (4) purchase options granted by Mission which permit Nexstar to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) consent. The purchase options are freely exercisable or assignable by Nexstar without consent or approval by Mission for consideration equal to the greater of (1) seven times the station’s cash flow, as defined in the option agreement, less the amount of its indebtedness, as defined in the option agreement, or (2) the amount of its indebtedness. Additionally, on November 29, 2011, Mission granted Nexstar an option to purchase any or all of Mission’s stock, subject to FCC consent, for a price equal to the pro rata portion of the greater of (1) five times the stations’ cash flow, as defined in the agreement, reduced by the amount of indebtedness, as defined in the agreement, or (2) $100,000. These option agreements (which expire on various dates between 2012 and 2021) are freely exercisable or assignable by Nexstar without consent or approval by Mission. The Company expects these option agreements to be renewed upon expiration. As of March 31, 2012, the assets of Mission consisted of current assets of $4.0 million (excluding broadcast rights and amounts due from Nexstar), broadcast rights of $3.9 million, FCC licenses of $21.9 million, goodwill of $18.7 million, other intangible assets of $14.0 million, property and equipment of $23.5 million and other noncurrent assets of $1.2 million. Substantially all of Mission’s assets, except for its FCC licenses, collateralize its secured debt obligation. See Note 10 for a presentation of condensed consolidating financial information of the Company, which includes the accounts of Mission.

Nexstar has entered into local service agreements with Mission to provide sales and operating services to the Mission stations. The following table summarizes the various local service agreements Nexstar had in effect with Mission as of March 31, 2012:
 
Service Agreements
Mission Stations
TBA Only(1)
WFXP and KHMT
   
SSA & JSA(2)
KJTL, KJBO-LP, KOLR, KCIT, KCPN-LP, KAMC, KRBC, KSAN, WUTR, WAWV, WYOU, KODE, WTVO, KTVE and WTVW
              
(1)
Nexstar has a time brokerage agreement (“TBA”) with each of these stations which allows Nexstar to program most of each station’s broadcast time, sell each station’s advertising time and retain the advertising revenue generated in exchange for monthly payments to Mission.
(2)
Nexstar has both a shared services agreement (“SSA”) and a joint sales agreement (“JSA”) with each of these stations. Each SSA allows the Nexstar station in the market to provide services including news production, technical maintenance and security, in exchange for Nexstar’s right to receive certain payments from Mission as described in the SSAs. Each JSA permits Nexstar to sell the station’s advertising time and retain a percentage of the net revenue from the station’s advertising time in return for monthly payments to Mission of the remaining percentage of net revenue as described in the JSAs.
 
Nexstar’s ability to receive cash from Mission is governed by these local service agreements. Under the local service agreements, Nexstar has received substantially all of Mission’s available cash, after satisfaction of operating costs and debt obligations. Nexstar anticipates it will continue to receive substantially all of Mission’s available cash, after satisfaction of operating costs and debt obligations. In compliance with FCC regulations for both Nexstar and Mission, Mission maintains complete responsibility for and control over programming, finances, personnel and operations of its stations. 

Variable Interest Entities
 
The Company may determine that a station is a VIE as a result of local service agreements entered into with the owner-operator of the station. The term local service agreements generally refers to a contract between two separately owned television stations serving the same market, whereby the owner-operator of one station contracts with the owner-operator of the other station to provide it with administrative, sales and other services required for the operation of its station. Nevertheless, the owner-operator of each station retains control and responsibility for the operation of its station, including ultimate responsibility over all programming broadcast on its station. In addition to those with Mission, Nexstar has VIEs in connection with local service agreements entered into with stations as discussed below.

 
6

 

Nexstar has determined that it has variable interests in WYZZ, the FOX affiliate in Peoria, Illinois and WUHF, the FOX affiliate in Rochester, New York, each owned by a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Inc. (“Sinclair”), as a result of outsourcing agreements it has entered into with Sinclair. Nexstar also has determined that it has a variable interest in WHP, the CBS affiliate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which is owned by Newport Television License, LLC (“Newport”), as a result of Nexstar becoming successor-in-interest to a TBA entered into by a former owner of WLYH. Nexstar has evaluated its arrangements with Sinclair and Newport and has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the variable interests because it does not have the ultimate power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the stations, including developing the annual operating budget, programming and oversight and control of sales management personnel. Therefore, Nexstar has not consolidated these stations under authoritative guidance related to the consolidation of variable interest entities. Under the outsourcing agreements with Sinclair, Nexstar pays for certain operating expenses of WYZZ and WUHF, and therefore may have unlimited exposure to any potential operating losses. Nexstar’s management believes that Nexstar’s minimum exposure to loss under the Sinclair outsourcing agreements consists of the fees paid to Sinclair. Additionally, Nexstar indemnifies the owners of WHP, WYZZ and WUHF from and against all liability and claims arising out of or resulting from its activities, acts or omissions in connection with the agreements. The maximum potential amount of future payments Nexstar could be required to make for such indemnification is undeterminable at this time. Nexstar made payments to Sinclair under the outsourcing agreements of $1.2 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. Nexstar has a balance in accounts payable to Sinclair for fees under these arrangements in the amount of $0.6 million as of March 31, 2012. Nexstar also has receivables in the amount of $2.4 million for advertising aired on these two stations. As of December 31, 2011, Nexstar had a balance in accounts payable to Sinclair for fees under these arrangements of $0.7 million and receivables for advertising aired on these two stations of $2.7 million.

Nexstar has also determined that it had a variable interest in Four Points Media Group Holdings, LLC (“Four Points”) due to a management services agreement between the two companies. Four Points owned and operated seven individual stations in four markets. Under this agreement, Nexstar managed the stations for Four Points but did not have ultimate control over the policies or operations of the stations. Nexstar had evaluated the business arrangement with Four Points and concluded that Nexstar was not the primary beneficiary of the variable interest because it did not have the ultimate power to direct the activities that most significantly impacted the economic performance of the stations including developing the annual operating budget, setting advertising rates, programming and oversight and control of employees responsible for carrying out business activities of the stations. Therefore, Nexstar did not consolidate Four Points’ financial results into its own. In September 2011, Four Points entered into a definitive agreement to sell its stations to Sinclair. The sale closed on January 3, 2012, terminating the management services agreement, whereby Nexstar received a payment of $6.7 million, including the outstanding accounts receivable balance of $4.8 million and a contract termination fee of $1.9 million recorded in net revenue. As of March 31, 2012, all amounts due from Four Points had been received.

Financial Instruments

The Company utilizes the following categories to classify the valuation methodologies for fair values of financial assets and liabilities:
 
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
 
Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability;
 
Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).
 
The Company invests in short-term interest bearing obligations with original maturities less than 90 days, primarily money market funds. The Company does not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had $0.1 million invested in money market investments, which are carried at fair value. The Company has determined the fair value of the money market investment using methods that fall within Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.
 
The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, broadcast rights payable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value due to their short-term nature. See Note 5 for fair value disclosures related to the Company’s debt.


