10-Q 1 ssp-20190331x10q.htm 10-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

þ |  | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019
OR

o |  | 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 0-16914
THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |  | 31-1223339 (IRS Employer Identification Number)
312 Walnut Street Cincinnati, Ohio (Address of principal executive offices) |  | 45202 (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (513) 977-3000
Not applicable (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

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 þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company “in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer þ |  | Accelerated filer o |  | Emerging growth company o
Non-accelerated filer o |  | Smaller reporting company o |  |

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No þ

Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | SSP | NASDAQ Global Select Market

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. As of March 31, 2019, there were 68,853,457 of the registrant’s Class A Common shares, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding and 11,932,722 of the registrant’s Common Voting shares, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding.

Index to The E.W. Scripps Company Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2019

Item No. |  | Page
PART I - Financial Information |  |
1. Financial Statements |  | 3
2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |  | 3
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |  | 3
4. Controls and Procedures |  | 3
PART II - Other Information |  |
1. Legal Proceedings |  | 3
1A. Risk Factors |  | 3
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |  | 3
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities |  | 4
4. Mine Safety Disclosures |  | 4
5. Other Information |  | 5
6. Exhibits |  | 5
Signatures |  | 6

2

PART I
As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “Scripps,” “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” may, depending on the context, refer to The E.W. Scripps Company, to one or more of its consolidated subsidiary companies, or to all of them taken as a whole.
Item 1. Financial Statements
The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The information required by this item is filed as part of this Form 10-Q. See Index to Financial Information at page F-1 of this Form 10-Q.
PART II
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, such as defamation actions and governmental proceedings primarily relating to renewal of broadcast licenses, none of which is expected to result in material loss.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
There were no sales of unregistered equity securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
In November 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program of up to $100 million of our Class A Common shares. The authorization currently expires on March 1, 2020. Shares can be repurchased under the authorization via open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions, including accelerated stock repurchase transactions, block trades, or pursuant to trades intending to comply with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. At March 31, 2019, $49.7 million remained under the authorization.
3

The following table provides information about Company purchases of Class A Common shares during the quarter ended March 31, 2019, and the remaining amount that may still be purchased under the program.

Period |  | Total number of shares purchased |  | Average price paid per share |  | Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs |  | Maximum value that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
1/1/2019 — 1/31/2019 |  | 33,377 |  |  | $ | 17.50 |  |  | 33,377 |  |  | $ | 49,698,563 |
2/1/2019 — 2/28/2019 (1) |  | 147,164 |  |  | 16.70 |  |  | 147,164 |  |  | $ | 49,698,563 |
3/1/2019 — 3/31/2019 |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | $ | 49,698,563 |
Total |  | 180,541 |  |  | $ | 16.85 |  |  | 180,541 |  |  |

(1) As part of the share repurchase program, the Company entered into an Accelerated Share Repurchase ("ASR") agreement with JP Morgan in August 2018. Pursuant to the terms of the ASR agreement, the Company paid $25 million to repurchase common stock and received an initial delivery of 1,349,528 shares during third quarter of 2018, representing an estimate of 80% of the total shares expected to be delivered from the ASR agreement. Upon final settlement of the ASR agreement in February 2019, the Company received additional deliveries totaling 147,164 shares of its common stock based on a weighted average cost per share of $16.70 over the term of the ASR agreement.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
There were no defaults upon senior securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
4

Item 5. Other Information
The following table presents information on matters submitted to a vote of security holders at our May 6, 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

Descriptions of Matters Submitted |  | In Favor |  | Against |  | Authority Withheld
1. Election of Directors |  |  |  |  |  |
Directors elected by holders of Class A Common Shares: |  |  |  |  |  |
Lauren Rich Fine |  | 50,156,936 |  | — |  | 1,000,324
Wonya Y. Lucas |  | 50,863,070 |  | — |  | 294,190
Kim Williams |  | 48,557,009 |  | — |  | 2,600,251
Directors elected by holders of Common Voting Shares: |  |  |  |  |  |
Charles L. Barmonde |  | 11,665,389 |  | — |  | —
Richard A. Boehne |  | 11,665,389 |  | — |  | —
Kelly P. Conlin |  | 11,665,389 |  | — |  | —
John W. Hayden |  | 11,665,389 |  | — |  | —
Anne M. La Dow |  | 11,665,389 |  | — |  | —
Roger L. Ogden |  | 11,665,389 |  | — |  | —
R. Michael Scagliotti |  | 11,665,389 |  | — |  | —
Adam P. Symson |  | 11,665,389 |  | — |  | —
2. Advisory (non-binding) vote by holders of Common Voting Shares on executive compensation of named executive officers |  | 11,665,389 |  | — |  | —
3. Approve amendment to The E.W. Scripps Company 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan |  | 11,665,389 |  | — |  | —

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit Number |  | Exhibit Description
31(a) |  | Section 302 Certifications
31(b) |  | Section 302 Certifications
32(a) |  | Section 906 Certifications
32(b) |  | Section 906 Certifications
101.INS |  | XBRL Instance Document (furnished herewith)
101.SCH |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (furnished herewith)
101.CAL |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document (furnished herewith)
101.DEF |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (furnished herewith)
101.LAB |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document (furnished herewith)
101.PRE |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document (furnished herewith)

