SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2002
or
¨ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
for the transition period from to
Commission file number 1-14595
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware |
95-4066193 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York (Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
10036 (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code (212) 852-7111
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes x No ¨
As of February 12, 2003, 352,436,375 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and 547,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, were outstanding.
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
FORM 10-Q
Page | ||||
Part I. Financial Information |
||||
Item 1. |
Financial Statements |
|||
3 | ||||
4 | ||||
5 | ||||
Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements |
6 | |||
Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
19 | ||
Item 3. |
39 | |||
Item 4. |
40 | |||
Part II. Other Information |
||||
Item 1. |
40 | |||
Item 2. |
40 | |||
Item 3. |
40 | |||
Item 4. |
40 | |||
Item 5. |
41 | |||
Item 6. |
41 | |||
41 |
2
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions except share and per share amounts)
For the three months ended December 31, |
For the six months ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
3,150 |
|
$ |
2,741 |
|
$ |
5,494 |
|
$ |
4,806 |
| ||||
Expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Operating |
|
2,296 |
|
|
2,123 |
|
|
3,882 |
|
|
3,638 |
| ||||
Selling, general and administrative |
|
309 |
|
|
304 |
|
|
631 |
|
|
609 |
| ||||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
45 |
|
|
100 |
|
|
92 |
|
|
203 |
| ||||
Other operating charge |
|
|
|
|
909 |
|
|
|
|
|
909 |
| ||||
Operating income (loss) |
|
500 |
|
|
(695 |
) |
|
889 |
|
|
(553 |
) | ||||
Other income (expense): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest expense, net |
|
(49 |
) |
|
(66 |
) |
|
(95 |
) |
|
(138 |
) | ||||
Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates |
|
(12 |
) |
|
(58 |
) |
|
(10 |
) |
|
(109 |
) | ||||
Minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
(7 |
) |
|
(11 |
) |
|
(16 |
) |
|
(22 |
) | ||||
Other, net |
|
|
|
|
1,585 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,585 |
| ||||
Income before provision for income tax expense and cumulative effect of accounting change |
|
432 |
|
|
755 |
|
|
768 |
|
|
763 |
| ||||
Provision for income tax expense on a stand-alone basis |
|
(149 |
) |
|
(300 |
) |
|
(271 |
) |
|
(304 |
) | ||||
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change |
|
283 |
|
|
455 |
|
|
497 |
|
|
459 |
| ||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(26 |
) | ||||
Net income |
$ |
283 |
|
$ |
455 |
|
$ |
497 |
|
$ |
433 |
| ||||
Basic and diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ |
0.32 |
|
$ |
0.54 |
|
$ |
0.58 |
|
$ |
0.56 |
| ||||
Basic and diluted cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax, per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.04 |
) | ||||
Basic and diluted earnings per share |
$ |
0.32 |
|
$ |
0.54 |
|
$ |
0.58 |
|
$ |
0.52 |
| ||||
Basic and diluted weighted average number of common equivalent shares outstanding |
|
874 |
|
|
847 |
|
|
862 |
|
|
827 |
| ||||
The accompany notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.
3
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions except share and per share amounts)
As of December 31, 2002 |
As of June 30, 2002 | |||||
(unaudited) |
(audited) | |||||
Assets: |
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
70 |
$ |
56 | ||
Accounts receivable, net |
|
3,626 |
|
2,577 | ||
Filmed entertainment and television programming costs, net |
|
3,197 |
|
3,062 | ||
Investments in equity affiliates |
|
1,508 |
|
1,424 | ||
Property and equipment, net |
|
1,476 |
|
1,501 | ||
Intangible assets, net |
|
8,665 |
|
8,076 | ||
Goodwill, net |
|
4,821 |
|
5,093 | ||
Other assets and investments |
|
958 |
|
1,087 | ||
Total assets |
$ |
24,321 |
$ |
22,876 | ||
Liabilities and Shareholders Equity: |
||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ |
1,850 |
$ |
1,844 | ||
Participations, residuals and royalties payable |
|
1,524 |
|
1,129 | ||
Television programming rights payable |
|
1,533 |
|
1,428 | ||
Deferred revenue |
|
493 |
|
500 | ||
Borrowings |
|
95 |
|
942 | ||
Deferred income taxes |
|
2,070 |
|
1,912 | ||
Other liabilities |
|
579 |
|
735 | ||
|
8,144 |
|
8,490 | |||
Due to affiliates of News Corporation |
|
1,590 |
|
1,413 | ||
Total liabilities |
|
9,734 |
|
9,903 | ||
Minority interest in subsidiaries (Note 12) |
|
781 |
|
878 | ||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||
Shareholders Equity: |
||||||
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31 and June 30, 2002 |
|
|
|
| ||
Class A Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 1,000,000,000 authorized; 352,436,375 and 302,436,375 issued and outstanding as of December 31 and June 30, 2002, respectively |
|
4 |
|
3 | ||
Class B Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 650,000,000 authorized; 547,500,000 issued and outstanding as of December 31 and June 30, 2002 |
|
6 |
|
6 | ||
Additional paid-in capital |
|
12,780 |
|
11,569 | ||
Retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
1,016 |
|
517 | ||
Total shareholders equity |
|
13,806 |
|
12,095 | ||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
$ |
24,321 |
$ |
22,876 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.
4
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
For the six months ended December 31, |
||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||
Operating activities: |
||||||||
Net income |
$ |
497 |
|
$ |
433 |
| ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
92 |
|
|
203 |
| ||
Amortization of cable distribution investments |
|
63 |
|
|
54 |
| ||
Other operating charge |
|
|
|
|
909 |
| ||
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax |
|
|
|
|
26 |
| ||
Equity (earnings) losses of affiliates and distributions |
|
13 |
|
|
126 |
| ||
Minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
7 |
|
|
5 |
| ||
Other, net |
|
|
|
|
(1,585 |
) | ||
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: |
||||||||
Accounts receivable and other assets |
|
(1,029 |
) |
|
(699 |
) | ||
Filmed entertainment and television programming costs, net |
|
(265 |
) |
|
(390 |
) | ||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
|
385 |
|
|
718 |
| ||
Participations, residuals and royalties payable and other liabilities |
|
395 |
|
|
210 |
| ||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
158 |
|
|
10 |
| ||
Investing activities: |
||||||||
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
|
(430 |
) |
|
(525 |
) | ||
Proceeds from the sale of investments in equity affiliates |
|
|
|
|
1,683 |
| ||
Investments in equity affiliates |
|
(87 |
) |
|
(162 |
) | ||
Other investments |
|
(9 |
) |
|
(43 |
) | ||
Purchases of property and equipment |
|
(63 |
) |
|
(37 |
) | ||
Disposals of property and equipment |
|
9 |
|
|
10 |
| ||
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities |
|
(580 |
) |
|
926 |
| ||
Financing activities: |
||||||||
(Repayments) borrowings, net |
|
(852 |
) |
|
(168 |
) | ||
(Decrease) increase in Minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
| ||
(Decrease) increase in Preferred Interests |
|
(99 |
) |
|
8 |
| ||
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock |
|
1,211 |
|
|
|
| ||
Advances from (repayments to) affiliates of News Corporation, net |
|
177 |
|
|
(787 |
) | ||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
436 |
|
|
(947 |
) | ||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
14 |
|
|
(11 |
) | ||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
|
56 |
|
|
66 |
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
$ |
70 |
|
$ |
55 |
| ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.
5
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1Basis of Presentation
Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (the Company) is principally engaged in the development, production and worldwide distribution of feature films and television programs, television broadcasting and cable network programming. The Company is a majority-owned subsidiary of The News Corporation Limited (News Corporation), which, as of December 31, 2002, held equity and voting interests in the Company of 80.58% and 97%, respectively.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in these unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements. Operating results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
These interim unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Companys Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20, 2002.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Because of the use of estimates inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates.
During the six months ended December 31, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and excess cost over the Companys share of equity investees assets will no longer be amortized, resulting in a reduction of Depreciation and amortization expense and an improvement in Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates. (See Note 4).
In November 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Emerging Issues Task Force No. (EITF) 01-09, Accounting for the Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer or a Reseller of the Vendors Products, which was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2002. This EITF, among other things, codified the issues and examples of EITF No. 00-25, Vendor Income Statement Characterization of Consideration Paid to a Reseller of the Vendors Products. EITF No. 00-25 states that customer incentives, which consist of the amortization of cable distribution investments (capitalized fees paid to a cable or direct broadcast satellite (DBS) operator to facilitate the launch of a cable network), should be presented as a reduction in revenue in the consolidated condensed statements of operations. As required, the Company has reclassified the amortization of cable distribution investments against revenues for all periods presented. The amortization of cable distribution investments had previously been included in Depreciation and amortization. Operating income, Net income and Earnings per share are not affected by this reclassification. This reclassification affects the Companys and the Cable Network Programming segments revenues. The effect of the reclassification on the Companys revenues is as follows:
For the three months ended December 31, |
For the six months ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||||||
Gross Revenues |
$ |
3,182 |
|
$ |
2,769 |
|
$ |
5,557 |
|
$ |
4,860 |
| ||||
Amortization of cable distribution investments |
|
(32 |
) |
|
(28 |
) |
|
(63 |
) |
|
(54 |
) | ||||
Revenues |
$ |
3,150 |
|
$ |
2,741 |
|
$ |
5,494 |
|
$ |
4,806 |
| ||||
6
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1Basis of Presentationcontinued
Fox Family Worldwide, Inc. (FFW), formerly an equity affiliate of the Company until it was sold in October 2001, adopted Statement of Position No. 00-2, Accounting by Producers or Distributors of Films on July 1, 2001, at which time it recorded a one-time, non-cash charge of approximately $53 million as a cumulative effect of accounting change. The Companys share, approximately $26 million, has been accounted for as a cumulative effect of accounting change in the accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations for the six months ended December 31, 2001.
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2003 presentation.
Note 2Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income is as follows:
For the three months ended December 31, |
For the six months ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||||
Net income |
$ |
283 |
$ |
455 |
|
$ |
497 |
$ |
433 |
| ||||
Other comprehensive income: |
||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
8 |
|
(12 |
) |
|
2 |
|
(9 |
) | ||||
Total comprehensive income |
$ |
291 |
$ |
443 |
|
$ |
499 |
$ |
424 |
| ||||
Note 3Issuance of Common Stock
In May 2002, the Company filed a Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which allows the Company to issue, from time to time, Class A Common Stock and/or debt securities for aggregate proceeds of up to $2.5 billion. In November 2002, the Company sold 50 million shares of its Class A Common Stock for net proceeds of approximately $1.2 billion. The Company used the net proceeds to reduce obligations due to affiliates of News Corporation. Upon consummation of the offering, News Corporations equity and voting interests in the Company decreased from 85.32% and 97.84% to 80.58% and 97%, respectively.
Note 4Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Effective July 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 eliminates the requirement to amortize goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and the excess cost over the Companys share of equity investees assets and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 17, Intangible Assets, and replaces it with requirements to assess goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. Intangible assets that are deemed to have a finite life will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. SFAS No. 142 required the Company to perform an initial impairment assessment of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of the date of adoption. This impairment assessment compared the fair value of these intangible assets to their carrying value. As a result of the tests performed, the Company has determined that none of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired. In addition, for goodwill and other intangibles acquired in business combinations consummated before July 1, 2001, SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations, requires the Company to reclassify to goodwill those intangibles (and their related deferred tax liabilities) that do not meet the criteria in SFAS No. 141 for recognition apart from goodwill and to reclassify to intangibles those amounts reported as goodwill that meet the SFAS No. 141 criteria for separate recognition. Accordingly, the Company has made several reclassifications between goodwill and other intangibles as of the date of the adoption.
7
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 4Goodwill and Other Intangible Assetscontinued
The Companys intangible assets and related accumulated amortization are as follows:
As of June 30, 2002 |
||||||||||||
Gross |
Accumulated Amortization |
Net |
Weighted average useful lives | |||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||
Intangible assets not subject to amortization |
||||||||||||
FCC licenses |
$ |
8,437 |
$ |
(1,101 |
) |
$ |
7,336 |
Indefinite-lived | ||||
Franchise rights and other |
|
750 |
|
(14 |
) |
|
736 |
Indefinite-lived | ||||
|
9,187 |
|
(1,115 |
) |
|
8,072 |
||||||
Intangible assets subject to amortization |
|
60 |
|
(56 |
) |
|
4 |
4.3 years | ||||
Total Intangibles |
$ |
9,247 |
$ |
(1,171 |
) |
$ |
8,076 |
|||||
As of December 31, 2002 |
||||||||||||
Gross |
Accumulated Amortization |
Net |
||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||
Intangible assets not subject to amortization |
||||||||||||
FCC licenses |
$ |
9,559 |
$ |
(1,101 |
) |
$ |
8,458 |
|||||
Franchise rights and other |
|
228 |
|
(21 |
) |
|
207 |
|||||
|
9,787 |
|
(1,122 |
) |
|
8,665 |
||||||
Intangible assets subject to amortization |
|
60 |
|
(60 |
) |
|
|
|||||
Total Intangibles |
$ |
9,847 |
$ |
(1,182 |
) |
$ |
8,665 |
|||||
Aggregate amortization expense for the three and six months ended December 31, 2002 was $0 and $4 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2002, all remaining intangible assets were determined to have indefinite lives.