 
7

 

Income (Loss) Per Share
 
Basic income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares are calculated using the treasury stock method. They consist of stock options outstanding during the period and reflect the potential dilution that could occur if common stock were issued upon exercise of stock options. The following table shows the amounts used in computing the Company’s diluted shares for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic
    28,807       28,450  
Effect of dilutive stock options
    1,832        
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted
    30,639       28,450  

The Company reported a net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and stock options with potentially dilutive effect were excluded from the diluted shares calculation as the effect would have been anti-dilutive. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the following weighted average options were outstanding (in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Options with a potentially dilutive effect
    3,655       3,105  
Out-of-the-money and other anti-dilutive options
    105       680  
Total weighted-average options outstanding
    3,760       3,785  

Basis of Presentation
 
Certain prior year financial statement amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.  These reclassifications had no effect on net income (loss) or stockholders' deficit as previously reported.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820):  Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (“ASU 2011-04”). ASU 2011-04 clarifies certain topics regarding fair value measurement and adds some disclosures for fair value measurements. The update was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2012. The implementation of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment (Topic 350) (“ASU 2011-08”). ASU 2011-08 allows companies to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the annual two-step goodwill impairment test. The update is effective for the Company’s goodwill impairment testing performed in the fourth quarter of 2012, but early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the implementation of this standard to have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
 

 
8

 



3.
Intangible Assets and Goodwill
 
Intangible assets subject to amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
   
Estimated
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
useful life,
 in years
   
Gross
   
Accumulated Amortization
   
Net
   
Gross
   
Accumulated Amortization
   
Net
 
                                           
Network affiliation agreements
    15     $ 326,567     $ (253,029 )   $ 73,538     $ 326,567     $ (247,725 )   $ 78,842  
Other definite-lived intangible assets
    1-15       14,522       (12,145 )     2,377       14,521       (11,844 )     2,677  
Other intangible assets
          $ 341,089     $ (265,174 )   $ 75,915     $ 341,088     $ (259,569 )   $ 81,519  

Total amortization expense from definite-lived intangibles was $5.6 million and $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The following table presents the Company’s estimate of amortization expense for the remainder of 2012, each of the five succeeding years ended December 31 and thereafter for definite-lived intangibles assets as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):
 
Remainder of 2012
  $ 16,397  
2013
    16,912  
2014
    10,844  
2015
    9,457  
2016
    5,699  
2017
    5,431  
Thereafter
    11,175  


The amounts recorded to goodwill and FCC licenses were as follows (in thousands): 

   
Goodwill
   
FCC Licenses
 
   
Gross
   
Accumulated
Impairment
   
Net
   
Gross
   
Accumulated
Impairment
   
Net
 
Balance as of December 31, 2011
  $ 158,791     $ (46,216 )   $ 112,575     $ 191,710     $ (50,202 )   $ 141,508  
Balance as of March 31, 2012
  $ 158,791     $ (46,216 )   $ 112,575     $ 191,710     $ (50,202 )   $ 141,508  

The Company expenses as incurred any costs to renew or extend its FCC licenses. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not subject to amortization, but are tested for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such assets might be impaired. As of March 31, 2012, the Company did not identify any events that would trigger an impairment assessment.

4.
Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
Compensation and related taxes
  $ 3,351     $ 5,676  
Sales commissions
    1,341       1,547  
Employee benefits
    1,132       977  
Property taxes
    737       699  
Other accruals related to operating expenses
    3,506       4,324  
    $ 10,067     $ 13,223  


 
9

 

5.
Debt
 
Long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
Term loans
  $ 147,750     $ 148,125  
Revolving loans
    6,700       24,300  
8.875% Senior secured second lien notes due 2017, net of discount of $6,393 and $6,638
    318,607       318,362  
7% Senior subordinated notes due 2014, net of discount of $351 and $396
    37,561       37,516  
7% Senior subordinated PIK notes due 2014, net of discount of $473 and $535
    112,120       112,058  
      622,738       640,361  
Less: current portion
    (1,500 )     (1,500 )
    $ 621,238     $ 638,861  
 
2012 Transactions

In March 2012, Nexstar Broadcasting and Mission each paid the contractual maturities under their senior secured credit facilities, for a total payment of $0.4 million.

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, Nexstar repaid a net amount of $17.6 million on the Company’s revolving loans, resulting in a consolidated revolving loan balance of $6.7 million as of March 31, 2012.

On April 12, 2012, Nexstar Broadcasting elected to redeem $34.0 million of the $37.9 million outstanding of its 7% Notes. The redemption price is the outstanding principal amount of notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the scheduled redemption date of May 11, 2012. The Company expects to record approximately $0.5 million of loss on extinguishment of debt related to this transaction. Nexstar intends to fund the redemption of the notes from cash on hand, borrowings under its revolving credit facility or a combination thereof.

Unused Commitments and Borrowing Availability
 
Nexstar Broadcasting and Mission had $68.3 million of total unused revolving loan commitments under their respective senior secured credit facilities, all of which was available for borrowing, based on the covenant calculations as of March 31, 2012. Nexstar Broadcasting’s ability to access funds under the Nexstar Facility depends, in part, on its compliance with certain financial covenants.

Any additional drawings under senior secured credit facilities, such as the redemption of $34.0 million of the 7% Notes mentioned above, will reduce the Company’s future borrowing capacity and the amount of total unused revolving loan commitments.

Debt Covenants
 
The Nexstar Broadcasting senior secured credit facility agreement contains covenants which require the Company to comply with certain financial covenant ratios, including (1) a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio of Nexstar Broadcasting and Mission of 7.50 to 1.00 at March 31, 2012, (2) a maximum consolidated first lien indebtedness ratio of 2.50 to 1.00 at any time and (3) a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.00 at any time. The covenants, which are formally calculated on a quarterly basis, are based on the combined results of Nexstar Broadcasting and Mission. Mission’s senior secured credit agreement does not contain financial covenant ratio requirements, but does provide for default in the event Nexstar does not comply with all covenants contained in its senior secured credit facility agreement. As of March 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants.

Collateralization and Guarantees of Debt
 
Nexstar Broadcasting’s and Mission’s senior secured credit facilities are collateralized by a security interest in substantially all the combined assets, excluding FCC licenses, of Nexstar and Mission. Nexstar and its subsidiaries guarantee full payment of all obligations incurred under the Mission senior secured credit facility in the event of Mission’s default. Similarly, Mission is a guarantor of the Nexstar Broadcasting senior secured credit facility and the senior subordinated notes issued by Nexstar Broadcasting.

 
10

 

Fair Value of Debt
 
The aggregate carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s debt were as follows (in thousands):
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Fair Value
 
Term loans(1)
  $ 147,750     $ 146,653     $ 148,125     $ 146,430  
Revolving loans(1)
    6,700       6,679       24,300       24,171  
8.875% Senior secured second lien notes(2)
    318,607       347,750       318,362       321,750  
7% Senior subordinated notes(2)
    37,561       37,912       37,516       37,154  
7% Senior subordinated PIK notes(2)
    112,120       112,593       112,058       110,341  
              
(1)
The fair value of senior secured credit facilities is computed based on borrowing rates currently available to Nexstar and Mission for bank loans with similar terms and average maturities. These fair value measurements are considered Level 3 (significant and unobservable).
(2)
The fair value of Nexstar’s fixed rate debt is estimated based on bid prices obtained from an investment banking firm that regularly makes a market for these financial instruments. These fair value measurements are considered Level 2 (significant and observable).
 
