EXHIBIT 12.01 Salem Communications Corporation Exhibit 12.01 - Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges -------------------------------------------------------------------- Nine Months Year Ended December 31 Ended -------------------------------------------------------------------- September 30 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------------- (dollars in thousands) Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations $ (460) $3,563 $ 439 $ 312 $19,408 $(4,374) Interest expense 2,851 2,554 3,668 6,646 7,361 8,548 Interest portion of rent expense 540 702 829 1,042 1,274 1,142 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- Earnings $2,931 $6,819 $4,936 $8,000 $28,043 $ 5,316 ====== ====== ====== ====== ======= ======= Interest expense $2,851 $2,554 $3,668 $6,646 $ 7,361 $ 8,548 Interest portion of rent expense 540 702 829 1,042 1,274 1,142 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- ------- Fixed Charges $3,391 $3,256 $4,497 $7,688 $ 8,635 $ 9,690 ====== ====== ====== ====== ======= ======= Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 0.9 2.1 1.1 1.0 3.2 0.5 ====== ====== ====== ====== ======= ======= -------------------------- Year Nine months ended ended December 31 September 30 1996 1997 ----------- ------------ Pro forma pretax income (loss) from continuing operations 11,589 (7,209) Pro forma interest expense 15,179 11,384 Interest portion of rent expense 1,274 1,141 ------- ------- Pro forma earnings $28,042 $ 5,316 ======= ======= Pro forma interest expense $15,179 11,384 Interest portion of rent expense 1,274 1,141 ------- ------- Fixed Charges $16,453 $12,525 ======= ======= Pro Forma Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 1.7 0.4 ======= =======