The changes in the carrying value of goodwill, by segment, is as follows:
Filmed Entertainment |
Television Stations |
Television Broadcast Network |
Cable Network Programming |
Total Goodwill |
||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of June 30, 2002 |
$ |
356 |
$ |
2,246 |
|
$ |
|
$ |
2,491 |
|
$ |
5,093 |
| |||||
Adoption of SFAS No. 142 |
|
124 |
|
(129 |
) |
|
|
|
(40 |
) |
|
(45 |
) | |||||
Purchase price adjustments(1) |
|
|
|
(575 |
) |
|
|
|
348 |
|
|
(227 |
) | |||||
Balance as of December 31, 2002 |
$ |
480 |
$ |
1,542 |
|
$ |
|
$ |
2,799 |
|
$ |
4,821 |
| |||||
(1) | Adjustments primarily relate to the purchase price allocations for the acquisitions of Chris Craft Industries, Inc., Speedvision Network LLC and WPWR-TV. |
8
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 4Goodwill and Other Intangible Assetscontinued
The following table provides a reconciliation of reported Income before cumulative effect of accounting change for the three and six months ended December 31, 2001 to Adjusted income before cumulative effect of accounting change that would have been reported had SFAS No. 142 been adopted as of July 1, 2001.
For the three months ended December 31, 2001 |
For the six months ended December 31, 2001 |
|||||||||||||||
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change |
Basic and diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of accounting change |
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change |
Basic and diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of accounting change |
|||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) |
||||||||||||||||
As reportedhistorical basis |
$ |
455 |
|
$ |
0.54 |
|
$ |
459 |
|
$ |
0.56 |
| ||||
Add: Goodwill amortization |
|
21 |
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
37 |
|
|
0.04 |
| ||||
Add: Intangible amortization |
|
32 |
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
72 |
|
|
0.09 |
| ||||
Add: Intangible amortization related to equity investees |
|
12 |
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
28 |
|
|
0.03 |
| ||||
Income tax impact of the above adjustments |
|
(15 |
) |
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
(35 |
) |
|
(0.04 |
) | ||||
Adjusted income before cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ |
505 |
|
$ |
0.60 |
|
$ |
561 |
|
$ |
0.68 |
| ||||
Note 5Borrowings
In June 2002, the Company and its subsidiary, Fox Sports Networks, LLC, irrevocably called for redemption all of the outstanding 9 3/4% Senior Discount Notes due 2007 and all of the outstanding 8 7/8% Senior Notes due 2007 (collectively, the Notes). The Notes were fully redeemed in August 2002. The Company recorded a pre-tax loss of $42 million on the early redemption of the Notes in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended June 30, 2002, in accordance with SFAS No. 145.
The Company has a single-film production financing arrangement for approximately $95 million, which was secured by the film assets and bears interest at approximately 1.9% for fiscal 2003. The film production financing is due to mature during the current fiscal year.
Note 6Other operating charge
The Company has several multi-year sports rights agreements, including a contract with the National Football League (NFL) through fiscal year 2006, contracts with the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) through fiscal year 2013 and a contract with Major League Baseball (MLB) through fiscal year 2007. These contracts provide the Company with the broadcast rights to certain national sporting events during their respective terms. The NFL and NASCAR contracts contain certain early termination clauses that are exercisable by the NFL and NASCAR.
The Company continually evaluates the recoverability of the rights costs against the revenues directly associated with the program material and related direct expenses over the expected contract lives. At December 31, 2001, the Company recorded an Other operating charge of $909 million. This charge related to a change in accounting estimate on the Companys national
9
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 6Other operating chargecontinued
sports rights agreements caused by the downturn in the advertising market, which caused the Company to write off programming costs inventory and to provide for estimated losses on these contracts over their estimated terms. This evaluation considered the severe downturn in sports-related advertising, the lack of any sustained advertising rebound subsequent to September 11th and the industry-wide reduction of projected long-term advertising growth rates, all of which resulted in the Companys estimate of future directly attributable revenues associated with these contracts being lower than previously anticipated. Because the vast majority of costs incurred under these contracts are fixed, such as the rights costs and production costs, the results of these lower revenue estimates indicated that the Company would generate a loss over the estimated remaining term of the sports contracts.
In accordance with APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, the Company has determined that the impact of the charge on Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share, net of tax benefit of $346 million, for the three and six months ended December 31, 2001 was $0.66 and $0.68 loss per share, respectively.
The costs of these sports contracts are charged to expense based on the ratio of each periods operating profits to estimated total operating profit of the contract. Considering the provision of $909 million for estimated losses and absent a difference between the actual future revenues and costs as compared to the estimated future revenues and costs, no operating profit or loss will be recognized by the Company over the estimated remaining term of the sports contracts.
The profitability of these long-term national sports contracts as discussed above is based on the Companys best estimates at December 31, 2002, of directly attributable revenues and costs; such estimates may change in the future, and such changes may be significant. Should revenues decline from estimates applied at December 31, 2002, an additional loss will be recorded. Should revenues improve as compared to estimated revenues, then none of the recorded loss will be restored, but the Company will have a positive operating profit, which will be recognized over the estimated remaining contract term.
As of December 31, 2002, there have been no significant changes in the Companys estimates from those employed as of December 31, 2001.
Note 7Chris-Craft Acquisition
On July 31, 2001, News Corporation, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Chris-Craft Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries, BHC Communications, Inc. and United Television, Inc., (collectively, Chris-Craft). The consideration for the acquisition was approximately $2 billion in cash and approximately $3 billion in News Corporation American Depositary Receipts representing preferred limited voting ordinary shares (ADRs). Simultaneously with the closing of the acquisition, News Corporation transferred $3,432 million of net assets, constituting Chris-Crafts ten television stations (the Acquired Stations) to the Company in exchange for 122,244,272 shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock and net indebtedness of $48 million (the Exchange), thereby increasing News Corporations ownership in the Company from 82.76% to 85.25%. The Company assigned the licenses issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the Acquired Stations to its indirect subsidiary, Fox Television Stations, Inc., which became the licensee and controls the operations of the Acquired Stations. News Corporation acquired Chris-Craft and transferred to the Company the Acquired Stations in order to strengthen the Companys existing television station business. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.
The Company consolidated the results of operations of the Acquired Stations as of the date of Exchange, July 31, 2001, with the exception of KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City, whose operations were not consolidated as of the Exchange due to regulatory requirements which precluded the Company from controlling the station and required its disposal (see description of Clear Channel swap below). For financial reporting purposes, in accordance with EITF 90-5, Exchanges of Ownership Interests between Entities under Common Control, the Company recognized the assets and liabilities of Chris-Craft based upon their acquired basis in the News Corporation merger and issued equity to News Corporation at that value.
In October 2001, the Company exchanged KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City and KMOL-TV in San Antonio with Clear Channel Communications, Inc. for WFTC-TV in Minneapolis (the Clear Channel swap). In addition, in November 2001, the Company exchanged KBHK-TV in San Francisco with Viacom Inc. for WDCA-TV in Washington, DC and KTXH-TV in
10
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 7Chris-Craft Acquisitioncontinued
Houston (the Viacom swap). In June 2002, the Company exchanged KPTV-TV in Portland for Meredith Corporations WOFL-TV in Orlando and WOGX-TV in Ocala (the Meredith swap, and together with the Viacom and Clear Channel swaps, the Station Swaps). All of the stations exchanged in the Station Swaps were Acquired Stations. No gain or loss was recognized by the Company as a result of the Station Swaps.
The purchase price was allocated to the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The allocation to acquired intangible assets included both goodwill and FCC licenses, which are deemed to have indefinite lives, and therefore are not subject to amortization in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. The goodwill and intangibles were assigned to the Television Stations segment, the majority of which is not deductible for tax purposes. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, the Company has recorded deferred taxes for the basis difference related to FCC licenses and other acquired assets and liabilities.
Note 8Other Acquisitions and Dispositions
In July 2001, as a result of the exercise of rights by existing shareholders of Speedvision Network, LLC, the Company acquired an additional 53.44% of Speedvision Network, LLC, now Speed Channel, Inc. (Speed Channel), for approximately $401 million, increasing the Companys ownership in Speed Channel to approximately 85.46%. As a result, the Company consolidated the results of Speed Channel beginning in July 2001. In October 2001, the Company acquired the remaining 14.54% minority interest in Speed Channel for approximately $111 million bringing the Companys ownership to 100%. These transactions have been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.
In July 2001, as a result of the exercise of rights by existing shareholders of Outdoor Life Network, LLC (Outdoor Life), the Company acquired 50.23% of Outdoor Life for approximately $309 million. This acquisition resulted in the Company owning approximately 83.18% of Outdoor Life. In October 2001, a shareholder of Outdoor Life acquired the Companys ownership interest in Outdoor Life for approximately $512 million in cash. During the period from July 2001 until the closing of the sale of Outdoor Life in October 2001, the ownership interest in Outdoor Life was held for sale and control of Outdoor Life was deemed temporary. Therefore, in accordance with SFAS No. 94, Consolidation of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries, and EITF 87-11, Allocation of Purchase Price to Assets to be Sold, the results of Outdoor Life were not consolidated in the Companys statement of operations for this period. Upon the closing of the sale of the Companys ownership interest in Outdoor Life, the Company recognized a gain of $147 million, which was reflected in the unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2001.
In October 2001, the Company, Haim Saban and the other stockholders of FFW, sold FFW to The Walt Disney Company (Disney) for total consideration of approximately $5.2 billion (including the assumption of certain debt) of which approximately $1.6 billion was in consideration of the Companys interest in FFW, which was rebranded ABC Family. As a result of this transaction, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $1.4 billion, which was reflected in the unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2001. The proceeds from this transaction were used to reduce obligations to affiliates of News Corporation. In addition, the Company sublicensed certain post-season Major League Baseball (MLB) games through the 2006 MLB season to Disney for aggregate consideration of approximately $675 million, payable over the entire period of the sublicense.
In December 2001, News Corporation acquired from Liberty Media Corporation its 50% interest in International Sports Programming LLC (Fox Sports International), in exchange for 3,673,183 ADRs valued at $115 million. Under the terms of the transaction, the Company purchased News Corporations acquired interest in Fox Sports International, which increased the Companys ownership interest from 50% to 100%, in exchange for the issuance of 3,632,269 shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock. As a result of this transaction, News Corporations equity ownership interest in the Company increased from 85.25% to 85.32%. For financial reporting purposes, in accordance with EITF 90-5, the Company recognized the assets and liabilities of Fox Sports International based upon their acquired basis in the News Corporation acquisition and issued 3,632,269 shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock to News Corporation at that value. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.
11
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 8Other Acquisitions and Dispositionscontinued
In January 2002, the Company acquired an approximate 23.3% interest in the Sunshine Network (Sunshine) for approximately $23.3 million. This resulted in the acquisition of a controlling interest in Sunshine and increased the Companys ownership percentage in Sunshine to approximately 83.3%. In February 2002, the Company acquired an additional approximate 0.4% interest in Sunshine, increasing the Companys ownership interest to approximately 83.7%. In October 2002, the Company acquired News Corporations 9.8% equity interest in Sunshine for consideration of approximately $3 million, its fair market value. This acquisition increased the Companys ownership interest in Sunshine to 93.7% with the remaining minority interest held by third parties. Since the acquisition in January 2002, Sunshine has been consolidated into the Cable Network Programming segment of the Company as it is now under the control of the Company. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.
In August 2002, the Company acquired WPWR-TV in the Chicago designated market area (DMA) from Newsweb Corporation for $425 million. In connection with the preliminary allocation of the purchase price, during the three months ended December 31, 2002, goodwill and deferred taxes were reduced to reflect the difference between the book and tax bases of the net assets acquired. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.
Note 9Segment Information
The Company manages and reports its activities in four business segments: Filmed Entertainment, which principally consists of the production and acquisition of live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in all formats in all entertainment media primarily in the United States, Canada and Europe, and the production of original television programming in the United States and Canada; Television Stations, which principally consists of the operation of broadcast television stations in the United States; Television Broadcast Network, which principally consists of the broadcasting of network programming in the United States; and Cable Network Programming, which principally consists of the production and licensing of programming distributed through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators in the United States and professional sports team ownership in the United States.
The Companys reportable operating segments have been determined in accordance with the Companys internal management structure, which is organized based on operating activities. The Company evaluates performance based upon several factors, of which the primary financial measure is segment operating income.
For the three months ended December 31, |
For the six months ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
2002 |
2001 | |||||||||
(in millions) |
(in millions) | |||||||||||
Revenues: |
||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
1,338 |
$ |
1,117 |
$ |
2,221 |
$ |
2,056 | ||||
Television Stations |
|
593 |
|
526 |
|
1,107 |
|
922 | ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
749 |
|
722 |
|
1,173 |
|
1,042 | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
470 |
|
376 |
|
993 |
|
786 | ||||
Total revenues |
$ |
3,150 |
$ |
2,741 |
$ |
5,494 |
$ |
4,806 | ||||
12
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 9Segment Informationcontinued
For the three months ended December 31, |
For the six months ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||||||||
(in millions) |
(in millions) |
|||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss): |
||||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
260 |
|
$ |
121 |
|
$ |
365 |
|
$ |
244 |
| ||||
Television Stations |
|
305 |
|
|
206 |
|
|
514 |
|
|
284 |
| ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
(154 |
) |
|
(130 |
) |
|
(162 |
) |
|
(173 |
) | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
89 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
172 |
|
|
1 |
| ||||
Other operating charge |
|
|
|
|
(909 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(909 |
) | ||||
Total operating income (loss) |
|
500 |
|
|
(695 |
) |
|
889 |
|
|
(553 |
) | ||||
Interest expense, net |
|
(49 |
) |
|
(66 |
) |
|
(95 |
) |
|
(138 |
) | ||||
Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates |
|
(12 |
) |
|
(58 |
) |
|
(10 |
) |
|
(109 |
) | ||||
Minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
(7 |
) |
|
(11 |
) |
|
(16 |
) |
|
(22 |
) | ||||
Other, net |
|
|
|
|
1,585 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,585 |
| ||||
Income before provision for income tax expense and cumulative effect of accounting change |
$ |
432 |
|
$ |
755 |
|
$ |
768 |
|
$ |
763 |
| ||||
Intersegment revenues generated primarily by the Filmed Entertainment segment of approximately $160 million and $135 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, have been eliminated within the Filmed Entertainment segment. Intersegment revenues generated primarily by the Filmed Entertainment segment of approximately $320 million and $369 million for the six months ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, have been eliminated within the Filmed Entertainment segment. Intersegment operating income generated primarily by the Filmed Entertainment segment of approximately $5 million and $4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, has been eliminated within the Filmed Entertainment segment. Intersegment operating income generated primarily by the Filmed Entertainment segment of approximately $20 million and $67 million for the six months ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, has been eliminated within the Filmed Entertainment segment.