5

Signatures
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.

| THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY
Dated: May 10, 2019 | By: | /s/ Douglas F. Lyons
|  | Douglas F. Lyons
|  | Senior Vice President, Controller and Treasurer
|  | (Principal Accounting Officer)

6

The E.W. Scripps Company
Index to Financial Information (Unaudited)

Item |  | Page
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets |  | F-2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations |  | F-3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  | F-4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |  | F-5
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity |  | F-6
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements |  | F-7
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |  | F-20
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |  | F-31
Controls and Procedures |  | F-32

F-1

The E.W. Scripps Company
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data) |  | As of March 31, 2019 |  | As of December 31, 2018
Assets |  |  |  |
Current assets: |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 14,402 |  |  | $ | 107,114 |
Accounts receivable (less allowances— $4,815 and $4,371) |  | 277,528 |  |  | 281,330 |
Programming |  | 51,120 |  |  | 34,432 |
FCC repack receivable |  | 23,762 |  |  | 19,242 |
Miscellaneous |  | 30,687 |  |  | 28,899 |
Total current assets |  | 397,499 |  |  | 471,017 |
Investments |  | 7,276 |  |  | 7,162 |
Property and equipment |  | 254,935 |  |  | 237,927 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets |  | 43,608 |  |  | — |
Goodwill |  | 852,362 |  |  | 834,013 |
Other intangible assets |  | 495,440 |  |  | 478,953 |
Programming (less current portion) |  | 95,947 |  |  | 75,333 |
Deferred income taxes |  | 9,857 |  |  | 9,141 |
Miscellaneous |  | 16,992 |  |  | 16,515 |
Total Assets |  | $ | 2,173,916 |  |  | $ | 2,130,061 |
Liabilities and Equity |  |  |  |
Current liabilities: |  |  |  |
Accounts payable |  | $ | 32,230 |  |  | $ | 26,919 |
Unearned revenue |  | 8,120 |  |  | 11,459 |
Current portion of long-term debt |  | 3,000 |  |  | 3,000 |
Accrued liabilities: |  |  |  |
Employee compensation and benefits |  | 22,529 |  |  | 44,929 |
Programming liability |  | 60,043 |  |  | 40,301 |
Miscellaneous |  | 42,913 |  |  | 46,112 |
Other current liabilities |  | 29,081 |  |  | 25,339 |
Total current liabilities |  | 197,916 |  |  | 198,059 |
Long-term debt (less current portion) |  | 685,317 |  |  | 685,764 |
Deferred income taxes |  | 22,061 |  |  | 25,531 |
Operating lease liabilities |  | 37,294 |  |  | — |
Other liabilities (less current portion) |  | 313,955 |  |  | 294,542 |
Equity: |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, $.01 par — authorized: 25,000,000 shares; none outstanding |  | — |  |  | — |
Common stock, $.01 par: |  |  |  |
Class A — authorized: 240,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 68,853,457 and 68,736,867 shares |  | 689 |  |  | 688 |
Voting — authorized: 60,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 11,932,722 and 11,932,722 shares |  | 119 |  |  | 119 |
Total |  | 808 |  |  | 807 |
Additional paid-in capital |  | 1,108,585 |  |  | 1,106,984 |
Accumulated deficit |  | (97,083 | ) |  | (86,229 | )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes |  | (94,937 | ) |  | (95,397 | )
Total equity |  | 917,373 |  |  | 926,165 |
Total Liabilities and Equity |  | $ | 2,173,916 |  |  | $ | 2,130,061 |

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-2

The E.W. Scripps Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands, except per share data) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Operating Revenues: |  |  |  |
Advertising |  | $ | 174,241 |  |  | $ | 169,137 |
Retransmission and carriage |  | 87,283 |  |  | 71,060 |
Other |  | 30,639 |  |  | 13,994 |
Total operating revenues |  | 292,163 |  |  | 254,191 |
Costs and Expenses: |  |  |  |
Employee compensation and benefits |  | 110,203 |  |  | 98,489 |
Programming |  | 97,995 |  |  | 83,363 |
Other expenses |  | 61,442 |  |  | 53,023 |
Acquisition and related integration costs |  | 3,480 |  |  | — |
Restructuring costs |  | 938 |  |  | 3,807 |
Total costs and expenses |  | 274,058 |  |  | 238,682 |
Depreciation, Amortization, and (Gains) Losses: |  |  |  |
Depreciation |  | 8,975 |  |  | 8,099 |
Amortization of intangible assets |  | 8,817 |  |  | 7,321 |
(Gains) losses, net on disposal of property and equipment |  | 173 |  |  | 717 |
Net depreciation, amortization, and (gains) losses |  | 17,965 |  |  | 16,137 |
Operating income (loss) |  | 140 |  |  | (628 | )
Interest expense |  | (8,916 | ) |  | (8,759 | )
Defined benefit pension plan expense |  | (1,572 | ) |  | (1,388 | )
Miscellaneous, net |  | (800 | ) |  | 167 |
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes |  | (11,148 | ) |  | (10,608 | )
Benefit for income taxes |  | (4,334 | ) |  | (2,031 | )
Loss from continuing operations, net of tax |  | (6,814 | ) |  | (8,577 | )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |  | — |  |  | (18,504 | )
Net loss |  | (6,814 | ) |  | (27,081 | )
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest |  | — |  |  | (632 | )
Net loss attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company |  | $ | (6,814 | ) |  | $ | (26,449 | )
Net loss per basic share of common stock attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company: |  |  |  |
Loss from continuing operations |  | $ | (0.08 | ) |  | $ | (0.10 | )
Loss from discontinued operations |  | — |  |  | (0.23 | )
Net loss per basic share of common stock attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company |  | $ | (0.08 | ) |  | $ | (0.33 | )
Net loss per diluted share of common stock attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company: |  |  |  |
Loss from continuing operations |  | $ | (0.08 | ) |  | $ | (0.10 | )
Loss from discontinued operations |  | — |  |  | (0.23 | )
Loss per diluted share of common stock attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company |  | $ | (0.08 | ) |  | $ | (0.33 | )

