Tribune Media Company Reports First Quarter 2016 Results

FIRST QUARTER 2016 HIGHLIGHTS (compared to first quarter 2015 unless noted)

• Consolidated operating revenues increased 10% to $520.5 million
• Core advertising revenues increased 2.2% to $291.8 million
• Net political advertising revenues of $15.3 million increased 169% compared to pro forma¹ first quarter 2012
• Retransmission consent revenue increased 21% to $83.5 million
• Carriage fee revenue increased 44% to $31.0 million
• WGN America primetime ratings² increased 51%, driven by the success of our two original programs, Outsiders and Underground, which premiered in the first quarter
• Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA decreased 18%, primarily due to higher programming and promotion expenses related to premiering the two original programs mentioned above
• Company reaffirms 2016 full year financial guidance

"We had yet another quarter of strong top-line growth," said Peter Liguori, Tribune Media's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our broadcast business posted solid results, highlighted by continued growth in core advertising, retransmission consent and carriage fee revenues, as well as very strong spending on political advertising.  At our cable network, WGN America, the undeniable success of this quarter's two new original series, Outsiders and Underground, demonstrates that our plan to reinvent the network is working better than we could have imagined. We are pleased with our first quarter results and as our reaffirmed full year guidance indicates, we expect significant Adjusted EBITDA growth for the remainder of 2016."   

FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

Consolidated

Consolidated operating revenues for the first quarter of 2016 were $520.5 million compared to $472.7 million in the first quarter of 2015, representing an increase of $47.8 million, or 10%.  The increase was driven by higher advertising, retransmission consent and carriage fee revenues as well as an increase in Digital and Data revenues.

Consolidated operating profit was $27.2 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to $60.9 million in the first quarter of 2015, representing a decline of $33.7 million, or 55%. The decline was primarily attributable to higher programming and promotion expenses as a result of premiering two original series on WGN America in the quarter whereas no original series premiered in the first quarter of 2015, higher network affiliate fees, impairment charges for certain real estate properties and higher expenses from Digital and Data acquisitions in the second quarter of 2015.  These factors were partially offset by higher revenues discussed above.

Diluted earnings per common share for the first quarter of 2016 was $0.12 compared to $0.37 for the first quarter of 2015. Adjusted diluted earnings per share ("Adjusted EPS") for the first quarter of 2016 was $0.18 compared to $0.40 for the first quarter of 2015. Both diluted and Adjusted EPS in the first quarter of 2016 include a $3.8 million, or $0.04 per share, charge related to the write-off of unrealized deferred tax assets related to stock-based compensation included in income tax expense. There was not a similar adjustment recorded in the first quarter of 2015.

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $105.8 million in the first quarter of 2016 from $129.0 million in the first quarter of 2015, representing a decrease of $23.2 million, or 18%. The decline was primarily attributable to an increase in programming and promotion expenses, partially offset by higher advertising, retransmission consent and carriage fee revenues.

Cash distributions from equity investments in the first quarter of 2016 were $89.3 million compared to $94.9 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Television and Entertainment

Revenues were $454.7 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared to $410.3 million in the first quarter of 2015, an increase of $44.4 million, or 11%. The increase was driven by higher net political advertising revenue of $13.3 million, an increase in retransmission consent revenue of $14.7 million, or 21%, an increase in carriage fee revenue of $9.5 million, or 44%, and an increase in core advertising revenues of $6.4 million, or 2.2%.

Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2016 was $116.0 million compared to $135.0 million in the first quarter of 2015. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was impacted largely by a planned increase of $25 million in programming expenses and $16 million of promotion expenses, primarily associated with premiering the original series Outsiders and Underground on WGN America.

Digital and Data

Revenues in the first quarter of 2016 were $53.3 million compared to $50.2 million in the first quarter of 2015, an increase of $3.1 million, or 6.1%. The increase was primarily due to the favorable impact of the acquisitions of Infostrada Sports, SportsDirect, Covers and Enswers, all of which were consummated in the second quarter of 2015, and higher video revenues at the legacy business, partially offset by lower music revenues primarily due to lower revenues recognized from auto contracts.