Other operating charge, Interest expense, net, Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates, Minority interest in subsidiaries, Other, net and Provision for income tax expense on a stand-alone basis are not allocated to segments, as they are not under the control of segment management. There is no material reliance on any single customer. Revenues from any individual foreign country were not material in the periods presented.
As of December 31, 2002 |
As of June 30, 2002 | |||||
(in millions) | ||||||
Total assets: |
||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
5,224 |
$ |
4,454 | ||
Television Stations |
|
11,582 |
|
10,945 | ||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
1,117 |
|
828 | ||
Cable Network Programming |
|
4,890 |
|
5,225 | ||
Investments in equity affiliates |
|
1,508 |
|
1,424 | ||
Total assets |
$ |
24,321 |
$ |
22,876 | ||
13
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 10Guarantees
The Company, News Corporation and certain of News Corporations other subsidiaries are guarantors of various debt obligations of News Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries. The principal amount of indebtedness outstanding under such debt instruments as of December 31 and June 30, 2002 was approximately $8.6 billion and $8.7 billion, respectively. The debt instruments limit the ability of guarantors, including the Company, to subject their properties to liens, and certain of the debt instruments impose limitations on the ability of News Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company, to incur indebtedness in certain circumstances. Such debt instruments mature at various times between 2004 and 2096, with a weighted average maturity of over 20 years.
In the case of any event of default under such debt obligations, the Company will be directly liable to the creditors or debtholders. News Corporation has agreed to indemnify the Company from and against any obligations it may incur by reason of its guarantees of such debt obligations. As of December 31, 2002, News Corporation was in compliance with all of its debt covenants and had satisfied all financial ratios and tests and expects to remain in compliance and satisfy all such ratios and tests.
The Company guarantees sports rights agreements of an equity affiliate. This guarantee extends through fiscal 2019. The Company guarantees 70% of the sports rights agreements and has a maximum liability of $1,050 million. The Company would be liable under this guarantee in the event of default of their equity affiliate.
Note 11Filmed Entertainment and Television Programming Costs, net
Filmed entertainment and television programming costs, net consisted of the following as of:
December 31, 2002 |
June 30, 2002 | |||||
(in millions) | ||||||
Filmed entertainment costs: |
||||||
Films: |
||||||
Released |
$ |
697 |
$ |
728 | ||
Completed, not released |
|
26 |
|
80 | ||
In production |
|
464 |
|
366 | ||
In development or preproduction |
|
36 |
|
49 | ||
|
1,223 |
|
1,223 | |||
Television productions: |
||||||
Released |
|
486 |
|
500 | ||
In production |
|
163 |
|
94 | ||
In development or preproduction |
|
2 |
|
7 | ||
|
651 |
|
601 | |||
Total filmed entertainment costs, less accumulated amortization |
|
1,874 |
|
1,824 | ||
Television programming costs, less accumulated amortization |
|
1,323 |
|
1,238 | ||
Total filmed entertainment and television programming costs, net |
$ |
3,197 |
$ |
3,062 | ||
14
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 12Minority Interest in Subsidiaries
In March 2001, the Company entered into a series of film rights agreements whereby a controlled consolidated subsidiary of the Company, Cornwall Venture LLC (NM2), that holds certain library film rights, funds the production or acquisition costs of all eligible films, as defined, to be produced or acquired by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (TCF), a subsidiary of the Company, between 2001 and 2004 (these film rights agreements are collectively referred to as the New Millennium II Agreement). NM2 is a separate legal entity from the Company and TCF and has separate assets and liabilities. NM2 issued a preferred limited liability membership interest (Preferred Interest) to a third party to fund the film financing, which is presented on the consolidated condensed balance sheets as Minority interest in subsidiaries. The Preferred Interest has no fixed redemption rights but is entitled to an allocation of the gross receipts to be derived by NM2 from the distribution of each eligible film. Such allocation to the extent available based on the gross receipts from the distribution of the eligible films consists of (i) a return on the Preferred Interest (the Preferred Payments), based on certain reference rates (generally based on commercial paper rates or LIBOR) prevailing on the respective dates of determination, and (ii) a redemption of the Preferred Interest, based on a contractually determined amortization schedule. The Preferred Interest has a preference in the event of a liquidation of NM2 equal to the unredeemed portion of the investment plus any accrued and unpaid Preferred Payments.
The net change in Preferred Interests outstanding was a reduction of $99 million and an increase of $8 million for the six months ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. These amounts were comprised of issuances by the Company of additional Preferred Interests under the New Millennium II Agreement in the amount of $230 million and redemptions by the Company of Preferred Interests of $329 million during the six months ended December 31, 2002. During the six months ended December 31, 2001, the Company issued additional Preferred Interests under the New Millennium II Agreement in the amount of $376 million and redemptions by the Company of Preferred Interests of $368 million.
As of December 31, 2002, there was approximately $751 million of Preferred Interests outstanding, which are included in the unaudited consolidated condensed balance sheets as Minority interest in subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2002, there was approximately $850 million of Preferred Interests outstanding, which are included in the audited consolidated condensed balance sheets as Minority interest in subsidiaries. The Preferred Payments are recorded as an expense in Minority interest in subsidiaries on the consolidated condensed statements of operations.
A Ratings Trigger Event for the New Millennium II Agreement would occur if News Corporations debt rating:
(i) (a) falls below BB+ and below Ba1, or (b) falls below BB, or (c) falls below Ba2, or (d) it is not rated by both rating agencies, and, in each case, neither News Corporation nor the Company shall, within ten business days after the occurrence of such event, have provided credit enhancement so that the resulting New Millennium II Agreement is rated at least BB+ and Ba1, or
(ii) (a) falls below BBB- and Baa3, or (b) it is not rated by both rating agencies, and, in each case, more than $25 million in capital payments redeemable at that time from film gross receipts remain unredeemed for at least one quarter.
If a Ratings Trigger Event were to occur, then (a) no new films will be transferred, (b) rights against certain film assets may be enforced, and (c) the Preferred Interest may become redeemable.
Through December 31, 2002, no Ratings Trigger Event had occurred. If a Ratings Trigger Event were to occur, then $425 million (or approximately 57% of the outstanding balance as of December 31, 2002) may be payable immediately. The balance of the redemption would be payable to the extent of future gross receipts from films that had been transferred to NM2.
15
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 13Contingencies
Regional Programming Partners
In December 1997, Rainbow Media Sports Holdings, Inc. (Rainbow) (a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (Cablevision)) and Fox Sports Net, Inc. (Fox Sports Net) (a subsidiary of the Company) formed Regional Programming Partners (RPP) to hold various programming interests in connection with the operation of certain regional sports networks (RSNs) (the Rainbow Transaction). Rainbow contributed various interests in RSNs, the Madison Square Garden Entertainment Complex, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Rangers National Hockey League franchise, and the New York Knickerbockers National Basketball Association franchise, to RPP in exchange for a 60% partnership interest in RPP, and Fox Sports Net contributed $850 million in cash for a 40% partnership interest in RPP.
Pursuant to the RPP partnership agreement upon certain actions being taken by Fox Sports Net, Rainbow has the right to purchase all of Fox Sports Nets interests in RPP. The buyout price will be the greater of (i) (a) $2.125 billion, increased by capital contributions and decreased by capital distributions, times Fox Sports Nets interest in RPP plus (b) an 8% rate of return on the amount in (a) or (ii) the fair market value of Fox Sports Nets interest in RPP. Consideration will be, at Rainbows option, in the form of cash or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%.
In addition, for 30 days following December 18, 2005 (the Put Date) and during certain periods subsequent to the Put Date, so long as RPP has not commenced an initial public offering of its securities, Fox Sports Net has the right to cause Rainbow to, at Rainbows option, either (i) purchase all of its interests in RPP or (ii) consummate an initial public offering of RPPs securities. The purchase price will be the fair market value of Fox Sports Nets interest in RPP and the consideration will be, at Rainbows option, in the form of marketable securities of certain affiliated companies of Rainbow or a three year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%. The determination of the fair market value of the investment in RPP will be made in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement and will be affected by the valuation of the consideration received from Rainbow. Fox Sports Net did not elect to exercise a put right exercisable for the 30 days following December 18, 2002.
In connection with the Rainbow Transaction, Rainbow and Fox Sports Net formed National Sports Partners (NSP) in which each of Rainbow and Fox Sports Net were issued a 50% partnership interest to operate Fox Sports Net (FSN), a national sports programming service that provides its affiliated RSNs with 24 hour per day national sports programming. In addition, Rainbow and Fox Sports Net formed National Advertising Partners (NAP), in which each of Fox Sports Net and Rainbow were issued a 50% partnership interest, to act as the national advertising sales representative for the Fox Sports Net-owned RSNs and the RPP-owned and managed RSNs. Independent of the arrangements discussed above relating to RPP, for 30 days following the Put Date and during certain periods subsequent to the Put Date, so long as NSP and NAP have not commenced an initial public offering of its securities, Rainbow has the right to cause Fox Sports Net to, at Fox Sport Nets option, either (i) purchase all of Rainbows interests in NSP and NAP, or (ii) consummate an initial public offering of NSPs and NAPs securities. The purchase price will be the fair market value of Rainbows interest in NSP and NAP and the consideration will be, at Fox Sports Nets option, in the form of marketable securities of certain affiliated entities of Fox Sports Net or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%. The determination of the fair market value of the investments in NAP and NSP will be made in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement and will be affected by the valuation of the consideration paid to Rainbow. Rainbow did not elect to exercise a put right exercisable for 30 days following December 18, 2002.
Note 14Other, net
For the three and six months ended December 31, 2001, Other, net consisted of $1,439 million and $147 million in gains related to the sale of the Companys investments in FFW and Outdoor Life, respectively.
16
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 15Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections. SFAS No. 4, Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt, required that gains and losses from extinguishment of debt be classified as an extraordinary item, net of the related income tax effect. Any gain or loss on extinguishment of debt that was classified as an extraordinary item in prior periods presented that does not meet the criteria in APB Opinion No. 30 for classification as an extraordinary item shall be reclassified. SFAS No. 13, Accounting for Leases, has been amended to require sale-leaseback accounting for certain lease modifications that are similar to sale-leaseback transactions. The rescission of SFAS No. 4 and the amendment to SFAS No. 13 shall be effective for fiscal years and transactions, respectively, occurring after May 15, 2002. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 145 during fiscal 2002.
In July 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities. SFAS No. 146 addresses the accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies EITF No. 94-3, Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring). SFAS No. 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized at fair market value when the liability is incurred, rather than upon an entitys commitment to an exit plan, as prescribed by EITF No. 94-3. SFAS No. 146 is effective for exit and disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. The Company will adopt SFAS No. 146 on January 1, 2003.
In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. (FIN) 45, Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others. FIN 45 elaborates on the disclosure requirements of a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees that it has issued. It also requires a guarantor to recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing certain guarantees. FIN 45 also incorporates, without change, the guidance in FIN 34, Disclosure of Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, which it supersedes. The incremental disclosure requirements of FIN 45 are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. The initial recognition and initial measurement provisions are applicable to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The accounting followed by a guarantor on prior guarantees may not be changed to conform to the guidance of FIN 45. The Company has adopted the incremental disclosure requirements of FIN 45. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 45 on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations.
In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123. SFAS No. 148 amends SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS No. 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. SFAS No. 148 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002. The Company continues to account for stock-based employee compensation under the intrinsic value method of APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. The Company will adopt the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 for the interim period beginning January 1, 2003.
In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51. FIN 46 requires an investor to consolidate a variable interest entity if it is determined that the investor is a primary beneficiary of that entity, subject to the criteria set forth in FIN 46. Assets, liabilities, and non controlling interests of newly consolidated variable interest entities will be initially measured at fair value. After initial measurement, the consolidated variable interest entity will be accounted for under the guidance provided by Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements. FIN 46 is effective for variable interest entities created or entered into after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities created or acquired before February 1, 2003, FIN 46 applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 46 on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations.
17
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 16Subsequent Events
In January 2003, Fox Sports Net exercised its right to put its 50% direct ownership interests in SportsChannel Chicago Associates and SportsChannel Pacific Associates (collectively, the Chicago and Bay Area RSNs) to RPP in connection with the Rainbow Transaction (See Note 13). The purchase price for the sale of Fox Sports Nets direct interests in the Chicago and Bay Area RSNs will be equal to the fair market value of such direct interests and is to be determined by mutual agreement of the parties. In the event that the parties are unable to agree upon a price, the price will be determined by an independent valuation procedure in accordance with the terms of the respective partnership agreements. Once the purchase price is determined, RPP has 30 days to elect either (i) to purchase Fox Sports Nets direct interests in the Chicago and Bay Area RSNs or (ii) to consummate the IPO of the Chicago and Bay Area RSNs. If RPP elects to purchase the interests, the consideration will be, at RPPs election, in the form of marketable securities of certain affiliated companies of Rainbow or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus 1%. Following the closing of this sale, each of the Chicago and Bay Area RSNs will be held 100% by RPP and indirectly 40% by Fox Sports Net and 60% by Rainbow, and each will remain a Fox Sports Net affiliate.