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
Net income (loss) per share amounts may not foot since each is calculated independently.
F-3

The E.W. Scripps Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Net loss |  | $ | (6,814 | ) |  | $ | (27,081 | )
Changes in defined benefit pension plans, net of tax of $155 and $248 |  | 460 |  |  | 740 |
Total comprehensive income (loss) |  | (6,354 | ) |  | (26,341 | )
Less comprehensive net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest |  | — |  |  | (632 | )
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company |  | $ | (6,354 | ) |  | $ | (25,709 | )

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-4

The E.W. Scripps Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |  |  |  |
Net loss |  | $ | (6,814 | ) |  | $ | (27,081 | )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |  | — |  |  | (18,504 | )
Loss from continuing operations, net of tax |  | (6,814 | ) |  | (8,577 | )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  | 17,792 |  |  | 15,420 |
(Gain)/loss on sale of property and equipment |  | 173 |  |  | 717 |
Programming assets and liabilities |  | (1,133 | ) |  | (4,947 | )
Deferred income taxes |  | (4,341 | ) |  | (2,209 | )
Stock and deferred compensation plans |  | 7,352 |  |  | 4,658 |
Pension expense, net of contributions |  | (408 | ) |  | (1,581 | )
Other changes in certain working capital accounts, net |  | (25,776 | ) |  | (2,258 | )
Miscellaneous, net |  | (37 | ) |  | 101 |
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities from continuing operations |  | (13,192 | ) |  | 1,324 |
Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations |  | — |  |  | 3,691 |
Net operating activities |  | (13,192 | ) |  | 5,015 |
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired |  | (55,199 | ) |  | — |
Acquisition of intangible assets |  | (404 | ) |  | — |
Additions to property and equipment |  | (13,440 | ) |  | (11,362 | )
Purchase of investments |  | (115 | ) |  | (117 | )
Proceeds from FCC repack |  | 1,520 |  |  | — |
Miscellaneous, net |  | 1 |  |  | 192 |
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations |  | (67,637 | ) |  | (11,287 | )
Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations |  | — |  |  | (320 | )
Net investing activities |  | (67,637 | ) |  | (11,607 | )
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: |  |  |  |
Proceeds from long-term debt |  | 30,000 |  |  | — |
Payments on long-term debt |  | (30,750 | ) |  | (750 | )
Dividends paid |  | (4,040 | ) |  | (4,125 | )
Repurchase of Class A Common shares |  | (584 | ) |  | (4,409 | )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |  | — |  |  | 234 |
Tax payments related to shares withheld for RSU vesting |  | (3,649 | ) |  | (1,868 | )
Miscellaneous, net |  | (2,862 | ) |  | (804 | )
Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations |  | (11,885 | ) |  | (11,722 | )
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |  | 2 |  |  | — |
Decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |  | (92,712 | ) |  | (18,314 | )
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash: |  |  |  |
Beginning of year |  | 107,114 |  |  | 148,699 |
End of period |  | $ | 14,402 |  |  | $ | 130,385 |
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures |  |  |  |
Interest paid |  | $ | 3,356 |  |  | $ | 3,016 |
Income taxes paid |  | $ | 50 |  |  | $ | 178 |
Non-cash investing information |  |  |  |
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable |  | $ | 1,465 |  |  | $ | 158 |

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-5

The E.W. Scripps Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited)

