RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Media General, Inc. (NYSE: MEG), a local broadcast television and digital media company, today reported second-quarter operating income of $5 million, compared with $17 million in the second quarter of 2012. The year-over-year decrease was due in large part to two significant expenses in the second quarter: $7.2 million of merger-related expenses and $3.7 million of additional expense, due to the effect of a higher stock price on stock-based compensation plans, reflected in the Incentive Compensation component of "Corporate and Other Expenses." Additionally, the current quarter included only $1 million of Political revenues, compared with $7.5 million in the same period last year.

Net loss in the second quarter was $16 million, or 59 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $146 million, or $6.48 per share, in the prior year, which included a loss of $132 million related to the divestiture of discontinued operations, mostly newspapers.

Total station revenues in the second quarter were $82 million, compared to $83 million in the prior year, net of agency commissions. As expected, Political revenues in this odd-numbered year decreased 86%. Cable and satellite retransmission revenue increased 38%, and Digital revenues grew 17%.

George L. Mahoney, president and chief executive officer of Media General, said, "Our stations are doing a good job this year replacing last year's robust Political revenues with new revenue initiatives and business development programs. Additionally, our largest category, automotive advertising, grew 5.5% in the second quarter. Station revenues also reflected higher retransmission revenue this year and growth in Digital revenues. Station expenses increased 4.6%, due to additional network affiliation fees and expenses for revenue initiatives. We were especially pleased to see our stations increase Broadcast cash flow to 34%, compared to the last odd-numbered year 2011, a key initiative for us. Core corporate expense in the second quarter decreased 41% from last year, reflecting our major corporate restructuring following the sale of our newspapers," said Mr. Mahoney.

"Our merger with Young Broadcasting is progressing smoothly, and we expect to complete the transaction in the late third or early fourth quarter of this year. We are very happy with the terms of a new credit agreement, announced on August 5, which will be in place following the completion of the merger. We refinanced the combined debt of Media General and Young at a significantly lower cost of capital. Cash interest will be approximately $39 million annually as a result of the new credit agreement, based on current LIBOR rates, a savings of $36 million over the two companies' current standalone annual cash interest expense of approximately $75 million. The new Media General will be on even stronger footing than anticipated, and we're delighted with our gathering momentum," said Mr. Mahoney.

In the second quarter of this year, Core Local and National revenues increased approximately 1%. Local gross time sales were $46 million and decreased 1.9% from last year. National gross time sales were $25 million and increased 5.6%. Media General's largest advertising category, automotive, grew 5.5%. Other major advertising categories that increased in the current year were furniture, home improvement, medical, entertainment and telecommunications. Major advertising categories that decreased in the second quarter were professional services, restaurants, retail and corporate.

Station production expenses increased 1.8%, mainly due to an increase in affiliate fees. Station selling, general and administrative expenses increased 8.6%, due to merit increases and to two expenses that also had revenue offsets: sales incentive trips and additional revenue-share associated with increased Digital revenues.

Core Corporate expense in the second quarter was $4.2 million, compared with $7.2 million last year, reflecting the elimination of 75 corporate staffing positions last year following the sale of the company's newspapers.

Total interest expense in the second quarter of $19.5 million decreased 10% from last year due primarily to lower average outstanding principal. Noncash tax expense of $1.9 million compared with $3.4 million last year.

EBITDA from continuing operations (income before interest, debt modification and extinguishment costs, taxes, and depreciation and amortization), adjusted for merger-related expenses, was $18 million compared with $24 million in the second quarter of 2012. Higher operating costs combined with lower revenues due to the relative absence of Political caused the year-over-year decrease.

Guidance

Media General provided the following guidance:

Political revenues for the full year 2013 are expected to be approximately $6 million, an increase from the company's prior guidance of $5 million.

Retransmission revenues for the full year 2013 are expected to increase approximately 47% from 2012.

In the third quarter of 2012, Political revenues were $19.6 million, and revenues from the Summer Olympics were $15.5 million. Total station revenues in the third quarter this year will decrease due to the near absence of these revenues. Core Local and National broadcast gross time sales, excluding Olympics revenues, are expected to increase in the mid-to-high single digits. Retransmission revenues are expected to increase approximately 43%, compared with the third quarter of 2012.

Conference Call and Webcast

The company will hold a conference call with financial analysts today at 11:00 a.m. ET. To dial in to the call, listeners may call 800-447-0521 about 10 minutes prior to the 11:00 a.m. start. The participant passcode is 35253803.

Listeners may also access a live webcast by visiting www.mediageneral.com and clicking on the "Live Webcast" link on the homepage about 10 minutes in advance. A replay of the webcast will be available online at www.mediageneral.com beginning at 2:00 p.m. today. A telephone replay will also be available, beginning at 4:30 p.m. on August 8, 2013, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on August 14, 2013, by dialing 888-843-7419 or 630-652-3042 and using the passcode 35253803.

About Media General
Media General is a leading provider of news, information and entertainment across 18 network-affiliated broadcast television stations and their associated digital media and mobile platforms. The company's stations serve consumers and advertisers in strong local markets, primarily in the Southeast. Media General's television stations include affiliations with NBC (8), CBS (8), ABC (1) and CW (1). One-third of the company's stations operate in the Top 50 markets in the United States. Media General's stations reach more than one-third of TV households in the Southeast and more than 8% of U.S. TV households. Media General entered the television business in 1955 when it launched WFLA-TV in Tampa, Florida, as an NBC affiliate.

On June 6, 2013, Media General announced a merger with Young Broadcasting. Assuming completion of the pending merger, the combined company will own or operate 31 network-affiliated television stations across 28 markets, reaching approximately 16.5 million, or 14%, of U.S. TV households. The balance of network affiliations will include CBS (12), NBC (9), ABC (7) Fox (1), CW (1) and MNT (1). Sixteen of the 31 stations are located in the Top 75 DMAs.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain information reflected above constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Media General or the combined company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such information is based upon current assumptions and expectations. There can be no assurance that Media General will achieve the results reflected in its guidance or the proposed combination or contemplated refinancing will occur as currently contemplated, or at all, or that the expected benefits from the transaction will be realized on the timetable currently contemplated, or at all. A list and description of important assumptions and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are specified in Media General's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 19, 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and Quarterly Report on form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 under headings such as "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have material adverse effects on Media General's or Young's performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of the filing of this document with the SEC. Media General undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events unless required by law.

Additional Information

On July 19, 2013, Media General filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a Registration Statement on Form S-4, which includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus relating to Media General's proposed combination with New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. (Young). In addition, Media General will file with the SEC other information and documents concerning the combination and the businesses of Media General and Young. WE URGE INVESTORS TO REVIEW THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER INFORMATION TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. These documents are available without charge on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov and on Media General's web site www.mediageneral.com. INVESTORS SHOULD READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISIONS.

Media General and its directors and executive officer may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Media General shareholders in connection with the proposed combination. Investors may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Media General's directors and executive officers by reading Media General's Registration Statement on Form S-4 and the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus included therein.

Contact Media General

Additional information about Media General is available on its website, www.mediageneral.com, or by contacting Lou Anne J. Nabhan, Vice President-Corporate Communications, at (804) 887-5120 or lnabhan@mediageneral.com.