18
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This document contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The words expect, estimate, anticipate, predict, believe and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places in this document and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (the Company), its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things, trends affecting the Companys financial condition or results of operations. The readers of this document are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Those risks and uncertainties are discussed under the heading Risk Factors, in the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-3 (SEC file no. 333-85978) as declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 3, 2002, as well as the information set forth below. The Company does not ordinarily make projections of its future operating results and undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This section should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of the Company and related notes set forth elsewhere herein.
The Company manages and reports its businesses in four segments: Filmed Entertainment, which principally consists of the production and acquisition of live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in all formats in all entertainment media primarily in the United States, Canada and Europe, and the production of original television programming in the United States and Canada; Television Stations, which principally consists of the operation of broadcast television stations in the United States; Television Broadcast Network, which principally consists of the broadcasting of network programming in the United States; and Cable Network Programming, which principally consists of the production and licensing of programming distributed through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) operators in the United States and professional sports team ownership in the United States.
Sources of Revenue
Filmed Entertainment. The Filmed Entertainment segment derives revenue from theatrical distribution, home video and DVD sales and distribution through pay-per-view, pay television services and broadcast television. The revenues and operating results of the Filmed Entertainment segment are significantly affected by the timing of the Companys theatrical, home video and DVD releases, the number of its original and returning television series that are aired by television networks and the number of its television series on off-network syndication. Theatrical release dates are determined by several factors, including timing of vacation and holiday periods and competition in the marketplace. Each motion picture is a separate and distinct product, and its financial success depends upon many factors, including public acceptance.
Television Stations and Television Broadcast Network. The two reportable television segments derive their revenues principally from the sale of advertising time. Generally, advertising time is sold to national advertisers by the Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) and to national spot and local advertisers by the Companys group of 35 owned and operated full power television broadcast stations (O&Os) in their respective markets. The sale of advertising time is affected by viewer demographics, program ratings and general market conditions. Adverse changes in the general market conditions for advertising may affect revenues.
Cable Network Programming. The Cable Network Programming segment derives revenues from monthly affiliate fees based on the number of subscribers, net of the amortization of cable distribution investments, as well as from the sale of advertising time. Monthly affiliate fees are dependent on maintenance of carriage arrangements with cable television systems and DBS operators. The sale of advertising time is affected by viewer demographics, program ratings and general market conditions. Adverse changes in general market conditions for advertising may affect revenues.
In November 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Emerging Issues Task Force No. (EITF) 01-09, Accounting for the Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer or a Reseller of the Vendors Products, which was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2002. This EITF, among other things, codified the issues and examples of EITF No. 00-25, Vendor Income Statement Characterization of Consideration Paid to a Reseller of the Vendors Products. EITF No. 00-25 states that customer incentives, which consist of the amortization of cable distribution investments (capitalized fees paid to a cable or DBS operator to facilitate the launch of a cable network), should be presented as a reduction in revenue in the
19
consolidated condensed statements of operations. As required, the Company has reclassified the amortization of cable distribution investments against revenues for all periods presented. The amortization of cable distribution investments had previously been included in Depreciation and amortization. Operating income, Net income and Earnings per share are not affected by this reclassification. This reclassification affects the Companys and the Cable Network Programming segments revenues. The effect of the reclassification on the Companys revenues is as follows:
For the three months ended December 31, |
For the six months ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||||||
Gross Revenues |
$ |
3,182 |
|
$ |
2,769 |
|
$ |
5,557 |
|
$ |
4,860 |
| ||||
Amortization of cable distribution investments |
|
(32 |
) |
|
(28 |
) |
|
(63 |
) |
|
(54 |
) | ||||
Revenues |
$ |
3,150 |
|
$ |
2,741 |
|
$ |
5,494 |
|
$ |
4,806 |
| ||||
Components of Expenses
Filmed Entertainment. Operating costs incurred by the Filmed Entertainment segment include exploitation costs, primarily prints and advertising; the amortization of capitalized production, overhead and interest costs; and participations and talent residuals. Selling, general and administrative expenses include salaries, employee benefits, rent and other routine overhead.
Television Stations, Television Broadcast Network and Cable Network Programming. Operating expenses of the two reportable television segments and the Cable Network Programming segment include expenses related to acquiring programming and rights to programming. Operating expenses also typically include production and technical expenses related to operating the technical facilities of the broadcaster or cable network. Selling, general and administrative expenses include all promotional expenses related to improving the market visibility and awareness of the broadcaster or cable network and sales commissions paid to the in-house sales force involved in the sale of advertising as well as salaries, employee benefits, rent and other routine overhead.
Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense includes the depreciation of property and equipment, as well as amortization of finite-lived intangible assets. In fiscal 2002, depreciation and amortization expense also included the amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. On July 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are no longer amortized, resulting in a reduction of Depreciation and amortization expense.
Other Operating Charge. The Company has several multi-year sports rights agreements, including a contract with the National Football League (NFL) through fiscal year 2006, contracts with the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) through fiscal year 2013 and a contract with Major League Baseball (MLB) through fiscal year 2007. These contracts provide the Company with the broadcast rights to certain national sporting events during their respective terms. The NFL and NASCAR contracts contain certain early termination clauses that are exercisable by the NFL and NASCAR.
The Company continually evaluates the recoverability of the rights costs against the revenues directly associated with the program material and related direct expenses over the expected contract lives. At December 31, 2001, the Company recorded an Other operating charge of $909 million. This charge related to a change in accounting estimate on the Companys national sports rights agreements caused by the downturn in the advertising market, which caused the Company to write off programming costs inventory and to provide for estimated losses on these contracts over their estimated terms. This evaluation considered the severe downturn in sports-related advertising, the lack of any sustained advertising rebound subsequent to September 11th and the industry-wide reduction of projected long-term advertising growth rates, all of which resulted in the Companys estimate of future directly attributable revenues associated with these contracts being lower than previously anticipated. Because the vast majority of costs incurred under these contracts are fixed, such as the rights costs and production costs, the results of these lower revenue estimates indicated that the Company would generate a loss over the estimated remaining term of the sports contracts.
20
In accordance with APB Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes, the Company has determined that the impact of the charge on Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share, net of tax benefit of $346 million, for the three and six months ended December 31, 2001 was $0.66 and $0.68 loss per share, respectively.
The costs of these sports contracts are charged to expense based on the ratio of each periods operating profits to estimated total operating profit of the contract. Considering the provision of $909 million for estimated losses and absent a difference between the actual future revenues and costs as compared to the estimated future revenues and costs, no operating profit or loss will be recognized by the Company over the estimated remaining term of the sports contracts.
The profitability of these long-term national sports contracts as discussed above is based on the Companys best estimates at December 31, 2002, of directly attributable revenues and costs; such estimates may change in the future, and such changes may be significant. Should revenues decline from estimates applied at December 31, 2002, an additional loss will be recorded. Should revenues improve as compared to estimated revenues, then none of the recorded loss will be restored, but the Company will have a positive operating profit, which will be recognized over the estimated remaining contract term.
As of December 31, 2002, there have been no significant changes in the Companys estimates from those employed as of December 31, 2001.
Use of Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization
Management believes that an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of the Companys business segments is Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization provides a basis to measure operating performance of each business segment. Although historical results, including Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization, may not be indicative of future results (as operating performance is highly contingent on many factors including customer tastes and preferences), Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization provides management a measure to analyze operating performance against historical and competitors data. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is defined as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization and the amortization of cable distribution investments. Depreciation and amortization expense includes the depreciation of property and equipment, as well as amortization of finite-lived intangible assets. In fiscal 2002, depreciation and amortization expense also included the amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Amortization of cable distribution investments represents a reduction against revenues over the term of a carriage arrangement and as such it is excluded from Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization. The following comparative discussion of the results of operations of the Company includes, among other factors, an analysis of changes in business segment Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization. However, Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flow and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization does not reflect cash available to fund requirements, and the items excluded from Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization, such as depreciation and amortization, are significant components in assessing the Companys financial performance.
21
Results of OperationsThree months ended December 31, 2002 versus Three months ended December 31, 2001.
The following table sets forth the Companys operating results, by segment, for the three months ended December 31, 2002 as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2001.
For the three months ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
Change |
% Change |
||||||||||||
(in millions, except % change) |
|||||||||||||||
Revenues(1): |
|||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
1,338 |
|
$ |
1,117 |
|
$ |
221 |
|
20 |
% | ||||
Television Stations |
|
593 |
|
|
526 |
|
|
67 |
|
13 |
% | ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
749 |
|
|
722 |
|
|
27 |
|
4 |
% | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
470 |
|
|
376 |
|
|
94 |
|
25 |
% | ||||
Total revenues |
$ |
3,150 |
|
$ |
2,741 |
|
$ |
409 |
|
15 |
% | ||||
Operating income (loss): |
|||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
260 |
|
$ |
121 |
|
$ |
139 |
|
115 |
% | ||||
Television Stations |
|
305 |
|
|
206 |
|
|
99 |
|
48 |
% | ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
(154 |
) |
|
(130 |
) |
|
(24 |
) |
(18 |
)% | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
89 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
72 |
|
424 |
% | ||||
Other operating charge |
|
|
|
|
(909 |
) |
|
909 |
|
100 |
% | ||||
Total operating income (loss) |
|
500 |
|
|
(695 |
) |
|
1,195 |
|
172 |
% | ||||
Interest expense, net |
|
(49 |
) |
|
(66 |
) |
|
17 |
|
26 |
% | ||||
Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates |
|
(12 |
) |
|
(58 |
) |
|
46 |
|
79 |
% | ||||
Minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
(7 |
) |
|
(11 |
) |
|
4 |
|
36 |
% | ||||
Other, net |
|
|
|
|
1,585 |
|
|
(1,585 |
) |
(100 |
)% | ||||
Income before provision for income tax expense and cumulative effect of accounting change |
|
432 |
|
|
755 |
|
|
(323 |
) |
(43 |
)% | ||||
Provision for income tax expense on a stand-alone basis |
|
(149 |
) |
|
(300 |
) |
|
151 |
|
50 |
% | ||||
Net income |
$ |
283 |
|
$ |
455 |
|
$ |
(172 |
) |
(38 |
)% | ||||
Other data: |
|||||||||||||||
Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization(2): |
|||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
274 |
|
$ |
135 |
|
$ |
139 |
|
103 |
% | ||||
Television Stations |
|
320 |
|
|
259 |
|
|
61 |
|
24 |
% | ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
(149 |
) |
|
(125 |
) |
|
(24 |
) |
(19 |
)% | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
132 |
|
|
73 |
|
|
59 |
|
81 |
% | ||||
Other operating charge |
|
|
|
|
(909 |
) |
|
909 |
|
100 |
% | ||||
Total Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization |
$ |
577 |
|
$ |
(567 |
) |
$ |
1,144 |
|
202 |
% | ||||
22
FOOTNOTE:
(1) | In January 2002, the Company adopted EITF 01-09, Accounting for the Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer or a Reseller of the Vendors Products, which was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2002. As required, the Company has reclassified the amortization of cable distribution investments against revenues for all periods presented. The amortization of cable distribution investments had previously been included in Depreciation and amortization. Operating income, Net income and Earnings per share are not affected by this reclassification. This reclassification affects the Companys and the Cable Network Programming segments revenues. The effect of the reclassification on the Companys revenues is as follows: |
For the three months ended December 31, |
||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||
Gross Revenues |
$ |
3,182 |
|
$ |
2,769 |
| ||
Amortization of cable distribution investments |
|
(32 |
) |
|
(28 |
) | ||
Revenues |
$ |
3,150 |
|
$ |
2,741 |
| ||
(2) | Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is defined as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization and the amortization of cable distribution investments. Depreciation and amortization expense includes the amortization of finite-lived intangible assets. Amortization of cable distribution investments represents a reduction against revenues over the term of a carriage arrangement and as such it is excluded from Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization. While Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is considered to be an appropriate measure for evaluating operating performance by management, it should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flow and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and presented in the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this filing. The following is a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization by segment: |
For the three months ended December 31, 2002 |
||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
Depreciation and amortization |
Amortization of cable distribution investments |
Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization |
|||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
260 |
|
$ |
14 |
$ |
|
$ |
274 |
| ||||
Television Stations |
|
305 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
320 |
| ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
(154 |
) |
|
5 |
|
|
|
(149 |
) | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
89 |
|
|
11 |
|
32 |
|
132 |
| ||||
Total |
$ |
500 |
|
$ |
45 |
$ |
32 |
$ |
577 |
| ||||
For the three months ended December 31, 2001 |
||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
Depreciation and amortization |
Amortization of cable distribution investments |
Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization |
|||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
121 |
|
$ |
14 |
$ |
|
$ |
135 |
| ||||
Television Stations |
|
206 |
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
259 |
| ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
(130 |
) |
|
5 |
|
|
|
(125 |
) | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
17 |
|
|
28 |
|
28 |
|
73 |
| ||||
Other operating charge |
|
(909 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(909 |
) | ||||
Total |
$ |
(695 |
) |
$ |
100 |
$ |
28 |
$ |
(567 |
) | ||||
Overview of Company Results. For the quarter ended December 31, 2002, total revenues increased approximately 15% from $2,741 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2002 to $3,150 million. This 15% increase is due to revenue increases at the Filmed Entertainment and Cable Network Programming segments. Operating expenses increased approximately 8% for the
23
quarter ended December 31, 2002 due primarily to increased home entertainment and marketing expenses at the Filmed Entertainment segment and higher programming costs for series cancellations at the Television Broadcast Network segment. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 2% as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2002. In the second quarter of fiscal 2003, Depreciation and amortization expense decreased approximately 55% due to the Companys adoption of SFAS No. 142 resulting in the elimination of the amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles, which impacted primarily the Television Stations and Cable Network Programming segments. For the quarter ended December 31, 2002, Operating income and Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased $1,195 million to $500 million and $1,144 million to $577 million, respectively, from the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year. These increases were primarily due to the Other operating charge in the second quarter of fiscal 2002 for the write down of the Companys national sports contracts without a comparative charge in the current year. In addition, increased results at the Cable Network Programming and Filmed Entertainment segments contributed to the increases in Operating income and Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization.