6.
Contract Termination
 
On March 31, 2008, Nexstar signed a ten year agreement for national sales representation with two units of Katz Television Group, a subsidiary of Katz Media Group (“Katz”), transferring 24 stations in 14 of its markets from Petry Television Inc. (“Petry”) and Blair Television Inc. (“Blair”). Nexstar, Blair, Petry and Katz entered into a termination and mutual release agreement under which Blair agreed to release Nexstar from its future contractual obligations in exchange for payments totaling $8.0 million. Katz is making the payments on behalf of Nexstar as an inducement for Nexstar to enter into the long-term contract with Katz. A liability of $7.2 million, representing the present value of the payments Katz is making to Blair, was recorded and is being recognized as a non-cash reduction to operating expenses over the term of the agreement with Katz. Effective May 1, 2009, Nexstar signed another agreement to transfer the remaining Nexstar stations to Katz and its related companies. Moving these contracts resulted in Nexstar cancelling multiple contracts with Blair. As a result, Blair sued the Company for additional termination fees. Katz indemnified the Company for all expenses related to the settlement and defense of this lawsuit. The lawsuit was settled effective May 7, 2010. Termination of these contracts resulted in an additional liability of $0.2 million, which is being recognized over the remaining contract term with Katz.

As of March 31, 2012, $0.7 million of this liability was included in other current liabilities and $4.2 million was included in deferred representation fee incentive in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company recognized $0.2 million of these incentives as a reduction in selling, general, and administrative expense for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

7.
Income Taxes

The Company’s provision for income taxes is primarily comprised of deferred income taxes resulting from the amortization of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for income tax purposes which are not amortized for financial reporting purposes. No benefit has been recognized for the Company’s taxable losses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 as the utilization of such losses is not more likely than not to be realized in the foreseeable future.

The deferred tax liabilities related to goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets do not reverse on a scheduled basis and are not used to support the realization of deferred tax assets. The Company’s deferred tax assets before valuation allowance primarily result from federal and state net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”). The Company’s NOLs are available to reduce future taxable income if utilized before their expiration. The Company has provided a valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets as it does not believe they are more likely than not to be realized through future taxable earnings.

 
11

 

8.
FCC Regulatory Matters
 
Television broadcasting is subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Communications Act”). The Communications Act prohibits the operation of television broadcasting stations except under a license issued by the FCC, and empowers the FCC, among other things, to issue, revoke, and modify broadcasting licenses, determine the location of television stations, regulate the equipment used by television stations, adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of the Communications Act and impose penalties for the violation of such regulations. The FCC’s ongoing rule making proceedings could have a significant future impact on the television industry and on the operation of the Company’s stations and the stations to which it provides services. In addition, the U.S. Congress may act to amend the Communications Act or adopt other legislation in a manner that could impact the Company’s stations, the stations to which it provides services and the television broadcast industry in general.

The FCC has adopted rules with respect to the final conversion of existing low power and television translator stations to digital operations. The FCC has established a September 1, 2015 deadline by which low power and television translator stations must cease analog operations, and low power and television translator stations operating on channels 52-69 were required to cease operation on those channels by December 31, 2011. The Company holds three low power analog station licenses and 13 analog television translator station licenses, three of which, although they were required to cease analog operations by December 31, 2011, have been granted temporary authority to continue analog operations until June 19, 2012, with the remainder to transition to digital operations by September 1, 2015.

Media Ownership

In 2006, the FCC initiated a rulemaking proceeding to review all of its media ownership rules, as required by the Communications Act. The FCC considered rules relating to ownership of two or more TV stations in a market, ownership of local TV and radio stations by daily newspapers in the same market, cross-ownership of local TV and radio stations, and changes to how the national TV ownership limits are calculated. In February 2008, the FCC adopted modest changes to its newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule while retaining the rest of its ownership rules then currently in effect. On July 7, 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacated the FCC’s changes to its newspaper/ broadcast cross-ownership rule while upholding the FCC’s retention of its other media ownership rules. A petition for Supreme Court review of the Third Circuit’s decision is pending.

The FCC is required to review its media ownership rules every four years and to eliminate those rules it finds no longer serve the “public interest, convenience and necessity.” During 2009, the FCC held a series of hearings designed to evaluate possible changes to its rules. In May 2010, the FCC formally initiated its 2010 review of its media ownership rules with the issuance of a Notice of Inquiry (NOI). Numerous parties filed comments and reply comments in response to the NOI. In June and July 2011, the FCC released to the public eleven economic studies related to its media ownership rules. In December 2011, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to seek comment on specific proposed changes to its ownership rules. Among the specific changes proposed in the NPRM are (1) elimination of the contour overlap provision of the local television ownership rule (making the rule entirely DMA-based), (2) elimination of the radio/television cross-ownership rule, and (3) modest relaxation of the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule along the lines of the changes in the 2006 proceeding that the court vacated. The NPRM also seeks comment on shared services agreements (SSAs) and other joint operating arrangements between television stations, and whether such agreements should be considered attributable. Comments and reply comments on the NPRM were filed in March and April 2012. The Company cannot predict what rules the FCC will adopt or when they will be adopted.

 
12

 

Spectrum

The FCC has initiated various proceedings to assess the availability of spectrum to meet future wireless broadband needs. The FCC’s March 2010 “National Broadband Plan” recommends the reallocation of 120 megahertz of the spectrum currently used for broadcast television for wireless broadband use. The FCC has thus far adopted rules permitting television stations to share a single 6 megahertz channel and requested comment on proposals that include, among other things, whether to add new frequency allocations in the television bands for licensed fixed and mobile wireless uses and whether to implement technical rule modifications to improve the viability of certain channels that are underutilized by digital television stations. In February 2012, Congress adopted legislation authorizing the FCC to conduct an incentive auction whereby television broadcasters could voluntarily relinquish all or part of their spectrum in exchange for consideration. A reallocation of television spectrum for wireless broadband use would likely involve a “repacking” of the television broadcast band, which would require some television stations to change channel or otherwise modify their technical facilities. Future steps to reallocate television spectrum to broadband use may be to the detriment of the Company’s investment in digital facilities, could require substantial additional investment to continue current operations, and may require viewers to invest in additional equipment or subscription services to continue receiving broadcast television signals. The Company cannot predict the timing or results of television spectrum reallocation efforts or their impact to its business.

Retransmission Consent

On March 3, 2011, the FCC initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to reexamine its rules (i) governing the requirements for good faith negotiations between multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs) and broadcasters, including implementing a prohibition on one station negotiating retransmission consent terms for another station under a local service agreement; (ii) for providing advance notice to consumers in the event of dispute; and (iii) to extend certain cable-only obligations to all MVPDs. The FCC has also asked for comment on eliminating the network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity protection rules, which may permit MVPDs to import out-of-market television stations during a retransmission consent dispute. If the FCC prohibits joint negotiations or modifies the network non-duplication and syndicated exclusivity protection rules, such changes likely would affect the Company’s ability to sustain its current level of retransmission consent revenues or grow such revenues in the future and could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company cannot predict the resolution of the proposals or their impact to its business.

