EXHIBIT 12.1
BLOCK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Year ended December 31 March 31
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1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2001 2002
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Net Income $ 9,107 $ 7,820 $ 5,341 $ 12,781 $(17,857) $ (6,532) $ 12,953
Provision (credit) for income taxes 7,495 6,240 4,556 9,176 (7,132) (2,602) 6,793
Minority Interest -- -- -- 427 (235) (54) 7
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Earnings before provision for income
taxes and minority interest 16,602 14,060 9,897 22,384 (25,224) (9,188) 19,753
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense 10,512 10,628 11,243 14,175 19,486 4,676 4,748
Interest capitalized -- -- 945 1,490 985 -- --
Amortization of debt
issuance costs 106 335 273 272 267 67 144
One-third of rentals 1,014 1,334 1,091 1,176 1,355 339 313
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Total fixed charges 11,632 12,297 13,552 17,113 22,093 5,082 5,205
Less interest capitalized, net of
amortization -- -- (886) (1,279) (619) 91 107
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Earnings before provision for income
taxes and minority interest,
plus fixed charges $ 28,234 $ 26,357 $ 22,563 $ 38,218 $ (3,750) $ (4,015) $ 25,065
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1) 2.4 2.1 1.7 2.2 -- -- 4.8
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(1) In 2001 and for the three months ended March 31, 2001, our earnings were
insufficient to cover fixed charges by $25.8 million and $9.1 million,
respectively.