Effective July 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 eliminates the requirement to amortize goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and the excess cost over the Companys share of equity investees assets and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 17, Intangible Assets, and replaces it with requirements to assess goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. Intangible assets that are deemed to have a finite life will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. SFAS No. 142 required the Company to perform an initial impairment assessment of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of the date of adoption. This impairment assessment compared the fair value of these intangible assets to their carrying value. As a result of the tests performed, the Company has determined that none of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Depreciation and amortization expense, Operating loss, Equity losses of affiliates, Income before cumulative effect of accounting change and Earnings (loss) per share before cumulative effect of accounting change would have been $47 million, $642 million, $46 million, $505 million, and $0.60 per share, respectively.
Equity losses of affiliates of $12 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2002 improved $46 million from losses of $58 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. This improvement is primarily related to improved earnings at National Geographic ChannelDomestic as well as the absence of losses from Fox Family Worldwide (FFW) since its sale in October 2001. Also contributing to this improvement is decreased amortization expense due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Equity losses of affiliates would have improved by $12 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2001.
Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2002 was $283 million ($0.32 per share), a decline of $172 million from $455 million ($0.54 per share) for the quarter ended December 31, 2001. The prior year included $1,585 million in gains from the sales of FFW and Outdoor Life Network, LLC (Outdoor Life) without comparable gains in the current year.
Filmed Entertainment. For the second quarter of fiscal 2003, the Filmed Entertainment segments revenues increased from $1,117 million to $1,338 million or approximately 20% compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. This increase was primarily due to increased worldwide home entertainment revenues, most notably from the strong performance of Ice Age and also from Like Mike and various library titles, and international theatrical revenues for Minority Report. Prior year results included the strong worldwide home entertainment revenues for Planet of the Apes and Doctor Dolittle 2, domestic theatrical revenues from Shallow Hal and Behind Enemy Lines, and international theatrical revenues for Moulin Rouge. At Twentieth Century Fox Television (TCFTV), revenues increased due to network revenues for The Practice and Judging Amy, domestic syndication revenues for King of the Hill and The Simpsons, cable syndication revenues for The X-Files, and home entertainment revenues for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. These increases at TCFTV were partially offset by decreased international syndication revenues for various titles. For the three months ending December 31, 2002, the Filmed Entertainment segment reported Operating income of $260 million from $121 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization more than doubled to $274 million from $135 million, as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. These increases were due to the revenue increases noted above, most notably from Ice Age, and improved margins on DVD product due to increased volume, which were partially offset by increased home entertainment marketing costs. Current quarter domestic theatrical releases included Transporter, Brown Sugar, Solaris, Drumline, and Antwone Fisher.
Television Stations. On July 31, 2001, the Company acquired the television broadcasting business of Chris-Craft (as defined below), consisting of ten television stations and subsequently exchanged four former Chris-Craft stations with Viacom, Inc., Clear Channel Communications, Inc. and Meredith Corporation for five other television stations (after giving effect to these
24
transactions the acquired television stations are referred to as the Acquired Stations). In addition, in August 2002, the Company acquired WPWR in the Chicago designated market area (DMA) from Newsweb Corporation. These acquisitions increased the number of the Companys O&Os to 35 full power stations, including nine duopolies.
For the first quarter of fiscal 2003, Television Stations revenues increased to $593 million from $526 million in the corresponding quarter of the prior year. This 13% revenue increase primarily resulted from higher advertising revenues related to an improvement in the advertising markets in which the Companys O&Os operate and a full quarters consolidation of the Station Swaps and WPWR. Advertising revenues in the Companys 26 local markets continued to improve versus the prior year, up approximately 15%, due to a recovery from the market declines in the prior year. Automotive, movies, telecommunication and political advertising spending were all stronger than the prior year. The Television Stations achieved a market share of 24.3% for the quarter ended December 31, 2002 as compared to 23.4% from the corresponding period of the prior year. Operating income from the Television Stations segment increased from $206 million to $305 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2003. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased approximately 24% from $259 million to $320 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2003. These increases were due to the revenue increases noted above and, for operating income, lower amortization expense of $37 million due to the Companys adoption of SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2002. Also contributing to the increases above was the consolidation of WPWR, which had Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization of $7.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2002. Partially offsetting these favorable results were increased operating and selling, general and administrative expenses due to a full quarter consolidation of WPWR.
Television Broadcast Network. For the quarter ended December 31, 2002, the Television Broadcast Network segments revenues increased $27 million to $749 million from $722 million in the prior year. This 4% increase is due to higher pricing and ratings for the NFL and higher pricing for prime time series. In addition, $10 million of increased revenue related to the fiscal 2003 portion of the sale of MLB Divisional Series rights to ABC Family ($95 million this year versus $85 million in the corresponding period of the prior year) contributed to the revenue increase. These increases were partially offset by declines in prime time ratings. Operating losses for the Television Broadcast Network segment increased $24 million to a loss of $154 million and Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization declined $24 million to a loss of $149 million compared to the corresponding period of the preceding year. These operating declines were due to increases in prime time programming costs for series cancellations such as Girls Club, Firefly and The Grubbs, increased advertising expenses for prime time series and lower ratings and higher programming costs related to the national sports contracts.
Cable Network Programming. Total revenues for the Cable Network Programming segment increased by $94 million or approximately 25% from $376 million to $470 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2002. This increase was the result of increased advertising revenues across all channels and increases in affiliate revenues. Also contributing to this increase was the full quarter consolidation of Sunshine and International Sports Programming LLC (Fox Sports International). Fox News Channels (Fox News), the FX networks (FX), and the consolidated regional sports networks (RSNs) revenues increased 41%, 18%, and 18%, respectively, from the corresponding period in the prior year.
At Fox News, a 101% increase in advertising revenue was primarily from ratings and increased pricing. Affiliate revenue increased by 11% due to an increase in subscribers, partially offset by an 11% increase in amortization of cable distribution investments from the second quarter of fiscal 2002. As of December 31, 2002, Fox News reached 82 million Nielsen households, a 6% increase over the corresponding period of the prior year.
At FX, advertising revenues increased 37% over the corresponding period of the prior year, a result of an increase in ratings and higher pricing. FX affiliate revenues increased 8% from the corresponding period of the prior year, reflecting an increase in average subscribers partially offset by a 19% increase in amortization of cable distribution investments. As of December 31, 2002, FX reached over 79 million Nielsen households, an increase of 7% over the quarter ended December 31, 2001.
At the RSNs, affiliate revenues increased 20% primarily from higher affiliate rates, an increase in subscribers and the consolidation of Sunshine (in January 2002). Advertising revenues increased 13% due to the consolidation of Sunshine, the telecast of more National Hockey League (NHL) games as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year and an improved sports advertising market. These increases were partially offset by the telecast of fewer National Basketball Association (NBA) and MLB games as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.
The Cable Network Programming segment reported Operating income of $89 million, an increase of $72 million from $17 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. These improvements were driven by the revenue increases noted above
25
and lower amortization expense due to the Companys adoption of SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2002. Partially offsetting these improvements were increased programming costs at Speed Channel and FX and the consolidation of expenses from Fox Sports International and Sunshine. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased $59 million to $132 million from $73 million from the corresponding period of the prior year.
Other operating charge. At December 31, 2001, the Company recorded an Other operating charge of $909 million in its unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations. This charge related to a change in accounting estimate on the Companys national sports rights agreements caused by the downturn in the advertising market, which caused the Company to write off programming costs inventory and to provide for estimated losses on these contracts. The charge, by contract, is as follows: NFL$387 million, MLB$225 million and NASCAR$297 million.
Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net decreased $17 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2003 from $66 million to $49 million due to decreased interest expense from the redemption of the Notes (as defined below in Liquidity and Capital Resources).
Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates. Equity losses of affiliates for the quarter ended December 31, 2002 improved $46 million to $12 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. This improvement was primarily related to improved earnings at National Geographic ChannelDomestic as well as the absence of losses from FFW since its sale in October 2001. Also contributing to this improvement was decreased amortization expense due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Equity losses of affiliates would have improved by $12 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2001.
Ownership Percentage |
For the three months ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||
Affiliate: |
2002 |
2001 |
Change |
|||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||||
Fox Family Worldwide (a) |
49.5% |
$ |
|
|
$ |
(36 |
) |
$ |
36 |
| ||||
Fox Sports International (b) |
50% |
|
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
5 |
| ||||
Fox Sports Cable Networks associates: |
||||||||||||||
Regional Programming Partners |
40% |
|
10 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
2 |
| ||||
Other |
Various |
|
(12 |
) |
|
(10 |
) |
|
(2 |
) | ||||
National Geographic ChannelDomestic |
66.7% |
|
(7 |
) |
|
(16 |
) |
|
9 |
| ||||
Other |
Various |
|
(3 |
) |
|
1 |
|
|
(4 |
) | ||||
Total equity earnings (losses) of affiliates |
$ |
(12 |
) |
$ |
(58 |
) |
$ |
46 |
| |||||
(a) | The Company sold its interests in FFW in October 2001. |
(b) | Subsequent to the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in December 2001, the results of Fox Sports International have been consolidated in the Cable Network Programming segment. |
The Companys share of Regional Programming Partners (RPP) income was $10 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2002, as compared to $8 million in the corresponding period in the prior year. This increase is primarily due to significant cost savings at the Metro Channels and lower amortization of intangible assets resulting from RPPs implementation of SFAS No. 142 effective January 1, 2002, partially offset by charges from the Madison Square Garden division associated with a professional player compensation charge and lower earnings from the professional teams.
The Companys share of National Geographic ChannelDomestics losses were $7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2002, as compared to $16 million in losses in the corresponding period in the prior year. Affiliate and advertising revenues for the channel, which launched in January 2001, significantly increased due to growth in distribution. Partially offsetting the increase in revenues was higher programming amortization supporting an increased investment in quality programming. As of December 31, 2002, National Geographic ChannelDomestic reached nearly 37 million Nielsen households, a 106% increase over the quarter ended December 31, 2001.
26
Minority interest in subsidiaries. Minority interest in subsidiaries decreased $4 million to $7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2002 due to a decrease in the average amount of Preferred Interests outstanding and the corresponding decrease in Preferred Payments.
Other, net. Other, net was $1,585 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2001, including the gains recognized on the sales of FFW in the amount of $1,439 million and Outdoor Life in the amount of $147 million. (See Liquidity and Capital ResourcesFFW and Outdoor Life).
Income tax on a stand-alone basis. The effective tax rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2003 is 34.5% as compared to the prior period effective tax rate of 39.7%. The effective tax rate for the second quarter of the prior year was affected by the amortization of non-deductible goodwill, which increased the effective tax rate above statutory rate levels.
27
Results of OperationsSix months ended December 31, 2002 versus Six months ended December 31, 2001.
The following table sets forth the Companys operating results, by segment, for the six months ended December 31, 2002 as compared to the six months ended December 31, 2001.
