SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Form 10-K [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001 OR [ ] TRANSACTION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ____________ to _______________ Commission File No. 333-02302 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 74-1803105 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 808 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Suite 300 Washington, D.C. 20006-3910 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (202)789-2130 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark if the disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy of information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X] Indicate by check mark whether this 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 [ ] The aggregate market value of the registrant's Common Stock held by non-affiliates is zero. As of December 27, 2001, there were 20,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.05 per share, outstanding. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE None As used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "ACC" or the "Company" refers to Allbritton Communications Company. Depending on the context in which they are used, the following "call letters" refer either to the corporate owner of the station indicated or to the station itself: "WJLA" refers to WJLA-TV, a division of ACC (operator of WJLA-TV, Washington, D.C.); "WHTM" refers to Harrisburg Television, Inc. (licensee of WHTM-TV, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania); "KATV" refers to KATV, LLC (licensee of KATV, Little Rock, Arkansas); "KTUL" refers to KTUL, LLC (licensee of KTUL, Tulsa, Oklahoma); "WCIV" refers to WCIV, LLC (licensee of WCIV, Charleston, South Carolina); "WSET" refers to WSET, Incorporated (licensee of WSET-TV, Lynchburg, Virginia); "WCFT" refers to WCFT-TV, Tuscaloosa, Alabama; "WBMA" refers to WBMA-LP, Birmingham, Alabama; and "WJSU" refers to WJSU-TV, Anniston, Alabama. The term "ATP" refers to Allbritton Television Productions, Inc. and the term "Perpetual" refers to Perpetual Corporation, which is controlled by Joe L. Allbritton, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of ACC. "AGI" refers to Allbritton Group, Inc., which is controlled by Perpetual and is ACC's parent. "Westfield" refers to Westfield News Advertiser, Inc., an affiliate of ACC that is wholly-owned by Joe L. Allbritton. "Allfinco" refers to Allfinco, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACC. "Harrisburg Television" refers to Harrisburg Television, Inc., an 80%-owned subsidiary of Allfinco. "TV Alabama" refers to TV Alabama, Inc., an 80%-owned subsidiary of Allfinco that owns WCFT, WJSU and WBMA. "Allnewsco" refers to ALLNEWSCO, Inc., an affiliate of ACC that is a majority-owned subsidiary of Perpetual. "RLA Trust" refers to the Robert Lewis Allbritton 1984 Trust for the benefit of Robert L. Allbritton, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of ACC, that is a minority owner of Allnewsco. "RLA Revocable Trust" refers to the trust of the same name that owns 20% of each of Harrisburg Television and TV Alabama. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Part I Item 1. Business............................................................1 Item 2. Properties.........................................................16 Item 3. Legal Proceedings..................................................18 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders................18 Part II Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters...................................18 Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data...............................19 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations...........................21 Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.........35 Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data...........35 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure........................35 Part III Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.................36 Item 11. Executive Compensation.............................................39 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management....................................................40 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.....................41 Part IV Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K...................................................44 THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K, INCLUDING ITEM 7 "MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS," CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS AND INVOLVE A NUMBER OF RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE COMPANY'S OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS AND ITS HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE; THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON THE COMPANY BY THE TERMS OF THE COMPANY'S INDEBTEDNESS; THE HIGH DEGREE OF COMPETITION FROM BOTH OVER-THE-AIR BROADCAST STATIONS AND PROGRAMMING ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS CABLE TELEVISION, WIRELESS CABLE, IN-HOME SATELLITE DISTRIBUTION SERVICE, PAY-PER-VIEW SERVICES AND HOME VIDEO AND ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES; THE IMPACT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES; CHANGES IN FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ("FCC") REGULATIONS; DECREASES IN THE DEMAND FOR ADVERTISING DUE TO WEAKNESS IN THE ECONOMY; AND THE VARIABILITY OF THE COMPANY'S QUARTERLY RESULTS AND THE COMPANY'S SEASONALITY. ALL WRITTEN OR ORAL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COMPANY ARE EXPRESSLY QUALIFIED BY THE FOREGOING CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS. READERS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WHICH REFLECT MANAGEMENT'S VIEW ONLY AS OF THE DATE HEREOF. THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO PUBLICLY RELEASE THE RESULT OF ANY REVISIONS TO THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WHICH MAY BE MADE TO REFLECT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE DATE HEREOF OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS. PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS The Company Allbritton Communications Company ("ACC" or the "Company") itself and through subsidiaries owns and operates ABC network-affiliated television stations serving seven diverse geographic markets: WJLA in Washington, D.C.; WCFT in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, WJSU in Anniston, Alabama and WBMA-LP, a low power television station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama (the Company operates WCFT and WJSU in tandem with WBMA-LP serving the viewers of the Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Anniston market); WHTM in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas; KTUL in Tulsa, Oklahoma; WSET in Lynchburg, Virginia; and WCIV in Charleston, South Carolina. The Company's owned and operated stations broadcast to the 8th, 39th, 46th, 56th, 59th, 67th and 108th largest national media markets in the United States, respectively, as defined by the A.C. Nielsen Co. ("Nielsen"), and reach approximately 4.9% of United States television households. WJLA is owned and operated as a division by ACC, while the Company's remaining owned and operated stations are owned by Harrisburg Television, Inc. (WHTM), KATV, LLC (KATV), KTUL, LLC (KTUL), WSET, Incorporated (WSET), WCIV, LLC (WCIV) and TV Alabama, Inc. (WCFT, WJSU and WBMA). Each of these is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACC, except Harrisburg Television and TV Alabama, each of which is an indirect 80%-owned subsidiary of -1- ACC. TV Alabama began programming WJSU, licensed to Anniston (Birmingham), Alabama, under a ten-year Time Brokerage Agreement (referred to herein as a Local Marketing Agreement ("LMA")) effective December 29, 1995 (the "Anniston LMA"). TV Alabama exercised its option to acquire WJSU on September 14, 1999 and completed the acquisition on March 22, 2000. See "Owned Stations - WBMA/WCFT/WJSU: Birmingham (Anniston and Tuscaloosa), Alabama". ACC was founded in 1974 and is a subsidiary of Allbritton Group, Inc. ("AGI"), which is controlled by Perpetual Corporation, which in turn is controlled by Mr. Joe L. Allbritton, ACC's Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. ACC and its subsidiaries are Delaware corporations or limited liability companies. ACC's corporate headquarters is located at 808 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20006-3910, and its telephone number at that address is (202) 789-2130. Television Industry Background Commercial television broadcasting began in the United States on a regular basis in the 1940s. Currently, there is a limited number of channels available for broadcasting in any one geographic area, and the license to operate a broadcast television station is granted by the FCC. Television stations that broadcast over the VHF band (channels 2-13) of the spectrum generally have some competitive advantage over television stations that broadcast over the UHF band (channels 14-69) of the spectrum because VHF channels usually have better signal coverage and operate at a lower transmission cost. However, the improvement of UHF transmitters and receivers, the complete elimination from the marketplace of VHF-only receivers and the expansion of cable television systems have reduced the competitive advantage of television stations broadcasting over the VHF band. Television station revenues are primarily derived from local, regional and national advertisers and, to a much lesser extent, from networks and program syndicators for the broadcast of programming and from other broadcast-related activities. Advertising rates are set based upon a variety of factors, including the size and demographic makeup of the market served by the station, a program's popularity among viewers whom an advertiser wishes to attract, the number of advertisers competing for the available time, the availability of alternative advertising media in the market area, a station's overall ability to attract viewers in its market area and the station's ability to attract viewers among particular demographic groups that an advertiser may be targeting. Advertising rates are also affected by an aggressive and knowledgeable sales force and the development of projects, features and programs that tie advertiser messages to programming. Because broadcast television stations rely on advertising revenues, they are sensitive to cyclical changes in the economy. The size of advertisers' budgets, which are affected by broad economic trends, affect both the broadcast industry in general and the revenues of individual broadcast television stations. United States television stations are grouped by Nielsen into 210 generally recognized television market areas that are ranked in size according to various formulae based upon actual or potential audience. Each market area is designated as an exclusive geographic area consisting of all counties in which the home-market commercial stations receive the greatest percentage of total viewing hours. The specific geographic markets are called Designated Market Areas or DMAs. -2- Nielsen, which provides audience-measuring services, periodically publishes data on estimated audiences for television stations in the various DMAs throughout the country. These estimates are expressed in terms of both the percentage of the total potential audience in the DMA viewing a station (the station's "rating") and the percentage of the audience actually watching television (the station's "share"). Nielsen provides such data on the basis of total television households and selected demographic groupings in the DMA. Nielsen uses two methods of determining a station's ratings and share. In larger DMAs, ratings are determined by a combination of meters connected directly to selected household television sets and weekly viewer-completed diaries of television viewing, while in smaller markets ratings are determined by weekly diaries only. Of the market areas in which the Company conducts business, Washington, D.C. and Birmingham, Alabama are metered markets while the remaining markets are weekly diary markets. Historically, three major broadcast networks--ABC, NBC and CBS--dominated broadcast television. In recent years, FOX has evolved into the fourth major network, although the hours of network programming produced by FOX for its affiliates are fewer than those produced by the other three major networks. In addition, UPN, WB and recently PAX TV have been launched as new television networks. The affiliation by a station with one of the four major networks has a significant impact on the composition of the station's programming, revenues, expenses and operations. A typical affiliate station receives approximately 9 to 13 hours of each day's programming from the network. This programming, along with cash payments ("network compensation"), is provided to the affiliate by the network in exchange for a substantial majority of the advertising time sold during the airing of network programs. The network then sells this advertising time for its own account. The affiliate retains the revenues from time sold during breaks in and between network programs and during programs produced by the affiliate or purchased from non-network sources. In acquiring programming to supplement network programming, network affiliates compete primarily with affiliates of other networks and independent stations in their market areas. Cable systems generally do not compete with local stations for programming, although various national cable networks from time to time have acquired programs that would have otherwise been offered to local television stations. In addition, a television station may acquire programming through barter arrangements. Under barter arrangements, which have become increasingly popular with both network affiliates and independents, a national program distributor can receive advertising time in exchange for the programming it supplies, with the station paying no fee or a reduced fee for such programming. An affiliate of UPN, WB or PAX TV receives a smaller portion of each day's programming from its network compared to an affiliate of ABC, CBS, NBC or FOX. As a result, affiliates of UPN, WB or PAX TV must purchase or produce a greater amount of their programming, resulting in generally higher programming costs. These stations, however, retain a larger portion of the inventory of advertising time and the revenues obtained therefrom compared to stations affiliated with the major networks, which may partially offset their higher programming costs. -3- In contrast to a network affiliated station, an independent station purchases or produces all of the programming that it broadcasts, generally resulting in higher programming costs, although the independent station is, in theory, able to retain its entire inventory of advertising time and all of the revenue obtained from the sale of such time. Barter and cash-plus-barter arrangements, however, have become increasingly popular among all stations. Public broadcasting outlets in most communities compete with commercial broadcasters for viewers but not for advertising dollars. Broadcast television stations compete for advertising revenues primarily with other broadcast television stations and, to a lesser extent, with radio stations, cable system operators and programmers and newspapers serving the same market. Traditional network programming, and recently FOX programming, generally achieve higher audience levels than syndicated programs aired by independent stations. However, as greater amounts of advertising time become available for sale by independent stations and FOX affiliates in syndicated programs, those stations typically achieve a share of the television market advertising revenues greater than their share of the market area's audience. Through the 1970s, network television broadcasting enjoyed virtual dominance in viewership and television advertising revenues because network-affiliated stations only competed with each other in local markets. Beginning in the 1980s, this level of dominance began to change as the FCC authorized more local stations and marketplace choices expanded with the growth of independent stations and cable television services. Cable television systems were first constructed in significant numbers in the 1970s and were initially used to retransmit broadcast television programming to paying subscribers in areas with poor broadcast signal reception. In the aggregate, cable-originated programming has emerged as a significant competitor for viewers of broadcast television programming, although no single cable programming network regularly attains audience levels amounting to more than a small fraction of any of the major broadcast networks. The advertising share of cable networks increased during the 1970s and 1980s as a result of the growth in cable penetration (the percentage of television households that are connected to a cable system). Notwithstanding such increases in cable viewership and advertising, over-the-air broadcasting remains the dominant distribution system for mass market television advertising. Direct Broadcast Satellite ("DBS") service has recently been introduced as a new competitive distribution method. Home users purchase or lease satellite dish receiving equipment and subscribe to a monthly service of programming options. Legislation was enacted in November 1999 that permits local stations, under specified conditions, to be carried on satellite which will retransmit those signals back to the originating market. As DBS providers expand their facilities, an increasing number of local stations will be carried as "local-to-local" signals, aided by a legal requirement that mandates the carriage of all local broadcast signals if one is retransmitted. Of the Company's stations, only WJLA and WBMA/WCFT/WJSU are currently carried on DBS systems, transmitting to the Washington, D.C. and Birmingham, Alabama markets, respectively. -4- The Company believes that the market shares of television stations affiliated with ABC, NBC and CBS declined during the 1980s and 1990s because of the emergence of FOX and certain strong independent stations and because of increased cable penetration. Independent stations have emerged as viable competitors for television viewership share, particularly as a result of the availability of first-run, network-quality and regional sports programming. In addition, there has been substantial growth in the number of home satellite dish receivers and video cassette recorders, which has further expanded the number of programming alternatives available to household audiences. Terrestrially-distributed television broadcast stations use analog transmission technology. Recent advances in digital transmission technology formats have enabled some broadcasters to begin migration from analog to digital broadcasting. Digital technologies provide cleaner video and audio signals as well as the ability to transmit "high definition television" with theatre screen aspect ratios, higher resolution video and "noise-free" sound. Digital transmission also permits dividing the transmission frequency into multiple discrete channels of standard definition television. The FCC has authorized a transition plan to convert existing analog stations to digital by temporarily offering a second channel to transmit programming digitally with the return of the analog channel after the transition period. See "Legislation and Regulation - - Digital Television". Of the Company's stations, only WJLA in Washington, D.C. broadcasts with both an analog and digital signal at this time. Station Information The following table sets forth general information for each of the Company's owned stations as of November 2001: Total Market Commercial Station Rank Designated Network Channel Rank or Competitors Audience in Acquisition Market Area Station Affiliation Frequency DMA<F1> in Market<F2> Share<F3> Market<F4> Date ----------- ------- ----------- --------- ------- ------------- --------- ---------- ----------- Washington, D.C. ................. WJLA ABC 7/VHF 8 6 20% 4 01/29/76 Birmingham (Anniston and ......... Tuscaloosa), AL <F5> ....... WBMA/WCFT/WJSU ABC - 39 7 21% 2 - Birmingham ............ WBMA ABC 58/UHF - - - - 08/01/97 Anniston .............. WJSU ABC 40/UHF - - - - 03/22/00<F6> Tuscaloosa ............ WCFT ABC 33/UHF - - - - 03/15/96 Harrisburg-Lancaster-York-Lebanon, PA ......................... WHTM ABC 27/UHF 46 5 22% 2 03/01/96 Little Rock, AR .................. KATV ABC 7/VHF 56 5 32% 1 04/06/83 Tulsa, OK ........................ KTUL ABC 8/VHF 59 6 34% 1 04/06/83 Roanoke-Lynchburg, VA ............ WSET ABC 13/VHF 67 4 25% 3 01/29/76<F7> Charleston, SC ................... WCIV ABC 4/VHF 108 5 16% 3 01/29/76<F7> - --------- <FN> <F1> Represents market rank based on the Nielsen Station Index for November 2001. <F2> Represents the total number of commercial broadcast television stations in the DMA with an audience share of at least 1% in the 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., Sunday through Saturday, time period. <F3> Represents the station's share of total viewing of commercial broadcast television stations in the DMA for the time period of 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., Sunday through Saturday. <F4> Represents the station's rank in the DMA based on its share of total viewing of commercial broadcast television stations in the DMA for the time period of 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., Sunday through Saturday. <F5> TV Alabama serves the Birmingham market by simultaneously broadcasting identical programming over WBMA, WCFT and WJSU. The stations are listed on a combined basis by Nielsen as WBMA+, the call sign -5- of the low power television station. <F6> The Company commenced programming WJSU pursuant to the Anniston LMA in December 1995. In connection with the Anniston LMA, the Company entered into an option to purchase the assets of WJSU. The Company exercised its option to acquire WJSU and completed its acquisition of WJSU on March 22, 2000. See "Owned Stations - WBMA/WCFT/WJSU: Birmingham (Anniston and Tuscaloosa), Alabama". <F7> WSET and WCIV have been indirectly owned and operated by Joe L. Allbritton since 1976. On March 1, 1996, WSET and WCIV became wholly-owned subsidiaries of ACC. </FN> Business and Operating Strategy The Company's business strategy is to focus on building net operating revenues and net cash provided by operating activities. The Company intends to pursue selective acquisition opportunities as they arise. The Company's acquisition strategy is to target network-affiliated television stations where it believes it can successfully apply its operating strategy and where such stations can be acquired on attractive terms. Targets include midsized growth markets with what the Company believes to be advantageous business climates. Although the Company continues to review strategic investment and acquisition opportunities, no agreements or understandings are currently in place regarding any material investments or acquisitions. In addition, the Company constantly seeks to enhance net operating revenues at a marginal incremental cost through its use of existing personnel and programming capabilities. For example, KATV operates the Arkansas Razorback Sports Network ("ARSN"), which provides University of Arkansas sports programming to a network of 72 radio stations in six states. Certain broadcast television, cable pay-per-view and home video rights are also controlled by ARSN. The Company's operating strategy focuses on four key elements: Local News and Community Leadership. The Company's stations strive to be local news leaders to exploit the revenue potential associated with local news leadership. Since the acquisition of each station, the Company has focused on building that station's local news programming franchise as the foundation for building significant audience share. In each of its market areas, the Company develops additional information-oriented programming designed to expand the stations' hours of commercially valuable local news and other programming with relatively small incremental increases in operating expenses. Local news programming is commercially valuable because of its high viewership level, the attractiveness to advertisers of the demographic characteristics of the typical news audience (allowing stations to charge higher rates for advertising time) and the enhanced ratings of other programming in time periods adjacent to the news. In addition, management believes strong local news product has helped differentiate local broadcast stations from the increasing number of cable programming competitors that generally do not provide this material. -6- High Quality Non-Network Programming. The Company's stations are committed to attracting viewers through an array of syndicated and locally-produced programming to fill those periods of the broadcast day not programmed by the network. This programming is selected by the Company based on its ability to attract audiences highly valued in terms of demographic makeup on a cost-effective basis and reflects a focused strategy to migrate and hold audiences from program to program throughout dayparts. Audiences highly valued in terms of demographic makeup include women aged 18-49 and all adults aged 25-54. These demographic groups are perceived by advertisers as the groups with the majority of buying authority and decision-making in product selection. Local Sales Development Efforts. The Company believes that television stations with a strong local presence and active community relations can realize additional revenue from advertisers through the development and promotion of special programming and marketing events. Each of the Company's stations has developed such additional products, including high quality programming of local interest (such as University of Arkansas football and basketball games) and sponsored community events. These sponsored events have included health fairs, contests, job fairs, parades and athletic events and have provided advertisers, who are offered participation in such events, an opportunity to direct a marketing program to targeted audiences. These additional products have proven successful in attracting incremental advertising revenues. The stations also seek to maximize their local sales efforts through the use of extensive research and targeted demographic studies. Cost Control. Management believes that controlling costs is an essential factor in achieving and maintaining the profitability of its stations. The Company believes that by delivering highly targeted audience levels and controlling programming and operating costs, the Company's stations can achieve increased levels of revenue and operating cash flow. Each station rigorously manages its expenses through a budgetary control process and project accounting, which include an analysis of revenue and programming costs by daypart. Moreover, each of the stations closely monitors its staffing levels. Owned Stations WJLA: Washington, D.C. Acquired by the Company in 1976, WJLA is an ABC network affiliate pursuant to an affiliation agreement that expires on October 1, 2005. The Station's FCC license expires on October 1, 2004. Washington, D.C. is the eighth largest DMA, with approximately 2,128,000 television households. The Company believes that stations in this market generally earn higher advertising rates than stations in smaller markets because many national advertising campaigns concentrate their spending in the top ten media markets and on issue-oriented advertising in Washington, D.C. The Washington, D.C. market is served by six commercial television stations. -7- WBMA/WCFT/WJSU: Birmingham (Anniston and Tuscaloosa), Alabama The Company acquired WCFT in March 1996 and commenced programming WJSU pursuant to the Anniston LMA in December 1995. The LMA provided for the Company to supply program services to WJSU and to retain all revenues from advertising sales. In exchange, the Company paid all station operating expenses and certain management fees to the station's owner. In connection with the Anniston LMA, the Company entered into an option to purchase the assets of WJSU (the "Anniston Option"). The Company exercised its option to acquire WJSU on September 14, 1999 and completed the acquisition on March 22, 2000. The Company also owns a low power television station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama (WBMA). In October 1998, Nielsen collapsed the Tuscaloosa DMA and the Anniston DMA into the Birmingham DMA creating the 39th largest DMA with approximately 684,000 television households. The Birmingham DMA is served by seven commercial television stations. The Company serves the Birmingham market by simultaneously transmitting identical programming from its studio in Birmingham over WCFT, WJSU and WBMA. The stations are listed on a combined basis by Nielsen as WBMA+. TV Alabama maintains studio facilities in Birmingham for the operation of the stations. The Company has retained a news and sales presence in both Tuscaloosa and Anniston, while at the same time maintaining its primary news and sales presence in Birmingham. The ABC network affiliation is based upon carriage on both WCFT and WJSU and expires on September 1, 2006. The FCC licenses for both stations expire on April 1, 2005. WHTM: Harrisburg-Lancaster-York-Lebanon, Pennsylvania Acquired by the Company in 1996, WHTM is an ABC network affiliate pursuant to an affiliation agreement that expires on January 1, 2005. The Station's FCC license expires August 1, 2007. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which consists of nine contiguous counties located in central Pennsylvania, is the 46th largest DMA, reaching approximately 618,000 television households. Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania, and the government represents the area's largest employer. The Harrisburg market is served by five commercial television stations, one of which is a VHF station. KATV: Little Rock, Arkansas Acquired by the Company in 1983, KATV is an ABC network affiliate pursuant to an affiliation agreement that expires on July 31, 2005. The Station's FCC license expires on June 1, 2005. The Little Rock market is the 56th largest DMA, with approximately 520,000 television households. The Little Rock market has a diversified economy, both serving as the seat of state and local government and home to commercial businesses. The Little Rock market is served by five commercial television stations. -8- Capitalizing on its exclusive rights to the University of Arkansas basketball and football schedules through the year 2003, KATV launched ARSN in Fiscal 1994 by entering into programming sublicense agreements with a network of 72 radio stations in six states. Certain broadcast television, cable pay-per-view and home video rights are also controlled by ARSN. KTUL: Tulsa, Oklahoma Acquired by the Company in 1983, KTUL is an ABC network affiliate pursuant to an affiliation agreement that expires on July 31, 2005. The Station's FCC license expires on June 1, 2006. Tulsa, Oklahoma is the 59th largest DMA, with approximately 503,000 television households. The Tulsa market is served by six commercial television stations. WSET: Roanoke-Lynchburg, Virginia Acquired by the Company in 1996, WSET has been indirectly owned and operated by Joe L. Allbritton since 1976. The Station is an ABC network affiliate pursuant to an affiliation agreement that expires on July 31, 2005. WSET's FCC license expires on October 1, 2004. The hyphenated central Virginia market comprised of Lynchburg, Roanoke and Danville is the 67th largest DMA, with approximately 423,000 television households. The Lynchburg DMA is served by four commercial television stations. WCIV: Charleston, South Carolina Acquired by the Company in 1996, WCIV has been indirectly owned and operated by Joe L. Allbritton since 1976. The Station is an ABC affiliate pursuant to an affiliation agreement that expires on August 20, 2006. WCIV's FCC license expires on December 1, 2004. Charleston, South Carolina is the 108th largest DMA, with approximately 248,000 television households. The Charleston DMA is served by five commercial television stations. Network Affiliation Agreements and Relationship WJLA, WBMA/WCFT/WJSU, WHTM, KATV, KTUL, WSET and WCIV are ABC network affiliates: their current affiliation agreements expire October 1, 2005, September 1, 2006, January 1, 2005, July 31, 2005, July 31, 2005, July 31, 2005 and August 20, 2006, respectively. ABC has routinely renewed the affiliation agreements with these stations; however, there can be no assurance that these affiliation agreements will be renewed in the future. As one of the largest group owners of ABC network affiliates in the nation, ACC believes it enjoys excellent relations with the ABC network. Generally, each affiliation agreement provides the Company's stations with the right to broadcast programs transmitted by the network that includes designated advertising time the revenue from which the network retains. For every hour or fraction thereof that the station elects to broadcast network programming, the network pays the station compensation, as specified in each affiliation agreement, or as agreed upon by the network and the stations. Typically, prime-time programming -9- generates the highest hourly rates. Under specified conditions, rates are subject to increase or decrease by the network during the term of each affiliation agreement, with provisions for advance notice and right of termination on behalf of the station in the event of a reduction in rates. Effective August 11, 1999, the Company's network affiliation agreements with ABC were amended. Under the amendments, ABC will, for a three-year period, provide the Company's stations with additional prime-time inventory, limited participation rights in a new cable television "soap" channel, and enhanced program exclusivity and commercial inventory guarantees in exchange for reduced annual network compensation, the return of certain Saturday morning inventory from the stations, and more flexibility in repurposing of ABC programming. Competition Competition in the television industry, including each of the market areas in which the Company's stations compete, takes place on several levels: competition for audience, competition for programming (including news) and competition for advertisers. Additional factors material to a television station's competitive position include signal coverage and assigned frequency. The television broadcasting industry is continually faced with technological change and innovation, the possible rise or fall in popularity of competing entertainment and communications media and actions of federal regulatory bodies, including the FCC, any of which could possibly have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations. Audience: Stations compete for audience on the basis of program popularity, which has a direct effect on advertising rates. A majority of the Company's daily programming is supplied by ABC. In those periods, the stations are totally dependent upon the performance of the ABC network programs in attracting viewers. Non-network time periods are programmed by the station with a combination of self-produced news, public affairs and entertainment programming, including news and syndicated programs purchased for cash, cash and barter or barter-only. Independent stations, the number of which has increased significantly over the past decade, have also emerged as viable competitors for television viewership share, particularly as the result of the availability of first-run network-quality programming from FOX. The development of methods of television transmission other than over-the-air broadcasting and, in particular, the growth of cable television has significantly altered competition for audience share in the television industry. These alternative transmission methods can increase competition for a broadcasting station both by bringing into its market area distant broadcasting signals not otherwise available to the station's audience and by serving as a distribution system for programming originated on the cable system. Historically, cable operators have not sought to compete with broadcast stations for a share of the local news audience. To the extent cable operators elect to do so, increased competition for local news audiences could have an adverse effect on the Company's advertising revenues. -10- Other sources of competition include home entertainment systems (including video cassette recorder and playback systems, videodiscs and television game devices), multipoint distribution systems, multichannel multipoint distribution systems, wireless cable, satellite master antenna television systems and some low-power and in-home satellite services. The Company's television stations also face competition from high-powered direct broadcast satellite services, such as DirecTV and Echostar, which transmit programming directly to homes equipped with special receiving antennas or to cable television systems for transmission to their subscribers. Further advances in technology may increase competition for household audiences and advertisers. Video compression techniques, now under development for use with current cable channels, internet-relayed video and direct broadcast satellites are expected to reduce the bandwidth required for television signal transmission. These compression techniques, as well as other technological developments, are applicable to all video delivery systems, including over-the-air broadcasting, and have the potential to provide vastly expanded programming to highly targeted audiences. Reduction in the cost of creating additional channel capacity could lower entry barriers for new channels and encourage the development of increasingly specialized niche programming. This ability to reach very defined audiences is expected to alter the competitive dynamics for advertising expenditures. The Company is unable to predict the effect that technological changes will have on the broadcast television industry or the future results of the Company's operations. Programming: Competition for programming involves negotiating with national program distributors or syndicators which sell first-run and rerun packages of programming. The Company's stations compete against in-market broadcast station competitors for off-network reruns (such as "Frasier") and first-run products (such as "The Oprah Winfrey Show") for exclusive access to those programs. Cable systems generally do not compete with local stations for programming, although various national cable networks from time to time have acquired programs that would have otherwise been offered to local television stations. Competition for exclusive news stories and features is also endemic to the television industry. Advertising: Advertising rates are set based upon a variety of factors, including the size and demographic makeup of the market served by the station, a program's popularity among viewers whom an advertiser wishes to attract, the number of advertisers competing for the available time, the availability of alternative advertising media in the market area, a station's overall ability to attract viewers in its market area and the station's ability to attract viewers among particular demographic groups that an advertiser may be targeting. Advertising rates are also affected by an aggressive and knowledgeable sales force and the development of projects, features and programs that tie advertiser messages to programming. The Company's television stations compete for advertising revenues with other television stations in their respective markets as well as with other advertising media, such as newspapers, radio, magazines, outdoor advertising, transit advertising, yellow page directories, direct mail and local cable systems. Competition for advertising dollars in the broadcasting industry occurs primarily in individual market areas. Generally, a television broadcasting station in the market does not compete with stations in other market areas. The Company's television stations are located in highly competitive market areas. -11- Legislation and Regulation The ownership, operation and sale of television stations are subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC under the Communications Act of 1934 (the "Communications Act"). Matters subject to FCC oversight include, but are not limited to, the assignment of frequency bands for broadcast television; the approval of a television station's frequency, location and operating power; the issuance, renewal, revocation or modification of a television station's FCC license; the approval of changes in the ownership or control of a television station's licensee; the regulation of equipment used by television stations and the adoption and implementation of regulations and policies concerning the ownership, operation, programming and employment practices of television stations. The FCC has the power to impose penalties, including fines or license revocations, upon a licensee of a television station for violations of the FCC's rules and regulations. The following is a brief summary of certain provisions of the Communications Act and of specific FCC regulations and policies affecting broadcast television. Reference should be made to the Communications Act, FCC rules and the public notices and rulings of the FCC for further information concerning the nature and extent of FCC regulation of broadcast television stations. License Renewal: Broadcast television licenses are generally granted for maximum terms of eight years. License terms are subject to renewal upon application to the FCC, but they may be renewed for a shorter period upon a finding by the FCC that the "public interest, convenience and necessity" would be served thereby. Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "Telecommunications Act"), the FCC must grant a renewal application if it finds that the station has served the public interest, there have been no serious violations of the Communications Act or FCC rules, and there have been no other violations of the Communications Act or FCC rules by the licensee that, taken together, would constitute a pattern of abuse. If the licensee fails to meet these requirements, the FCC may either deny the license or grant it on terms and conditions as are appropriate after notice and opportunity for hearing. In the vast majority of cases, television broadcast licenses are renewed by the FCC even when petitions to deny or competing applications are filed against broadcast license renewal applications. However, there can be no assurance that each of the Company's broadcast licenses will be renewed in the future. All of the stations' existing licenses were renewed for full terms and are currently in effect. Programming and Operation: The Communications Act requires broadcasters to serve the "public interest." Since the late 1970s, the FCC gradually has relaxed or eliminated many of the more formalized procedures it had developed to promote the broadcast of certain types of programming responsive to the needs of a station's community of license. However, broadcast station licensees must continue to present programming that is responsive to local community problems, needs and interests and to maintain certain records demonstrating such responsiveness. Complaints from viewers concerning a station's programming often will be considered by the FCC when it evaluates license renewal applications, although such complaints may be filed at any time and generally may be considered by the FCC at any time. Stations also must follow various FCC -12- rules that regulate, among other things, political advertising, sponsorship identifications, the advertisements of contests and lotteries, obscene and indecent broadcasts and technical operations, including limits on radio frequency radiation. The FCC also has adopted rules that place additional obligations on television station operators for maximum amounts of advertising and minimum amounts of programming specifically targeted for children, as well as additional public information and reporting requirements. Digital Television: The FCC has adopted rules for implementing digital (including high-definition) television ("DTV") service in the United States. Implementation of DTV is intended to improve the technical quality of television. Under certain circumstances, however, conversion to DTV operations may reduce a station's geographical coverage area. The FCC has allotted a second broadcast channel to each full-power commercial television station for DTV operation. The FCC's DTV allotment plan is based on the use of a "core" DTV spectrum between channels 2 and 51. Under the FCC's rules, stations will be required to phase-in their DTV operations on the second channel over a transition period and to surrender their non-DTV channel later. The FCC has adopted standards for the transmission of DTV signals. These standards will serve as the basis for the phased conversion to digital transmission. The FCC established May 1, 2002 as the date by which all commercial television stations are to have implemented DTV service. The Company's stations were assigned the following digital channel allocations by the FCC: WJLA-39, WCFT-34, WJSU-58, WHTM-57, KATV-22, KTUL-58, WSET-56 and WCIV-53. Of the Company's stations, WJLA is currently operating on its assigned DTV channel. KATV has placed orders for equipment, and management anticipates that implementation of DTV service will be completed at this station during Fiscal 2002. Engineering analyses with respect to the digital channel allocations for the Company's remaining stations revealed alternate available channels that the Company believes would be better suited for these stations' DTV operations. Petitions to the FCC to modify the channel assignments have been made as follows: WCFT-channel 34 to 3, WJSU-channel 58 to 9, WHTM-channel 57 to 10, KTUL-channel 58 to10, WSET-channel 56 to 34 and WCIV-channel 53 to 34. Upon grant of the petitions to modify the channel allocations and necessary applications to construct the facilities, these stations will begin implementing DTV service. The Company anticipates regulatory action on its outstanding petitions during Fiscal 2002, and implementation of DTV service at its remaining stations during Fiscal 2003. There is no assurance that the channel assignment modification petitions will be granted, and as a result, construction on the initially assigned channels may be necessary. The FCC has recognized that, due to exigent circumstances relating to tower construction, equipment availability and other factors, extensions of the May 1, 2002 digital operations date will be necessary, and the FCC has adopted streamlined procedures to affect such extensions. Implementation of DTV service will impose substantial additional costs on television stations providing the new service because of the need to purchase additional equipment and because some stations will need to operate at higher utility costs. There can be no assurance that the Company's television stations will be able to increase revenue to offset such costs. The Company is unable to predict what future actions the FCC might take with respect to DTV service, nor can the Company -13- predict the effect of the FCC's present DTV implementation plan or such future actions on its business. The Company will incur significant expense in the conversion to DTV operations and is unable to predict the extent or timing of consumer demand for any such DTV services. Ownership Matters: The Communications Act contains a number of restrictions on the ownership and control of broadcast licenses. Together with the FCC's rules, it places limitations on alien ownership; common ownership of broadcast, cable and newspaper properties; and ownership by those persons not having the requisite "character" qualifications and those persons holding "attributable" interests in the license. The FCC's television national multiple ownership rules limit the audience reach of television stations in which any entity may hold an attributable interest to 35 percent of total United States audience reach. The FCC's local television multiple ownership rule, the "Duopoly" rule, was revised in September 1999 and now generally permits ownership of attributable interests by a single entity in no more than two television stations which serve the same DMA unless both stations are among the top four rated in the market or there are fewer than eight, full power, independently owned television stations remaining in the market. The FCC generally applies its ownership limits to "attributable" interests held by an individual, corporation, partnership or other association. When applying its multiple ownership or cross-ownership rules, the FCC generally attributes the interests of corporate licensees to the holders of corporate interests as follows: (i) any voting interest amounting to five percent or more of the outstanding voting power of the corporate broadcast licensee generally will be attributable; (ii) in general, no minority voting stock interests will be attributable if there is a single holder of more than fifty percent of the outstanding voting power of a corporate broadcast licensee; (iii) in general, certain investment companies, insurance companies and banks holding stock through their trust departments in trust accounts will be considered to have an attributable interest only if they hold twenty percent or more of the outstanding voting power of a corporate broadcast licensee; and (iv) certain local media competitors (including broadcasters, cable operators and newspapers) and programmers that supply more than 15 percent of a station's weekly broadcast hours will also be attributed with ownership of the station if that entity also has a combination of debt and equity holdings of the station exceeding 33 percent of the total asset value of the station. Furthermore, corporate officers and directors and general partners and uninsulated limited partners of partnerships are personally attributed with the media interests of the corporations or partnerships of which they are officers, directors or partners. In the case of corporations controlling broadcast licenses through one or more intermediate entities, similar attribution standards generally apply to stockholders, officers and directors of such corporations. In light of the FCC's multiple ownership and cross-ownership rules, an individual or entity that acquires an attributable interest in the Company may violate the FCC's rules if that acquirer also has an attributable interest in other television or radio stations, or in cable television systems or daily newspapers, depending on the number and location of those radio or television stations, cable television systems or daily newspapers. Such an acquirer also may be restricted in the companies in which it may invest, to the extent that those investments give rise to an attributable interest. If an -14- individual or entity with an attributable interest in the Company violates any of these ownership rules, the Company may be unable to obtain from the FCC the authorizations needed to conduct its television station business, may be unable to obtain FCC consents for certain future acquisitions, may be unable to obtain renewals of its licenses and may be subject to other material adverse consequences. Additional Competition in the Video Services Industry: The Telecommunications Act also eliminates the overall ban on telephone companies offering video services and permits the ownership of cable television companies by telephone companies in their service areas (or vice versa) in certain circumstances. Telephone companies providing such video services will be regulated according to the transmission technology they use. The Telecommunications Act also permits telephone companies to hold an ownership interest in the programming carried over such systems. Although the Company cannot predict the effect of the removal of these barriers to telephone company participation in the video services industry, it may have the effect of increasing competition in the television broadcast industry in which the Company operates. Other Legislation: The foregoing does not purport to be a complete summary of all the provisions of the Telecommunications Act or of the regulations and policies of the FCC thereunder. Congress and the FCC have under consideration, and in the future may consider and adopt, (i) other changes to existing laws, regulations and policies or (ii) new laws, regulations and policies regarding a wide variety of matters that could affect, directly or indirectly, the operation, ownership and profitability of the Company's broadcast stations. Also, certain of the foregoing matters are now, or may become, the subject of court litigation, and the Company cannot predict the outcome of any such litigation or the impact on its business. Employees As of September 30, 2001, the Company employed in full and part-time positions 856 persons, including 170 at WJLA, 132 at KATV, 126 at KTUL, 110 at WHTM, 122 at WBMA/WCFT/WJSU, 103 at WSET, 81 at WCIV and 12 in its corporate office. Of the employees at WJLA, 93 are represented by three unions: the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists ("AFTRA"), the Directors Guild of America ("DGA") or the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians/Communications Workers of America ("NABET/CWA"). The AFTRA collective bargaining agreement expires September 30, 2002. The DGA collective bargaining agreement expired January 16, 2000, and a successor collective bargaining agreement is currently being negotiated. The NABET/CWA collective bargaining agreement expired June 1, 1995. Members of this union have been working under a contract implemented by WJLA after impasse in its negotiations, effective February 1, 1999, and a new collective bargaining agreement is currently under negotiation. No employees of the Company's other owned stations are represented by unions. The Company believes its relations with its employees are satisfactory. -15- ITEM 2. PROPERTIES The Company maintains its corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C., occupying leased office space of approximately 9,300 square feet. The types of properties required to support each of the stations include offices, studios, transmitter sites and antenna sites. The stations' studios are co-located with their office space while transmitter sites and antenna sites are generally located away from the studios in locations determined to provide maximum market signal coverage. The following table describes the general characteristics of the Company's principal real property: -16- Approximate Lease Expiration Facility Market/Use Ownership Size Date - -------- ---------- --------- ---- ---- WJLA Washington, D.C. Office/Studio Leased 88,828 sq. ft. 12/16/03 Tower/Transmitter Joint Venture 108,000 sq. ft. N/A WHTM Harrisburg, PA Office/Studio Owned 14,000 sq. ft. N/A Tower/Transmitter Owned 2,801 sq. ft. N/A Adjacent Land Leased 6,808 sq. ft. 10/31/05 York, PA Office/Studio Leased 1,200 sq. ft. 7/01/06 KATV Little Rock, AR Office/Studio Owned 20,500 sq. ft. N/A Office/Studio Leased 1,500 sq. ft. 1/31/03 Tower/Transmitter Owned 188 Acres N/A Annex/Garage Owned 67,400 sq. ft. N/A KTUL Tulsa, OK Office/Studio Owned 13,520 sq. ft. N/A Tower/Transmitter Owned 160 acres N/A Tower Leased 1 acre 5/30/05 WSET Lynchburg, VA Office/Studio Owned 15,500 sq. ft. N/A Tower/Transmitter Owned 2,700 sq. ft. N/A Danville, VA Office/Studio Leased 2,150 sq. ft. 2/28/03 WCIV Mt. Pleasant, SC Office/Studio Owned 21,700 sq. ft. N/A Tower/Transmitter Leased 2,000 sq. ft. 8/31/06 WBMA/WCFT/WJSU Birmingham, AL Office/Studio Leased 26,357 sq. ft 9/30/06 Satellite Dish Farm Leased 0.5 acres 9/30/06 Tower/Relay-Pelham Leased .08 acres 10/31/01 Tower/Relay-Red Mtn. Owned .21 acres N/A Tuscaloosa, AL Office/Studio Owned 9,475 sq. ft. N/A Tower-Tuscaloosa Owned 10.5 acres N/A Tower-AmSouth Leased 134.3 acres 4/30/06 Anniston, AL Office/Studio Leased 7,273 sq. ft. 6 months notice Tower-Blue Mtn. Owned 1.7 acres N/A Gadsden Office Leased 1,000 sq. ft. Monthly Tower-Bald Rock Leased 1 acre 8/29/16 -17- ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company currently and from time to time is involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of its business, including suits based on defamation. The Company is not currently a party to any lawsuit or proceeding which, in the opinion of management, if decided adverse to the Company, would be likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS Not Applicable. PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS Not Applicable. -18- ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA (Dollars in thousands) The selected consolidated financial data below should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Report. The selected consolidated financial data for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 are derived from the Company's audited Consolidated Financial Statements. Fiscal Year Ended September 30, ------------------------------- 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Statement of Operations Data: Operating revenues, net .............. $172,828 $182,484 $187,288 $205,307 $190,618 Television operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization ..................... 105,630 106,147 109,549 113,617 112,865 Depreciation and amortization ........ 19,652 18,922 17,471 15,660 14,271 Corporate expenses ................... 4,382 4,568 4,339 4,873 5,641 Operating income ..................... 43,164 52,847 55,929 71,157 57,841 Interest expense ..................... 42,870 44,340 42,154 42,212 41,682 Interest income ...................... 2,433 3,339 2,760 2,893 2,798 Income before extraordinary items ............................ 424 5,746 8,628 17,184 10,644 Extraordinary loss<F1> ............... -- (5,155) -- -- -- Net income ........................... 424 591 8,628 17,184 10,644 As of September 30, ------------------- 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Balance Sheet Data: Total assets ......................... $280,977 $279,521 $275,868 $269,934 $255,947 Total debt<F2> ....................... 415,722 429,691 429,629 427,729 426,860 Stockholder's investment ............. (185,563) (203,776) (211,347) (219,896) (232,832) Fiscal Year Ended September 30, ------------------------------- 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Cash Flow Data<F3>: Cash flow from operating activities ...................... $15,551 $28,022 $28,302 $33,579 $27,530 Cash flow from investing activities .. (17,363) (8,190) (9,809) (8,354) (5,684) Cash flow from financing activities .. (2,875) (13,404) (17,905) (27,749) (26,119) Fiscal Year Ended September 30, ------------------------------- 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Financial Ratios and Other Data: Operating Cash Flow<F4> .............. $62,816 $71,769 $73,400 $86,817 $72,112 Operating Cash Flow Margin<F5> ....... 36.3% 39.3% 39.2% 42.3% 37.8% Capital expenditures ................. 12,140 8,557 9,849 5,048 5,711 -19- <FN> <F1> The extraordinary loss during Fiscal 1998 resulted from the early repayment of long-term debt. <F2> Total debt is defined as long-term debt (including the current portion thereof, and net of discount), short-term debt and capital lease obligations. <F3> Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities were determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. See "Consolidated Financial Statements - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows". <F4> "Operating Cash Flow" is defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization. Programming expenses are included in television operating expenses. The Company has included Operating Cash Flow data because it understands that such data is used by investors to measure a company's ability to fund its operations and service debt. Operating Cash Flow does not purport to represent cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements, is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles, should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or cash flows from operating activities and may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. <F5> "Operating Cash Flow Margin" is defined as Operating Cash Flow as a percentage of operating revenues, net. </FN> -20- ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollars in thousands) General Factors Affecting the Company's Business The Company owns ABC network-affiliated television stations serving seven diverse geographic markets: WJLA in Washington, D.C.; WCFT in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, WJSU in Anniston, Alabama and WBMA-LP, a low power television station licensed to Birmingham, Alabama (the Company operates WCFT and WJSU in tandem with WBMA-LP serving the viewers of the Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Anniston market); WHTM in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas; KTUL in Tulsa, Oklahoma; WSET in Lynchburg, Virginia; and WCIV in Charleston, South Carolina. The Company previously programmed WJSU pursuant to the Anniston LMA. In connection with the Anniston LMA, the Company entered into an option to purchase the assets of WJSU. The Company exercised its option to acquire WJSU on September 14, 1999 and completed the acquisition on March 22, 2000. The consolidated results of operations of the Company include operating revenues and operating expenses of WJSU from December 29, 1995 to March 21, 2000 pursuant to the terms of the Anniston LMA, and since March 22, 2000 as an owned station. Upon acquisition of WJSU, the Company was no longer required to pay fees approximating $360 annually that were paid in connection with the previously existing local marketing agreement. The operating revenues of the Company are derived from local and national advertisers and, to a much lesser extent, from the networks and program syndicators for the broadcast of programming and from other broadcast-related activities. The primary operating expenses involved in owning and operating television stations are employee compensation, programming, news gathering, production, promotion and the solicitation of advertising. Television stations receive revenues for advertising sold for placement within and adjoining locally originated programming and adjoining their network programming. Advertising rates are set based upon a variety of factors, including the size and demographic makeup of the market served by the station, a program's popularity among viewers whom an advertiser wishes to attract, the number of advertisers competing for the available time, the availability of alternative advertising media in the market area, a station's overall ability to attract viewers in its market area and the station's ability to attract viewers among particular demographic groups that an advertiser may be targeting. Advertising rates are also affected by an aggressive and knowledgeable sales force and the development of projects, features and programs that tie advertiser messages to programming. The Company's advertising revenues are generally highest in the first and third quarters of each fiscal year, due in part to increases in retail advertising in the period leading up to and including the holiday season and active advertising in the spring. The fluctuation in the Company's operating results is generally related to fluctuations in the revenue cycle. In addition, advertising revenues are -21- generally higher during election years due to spending by political candidates, which is typically heaviest during the Company's first and fourth fiscal quarters. During years in which Olympic Games are held, there is additional demand for advertising time and, as a result, increased advertising revenue associated with Olympic broadcasts. The 2000 Summer Olympic Games were broadcast by NBC in September 2000 in connection with NBC's United States television rights to the Olympic Games which extend through 2008. The broadcast television industry is cyclical in nature, being affected by prevailing economic conditions. Because the Company relies on sales of advertising time for substantially all of its revenues, its operating results are sensitive to general economic conditions and regional conditions in each of the local market areas in which the Company's stations operate. For Fiscal 1999, 2000 and 2001, WJLA accounted for approximately one-half of the Company's total revenues. As a result, the Company's results of operations are highly dependent on WJLA and, in turn, the Washington, D.C. economy and, to a lesser extent, on each of the other local economies in which the Company's stations operate. The Company is also dependent on automotive-related advertising. Approximately 25%, 26% and 27% of the Company's total broadcast revenues for the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively, consisted of automotive-related advertising. A significant decrease in such advertising in the future could materially and adversely affect the Company's operating results. -22- Operating Revenues The following table depicts the principal types of operating revenues, net of agency commissions, earned by the Company for each of the last three fiscal years and the percentage contribution of each to the total broadcast revenues of the Company, before fees. Fiscal Year Ended September 30, ------------------------------- 1999 2000 2001 ---- ---- ---- Dollars Percent Dollars Percent Dollars Percent ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Local/regional<F1> ......... $ 94,393 48.8% $101,619 47.9% $ 95,069 48.3% National<F2> ............... 