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

FORM 10-Q
 
[X]
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2007 
 
OR 
 
[   ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM __________________ TO __________________ 
 
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000-26497 
 
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION 
 
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) 
 
 

 
DELAWARE
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
 
77-0121400
(I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
 
 
 
4880 SANTA ROSA ROAD CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL
EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
93012
( ZIP CODE)
 
REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (805) 987-0400 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
                                                                                   Yes [X ]   No [ ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  
Large accelerated filer [ ]   Accelerated filer [X ]  Non-accelerated filer [ ]
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 
        Yes [ ]   No [ X ]
                     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 

 
Class A
 
Outstanding at May 2, 2007
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
 
18,296,324 shares
 
Class B
 
Outstanding at May 2, 2007
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
 
5,553,696 shares
 

 
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
 
INDEX
 
     
PAGE NO.
       
COVER PAGE
 
 
INDEX
   
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
 
2
 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations
 
19
 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
30
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
32
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
32
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
32
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
32
 
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
32
 
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
33
 
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
33
 
Item 5. Other Information
 
33
 
Item 6. Exhibits
 
33
SIGNATURES
 
45
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
46


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 
      From time to time, in both written reports (such as this report) and oral statements, Salem Communications Corporation (“Salem” or the “company,” including references to Salem by “we,” “us” and “our”) makes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal and state securities laws. Disclosures that use words such as the company “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “may” or “plans” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect the company’s current expectations and are based upon data available to the company at the time the statements are made. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. These risks, as well as other risks and uncertainties, are detailed in Salem’s reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements made in this report speak as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made in this report. Any such forward-looking statements, whether made in this report or elsewhere, should be considered in context with the various disclosures made by Salem about its business. These projections or forward-looking statements fall under the safe harbors of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). 
 

 PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
 
 
ITEM 1.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) 
 


 
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except share data) 
     
December 31, 2006
March 31, 2007
     
(Note 1)
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
             
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
710
 
$
598
 
 
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,606 in 2006 and $7,318 in 2007)
   
31,984
   
30,214
 
 
Other receivables
 
 
551
 
 
507
 
 
Prepaid expenses
   
2,330
   
2,406
 
 
Income tax receivable
   
   
30
 
 
Deferred income taxes
 
 
5,020
 
 
4,943
 
Total current assets
 
 
40,595
 
 
38,698
 
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $74,766 in 2006 and $76,458 in 2007)
 
 
128,713
 
 
129,620
 
Broadcast licenses
   
476,544
   
473,571
 
Goodwill
 
 
20,606
 
 
20,606
 
Other indefinite-lived intangible assets
   
2,892
   
2,892
 
Amortizable intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $10,846 in 2006 and $11,657 in 2007)
   
8,368
   
7,878
 
Bond issue costs
 
 
593
 
 
556
 
Bank loan fees
   
2,996
   
2,741
 
Fair value of interest rate swap agreements
 
 
1,290
 
 
913
 
Other assets
 
 
3,667
 
 
3,770
 
Total assets
 
$
686,264
 
$
681,245
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
             
 
Accounts payable
 
$
3,421
 
$
2,504
 
 
Accrued expenses
 
 
6,446
 
 
5,577
 
 
Accrued compensation and related expenses
   
7,033
   
7,935
 
 
Accrued interest
 
 
4,275
 
 
5,866
 
 
Deferred revenue
   
4,050
   
4,610
 
 
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations
   
2,048
   
2,431
 
 
Income tax payable
 
 
22
 
 
 
Total current liabilities
   
27,295
   
28,923
 
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less current portion
 
 
358,978
 
 
346,821
 
Deferred income taxes
 
 
53,935
 
 
58,114
 
Deferred revenue
   
7,063
   
7,123
 
Other liabilities
 
 
1,277
 
 
1,146
 
Total liabilities
 
 
448,548
 
 
442,127
 
Commitments and contingencies
             
Stockholders’ equity
             
 
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 80,000,000 shares; 20,424,242 issued and 18,293,824 outstanding at December 31, 2006 and 20,426,742 issued and 18,296,324 outstanding at March 31, 2007
 
 
204
 
 
204
 
 
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 20,000,000 shares; 5,553,696 issued and outstanding shares at December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007
   
56
   
56
 
 
Additional paid-in capital
 
 
221,466
 
 
222,251
 
 
Retained earnings
   
47,433
   
48,338
 
 
Treasury stock, at cost (2,130,418 shares at December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007)
   
(32,218)
   
(32,218)
 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
 
775
 
 
487
 
Total stockholders’ equity
 
 
237,716
 
 
239,118
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
686,264
 
$
681,245
 
See accompanying notes
 

 
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
(Unaudited)
       
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Net revenue
 
 
Radio broadcasting
$
48,774
   
$
50,440
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
3,252
 
 
 
5,654
 
Consolidated net revenue
$
52,026
   
$
56,094
 
                 
Operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets
 
 
 
Radio broadcasting
$
31,694
   
$
32,483
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
3,432
 
 
 
5,271
 
 
Corporate
 
6,440
   
 
5,814
 
Consolidated operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets
$
41,566
 
 
$
43,568
 
                 
Operating income from continuing operations before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets
             
 
Radio broadcasting
$
17,080
 
 
$
17,957
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
(180)
     
383
 
 
Corporate
 
(6,440)
 
 
 
(5,814)
 
Consolidated operating income from continuing operations before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets
$
10,460
   
$
12,526
 
                 
Depreciation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Radio broadcasting
$
2,374
   
$
2,665
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
87
 
 
 
139
 
 
Corporate
 
284
   
 
287
 
Consolidated depreciation expense
$
2,745
 
 
$
3,091
 
                 
Amortization
   
 
Radio broadcasting
$
228
   
$
67
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
317
 
 
 
738
 
 
Corporate
 
5
   
 
5
 
Consolidated amortization expense
$
550
 
 
$
810
 
                 
Operating income from continuing operations before gain on disposal of assets
             
 
Radio broadcasting
$
14,478
 
 
$
15,225
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
(584)
     
(494)
 
 
Corporate
 
(6,729)
 
 
 
(6,106)
 
Consolidated operating income from continuing operations before gain on disposal of assets
$
7,165
   
$
8,625
 
                 
Total property, plant and equipment, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Radio broadcasting
$
115,604
   
$
115,616
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
2,830
 
 
 
3,516
 
 
Corporate
 
10,279
   
 
10,488
 
 
 

     SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
  
       
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
       
2006
 
2007
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations
 
$
2,386
 
$
2,965
 
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
Non-cash stock-based compensation
   
1,309
   
754
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
3,295
   
3,901
 
 
Amortization of bond issue costs and bank loan fees
 
 
386
 
 
292
 
 
Amortization and accretion of financing items
   
(126)
   
31
 
 
Provision for bad debts
   
662
   
464
 
 
Deferred income taxes
 
 
1,743
 
 
2,388
 
 
Gain on disposal of assets
   
(3,529)
   
(3,269)
 
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
Accounts receivable
   
1,506
   
1,320
 
   
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
60
   
(76)
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
 
805
 
 
816
 
   
Deferred revenue
   
299
   
620
 
 
 
Other liabilities
 
 
(124)
 
 
(29)
 
   
Income tax payable
 
 
41
 
 
(22)
 
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities
 
 
8,713
 
 
10,155
 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
             
Capital expenditures
 
 
(5,680)
 
 
(4,081)
 
Purchases of radio station assets
   
(17,830)
   
 
Purchase of non-broadcast properties
 
 
(6,296)
 
 
(300)
 
Proceeds from disposals of assets
   
4
   
7,060
 
Other
 
 
635
 
 
13
 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
(29,167)
   
2,692
 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
             
Repurchases of Class A common stock
   
(15,149)
   
 
Proceeds from borrowings under credit facilities
 
 
32,578
 
 
2,500
 
Payments of long-term debt
   
(1)
   
(15,165)
 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
   
24
   
30
 
Tax benefit related to stock options exercised
 
 
1
 
 
1
 
Payments on loans and capital lease obligations
   
(7)
   
(13)
 
Other
   
   
(312)
 
Net cash provided by (used in) by financing activities
 
 
17,446
 
 
(12,959)
 
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
             
Operating cash flows
   
(971)
   
 
Investing cash flows
   
695
   
 
Total cash used in discontinued operations
   
(276)
   
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
 
 
(3,284)
 
 
(112)
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
 
 
3,979
 
 
710
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
695
 
$
598
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
             
 
Cash paid during the period for:
 
 
 
 
   
Interest
 
$
5,289
 
$
4,863
 
 
 
Income taxes
 
$
49
 
$
168
 
Noncash investing and financing activities:
             
 
Assets acquired through capital lease obligations
 
$
 
$
800
 
See accompanying notes
 

SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION 
 
      The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Salem Communications Corporation (“Salem” or the “Company”) include the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company, excluding its subsidiaries, is herein referred to as Parent. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. 
 
Information with respect to the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 is unaudited. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
 
      The balance sheet at December 31, 2006 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP. 
 
NOTE 2. RECLASSIFICATIONS 
 
Certain reclassifications were made to the prior period financial statements to conform to the current period presentation.
 
These reclassifications include the accounting for WITH-AM, Baltimore, Maryland, WBGB-FM, Jacksonville, Florida, WJGR-AM, Jacksonville, Florida, WZNZ-AM, Jacksonville, Florida, and WZAZ-AM, Jacksonville, Florida, as discontinued operations as discussed in Note 3. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations reflect the results of these stations as discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Additionally, as previously reported for the three months ended March 31, 2006, the operating results for WTSJ-AM, Cincinnati, Ohio, WBOB-AM, Cincinnati, Ohio, and WBTK-AM, Richmond, Virginia, are presented as discontinued operations. The assets of WTSJ-AM and WBOB-AM were sold on February 10, 2006, and the results of operations for 2006 are presented as discontinued operations though the date of the sale.
 