For the six months ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
Change |
% Change |
||||||||||||
(in millions, except % change) |
|||||||||||||||
Revenues (1): |
|||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
2,221 |
|
$ |
2,056 |
|
$ |
165 |
|
8 |
% | ||||
Television Stations |
|
1,107 |
|
|
922 |
|
|
185 |
|
20 |
% | ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
1,173 |
|
|
1,042 |
|
|
131 |
|
13 |
% | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
993 |
|
|
786 |
|
|
207 |
|
26 |
% | ||||
Total revenues |
$ |
5,494 |
|
$ |
4,806 |
|
$ |
688 |
|
14 |
% | ||||
Operating income (loss): |
|||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
365 |
|
$ |
244 |
|
$ |
121 |
|
50 |
% | ||||
Television Stations |
|
514 |
|
|
284 |
|
|
230 |
|
81 |
% | ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
(162 |
) |
|
(173 |
) |
|
11 |
|
6 |
% | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
172 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
171 |
|
* |
* | ||||
Other operating charge |
|
|
|
|
(909 |
) |
|
909 |
|
100 |
% | ||||
Total operating income (loss) |
|
889 |
|
|
(553 |
) |
|
1,442 |
|
261 |
% | ||||
Interest expense, net |
|
(95 |
) |
|
(138 |
) |
|
43 |
|
31 |
% | ||||
Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates |
|
(10 |
) |
|
(109 |
) |
|
99 |
|
91 |
% | ||||
Minority interest in subsidiaries |
|
(16 |
) |
|
(22 |
) |
|
6 |
|
27 |
% | ||||
Other, net |
|
|
|
|
1,585 |
|
|
(1,585 |
) |
(100 |
)% | ||||
Income before provision for income tax expense and cumulative effect of accounting change |
|
768 |
|
|
763 |
|
|
5 |
|
1 |
% | ||||
Provision for income tax expense on a stand-alone basis |
|
(271 |
) |
|
(304 |
) |
|
33 |
|
11 |
% | ||||
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change |
|
497 |
|
|
459 |
|
|
38 |
|
8 |
% | ||||
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax |
|
|
|
|
(26 |
) |
|
26 |
|
100 |
% | ||||
Net income |
$ |
497 |
|
$ |
433 |
|
$ |
64 |
|
15 |
% | ||||
Other data: |
|||||||||||||||
Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (2): |
|||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
392 |
|
$ |
272 |
|
$ |
120 |
|
44 |
% | ||||
Television Stations |
|
544 |
|
|
388 |
|
|
156 |
|
40 |
% | ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
(152 |
) |
|
(163 |
) |
|
11 |
|
7 |
% | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
260 |
|
|
116 |
|
|
144 |
|
124 |
% | ||||
Other operating charge |
|
|
|
|
(909 |
) |
|
909 |
|
100 |
% | ||||
Total Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization |
$ |
1,044 |
|
$ |
(296 |
) |
$ |
1,340 |
|
453 |
% | ||||
** | not meaningful |
28
FOOTNOTE:
(1) | In January 2002, the Company adopted EITF 01-09, Accounting for the Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer or a Reseller of the Vendors Products, which was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2002. As required, the Company has reclassified the amortization of cable distribution investments against revenues for all periods presented. The amortization of cable distribution investments had previously been included in Depreciation and amortization. Operating income, Net income and Earnings per share are not affected by this reclassification. This reclassification affects the Companys and the Cable Network Programming segments revenues. The effect of the reclassification on the Companys revenues is as follows: |
For the six months ended December 31, |
||||||||
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||
Gross Revenues |
$ |
5,557 |
|
$ |
4,860 |
| ||
Amortization of cable distribution investments |
|
(63 |
) |
|
(54 |
) | ||
Revenues |
$ |
5,494 |
|
$ |
4,806 |
| ||
(2) | Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is defined as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization and the amortization of cable distribution investments. Depreciation and amortization expense includes the amortization of finite-lived intangible assets. Amortization of cable distribution investments represents a reduction against revenues over the term of a carriage arrangement and as such it is excluded from Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization. While Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization is considered to be an appropriate measure for evaluating operating performance by management, it should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), cash flow and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and presented in the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this filing. The following is a reconciliation of operating income (loss) to Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization by segment: |
For the six months ended December 31, 2002 |
||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
Depreciation and amortization |
Amortization of cable distribution investments |
Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization |
|||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
365 |
|
$ |
27 |
$ |
|
$ |
392 |
| ||||
Television Stations |
|
514 |
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
544 |
| ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
(162 |
) |
|
10 |
|
|
|
(152 |
) | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
172 |
|
|
25 |
|
63 |
|
260 |
| ||||
Total |
$ |
889 |
|
$ |
92 |
$ |
63 |
$ |
1,044 |
| ||||
For the six months ended December 31, 2001 |
||||||||||||||
Operating income (loss) |
Depreciation and amortization |
Amortization of cable distribution investments |
Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization |
|||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||||
Filmed Entertainment |
$ |
244 |
|
$ |
28 |
$ |
|
$ |
272 |
| ||||
Television Stations |
|
284 |
|
|
104 |
|
|
|
388 |
| ||||
Television Broadcast Network |
|
(173 |
) |
|
10 |
|
|
|
(163 |
) | ||||
Cable Network Programming |
|
1 |
|
|
61 |
|
54 |
|
116 |
| ||||
Other operating charge |
|
(909 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
(909 |
) | ||||
Total |
$ |
(553 |
) |
$ |
203 |
$ |
54 |
$ |
(296 |
) | ||||
Overview of Company Results. For the six months ended December 31, 2002, total revenues increased approximately 14% from $4,806 million in the first six months of fiscal 2002 to $5,494 million. Revenues increases at the Cable Network Programming and Television Stations segments primarily drove this 14% increase. Operating expenses increased
29
approximately 7% for the six months ended December 31, 2002 due primarily to increased home entertainment and marketing expenses at the Filmed Entertainment segment and higher programming costs for returning series and series cancellations at the Television Broadcast Network segment. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased approximately 4% primarily due to salaries and fringe benefits at the Television Stations segment. In the first six months of fiscal 2003, Depreciation and amortization expense decreased approximately 55% due to the Companys adoption of SFAS No. 142 resulting in the elimination of the amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles impacting primarily the Television Stations and Cable Network Programming segments. For the six months ended December 31, 2002, Operating income and Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased $1,442 million to $889 million and $1,340 million to $1,044 million, respectively, from the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year. These increases were primarily due to the Other operating charge in the first six months of fiscal 2002 for the write down of the Companys national sports contracts without a comparative charge in the current year. In addition, increased results at the Television Stations and Cable Network Programming segments contributed to the increases in Operating income and Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization.
Effective July 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 eliminates the requirement to amortize goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and the excess cost over the Companys share of equity investees assets and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 17, Intangible Assets, and replaces it with requirements to assess goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets annually for impairment. Intangible assets that are deemed to have a finite life will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. SFAS No. 142 required the Company to perform an initial impairment assessment of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as of the date of adoption. This impairment assessment compared the fair value of these intangible assets to their carrying value. As a result of the tests performed, the Company has determined that none of its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Depreciation and amortization expense, Operating loss, Equity losses of affiliates, Income before cumulative effect of accounting change and Earnings (loss) per share before cumulative effect of accounting change would have been $94 million, $444 million, $81 million, $561 million, and $0.68 per share, respectively, for the six months ended December 31, 2001.
Equity losses of affiliates of $10 million for the six months ended December 31, 2002 improved $99 million from $109 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. This improvement is primarily related to improved earnings at RPP and National Geographic ChannelDomestic, as well as the absence of losses from FFW since its sale in October 2001. Also contributing to this improvement is decreased amortization expense due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Equity losses of affiliates would have improved by $28 million for the six months ended December 31, 2001.
Net income for the six months ended December 31, 2002 was $497 million ($0.58 per share), an improvement of $64 million from $433 million ($0.52 per share) for the six months ended December 31, 2001. This improvement was partially due to the absence of the cumulative effect of accounting change charge in the prior year as well as the operating increases noted above.
Filmed Entertainment. For the first six months of fiscal 2003, the Filmed Entertainment segments revenues increased from $2,056 million to $2,221 million or approximately 8% compared to the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year. This increase was primarily due to increased worldwide home entertainment revenues, most notably from the strong performance of Ice Age. Prior year results included the strong worldwide theatrical performance of Planet of the Apes and strong worldwide home entertainment sales for the library, Planet of the Apes, Doctor Dolittle 2 and Moulin Rouge. At TCFTV, revenues increased due to network revenues for The Practice, domestic syndication revenues for King of the Hill and The Simpsons, cable syndication revenues for The X-Files, and home entertainment revenues for The Simpsons, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and 24. These increases at TCFTV were partially offset by decreased international syndication revenues from various titles. For the six months ended December 31, 2002, the Filmed Entertainment segment reported Operating income of $365 million from $244 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased from $272 million to $392 million as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. These increases were due to the revenue increases noted above, most notably Ice Age, and improved margins for DVD product due to increased volume, which were partially offset by increased home entertainment marketing costs. Key domestic theatrical films included Minority Report, Like Mike and Drumline.
Television Stations. On July 31, 2001, the Company acquired the television broadcasting business of Chris-Craft (as defined below), consisting of ten television stations and subsequently exchanged four former Chris-Craft stations with Viacom, Inc., Clear Channel Communications, Inc. and Meredith Corporation for five other television stations (after giving effect to these transactions the acquired television stations are referred to as the Acquired Stations). In addition, in August 2002, the
30
Company acquired WPWR in the Chicago DMA from Newsweb Corporation. These acquisitions increased the number of the Companys O&Os to 35 full power stations, including nine duopolies.
For the first six months of fiscal 2003, Television Stations revenues increased to $1,107 million from $922 million in the corresponding period of the prior year. This 20% revenue increase primarily resulted from higher advertising revenues related to an improvement in the advertising markets in which the Companys O&Os operate and the impact of the consolidation of the Station Swaps and WPWR. Advertising revenues in the Companys 26 local markets continued to improve versus the prior year, up approximately 17%, due to a recovery from the market decline in the prior year. Automotive, movies, telecommunication and political advertising spending were all stronger than the prior year. The Television Stations market share increased 1.6 percentage points to 24.5% as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. Operating income from the Television Stations segment increased from $284 million to $514 million for the six months ended December 31, 2002. Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased approximately 40% from $388 million to $544 million for the first six months of fiscal 2003. These increases were due to the revenue increases noted above and, for operating income, lower amortization expense of $73 million due to the Companys adoption of SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2002. Partially offsetting these favorable results were increased expenses due to a full six months consolidation of the newly acquired WPWR and increased salaries and fringe benefits from the corresponding period of the prior year.
Television Broadcast Network. For the six months ended December 31, 2002, the Television Broadcast Network segments revenues increased $131 million to $1,173 million from $1,042 million in the prior year. This 13% increase is due to pricing increases and higher ratings for prime time programming and additional commercial air time due to September 11th pre-emptions in the previous year. Also contributing to this advertising revenue increase were higher ratings for the NFL, pricing increases and additional commercial air time sold for both MLB and the NFL and an increase in the number of NFL telecasts in the year, as the games scheduled the week of September 11, 2001 were postponed to the third quarter of fiscal 2001. Operating losses for the Television Broadcast Network segment improved $11 million to a loss of $162 million and Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization improved $11 million to a loss of $152 million compared to the corresponding period of the preceding year. These operating improvements were driven by the increased revenues noted above, partially offset by higher prime time license fees for returning series and series cancellations, increased advertising expenses for prime time series and lower ratings and higher programming costs related to the national sports contracts.
Cable Network Programming. Total revenues for the Cable Network Programming segment increased by $207 million or approximately 26% from $786 million to $993 million for the six months ended December 31, 2002. This increase reflects improved results across all of the Cable Network Programming channels. Also contributing to this increase was the full six months consolidation of Sunshine and Fox Sports International. Fox News, FXs, and the RSNs revenues increased 48%, 21%, and 20%, respectively, from the corresponding period in the prior year.
At Fox News, a 132% increase in advertising revenue was primarily from ratings and increased pricing. Affiliate revenue increased by 13% due to an increase in subscribers, partially offset by a 9% increase in amortization of cable distribution investments from the first six months of fiscal 2002. As of December 31, 2002, Fox News reached 82 million Nielsen households.
At FX, advertising revenues increased 43% over the corresponding period of the prior year as a result of higher pricing and higher ratings. FX affiliate revenues increased 9% from the first six months of fiscal 2002 reflecting an increase in subscribers and affiliate rates partially offset by an 18% increase in amortization of cable distribution investments. As of December 31, 2002, FX reached over 79 million Nielsen households.
At the RSNs, affiliate revenues increased 21% primarily from higher affiliate rates, an increase in subscribers and the consolidation of Sunshine. Advertising revenues increased 18% primarily due to the higher pricing per game for MLB, NBA and NHL telecasts resulting from an improved sports advertising market partially offset by a reduced number of NBA games.
The Cable Network Programming segment reported Operating income of $172 million, an increase of $171 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. These improvements were primarily driven by the revenue increases noted above, lower amortization expense due to the Companys adoption of SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2002 and the consolidation of Sunshine. Partially offsetting these improvements were programming enhancements at Fox News, higher programming costs at FX, higher average rights fees for professional events at the RSNs and the consolidation of expenses from Fox Sports International.
31
Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization increased $144 million to $260 million from $116 million from the corresponding period of the prior year due to the reasons noted above.
Other operating charge. At December 31, 2001, the Company recorded an Other operating charge of $909 million in its unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations. This charge related to a change in accounting estimate on the Companys national sports rights agreements caused by the downturn in the advertising market, which caused the Company to write off programming costs inventory and to provide for estimated losses on these contracts. The charge, by contract, is as follows: NFL$387 million, MLB$225 million and NASCAR$297 million.
Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net decreased $43 million for the first six months of fiscal 2003 from $138 million to $95 million due to the decreased interest expense relating to the redemption of the Notes (as defined below), partially offset by decreased interest income from loans of affiliates of the Company.
Equity earnings (losses) of affiliates. Equity losses of affiliates for the six months ended December 31, 2002 improved $99 million to $10 million from the corresponding period of the prior year. This improvement was primarily related to improved earnings at RPP and National Geographic ChannelDomestic, as well as the absence of losses from FFW since its sale in October 2001. Also contributing to this improvement was decreased amortization expense due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on July 1, 2001, Equity losses of affiliates would have improved by $28 million for the six months ended December 31, 2001.
Ownership Percentage |
For the six months ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||
Affiliate: |
2002 |
2001 |
Change |
|||||||||||
(in millions) |
||||||||||||||
Fox Family Worldwide (a) |
49.5% |
$ |
|
|
$ |
(51 |
) |
$ |
51 |
| ||||
Fox Sports International (b) |
50% |
|
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
9 |
| ||||
Fox Sports Cable Networks associates: |
||||||||||||||
Regional Programming Partners |
40% |
|
15 |
|
|
(16 |
) |
|
31 |
| ||||
Other |
Various |
|
(6 |
) |
|
(8 |
) |
|
2 |
| ||||
National Geographic ChannelDomestic |
66.7% |
|
(13 |
) |
|
(26 |
) |
|
13 |
| ||||
Other |
Various |
|
(6 |
) |
|
1 |
|
|
(7 |
) | ||||
Total equity earnings (losses) of affiliates |
$ |
(10 |
) |
$ |
(109 |
) |
$ |
99 |
| |||||
(a) | The Company sold its interests in FFW in October 2001. |
(b) | Subsequent to the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in December 2001, the results of Fox Sports International have been consolidated in the Cable Network Programming segment. |
The Companys share of RPPs income was $15 million for the six months ended December 31, 2002, as compared to losses of $16 million in the corresponding period in the prior year. This improvement is primarily due to the prior year charges from the Madison Square Garden division associated with the termination of two professional player contracts, significant cost savings at the Metro Channels and lower amortization of intangible assets resulting from RPPs implementation of SFAS No. 142 effective January 1, 2002. Partially offsetting the improvement is a player compensation charge in the current period and lower earnings from the professional teams and the MSG Network.