(in thousands) |  | Common Stock |  | Additional Paid-in Capital |  | Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) |  | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) ("AOCI") |  | Noncontrolling Interest |  | Total Equity
As of December 31, 2017 |  | $ | 816 |  |  | $ | 1,129,020 |  |  | $ | (90,061 | ) |  | $ | (102,922 | ) |  | $ | 632 |  |  | $ | 937,485 |
Comprehensive income (loss) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (26,449 | ) |  | 740 |  |  | (632 | ) |  | (26,341 | )
Cash dividend: declared and paid - $0.05 per share |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,125 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,125 | )
Repurchase of 285,201 Class A Common shares |  | (3 | ) |  | (4,406 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,409 | )
Compensation plans: 340,774 net shares issued * |  | 4 |  |  | 2,074 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2,078 |
As of March 31, 2018 |  | $ | 817 |  |  | $ | 1,126,688 |  |  | $ | (120,635 | ) |  | $ | (102,182 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 904,688 |
As of December 31, 2018 |  | $ | 807 |  |  | $ | 1,106,984 |  |  | $ | (86,229 | ) |  | $ | (95,397 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 926,165 |
Comprehensive income (loss) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (6,814 | ) |  | 460 |  |  | — |  |  | (6,354 | )
Cash dividend: declared and paid - $0.05 per share |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,040 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,040 | )
Repurchase of 180,541 Class A Common shares |  | (2 | ) |  | (582 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (584 | )
Compensation plans: 297,131 net shares issued * |  | 3 |  |  | 2,183 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2,186 |
As of March 31, 2019 |  | $ | 808 |  |  | $ | 1,108,585 |  |  | $ | (97,083 | ) |  | $ | (94,937 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 917,373 |

* Net of tax payments related to shares withheld for vested RSUs of $3,649 in 2019 and $1,868 in 2018.
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
F-6

The E.W. Scripps Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
As used in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the terms “Scripps,” “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” may, depending on the context, refer to The E.W. Scripps Company, to one or more of its consolidated subsidiary companies, or to all of them taken as a whole.
Basis of Presentation — The condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto included in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In management's opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the interim periods have been made.
Results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for future interim periods or for the full year. Additionally, certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period's presentation.
Nature of Operations — We are a diverse media enterprise, serving audiences and businesses through a portfolio of local and national media brands. All of our media businesses provide content and advertising services via digital platforms, including the Internet, smartphones and tablets. Our media businesses are organized into the following reportable business segments: Local Media, National Media and Other. Additional information for our business segments is presented in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Use of Estimates — Preparing financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make a variety of decisions that affect the reported amounts and the related disclosures. Such decisions include the selection of accounting principles that reflect the economic substance of the underlying transactions and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. In reaching such decisions, we apply judgment based on our understanding and analysis of the relevant circumstances, including our historical experience, actuarial studies and other assumptions.
Our financial statements include estimates and assumptions used in accounting for our defined benefit pension plans; the periods over which long-lived assets are depreciated or amortized; the fair value of long-lived assets, goodwill and indefinite lived assets; the liability for uncertain tax positions and valuation allowances against deferred income tax assets; the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations; and self-insured risks.
While we re-evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis, actual results could differ from those estimated at the time of preparation of the financial statements.
Nature of Products and Services — The following is a description of principal activities from which we generate revenue.
Core Advertising — Core advertising is comprised of sales to local and national customers. The advertising includes a combination of broadcast air time, as well as digital advertising. Pricing of advertising time is based on audience size and share, the demographic of our audiences and the demand for our limited inventory of commercial time. Advertising time is sold through a combination of local sales staff and national sales representative firms. Digital revenues are primarily generated from the sale of advertising to local and national customers on our local television websites, smartphone apps, tablet apps and other platforms.
Political Advertising — Political advertising is generally sold through our Washington D.C. sales office. Advertising is sold to presidential, gubernatorial, Senate and House of Representative candidates, as well as for state and local issues. It is also sold to political action groups (PACs) or other advocacy groups.
Retransmission Revenues — We earn revenue from retransmission consent agreements with multi-channel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”) in our markets. The MVPDs are cable operators and satellite carriers who pay us to offer our programming to their customers. We also receive fees from over-the-top virtual MVPDs such as YouTubeTV, DirectTV Now and Sony Vue. The fees we receive are typically based on the number of subscribers in our local market and the contracted rate per subscriber.
Other Products and Services — We derive revenue from sponsorships and community events through our Local Media segment. Our National Media segment offers subscription services for access to premium content to its customers. Our Triton
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business earns revenue from monthly fees charged to audio publishers for converting their content into digital audio streams and inserting digital advertising into those audio streams and providing statistical measurement information about their listening audience. Our podcast business acts as a sales and marketing representative and earns commission for its work.