77,077 39.9% 90,168 42.5% 78,225 39.8% Network compensation<F3> ... 5,668 2.9% 2,930 1.4% 2,975 1.5% Political<F4> .............. 4,191 2.2% 4,826 2.3% 8,201 4.2% Trade and barter<F5> ....... 8,181 4.2% 8,748 4.1% 7,704 3.9% Other revenues<F6> ......... 3,879 2.0% 3,968 1.8% 4,568 2.3% -------- ------ -------- ------ -------- ------ Broadcast revenues ......... 193,389 100.0% 212,259 100.0% 196,742 100.0% ====== ====== ====== Fees<F7> ................... (6,101) (6,952) (6,124) -------- -------- -------- Operating revenues, net .... $187,288 $205,307 $190,618 ======== ======== ======== - ---------- <FN> <F1> Represents sale of advertising time to local and regional advertisers or agencies representing such advertisers. <F2> Represents sale of advertising time to agencies representing national advertisers. <F3> Represents payment by networks for broadcasting or promoting network programming. <F4> Represents sale of advertising time to political advertisers. <F5> Represents value of commercial time exchanged for goods and services (trade) or syndicated programs (barter). <F6> Represents miscellaneous revenue, principally from the sales of University of Arkansas sports programming to advertisers and radio stations as well as receipts from tower rental and production of commercials. <F7> Represents fees paid to national sales representatives and fees paid for music licenses. </FN> Local/regional and national advertising constitute the Company's largest categories of operating revenues, collectively representing approximately 90% of the Company's total broadcast revenues in each of the last three fiscal years. Although the total percentage contribution of local/regional and national advertising has been relatively constant over such period, the growth rate of local/regional and national advertising revenues varies annually based upon the demand and rates for local/regional advertising time versus national advertising time in each of the Company's markets. Local/regional advertising revenues increased 2.2% and 7.7% in Fiscal 1999 and 2000, respectively, and decreased 6.4% in Fiscal 2001. National advertising revenues increased 2.0% and 17.0% in Fiscal 1999 and 2000, respectively, and decreased 13.2% in Fiscal 2001. Each other individual category of revenues represented less than 5.0% of the Company's total revenues for each of the last three fiscal years. -23- Results of Operations - Fiscal 2001 Compared to Fiscal 2000 As compared to Fiscal 2000, the Company's results of operations for Fiscal 2001 principally reflect a decrease in net operating revenues. This decrease resulted from a general weakness in television advertising, principally represented by decreased national advertising revenue in all of the Company's markets as well as decreased local/regional advertising revenue in the Washington, D.C. market. The decreases in national and local/regional advertising revenues were partially offset by significantly increased political advertising revenue in all but one of the Company's markets. Additionally, the Company's net operating revenues for Fiscal 2001 were adversely impacted by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The Company estimates that it lost advertising revenues of up to $2,500 due to commercial-free news coverage and advertiser cancellations during the period following September 11, 2001. Set forth below are selected consolidated financial data for Fiscal 2000 and 2001, respectively, and the percentage change between the years. Fiscal Year Ended September 30, ------------------------------- Percentage 2000 2001 Change ---- ---- ------ Operating revenues, net ............. $205,307 $190,618 (7.2)% Total operating expenses ............ 134,150 132,777 (1.0)% -------- -------- Operating income .................... 71,157 57,841 (18.7)% Nonoperating expenses, net .......... 40,723 39,935 (1.9)% Income tax provision ................ 13,250 7,262 (45.2)% -------- -------- Net income .......................... $ 17,184 $ 10,644 (38.1)% ======== ======== Operating cash flow ................. $ 86,817 $ 72,112 (16.9)% ======== ======== Net Operating Revenues Net operating revenues for Fiscal 2001 totaled $190,618, a decrease of $14,689 or 7.2%, as compared to Fiscal 2000. This decrease resulted principally from decreased national advertising revenue in all of the Company's markets as well as decreased local/regional advertising revenue in the Washington, D.C. market. The decreases in national and local/regional advertising revenues were partially offset by significantly increased political advertising revenue in all but one of the Company's markets. Additionally, the Company's net operating revenues for Fiscal 2001 were adversely impacted by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The Company estimates that it lost advertising revenues of up to $2,500 due to commercial-free news coverage and advertiser cancellations during the period following September 11, 2001. -24- Local/regional advertising revenues decreased $6,550, or 6.4%, from Fiscal 2000. The decrease was primarily attributable to decreased local/regional advertising revenues in the Washington, D.C. market. National advertising revenues decreased $11,943, or 13.2%, in Fiscal 2001 from the prior fiscal year. All of the Company's markets contributed to this decrease. There was a substantial decrease in internet-related advertising which had contributed to the strong growth of the Washington, D.C. market during Fiscal 2000. Political advertising revenues increased by $3,375, or 69.9%, in Fiscal 2001 from Fiscal 2000. This increase was primarily due to the national presidential election and high-profile local political races affecting the Little Rock, Washington, D.C. and Lynchburg markets in November 2000. The increase was partially offset by Fiscal 2000 political advertising leading up to the national presidential and local elections in November 2000. No individual advertiser accounted for more than 5% of the Company's broadcast revenues during Fiscal 2001 or 2000. Total Operating Expenses Total operating expenses in Fiscal 2001 were $132,777, a decrease of $1,373, or 1.0%, compared to total operating expenses of $134,150 in Fiscal 2000. This net decrease consisted of a decrease in television operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, of $752, a decrease in depreciation and amortization of $1,389 and an increase in corporate expenses of $768. Television operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, totaled $112,865 in Fiscal 2001, a decrease of $752, or 0.7%, when compared to television operating expenses of $113,617 in Fiscal 2000. Television operating expenses during Fiscal 2001 included a decrease in programming expenses related to a reduction in the number of one-time and non-recurring programming events occurring during the first and fourth quarters of Fiscal 2001 as compared to the same periods in Fiscal 2000. Excluding these expenses from the prior period, television operating expenses increased 1.2% during Fiscal 2001. Depreciation and amortization expense of $14,271 in Fiscal 2001 decreased $1,389, or 8.9%, from $15,660 in Fiscal 2000. The decrease was primarily attributable to the completion of the acquisition of WJSU on March 22, 2000. Prior to March 22, 2000, the costs to acquire the option to purchase WJSU were amortized over the ten-year term of the option. Since completion of the acquisition, the portion of the purchase price assigned to the broadcast license of WJSU is being amortized over its estimated useful life of 40 years. Corporate expenses in Fiscal 2001 increased $768, or 15.8%, from Fiscal 2000. The increase was primarily due to increased personnel and key-man life insurance expenses. -25- Operating Income Operating income of $57,841 in Fiscal 2001 decreased $13,316, or 18.7%, compared to operating income of $71,157 in Fiscal 2000. The operating profit margin in Fiscal 2001 decreased to 30.3% from 34.7% for the prior fiscal year. The decreases in operating income and margin were primarily the result of decreased net operating revenues as discussed above. Operating Cash Flow Operating cash flow decreased to $72,112 in Fiscal 2001 from $86,817 in Fiscal 2000, a decrease of $14,705, or 16.9%. This decrease was primarily the result of decreased net operating revenues as discussed above. The Company believes that operating cash flow, defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization, is important in measuring the Company's financial results and its ability to pay principal and interest on its debt because of the Company's level of non-cash expenses attributable to depreciation and amortization of intangible assets. Operating cash flow does not purport to represent cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as reflected in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles, should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or cash flows from operating activities and may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. Nonoperating Expenses, Net Interest expense decreased by $530, or 1.3%, from $42,212 in Fiscal 2000 to $41,682 in Fiscal 2001. This decrease was principally due to a decreased average balance of debt outstanding during Fiscal 2001. The average balance of debt outstanding, including capital lease obligations, was $445,403 and $441,619 for Fiscal 2000 and 2001, respectively, and the weighted average interest rate on debt was 9.4% for each of the years ended September 30, 2000 and 2001. Income Taxes The provision for income taxes in Fiscal 2001 of $7,262 decreased by $5,988, or 45.2%, when compared to the provision for income taxes of $13,250 in Fiscal 2000. The decrease was directly related to the $12,528, or 41.2%, decrease in the Company's income before income taxes as well as the one-time recognition of a tax benefit of approximately $950 during Fiscal 2001 due to a court ruling which enabled the Company to utilize a previously unrecognized local net operating loss carryforwards. Net Income Net income for Fiscal 2001 of $10,644 decreased $6,540, or 38.1%, when compared to net income of $17,184 in Fiscal 2000. The decrease in net income was attributable to the decline in operating results for Fiscal 2001 as discussed above. -26- Results of Operations - Fiscal 2000 Compared to Fiscal 1999 As compared to Fiscal 1999, the Company's results of operations for Fiscal 2000 principally reflect an increase in national and local/regional advertising revenues in the Washington, D.C. market, partially offset by decreased network compensation revenue and increased programming and news expenses in a majority of the Company's markets. Set forth below are selected consolidated financial data for Fiscal 1999 and 2000, respectively, and the percentage change between the years. Fiscal Year Ended September 30, ------------------------------- Percentage 1999 2000 Change ---- ---- ------ Operating revenues, net ............. $187,288 $205,307 9.6% Total operating expenses ............ 131,359 134,150 2.1% -------- -------- Operating income .................... 55,929 71,157 27.2% Nonoperating expenses, net .......... 40,584 40,723 0.3% Income tax provision ................ 6,717 13,250 97.3% -------- -------- Net income .......................... $ 8,628 $ 17,184 99.2% ======== ======== Operating cash flow ................. $ 73,400 $ 86,817 18.3% ======== ======== Net Operating Revenues Net operating revenues for Fiscal 2000 totaled $205,307, an increase of $18,019 or 9.6%, as compared to Fiscal 1999. This increase resulted principally from increased national and local/regional advertising revenue in the Company's Washington, D.C. market, partially offset by decreased network compensation revenue. Local/regional advertising revenues increased $7,226, or 7.7%, over Fiscal 1999. The increase was primarily attributable to an improvement in the Washington, D.C. local/regional advertising market. National advertising revenues increased $13,091, or 17.0%, in Fiscal 2000 over the prior fiscal year. All of the Company's stations experienced an increase in national advertising revenues during Fiscal 2000, with the overall increase being primarily attributable to an improvement in the Washington, D.C. and Harrisburg national advertising markets. Strong internet-related advertising, particularly during the first quarter of Fiscal 2000, contributed to the improvement in the Washington, D.C. national advertising market. -27- Network compensation revenue decreased $2,738, or 48.3%, from Fiscal 1999. The decrease was principally due to the effect of the amendment of the Company's network affiliation agreements with ABC in August 1999. This decrease was fully offset by local/regional and national advertising revenues generated from the sale of additional prime-time inventory obtained as part of the amendment. See "Business - Network Affiliation Agreements and Relationship". Political advertising revenues increased by $635, or 15.2%, in Fiscal 2000 from Fiscal 1999. This increase was primarily due to Fiscal 2000 political advertising leading up to the national presidential election as well as various high-profile local elections in certain of the Company's markets that took place in November 2000. The increase was partially offset by Fiscal 1999 political advertising related to various high-profile local elections in many of the Company's markets that took place in November 1998. No individual advertiser accounted for more than 5% of the Company's broadcast revenues during Fiscal 2000 or 1999. Total Operating Expenses Total operating expenses in Fiscal 2000 were $134,150, an increase of $2,791, or 2.1%, compared to total operating expenses of $131,359 in Fiscal 1999. This net increase consisted of an increase in television operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, of $4,068, a decrease in depreciation and amortization of $1,811 and an increase in corporate expenses of $534. Television operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, totaled $113,617 in Fiscal 2000, an increase of $4,068, or 3.7%, when compared to television operating expenses of $109,549 in Fiscal 1999. This television operating expense increase was primarily attributable to increased programming and news expenses across a majority of the Company's stations. The increased programming expenses during Fiscal 2000 included certain one-time and non-recurring programming events occurring during the first and fourth quarters. Excluding these expenses, television operating expenses increased 2.3% during Fiscal 2000. Depreciation and amortization expense of $15,660 in Fiscal 2000 decreased $1,811, or 10.4%, from $17,471 in Fiscal 1999. The decrease was primarily attributable to decreased depreciation on the assets acquired in Birmingham and Harrisburg during Fiscal 1996. Additionally, amortization expense decreased during Fiscal 2000 as a result of the completion of the acquisition of WJSU on March 22, 2000. Prior to March 22, 2000, the costs to acquire the option to purchase WJSU were amortized over the ten-year term of the option. Since completion of the acquisition, the portion of the purchase price assigned to the broadcast license of WJSU is being amortized over its estimated useful life of 40 years. Corporate expenses in Fiscal 2000 increased $534, or 12.3%, from Fiscal 1999. The increase was primarily due to increased key-man life insurance expense. -28- Operating Income Operating income of $71,157 in Fiscal 2000 increased $15,228, or 27.2%, compared to operating income of $55,929 in Fiscal 1999. The operating profit margin in Fiscal 2000 increased to 34.7% from 29.9% for the prior fiscal year. The increases in operating income and margin were the result of net operating revenues increasing more than total operating expenses as discussed above. Operating Cash Flow Operating cash flow increased to $86,817 in Fiscal 2000 from $73,400 in Fiscal 1999, an increase of $13,417, or 18.3%. This increase was a result of net operating revenues increasing more than television operating expenses as discussed above. The Company believes that operating cash flow, defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization, is important in measuring the Company's financial results and its ability to pay principal and interest on its debt because of the Company's level of non-cash expenses attributable to depreciation and amortization of intangible assets. Operating cash flow does not purport to represent cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as reflected in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles, should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or cash flows from operating activities and may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. Nonoperating Expenses, Net Interest expense increased by $58 from $42,154 in Fiscal 1999 to $42,212 in Fiscal 2000. The average balance of debt outstanding, including capital lease obligations, was $447,078 and $445,403 for Fiscal 1999 and 2000, respectively, and the weighted average interest rate on debt was 9.35% and 9.39% for the years ended September 30, 1999 and 2000, respectively. Income Taxes The provision for income taxes in Fiscal 2000 of $13,250 increased by $6,533, or 97.3%, when compared to the provision for income taxes of $6,717 in Fiscal 1999. The increase was directly related to the $15,089, or 98.3%, increase in income before income taxes. Net Income Net income for Fiscal 2000 of $17,184 increased $8,556, or 99.2%, when compared to net income of $8,628 in Fiscal 1999. The increase in net income was attributable to the improved operating results for Fiscal 2000 as discussed above. -29- Liquidity and Capital Resources Cash Provided by Operations The Company's principal source of working capital is cash flow from operations and borrowings under its revolving credit facility. As reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the Company's net cash provided by operating activities was $33,579 and $27,530 for Fiscal 2000 and 2001, respectively. The $6,049 decrease in cash flows from operating activities was primarily due to the $6,540 decrease in net income as well as changes in program rights payable and accounts receivable. The Company made cash payments for programming of approximately $24,000 during Fiscal 2001 as compared to approximately $20,500 during Fiscal 2000. This resulted in a decrease in program rights payable of $1,120 during Fiscal 2001 as compared to an increase in program rights payable of $2,432 during Fiscal 2000. These changes in net income and program rights payable were partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable of $2,402 during Fiscal 2001 as compared to an increase in Fiscal 2000 of $3,183. Accounts receivable increased during Fiscal 2000 due to the related revenue increase, while accounts receivable decreased during Fiscal 2001 due to the related revenue decrease. Distributions to Related Parties The Company periodically makes advances in the form of distributions to Perpetual. For Fiscal 1999, 2000 and 2001, the Company made cash advances net of repayments to Perpetual of $16,199, $25,733 and $23,580, respectively. The advances to Perpetual are non-interest bearing and, as such, do not reflect market rates of interest-bearing loans to unaffiliated third parties. In addition, during Fiscal 1999, 2000 and 2001, the Company was charged by Perpetual and made payments to Perpetual for federal and state income taxes totaling $4,328, $8,808 and $4,500, respectively. At present, the primary sources of repayment of net advances is through the ability of the Company to pay dividends or make other distributions, and there is no immediate intent for the amounts to be repaid. Accordingly, these advances have been treated as a reduction of stockholder's investment and are described as "distributions" in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. During Fiscal 1991, the Company made a $20,000 11.06% loan to Allnewsco. This amount has been reflected in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements on a consistent basis with other distributions to owners. The loan had stated repayment terms consisting of annual principal installments of approximately $2,220 commencing January 1997 through January 2005 and payments of interest semi-annually. During Fiscal 1997 and 1998, the Company deferred the first two annual principal installment payments pending renegotiation of the repayment terms. Effective July 1, 1998, the note was amended to extend the maturity date to January 2008 and defer all principal installments until maturity, with the principal balance also due upon demand. In exchange for the amendment, Allnewsco paid to the Company the amount of $650. Interest payments on the loan approximate $2,200 annually and have been made in accordance with the terms of the note. The Company expects it will continue to receive such payments on a current basis. To date, interest -30- payments from Allnewsco have been funded by advances from Perpetual to Allnewsco. The Company anticipates that at least a portion of such payments will be funded in a similar manner for the foreseeable future. However, there can be no assurance that Allnewsco will have the ability to make such interest payments in the future. Under the terms of the Company's borrowing agreements, future advances, distributions and dividends to related parties are subject to certain restrictions. The Company anticipates that, subject to such restrictions, ACC will make distributions and loans to related parties in the future. Subsequent to September 30, 2001 and through November 14, 2001, the Company received net repayments of distributions to owners of $611. Indebtedness The Company's total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt, decreased from $427,729 at September 30, 2000 to $426,860 at September 30, 2001. This debt, net of applicable discounts, consists of $274,283 of the 9.75% Senior Subordinated Debentures due November 30, 2007; $150,000 of the 8.