9.
Commitments and Contingencies
 
Guarantee of Mission Debt
 
Nexstar and its subsidiaries guarantee full payment of all obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility. In the event that Mission is unable to repay amounts due, Nexstar will be obligated to repay such amounts. The maximum potential amount of future payments that Nexstar would be required to make under this guarantee would be generally limited to the amount of borrowings outstanding. As of March 31, 2012, Mission had a maximum commitment of $48.3 million under its senior secured credit facility, of which $45.0 million of debt was outstanding.

Indemnification Obligations
 
In connection with certain agreements into which the Company enters in the normal course of its business, including local service agreements, business acquisitions and borrowing arrangements, the Company enters into contractual arrangements under which the Company agrees to indemnify the third party to such arrangement from losses, claims and damages incurred by the indemnified party for certain events as defined within the particular contract. Such indemnification obligations may not be subject to maximum loss clauses and the maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification arrangements may be unlimited. Historically, payments made related to these indemnifications have been immaterial and the Company has not incurred significant costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements.

Litigation
 
From time to time, the Company is involved with claims that arise out of the normal course of its business. In the opinion of management, any resulting liability with respect to these claims would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 
13

 

10.
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
 
 
The following condensed consolidating financial information presents the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company, each of its 100%, directly or indirectly, owned subsidiaries and its consolidated VIE. This information is presented in lieu of separate financial statements and other related disclosures pursuant to Regulation S-X Rule 3-10 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, “Financial Statements of Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities Registered or Being Registered.”  

The Nexstar column presents the parent company’s financial information (not including any subsidiaries). The Nexstar Holdings column presents its financial information (not including any subsidiaries). The Nexstar Broadcasting column presents its financial information. The Mission column presents the financial information of Mission, an entity which Nexstar Broadcasting is required to consolidate as a VIE (see Note 2). Neither Mission nor Nexstar Broadcasting has any subsidiaries.

As discussed in Note 3 to the Company’s Financial Statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, the acquisition of WTVW by Mission was deemed under U.S. GAAP to be a change in reporting entity of Mission, thus the historical results of Mission have been presented as if WTVW was owned and operated by Mission as of the earliest period presented.

Nexstar Broadcasting has the following notes outstanding (See Note 5): 
 
 
(a)  
7% Senior subordinated notes (“7% Notes”). The 7% Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Nexstar and Mission, subject to certain customary release provisions. These notes are not guaranteed by any other entities.

 
(b)  
7% Senior subordinated PIK notes (“7% PIK Notes”). The 7% PIK Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Nexstar and Mission, subject to certain customary release provisions. These notes are not guaranteed by any other entities.

 
(c)  
8.875% Senior secured second lien notes (“8.875% Notes”). The 8.875% Notes are co-issued by Nexstar Broadcasting and Mission, jointly and severally, and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Nexstar and all of Nexstar Broadcasting’s and Mission’s future 100% owned domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain customary release provisions. The net proceeds to Mission and Nexstar from the sale of the 8.875% Notes were $316.8 million, net of $8.2 million original issuance discount. Mission received $131.9 million of the net proceeds and $184.9 million was received by Nexstar Broadcasting. As the obligations under the 8.875% Notes are joint and several to Nexstar Broadcasting and Mission, each entity reflects the full amount of the 8.875% Notes and related accrued interest in their separate Financial Statements. Further, the portions of the net proceeds and related accrued interest attributable to the respective co-issuer are reflected as a reduction to equity (due from affiliate) in their separate financial statements given the contractual relationships between the entities.

 
14

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
As of March 31, 2012
(in thousands)
 
   
Nexstar
   
Nexstar
Broadcasting
   
Mission
   
Nexstar
Holdings
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Company
 
ASSETS
                                   
Current assets:
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $ 11,126     $ 723     $     $     $ 11,849  
Due from Nexstar Broadcasting
                1,318             (1,318 )      
Other current assets
          72,663       5,694                   78,357  
Total current assets
          83,789       7,735             (1,318 )     90,206  
Amounts due from subsidiary eliminated upon consolidation
    10,574                         (10,574 )      
Amounts due from parents eliminated upon consolidation
          4,666                   (4,666 )      
Property and equipment, net
          120,194       23,468                   143,662  
Goodwill
          93,845       18,730                   112,575  
FCC licenses
          119,569       21,939                   141,508  
Other intangible assets, net
          61,909       14,006                   75,915  
Other noncurrent assets
          11,645       2,693                   14,338  
Total assets
  $ 10,574     $ 495,617     $ 88,571     $     $ (16,558 )   $ 578,204  
LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
                                               
Current liabilities:
                                               
Current portion of debt
  $     $ 1,110     $ 390     $     $     $ 1,500  
Due to Mission
          1,318                   (1,318 )      
Other current liabilities
          49,900       17,535             (13,220 )     54,215  
Total current liabilities
          52,328       17,925             (14,538 )     55,715  
Debt
          576,610       363,235             (318,607 )     621,238  
Deficiencies in subsidiaries eliminated upon consolidation
    211,272                   196,030       (407,302 )      
Amounts due to subsidiary eliminated upon consolidation
                      15,240       (15,240 )      
Other noncurrent liabilities
    (3 )     62,709       18,435       2       —        81,143  
Total liabilities
    211,269       691,647       399,595       211,272       (755,687 )     758,096  
Stockholders’ deficit:
                                               
Common stock
    288                               288  
Other stockholders’ deficit
    (200,983 )     (196,030 )     (311,024 )     (211,272 )     739,129       (180,180 )
Total stockholders’ deficit
    (200,695 )     (196,030 )     (311,024 )     (211,272 )     739,129       (179,892 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
  $ 10,574     $ 495,617     $ 88,571     $     $ (16,558 )   $ 578,204  


 
15

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
As of December 31, 2011
(in thousands)

   
Nexstar
   
Nexstar
Broadcasting
   
Mission
   
Nexstar
Holdings
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Company
 
ASSETS
                                   
Current assets:
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $ 5,648     $ 1,898     $     $     $ 7,546  
Due from Mission
          4,729                   (4,729 )      
Other current assets
          83,417       5,886                   89,303  
Total current assets
          93,794       7,784             (4,729 )     96,849  
Amounts due from subsidiary eliminated upon consolidation
    10,077                         (10,077 )      
Amounts due from parents eliminated upon consolidation
          5,163                   (5,163 )      
Property and equipment, net
          122,473       24,140                   146,613  
Goodwill
          93,845       18,730                   112,575  
FCC licenses
          119,569       21,939                   141,508  
Other intangible assets, net
          66,243       15,276                   81,519  
Other noncurrent assets
          12,783       3,187                   15,970  
Total assets
  $ 10,077     $ 513,870     $ 91,056     $     $ (19,969 )   $ 595,034  
LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
                                               
Current liabilities:
                                               