The Companys share of National Geographic Channel-Domestics losses were $13 million for the six months ended December 31, 2002, as compared to $26 million in losses in the corresponding period in the prior year. Affiliate and advertising revenues for the channel, which launched in January 2001, significantly increased due to growth in distribution. Partially offsetting the increase in revenues was higher programming amortization supporting an increased investment in quality programming. As of December 31, 2002, National Geographic ChannelDomestic reached nearly 37 million Nielsen households.
Minority interest in subsidiaries. Minority interest in subsidiaries decreased $6 million to $16 million for the six months ended December 31, 2002 due to a decrease in the average amount of Preferred Interests Outstanding and the corresponding decrease in Preferred Payments.
32
Other, net. Other, net was $1,585 million for the six months ended December 31, 2001, including the gains recognized on the sales of FFW in the amount of $1,439 million and Outdoor Life in the amount of $147 million. (See Liquidity and Capital ResourcesFFW and Outdoor Life).
Income tax on a stand-alone basis. The effective tax rate for the six months ended December 31, 2002 is 35.3% as compared to the prior period effective tax rate of 39.8%. The effective tax rate for the first six months of the prior year was affected by the amortization of non-deductible goodwill, which increased the effective tax rate above statutory rate levels.
33
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Companys principal sources of cash flow are internally generated funds, various film financing alternatives and borrowings from The News Corporation Limited (News Corporation) and its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2002, News Corporation had consolidated cash and cash equivalents of $3 billion, excluding the cash of the Company, and an unused Revolving Credit Agreement of $1.7 billion. We believe that cash flow from operations and the funds available from News Corporation will be adequate for the Company to conduct its operations. The Companys internally generated funds are highly dependent upon the state of the advertising market and public acceptance of film products. Any significant decline in the advertising market or the performance of its films could adversely impact its cash flows from operations.
The principal uses of cash flow that affect the Companys liquidity position include the following: investments in the production and distribution of new feature films and television programs, the acquisition of and payments under programming rights for entertainment programming and sporting events, operational expenditures, interest and income tax payments.
Net cash flows provided by operating activities during the six months ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 were $158 million and $10 million, respectively. This increase resulted from higher net income (adjusted for non-cash items) during the current period, offset by additional working capital funding requirements for accounts receivable and inventories. The accounts receivable increase resulted from additional billings to customers for new video releases and the inventory increase reflects the timing of payments made for the 2002 NFL season.
Net cash flows used by investing activities for the six months ended December 31, 2002 were $580 million as compared to net cash provided of $926 in the corresponding period of the preceding fiscal year. The current year included cash used for the acquisition of WPWR, a television station in the Chicago DMA, as well as funding of the investments in Regency Television, National Geographic Channels and National Sports Partners.
Net cash flows provided by financing activities were $436 million during the six months ended December 31, 2002 as compared to cash used of $947 million in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. The increase in cash provided by financing activities is primarily attributable to proceeds from the Companys issuance of Class A Common Stock (see below) as well as higher Advances from affiliates of News Corporation, net used to fund operating and investing activities. Partially offsetting these sources of cash was the redemption of the Notes (defined below).
In June 2002, the Company and its subsidiary, Fox Sports Networks, LLC, irrevocably called for redemption all of the outstanding
9 3/4% Senior Discount Notes due 2007 and all of the outstanding 8 7/8% Senior Notes due 2007 (collectively, the Notes). The Notes were fully redeemed in August 2002.
In May 2002, the Company filed a Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which allows the Company to issue, from time to time, Class A Common Stock and/or debt securities for aggregate proceeds of up to $2.5 billion. In November 2002, the Company sold 50 million shares of its Class A Common Stock for net proceeds of approximately $1.2 billion. The Company used the net proceeds to reduce obligations due to affiliates of News Corporation. Upon consummation of the offering, News Corporations equity and voting interests in the Company decreased from 85.32% and 97.84% to 80.58% and 97%, respectively.
Guarantees
The Company, News Corporation and certain of News Corporations other subsidiaries are guarantors of various debt obligations of News Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries. The principal amount of indebtedness outstanding under such debt instruments as of December 31 and June 30, 2002 was approximately $8.6 billion and $8.7 billion, respectively. The debt instruments limit the ability of guarantors, including the Company, to subject their properties to liens, and certain of the debt instruments impose limitations on the ability of News Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company, to incur indebtedness in certain circumstances. Such debt instruments mature at various times between 2004 and 2096, with a weighted average maturity of over 20 years.
In the case of any event of default under such debt obligations, the Company will be directly liable to the creditors or debtholders. News Corporation has agreed to indemnify the Company from and against any obligations it may incur by reason of its guarantees of such debt obligations. As of December 31, 2002, News Corporation was in compliance with all of its debt covenants and had satisfied all financial ratios and tests and expects to remain in compliance and satisfy all such ratios and tests.
34
The Company guarantees sports rights agreements of an equity affiliate. This guarantee extends through fiscal 2019. The Company guarantees 70% of the sports rights agreements and has a maximum liability of $1,050 million. The Company would be liable under this guarantee in the event of default of its equity affiliate.
Ratings of News Corporation Public Debt
As of December 31, 2002, News Corporations debt ratings from Moodys (Ba1 for subordinated notes and Baa3 for senior unsecured notes) and Standard & Poors (BBB-) for the debt guaranteed by the Company and others were within the investment grade scale.
New Millennium II
In March 2001, the Company entered into a series of film rights agreements whereby a controlled consolidated subsidiary of the Company, Cornwall Venture LLC (NM2), that holds certain library film rights, funds the production or acquisition costs of all eligible films, as defined, to be produced or acquired by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (TCF), a subsidiary of the Company, between 2001 and 2004 (these film rights agreements are collectively referred to as the New Millennium II Agreement). NM2 is a separate legal entity from the Company and TCF and has separate assets and liabilities. NM2 issued a preferred limited liability membership interest (Preferred Interest) to a third party to fund the film financing, which is presented on the consolidated condensed balance sheets as Minority interest in subsidiaries. The Preferred Interest has no fixed redemption rights but is entitled to an allocation of the gross receipts to be derived by NM2 from the distribution of each eligible film. Such allocation to the extent available based on the gross receipts from the distribution of the eligible films consists of (i) a return on the Preferred Interest (the Preferred Payments), based on certain reference rates (generally based on commercial paper rates or LIBOR) prevailing on the respective dates of determination, and (ii) a redemption of the Preferred Interest, based on a contractually determined amortization schedule. The Preferred Interest has a preference in the event of a liquidation of NM2 equal to the unredeemed portion of the investment plus any accrued and unpaid Preferred Payments.
The net change in Preferred Interests outstanding was a reduction of $99 million and an increase of $8 million for the six months ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. These amounts were comprised of issuances by the Company of additional Preferred Interests under the New Millennium II Agreement in the amount of $230 million and redemptions by the Company of Preferred Interests of $329 million during the six months ended December 31, 2002. During the six months ended December 31, 2001, the Company issued additional Preferred Interests under the New Millennium II Agreement in the amount of $376 million and redemptions by the Company of Preferred Interests of $368 million.
As of December 31, 2002, there was approximately $751 million of Preferred Interests outstanding, which are included in the unaudited consolidated condensed balance sheets as Minority interest in subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2002, there was approximately $850 million of Preferred Interests outstanding, which are included in the audited consolidated condensed balance sheets as Minority interest in subsidiaries. The Preferred Payments are recorded as an expense in Minority interest in subsidiaries on the consolidated condensed statements of operations.
A Ratings Trigger Event for the New Millennium II Agreement would occur if News Corporations debt rating:
(i) (a) falls below BB+ and below Ba1, or (b) falls below BB, or (c) falls below Ba2, or (d) it is not rated by both rating agencies, and, in each case, neither News Corporation nor the Company shall, within ten business days after the occurrence of such event, have provided credit enhancement so that the resulting New Millennium II Agreement is rated at least BB+ and Ba1, or
(ii) (a) falls below BBB- and Baa3, or (b) it is not rated by both rating agencies, and, in each case, more than $25 million in capital payments redeemable at that time from film gross receipts remain unredeemed for at least one quarter.
If a Ratings Trigger Event were to occur, then (a) no new films will be transferred, (b) rights against certain film assets may be enforced, and (c) the Preferred Interest may become redeemable.
Through December 31, 2002, no Ratings Trigger Event had occurred. If a Ratings Trigger Event were to occur, then $425 million (or approximately 57% of the outstanding balance as of December 31, 2002) may be payable immediately. The balance of the redemption would be payable to the extent of future gross receipts from films that had been transferred to NM2.
35
Acquisitions and dispositions
Chris-Craft
On July 31, 2001, News Corporation, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Chris-Craft Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries, BHC Communications, Inc. and United Television, Inc., (collectively, Chris-Craft). The consideration for the acquisition was approximately $2 billion in cash and approximately $3 billion in News Corporation American Depositary Receipts representing preferred limited voting ordinary shares (ADRs). Simultaneously with the closing of the acquisition, News Corporation transferred $3,432 million of net assets, constituting Chris-Crafts ten television stations (the Acquired Stations) to the Company in exchange for 122,244,272 shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock and net indebtedness of $48 million (the Exchange), thereby increasing News Corporations ownership in the Company from 82.76% to 85.25%. The Company assigned the licenses issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the Acquired Stations to its indirect subsidiary, Fox Television Stations, Inc., which became the licensee and controls the operations of the Acquired Stations. News Corporation acquired Chris-Craft and transferred to the Company the Acquired Stations in order to strengthen the Companys existing television station business. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.
The Company consolidated the results of operations of the Acquired Stations as of the date of Exchange, July 31, 2001, with the exception of KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City, whose operations were not consolidated as of the Exchange due to regulatory requirements which precluded the Company from controlling the station and required its disposal (see description of Clear Channel swap below). For financial reporting purposes, in accordance with EITF 90-5, Exchanges of Ownership Interests between Entities under Common Control, the Company recognized the assets and liabilities of Chris-Craft based upon their acquired basis in the News Corporation merger and issued equity to News Corporation at that value.
In October 2001, the Company exchanged KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City and KMOL-TV in San Antonio with Clear Channel Communications, Inc. for WFTC-TV in Minneapolis (the Clear Channel swap). In addition, in November 2001, the Company exchanged KBHK-TV in San Francisco with Viacom Inc. for WDCA-TV in Washington, DC and KTXH-TV in Houston (the Viacom swap). In June 2002, the Company exchanged KPTV-TV in Portland for Meredith Corporations WOFL-TV in Orlando and WOGX-TV in Ocala (the Meredith swap, and together with the Viacom and Clear Channel swaps, the Station Swaps). All of the stations exchanged in the Station Swaps were Acquired Stations. No gain or loss was recognized by the Company as a result of the Station Swaps.
Speed Channel
In July 2001, as a result of the exercise of rights by existing shareholders of Speedvision Network, LLC, the Company acquired an additional 53.44% of Speedvision Network, LLC, now Speed Channel, Inc. (Speed Channel), for approximately $401 million, increasing the Companys ownership in Speed Channel to approximately 85.46%. As a result, the Company consolidated the results of Speed Channel beginning in July 2001. In October 2001, the Company acquired the remaining 14.54% minority interest in Speed Channel for approximately $111 million bringing the Companys ownership to 100%. These transactions have been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.
Outdoor Life
In July 2001, as a result of the exercise of rights by existing shareholders of Outdoor Life, the Company acquired 50.23% of Outdoor Life for approximately $309 million. This acquisition resulted in the Company owning approximately 83.18% of Outdoor Life. In October 2001, a shareholder of Outdoor Life acquired the Companys ownership interest in Outdoor Life for approximately $512 million in cash. During the period from July 2001 until the closing of the sale of Outdoor Life in October 2001, the ownership interest in Outdoor Life was held for sale and control of Outdoor Life was deemed temporary. Therefore, in accordance with SFAS No. 94, Consolidation of All Majority-Owned Subsidiaries, and EITF 87-11, Allocation of Purchase Price to Assets to be Sold, the results of Outdoor Life were not consolidated in the Companys statement of operations for this period. Upon the closing of the sale of the Companys ownership interest in Outdoor Life, the Company recognized a gain of $147 million, which is reflected in the unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2001.
36
FFW
In October 2001, the Company, Haim Saban and the other stockholders of FFW, sold FFW to The Walt Disney Company (Disney) for total consideration of approximately $5.2 billion (including the assumption of certain debt) of which approximately $1.6 billion was in consideration of the Companys interest in FFW, which was rebranded ABC Family. As a result of this transaction, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain of approximately $1.4 billion, which is reflected in the unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations for the quarter ended December 31, 2001. The proceeds from this transaction were used to reduce obligations to affiliates of News Corporation. In addition, the Company sublicensed certain post-season MLB games through the 2006 MLB season to Disney for aggregate consideration of approximately $675 million, payable over the entire period of the sublicense.