NOTE 3. ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT TRANSACTIONS 
 
  On February 2, 2007, the Company purchased ChristianMusicPlanet.com, a leading Christian music web portal for $0.3 million. The purchase price was allocated to the assets acquired as follows:
 
   
Amount
   
(Dollars in thousands)
Asset
 
 
Domain names
$ 268
 
Customer lists and contracts
32
   
$ 300
 
On February 7, 2007, the Company sold radio station WKNR-AM in Cleveland, Ohio, to Good Karma Broadcasting for $7.0 million resulting in a pre-tax gain of $3.4 million. The operating results of WKNR-AM were excluded from our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations beginning on December 1, 2006, the date the Company entered a local marketing agreement (“LMA”) with Good Karma Broadcasting.
 
Other Pending Transactions:
 
On February 1, 2007, the Company entered into an LMA to operate radio station KKSN-AM, in Portland, Oregon. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations includes the operating results of this radio station as of the LMA date. The Company entered an agreement to purchase KKSN-AM, subject to certain conditions, for $4.5 million. We do not expect this sale to close during 2007.
 
On March 9, 2007, the Company entered an agreement to sell radio station WVRY-FM, Nashville, Tennessee for $0.9 million, subject to certain conditions. The sale is expected to close during the second quarter of 2007.
 
Discontinued Operations:
 
The following table sets forth the components of income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, for the three months ended March 31, 2006 (dollars in thousands).
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2006
     
 
Operating loss
   
$
(142)
 
Gain on sale or exchange of radio stations
     
667
 
Gain from discontinued operations, net of tax
     
525
 
Provision for income taxes
     
196
 
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
   
$
329
 

Details of these transactions are as follows:
 
    On February 10, 2006, the Company exchanged radio stations WTSJ-AM, Cincinnati, Ohio, and WBOB-AM, Cincinnati, Ohio and $6.7 million in cash for selected assets of radio station WLQV-AM, Detroit, Michigan. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 reflect WTSJ-AM and WBOB-AM as discontinued operations through the date of the sale. The exchange was accounted for under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets an Amendment of APB Opinion No. 29,” and resulted in a pre-tax gain on the exchange of $0.7 million.
 
On July 17, 2006, the Company completed the sale of radio station WBTK-AM, Richmond, Virginia, for $1.5 million resulting in a pre-tax gain of $0.6 million. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 reflect WBTK-AM as a discontinued operation.
 
   On September 18, 2006, the Company completed the sale of radio station WBGB-FM, Jacksonville, Florida for $7.6 million resulting in a pre-tax gain of $0.8 million.  The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 reflect WBGB-FM as a discontinued operation.  
 
On December 1, 2006, the Company completed the sale of radio stations WJGR-AM, Jacksonville, Florida, WZNZ-AM, Jacksonville, Florida and WZAZ-AM, Jacksonville, Florida for $2.8 million resulting in a pre-tax gain of $0.1 million. The assets were sold to Chesapeake-Portsmouth Broadcasting Corporation (“Chesapeake-Portsmouth”). Chesapeake-Portsmouth is a company controlled by Nancy Epperson, wife of Salem's Chairman of the Board Stuart W. Epperson and sister of Salem’s CEO Edward G. Atsinger III. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 reflect WJGR-AM, Jacksonville, Florida, WZNZ-AM, Jacksonville, Florida and WZAZ-AM, Jacksonville, Florida as discontinued operations.
 
   On December 22, 2006, the Company completed the sale of radio station WITH-AM, Baltimore, Maryland for $3.0 million resulting in a pre-tax gain of $2.2 million. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 reflect WITH-AM as a discontinued operation.
 
NOTE 4. STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN 
 
       The Company has one stock incentive plan. The Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) allows the Company to grant stock options to employees, directors, officers and advisors of the Company. A maximum of 3,100,000 shares are authorized under the Plan. Options generally vest over four or five years and have a maximum term of five years from the vesting date. The Plan provides that vesting may be accelerated in certain corporate transactions of the Company. The Plan provides that the Board of Directors, or a committee appointed by the Board, has discretion, subject to certain limits, to modify the terms of outstanding options. In accordance with SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”), the Company recognizes compensation expense related to the estimated fair value of stock options granted.
 

    The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) on January 1, 2006, using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under this transition method, compensation expense recognized subsequent to adoption includes: (a) compensation expense for all share-based awards granted prior to, but not yet vested, as of December 31, 2005 based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123 and (b) compensation expense for all share-based awards granted subsequent to December 31, 2005, based on the grant-date fair values estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R). In accordance with the modified-prospective-transition method, the Company’s results of operations for prior periods have not been adjusted to reflect the impact of SFAS 123(R).
 
The following table reflects the components of stock-based compensation expense recognized in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006:
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2006
 
2007
 
Stock option compensation expense included in corporate expenses
$ 1,073
 
$ 507
Restricted stock units compensation expense included in corporate expenses
22
 
16
Stock option compensation expense included in broadcast operating expenses
207
 
207
Stock option compensation expense included in non-broadcast operating expenses
7
 
24
 Total stock-based compensation expense
$ 1,309
 
$ 754
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation expense
(527)
 
(345)
Total stock-based compensation expense net of tax benefit
$ 782
 
$ 409
 
Employee stock option and restricted stock grants
 
The Plan provides for grants of stock options to employees. The option exercise price is set at the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant, and the related number of shares granted is fixed at that point in time. The Plan also provides for grants of restricted stock and restricted stock units. Grants of these equity instruments generally vest over a four year period. In addition, stock option awards expire five years from the date of grant. Eligible employees generally receive stock options units annually with the number of shares and type of instrument generally determined by the employee’s salary grade and performance level. In addition, certain management and professional level employees typically receive a stock option grant upon commencement of employment. Non-employee directors of the company have received restricted stock units that vest one year from the date of issuance in addition to stock options that vest one year from the date of issuance.
 
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the grant date fair value of stock options. The expected volatility reflects the consideration of the historical volatility of the Company stock as determined by the closing price over the preceding two years. Upon the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) the expected term of the option is based on evaluations of historical and expected future employee exercise behavior. The risk-free interest rates for periods within the expected life of the option are based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect during the period the options were granted. The weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the stock options using the Black-Scholes option valuation model were as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2006
 
2007
Expected volatility
48.3%
 
67.0%
Expected dividends
0.0%
 
0.0%
Expected term (in years)
5 - 8
 
5 - 8
Risk-free interest rate
4.73%
 
4.53%
 

 NOTE 4. STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (Continued) 
 
Stock option information with respect to our stock-based compensation plans during the three months ended March 31, 2007 is as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

 
Options
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
 
Outstanding at January 1, 2007
 
2,146,564
 
$ 22.30
     
$ 47,873
 
Granted
 
279,650
 
11.80
     
3,300
 
Exercised
 
(2,500)
 
11.81
     
5
 
Forfeited or expired
 
(28,950)
 
18.39
     
532
 
Outstanding at March 31, 2007
 
2,394,764
 
$ 21.13
 
4.7 years
 
$ 50,611
 
Exercisable at March 31, 2007
 
1,389,425
 
$ 24.70
 
3.0 years
 
$ 34,313

 
The fair values of shares of restricted stock are determined based on the closing price of the Company common stock on the grant dates. Information regarding our restricted stock unit grants for the three months ended March 31, 2007 is as follows:
 

 
Restricted Stock Units
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
Non-Vested at January 1, 2007
 
6,000
 
$ 11.15
 
Granted
 
 
 
Vested
 
 
 
Forfeited
 
 
 
Non-Vested at March 31, 2007
 
6,000
 
$ 11.15

NOTE 5. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) 
 
During the quarter ended March 31, 2007, the Company recognized other comprehensive loss of approximately $0.3 million, net of tax benefits of $0.2 million, related to the change in fair value of its three cash flow hedges.
 
   During the quarter ended March 31, 2006, the Company recognized other comprehensive income of approximately $1.0 million, net of tax of $0.7 million, related to the change in fair value of its three cash flow hedges.
 

 
NOTE 6. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS 
 
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159
 
On February 15, 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statements No. 115.” SFAS No. 159 permits entities to choose, at specified election dates, to measure eligible items at fair value (the “fair value option”). A business entity shall report unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting period. SFAS No. 159 is effective beginning January 1, 2008. The Company believes that the adoption of SFAS No. 159 will not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.
 
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157
 
   On September 15, 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. This statement defines fair value, specifies the acceptable methods for determining fair value, and expands disclosure requirements regarding fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective beginning January 1, 2008. The Company believes that the adoption of SFAS No. 159 will not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.
 
NOTE 7. EQUITY TRANSACTIONS 
 
The Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $25.0 million share repurchase program in May 2005. In February 2006, the Board of Directors increased Salem’s existing share repurchase program to permit the repurchase of up to an additional $25.0 million of shares of Salem’s Class A common stock.
 
As discussed in Note 4, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) as of January 1, 2006. As a result, $1.3 million and $0.8 million of stock-based compensation expense has been recorded to additional paid-in capital for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively.
 