Adjusted EBITDA was $8.9 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared to $12.5 million in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of $3.5 million primarily due to the decline in music revenues, as described above.

Corporate and Other

Real estate revenues for the first quarter of 2016 were $12.6 million compared to $12.2 million for the first quarter of 2015, representing an increase of $0.3 million, or 2.7%.

Corporate and Other Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2016 represented a loss of $19.1 million compared to a loss of $18.5 million in the first quarter of 2015. The increase in loss was primarily a result of an increase in software license fees for new technology applications, partially offset by lower compensation expenses.

RETURN OF CAPITAL TO SHAREHOLDERS

Stock Repurchase Programs

On February 24, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $400 million of its outstanding Class A common stock. During the first quarter of 2016, the Company repurchased approximately 341,548 shares of the Company's Class A common stock in open market transactions for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $13 million. As of May 6, 2016, the remaining authorized amount under the current program totaled $368 million. Since the inception of the Company's prior stock repurchase program authorized in October 2014, the Company has purchased an aggregate of 8.5 million shares of the Company's Class A common stock in open market transactions at an aggregate purchase price of approximately $433 million.

Quarterly Dividend

On May 5, 2016, the Company's Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on the Company's common stock. In addition, holders of the Company's outstanding warrants will receive a cash payment equal to the amount of the dividend paid per share of common stock for each share of common stock such warrants are exercisable into. The dividend is payable on June 6, 2016, to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 20, 2016. This is the fifth quarterly dividend declared under the Company's dividend program announced on March 6, 2015. Future dividends will be subject to the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

On May 2, 2016, the Company sold its Deerfield Beach, Fla. property for net proceeds of $24 million. On April 13, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to sell a property located in Pennsylvania and on May 5, 2016, the Company entered into agreements for the sales of the north block of the Los Angeles Times Square property and the Olympic Printing Plant facility located in Los Angeles. Each of the agreements is subject to certain adjustments and customary closing conditions. There can be no assurance that these sales will be completed in a timely manner or at all. The previous agreement for the sale of the Los Angeles Times Square property, which was entered into on December 28, 2015, was terminated during the first quarter of 2016.

FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

The following represents the Company's financial guidance for the full year 2016 for the current business portfolio.  Given the evaluation of strategic and financial alternatives discussed in our fourth quarter and full year 2015 earnings release, our actual results for the full year may differ materially as the guidance below is based on our assets and operations as they exist today. The following statements, by their nature, are forward-looking and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, which are discussed below under "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements," and may differ materially from our actual results.

For full year 2016, the Company expects:

Consolidated revenues to be between $2.25 billion and $2.28 billion
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to be between $615 million and $645 million

Television and Entertainment segment revenues to be between $1.975 billion and $2.000 billion
Television and Entertainment segment Adjusted EBITDA to be between $640 million and $665 million

Digital and Data segment revenues to be between $225 million and $235 million
Digital and Data segment Adjusted EBITDA to be between $47 million and $50 million

Real estate revenues to be approximately $49 million
Real estate expenses to be approximately $26 million
Corporate expenses to be between $93 million and $95 million
Corporate and Other Adjusted EBITDA to be between $(70) million and $(72) million

Capital expenditures to be approximately $127 million ($63 million of which is non-recurring)
Cash taxes to be between $115 million and $125 million
Cash interest to be approximately $160 million

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter results and a presentation deck will be posted to our website in advance of the call. The conference call can be accessed on the Investor Relations homepage of Tribune Media's website at www.tribunemedia.com, or by dialing (888) 317-6003 (domestic) or (412) 317-6061 (international). The confirmation code is 8034739.

An audio webcast replay will be available in the Events and Presentations section of the Tribune Media website approximately one hour after completion of the call. A replay of the call will also be available until May 17, 2016 at (877) 344-7529 (domestic) or (412) 317-0088 (international). The confirmation code for the replay is 10084442.