Current portion of debt
  $     $ 1,110     $ 390     $     $     $ 1,500  
Due to Nexstar Broadcasting
                4,729             (4,729 )      
Other current liabilities
          50,517       11,222             (6,009 )     55,730  
Total current liabilities
          51,627       16,341             (10,738 )     57,230  
Debt
          594,136       363,087             (318,362 )     638,861  
Deficiencies in subsidiaries eliminated upon consolidation
    210,753                   195,511       (406,264 )      
Amounts due to subsidiary eliminated upon consolidation
                      15,240       (15,240 )      
Other noncurrent liabilities
    (3 )     63,618       18,730       2             82,347  
Total liabilities
    210,750       709,381       398,158       210,753       (750,604 )     778,438  
Stockholders’ deficit:
                                               
Common stock
    288                               288  
Other stockholders’ deficit
    (200,961 )     (195,511 )     (307,102 )     (210,753 )     730,635       (183,692 )
Total stockholders’ deficit
    (200,673 )     (195,511 )     (307,102 )     (210,753 )     730,635       (183,404 )
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
  $ 10,077     $ 513,870     $ 91,056     $     $ (19,969 )   $ 595,034  



 
16

 

 
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
(in thousands)
 
   
Nexstar
   
Nexstar
Broadcasting
   
Mission
   
Nexstar
Holdings
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Company
 
Net broadcast revenue (including trade and barter)
  $     $ 79,056     $ 4,586     $     $     $ 83,642  
Revenue between consolidated entities
    —        1,935       7,363             (9,298 )      
Net revenue
    —        80,991       11,949             (9,298 )     83,642  
Operating expenses:
                                               
Direct operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization
          20,345       1,783                   22,128  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization
          26,508       620                   27,128  
Local service agreement fees between consolidated entities
          7,363       1,935             (9,298 )      
Amortization of broadcast rights
          4,418       1,130                   5,548  
Amortization of intangible assets
          4,334       1,270                   5,604  
Depreciation
          5,019       729                   5,748  
Loss on asset disposal, net
          (19 )                       (19 )
Total operating expenses
          67,968       7,467             (9,298 )     66,137  
Income from operations
          13,023       4,482                   17,505  
Interest expense, net
          (9,181 )     (3,728 )                 (12,909 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt
                                   
Equity in loss of subsidiaries
    2,585                   2,585       (5,170 )      
Income (loss) before income taxes
    2,585       3,842       754       2,585       (5,170 )     4,596  
Income tax expense
          (1,257 )     (323 )                 (1,580 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,585     $ 2,585     $ 431     $ 2,585     $ (5,170 )   $ 3,016  

 
17

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
(in thousands)
 
   
Nexstar
   
Nexstar
Broadcasting
   
Mission
   
Nexstar
Holdings
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Company
 
Net broadcast revenue (including trade and barter)
  $     $ 65,009     $ 4,936     $     $     $ 69,945  
Revenue between consolidated entities
          1,785       6,509             (8,294 )      
Net revenue
          66,794       11,445             (8,294 )     69,945  
Operating expenses:
                                               
Direct operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization
          17,213       1,890                   19,103  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization
          23,854       1,158                   25,012  
Local service agreement fees between consolidated entities
          6,509       1,785             (8,294 )      
Amortization of broadcast rights
          4,400       1,187                   5,587  
Amortization of intangible assets
          4,511       1,328                   5,839  
Depreciation
          4,441       789                   5,230  
(Gain) loss on asset disposal, net
          26       (18 )                 8  
Total operating expenses
    —        60,954       8,119             (8,294 )     60,779  
Income from operations
          5,840       3,326                   9,166  
Interest expense, net
          (9,023 )     (3,642 )     (1,040 )           (13,705 )
Gain on extinguishment of debt
          36             (383 )           (347 )
Equity in loss of subsidiaries
    (5,684 )                 (4,261 )     9,945        
Loss before income taxes
    (5,684 )     (3,147 )     (316 )     (5,684 )     9,945       (4,886 )
Income tax expense
    —        (1,114 )     (312 )                 (1,426 )
Net loss
  $ (5,684 )   $ (4,261 )   $ (628 )   $ (5,684 )   $ 9,945     $ (6,312 )

 
18

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
(in thousands)
 
   
Nexstar
   
Nexstar
Broadcasting
   
Mission
   
Nexstar
Holdings
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Company
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities
  $     $ 27,046     $ (1,004 )   $     $     $ 26,042  
                                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Purchases of property and equipment
          (4,002 )     (74 )                 (4,076 )
Other investing activities
          33       —                    33  
Net cash used in investing activities
          (3,969 )     (74 )                 (4,043 )
                                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
          6,000                         6,000  
Repayments of long-term debt
          (23,878 )     (97 )                 (23,975 )
Inter-company payments
    (279 )     279                          
Other financing activities
    279       —        —                    279  
Net cash (used in) financing activities
          (17,599 )     (97 )                 (17,696 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
          5,478       (1,175 )                 4,303  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
          5,648       1,898                   7,546  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $     $ 11,126     $ 723     $     $     $ 11,849  

 
19

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
(in thousands)
 
   
Nexstar
   
Nexstar
Broadcasting
   
Mission
   
Nexstar
Holdings
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Company
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities
  $     $ 14,261     $ 4,108     $ (663 )   $     $ 17,706  
                                                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Purchases of property and equipment
          (4,122 )     (46 )                 (4,168 )
Other investing activities
                18                    18  
Net cash used in investing activities
          (4,122 )     (28 )                 (4,150 )
                                                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Repayments of long-term debt
          (3,552 )     (97 )     (12,749           (16,398 )
Inter-company payments
          (13,412 )           13,412              
Other financing activities
                      —        —        —   
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
          (16,964 )     (97 )     663             (16,398 )
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
          (6,825 )     3,983                   (2,842 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
          22,408       1,250                   23,658  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $     $ 15,583     $ 5,233     $     $     $ 20,816  


 
20

 

11.
Subsequent Events

On April 12, 2012, Nexstar Broadcasting elected to redeem $34.0 million of the $37.9 million outstanding of its 7% Notes. The redemption price is the outstanding principal amount of notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the scheduled redemption date of May 11, 2012. The Company expects to record approximately $0.5 million of loss on extinguishment of debt related to this transaction. Nexstar intends to fund the redemption of the notes from cash on hand, borrowings under its revolving credit facility or a combination thereof.



 
21

 

ITEM 2.                      Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
As used in the report, unless the context indicates otherwise, “Nexstar” refers to Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries Nexstar Finance Holdings, Inc. (“Nexstar Holdings”) and Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. (“Nexstar Broadcasting”), and “Mission” refers to Mission Broadcasting, Inc. All references to “we,” “our,” “ours,” and “us” refer to Nexstar. All references to the “Company” refer to Nexstar and Mission collectively.
 
As a result of our deemed controlling financial interest in Mission, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), we consolidate the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Mission as if it were a wholly-owned entity. We believe this presentation is meaningful for understanding our financial performance. Refer to Note 2 to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our determination that we are required to consolidate Mission’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows under the authoritative guidance for variable interest entities. Therefore, the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations includes Mission’s financial position and results of operations.
 