NOTE 8. NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT 
 
      Long-term debt consisted of the following: 
 
December 31, 2006
 
March 31, 2007
 
(Dollars in thousands)
           
Term loans under credit facility
$
238,125
 
$
237,300
Revolving line of credit under credit facility
 
19,100
   
8,500
Swingline credit facility
 
1,241
   
-
7¾% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010
 
100,000
   
100,000
Fair market value of interest swap agreement
 
-
 
 
104
Capital leases and other loans
 
2,560
 
 
3,348
   
361,026
   
349,252
Less current portion
 
2,048
 
 
2,431
 
$
358,978
 
$
346,821
 

Maturities of Long-Term Debt 
 
      Principal repayment requirements under all long-term debt agreements outstanding at March 31, 2007 for each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows: 

Twelve Months Ended March 31,
 
Amount
   
(Dollars in thousands)
2008
$
2,431
2009
 
12,238
2010
 
74,490
2011
 
259,251
2012
 
27
Thereafter
 
711
 
$
349,148
Fair value of interest rate swap agreements
 
104
 
$
349,252
     
 

 
NOTE 9. AMORTIZABLE INTANGIBLE ASSETS 
 
The following tables provide details, by major category, of the significant classes of amortizable intangible assets: 
   
As of March 31, 2007
     
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
   
Cost
 
Amortization
 
Net
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Customer lists and contracts
 
$
10,437
 
$
(6,485)
 
$
3,952
Domain and brand names
   
4,775
   
(1,765)
   
3,010
Favorable and assigned leases
   
1,581
   
(1,166)
   
415
Other amortizable intangible assets
 
 
2,742
 
 
(2,241)
 
 
501
   
$
19,535
 
$
(11,657)
 
$
7,878
 
   
As of December 31, 2006
     
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
   
Cost
 
Amortization
 
Net
   
(Dollars in thousands)
     
Customer lists and contracts
 
$
10,404
 
$
(6,030)
 
$
4,374
Domain and brand names
   
4,487
   
(1,533)
   
2,954
Favorable and assigned leases
   
1,581
   
(1,144)
   
437
Other amortizable intangible assets
 
 
2,742
 
 
(2,139)
 
 
603
   
$
19,214
 
$
(10,846)
 
$
8,368
 
Based on the amortizable intangible assets as of March 31, 2007, the Company estimates amortization expense for the next five years to be as follows:
Year Ending December 31,
 
Estimated future Amortization Expense
   
(Dollars in thousands)
2007 (April 1 - December 31)
$
2,177
2008
 
2,535
2009
 
1,283
2010
 
832
2011
 
370
Thereafter
 
681
Total
$
7,878
 
NOTE 10. BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
 
      Basic earnings per share has been computed using the weighted average number of Class A and Class B shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding during the period plus the dilutive effects of stock options. 
 

Options to purchase 2,192,544 and 2,394,764 shares of Class A common stock were outstanding at March 31, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding exclude outstanding stock options whose exercise price is in excess of the average price of the Company’s stock price. These options are excluded from the respective computation of diluted net income per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive.
 
NOTE 11. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
 
   The Company is exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. Salem actively monitors these fluctuations and uses derivative instruments from time to time to manage the related risk. In accordance with our risk management strategy, Salem uses derivative instruments only for the purpose of managing risk associated with an asset, liability, committed transaction, or probable forecasted transaction that is identified by management. The Company’s use of derivative instruments may result in short-term gains or losses that may increase the volatility of Salem’s earnings. 
 
Under SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended, the accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument at each new measurement date is dependent upon its intended use. The change in the fair value of a derivative instrument designated as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or a firm commitment, referred to as a fair value hedge, is recognized as gain or loss in earnings in the period of the change together with an offsetting gain or loss for the change in fair value of the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged. The change in the fair value of a derivative instrument designated as a hedge of the exposure of the variability in expected cash flows of recognized assets, liabilities or of unrecognized forecasted transactions, referred to as a cash flow hedge, is recognized as other comprehensive income. The differential paid or received on the interest rate swaps is recognized in earnings as an adjustment to interest expense. 
 
During 2004 and through February 18, 2005, the Company had an interest rate swap agreement with a notional principal amount of $66.0 million. This agreement related to its $94.4 million 9% Notes. This agreement was scheduled to expire in 2011 when the 9% Notes were to mature, and effectively swapped the 9.0% fixed interest rate on $66.0 million of the 9% Notes for a floating rate equal to the LIBOR rate plus 3.09%. On February 18, 2005, the Company sold its entire interest in this swap and received a payment of approximately $3.7 million, which was amortized as a reduction of interest expense over the remaining life of the 9% Notes. On July 6, 2006, the Company completed the redemption of the remainder of its outstanding 9% senior subordinated notes. As a result of the redemption, the Company wrote off the remaining balance of the buyout premium of approximately $2.7 million as a reduction of the loss on the early redemption of long term debt. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006, was reduced by $0.1 million related to the amortization of the buyout premium received.
 

During 2004, the Company also had a second interest rate swap agreement with a notional principal amount of $24.0 million. This agreement related to its 9% Notes. This agreement was to expire in 2011 when the 9% Notes were to mature, and effectively swapped the 9.0% fixed interest rate on $24.0 million of the 9% Notes for a floating rate equal to the LIBOR rate plus 4.86%. On August 20, 2004, the Company sold its interest in $14.0 million of this swap. As a result of this transaction, the Company paid and capitalized $0.3 million in buyout premium, which was to be amortized into interest expense over the remaining life of the 9% Notes. On October 22, 2004, the Company sold its remaining $10.0 million interest in this swap. As a result of this second transaction, the Company paid and capitalized approximately $110,000 in buyout premium, which was to be amortized into interest expense over the remaining life of the 9% Notes. On July 6, 2006, the Company completed the redemption of the remainder of its outstanding 9% Notes. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006 included approximately $16,000 related to the amortization of the capitalized buyout premium.
 
On April 8, 2005, the Company entered into an interest rate swap arrangement for the notional principal amount of $30.0 million whereby we will pay a fixed interest rate of 4.99% as compared to LIBOR on a bank credit facility borrowing. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007, was reduced by approximately $28,000 as a result of the difference between the interest rates. As of March 31, 2007, the Company recorded a liability for the fair value of the interest swap of approximately $104,000. This amount, net of income tax benefits of approximately $42,000, is reflected in other comprehensive income, as the Company has designated the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge. The effective date of this interest rate swap was July 1, 2006 and the expiration date is July 1, 2012.
 
On April 26, 2005, the Company entered into a second interest rate swap arrangement for the notional principal amount of $30.0 million whereby we will pay a fixed interest rate of 4.70% as compared to LIBOR on a bank credit facility borrowing. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007, was reduced by approximately $49,000 as a result of the difference between the interest rates. As of March 31, 2007, the Company recorded an asset for the fair value of the interest swap of approximately $0.3 million. This amount, net of income taxes of approximately $0.1 million, is reflected in other comprehensive income, as the Company has designated the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge. The effective date of this interest rate swap was July 1, 2006 and the expiration date is July 1, 2012.
 
On May 5, 2005, the Company entered into a third interest rate swap arrangement for the notional principal amount of $30.0 million whereby we will pay a fixed interest rate of 4.53% as compared to LIBOR on a bank credit facility borrowing. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007, was reduced by approximately $62,000 as a result of the difference between the interest rates. As of March 31, 2007, the Company recorded an asset for the fair value of the interest swap of approximately $0.6 million. This amount, net of income taxes of approximately $0.2 million, is reflected in other comprehensive income, as the Company has designated the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge. The effective date of this interest rate swap was July 1, 2006 and the expiration date is July 1, 2012.
 
Interest Rate Caps
 
On October 18, 2006, the Company purchased two interest rate caps for $0.1 million to mitigate exposure to rising interest rates. The first interest rate cap covers $50.0 million of borrowings under the credit facilities for a three year period. The second interest rate cap covers $50.0 million of borrowings under the credit facilities for a four year period. Both interest rate caps are at 7.25%. The caps do not qualify for hedge accounting and accordingly, all changes in fair value have been included as a component of interest expense. Interest expense of approximately $24,000 was recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2007 related to our interest rate caps.
 

NOTE 12. INCOME TAXES
 
In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN No. 48”). FIN No. 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“FAS No. 109”). This interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN No. 48 also provides guidance on derecognition of tax benefits, classification on the balance sheet, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The Company adopted FIN No. 48 effective January 1, 2007. In accordance with FIN No. 48, paragraph 19, the Company has decided to classify interest and penalties as a component of tax expense. As a result of the implementation of FIN No. 48, the Company recognized a $2.0 million increase in liability, which was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings.
 
   The Company files numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in the United States Federal jurisdiction and in many state jurisdictions. The Company is no longer subject to US Federal income tax examinations for years before 2003 and is no longer subject to state and local, or income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2002.
 
The Company has unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $3.0 million as of January 1, 2007 and, if recognized, would result in a reduction of the Company's effective tax rate. Interest and penalties are immaterial at the date of adoption and are included in the unrecognized tax benefits. The Company recorded an increase of its unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $0.3 million as of March 31, 2007.
 
NOTE 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES 
 
The Company and its subsidiaries, incident to its business activities, are parties to a number of legal proceedings, lawsuits, arbitration and other claims. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties and outcomes that are not predictable with assurance. Also, the Company maintains insurance which may provide coverage for such matters. Consequently, the Company is unable to ascertain the ultimate aggregate amount of monetary liability or the financial impact with respect to these matters. The Company believes, at this time, that the final resolution of these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s annual consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 
 
NOTE 14. SEGMENT DATA
 
      SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures About Segments of An Enterprise and Related Information” requires companies to provide certain information about their operating segments. The Company has one reportable operating segment - radio broadcasting. The remaining non-reportable segments consist of our Internet businesses, SWN and Townhall.com, and our publishing businesses, Salem Publishing and Xulon Press, which do not meet the reportable segment quantitative thresholds and accordingly are aggregated in the following tables as non-broadcast. The radio broadcasting segment also operates various radio networks. 
 