Refer to Note 13. Segment Information for further information, including revenue by significant product and service offering.
Revenue Recognition — Revenue is measured based on the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for promised goods or services provided to customers, and excludes any amounts collected on behalf of third parties. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers.
Advertising — Advertising revenue is recognized, net of agency commissions, over time primarily as ads are aired or impressions are delivered and any contracted audience guarantees are met. We apply the practical expedient to recognize revenue at the amount we have the right to invoice, which corresponds directly to the value a customer has received relative to our performance. For advertising sold based on audience guarantees, audience deficiency may result in an obligation to deliver additional advertisements to the customer. To the extent that we do not satisfy contracted audience ratings, we record deferred revenue until such time that the audience guarantee has been satisfied.
Retransmission — Retransmission revenues are considered licenses of functional intellectual property and are recognized at the point in time the content is transferred to the customer. MVPDs report their subscriber numbers to us generally on a 30- to 90-day lag. Prior to receiving the MVPD reporting, we record revenue based on estimates of the number of subscribers, utilizing historical levels and trends of subscribers for each MVPD.
Other — Revenues generated by our Triton business are recognized on a ratable basis over the contract term as the monthly service is provided to the customer.
Transaction Price Allocated to Remaining Performance Obligations — As of March 31, 2019, we had an aggregate transaction price of $60.2 million allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations related to contracts within our Triton business. We expect to recognize revenue on 91% of these remaining performance obligations over the next 24 months and the remainder thereafter.
We did not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations on any other contracts with customers because they are either (i) contracts with an original expected term of one year or less, (ii) contracts for which the sales- or usage-based royalty exception was applied, or (iii) contracts for which we recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed.
Contract Balances — Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. We record a receivable when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing, or unearned revenue when revenue is recognized subsequent to invoicing.
Payment terms may vary by contract type, although our terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 to 90 days. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, we have determined our contracts do not include a significant financing component. The primary purpose of our invoicing terms is to provide customers with simplified and predictable ways of purchasing our products and services, not to receive financing from our customers.
The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balance. We determine the allowance based on known troubled accounts, historical experience and other currently available evidence. The allowance for doubtful accounts totaled $4.8 million at March 31, 2019 and $4.4 million at December 31, 2018.
We record unearned revenue when cash payments are received in advance of our performance. We generally require amounts payable under advertising contracts with political advertising customers to be paid in advance. Unearned revenue totaled $8.1 million at March 31, 2019 and is expected to be recognized within revenue over the next 12 months. Unearned revenue totaled $11.5 million at December 31, 2018. We recorded $2.7 million of revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2019 that was included in unearned revenue at December 31, 2018.
Leases — We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, other current liabilities and operating lease liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.
ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the implicit rate is not readily determinable for most of our leases, we use our incremental borrowing rate when determining the present value of lease payments. The incremental
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borrowing rate represents an estimate of the interest rate we would incur at lease commencement to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over the term of the lease. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any payments made at or before commencement and is reduced by any lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Share-Based Compensation — We have a Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) which is described more fully in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Plan provides for the award of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units (RSUs) and unrestricted Class A Common shares and performance units to key employees and non-employee directors.
Share-based compensation costs totaled $5.8 million and $3.4 million for the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) — Unvested awards of share-based payments with rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents, such as our RSUs, are considered participating securities for purposes of calculating EPS. Under the two-class method, we allocate a portion of net income to these participating securities and, therefore, exclude that income from the calculation of EPS for common stock. We do not allocate losses to the participating securities.
The following table presents information about basic and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Numerator (for basic and diluted earnings per share) |  |  |  |
Loss from continuing operations, net of tax |  | $ | (6,814 | ) |  | $ | (8,577 | )
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest |  | — |  |  | 632 |
Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company |  | $ | (6,814 | ) |  | $ | (7,945 | )
Denominator |  |  |  |
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding |  | 80,673 |  |  | 81,554 |
Effect of dilutive securities: |  |  |  |
Stock options and restricted stock units |  | — |  |  | — |
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding |  | 80,673 |  |  | 81,554 |
Anti-dilutive securities (1) |  | 1,404 |  |  | 1,677 |