Executive Summary
 
2012 Highlights
 
 
Net revenue for the first quarter of 2012 increased by $13.7 million, or 19.6 % as compared to the same period in 2011. The increase in net revenue was primarily due to the second half of 2011 acquisitions of WFRV, WJMN, and WEHT along with increases in retransmission compensation, political advertising, and management fee, which was partially offset by reduced revenue from stations associated with terminated FOX affiliation agreements. Newly acquired stations contributed approximately $6.4 million to the consolidated net revenue for the first quarter.
 
 
On January 3, 2012, Four Points sold its stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group. We served Four Points’ seven stations in four markets through a management services agreement, which comprised our management fee revenue. The management services agreement terminated upon the closing of the sale. On January 3, 2012, we received a payment of $6.7 million which included a contract termination fee of $1.9 million, which was recognized in the first quarter of 2012.
 
•  
During the quarter, we repaid $17.6 million, net, of our revolving loan under our senior secured credit facility.
 
 
On April 12, 2012, we announced the redemption of $34.0 million of the $37.9 million outstanding of our 7% Notes. The redemption price is the outstanding principal amount of notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the scheduled redemption date of May 11, 2012. We intend to fund the redemption of the notes from cash on hand, borrowings under our revolving credit facility or a combination thereof.
 

 

 
22

 

Overview of Operations

We owned and operated 36 television stations and seven digital multicast channels as of March 31, 2012. Additionally, as of March 31, 2012, we programmed or provided sales and other services to 19 additional television stations and four digital multicast channels through various local service agreements with their owners, including 17 television stations and four digital multicast channels owned and operated by Mission. All of the stations to which we provide programming, sales, or other services, including Mission, are wholly owned by independent third parties.

The following table summarizes the various local service agreements we had in effect as of March 31, 2012 with Mission:

Service Agreements
Mission Stations
TBA Only(1)
WFXP and KHMT
   
SSA & JSA(2)
KJTL, KJBO-LP, KOLR, KCIT, KCPN-LP, KAMC, KRBC, KSAN, WUTR, WAWV, WYOU, KODE, WTVO, KTVE and WTVW

              
(1)
We have a time brokerage agreement (“TBA”) with each of these stations which allows us to program most of each station’s broadcast time, sell each station’s advertising time and retain the advertising revenue generated in exchange for monthly payments to Mission.
(2)
We have both a shared services agreement (“SSA”) and a joint sales agreement (“JSA”) with each of these stations. Each SSA allows our station in the market to provide services including news production, technical maintenance and security, in exchange for our right to receive certain payments from Mission as described in the SSAs. Each JSA permits us to sell the station’s advertising time and retain a percentage of the net revenue from the station’s advertising time in return for monthly payments to Mission of the remaining percentage of net revenue as described in the JSAs.

Our ability to receive cash from Mission is governed by these local service agreements. Under the local service agreements, we have received substantially all of Mission’s available cash, after satisfaction of its operating costs and debt obligations. We anticipate we will continue to receive substantially all of Mission’s available cash, after satisfaction of its operating costs and debt obligations.

We also guarantee all obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility. Similarly, Mission is a guarantor of our senior secured credit facility and senior subordinated notes. In consideration of our guarantee of Mission’s senior secured credit facility, Mission has granted us a purchase option to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to FCC consent, for an amount equal to the greater of (1) seven times the station’s cash flow, as defined in the option agreement, less the amount of its indebtedness, as defined in the option agreement, or (2) the amount of its indebtedness. Additionally, on November 29, 2011, Mission granted us an option to purchase any or all of Mission’s stock, subject to FCC consent, for a price equal to the pro rata portion of the greater of (1) five times the stations’ cash flow, as defined in the agreement, reduced by the amount of indebtedness, as defined in the agreement, or (2) $100,000. These option agreements (which expire on various dates between 2012 and 2021) are freely exercisable or assignable by us without consent or approval by Mission. We expect these option agreements to be renewed upon expiration.

We do not own Mission or its television stations. However, we are deemed under U.S. GAAP to have a controlling financial interest in Mission because of (1) the local service agreements Nexstar has with the Mission stations, (2) Nexstar’s guarantee of the obligations incurred under Mission’s senior secured credit facility, (3) Nexstar having power over significant activities affecting Mission’s economic performance, including budgeting for advertising revenue, advertising and hiring and firing of sales force personnel and (4) purchase options granted by Mission that permit Nexstar to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of each Mission station, subject to FCC consent. In compliance with FCC regulations for both us and Mission, Mission maintains complete responsibility for and control over programming, finances and personnel for its stations.

Seasonality
 
Advertising revenue is positively affected by strong local economies, national and regional political election campaigns, and certain events such as the Olympic Games or the Super Bowl. The Company’s stations’ advertising revenue is generally highest in the second and fourth quarters of each year, due in part to increases in consumer advertising in the spring and retail advertising in the period leading up to, and including, the holiday season. In addition, advertising revenue is generally higher during even-numbered years, when state, congressional and presidential elections occur and advertising airs during the Olympic Games. As 2012 is an election year, we expect an increase in political advertising revenue to be reported in 2012 compared to 2011.

 
23

 

Historical Performance
 
Revenue
 
The following table sets forth the amounts of the Company’s principal types of revenue (in thousands) and each type of revenue (other than trade and barter) and agency commissions as a percentage of total gross revenue:

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
Amount
   
%
   
Amount
   
%
 
Local
  $ 45,433       52.2     $ 43,257       59.7  
National
    17,406       20.0       15,061       20.8  
Political
    2,794       3.2       560       0.8  
Retransmission compensation
    14,496       16.7       8,517       11.7  
eMedia revenue
    4,133       4.7       3,673       5.1  
Network compensation
    172       0.2       264       0.4  
Management fee
    1,961       2.3       500       0.7  
Other
    620       0.7       577       0.8  
Total gross revenue
    87,015       100.0       72,409       100.0  
Less: Agency commissions
    (8,361 )     (9.6 )     (7,351 )     (10.2 )
Net broadcast revenue
    78,654       90.4       65,058       89.8  
Trade and barter revenue
    4,988               4,887          
Net revenue
  $ 83,642             $ 69,945          


Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth a summary of the Company’s operations (in thousands) and each component of operating expense as a percentage of net revenue:

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
   
Amount
   
%
   
Amount
   
%
 
Net revenue
  $ 83,642       100.0     $ 69,945       100.0  
Operating expenses (income):
                               
Corporate expenses
    5,414       6.5       4,818       6.9  
Station direct operating expenses, net of trade
    20,570       24.6       17,588       25.2  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    21,714       25.9       20,194       28.9  
(Gain) loss on asset disposal, net
    (19 )     (0.0 )     8       0.0  
Trade and barter expense
    4,995       6.0       4,852       6.9  
Depreciation and amortization
    11,352       13.6       11,069       15.8  
Amortization of broadcast rights, excluding barter
    2,111       2.5       2,250       3.2  
Income from operations
  $ 17,505             $ 9,166          


 
24

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
Revenue
 
Gross local advertising revenue was $45.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $43.3 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $2.2 million, or 5.0%. The increase was primarily related to acquired stations which more than offset a decrease associated with the termination of certain FOX affiliation agreements. Gross national advertising revenue was $17.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $15.1 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $2.3 million, or 15.6%, of which approximately half related to the acquired stations. Our largest advertiser category, automotive, represented 23.2% and 20.9% of local and national advertising revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Overall, this category increased by 19.1%, of which approximately half came from our acquired stations. The other categories representing our top five were fast food/restaurants, which increased 1.1%, paid programming, which increased 6.2%, furniture, which increased 9.5%, and medical/healthcare, which increased 11.0%.
 