 

      NOTE 14. SEGMENT DATA (CONTINUED)
 
Management uses operating income before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets as its measure of profitability for purposes of assessing performance and allocating resources. 
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2006
   
2007
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Net revenue
 
 
Radio broadcasting
$
48,774
   
$
50,440
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
3,252
 
 
 
5,654
 
Consolidated net revenue
$
52,026
   
$
56,094
 
                 
Operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets
 
 
 
Radio broadcasting
$
31,694
   
$
32,483
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
3,432
 
 
 
5,271
 
 
Corporate
 
6,440
   
 
5,814
 
Consolidated operating expenses before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets
$
41,566
 
 
$
43,568
 
                 
Operating income from continuing operations before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets
             
 
Radio broadcasting
$
17,080
 
 
$
17,957
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
(180)
     
383
 
 
Corporate
 
(6,440)
 
 
 
(5,814)
 
Consolidated operating income from continuing operations before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets
$
10,460
   
$
12,526
 
                 
Depreciation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Radio broadcasting
$
2,374
   
$
2,665
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
87
 
 
 
139
 
 
Corporate
 
284
   
 
287
 
Consolidated depreciation expense
$
2,745
 
 
$
3,091
 
                 
Amortization
   
 
Radio broadcasting
$
228
   
$
67
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
317
 
 
 
738
 
 
Corporate
 
5
   
 
5
 
Consolidated amortization expense
$
550
 
 
$
810
 
                 
Operating income from continuing operations before gain on disposal of assets
             
 
Radio broadcasting
$
14,478
 
 
$
15,225
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
(584)
     
(494)
 
 
Corporate
 
(6,729)
 
 
 
(6,106)
 
Consolidated operating income from continuing operations before gain on disposal of assets
$
7,165
   
$
8,625
 
                 
Total property, plant and equipment, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Radio broadcasting
$
115,604
   
$
115,616
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
2,830
 
 
 
3,516
 
 
Corporate
 
10,279
   
 
10,488
 
Consolidated property, plant and equipment, net
$
128,713
 
 
$
129,620
 
 
 

 
 
NOTE 14. SEGMENT DATA (CONTINUED)
 
   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2006
     
2007
 
Goodwill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Radio broadcasting
$
5,011
   
$
5,011
 
 
Non-broadcast
 
15,587
 
 
 
15,587
 
 
Corporate
 
8
   
 
8
 
Consolidated goodwill
$
20,606
 
 
$
20,606
 
 
Reconciliation of operating income from continuing operations before depreciation, amortization and gain on disposal of assets to income from continuing operations before income taxes
 
 
     
Three Months Ended
     
March 31,
     
2006
 
2007
     
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Operating income from continuing operations before depreciation, amortization and gain (loss) on disposal of assets
$
10,460
 
$
12,526
 
Depreciation expense
 
(2,745)
   
(3,091)
 
Amortization expense
 
(550)
 
 
(810)
 
Interest income
 
46
   
60
 
Gain on disposal of assets
 
3,529
 
 
3,269
 
Interest expense
 
(6,588)
   
(6,454)
 
Other expense, net
 
(172)
 
 
(35)
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
$
3,980
 
$
5,465
 

 

NOTE 15. CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
      The following is the consolidating information of Salem Communications Corporation for purposes of presenting the financial position and operating results of HoldCo as the issuer of the 7¾% Notes and its guarantor subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and the financial position and operating results of the other guarantors, which are consolidated within the Company. Separate financial information of HoldCo on an unconsolidated basis is not presented because HoldCo has substantially no assets, operations or cash other than its investments in subsidiaries. Each guarantor has given its full and unconditional guarantee, on a joint and several basis, of indebtedness under the 7¾% Notes. HoldCo and AcquisitionCo are 100% owned by Salem and HoldCo owns 100% of all of its subsidiaries. All subsidiaries of HoldCo are guarantors. The net assets of HoldCo are subject to certain restrictions which, among other things, require HoldCo to maintain certain financial covenant ratios, and restrict HoldCo and its subsidiaries from transferring funds in the form of dividends, loans or advances without the consent of the holders of the 7¾% Notes. The restricted net assets of HoldCo as of March 31, 2007, amounted to $200.3 million. Included in intercompany receivables of HoldCo presented in the consolidating balance sheet below is $65.3 million of amounts due from Salem and AcquisitionCo as of March 31, 2007. 
 
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
(UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands) 
     
As of March 31, 2007
                 
Issuer and
                 
Guarantor
     
Guarantors
 
Subsidiaries
             
Other
         
Salem
     
Parent
 
AcquisitionCo
 
Media
 
HoldCo
 
Adjustments
 
Consolidated
Current assets:
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$ —
 
$ 117
 
$ 161
 
$ 320
 
$ —
 
$ 598
 
Accounts receivable
 
 
2,924
 
929
 
26,445
 
(84)
 
30,214
 
Other receivables
 
 
14
 
3
 
490
 
 
507
 
Prepaid expenses
 
 
108
 
280
 
2,018
 
 
2,406
 
Income tax receivable
 
 
(9)
 
(8)
 
47
 
 
30
 
Deferred income taxes
 
 
263
 
176
 
4,504
 
 
4,943
Total current assets
 
 
3,417
 
1,541
 
33,824
 
(84)
 
38,698
Investment in subsidiaries
 
211,063
 
 
 
 
(211,063)
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
 
6,911
 
374
 
122,335
 
 
129,620
Broadcast licenses
 
 
94,473
 
 
379,098
 
 
473,571
Goodwill
 
 
10,256
 
2,554
 
7,796
 
 
20,606
Other indefinite-lived intangible assets
 
 
 
2,892
 
 
 
2,892
Amortizable intangible assets, net
 
 
5,044
 
1,131
 
1,703
 
 
7,878
Bond issue costs
 
 
 
 
556
 
 
556
Bank loan fees
 
 
 
 
2,741
 
 
2,741
Fair value of interest rate swap
 
 
 
 
913
 
 
913
Intercompany receivables
 
104,920
 
9,918
 
 
176,980
 
(291,818)
 
Other assets
 
 
60
 
27
 
3,683
 
 
3,770
Total assets
 
$ 315,983
 
$ 130,079
 
$ 8,519
 
$ 729,629
 
$ (502,965)
 
$ 681,245
 

 
NOTE 15. CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONTINUED) 
 
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
(UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands)

     
As of March 31, 2007
                 
Issuer and
                 
Guarantor
     
Guarantors
 
Subsidiaries
             
Other
         
Salem
     
Parent
 
AcquisitionCo
 
Media
 
HoldCo
 
Adjustments
 
Consolidated
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$ —
 
$37
 
$ 123
 
$ 2,344
 
$ —
 
$ 2,504
 
Accrued expenses
 
 
484
 
330
 
4,966
 
(203)
 
5,577
 
Accrued compensation and related expenses
 
 
656
 
161
 
7,118
 
 
7,935
 
Accrued interest
 
 
 
 
5,866
 
 
5,866
 
Deferred revenue
 
 
 
4,057
 
553
 
 
4,610
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
 
 
 
 
2,431
 
 
2,431
Total current liabilities
 
 
1,177
 
4,671
 
23,278
 
(203)
 
28,923
Intercompany payables
 
74,946
 
101,222
 
13,734
 
101,797
 
(291,699)
 
Long-term debt
 
 
2,523
 
 
344,298
 
 
346,821
Deferred income taxes
 
1,919
 
14,756
 
(9,346)
 
50,785
 
 
58,114
Deferred revenue
 
 
515
 
(1,373)
 
7,981
 
 
7,123
Other liabilities
 
 
 
 
1,146
 
 
1,146
Total stockholders’ equity
 
239,118
 
9,886
 
833
 
200,344
 
(211,063)
 
239,118
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$ 315,983
 
$ 130,079
 
$ 8,519
 
$729,629
 
$ (502,965)
 
$ 681,245
 

NOTE 15. CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONTINUED) 
 
SALEM COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands) 

     
Three Months Ended March 31, 2007
                 
Issuer and
                 
Guarantor
     
Guarantors
 
Subsidiaries
             
Other
         
Salem
     
Parent
 
AcquisitionCo
 
Media
 
HoldCo
 
Adjustments
 
Consolidated
Net broadcasting revenue
 
$ —
 
$ 2,778
 
$ —
 
$ 48,290
 
$ (628)
 
$ 50,440
Non-broadcast revenue
 
 
3,076
 
1,604
 
1,134
 
(160)
 
5,654
Total revenue
 
 
5,854
 
1,604
 
49,424
 
(788)
 
56,094
Operating expenses:
                       
 
Broadcasting operating expenses
 
 
1,889
 
 
30,527
 
67
 
32,483
 
Non-broadcast operating expenses
 
 
3,013
 
1,957
 
916
 
(615)
 
5,271
 
Corporate expenses
 
 
336
 
 
5,718
 
(240)
 
5,814
 
Amortization
 
 
425
 
101
 
284
 
 
810
 
Depreciation
 
 
246
 
40
 
2,805
 
 
3,091
 
Gain on disposal of assets
 
 
 
 
(3,269)
 
 
(3,269)
Total operating expenses
 
 
5,909
 
2,098
 
36,981
 
(788)
 
44,200
Operating income (loss)
 
 
(55)
 
(494)
 
12,443
 
 
11,894
Other income (expense):
 
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries, net
 
5,111
 
 
 
 
(5,111)
 
 
Interest income
 
1,916
 
 
 
3,070
 
(4,926)
 
60
 
Interest expense
 
(2,143)
 
(2,337)
 
(326)
 
(6,574)
 
4,926
 
(6,454)
 
Other income (expense)
 
 
 
 
(35)
 
 
(35)
Income (loss) before income taxes
 
4,884
 
(2,392)
 
(820)
 
8,904
 
(5,111)
 
5,465
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
 
1,919
 
(580)
 
(395)
 
1,556
 
 
2,500
Net income (loss)
 
$- 2,965
 
$ (1,812)
 
$ (425)
 
$ 7,348
 
$ (5,111)
 
$ 2,965
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(288)
 
 
 
(288)
 
288
 
(288)
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$ 2,677
 
$ (1,812)
 
$ (425)
 
$ 7,060
 
$ (4,823)
 
$ 2,677

 
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. 
 
GENERAL 
 
      The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. Our condensed consolidated financial statements are not directly comparable from period to period due to acquisitions and dispositions of selected assets of radio stations and acquisitions of non-broadcast businesses. See Note 3 of our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information. 
 
We believe that we are the largest commercial U.S. radio broadcasting company, measured by number of stations and audience coverage, providing programming targeted at audiences interested in Christian and family-themed radio programming. Our core business is the ownership and operation of radio stations in large metropolitan markets. Upon completion of all announced transactions, we will own a national portfolio of 97 radio stations in 38 markets, including 61 stations in 23 of the top 25 markets, which consists of 30 FM stations and 67 AM stations. We are one of only four commercial radio broadcasters with radio stations in all of the top 10 markets. We are the sixth largest operator measured by number of stations overall and the third largest operator measured by number of stations in the top 25 markets. 
 