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due February 1, 2008; and $2,577 of capital lease obligations. The decrease of $869 in total debt from September 30, 2000 to September 30, 2001 was primarily due to a net decrease in capital lease obligations. Effective March 27, 2001, the Company entered into an amended and restated revolving credit facility in the amount of $50,000. The amended and restated revolving credit facility is secured by the pledge of stock of the Company and its subsidiaries and matures March 27, 2006. Interest is payable quarterly at various rates from prime plus .25% or LIBOR plus 1.5% depending on certain financial operating tests. As of September 30, 2001, there were no amounts outstanding under the amended and restated revolving credit facility. Under the existing borrowing agreements, the Company is subject to restrictive covenants which place limitations upon payments of cash dividends, issuance of capital stock, investment transactions, incurrence of additional obligations and transactions with affiliates. In addition, under the revolving credit facility, the Company must maintain compliance with certain financial covenants. Compliance with the financial covenants is measured at the end of each quarter, and as of September 30, 2001, the Company was in compliance with those financial covenants. The revolving credit facility was amended on December 19, 2001 to adjust certain of the financial covenants for the next fiscal year. Management believes that the amendment allows the Company sufficient operational flexibility to remain in compliance with the financial covenants. The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee ranging from .5% to .75% per annum based on the amount of any unused portion of the revolving credit facility. Other Uses of Cash During Fiscal 1999, 2000 and 2001, the Company made $11,377, $5,048 and $6,461, respectively, of capital expenditures, of which $1,528 and $750 were financed through capital lease transactions during Fiscal 1999 and 2001, respectively. The increased level of capital expenditures during Fiscal -31- 1999 related primarily to completion of the project enabling WJLA to simultaneously broadcast its programming over its second channel authorized to transmit a digital television signal as well as an expansion to the Company's Tulsa office and studio facility. The Company anticipates that capital expenditures will significantly increase during Fiscal 2002 due to the relocation and technical upgrade of WJLA's studio and office facilities. At this time, the Company estimates that capital expenditures for Fiscal 2002 will approximate $22,000 and will primarily be for the buildout of studio and office space and acquisition of technical equipment for WJLA, the implementation of DTV service at the Company's Little Rock station and the acquisition of technical equipment and vehicles to support ongoing operations across the Company's stations. Management expects that the source of funds for these anticipated capital expenditures will be cash provided by operations and capital lease transactions. The Company has an annually renewable lease credit facility, presently in the amount of $5,000, for the purpose of financing capital expenditures. Interest rates under the lease credit facility are based upon the lessor's cost of funds and are fixed over the five-year term of each respective lease. This facility expires on June 30, 2002 and is renewable annually on mutually satisfactory terms. The Company currently intends to renew and increase the amount of this facility. At September 30, 2001, $750 was outstanding under this lease credit facility, and $1,827 was outstanding under a previous lease credit facility. The Company regularly enters into program contracts for the right to broadcast television programs produced by others and program commitments for the right to broadcast programs in the future. Such programming commitments are generally made to replace expiring or canceled program rights. During Fiscal 1999, 2000 and 2001, the Company made cash payments of approximately $17,200, $20,500 and $24,000, respectively, for rights to television programs. Cash payments for programming increased $3,300 during Fiscal 2000 as compared to Fiscal 1999 primarily due to an increase in programming costs. Cash payments for programming increased $3,500 during Fiscal 2001 as compared to Fiscal 2000 primarily due to the timing of cash payments. As of September 30, 2001, the Company had commitments to acquire further program rights through September 30, 2006 totaling $47,815 and anticipates cash payments for program rights will approximate $22,000 per year for the foreseeable future. The Company currently intends to fund these commitments with cash provided by operations. The Company completed its acquisition of WJSU on March 22, 2000 (See "Owned and/or Programmed Stations - WBMA/WCFT/WJSU: Birmingham (Anniston and Tuscaloosa), Alabama"). The Company funded the purchase price of $3,372 with cash provided by operations. Based upon the Company's current level of operations, management believes that available cash, together with available borrowings under the revolving credit facility and lease credit facility, will be adequate to meet the Company's anticipated future requirements for working capital, capital expenditures and scheduled payments of interest on its debt for the next twelve months. ACC's cash flow from operations and consequent ability to service its debt is, in part, dependent upon the earnings of its subsidiaries and the distribution (through dividends or otherwise) of those earnings to ACC, or upon loans, advances or other payments of funds by those subsidiaries to ACC. As of September 30, 2001, 75% of the assets of ACC were held by operating subsidiaries and for -32- Fiscal 2001, approximately 50% of ACC's net operating revenues were derived from the operations of ACC's subsidiaries. Income Taxes The operations of the Company are included in a consolidated federal income tax return filed by Perpetual. In accordance with the terms of a tax sharing agreement between the Company and Perpetual, the Company is required to pay to Perpetual its federal income tax liability, computed based upon statutory federal income tax rates applied to the Company's consolidated taxable income. The Company files separate state income tax returns with the exception of Virginia which is included in a combined state income tax return filed by Perpetual. In accordance with the terms of the tax sharing agreement, the Company is required to pay to Perpetual its combined Virginia income tax liability, computed based upon statutory Virginia income tax rates applied to the Company's combined Virginia net taxable income. Taxes payable to Perpetual are not reduced by losses generated in prior years by the Company. In addition, the amounts payable by the Company to Perpetual under the tax sharing agreement are not reduced if losses of other members of the Perpetual group are utilized to offset taxable income of the Company for purposes of the Perpetual consolidated federal or Virginia state income tax returns. The provision for income taxes is determined in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," which requires that the consolidated amount of current and deferred income tax expense for a group that files a consolidated income tax return be allocated among members of the group when those members issue separate financial statements. Perpetual allocates a portion of its consolidated current and deferred income tax expense to the Company as if the Company and its subsidiaries were separate taxpayers. The Company records deferred tax assets, to the extent it is considered more likely than not that such assets will be realized in future periods, and deferred tax liabilities for the tax effects of the differences between the bases of its assets and liabilities for tax and financial reporting purposes. To the extent a deferred tax asset would be recorded due to the incurrence of losses for federal or Virginia state income tax purposes, any such benefit recognized is effectively distributed to Perpetual as such benefit will not be recognized in future years pursuant to the tax sharing agreement. Inflation The impact of inflation on the Company's consolidated financial condition and consolidated results of operations for each of the periods presented was not material. -33- New Accounting Standards SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations," was issued in July 2001 and is effective for all business combinations with acquisition dates after June 30, 2001. The pronouncement eliminates the pooling-of-interest method of accounting for business combinations and addresses the accounting for intangible assets acquired as part of a business combination. Adoption of SFAS No. 141 has had no impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations as the Company has not entered into any business combinations since June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," was issued in June 2001. SFAS No. 142 addresses the financial accounting and reporting for acquired goodwill and other intangible assets. Under the new rules, goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives will no longer be amortized but will be subject to annual impairment tests. Other intangible assets will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. SFAS No. 142 becomes effective for the Company's fiscal year ending September 30, 2003. The Company estimates that the application of the non-amortization provisions of SFAS No. 142 will decrease amortization expense by approximately $4,000 per year. Upon adoption, the Company will perform the first of the required impairment tests on its indefinite lived intangible assets. The Company has not yet determined what the effect, if any, of these tests will be on the Company's financial position or results of operations. SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations," was issued in June 2001 to address diversity in practice for recognizing obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," was issued in August 2001 to establish a single accounting model for long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale and to address issues surrounding the impairment of long-lived assets. These standards are effective for the Company's fiscal year ending September 30, 2003 and will not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations. -34- ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK At September 30, 2001, the Company had other financial instruments consisting primarily of long-term fixed interest rate debt. Such debt, with future principal payments of $425,000, matures during the year ending September 30, 2008. At September 30, 2001, the carrying value of such debt was $424,283, the fair value was $425,000 and the weighted average interest rate was 9.4%. The fair market value of long-term fixed interest rate debt is subject to interest rate risk. Generally, the fair market value of fixed interest rate debt will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. The Company estimates the fair value of its long-term debt using either quoted market prices or by discounting the required future cash flows under its debt using borrowing rates currently available to the Company, as applicable. The Company actively monitors the capital markets in analyzing its capital raising decisions. ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA See Index on page F-1. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE Not Applicable. -35- PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT Executive officers and directors of ACC are as follows: Name Age Title ---- --- ----- Joe L. Allbritton 76 Chairman of the Executive Committee and Director Barbara B. Allbritton 64 Executive Vice President and Director Robert L. Allbritton 32 Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director Lawrence I. Hebert 55 Vice Chairman and Director Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. 46 Vice Chairman, President, Chief Operating Officer and Director Jerald N. Fritz 50 Senior Vice President, Legal and Strategic Affairs, General Counsel Stephen P. Gibson 36 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer JOE L. ALLBRITTON is the founder of ACC and was Chairman of the Board of Directors from its inception until 1998. In April 1998, Mr. Allbritton became Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of ACC. In addition to his position with ACC, Mr. Allbritton has served as Senior Chairman of the Board of Riggs National Corporation ("Riggs") (owner of banking operations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Florida and internationally) since February 2001, and Chairman of the Board of Riggs from 1982 to 2001; Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Riggs Bank N.A. ("Riggs Bank") from 1983 to 2001; Director of Riggs Bank Europe Ltd. from 1986 to 2001 and its Chairman of the Board from 1992 to 2001; Chairman of the Board and owner since 1958 of Perpetual (indirect owner of ACC and majority owner through Allnewsco of NewsChannel 8, a Virginia-based cable programming service); Chairman of Allnewsco from its inception in 1990 to 2001; Chairman of the Board and owner since 1988 of Westfield; Chairman of the Board of WSET since 1976; a Manager of KATV, KTUL and WCIV since 1997; Chairman of the Board of Allfinco from 1995 to 1997; Chairman of the Board of Harrisburg Television and TV Alabama since 1996; Chairman of the Board of AGI and Allbritton Jacksonville, Inc. ("AJI") from 1996 to 2001; Chairman of the Board of Allbritton New Media, Inc. ("ANMI") from 1999 to 2001; and a Trustee and President of The Allbritton Foundation since 1971. Mr. Allbritton is the husband of Barbara B. Allbritton and the father of Robert L. Allbritton. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions". BARBARA B. ALLBRITTON has been a Director of ACC since its inception, an Executive Vice President since 2001 and a Vice President from 1980 to 2001. In addition to her position with ACC, Mrs. Allbritton has been a Director of Riggs Bank since 1991; a Director of Riggs from 1991 to 1999; a Director of WSET since 1976 and a Vice President of WSET from 1976 to 2001; a Vice President of Perpetual since 1978 and a Director of Perpetual since 1992; a Director of Allnewsco since 1990; a Trustee and Vice President of The Allbritton Foundation since 1971; a Director of Allfinco from 1995 to 1997; a Director of Harrisburg Television and TV Alabama since 1996; a -36- Manager of KATV, KTUL and WCIV since 1997; a Director of ANMI since 1999; and a Director of AGI and AJI since 1996. Mrs. Allbritton is the wife of Joe L. Allbritton and the mother of Robert L. Allbritton. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions". ROBERT L. ALLBRITTON has been Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of ACC since February 2001 and a Director of ACC since 1993. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of ACC. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ACC from 1994 to 1998 and as President of ACC from 1998 to 2001. In addition to his positions with ACC, Mr. Allbritton has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Riggs since February 2001 and a Director of Riggs since 1994; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Riggs Bank since February 2001 and a Director of Riggs Bank from 1994 to 1997 and since February 2001; a Director of Riggs Bank Europe Ltd. since 1994; President and a Director of ANMI since 1999 and Chairman of the Board of ANMI since 2001; President and a Manager of Irides, LLC ("Irides") since 1999; a Director of Allnewsco since 1992 and Chairman of the Board of Allnewsco since 2001; and a Trustee and Vice President of The Allbritton Foundation since 1992. He has been a Director of Perpetual since 1993 and Vice Chairman of the Board and Executive Vice President of Perpetual since 2001; Vice President of Westfield since 2001; Director of Allfinco from 1995 to 1997 and President of Allfinco since 1995; Director of Harrisburg Television since 1995, its President from 1995 to 1999 and a Vice President of Harrisburg Television since 1999; Director of TV Alabama since 1996, Vice President from 1996 to 1999 and President since 1999; Vice President and a Director of AGI from 1996 to 2001 and Chairman of the Board since 2001; Vice President of AJI from 1996 to 1999, President since 1999, a Director of AJI since 1996 and Chairman of the Board since 2001; President of WSET since 1999 and a Director since 2001; and President of KTUL from 1997 to 2001 and Vice President since 2001. He has been a Manager of KATV, KTUL and WCIV since 1997, and he has been President of WCIV since 2001. He is the son of Joe L. and Barbara B. Allbritton. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions". LAWRENCE I. HEBERT has been Vice Chairman of the Board of ACC since February 2001 and a Director of ACC since 1981. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of ACC. He served as Vice Chairman of the Board of ACC from 1983 to 1998, President from 1984 to 1998, and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer from 1998 to 2001. He has been a Director of Perpetual since 1980 and its President since 1981; President of Westfield since 1988; President of Westfield News Publishing, Inc. since 1991 and a Director from 1991 to 2001; a Director of WSET since 1982; a Manager of KATV, KTUL and WCIV since 1997; a Director of Allnewsco since 1989; President and a Director of ATP since 1988; a Vice President and a Director of Allfinco from 1995 to 1997 and Chairman of the Board since 1997; a Director of Harrisburg Television and TV Alabama since 1995; President and a Director of AGI since 1996; a Director of AJI since 1996; and a Director and Vice President of ANMI since 1999. In addition, Mr. Hebert has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Riggs Bank since February 2001; Vice Chairman of the Board of Riggs from 1988 to 1993, and a Director of Riggs since 1988; a Director of Riggs Bank Europe Ltd. since 1987; a Director of Riggs Bank from 1981 to 1988; a Director of Allied Capital Corporation (venture capital fund) since 1989; and a Trustee of The Allbritton Foundation since 1997. -37- FREDERICK J. RYAN, JR. has been President of ACC since February 2001, Chief Operating Officer of ACC since 1998 and a Director and Vice Chairman of ACC since 1995. He served as Senior Vice President of ACC from 1995 to 1998 and Executive Vice President of ACC from 1998 to 2001. He is also Executive Vice President of KATV, KTUL, WSET, WCIV, Harrisburg Television, TV Alabama, AJI and Allnewsco as well as Vice President of ANMI. He previously served as Chief of Staff to former President Ronald Reagan (1989-1995) and Assistant to the President in the White House (1982-1989). Prior to his government service, Mr. Ryan was an attorney with the Los Angeles firm of Hill, Farrer and Burrill. Mr. Ryan presently serves as Chairman of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, a Director of Ford's Theatre and Trustee of Ronald Reagan Institute of Emergency Medicine at George Washington University. Mr. Ryan is a Director of Riggs Bank and Chairman of its International Committee since April 2000; a Director of Riggs Bank Europe Ltd. in London since 1996; and was a member of the Board of Consultants for Riggs Bank (1996-2000). JERALD N. FRITZ has been a Senior Vice President of ACC since February 2001, and Vice President of ACC from 1987 to 2001, serving as its General Counsel and overseeing strategic planning and governmental affairs. He also has served as a Vice President of Westfield and ATP since 1989, a Vice President of Allnewsco since 1990 and a Vice President of Allfinco since 1995. He has been a Vice President of AGI since 1996 and a Vice President of ANMI and Irides since 1999. From 1981 to 1987, Mr. Fritz held several positions with the FCC, including Chief of Staff, Legal Counsel to the Chairman and Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau's Tariff Division. Mr. Fritz practiced law with the Washington, D.C. firm of Pierson, Ball & Dowd, specializing in communications law from 1978 to 1981 and from 1980 to 1983 was on the adjunct faculty of George Mason University Law School teaching communications law and policy. Mr. Fritz began his legal career with the FCC in 1976 and began his career in broadcasting in 1973 with WGN-TV, Chicago. He currently serves as an elected director of the National Association of Broadcasters ("NAB") and a member of the Governing Committee of the Communications Forum of the American Bar Association. He serves on the Futures and Copyright Committees of the NAB and the Legislative Committee of the ABC Affiliates Association. STEPHEN P. GIBSON has been a Senior Vice President of ACC since February 2001 and a Vice President since 1997. He has served as Chief Financial Officer since 1998 and Controller from 1997 when he joined the Company to 1998. He is also Vice President of Perpetual, Westfield, AGI, KATV, KTUL, WSET, WCIV, Allfinco, Harrisburg Television, TV Alabama, ATP, AJI, Allnewsco, ANMI and Irides. Prior to joining ACC, Mr. Gibson served as Controller for COMSAT RSI Plexsys Wireless Systems, a provider of wireless telecommunications equipment and services, from 1994 to 1997. From 1987 to 1994, Mr. Gibson held various positions with the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse LLP, the latest as Audit Manager. -38- ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The following table sets forth compensation paid to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the four most highly compensated Company executive officers for Fiscal 2001, 2000 and 1999: Summary Compensation Table<F1> ------------------------------ Name and Fiscal Other Annual All Other Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation Compensation ------------------ ---- ------ ----- ------------ ------------ Joe L. Allbritton 2001 $550,000 $135,100<F3> Chairman of the Executive 2000 550,000 121,700<F3> Committee 1999 550,000 112,500<F3> Robert L. Allbritton<F1><F2> 2001 250,000 $75,000 Chairman and Chief 2000 200,000 75,000 Executive Officer 1999 200,000 55,000 Lawrence I. Hebert<F1><F2> 2001 200,000 75,000 Vice Chairman 2000 200,000 75,000 1999 200,000 55,000 Frederick J. Ryan, Jr.<F1><F4> 2001 217,500 75,000 5,400<F5> President and Chief 2000 200,000 75,000 4,700<F5> Operating Officer 1999 200,000 55,000 5,900<F5> Jerald N. Fritz<F6> 2001 200,000 55,000 5,500<F5> Senior Vice President, Legal 2000 180,000 50,000 4,600<F5> and Strategic Affairs 1999 170,000 55,000 5,000<F5> - ---------- <FN> <F1> In February 2001, Robert L. Allbritton was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ACC, succeeding Lawrence I. Hebert, and Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. was named President of ACC, succeeding Robert L. Allbritton. <F2> Robert L. Allbritton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ACC, and Lawrence I. Hebert, Vice Chairman of ACC, are paid cash compensation by Perpetual for services to Perpetual and other interests of Joe L. Allbritton, including ACC. The portion of such compensation related to ACC is allocated to ACC and included as compensation above. In addition, Mr. Robert L. Allbritton is paid management fees directly by ACC which are also included as compensation above. <F3> Represents the imputed premium cost related to certain split dollar life insurance policies on the life of Mr. Joe L. Allbritton. The annual premiums on such policies are paid by ACC. Upon the death of the insured, ACC will receive the cash value of the policies up to the amount of its investments, and the remaining proceeds will be paid to the insured's beneficiary. The imputed premium cost is calculated on the difference between the face value of the policy and the cash surrender value. <F4> Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. receives additional compensation from Perpetual for services to Perpetual and other interests of Joe L. Allbritton, including the Company. This additional compensation is not allocated among these interests, and the Company does not reimburse Perpetual for any portion of this additional compensation to Mr. Ryan. The portion of the additional compensation paid by Perpetual to Mr. Ryan that may be attributable to his services to the Company has not been quantified. Such portion is not material to the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of the Company. <F5> These amounts reflect annual contributions by ACC to the Company's 401(k) Plan. <F6> Jerald N. Fritz is paid compensation by ACC for services to the Company and Perpetual. Perpetual has reimbursed ACC for $22,000, $31,000 and $34,000 of the compensation shown in the table for Mr. Fritz in Fiscal 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. </FN> -39- The Company does not have a Compensation Committee of its Board of Directors. Compensation of executive officers is determined by Joe L. Allbritton, Robert L. Allbritton and Lawrence I. Hebert. Directors of the Company are not separately compensated for membership on the Board of Directors. ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The authorized capital stock of ACC consists of 20,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.05 per share (the "ACC Common Stock"), all of which is outstanding, and 1,000 shares of preferred stock, 200 shares of which have been designated for issue as Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), no shares of which are issued and outstanding. ACC Common Stock Joe L. Allbritton controls Perpetual. Perpetual owns 100% of the outstanding common stock of AGI, and AGI owns 100% of the outstanding ACC Common Stock. There is no established public trading market for ACC Common Stock. Each share of ACC Common Stock has an equal and ratable right to receive dividends when and as declared by the Board of Directors of ACC out of assets legally available therefor. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of ACC, holders of ACC Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in assets available for distribution after payments to creditors and to holders of any preferred stock of ACC that may at the time be outstanding. The holders of ACC Common Stock have no preemptive rights to subscribe to additional shares of capital stock of ACC. Each share of ACC Common Stock is entitled to one vote in elections of directors and all other matters submitted to a vote of ACC's stockholder. -40- ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS (Dollars in thousands) Distributions to Related Parties The Company periodically makes advances in the form of distributions to Perpetual. For Fiscal 2001, the Company made cash advances to Perpetual of $197,680 and Perpetual made repayments on these cash advances of $174,100. Accordingly, the net change in distributions to related parties during Fiscal 2001 was an increase of $23,580. The advances to Perpetual are non-interest bearing and, as such, do not reflect market rates of interest-bearing loans to unaffiliated third parties. In addition, the Company was charged by Perpetual and made payments to Perpetual for federal and state income taxes in the amount of $4,500. As a result of making advances of tax payments in accordance with the terms of the tax sharing agreement between the Company and Perpetual, the Company earned interest income from Perpetual in the amount of $213. See "Income Taxes". At present, the primary source of repayment of net advances is through the ability of the Company to pay dividends or make other distributions, and there is no immediate intent for the amounts to be repaid. Accordingly, these advances have been treated as a reduction of stockholder's investment and are described as "distributions" in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. During Fiscal 1991, the Company made a $20,000 11.06% loan to Allnewsco. This amount has been reflected in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements on a consistent basis with other distributions to owners. The loan had stated repayment terms consisting of annual principal installments of approximately $2,220 commencing January 1997 through January 2005 and payments of interest semi-annually. During Fiscal 1997 and 1998, the Company deferred the first two annual principal installment payments pending renegotiation of the repayment terms. Effective July 1, 1998, the note was amended to extend the maturity date to January 2008 and defer all principal installments until maturity, with the principal balance also due upon demand. In exchange for the amendment, Allnewsco paid to the Company the amount of $650. Interest payments on the loan approximate $2,200 annually and have been made in accordance with the terms of the note. The Company expects it will continue to receive such payments on a current basis. To date, interest payments from Allnewsco have been funded by advances from Perpetual to Allnewsco. The Company anticipates that at least a portion of such payments will be funded in a similar manner for the foreseeable future. However, there can be no assurance that Allnewsco will have the ability to make such interest payments in the future. Under the terms of the Company's borrowing agreements, future advances, distributions and dividends to related parties are subject to certain restrictions. The Company anticipates that, subject to such restrictions, ACC will make distributions and loans to related parties in the future. Subsequent to September 30, 2001 and through November 14, 2001, the Company received net repayments of distributions to owners of $611. -41- Management Fees Management fees of $500 were paid to Perpetual by the Company for Fiscal 2001. The Company also paid executive compensation in the form of management fees to Joe L. Allbritton and Robert L. Allbritton for Fiscal 2001 in the amount of $550 and $200, respectively. The Company expects to pay management fees to Perpetual, Mr. Joe L. Allbritton and Mr. Robert L. Allbritton during Fiscal 2002 of approximately $650, $550 and $200, respectively. The Company believes that payments to Perpetual, Mr. Joe L. Allbritton and Mr. Robert L. Allbritton will continue in the future and that the amount of the management fees is at least as favorable to the Company as those prevailing for comparable transactions with or involving unaffiliated parties. Income Taxes The operations of the Company are included in a consolidated federal income tax return filed by Perpetual. In accordance with the terms of a tax sharing agreement between the Company and Perpetual, the Company is required to pay to Perpetual its federal income tax liability, computed based upon statutory federal income tax rates applied to the Company's consolidated taxable income. The Company files separate state income tax returns with the exception of Virginia which is included in a combined state income tax return filed by Perpetual. In accordance with the terms of the tax sharing agreement, the Company is required to pay to Perpetual its combined Virginia income tax liability, computed based upon statutory Virginia income tax rates applied to the Company's combined Virginia net taxable income. Taxes payable to Perpetual are not reduced by losses generated in prior years by the Company. In addition, the amounts payable by the Company to Perpetual under the tax sharing agreement are not reduced if losses of other members of the Perpetual group are utilized to offset taxable income of the Company for purposes of the Perpetual consolidated federal or Virginia state income tax returns. The provision for income taxes is determined in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," which requires that the consolidated amount of current and deferred income tax expense for a group that files a consolidated income tax return be allocated among members of the group when those members issue separate financial statements. Perpetual allocates a portion of its consolidated current and deferred income tax expense to the Company as if the Company and its subsidiaries were separate taxpayers. The Company records deferred tax assets, to the extent it is considered more likely than not that such assets will be realized in future periods, and deferred tax liabilities for the tax effects of the differences between the bases of its assets and liabilities for tax and financial reporting purposes. To the extent a deferred tax asset would be recorded due to the incurrence of losses for federal or Virginia state income tax purposes, any such benefit recognized is effectively distributed to Perpetual as such benefit will not be recognized in future years pursuant to the tax sharing agreement. -42- Office Space ACC leases corporate headquarters space from Riggs Bank which owns office buildings in Washington, D.C. Riggs Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Riggs. According to the most recently filed Schedule 13D amendment, approximately 41.3% of the common stock of Riggs is deemed to be beneficially owned by Riggs' Senior Chairman, Joe L. Allbritton, and 7.2% of the common stock is deemed to be beneficially owned by Riggs' director, Barbara B. Allbritton, including in each case 7.1% of the common stock of which Mr. and Mrs. Allbritton share beneficial ownership. During Fiscal 2001, ACC paid Riggs Bank $297 for the office space. ACC expects to pay approximately $325 for such space during Fiscal 2002. Management believes the same terms and conditions would have prevailed had they been negotiated with a nonaffiliated company. Local Advertising Revenues Although WJLA did not receive any local advertising revenues from Riggs Bank during Fiscal 2001, it is anticipated that Riggs Bank may advertise on WJLA in the future. The amount of total advertising it may purchase for Fiscal 2002 is unknown. Management believes that the terms of the transactions would be substantially the same or at least as favorable to ACC as those prevailing for comparable transactions with or involving nonaffiliated companies. Company Aircraft On several occasions during Fiscal 2001, Riggs utilized the Company's aircraft and was charged $20 for such usage. It is unknown whether Riggs will utilize the aircraft during Fiscal 2002. The rates charged for use of the aircraft represent the maximum rates allowed by the Federal Aviation Administration for non-charter companies. Such rates are not comparable to rates charged by charter companies. Internet Services The Company has entered into various agreements with Irides, LLC ("Irides") to provide certain of the Company's stations with web site design, hosting and maintenance services. Irides is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allbritton New Media, Inc. ("ANMI") which in turn is an 80%-owned subsidiary of Perpetual. The remaining 20% of ANMI is owned by Mr. Robert L. Allbritton who has options to acquire up to a total of 80% ownership of ANMI. The Company incurred fees of $68 to Irides during Fiscal 2001, and the Company expects to pay fees to Irides during Fiscal 2002 for services performed of approximately $70. Management believes that the terms and conditions of the agreements would be substantially the same or at least as favorable to the Company as those prevailing for comparable transactions with or involving nonaffiliated companies. -43- PART IV ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) The following documents are filed as part of this report: (1) Consolidated Financial Statements See Index on p. F-1 hereof. (2) Financial Statement Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves See Index on p. F-1 hereof. (3) Exhibits See Index on p. A-1 hereof. (b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2001. -44- ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Page ---- Report of Independent Accountants.......................................... F-2 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2000 and 2001.............. F-3 Consolidated Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings for Each of the Years Ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001........... F-4 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for Each of the Years Ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001....................................... F-5 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................................. F-6 Financial Statement Schedule for the Years Ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001 II- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves...................... F-19 All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto. F-1 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS --------------------------------- To the Board of Directors and Stockholder Allbritton Communications Company In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index on page F-1 present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Allbritton Communications Company (an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Perpetual Corporation) and its subsidiaries at September 30, 2000 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the index on page F-1 presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Washington, D.C. November 14, 2001 F-2 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in thousands except share information) September 30, ------------- 2000 2001 ---- ---- ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents ......................................... $ 11,913 $ 7,640 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,181 and $1,034 .................................. 37,802 34,743 Program rights .................................................... 19,945 20,145 Deferred income taxes ............................................. 967 727 Interest receivable from related party ............................ 492 492 Other ............................................................. 2,535 2,333 --------- --------- Total current assets ........................................... 73,654 66,080 Property, plant and equipment, net .................................... 42,185 38,622 Intangible assets, net ................................................ 136,718 132,408 Deferred financing costs and other .................................... 8,412 8,304 Cash surrender value of life insurance ................................ 8,038 9,198 Program rights ........................................................ 927 1,335 --------- --------- $ 269,934 $ 255,947 ========= ========= LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S INVESTMENT Current liabilities Current portion of long-term debt ................................. $ 1,759 $ 1,479 Accounts payable .................................................. 3,105 2,300 Accrued interest payable .......................................... 11,156 11,161 Program rights payable ............................................ 25,257 23,667 Accrued employee benefit expenses ................................. 4,798 4,213 Other accrued expenses ............................................ 4,503 5,003 --------- --------- Total current liabilities ...................................... 50,578 47,823 Long-term debt ........................................................ 425,970 425,381 Program rights payable ................................................ 1,568 2,038 Deferred rent and other ............................................... 2,341 1,761 Accrued employee benefit expenses ..................................... 1,644 1,815 Deferred income taxes ................................................. 7,729 9,961 --------- --------- Total liabilities .............................................. 489,830 488,779 --------- --------- Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 9) Stockholder's investment Preferred stock, $1 par value, 800 shares authorized, none issued.. -- -- Common stock, $.05 par value, 20,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding ................................................ 1 1 Capital in excess of par value .................................... 6,955 6,955 Retained earnings ................................................. 71,238 81,882 Distributions to owners, net (Note 7) ............................. (298,090) (321,670) --------- --------- Total stockholder's investment ................................. (219,896) (232,832) --------- --------- $ 269,934 $ 255,947 ========= ========= See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. F-3 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND RETAINED EARNINGS (Dollars in thousands) Year Ended September 30, ------------------------ 1999 2000 2001 ---- ---- ---- Operating revenues, net ................... $ 187,288 $ 205,307 $ 190,618 --------- --------- --------- Television operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization .......... 109,549 113,617 112,865 Depreciation and amortization ............. 17,471 15,660 14,271 Corporate expenses ........................ 4,339 4,873 5,641 --------- --------- --------- 131,359 134,150 132,777 --------- --------- --------- Operating income .......................... 