Gross political advertising revenue was $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $0.6 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $2.2 million, or almost four times the amount earned in 2011, as expected, due to 2012 being an election year.
 
Retransmission compensation was $14.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $8.5 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $6.0 million, or 70.2%. The increase in retransmission compensation was primarily the result of renegotiated contracts providing for higher rates per subscriber and additional revenue from acquired stations.
 
eMedia revenue, representing web-based advertising revenue generated at the Company’s stations, was $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $3.7 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $0.5 million or 12.5%. The increase in eMedia revenue is attributable to our eMedia sales efforts and incremental revenue from acquired stations.

Management fee revenue was $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, which primarily represents a contract termination fee received upon closing of the sale of Four Points’ stations to Sinclair Broadcast Group.

 
25

 

Operating Expenses
 
Corporate expenses, related to costs associated with the centralized operation of Nexstar’s and Mission’s stations, were $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $4.8 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $0.6 million, or 12.4%. The increase was due to an increase in payroll and payroll-related costs, primarily due to our acquisition of a software development company in July 2011 and severance payments to certain individuals.

Station direct operating expenses, consisting primarily of news, engineering and programming, and selling, general and administrative expenses (net of trade expense) were $42.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $37.8 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $4.5 million, or 11.9%. The increase was primarily due to expenses of the newly acquired stations.

Amortization of broadcast rights, excluding barter, remained relatively consistent at $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $2.2 million for the same period in 2011, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 6.2%. The decrease was primarily due to the termination of syndication of The Oprah Winfrey Show which was partially offset by the incremental amortization of broadcast rights of newly acquired stations.
 
Amortization of intangible assets was $5.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $5.8 million for the same period in 2011, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 4.0%.The incremental amortization from acquired stations was offset by the 2011 termination of certain FOX affiliation contracts which were fully amortized in 2011.
 
While there are no known circumstances or events as of March 31, 2012 that indicate an impairment might exist, any future significant adverse change in the advertising marketplaces in which Nexstar and Mission operate could lead to an impairment and reduction of the carrying value of the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets, including FCC licenses. If such a condition were to occur, the resulting non-cash charge could have a material adverse effect on Nexstar’s and Mission’s financial position and results of operations.
 
Depreciation of property and equipment was $5.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $5.2 million for the same period in 2011, an increase of $0.5 million, or 9.9%, primarily due to the incremental depreciation of fixed assets at our newly acquired stations.
 
Interest Expense
 
Interest expense, net was $12.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $13.7 million for the same period in 2011, a decrease of $0.8 million, or 5.8%. The decrease in interest expense was primarily attributed to the buyback of notes with higher interest rates, financed with our senior secured credit facility, as well as an overall reduction in debt.
 
Income Taxes
 
Income tax expense remained relatively consistent at $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to $1.4 million for the same period in 2011. Our provision for income taxes is primarily created by an increase in the deferred tax liability position arising from the amortization of goodwill and other indefinite-lived assets for income tax purposes, which are not amortized for financial reporting purposes. No tax expense or benefit was recorded with respect to the net income (loss) in 2012 and 2011 as the utilization of net operating losses is not more likely than not to be realized in the foreseeable future.

 
26

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We and Mission are highly leveraged, which makes the Company vulnerable to changes in general economic conditions. Our and Mission’s ability to meet the future cash requirements described below depends on our and Mission’s ability to generate cash in the future, which is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other conditions, many of which are beyond our and Mission’s control. Based on current operations and anticipated future growth, we believe that our and Mission’s available cash, anticipated cash flow from operations and available borrowings under the Nexstar and Mission senior secured credit facilities will be sufficient to fund working capital, capital expenditure requirements, interest payments and scheduled debt principal payments for at least the next twelve months. In order to meet future cash needs, we may, from time to time, borrow under our existing senior secured credit facilities or issue other long- or short-term debt or equity, if the market and the terms of our existing debt arrangements permit, and Mission may, from time to time, borrow under its existing senior secured credit facility. We will continue to evaluate the best use of Nexstar’s operating cash flow among its capital expenditures, acquisitions and debt reduction.

Overview
 
The following tables present summarized financial information management believes is helpful in evaluating the Company’s liquidity and capital resources (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 26,042     $ 17,706  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (4,043 )     (4,150 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (17,696 )     (16,398 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 4,303     $ (2,842 )
Cash paid for interest
  $ 7,508     $ 4,515  
Cash paid for income taxes, net
  $ 43     $ 44  
 
   
As of
March 31, 2012
   
As of December 31, 2011
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 11,849     $ 7,546  
Long-term debt including current portion
  $ 622,738     $ 640,361  
Unused commitments under senior secured credit facilities(1)
  $ 68,300     $ 50,700  
              
(1)
Based on covenant calculations, as of March 31, 2012, all of the $68.3 million of total unused revolving loan commitments under the Nexstar and Mission senior secured credit facilities were available for borrowing.

Cash Flows – Operating Activities
 
Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $8.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. The increase was primarily due to an increase in net revenue of $13.7 million which was partially offset by incremental expenses of newly acquired businesses and an increase in cash paid for interest of $3.0 million.

Cash paid for interest increased by $3.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. The increase was primarily due to the payment of interest of $3.9 million on the 7% PIK Notes versus no payment in 2011, when the notes accrued payment-in-kind interest. This increase was partially offset by $0.9 million of interest paid in connection with note repurchases in 2011.

Due to our and Mission’s recent history of net operating losses, we and Mission currently do not pay any federal income taxes. These net operating losses may be carried forward, subject to expiration and certain limitations, and used to reduce taxable earnings in future years. Through the use of available loss carryforwards, it is possible that we and Mission may not pay significant amounts of federal income taxes in the foreseeable future.

Cash Flows – Investing Activities
 
Net cash used in investing activities remained relatively consistent at $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to $4.1 for the same period in 2011.

 
27

 


Cash Flows – Financing Activities
 
Net cash used in financing activities was $17.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to $16.4 million for the same period in 2011. In 2012, we repaid a net amount of $17.6 million on our revolving loans and paid the contractual maturities under our senior secured credit facilities, for a total payment of $0.4 million. These repayments were partially offset by $0.3 million of proceeds from stock option exercises. In 2011, we completed a partial redemption of $12.5 million of the 11.375% Notes and repurchased an additional $0.2 million of 11.375% Notes, $0.1 million of 7% Notes and $3.8 million of 7% PIK Notes, as well as paid contractual maturities on the Company’s senior secured credit facilities of $250 thousand. 

Although our senior secured credit facility limits, but does not prohibit, the payment of cash dividends to common stockholders, we and Mission do not currently intend to declare or pay a cash dividend.

Future Sources of Financing and Debt Service Requirements
 
As of March 31, 2012, Nexstar and Mission had total combined debt of $622.7 million, which represented 140.6% of Nexstar and Mission’s combined capitalization. Our and Mission’s high level of debt requires that a substantial portion of cash flow be dedicated to pay principal and interest on debt, which reduces the funds available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes.