Fox Sports International
In December 2001, News Corporation acquired from Liberty Media Corporation its 50% interest in Fox Sports International, in exchange for 3,673,183 ADRs valued at $115 million. Under the terms of the transaction, the Company purchased News Corporations acquired interest in Fox Sports International, which increased the Companys ownership interest from 50% to 100%, in exchange for the issuance of 3,632,269 shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock. As a result of this transaction, News Corporations equity ownership interest in the Company increased from 85.25% to 85.32%. For financial reporting purposes, in accordance with EITF 90-5, the Company has recognized the assets and liabilities of Fox Sports International based upon their acquired basis in the News Corporation acquisition and issued 3,632,269 shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock to News Corporation at that value. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.
Sunshine
In January 2002, the Company acquired an approximate 23.3% interest in Sunshine for approximately $23.3 million. This resulted in the acquisition of a controlling interest in Sunshine and increased the Companys ownership percentage in Sunshine to approximately 83.3%. In February 2002, the Company acquired an additional approximate 0.4% interest in Sunshine, increasing the Companys ownership interest to approximately 83.7%. In October 2002, the Company acquired News Corporations 9.8% equity interest in Sunshine for consideration of approximately $3 million, its fair market value. This acquisition increased the Companys ownership interest in Sunshine to 93.7% with the remaining minority interest held by third parties. Since the acquisition in January 2002, Sunshine has been consolidated into the Cable Network Programming segment of the Company as it is now under the control of the Company. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.
WPWR-TV
In August 2002, the Company acquired WPWR-TV in the Chicago designated market area (DMA) from Newsweb Corporation for $425 million. In connection with the preliminary allocation of the purchase price, during the three months ended December 31, 2002, goodwill and deferred taxes were reduced to reflect the difference between the book and tax bases of the net assets acquired. This transaction has been treated as a purchase in accordance with SFAS Nos. 141 and 142.
Contingencies
Regional Programming Partners
In December 1997, Rainbow Media Sports Holdings, Inc. (Rainbow) (a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (Cablevision)) and Fox Sports Net, Inc. (Fox Sports Net) (a subsidiary of the Company) formed RPP to hold various programming interests in connection with the operation of certain RSNs. Rainbow contributed various interests in RSNs, the Madison Square Garden Entertainment Complex, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Rangers National Hockey League franchise, and the New York Knickerbockers National Basketball Association franchise, to RPP in exchange for a 60% partnership interest in RPP, and Fox Sports Net contributed $850 million in cash for a 40% partnership interest in RPP.
Pursuant to the RPP partnership agreement upon certain actions being taken by Fox Sports Net, Rainbow has the right to purchase all of Fox Sports Nets interests in RPP. The buyout price will be the greater of (i) (a) $2.125 billion, increased by capital contributions and decreased by capital distributions, times Fox Sports Nets interest in RPP plus (b) an 8% rate of return on the amount in (a) or (ii) the fair market value of Fox Sports Nets interest in RPP. Consideration will be, at Rainbows option, in the form of cash or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%.
37
In addition, for 30 days following December 18, 2005 (the Put Date) and during certain periods subsequent to the Put Date, so long as RPP has not commenced an initial public offering of its securities, Fox Sports Net has the right to cause Rainbow to, at Rainbows option, either (i) purchase all of its interests in RPP or (ii) consummate an initial public offering of RPPs securities. The purchase price will be the fair market value of Fox Sports Nets interest in RPP and the consideration will be, at Rainbows option, in the form of marketable securities of certain affiliated companies of Rainbow or a three year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%. The determination of the fair market value of the investment in RPP will be made in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement and will be affected by the valuation of the consideration received from Rainbow. Fox Sports Net did not elect to exercise a put right exercisable for the 30 days following December 18, 2002.
In connection with the Rainbow Transaction, Rainbow and Fox Sports Net formed National Sports Partners (NSP) in which each of Rainbow and Fox Sports Net were issued a 50% partnership interest to operate Fox Sports Net (FSN), a national sports programming service that provides its affiliated RSNs with 24 hour per day national sports programming. In addition, Rainbow and Fox Sports Net formed National Advertising Partners (NAP), in which each of Fox Sports Net and Rainbow were issued a 50% partnership interest, to act as the national advertising sales representative for the Fox Sports Net-owned RSNs and the RPP-owned and managed RSNs. Independent of the arrangements discussed above relating to RPP, for 30 days following the Put Date and during certain periods subsequent to the Put Date, so long as NSP and NAP have not commenced an initial public offering of its securities, Rainbow has the right to cause Fox Sports Net to, at Fox Sports Nets option, either (i) purchase all of Rainbows interests in NSP and NAP, or (ii) consummate an initial public offering of NSPs and NAPs securities. The purchase price will be the fair market value of Rainbows interest in NSP and NAP and the consideration will be, at Fox Sports Nets option, in the form of marketable securities of certain affiliated entities of Fox Sports Net or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus ½%. The determination of the fair market value of the investments in NAP and NSP will be made in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement and will be affected by the valuation of the consideration paid to Rainbow. Rainbow did not elect to exercise a put right exercisable for the 30 days following December 18, 2002.
Rainbow RSNs
In January 2003, Fox Sports Net exercised its right to put its 50% direct ownership interests in SportsChannel Chicago Associates and SportsChannel Pacific Associates (collectively, the Chicago and Bay Area RSNs) to RPP in connection with the Rainbow Transaction. The purchase price for the sale of Fox Sports Nets direct interests in the Chicago and Bay Area RSNs will be equal to the fair market value of such direct interests and is to be determined by mutual agreement of the parties. In the event that the parties are unable to agree upon a price, the price will be determined by an independent valuation procedure in accordance with the terms of the respective partnership agreements. Once the purchase price is determined, RPP has 30 days to elect either (i) to purchase Fox Sports Nets direct interests in the Chicago and Bay Area RSNs or (ii) to consummate the IPO of the Chicago and Bay Area RSNs. If RPP elects to purchase the interests, the consideration will be, at RPPs election, in the form of marketable securities of certain affiliated companies of Rainbow or a three-year note with an interest rate of prime plus 1%. Following the closing of this sale, each of the Chicago and Bay Area RSNs will be held 100% by RPP and indirectly 40% by Fox Sports Net and 60% by Rainbow, and each will remain a Fox Sports Net affiliate.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections. SFAS No. 4, Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt, required that gains and losses from extinguishment of debt be classified as an extraordinary item, net of the related income tax effect. Any gain or loss on extinguishment of debt that was classified as an extraordinary item in prior periods presented that does not meet the criteria in APB Opinion No. 30 for classification as an extraordinary item shall be reclassified. SFAS No. 13, Accounting for Leases, has been amended to require sale-leaseback accounting for certain lease modifications that are similar to sale-leaseback transactions. The rescission of SFAS No. 4 and the amendment to SFAS No. 13 shall be effective for fiscal years and transactions, respectively, occurring after May 15, 2002. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 145 during fiscal 2002.
In July 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities. SFAS No. 146 addresses the accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies EITF No. 94-3, Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring). SFAS No. 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized at fair market value when the liability is incurred, rather than upon an entitys commitment to an exit plan, as
38
prescribed by EITF No. 94-3. SFAS No. 146 is effective for exit and disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. The Company will adopt SFAS No. 146 on January 1, 2003.
In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. (FIN) 45, Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others. FIN 45 elaborates on the disclosure requirements of a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees that it has issued. It also requires a guarantor to recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing certain guarantees. FIN 45 also incorporates, without change, the guidance in FIN 34, Disclosure of Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, which it supersedes. The incremental disclosure requirements of FIN 45 are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. The initial recognition and initial measurement provisions are applicable to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The accounting followed by a guarantor on prior guarantees may not be changed to conform to the guidance of FIN 45. The Company has adopted the incremental disclosure requirements of FIN 45. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 45 on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations.
In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123. SFAS No. 148 amends SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS No. 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. SFAS No. 148 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002. The Company continues to account for stock-based employee compensation under the intrinsic value method of APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. The Company will adopt the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148 for the interim period beginning January 1, 2003.
In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51. FIN 46 requires an investor to consolidate a variable interest entity if it is determined that the investor is a primary beneficiary of that entity, subject to the criteria set forth in FIN 46. Assets, liabilities, and non controlling interests of newly consolidated variable interest entities will be initially measured at fair value. After initial measurement, the consolidated variable interest entity will be accounted for under the guidance provided by Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements. FIN 46 is effective for variable interest entities created or entered into after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities created or acquired before February 1, 2003, FIN 46 applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adopting FIN 46 on its consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is exposed to the impact of foreign currency fluctuations and utilizes derivative instruments in a limited manner to modify its exposure to foreign exchange rate movements. The Companys policy is to enter into derivative and other financial instruments only to the extent considered necessary to meet its business objectives. The Company does not enter into these transactions for speculative purposes.
Foreign Exchange Rate Risk
The Company uses foreign exchange forward contracts to minimize its limited exposure to exchange rate movements. The foreign exchange contracts have principally been used to hedge the costs of producing films abroad and are principally denominated in the Czech Koruna and the Euro. The Company designates forward contracts used to hedge future production costs as cash flow hedges.
The effects of these contracts were not material in the quarter.
39
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Companys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report and, based on this evaluation, have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There have been no significant changes in the Companys internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of the most recent evaluation.
Part II. Other Information
Not Applicable
ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
On April 10, 2002, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (the Registration Statement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC File No. 333-85978) relating to the proposed public offering of up to $2,500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount or value of one or more series of senior or subordinated debt securities (the Debt Securities) or shares of the Companys Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, (the Common Stock). The Debt Securities and the Common Stock are herein referred to as Securities. The Securities may be offered and sold by the Company from time to time as set forth in the prospectus which forms part of the Registration Statement (the Prospectus), and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the Prospectus. On May 3, 2002, the Registration Statement was declared effective. On November 12, 2002, the Company filed a Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, (the Prospectus Supplement) which was effective upon filing with the SEC. The Prospectus Supplement related to the offering by the Company of shares of Common Stock for sale by Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Merrill Lynch & Co. (the Offering). The Offering, which was completed on November 15, 2002, consisted of 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock at an initial public offering price of $24.50 per share. The net proceeds from the Offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and other expenses payable by the Company, were approximately $1.2 billion. The Company used the net proceeds to repay debt owed to News Corporation.
News Corporation indirectly owns all issued and outstanding shares of the Companys Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, which, after the consummation of the Offering, represent approximately 80.58% of the equity and 97% of the voting power of the Company.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not Applicable
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
On November 21, 2002, the Company held its annual meeting of stockholders. At this meeting, the Board of Directors was elected and the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003 was ratified. Votes for the election of directors of the Company were as follows: for K. Rupert Murdoch, 5,732,631,790 votes for and 30,826,587 votes against; for Peter Chernin, 5,730,255,650 votes for and 33,202,727 votes against; for Lachlan K. Murdoch, 5,734,052,652 votes for and 29,405,725 votes against; for David F. DeVoe, 5,733,186,251 votes for and 30,272,126 votes against; for Arthur M. Siskind, 5,733,923,735 votes for and 29,534,642 votes against; for Christos M. Cotsakos, 5,756,605,382 votes for and 6,852,995 votes against; and for Thomas W. Jones, 5,759,016,585 votes for and 4,441,792 votes against. There were 5,761,096,326 votes in favor of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent public accountants of the Company with 2,327,970 votes against, and 34,081 abstentions.
40
On February 11, 2003, the Board of Directors of the Company elected Peter Powers to serve on the Board until the next annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Powers is President and Chief Executive Officer of Powers Global Strategies LLC, a strategic consulting firm, and serves as a director of NDS Group plc. Mr. Powers has also been appointed to the Companys Audit Committee.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Exhibits
99.1 |
(a) |
Certification by K. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | |
99.1 |
(b) |
Certification by David F. DeVoe, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
The following current reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Company during the Companys second fiscal quarter:
(i) | Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant filed November 14, 2002 relating to the announcement by Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. of the offering of 50 million shares of its Class A Common Stock. |
(ii) | Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant filed November 14, 2002 containing the underwriting agreement for the issuance of 50,000,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock and the opinion and consent of Hogan & Hartson LLP regarding the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-3. |
(iii) | Current Report on Form 8-K/A of the registrant filed November 15, 2002 containing the opinion and consent of Hogan & Hartson LLP regarding the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-3. |
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
Date: February 12, 2003 |
FOX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC. | |||||||
By: |
/S/ DAVID F. DEVOE | |||||||
David F. DeVoe Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
41
CERTIFICATIONS
I, K. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (the Company), certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Company; |
2. | Based on my knowledge, the quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report; |
4. | The Companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the Company and we have: |
a) | designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared; |
b) | evaluated the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the Evaluation Date); and |
c) | presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date; |
5. | The Companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the Companys auditors and the Audit Committee of the Companys Board of Directors: |
a) | all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the Companys auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and |
b) | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Companys internal controls; and |
6. | The Companys other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses. |
Date: February 12, 2003
By: |
/s/ K. Rupert Murdoch | |
K. Rupert Murdoch Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
42
I, David F. DeVoe, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fox Entertainment Group, Inc. (the Company), certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Company; |
2. | Based on my knowledge, the quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report; |
4. | The Companys other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the Company and we have: |
a) | designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared; |
b) | evaluated the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the Evaluation Date); and |
c) | presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date; |
5. | The Companys other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the Companys auditors and the Audit Committee of the Companys Board of Directors: |
a) | all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the Companys auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and |
b) | any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Companys internal controls; and |
6. | The Companys other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses. |
Date: February 12, 2003
By: |
/s/ David F. DeVoe | |
David F. DeVoe Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
43