55,929 71,157 57,841 Nonoperating income (expense) Interest income Related party ....................... 2,480 2,562 2,477 Other ............................... 280 331 321 Interest expense ....................... (42,154) (42,212) (41,682) Other, net ............................. (1,190) (1,404) (1,051) --------- --------- --------- Income before income taxes ................ 15,345 30,434 17,906 Provision for income taxes ................ 6,717 13,250 7,262 --------- --------- --------- Net income ................................ 8,628 17,184 10,644 Retained earnings, beginning of year ...... 45,426 54,054 71,238 --------- --------- --------- Retained earnings, end of year ............ $ 54,054 $ 71,238 $ 81,882 ========= ========= ========= See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. F-4 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Dollars in thousands) Year Ended September 30, ------------------------ 1999 2000 2001 ---- ---- ---- Cash flows from operating activities: Net income ......................................... $ 8,628 $ 17,184 $ 10,644 --------- --------- --------- Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization .................... 17,471 15,660 14,271 Other noncash charges ............................ 1,257 1,424 1,306 Provision for doubtful accounts .................. 519 474 657 (Gain) loss on disposal of assets ................ (3) 23 36 Changes in assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in assets: Accounts receivable .......................... (2,044) (3,183) 2,402 Program rights ............................... (206) (1,630) (608) Other current assets ......................... (431) (269) 202 Other noncurrent assets ...................... (1,313) (914) (1,438) Deferred income taxes ........................ 444 295 240 Increase (decrease) in liabilities: Accounts payable ............................. 1,051 (594) (805) Program rights payable ....................... 2,422 2,432 (1,120) Accrued employee benefit expenses ............ (255) (140) (414) Other accrued expenses ....................... (687) 933 505 Deferred rent and other liabilities .......... (388) (707) (580) Deferred income taxes ........................ 1,837 2,591 2,232 --------- --------- --------- Total adjustments ......................... 19,674 16,395 16,886 --------- --------- --------- Net cash provided by operating activities . 28,302 33,579 27,530 --------- --------- --------- Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures ............................. (9,849) (5,048) (5,711) Exercise of option to acquire assets of WJSU ..... -- (3,372) -- Proceeds from disposal of assets ................. 40 66 27 --------- --------- --------- Net cash used in investing activities ..... (9,809) (8,354) (5,684) --------- --------- --------- Cash flows from financing activities: Deferred financing costs ......................... -- -- (804) Principal payments on long-term debt and capital leases ................................. (1,706) (2,016) (1,735) Distributions to owners, net of certain charges .. (282,090) (275,024) (197,680) Repayments of distributions to owners ............ 265,891 249,291 174,100 --------- --------- --------- Net cash used in financing activities ..... (17,905) (27,749) (26,119) --------- --------- --------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 588 (2,524) (4,273) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year .......... 13,849 14,437 11,913 --------- --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of year ................ $ 14,437 $ 11,913 $ 7,640 ========= ========= ========= Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid for interest ......................... $ 41,926 $ 41,981 $ 41,484 ========= ========= ========= Cash paid for state income taxes ............... $ 48 $ 529 $ 911 ========= ========= ========= Non-cash investing and financing activities: Equipment acquired under capital leases ........ $ 1,528 $ -- $ 750 ========= ========= ========= See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. F-5 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in thousands) NOTE 1 - THE COMPANY AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Allbritton Communications Company (the Company) is an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Perpetual Corporation (Perpetual), a Delaware corporation, which is controlled by Mr. Joe L. Allbritton. The Company owns ABC network-affiliated television stations serving seven diverse geographic markets: Station Market ------- ------ WJLA Washington, D.C. WBMA/WCFT/WJSU Birmingham (Anniston and Tuscaloosa), Alabama WHTM Harrisburg-Lancaster-York-Lebanon, Pennsylvania KATV Little Rock, Arkansas KTUL Tulsa, Oklahoma WSET Roanoke-Lynchburg, Virginia WCIV Charleston, South Carolina Based upon regular assessments of its operations, the Company has determined that the economic characteristics, services, production processes, customer type and distribution methods for the Company's operations are substantially similar and have therefore been aggregated as one reportable segment. Consolidation-The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all significant intercompany accounts and transactions. Use of estimates and assumptions-The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions. Revenue recognition-Revenues are generated principally from sales of commercial advertising and are recorded as the advertisements are broadcast net of agency and national representative commissions and music license fees. For certain program contracts which provide for the exchange of advertising time in lieu of cash payments for the rights to such programming, revenue is recorded as advertisements are broadcast at the estimated fair value of the advertising time given in exchange for the program rights. F-6 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) Cash and cash equivalents-The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Program rights-The Company has entered into contracts for the rights to television programming. Payments related to such contracts are generally made in installments over the contract period. Program rights which are currently available and the liability for future payments under such contracts are reflected in the consolidated balance sheets. Program rights are amortized primarily using the straight-line method over the twelve month rental period. Certain program rights with lives greater than one year are amortized using accelerated methods. Program rights expected to be amortized in the succeeding year and amounts payable within one year are classified as current assets and liabilities, respectively. The program rights are reflected in the consolidated balance sheets at the lower of unamortized cost or estimated net realizable value based on management's expectation of the net future cash flows to be generated by the programming. Property, plant and equipment-Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Maintenance and repair expenditures are charged to expense as incurred and expenditures for modifications and improvements which increase the expected useful lives of the assets are capitalized. Depreciation expense is computed using the straight-line method for buildings and straight-line and accelerated methods for furniture, machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the lesser of the term of the related lease or the estimated useful lives of the assets. The useful lives of property, plant and equipment for purposes of computing depreciation and amortization expense are: Buildings...................................... 15-40 years Leasehold improvements......................... 5-32 years Furniture, machinery and equipment and equipment under capital leases....... 3-20 years Intangible assets-Intangible assets consist of values assigned to broadcast licenses as well as favorable terms on contracts and leases. Additionally, prior to the completion of the Company's acquisition of WJSU on March 22, 2000, intangible assets included the option to acquire the assets of WJSU (the Option) (see Note 2). The amounts assigned to intangible assets were based on the results of independent valuations and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. Broadcast licenses are amortized over 40 years, and the premiums for favorable terms on contracts and leases are amortized over the terms of the related contracts and leases (19 to 25 years). Prior to the completion of the Company's acquisition of WJSU, the Option was amortized over the term of the Option and the associated local marketing agreement (10 years). Since completion of the acquisition, the portion of the purchase price assigned to the broadcast license of WJSU is being amortized over its estimated useful life of 40 years. The Company assesses the F-7 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) recoverability of intangible assets on an ongoing basis by evaluating whether amounts can be recovered through undiscounted cash flows over the remaining amortization period. Deferred financing costs-Costs incurred in connection with the issuance of long-term debt are deferred and amortized to other nonoperating expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the underlying financing agreement. This method does not differ significantly from the effective interest rate method. Deferred rent-Rent concessions and scheduled rent increases in connection with operating leases are recognized as adjustments to rental expense on a straight-line basis over the associated lease term. Concentration of credit risk-Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of certain cash and cash equivalents and receivables from advertisers. The Company invests its excess cash with high-credit quality financial institutions and at September 30, 2001 had an overnight repurchase agreement with a financial institution for $5,923. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to receivables from advertisers are limited as the Company's advertising base consists of large national advertising agencies and high-credit quality local advertisers. As is customary in the broadcasting industry, the Company does not require collateral for its credit sales which are typically due within thirty days. Income taxes-The operations of the Company are included in a consolidated federal income tax return filed by Perpetual. In accordance with the terms of a tax sharing agreement between the Company and Perpetual, the Company is required to pay to Perpetual its federal income tax liability, computed based upon statutory federal income tax rates applied to the Company's consolidated taxable income. The Company files separate state income tax returns with the exception of Virginia which is included in a combined state income tax return filed by Perpetual. In accordance with the terms of the tax sharing agreement, the Company is required to pay to Perpetual its combined Virginia income tax liability, computed based upon statutory Virginia income tax rates applied to the Company's combined Virginia net taxable income. Taxes payable to Perpetual are not reduced by losses generated in prior years by the Company. In addition, the amounts payable by the Company to Perpetual under the tax sharing agreement are not reduced if losses of other members of the Perpetual group are utilized to offset taxable income of the Company for purposes of the Perpetual consolidated federal or Virginia income tax returns. The provision for income taxes is determined in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," which requires that the consolidated amount of current and deferred income tax expense for a group that files a consolidated income tax return be allocated among members of the group when those members issue separate financial statements. Perpetual allocates a portion of its consolidated current and deferred income tax expense to the Company as if the Company and its subsidiaries were separate F-8 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) taxpayers. The Company records deferred tax assets, to the extent it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized in future periods, and deferred tax liabilities for the tax effects of the differences between the bases of its assets and liabilities for tax and financial reporting purposes. To the extent a deferred tax asset would be recorded due to the incurrence of net losses for federal or Virginia state income tax purposes, any such benefit recognized is effectively distributed to Perpetual as such benefit will not be recognized in future years pursuant to the tax sharing agreement. Fair value of financial instruments-The carrying amount of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and program rights payable approximate fair value due to the short maturity of those instruments. The Company estimates the fair value of its long-term debt using either quoted market prices or by discounting the required future cash flows under its debt using borrowing rates currently available to the Company, as applicable. Earnings per share-Earnings per share data are not presented since the Company has only one shareholder. New pronouncements- SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations," was issued in July 2001 and is effective for all business combinations with acquisition dates after June 30, 2001. The pronouncement eliminates the pooling-of-interest method of accounting for business combinations and addresses the accounting for intangible assets acquired as part of a business combination. Adoption of SFAS No. 141 has had no impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations as the Company has not entered into any business combinations since June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," was issued in June 2001. SFAS No. 142 addresses the financial accounting and reporting for acquired goodwill and other intangible assets. Under the new rules, goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives will no longer be amortized but will be subject to annual impairment tests. Other intangible assets will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. SFAS No. 142 becomes effective for the Company's fiscal year ending September 30, 2003. The Company estimates that the application of the non-amortization provisions of SFAS No. 142 will decrease amortization expense by approximately $4,000 per year. Upon adoption, the Company will perform the first of the required impairment tests on its indefinite lived intangible assets. The Company has not yet determined what the effect, if any, of these tests will be on the Company's financial position or results of operations. F-9 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations," was issued in June 2001 to address diversity in practice for recognizing obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets. SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," was issued in August 2001 to establish a single accounting model for long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale and to address issues surrounding the impairment of long-lived assets. These standards are effective for the Company's fiscal year ending September 30, 2003 and will not have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations. NOTE 2 - LOCAL MARKETING AGREEMENT, ASSOCIATED OPTION AND ACQUISITION OF WJSU On December 29, 1995, the Company, through an 80%-owned subsidiary, entered into a ten-year local marketing agreement (LMA) with the owner of WJSU, a television station operating in Anniston, Alabama. The LMA provided for the Company to supply program services to WJSU and to retain all revenues from advertising sales. In exchange, the Company paid all station operating expenses and certain management fees to the station's owner. In connection with the LMA, the Company entered into the Option to acquire the assets of WJSU at a cost of $15,348. The Company exercised its option to acquire WJSU on September 14, 1999 and completed the acquisition on March 22, 2000 for additional consideration of $3,372. The total cost to acquire and exercise the Option was $18,720. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and accordingly, the cost of the acquired entity was assigned to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired based on their fair values at the date of purchase. The consolidated results of operations of the Company include operating revenues and operating expenses of WJSU from December 29, 1995 to March 21, 2000 pursuant to the terms of the LMA, and since March 22, 2000 as an owned station. F-10 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) NOTE 3 - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Property, plant and equipment consists of the following: September 30, ------------- 2000 2001 ---- ---- Buildings and leasehold improvements.......... $ 26,572 $ 26,617 Furniture, machinery and equipment............ 109,100 112,115 Equipment under capital leases................ 9,317 10,067 --------- --------- 144,989 148,799 Less accumulated depreciation................. (106,334) (114,283) --------- --------- 38,655 34,516 Land.......................................... 2,889 2,889 Construction-in-progress...................... 641 1,217 --------- --------- $ 42,185 $ 38,622 ========= ========= Depreciation and amortization expense was $11,801, $10,586 and $9,961 for the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively, which includes amortization of equipment under capital leases. NOTE 4 - INTANGIBLE ASSETS Intangible assets consist of the following: September 30, ------------- 2000 2001 ---- ---- Broadcast licenses............................ $ 169,723 $ 169,723 Other intangibles............................. 6,174 6,174 --------- --------- 175,897 175,897 Less accumulated amortization................. (39,179) (43,489) --------- --------- $ 136,718 $ 132,408 ========= ========= Amortization expense was $5,670, $5,074 and $4,310 for the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. F-11 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) NOTE 5 - LONG-TERM DEBT Outstanding debt consists of the following: September 30, ------------- 2000 2001 ---- ---- Senior Subordinated Debentures, due November 30, 2007 with interest payable semi-annually at 9.75%............... $ 275,000 $ 275,000 Senior Subordinated Notes, due February 1, 2008 with interest payable semi-annually at 8.875%.............. 150,000 150,000 Revolving Credit Agreement, maximum amount of $40,000, cancelled March 28, 2001, secured by the outstanding stock of the Company and its subsidiaries, interest payable quarterly at various rates from prime or LIBOR plus 1%, depending on certain financial operating tests.... -- -- Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement, maximum amount of $50,000, expiring March 27, 2006, secured by the outstanding stock of the Company and its subsidiaries, interest payable quarterly at various rates from prime plus .25% or LIBOR plus 1.5% depending on certain financial operating tests............. -- -- Master Lease Finance Agreement, expired March 1, 2000 for new acquisitions, secured by the assets acquired, interest payable monthly at variable rates as determined on the acquisition date for each asset purchased (7.34%-8.93% at September 30, 2001) (See Note 9)............................................... 3,562 1,827 Master Equipment Lease Agreement, maximum amount of $5,000, expiring June 30, 2002 and renewable annually, secured by the assets acquired, interest payable monthly at variable rates as determined on the acquisition date for each asset purchased (6.45% at September 30, 2001)(See Note 9)......................... -- 750 --------- --------- 428,562 427,577 Less unamortized discount .................................... (833) (717) --------- --------- 427,729 426,860 Less current maturities....................................... (1,759) (1,479) --------- --------- $ 425,970 $ 425,381 ========= ========= F-12 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) Unamortized deferred financing costs of $7,737 and $7,351 at September 30, 2000 and 2001, respectively, are included in deferred financing costs and other noncurrent assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Amortization of the deferred financing costs for the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001 was $1,141, $1,140 and $1,190 respectively, which is included in other nonoperating expenses. Under the existing financing agreements, the Company is subject to restrictive covenants which place limitations upon payments of cash dividends, issuance of capital stock, investment transactions, incurrence of additional obligations and transactions with affiliates. In addition, under the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company must maintain compliance with certain financial covenants. The Company is also required to pay a commitment fee ranging from .5% to .75% per annum based on the amount of any unused portion of the Revolving Credit Agreement. The Company estimates the fair value of its Senior Subordinated Debentures and Senior Subordinated Notes to be approximately $408,000 and $425,000 at September 30, 2000 and 2001, respectively. NOTE 6 - INCOME TAXES The provision for income taxes consists of the following: Years ended September 30, ------------------------- 1999 2000 2001 ---- ---- ---- Current Federal......................... $ 3,879 $ 8,498 $ 4,262 State........................... 