On April 12, 2012, Nexstar Broadcasting elected to redeem $34.0 million of the $37.9 million outstanding of its 7% Notes. The redemption price is the outstanding principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the scheduled redemption date, which is May 11, 2012. We intend to fund the redemption of the notes from cash on hand, borrowings under our revolving credit facility or a combination thereof.

Nexstar and Mission had $68.3 million of total unused revolving loan commitments under our respective senior secured credit facilities, all of which was available for borrowing, based on the covenant calculations as of March 31, 2012. Our ability to access funds under our Facility depends, in part, on our compliance with certain financial covenants. Any additional drawings under senior secured credit facilities, such as the redemption of $34.0 million of the 7% Notes mentioned above, will reduce our future borrowing capacity and the amount of total unused revolving loan commitments.
 
The following table summarizes the approximate aggregate amount of principal indebtedness scheduled to mature for the periods referenced as of March 31, 2012 (in thousands):

   
Total
   
Remainder of 2012
      2013-2014       2015-2016    
Thereafter
 
Nexstar senior secured credit facility
  $ 109,432     $ 833     $ 2,220     $ 106,379        
Mission senior secured credit facility
    45,018       292       7,480       37,246        
8.875% senior secured second lien notes
due 2017
    325,000                         325,000  
7% senior subordinated notes due 2014
    37,912             37,912              
7% senior subordinated PIK notes due 2014
    112,593       —        112,593        —        —   
    $ 629,955     $ 1,125     $ 160,205     $ 143,625     $ 325,000  

The Company makes semiannual interest payments on our 8.875% Notes on April 15 and October 15 of each year. We make semiannual interest payments on our 7% Notes on January 15 and July 15 of each year. We began paying cash interest on our 7% PIK Notes in July 2011. Interest payments on our and Mission’s senior secured credit facilities are generally paid every one to three months and are payable based on the type of interest rate selected.
 
The terms of the Nexstar and Mission senior secured credit facilities, as well as the indentures governing our respective notes, limit, but do not prohibit us or Mission from incurring substantial amounts of additional debt in the future.

We do not have any rating downgrade triggers that would accelerate the maturity dates of our debt. However, a downgrade in our credit rating could adversely affect our ability to renew existing credit facilities, obtain access to new credit facilities or otherwise issue debt in the future and could increase the cost of such debt.


 
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Debt Covenants
 
Our senior secured credit facility contains covenants that require us to comply with certain financial ratios, including: (a) a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio, (b) a maximum consolidated first lien indebtedness ratio, and (c) a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio. The covenants, which are calculated on a quarterly basis, include the combined results of Nexstar Broadcasting and Mission. Mission’s senior secured credit facility does not contain financial covenant ratio requirements; however, it does include an event of default if Nexstar does not comply with all covenants contained in its credit agreement. Our 7% Notes, 7% PIK Notes and 8.875% Notes contain restrictive covenants customary for borrowing arrangements of this type. We believe we and Mission will be able to maintain compliance with all covenants contained in the credit agreements governing our senior secured facilities and the indentures governing our respective notes for a period of at least the next twelve months from March 31, 2012.
 
No Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
As of March 31, 2012, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. All of our arrangements with Mission are on-balance sheet arrangements. Our variable interests in other entities are obtained through local service agreements, which have valid business purposes and transfer certain station activities from the station owners to us. We are, therefore, not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to goodwill and intangible assets, bad debts, broadcast rights, trade and barter and income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.

Information with respect to our critical accounting policies which we believe could have the most significant effect on our reported results and require subjective or complex judgments by management is contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. Management believes that as of March 31, 2012 there has been no material change to this information.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
Refer to Note 2 of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements, including our expected date of adoption and effects on results of operations and financial position.
 
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including: any projections or expectations of earnings, revenue, financial performance, liquidity and capital resources or other financial items; any assumptions or projections about the television broadcasting industry; any statements of our plans, strategies and objectives for our future operations, performance, liquidity and capital resources or other financial items; any statements concerning proposed new products, services or developments; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; any statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements may include the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and other similar words.


 
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Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any of our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ from this projection or assumption in any of our forward-looking statements. Our future financial position and results of operations, as well as any forward-looking statements, are subject to change and inherent risks and uncertainties, including those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are made only as of the date hereof, and we do not have or undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances unless otherwise required by law.

ITEM 3.                   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our long-term debt obligations.
 
The term loan borrowings at March 31, 2012 under the Company’s senior secured credit facilities bear interest at a rate of 5%, which represented the base rate, or LIBOR, plus the applicable margin, as defined. The revolving loans bear interest at LIBOR plus the applicable margin, which was 4.47% at March 31, 2012. Interest is payable in accordance with the credit agreements.
 
If LIBOR were to increase by 100 basis points, or one percentage point, from its March 31, 2012 level, the Company’s annual interest expense would increase and cash flow from operations would decrease by approximately $0.7 million, based on the outstanding balances of our and Mission’s senior secured credit facilities as of March 31, 2012. Due to the LIBOR floor on our term loans, an increase of 50 basis points in LIBOR or any decrease in LIBOR would have a minimal impact on our operations and cash flows. Our 7% Notes, our 8.875% Notes and our 7% PIK Notes are fixed rate debt obligations and therefore are not exposed to market interest rate changes. As of March 31, 2012, we have no financial instruments in place to hedge against changes in the benchmark interest rates on the Company’s senior secured credit facilities.
 
Impact of Inflation
 
We believe that our results of operations are not affected by moderate changes in the inflation rate.
 
ITEM 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Nexstar’s management, with the participation of its President and Chief Executive Officer along with its Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Nexstar’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
Based upon that evaluation, Nexstar’s President and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, Nexstar’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to Nexstar’s management, including its President and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
During the quarterly period as of the end of the period covered by this report, there have been no changes in Nexstar’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.


 
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.
Legal Proceedings
 
From time to time, Nexstar and Mission are involved in litigation that arises from the ordinary operations of business, such as contractual or employment disputes or other general actions. In the event of an adverse outcome of these proceedings, Nexstar and Mission believe the resulting liabilities would not have a material adverse effect on Nexstar’s and Mission’s financial condition or results of operations.
 
ITEM 1A.
Risk Factors
 
There are no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
ITEM 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
None.
 
ITEM 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
None.
 
ITEM 4.
Mine Safety Disclosure

None.
 
ITEM 5.
Other Information
 
None.

ITEM 6.
Exhibits
 
Exhibit No.
Description
10.1
Letter notifying Mission Broadcasting, Inc. of the election to extend Shared Service Agreement (KODE-KSNF)*.
31.1
Certification of Perry A. Sook pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Thomas E. Carter pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Perry A. Sook pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350.
32.2
Certification of Thomas E. Carter pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350.
101
The Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 from this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language).

*
Filed herewith



 
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.
 
 
/S/ PERRY A. SOOK
By:
Perry A. Sook
Its:
President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
   
 
/S/ THOMAS E. CARTER
By:
Thomas E. Carter
Its:
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)
 
Dated: May 9, 2012


 
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