Our radio business is focused on the clustering of three strategic formats: Christian Teaching and Talk, Contemporary Christian Music and conservative News Talk. We also own and operate Salem Radio Network® (“SRN”), a national radio network that syndicates music, news and talk to approximately 2,000 affiliated radio stations, in addition to our owned and operated stations. Salem Radio Representatives® (“SRR”) is a national radio advertising sales firm with offices in 13 U.S. cities. Additionally, we own Salem Web Network™ (“SWN”), a provider of online Christian content and streaming, including Townhall.com, a provider of conservative content on-line, and Salem Publishing™, a leading publisher of Christian magazines and Xulon Press, a digital publisher of books targeting the Christian audience.
 
Our principal business strategy is to improve our national radio platform in order to deliver compelling content to audiences interested in Christian and family-themed programs and conservative news talk. Our national presence gives advertisers a station platform that is a unique and a powerful way to reach a Christian audience. We program 45 of our stations with our Christian Teaching and Talk format, which is talk programming with Christian and family themes. A key programming strategy on our Christian Teaching and Talk radio stations is to sell blocks of time to a variety of charitable organizations that create compelling radio programs. We also program 30 News Talk and 13 Contemporary Christian Music stations. SRN supports our strategy by allowing us to reach listeners in markets where we do not own or operate stations.
 
We maintain a website at http://www.salem.cc. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Any information found on the our website is not a part of, or incorporated by reference into, this or any other report of the Company filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.
 

OVERVIEW 
 
      As a radio broadcasting company with a national radio network, we derive our revenue primarily from the sale of broadcast time and radio advertising on a national and local basis. 
 
      Historically, our principal sources of revenue have been: 
 
·  
the sale of block program time, both to national and local program producers,
·  
the sale of advertising time on our radio stations, both to national and local advertisers, and
·  
the sale of advertising time on our national radio network.
 
      The rates we are able to charge for broadcast time and advertising time are dependent upon several factors, including: 
 
·  
audience share,
·  
how well our stations perform for our clients,
·  
the size of the market,
·  
the general economic conditions in each market, and
·  
supply and demand on both a local and national level.
 
Our sources of revenue and product offerings also increasingly include non-broadcast businesses, including our Internet and publishing businesses. 
 
Our broadcasting revenue is affected primarily by the program rates our radio stations charge, the level of broadcast air time sold, and by the advertising rates our radio stations and networks charge. The rates for block programming time are based upon our stations’ ability to attract audiences that will support the program producers through contributions and purchases of their products. Advertising rates are based upon the demand for advertising time, which in turn is based on our stations’ and networks’ ability to produce results for their advertisers. We do not subscribe to traditional audience measuring services for our Christian Teaching and Talk stations. Instead, we have marketed ourselves to advertisers based upon the responsiveness of our audiences. In selected markets we subscribe to Arbitron, which develops quarterly reports to measure a radio station’s audience share in the demographic groups targeted by advertisers. Each of our radio stations and our networks has a pre-determined level of time that they make available for block programming and/or advertising, which may vary at different times of the day. 
 
   As is typical in the radio broadcasting industry, our second and fourth quarter advertising revenue generally exceeds our first and third quarter advertising revenue. This seasonal fluctuation in advertising revenue corresponds with quarterly fluctuations in the retail advertising industry. Quarterly revenue from the sale of block programming time does not tend to vary significantly, however, because program rates are generally set annually and are recognized on a per program basis. 
 
Our cash flow is affected by a transitional period experienced by radio stations when, due to the nature of the radio station, our plans for the market and other circumstances, we find it beneficial to change its format. This transitional period is when we develop a radio station’s listener and customer base. During this period, a station may generate negative or insignificant cash flow. 
 

    In the broadcasting industry, radio stations often utilize trade or barter agreements to exchange advertising time for goods or services (such as non-broadcast advertising, travel or lodging) in lieu of cash. In order to preserve the sale of our advertising time for cash, we generally enter into trade agreements only if the goods or services bartered to us will be used in our business. We have minimized our use of trade agreements and have generally sold most of our advertising time for cash. During 2006, we sold 96% of our advertising time for cash. In addition, it is our general policy not to preempt advertising paid for in cash with advertising paid for in trade. 
 
The primary operating expenses incurred in the ownership and operation of our radio stations include: (i) employee salaries, commissions and related employee benefits and taxes, (ii) facility expenses such as rent and utilities, (iii) marketing and promotional expenses and (iv) music license fees. In addition to these expenses, our network incurs programming costs and lease expenses for satellite communication facilities. We also incur and will continue to incur significant depreciation, amortization and interest expense as a result of completed and future acquisitions of radio stations and existing and future borrowings. 
 
Salem Web Network™ and Townhall.com, our Internet businesses, earn their revenues from the sales of streaming services, sales of advertising and, to a lesser extent, sales of software and software support contracts. Salem Publishing™, our publishing business, earns its revenue by selling advertising in and subscriptions to its publications and by selling books. Xulon Press earns its revenues from the publishing of books. The revenue and related operating expenses of these businesses are reported as “non-broadcast” on our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. 
 
SAME STATION DEFINITION 
 
In the discussion of our results of operations below, we compare our results between periods on an as reported basis (that is, the results of operations of all radio stations and network formats owned or operated at any time during either period) and on a “same station” basis. With regard to fiscal quarters, we include in our same station comparisons the results of operations of radio stations or radio station clusters and networks that we own or operate in the same format during the quarter, as well as the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Same station results for a full year are based on the sum of the same station results for the four quarters of that year. 
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 
 
We have reclassified our statements of operations data for the three months ended March 31, 2006. These reclassifications include the accounting for WITH-AM, Baltimore, Maryland, WBGB-FM, Jacksonville, Florida, WJGR-AM, Jacksonville, Florida, WZNZ-AM, Jacksonville, Florida, and WZAZ-AM, Jacksonville, Florida, as discontinued operations as discussed in Note 3. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations reflect the results of these stations as discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Additionally, as previously reported for the three months ended March 31, 2006, the operating results for WTSJ-AM, Cincinnati, Ohio, WBOB-AM, Cincinnati, Ohio, and WBTK-AM, Richmond, Virginia, are presented as discontinued operations. The assets of WTSJ-AM and WBOB-AM were sold on February 10, 2006, and the results of operations for 2006 are presented as discontinued operations though the date of the sale.
 

     The following table sets forth certain statements of operations data for the periods indicated and shows annual changes: 
 
 
     
Three Months Ended
   
     
March 31,
   
     
2006
 
2007
 
% Change
Net broadcasting revenue
 
$ 48,774
 
$ 50,440
 
3.4%
Non-broadcast revenue
 
3,252
 
5,654
 
73.9%
Total revenue
 
52,026
 
56,094
 
7.8%
Operating expenses:
           
 
Broadcasting operating expenses
 
31,694
 
32,483
 
2.5%
 
Non-broadcast operating expenses
 
3,432
 
5,271
 
53.6%
 
Corporate expenses
 
6,440
 
5,814
 
(9.7)%
 
Depreciation
 
2,745
 
3,091
 
12.6%
 
Amortization
 
550
 
810
 
47.3%
 
Gain on disposal of assets
 
(3,529)
 
(3,269)
 
(7.4)%
Total operating expenses
 
41,332
 
44,200
 
6.9%
Operating income from continuing operations
 
10,694
 
11,894
 
11.2%
Other income (expense):
           
 
Interest income
 
46
 
60
 
30.4%
 
Interest expense
 
(6,588)
 
(6,454)
 
(2.0)%
 
Other expense, net
 
(172)
 
(35)
 
(79.7)%
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
 
3,980
 
5,465
 
37.3 %
Provision for income taxes
 
1,594
 
2,500
 
56.8%
Income from continuing operations
 
2,386
 
2,965
 
24.3%
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
 
329
 
 
(100.0)%
Net income
 
$ 2,715
 
$ 2,965
 
9.2%
 

The following table presents selected financial data for the periods indicated as a percentage of total revenue.

     
Three Months Ended
     
March 31,
     
2006
 
2007
Net broadcasting revenue
 
94
%
 
90
%
Non-broadcast revenue
 
6
%
 
10
%
Total revenue
 
100
%
 
100
%
Operating expenses:
           
 
Broadcasting operating expenses
 
61
%
 
58
%
 
Non-broadcast operating expenses
 
7
%
 
10
%
 
Corporate expenses
 
12
%
 
10
%
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
5
%
 
6
%
 
Amortization
 
1
   
1
%
 
Gain on disposal of assets
 
(7)
%
 
(6)
%
 
Total operating expenses
 
79
%
 
79
%
Operating income from continuing operations
 
21
%
 
21
%
Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
 
%
 
%
 
Interest expense
 
(13)
%
 
(11)
%
 
Other expense, net
 
%
 
%
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
 
8
%
 
10
%
Provision for income taxes
 
3
%
 
5
%
Income from continuing operations
 
5
%
 
5
%
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
 
%
 
%
Net income
 
5
%
 
5
%
           
 

 
Three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006
 
      NET BROADCASTING REVENUE.  Net broadcasting revenue increased $1.6 million or 3.4%, to $50.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $48.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. On a same station basis, net broadcasting revenue improved $1.7 million, or 3.6%, to $49.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $47.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This revenue growth is primarily attributable to increases in national programming revenue on our Christian Teaching and Talk stations of $1.4 million, growth on our Contemporary Christian Music stations of $0.4 million, and growth on our News Talk stations of $0.2 million partially offset by an overall weakness in our local and national advertising revenue of $0.4 million. Revenue from advertising as a percentage of our net broadcasting revenue decreased to 49.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from 51.5% for the same period of the prior year. Revenue from block program time as a percentage of our net broadcasting revenue increased to 37.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from 35.5% for the same period of the prior year.
 
      NON-BROADCAST REVENUE. Non-broadcast revenue increased $2.4 million, or 73.9%, to $5.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $3.3 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase was primarily due to revenue derived from our 2006 acquisitions Townhall.com, Preaching Magazine and Xulon Press plus organic growth of advertising revenue at Salem Web NetworkTM. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, acquisitions accounted for approximately $1.7 million of revenue not applicable to the same period of the prior year.       
 