(1) | Amount outstanding at balance sheet date, before application of the treasury stock method and not weighted for period outstanding.

For the three month periods ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, we incurred a net loss and the inclusion of RSUs and stock options would have been anti-dilutive, and accordingly the diluted EPS calculation for the period excludes those common share equivalents.
2. Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards — In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued new guidance on the accounting for leases. Under this guidance, lessees are required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases at the commencement date. In July 2018, the FASB approved amendments to create an optional transition method. The amendments provided an option to implement the new leasing standard through a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings in the period of adoption without having to restate the comparative periods presented. We adopted the standard on January 1, 2019 using this optional transition method that does not restate the comparative prior periods.
The new guidance provides a number of optional practical expedients in transition. We elected the transition package of three practical expedients permitted within the standard, which eliminates the requirements to reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. We did not elect the hindsight practical expedient, which permits the use of hindsight when determining lease term and impairment of right-of-use assets. We have utilized the practical
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expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components. Further, we elected a short-term lease exception policy, permitting us to not apply the recognition requirements of this standard to short-term leases (i.e. leases with terms of 12 months or less).
Implementation of the standard resulted in the recognition of $46.6 million of right-of-use assets and $50.3 million of lease liabilities, which included the impact of prepaid and deferred rent and lease incentives, on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. No cumulative-effect adjustment was recognized as the amount was not material, and adoption of the standard had no impact on our condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards — In March 2019, the FASB issued new guidance to align the accounting for the costs of producing films and episodic television series in response to changes in production and distribution models in the media and entertainment industry. The new guidance amends the capitalization, amortization, impairment, presentation and disclosure requirements for entities that produce and own content, and also aligns the impairment guidance for licensed content to the owned content fair value model. This guidance applies to broadcasters and entities that produce and distribute films and episodic television series through both traditional mediums and digital mediums. It is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as the timing of adoption.
In August 2018, the FASB issued new guidance to address a customer's accounting for implementation costs incurred in a cloud computing arrangement ("CCA") that is a service contract. The new guidance aligns the accounting for costs incurred to implement a CCA that is a service arrangement with the guidance on capitalizing costs associated with developing or obtaining internal-use software. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as the timing of adoption.
In August 2018, the FASB issued new guidance to add, remove and clarify annual disclosure requirements related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The guidance is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted, and it should be applied on a retrospective basis. We believe the main impact of this guidance will be to no longer disclose the amount in accumulated other comprehensive income that is expected to be recognized as part of net periodic benefit cost over the next year. Additionally, we will have to add a narrative description for any significant gains and losses affecting the benefit obligation for the period. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our disclosures as well as the timing of adoption.
In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments, entities will be required to use a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that will replace today’s “incurred loss” model, which generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, entities will measure credit losses in a manner similar to current practice, except that the losses will be recognized as an allowance. The guidance is effective in 2020 with early adoption permitted in 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as the timing of adoption.
3. Acquisitions
Raycom
Effective January 1, 2019, we acquired television stations owned by Raycom Media — Waco, Texas ABC affiliate KXXV/KRHD and Tallahassee, Florida ABC affiliate WTXL — for $55 million in cash. These stations were being divested as part of Gray Television's acquisition of Raycom Media.
From the acquisition date of January 1, 2019 through March 31, 2019, revenues from the Raycom stations were $5.6 million.
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The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values of the television assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the closing date.

(in thousands) |  |
Property and equipment |  | $ | 11,721 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets |  | 296 |
Goodwill |  | 18,349 |
Other intangible assets |  | 24,900 |
Operating lease liabilities |  | (296 | )
Net purchase price |  | $ | 54,970 |

Of the $24.9 million allocated to intangible assets, $6.8 million was for FCC licenses which we determined to have an indefinite life and therefore are not amortized. The remaining balance of $18.1 million was allocated to television network affiliation relationships and advertiser relationships with estimated amortization periods of 5-20 years.
The goodwill of $18.3 million arising from the transaction consists largely of synergies, economies of scale and other benefits of a larger broadcast footprint. We allocated the goodwill to our Local Media segment. We treated the transaction as an asset acquisition for income tax purposes resulting in a step-up in the assets acquired. The goodwill is deductible for income tax purposes.
Triton
On November 30, 2018, we acquired Triton Digital Canada, Inc. ("Triton") for total cash consideration of $160 million. Assets acquired in the transaction included approximately $10.5 million of cash. The transaction was funded with cash on hand at time of closing. Triton is a leading global digital audio infrastructure and audience measurement services company. Triton's infrastructure and ad-serving solutions deliver live and on-demand audio streams and insert advertisements into those streams. Triton's data and measurement service is recognized as the currency by which publishers sell digital audio advertising.
The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values of the Triton assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the closing date.

(in thousands) |  |
Cash |  | $ | 10,515 |
Accounts receivable |  | 8,879 |
Other current assets |  | 679 |
Property and equipment |  | 705 |
Goodwill |  | 83,876 |
Other intangible assets |  | 75,000 |
Accounts payable |  | (1,881 | )
Accrued expenses |  | (2,964 | )
Other current liabilities |  | (19 | )
Deferred tax liability |  | (14,577 | )
Net purchase price |  | $ | 160,213 |