557 1,866 528 ------- -------- ------- 4,436 10,364 4,790 ------- -------- ------- Deferred Federal......................... 1,577 2,234 2,017 State........................... 704 652 455 ------- -------- ------- 2,281 2,886 2,472 ------- -------- ------- $ 6,717 $ 13,250 $ 7,262 ======= ======== ======= F-13 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) The components of deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are as follows: September 30, ------------- 2000 2001 ---- ---- Deferred income tax assets: State and local operating loss carryforwards... $ 2,458 $ 1,902 Accrued employee benefits...................... 1,040 1,035 Deferred rent.................................. 726 512 Allowance for accounts receivable.............. 465 407 Other.......................................... 198 156 -------- --------- 4,887 4,012 Less: valuation allowance...................... (2,404) (1,820) -------- --------- 2,483 2,192 -------- --------- Deferred income tax liabilities: Depreciation and amortization ................. (9,245) (11,426) -------- --------- Net deferred income tax liabilities................ $ (6,762) $ (9,234) ======== ========= The Company has approximately $42,500 in state and local operating loss carryforwards in certain jurisdictions available for future use for state and local income tax purposes which expire in various years from 2004 through 2016. The change in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets of $225, $166 and ($584) during the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively, principally resulted from management's evaluation of the recoverability of the loss carryforwards. The following table reconciles the statutory federal income tax rate to the Company's effective income tax rate for income before extraordinary loss: Years ended September 30, ------------------------- 1999 2000 2001 ---- ---- ---- Statutory federal income tax rate ....................... 34.0% 35.0% 35.0% State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit ... 5.5 6.7 5.9 Non-deductible expenses, principally amortization of certain intangible assets, insurance premiums and meals and entertainment ............................... 2.7 1.8 3.8 Change in valuation allowance ........................... 1.5 0.5 (3.3) Other, net .............................................. 0.1 (0.5) (0.8) ---- ---- ---- Effective income tax rate ............................... 43.8% 43.5% 40.6% ==== ==== ==== F-14 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) NOTE 7 - TRANSACTIONS WITH OWNERS AND RELATED PARTIES In the ordinary course of business, the Company makes cash advances in the form of distributions to Perpetual. At present, the primary source of repayment of the net advances from the Company is through the ability of the Company to pay dividends or make other distributions. There is no immediate intent for these amounts to be repaid. Accordingly, such amounts have been treated as a reduction of stockholder's investment and described as "distributions" in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The following summarizes these and certain other transactions with related parties: Years ended September 30, ------------------------- 1999 2000 2001 ---- ---- ---- Distributions to owners, beginning of year..................................... $ 256,158 $ 272,357 $ 298,090 Cash advances............................... 286,418 283,832 202,180 Repayment of cash advances.................. (265,891) (249,291) (174,100) Charge for federal and state income taxes............................. (4,328) (8,808) (4,500) --------- --------- --------- Distributions to owners, end of year........ $ 272,357 $ 298,090 $ 321,670 ========= ========= ========= Weighted average amount of non-interest bearing advances outstanding during the year................................. $ 263,320 $ 280,149 $ 303,785 ========= ========= ========= Subsequent to September 30, 2001 and through November 14, 2001, the Company received net repayments of distributions to owners of $611. Included in distributions to owners is a $20,000 loan made in 1991 by the Company to ALLNEWSCO, Inc. (Allnewsco), an affiliate of the Company which is controlled by Mr. Joe L. Allbritton. This amount has been included in the consolidated financial statements on a consistent basis with other cash advances to related parties. The $20,000 note receivable from Allnewsco had stated repayment terms consisting of annual principal installments approximating $2,220 commencing January 1997 through January 2005. During the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1998, the Company deferred the first two annual principal installment payments pending renegotiation of the repayment terms. Effective July 1, 1998, the note was amended to extend the maturity to January 2008 and defer all principal installments until maturity, with the principal balance also due upon demand. In exchange for the amendment, Allnewsco paid to the Company the amount of $650. This amount is included in other noncurrent liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and is being amortized as an adjustment of interest income over the remaining term of the amended note using the interest method. The note has a stated interest rate F-15 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) of 11.06% and interest is payable semi-annually. During each of the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, the Company earned interest income from this note of approximately $2,200. At September 30, 2000 and 2001, interest receivable from Allnewsco under this note totaled $492. Allnewsco is current on its interest payments. During the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, the Company earned interest income from Perpetual of $227, $304 and $213, respectively, as a result of making advances of tax payments in accordance with the terms of the tax sharing agreement between the Company and Perpetual. Management fees of $504, $500 and $500 were paid to Perpetual by the Company for the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. The Company also paid management fees to Mr. Joe L. Allbritton in the amount of $550 for each of the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001 and to Mr. Robert L. Allbritton in the amount of $140, $190 and $200 for the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. Management fees are included in corporate expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. During the year ended September 30, 2000, the Company entered into various agreements with Irides, LLC (Irides) to provide the Company's stations with certain web site design, hosting and maintenance services. Irides is an affiliate of the Company which is controlled by Mr. Joe L. Allbritton. The Company paid fees of $143 and $68 to Irides during the years ended September 30, 2000 and 2001, respectively. These fees are included in television operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company maintains banking and advertising relationships with and leases certain office space from Riggs Bank N.A. (Riggs Bank). Riggs is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Riggs National Corporation (Riggs), of which Mr. Joe L. Allbritton is the Senior Chairman of the Board of Directors and a significant stockholder. The majority of the Company's cash and cash equivalents was on deposit with Riggs Bank at September 30, 2000 and 2001. During the year ended September 30, 2000, the Company generated $227 in advertising revenue from Riggs Bank. No revenue was generated from Riggs Bank during the years ended September 30, 1999 and 2001. Additionally, the Company incurred $275, $283 and $297 in rental expense related to office space leased from Riggs Bank for the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. During the year ended September 30, 2001, Riggs utilized the Company's aircraft on several occasions and was charged $20 for such usage. There was no usage of the Company's aircraft by Riggs during the years ended September 30, 1999 and 2000. F-16 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) NOTE 8 - RETIREMENT PLANS A defined contribution savings plan is maintained for eligible employees of the Company and certain of its affiliates. Under the plan, employees may contribute a portion of their compensation subject to Internal Revenue Service limitations and the Company contributes an amount equal to 50% of the contribution of the employee not to exceed 6% of the compensation of the employee. The amounts contributed to the plan by the Company on behalf of its employees totaled approximately $882, $899 and $773 for the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. The Company also contributes to certain other multi-employer union pension plans on behalf of certain of its union employees. The amounts contributed to such plans totaled approximately $373, $361 and $331 for the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. NOTE 9 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES The Company leases office and studio facilities and machinery and equipment under operating and capital leases expiring in various years through 2017. Certain leases contain provisions for renewal and extension. Future minimum lease payments under operating and capital leases which have remaining noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of September 30, 2001 are as follows: Operating Capital Year ending September 30, Leases Leases ------ ------ 2002.............................................. $ 4,439 $ 1,604 2003.............................................. 4,999 597 2004.............................................. 3,434 262 2005.............................................. 3,382 175 2006.............................................. 3,454 175 2007 and thereafter............................... 34,542 -- -------- ------- $ 54,250 2,813 ======== Less: amounts representing imputed interest.......... (236) ------- 2,577 Less: current portion................................ (1,479) ------- Long-term portion of capital lease obligations....... $ 1,098 ======= Rental expense under operating leases aggregated approximately $2,900, $2,900 and $3,000 for the years ended September 30, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively. F-17 ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) (Dollars in thousands) The Company has entered into contractual commitments in the ordinary course of business for the rights to television programming which is not yet available for broadcast as of September 30, 2001. Under these agreements, the Company must make specific minimum payments approximating the following: Year ending September 30, 2002....................................... $ 3,049 2003....................................... 19,562 2004....................................... 17,657 2005....................................... 7,414 2006....................................... 133 -------- $ 47,815 ======== The Company has entered into various employment contracts. Future guaranteed payments under such contracts as of September 30, 2001 approximate the following: Year ending September 30, 2002....................................... $ 6,364 2003....................................... 1,203 2004....................................... 359 2005....................................... 203 2006....................................... 212 ------- $ 8,341 ======= The Company has entered into various deferred compensation agreements with certain employees. Under these agreements, the Company is required to make payments aggregating approximately $2,067 during the years 2005 through 2012. At September 30, 2000 and 2001, the Company has recorded a deferred compensation liability of approximately $878 and $1,013, respectively, which is included as a component of noncurrent accrued employee benefit expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company currently and from time to time is involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of its business, including suits based on defamation. The Company is not currently a party to any lawsuit or proceeding which, in the opinion of management, if decided adverse to the Company, would be likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. F-18 SCHEDULE II ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES (Dollars in thousands) Balance at Charged Balance at beginning to costs Charged to end of Classification of year and expenses other accounts Deductions year - -------------- ------- ------------ -------------- ---------- ---- Year ended September 30, 1999: Allowance for doubtful accounts................... $1,371 $519 -- $(466)<F2> $1,424 ====== ==== ==== ===== ====== Valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets................. $2,013 $225<F1> -- $ -- $2,238 ====== ==== ==== ===== ====== Year ended September 30, 2000: Allowance for doubtful accounts................... $1,424 $474 -- $(717)<F2> $1,181 ====== ==== ==== ===== ====== Valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets................. $2,238 $166<F1> -- $ -- $2,404 ====== ==== ==== ===== ====== Year ended September 30, 2001: Allowance for doubtful accounts................... $1,181 $657 -- $(804)<F2> $1,034 ====== ==== ==== ===== ====== Valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets................. $2,404 $314<F1> -- $(898)<F3> $1,820 ====== ==== ==== ===== ====== - ---------- <FN> <F1> Represents valuation allowance established related to certain net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets for state income tax purposes. <F2> Write-off of uncollectible accounts, net of recoveries and collection fees. <F3> Represents reduction of valuation allowance relating to certain net operating loss carryforwards. </FN> F-19 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. ALLBRITTON COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY By: /s/ Robert L. Allbritton ----------------------------- Robert L. Allbritton Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Date: December 27, 2001 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. /s/ Joe L. Allbritton Chairman of the Executive December 27, 2001 - --------------------------- Committee and Director Joe L. Allbritton * /s/ Barbara B. Allbritton Executive Vice President December 27, 2001 - --------------------------- and Director Barbara B. Allbritton * /s/ Robert L. Allbritton Chairman, Chief Executive December 27, 2001 - --------------------------- Officer and Director Robert L. Allbritton (principal executive officer) /s/ Lawrence I. Hebert Vice Chairman and December 27, 2001 - --------------------------- Director Lawrence I. Hebert * /s/ Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. Vice Chairman, President, December 27, 2001 - --------------------------- Chief Operating Officer Frederick J. Ryan, Jr. and Director /s/ Stephen P. Gibson Senior Vice President December 27, 2001 - --------------------------- and Chief Financial Stephen P. Gibson Officer (principal financial officer) /s/ Elizabeth A. Haley Vice President and December 27, 2001 - --------------------------- Controller (principal Elizabeth A. Haley accounting officer) *By Attorney-in-Fact /s/ Jerald N. Fritz - --------------------------- Jerald N. Fritz EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit Page No. ----------- ---------------------- -------- 3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of ACC. (Incorporated by * reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, No. 333-02302, dated March 12, 1996) 3.2 Bylaws of ACC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of * Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4, No. 333-02302, dated March 12, 1996) 4.1 Indenture dated as of February 6, 1996 between ACC and State * Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to the Debentures. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, No. 333-02302, dated March 12, 1996) 4.2 Indenture dated as of January 22, 1998 between ACC and State * Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee, relating to the Notes. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, No. 333-45933, dated February 9, 1998) 4.3 Form of 9.75% Series B Senior Subordinated Debentures due * 2007. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, No. 333-02302, dated March 12, 1996) 4.4 Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of * March 27, 2001 by and among Allbritton Communications Company, certain financial institutions, and Fleet National Bank, as Agent, and Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Inc., as Documentation Agent. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, No. 333-02302, dated May 10, 2001) 4.5 First Amendment dated as of December 19, 2001 to the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement. 10.1 Network Affiliation Agreement (Harrisburg Television, Inc.). * (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Company's Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4, dated April 22, 1996) 10.2 Side Letter Amendment to Network Affiliation Agreement * (Harrisburg Television, Inc.) dated August 10, 1999. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, No. 333-02302, dated August 16, 1999) A-1 Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit Page No. ----------- ---------------------- -------- 10.3 Network Affiliation Agreement (First Charleston Corp.). * (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Company's Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4, dated April 22, 1996) 10.4 Side Letter Amendment to Network Affiliation Agreement (First * Charleston Corp.) dated August 10, 1999. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, No. 333-02302, dated August 16, 1999) 10.5 Network Affiliation Agreement (WSET, Incorporated). * (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Company's Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4, dated April 22, 1996) 10.6 Side Letter Amendment to Network Affiliation Agreement (WSET, * Incorporated) dated August 10, 1999. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, No. 333-02302, dated August 16, 1999) 10.7 Network Affiliation Agreement (WJLA-TV). (Incorporated by * reference to Exhibit 10.6 of Company's Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4, dated April 22, 1996) 10.8 Side Letter Amendment to Network Affiliation Agreement * (WJLA-TV) dated August 10, 1999. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, No. 333-02302, dated August 16, 1999) 10.9 Network Affiliation Agreement (KATV Television, Inc.). * (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Company's Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4, dated April 22, 1996) 10.10 Side Letter Amendment to Network Affiliation Agreement (KATV * Television, Inc.) dated August 10, 1999. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 of Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, No. 333-02302, dated August 16, 1999) 10.11 Network Affiliation Agreement (KTUL Television, Inc.). * (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Company's Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4, dated April 22, 1996) 10.12 Side Letter Amendment to Network Affiliation Agreement (KTUL * Television, Inc.) dated August 10, 1999. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, No. 333-02302, dated August 16, 1999) A-2 Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit Page No. ----------- ---------------------- -------- 10.13 Network Affiliation Agreement (TV Alabama, Inc.). * (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of Company's Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4, dated April 22, 1996) 10.14 Amendment to Network Affiliation Agreement (TV Alabama, Inc.) * dated January 23, 1997. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, No. 333-02302, dated February 14, 1997) 10.15 Side Letter Amendment to Network Affiliation Agreement (TV * Alabama, Inc.) dated August 10, 1999. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, No. 333-02302, dated August 16, 1999) 10.16 Tax Sharing Agreement effective as of September 30, 1991 by * and among Perpetual Corporation, ACC and ALLNEWSCO, Inc., amended as of October 29, 1993. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, No. 333-02302, dated March 12, 1996) 10.17 Second Amendment to Tax Sharing Agreement effective as of * October 1, 1995 by and among Perpetual Corporation, ACC and ALLNEWSCO, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of the Company's Form 10-K, No. 333-02302, dated December 22, 1998) 10.18 Master Lease Finance Agreement dated as of August 10, 1994 * between BancBoston Leasing, Inc. and ACC, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, No. 333-02302, dated March 12, 1996) 10.19 Master Equipment Lease Agreement dated as of November 22, * 2000 between Fleet Capital Corporation and ACC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Company's Form 10-K, No. 333-02302, dated December 28, 2000) 10.20 Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement dated as of March 27, * 2001 by and among ACC, Allbritton Group, Inc., Allfinco, Inc., and Fleet National Bank, as Agent. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, No. 333-02302, dated May 10, 2001) 10.21 $20,000,000 Promissory Note of ALLNEWSCO, Inc. payable to * KTUL, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of Company's Form 10-K, No. 333-02302, dated December 22, 1998) 21. Subsidiaries of Registrant 24. Powers of Attorney - ---------------- *Previously filed A-3