BROADCASTING OPERATING EXPENSES. Broadcast operating expenses increased $0.8 million, or 2.5%, to $32.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $31.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. On a same station basis, broadcast operating expense increased $1.2 million or 4.0% to $31.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $30.3 million for same period of the prior year. The increase is primarily attributable to higher advertising and promotion costs of $0.7 million on our News Talk and Contemporary Christian Music radio stations and higher personnel costs including commissions of $0.1 million.
 
NON-BROADCAST OPERATING EXPENSES.   Non-broadcast operating expenses increased $1.9 million, or 53.6%, to $5.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. The increase is attributable primarily to costs associated with the acquisitions of Townhall.com, Preaching Magazine and Xulon Press. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, acquisitions accounted for approximately $1.4 million of expenses not applicable to the same period of the prior year.
 
CORPORATE EXPENSES.  Corporate expenses decreased $0.6 million, or 9.7%, to $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $6.4 million for the same period of the prior year. The decrease is primarily due to lower stock-based compensation expense of $0.6 million.
 
      DEPRECIATION. Depreciation expense increased $0.4 million, or 12.6%, to $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $2.7 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase is due to depreciation associated with acquisitions of radio station and non-broadcast assets during 2006.
 
AMORTIZATION.   Amortization expense increased $0.2 million, or 47.3%, to $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $0.6 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase is due to amortizable intangible assets acquired with non-broadcast media entities during 2006.
 
GAIN ON DISPOSAL OF ASSETS. Gain on disposal of assets of $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, was primarily comprised of the sale of radio station WKNR-AM in Cleveland, Ohio, for $7.0 million resulting in a pre-tax gain of $3.4 million offset by various fixed asset disposals. The gain on disposal of fixed assets of $3.5 million for same period of the prior year was due to the gain recognized on the exchange of KNIT-AM, Dallas, Texas for selected assets of WORL-AM, Orlando, Florida.
 

 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE).  Interest income of $60,000 was interest earned on excess cash. Interest expense decreased $0.1 million, or 2.0%, to $6.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. The decrease in interest expense is due to a decrease in our net outstanding debt of $10.5 million, which includes the early redemption of our 9% Notes in July 2006. Other expense, net, decreased from $0.2 million to $35,000 primarily due to bank commitment fees associated with our credit facilities offset with royalty income from real estate properties.
 
      PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES.      In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN No. 48”). We adopted FIN No. 48 as of January 1, 2007. Provision for income taxes was $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $1.6 million for the same period of the prior year. Provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before income taxes (that is, the effective tax rate) was 45.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to 40.1% for the same period of the prior year. The effective tax rate for each period differs from the federal statutory income rate of 35.0% due to the effect of state income taxes, certain expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes, and changes in the valuation allowance from the utilization of certain state net operating loss carryforwards.
 
      INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX.      The income from discontinued operations of $0.3 million, net of taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2006, includes the operating results of WTSJ-AM, WBOB-AM, WBTK-AM, WITH-AM, WBGB-AM, WJGR-AM, WZNZ-AM and WZAZ-AM, which are presented as discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 offset by the pre-tax gain of $0.7 million resulting from the sale of WTSJ-AM and WBOB-AM on February 10, 2006.
 
  NET INCOME. We recognized net income of $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to net income of $2.7 million for the same period of the prior year. This increase of $0.3 million is primarily due to an increase in operating income from continuing operations of $1.2 million offset by an increase in the provision for income taxes of $0.9 million and a decrease in income from discontinued operations of $0.3 million.
 
 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES 
 
The performance of a radio broadcasting company is customarily measured by the ability of its stations to generate station operating income. We define station operating income (“SOI”) as net broadcasting revenue less broadcasting operating expenses. Accordingly, changes in net broadcasting revenue and broadcasting expenses, as explained above, have a direct impact on changes in SOI. 
 
SOI is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP; as a result it should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for our results of operations presented on the basis of GAAP. Management believes that SOI is a useful non-GAAP financial measure to investors, when considered in conjunction with operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, because it is generally recognized by the radio broadcasting industry as a tool in measuring performance and in applying valuation methodologies for companies in the media, entertainment and communications industries. This measure is used by investors and analysts who report on the industry to provide comparisons between broadcasting groups. Additionally, our management uses SOI as one of the key measures of operating efficiency and profitability. SOI does not purport to represent cash provided by operating activities. Our statement of cash flows presents our cash flow activity and our income statement presents our historical performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. SOI as defined by and used by our company is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures employed by other companies. 
 
Three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006
 
      STATION OPERATING INCOME.       SOI increased $0.9 million, or 5.1%, to $18.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $17.1 million for the same period of the prior year. As a percentage of net broadcasting revenue, SOI increased to 35.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 from 35.0% for the same period of the prior year. On a same station basis, SOI increased $0.5 million, or 2.9%, to $17.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 from $17.4 million for the same period of the prior year. As a percentage of same station net broadcasting revenue, same station SOI decreased to 36.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to 36.5% for the same period of the prior year.
 
The following table provides a reconciliation of SOI (a non-GAAP financial measure) to operating income (as presented in our financial statements) for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006: 
 
   
Three Months Ended March 31,
   
(Dollars in thousands)
   
2006
 
2007
         
Station operating income
 
$ 17,080
 
$ 17,957
Plus non-broadcast revenue
 
3,252
 
5,654
Less non-broadcast operating expenses
 
(3,432)
 
(5,271)
Less depreciation and amortization
 
(3,295)
 
(3,901)
Less gain on disposal of assets
 
3,529
 
3,269
Less corporate expenses
 
(6,440)
 
(5,814)
Operating income
 
$ 10,694
 
$ 11,894
 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES, JUDGMENTS AND ESTIMATES 
 
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to allowance for doubtful accounts, acquisitions and upgrades of radio station and network assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, income taxes, and long-term debt and debt covenant compliance. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed 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 these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. 
 
We believe the following accounting policies and the related judgments and estimates are critical accounting policies which affect the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements. 
 
Accounting for acquisitions and upgrades of radio station and network assets 
 
A majority of our radio station acquisitions are acquisitions of selected assets and not acquisitions of businesses. Such asset acquisitions have consisted primarily of the FCC licenses to broadcast in a particular market. We often do not acquire the existing format, or we change the format upon acquisition when we find it beneficial. As a result, a substantial portion of the purchase price for the assets of a radio station is allocated to the FCC license. It is our policy generally to retain third-party appraisers to value radio stations, networks or non-broadcast properties. The allocations assigned to acquired FCC licenses and other assets are subjective by their nature and require our careful consideration and judgment. We believe the allocations represent appropriate estimates of the fair value of the assets acquired. As part of the valuation and appraisal process, the third-party appraisers prepare reports which assign values to the various asset categories in our financial statements. Our management reviews these reports and determines the reasonableness of the assigned values used to record the acquisition of the radio station, network or non-broadcast properties at the close of the transaction. 
 
We undertake projects from time to time to upgrade our radio station technical facilities and/or FCC licenses. Our policy is to capitalize costs incurred up to the point where the project is complete, at which time we transfer the costs to the appropriate fixed asset and/or intangible asset categories. When the completion of a project is contingent upon FCC or other regulatory approval, we assess the probable future benefit of the asset at the time that it is recorded and monitor it through the FCC or other regulatory approval process. In the event the required approval is not considered probable, we write-off the capitalized costs of the project. 
 
Allowance for doubtful accounts 
 
We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. An analysis is performed by applying various percentages based on the age of the receivable and other subjective and historical analysis. A considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing the likelihood of ultimate realization of these receivables including the current creditworthiness of each customer. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. 
 
Intangible assets 
 
In accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” and SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” we no longer amortize goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives, but perform annual impairment tests in accordance with these statements. We believe our FCC licenses have indefinite lives and accordingly amortization expense is no longer recorded for our FCC licenses as well as our goodwill. Other intangible assets continue to be amortized over their useful lives. 
 

   We perform impairment tests on our FCC licenses and goodwill at least annually or more often if indicators of impairment exist. The annual tests are performed during the fourth quarter of each year and include comparing the recorded values to the appraised values, calculations of discounted cash flows, operating income and other analyses. As of March 31, 2007, no impairment was recognized. The assessment of the fair values of these assets and the underlying businesses are estimates, which require careful consideration and judgments by our management. If conditions in the markets in which our stations and non-broadcast businesses operate or if the operating results of our stations and non-broadcast businesses change or fail to develop as anticipated, our estimates of the fair values may change in the future and may result in impairment charges. 
 
Valuation allowance (deferred taxes) 
 
      For financial reporting purposes, the company has recorded a valuation allowance of $6.8 million as of March 31, 2007, to offset a portion of the deferred tax assets related to the state net operating loss carryforwards. Management regularly reviews our financial forecasts in an effort to determine our ability to utilize the net operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes. Accordingly, the valuation allowance is adjusted periodically based on management’s estimate of the benefit the company will receive from such carryforwards. 
 
Long-term debt and debt covenant compliance 
 
Our classification of borrowings under our credit facilities as long-term debt on our balance sheet is based on our assessment that, under the borrowing restrictions and covenants in our credit facilities and after considering our projected operating results and cash flows for the coming year, no principal payments, other than the scheduled principal reductions in our term loan facility, will be required pursuant to the credit agreement. These projections are estimates dependent upon a number of factors including developments in the markets in which we are operating in and economic and political factors, among other factors. Accordingly, these projections are inherently uncertain and our actual results could differ from these estimates. Should our actual results differ materially from these estimates, payments may become due under our credit facilities or it may become necessary to seek an amendment to our credit facilities. Based on our management’s current assessment, we do not anticipate principal payments becoming due under our credit facilities, or a further amendment of our credit facilities becoming necessary. 
 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
We have one stock incentive plan, The Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, (the “Plan”) under which stock options and restricted stock units are granted to employees, directors, officers and advisors of the company. As of March 31, 2007, a maximum of 3,100,000 shares are authorized under the plan, of which 2,394,764 are outstanding and 1,389,425 are exercisable.
 
Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R), which requires the measurement at fair value and recognition of compensation expense for all share-based payment awards. Total stock based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $0.8 million. Determining the appropriate fair-value model and calculating the fair value of employee stock options and rights to purchase shares under stock purchase plans at the date of grant requires judgment. We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of these share-based awards consistent with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R). Option pricing models, including the Black-Scholes model, also require the use of input assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, expected dividend rate, and expected risk-free rate of return.
 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES 
 
We have historically financed acquisitions through borrowings, including borrowings under credit facilities and, to a lesser extent, from operating cash flow and selected asset dispositions. We expect to fund future acquisitions from cash on hand, proceeds from our debt and equity offerings, borrowings under the credit facilities, operating cash flow and possibly through the sale of income-producing assets. We have historically funded, and will continue to fund, expenditures for operations, administrative expenses, capital expenditures and debt service required by our credit facilities and our senior subordinated notes from operating cash flow, borrowings under our credit facilities and, if necessary, proceeds from the sale of selected assets. We believe that cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and borrowings under the credit facilities will be sufficient to permit us to meet our financial obligations, fund pending acquisitions and fund operations for at least the next twelve months.
 
Cash Flows 
 
Cash and cash equivalents were $0.6 million on March 31, 2007 compared to $0.7 million as of December 31, 2006. Working capital was $9.8 million on March 31, 2007 compared to $13.3 million as of December 31, 2006. The decreases in cash and working capital were primarily due to net repayments of $12.7 million under our credit facilities during the three months ended March 31, 2007.
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities 
 
  During the three months ended March 31, 2007, our cash flows from continuing operations were primarily derived from our earnings from ongoing operations prior to non-cash expenses such as depreciation, amortization, bad debt, and stock-based compensation and changes in our working capital. Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations was $10.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $8.7 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase of $1.4 million was primarily the result of an increase in net income from continuing operations of $0.6 million and changes in operating assets and liabilities, including an increase in deferred income taxes of $0.6 million and an increase in deferred revenue of $0.3 million that were partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable of $0.2 million.
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities 
 
     Our investing activities primarily relate to capital expenditures, strategic acquisitions or dispositions of radio stations assets and strategic acquisitions of non-broadcast businesses. Net cash provided by investing activities was $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to net cash used in investing activities of $29.2 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase of $31.9 million was due to a $23.8 million decrease in cash outlays for radio station assets and non-broadcast properties as well as a $1.7 million decrease in capital expenditures.  
 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities 
 
Our financing activities primarily relate to proceeds and repayments under our credit facilities, payments of capital lease obligations, and secondarily, to repurchases of our Class A Common Stock under a repurchase program approved by our Board of Directors. Cash flows from financing activities decreased $30.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same period of the prior year. This decrease was due to net repayments of debt of $12.7 million during the period compared to net draws of $32.6 million in the same period of the prior year that were offset by repurchases of Class A Common Stock of $15.1 million.
 
Credit Facilities
 
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Salem Holding, is the borrower under our credit facilities. The credit facilities, as amended, include a $75.0 million senior secured reducing revolving credit facility (“revolving credit facility”), a $75.0 million term loan B facility (“term loan B facility”) and a $165.0 million term loan C facility (“term loan C facility”). As of March 31, 2007, the borrowing capacity and aggregate commitments were $75.0 million under our revolving credit facility, $73.1 million under our term loan B facility and $164.2 million under our term loan C facility. The amount we can borrow, however, is subject to certain restrictions as described below. As of March 31, 2007, we could borrow $64.2 million under our credit facilities.
 

 
On March 31, 2007, $73.1 million was outstanding under the term loan B facility, $164.2 million was outstanding under the term loan C facility and $8.5 million was outstanding under our revolving credit facility. The borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility steps down in three 10% increments commencing June 30, 2007, and matures on March 25, 2009. The borrowing capacity under the term loan B facility steps down 0.5% each December 31 and June 30. The term loan B facility matures on the earlier of March 25, 2010, or the date that is six months prior to the maturity of any subordinated indebtedness of Salem or Salem Holding. The borrowing capacity under the term loan C facility steps down 0.5% each December 31 and June 30, commencing December 31, 2008. The term loan C facility matures on the earlier of June 30, 2012, or the date that is six months prior to the maturity of any subordinated indebtedness of Salem or Salem Holding. The credit facilities require us, under certain circumstances, to prepay borrowings under the credit facilities with excess cash flow and the net proceeds from the sale of assets, the issuance of equity interests and the issuance of subordinated notes. If we are required to make these prepayments, our borrowing capacity and the aggregate commitments under the facilities will be reduced, but such reduction shall not, in any event, reduce the borrowing capacity and aggregate commitments under the facilities below $50.0 million.
 
Amounts outstanding under the credit facilities bear interest at a rate based on, at Salem Holding’s option, the bank’s prime rate or LIBOR, in each case plus a spread. For purposes of determining the interest rate under our revolving credit facility, the prime rate spread ranges from 0.00% to 1.00%, and the LIBOR spread ranges from 1.00% to 2.00%. For both the term loan B facility and the term loan C facility, the prime rate spread ranges from 0.25% to 0.75%, and the LIBOR spread ranges from 1.25% to 1.75%. In each case, the spread is based on the total leverage ratio on the date of determination. If an event of default occurs, the rate may increase by 2.0%. At March 31, 2007, the blended interest rate on amounts outstanding under the credit facilities was 6.90%.
 
The maximum amount that Salem Holding may borrow under our credit facilities is limited by a ratio of our consolidated existing total adjusted funded debt to pro forma twelve-month cash flow (the “Total Leverage Ratio”). Our credit facilities will allow us to adjust our total debt as used in such calculation by the lesser of (i) 50% of the aggregate purchase price of acquisitions of newly acquired radio stations that we reformat to a religious talk, News Talk or religious music format or (ii) $45.0 million, and the cash flow from such stations will not be considered in the calculation of the ratio during the period in which such acquisition gives rise to an adjustment to total debt. The Total Leverage Ratio allowed under the credit facilities was 6.75 to 1 as of March 31, 2007. The ratio will decline periodically until December 31, 2009, at which point it will remain at 5.5 to 1 through the remaining term of the credit facilities. The Total Leverage Ratio under our credit facilities at March 31, 2007, on a pro forma basis, was 5.61 to 1. 
 
Our credit facilities contain additional restrictive covenants customary for facilities of their size, type and purpose which, with specified exceptions, limits our ability to incur debt, have liens, enter into affiliate transactions, pay dividends, consolidate, merge or effect certain asset sales, make specified investments, acquisitions and loans and change the nature of our business. Our credit facilities also require us to satisfy specified financial covenants, which covenants require us on a consolidated basis to maintain specified financial ratios and comply with certain financial tests, including ratios for maximum leverage as described above, minimum interest coverage (not less than 2.0 to 1 through June 30, 2009 increasing in increments to 2.5 to 1 after June 30, 2009), minimum debt service coverage (a static ratio of not less than 1.25 to 1), a maximum consolidated senior leverage ratio (currently 5.0 to 1, which will decline periodically until December 31, 2008, at which point it will remain at 4.0 to 1 through the remaining term of the credit facilities), and minimum fixed charge coverage (a static ratio of not less than 1.1 to 1). Salem and all of its subsidiaries, except for Salem Holding, are guarantors of borrowings under the credit facilities. The credit facilities are secured by liens on all of our assets and our subsidiaries’ assets and pledges of all of the capital stock of our subsidiaries.
 
On October 18, 2006, we purchased two interest rate caps for $0.1 million to mitigate exposure to rising interest rates based on LIBOR. The first interest rate cap covers $50.0 million of borrowings under the credit facilities for a three year period. The second interest rate cap covers $50.0 million of borrowings under the credit facilities for a four year period. Both interest rate caps are at 7.25%.
 
      As of March 31, 2007, we were and remain in compliance with all of the covenants under our terms of the credit facilities. 
 

     Swingline Credit Facility. On June 1, 2005, we entered into an agreement for a swingline credit facility (“Swingline”) with a borrowing capacity of $5.0 million. As collateral for the Swingline, we pledged our corporate office building. Amounts outstanding under the Swingline bear interest at a rate based on the bank’s prime rate. As of March 31, 2007, no amounts were outstanding under the Swingline. The Swingline, which expires on June 1, 2007, is currently being renegotiated.
 
      As of March 31, 2007, we were and remain in compliance with all of the covenants under the terms of the Swingline. 
 
       7¾% Notes. In December 2002, Salem Holding issued $100.0 million principal amount of 7¾% Notes. Salem Holding used the net proceeds to redeem the $100.0 million 9½% Notes on January 22, 2003. The indenture for the 7¾% Notes contains restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit the incurrence of debt by Salem Holding and its subsidiaries, the payment of dividends, the use of proceeds of specified asset sales and transactions with affiliates. Salem Holding is required to pay $7.8 million per year in interest on the 7¾% Notes. We and all of our subsidiaries (other than Salem Holding) are guarantors of the 7¾% Notes. 
 
   As of March 31, 2007, we were and remain in compliance with all of the covenants under the indenture for the 7¾% Notes.
 

Summary of long-term obligations
 
Long-term debt consisted of the following at the balance sheet dated indicated:
 
 
As of December 31, 2006
As of March 31, 2007
 
(Dollars in thousands)
       
Term loan B
$ 73,125
 
$ 73,125
Term loan C
165,000
 
164,175
Revolving line of credit under credit facility
19,100
 
8,500
Swingline credit facility
1,241
 
7¾% senior subordinated notes due 2010
100,000
 
100,000
Fair market value of interest rate swap
 
104
Capital leases and other loans
2,560
 
3,348
 
$ 361,026
 
$ 349,252
Less current portion
2,048
 
2,431
 
$ 358,978
 
$ 346,821

In addition to the amounts listed above, we also have interest payments related to our long-term debt as follows as of March 31, 2007:

·  
Outstanding borrowings of $237.3 million on term loans with interest payments due at LIBOR plus 1.25% to 1.75% or at prime rate plus 0.25% to 0.75%, depending on our total leverage ratio, and a commitment fee of 0.375% on the unused portion.
·  
Outstanding borrowings of $8.5 million under a revolving line of credit with interest payments due at the banks prime rate.
·  
$100 million senior subordinated notes with semi-annual interest payments at 7 ¾%.
 
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS 
 
      At March 31, 2007 and 2006, Salem did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would constitute an off-balance sheet arrangement. As such, Salem is not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if Salem had engaged in such relationships. 
 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
 
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS 
 
We are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. We actively monitor these fluctuations and use derivative instruments from time to time to manage the related risk. In accordance with our risk management strategy, Salem uses derivative instruments only for the purpose of managing risk associated with an asset, liability, committed transaction, or probable forecasted transaction that is identified by management. Our use of derivative instruments may result in short-term gains or losses and may increase volatility in Salem’s earnings. 
 
Under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended, the accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative instrument at each new measurement date is dependent upon its intended use. The change in the fair value of a derivative instrument designated as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or a firm commitment, referred to as a fair value hedge, is recognized as gain or loss in earnings in the period of the change together with an offsetting gain or loss for the change in fair value of the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged. The change in the fair value of a derivative instrument designated as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows of recognized assets, liabilities or of unrecognized forecasted transactions, referred to as a cash flow hedge, is recognized as other comprehensive income.  The differential paid or received on the interest rate swaps is recognized in earnings as an adjustment to interest expense.
 
During 2004 and through February 18, 2005, we had an interest rate swap agreement with a notional principal amount of $66.0 million. This agreement related to our $94.4 million 9% Notes. This agreement was scheduled to expire in 2011 when the 9% Notes were to mature, and effectively swapped the 9.0% fixed interest rate on $66.0 million of the 9% Notes for a floating rate equal to the LIBOR rate plus 3.09%. On February 18, 2005, we sold our entire interest in this swap and received a payment of approximately $3.7 million, which was amortized as a reduction of interest expense over the remaining life of the 9% Notes. On July 6, 2006, we completed the redemption of the remainder of our outstanding 9% senior subordinated notes. As a result of the redemption, we wrote off the remaining balance of the buyout premium of approximately $2.7 million as a reduction of the loss on the early redemption of long term debt. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006, was reduced by $0.1 million related to the amortization of the buyout premium received.
 
During 2004, we also had a second interest rate swap agreement with a notional principal amount of $24.0 million. This agreement also related to our 9% Notes. This agreement was to expire in 2011 when the 9% Notes were to mature, and effectively swapped the 9.0% fixed interest rate on $24.0 million of the 9% Notes for a floating rate equal to the LIBOR rate plus 4.86%. On August 20, 2004, we sold our interest in $14.0 million of this swap. As a result of this transaction, we paid and capitalized $0.3 million in buyout premium, which was to be amortized into interest expense over the remaining life of the 9% Notes. On October 22, 2004, we sold our remaining $10.0 million interest in this swap. As a result of this second transaction, we paid and capitalized approximately $110,000 in buyout premium, which was to be amortized into interest expense over the remaining life of the 9% Notes. On July 6, 2006, we completed the redemption of the remainder of our outstanding 9% Notes. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006, included approximately $16,000 related to the amortization of the capitalized buyout premium.
 
On April 8, 2005, we entered into an interest rate swap arrangement for the notional principal amount of $30.0 million whereby we will pay a fixed interest rate of 4.99% as compared to LIBOR on a bank credit facility borrowing. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007, was reduced by approximately $28,000 as a result of the difference between the interest rates. As of March 31, 2007, we recorded a liability for the fair value of the interest swap of approximately $104,000. This amount, net of income tax benefits of approximately $42,000, is reflected in other comprehensive income, as we have designated the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge. The effective date of this interest rate swap was July 1, 2006 and the expiration date is July 1, 2012.
 

On April 26, 2005, we entered into a second interest rate swap arrangement for the notional principal amount of $30.0 million whereby we will pay a fixed interest rate of 4.70% as compared to LIBOR on a bank credit facility borrowing. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007, was reduced by approximately $49,000 as a result of the difference between the interest rates. As of March 31, 2007, we recorded an asset for the fair value of the interest swap of approximately $0.3 million. This amount, net of income taxes of approximately $0.1 million, is reflected in other comprehensive income, as we have designated the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge. The effective date of this interest rate swap was July 1, 2006 and the expiration date is July 1, 2012.
 
On May 5, 2005, we entered into a third interest rate swap arrangement for the notional principal amount of $30.0 million whereby we will pay a fixed interest rate of 4.53% as compared to LIBOR on a bank credit facility borrowing. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007, was reduced by approximately $62,000 as a result of the difference between the interest rates. As of March 31, 2007, we recorded an asset for the fair value of the interest swap of approximately $0.6 million. This amount, net of income taxes of approximately $0.2 million, is reflected in other comprehensive income, as we have designated the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge. The effective date of this interest rate swap was July 1, 2006 and the expiration date is July 1, 2012.

 
Interest Rate Caps
 
On October 18, 2006, we purchased two interest rate caps for $0.1 million to mitigate exposure to rising interest rates. The first interest rate cap covers $50.0 million of borrowings under the credit facilities for a three year period. The second interest rate cap covers $50.0 million of borrowings under the credit facilities for a four year period. Both interest rate caps are at 7.25%. The caps do not qualify for hedge accounting and accordingly, all changes in fair value have been included as a component of interest expense. Interest expense of approximately $24,000 was recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2007, related to our interest rate caps.
 

MARKET RISK 
 
In addition to the interest rate swap agreements discussed above under “Derivative Instruments,” borrowings under the credit facilities are subject to market risk exposure, specifically to changes in LIBOR and in the prime rate in the United States. As of March 31, 2007, we had borrowed $245.8 million under our credit facilities and Swingline. As of March 31, 2007, we could borrow up to an additional $64.2 million under the credit facilities. Amounts outstanding under the credit facilities bear interest at a rate based on, at Salem Holding’s option, the bank’s prime rate or LIBOR, in each case plus a spread. For purposes of determining the interest rate under our revolving credit facility, the prime rate spread ranges from 0.00% to 1.00%, and the LIBOR spread ranges from 1.00% to 2.00%. For both the term loan B facility and the term loan C facility, the prime rate spread ranges from 0.25% to 0.75%, and the LIBOR spread ranges from 1.25% to 1.75%. In each case, the spread is based on the total leverage ratio on the date of determination. At March 31, 2007, the blended interest rate on amounts outstanding under the credit facilities was 6.90%. At March 31, 2007, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in the prime rate or LIBOR, as applicable, would result in additional interest expense of $1.6 million on an annualized basis. 
 
In addition to the variable rate debt disclosed above, we have fixed rate debt with a carrying value of $100.0 million relating to the outstanding 7¾% Notes as of March 31, 2007, with an aggregate fair value of $102.0 million. We are exposed to changes in the fair value of these financial instruments based on changes in the market rate of interest on this debt. The ultimate value of these notes will be determined by actual market prices, as all of these notes are tradable. We estimate that a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in market interest rates would result in a decrease in the aggregate fair value of the notes to approximately $98.9 million and a hypothetical 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates would result in the increase of the fair value of the notes to approximately $105.3 million. 
 
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. 
 
   As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based upon such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. 
 
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 
 

 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION 
 
 
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. 
 
  We and our subsidiaries, incident to our business activities, are parties to a number of legal proceedings, lawsuits, arbitration and other claims. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties and outcomes that are not predictable with assurance. Also, we maintain insurance which may provide coverage for such matters. Consequently, we are unable to ascertain the ultimate aggregate amount of monetary liability or the financial impact with respect to these matters. We believe, at this time, that the final resolution of these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect upon our annual consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. 
 
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 
 
 We have included in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, a description of certain risks and uncertainties that could affect our business, future performance or financial condition (the “Risk Factors”). The Risk Factors are hereby incorporated in Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10Q. Investors should consider the Risk Factors prior to making an investment decision with respect to our stock.
 
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS. 
 
We have made repurchases of our Class A common stock pursuant to a $50.0 million share repurchase program adopted by our Board of Directors in May 2005, revised in February 2006 and further revised in March 2007. This repurchase program will continue until the earlier of (a) December 31, 2007, (b) all desired shares are repurchased, or (c) the Repurchase Plan is terminated earlier by the Repurchase Plan Committee on behalf of Salem. The amount we may repurchase may be limited by certain restrictions under our credit facilities. No repurchases were made during the three months ended March 31, 2007.
 
ITEM 3. DEFAULT UPON SENIOR SECURITIES. 
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. 
 
        None.
 
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION. 
 
        Not applicable.
 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS. 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

       
Incorporated by Reference
 
 
 
Exhibit
 
Number
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit Description
 
 
 
 
 
 
Form
 
 
 
 
File No.
 
 
Date of
 
First Filing
 
 
 
 
Exhibit
 
Number
 
 
 
 
Filed
 
Herewith
 
3.01
 
 
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Salem Communications Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
 
 
 
 
8-K
 
 
 
 
333-41733-29
 
 
 
 
04/14/99
 
 
 
 
3.1
 
   
3.02
 
 
Bylaws of Salem Communications Corporation, a Delaware Corporation.
 
 
 
 
8-K
 
 
 
 
333-41733-29
 
 
 
 
04/14/99
 
 
 
 
3.2
 
   
3.03
 
 
Certificate of Incorporation of Salem Communications Holding Corporation.
 
 
 
 
8-K
 
 
 
 
000-26497
 
 
 
 
09/08/00
 
 
 
 
2.01
 
   
3.04
 
 
Bylaws of Salem Communications Holding Corporation.
 
 
 
 
8-K
 
 
 
 
000-26497
 
 
 
 
09/08/00
 
 
 
 
2.02
 
   
3.05
 
 
Certificate of Incorporation of Salem Communications Acquisition Corporation.
 
 
 
 
8-K
 
 
 
 
000-26497
 
 
 
 
09/08/00
 
 
 
 
2.03
 
   
3.06
 
 
Bylaws of Salem Communications Acquisition Corporation.
 
 
 
 
8-K
 
 
 
 
000-26497
 
 
 
 
09/08/00
 
 
 
 
2.04
 
   
3.07