Of the $75 million allocated to intangible assets, $39 million was assigned to various developed technologies for audience measurement, content delivery and advertising with lives ranging from 8-12 years, $31 million was assigned to customer relationships with a life of 12 years and $5 million was assigned to trade names with a life of 10 years.
The goodwill of $84 million arises from being able to capitalize on the growth of the streaming audio industry and further improve our position in the global digital audio marketplace. The goodwill is allocated to our National Media segment. The transaction is accounted for as a stock acquisition which applies carryover tax basis to the assets and liabilities acquired. The goodwill is not deductible for income tax purposes.
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Pro forma results of operations
Individually or in the aggregate, the impact of the Raycom and Triton acquisitions is not material to prior year results of operations and therefore no pro forma information has been provided.
Pending Acquisitions
On October 27, 2018, we entered into a definitive agreement with Cordillera Communications, LLC to acquire 15 television stations, serving 10 markets, for $521 million in cash. The purchase was subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and closed on May 1, 2019. We financed the acquisition with a $765 million term loan B, of which $240 million of the proceeds were segregated for financing a portion of the transaction with Nexstar Media Group, Inc. ("Nexstar"). The term loan B matures in 2026 with interest payable at rates based on LIBOR, plus a fixed margin of 2.75%. The term loan B also requires annual principal payments of $7.7 million.
On March 20, 2019, we entered into a definitive agreement with Nexstar to acquire eight broadcast television stations from the Nexstar transaction with Tribune Media Company ("Tribune") for consideration of $580 million. The purchase price and other related costs associated with the transaction are expected to be financed from the incremental term loan B proceeds and unsecured debt. Additionally, the capacity for our revolving credit facility will be increased to $210 million upon closing. The transaction, pending regulatory and other approvals, is expected to close at the same time as the Nexstar-Tribune merger.
4. Asset Write-Downs and Other Charges and Credits
Loss from continuing operations includes the following:
2019 - Acquisition and related integration costs of $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2019 reflect professional service costs incurred to integrate Triton and the Raycom and Cordillera stations, as well as costs incurred for the pending Nexstar acquisition.
2018 - First quarter of 2018 operating results include $3.8 million of severance and outside consulting fees associated with our previously announced restructuring.
5. Income Taxes
We file a consolidated federal income tax return, consolidated unitary tax returns in certain states and other separate state income tax returns for our subsidiary companies.
The income tax provision for interim periods is generally determined based upon the expected effective income tax rate for the full year and the tax rate applicable to certain discrete transactions in the interim period. To determine the annual effective income tax rate, we must estimate both the total income (loss) before income tax for the full year and the jurisdictions in which that income (loss) is subject to tax. The actual effective income tax rate for the full year may differ from these estimates if income (loss) before income tax is greater than or less than what was estimated or if the allocation of income (loss) to jurisdictions in which it is taxed is different from the estimated allocations. We review and adjust our estimated effective income tax rate for the full year each quarter based upon our most recent estimates of income (loss) before income tax for the full year and the jurisdictions in which we expect that income will be taxed.
The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was 39% and 19%, respectively. Other differences between our effective income tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory rate are the impact of state taxes, foreign taxes, non-deductible expenses, changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions and excess tax benefits or expense on share-based compensation ($0.6 million benefit and $0.7 million expense in 2019 and 2018, respectively).
Deferred tax assets totaled $9.9 million at March 31, 2019, which includes the tax effect of state net operating loss carryforwards. We recognize state net operating loss carryforwards as deferred tax assets, subject to valuation allowances. At each balance sheet date, we estimate the amount of carryforwards that are not expected to be used prior to expiration of the carryforward period. The tax effect of the carryforwards that are not expected to be used prior to their expiration is included in the valuation allowance.
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6. Restricted Cash
At December 31, 2018, our cash and cash equivalents included $5.1 million held in a restricted cash account on deposit with our insurance carrier. This account served as collateral, in place of an irrevocable stand-by letter of credit, to provide financial assurance that we will fulfill our obligations with respect to cash requirements associated with our workers' compensation self-insurance. This cash was to remain on deposit with the carrier until all claims have been paid or we provide a letter of credit in lieu of the cash deposit. At March 31, 2019, no deposits were held in a restricted cash account as we provided a letter of credit in lieu of the cash deposit.
7. Leases
We have operating leases for office space, data centers and certain equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of 1 year to 20 years, some of which may include options to extend the leases for up to 5 years, and some of which may include options to terminate the leases within 1 year. Operating lease costs recognized in our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 totaled $3.4 million, including short-term lease costs of $0.1 million.
Other information related to our operating leases was as follows:

(in thousands, except lease term and discount rate) |  | As of March 31, 2019
Balance Sheet Information |  |
Right-of-use assets |  | $ | 43,608 |
Other current liabilities |  | 10,262 |
Operating lease liabilities |  | 37,294 |
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term |  |
Operating leases |  | 7 years |
Weighted Average Discount Rate |  |
Operating leases |  | 6.5 | %

(in thousands) |  | Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
Supplemental Cash Flows Information |  |
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities |  | $ | 3,471 |
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations |  | — |

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as of March 31, 2019 were as follows:

(in thousands) |  | Operating Leases
Remainder of 2019 |  | $ | 12,897 |
2020 |  | 9,514 |
2021 |  | 7,076 |
2022 |  | 6,623 |
2023 |  | 6,690 |
Thereafter |  | 16,428 |
Total future minimum lease payments |  | 59,228 |
Less: Imputed interest |  | (11,672 | )
Total |  | $ | 47,556 |

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Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as of December 31, 2018(1) were as follows:

(in thousands) |  | Operating Leases
2019 |  | $ | 11,197 |
2020 |  | 9,195 |
2021 |  | 6,545 |
2022 |  | 6,352 |
2023 |  | 11,412 |
Thereafter |  | 15,311 |
Total future minimum lease payments |  | $ | 60,012 |

(1) | Amounts included for comparability and accounted for in accordance with ASC 840, "Leases".

8. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill consisted of the following:

(in thousands) |  | Local Media |  | National Media |  | Total
Gross balance as of December 31, 2018 |  | $ | 708,133 |  |  | $ | 393,197 |  |  | $ | 1,101,330 |
Accumulated impairment losses |  | (216,914 | ) |  | (50,403 | ) |  | (267,317 | )
Net balance as of December 31, 2018 |  | $ | 491,219 |  |  | $ | 342,794 |  |  | $ | 834,013 |
Gross balance as of March 31, 2019 |  | $ | 726,482 |  |  | $ | 393,197 |  |  | $ | 1,119,679 |
Accumulated impairment losses |  | (216,914 | ) |  | (50,403 | ) |  | (267,317 | )
Net balance as of March 31, 2019 |  | $ | 509,568 |  |  | $ | 342,794 |  |  | $ | 852,362 |

Other intangible assets consisted of the following:

(in thousands) |  | As of March 31, 2019 |  | As of December 31, 2018
Amortizable intangible assets: |  |  |  |
Carrying amount: |  |  |  |
Television network affiliation relationships |  | $ | 265,844 |  |  | $ | 248,444 |
Customer lists and advertiser relationships |  | 101,200 |  |  | 100,500 |
Other |  | 88,797 |  |  | 88,393 |
Total carrying amount |  | 455,841 |  |  | 437,337 |
Accumulated amortization: |  |  |  |
Television network affiliation relationships |  | (65,333 | ) |  | (62,020 | )
Customer lists and advertiser relationships |  | (39,216 | ) |  | (36,380 | )
Other |  | (19,867 | ) |  | (17,199 | )
Total accumulated amortization |  | (124,416 | ) |  | (115,599 | )
Net amortizable intangible assets |  | 331,425 |  |  | 321,738 |
Indefinite-lived intangible assets — FCC licenses |  | 164,015 |  |  | 157,215 |
Total other intangible assets |  | $ | 495,440 |  |  | $ | 478,953 |

Estimated amortization expense of intangible assets for each of the next five years is $26.7 million for the remainder of 2019, $34.3 million in 2020, $31.8 million in 2021, $28.6 million in 2022, $23.6 million in 2023, $23.0 million in 2024 and $163.4 million in later years.
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9. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consisted of the following:

(in thousands) |  | As of March 31, 2019 |  | As of December 31, 2018
Variable rate credit facility |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Senior unsecured notes |  | 400,000 |  |  | 400,000 |
Term loan B |  | 295,500 |  |  | 296,250 |
Total outstanding principal |  | 695,500 |  |  | 696,250 |
Less: Debt issuance costs |  | (7,183 | ) |  | (7,486 | )
Less: Current portion |  | (3,000 | ) |  | (3,000 | )
Net carrying value of long-term debt |  | $ | 685,317 |  |  | $ | 685,764 |
Fair value of long-term debt * |  | $ | 669,387 |  |  | $ | 662,844 |

* Fair value of the Senior Notes is estimated based on quoted private market transactions and are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the term loan B is based on observable estimates provided by third party financial professionals, and as such, is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Senior Unsecured Notes
Our $400 million senior unsecured notes ("the Senior Notes") bear interest at a rate of 5.125% per annum and mature on May 15, 2025. Interest is payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year. Prior to May 15, 2020, we may redeem the Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time, or from time to time, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, plus a “make-whole” premium, as set forth in the Senior Notes indenture. In addition, on or prior to May 15, 2020, we may redeem up to 40% of the Senior Notes, using proceeds of equity offerings. If we sell certain of our assets or have a change of control, the holders of the Senior Notes may require us to repurchase some or all of the notes. The Senior Notes are also guaranteed by us and the majority of our subsidiaries. The Senior Notes contain covenants with which we must comply that are typical for borrowing transactions of this nature.
We incurred approximately $7.0 million of deferred financing costs in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes, which are being amortized over the life of the Senior Notes.
Term Loan B
Our $300 million term loan B matures in October 2024. We amended the term loan B on April 4, 2018, reducing the interest rate by 25 basis points. Following the amendment, interest is payable on term loan B at a rate based on LIBOR, plus a fixed margin of 2.00%. Interest will reduce to a rate of LIBOR plus a fixed margin of 1.75% if the company’s total net leverage, as defined by the amended agreement, is below 2.75. Term loan B requires annual principal payments of $3 million.
Our Financing Agreement also includes a provision that in certain circumstances we must use a portion of excess cash flow to repay debt. As of March 31, 2019, we were not required to make any additional principal payments for excess cash flow.
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the interest rate on the term loan B was 4.50% and 4.34%, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate on the term loan B was 4.50% for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Revolving Credit Facility
We have a $150 million revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") that expires in April 2022. Interest is payable on the Revolving Credit Facility at rates based on LIBOR, plus a margin based on our leverage ratio, ranging from 1.75% to 2.50%.
The Revolving Credit Facility includes maintaining a net leverage ratio when we have outstanding borrowings on the facility, as well as other restrictions on payments (dividends and share repurchases). Additionally, we can make acquisitions as long as the pro forma net leverage ratio is less than 5.5 to 1.0.
We granted the lenders pledges of our equity interests in our subsidiaries and security interests in substantially all other personal property including cash, accounts receivables, and equipment.
Commitment fees of 0.30% to 0.50% per annum, based on our leverage ratio, of the total unused commitment are payable under the Revolving Credit Facility.
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 we had outstanding letters of credit totaling $6.0 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
10. Other Liabilities
Other liabilities consisted of the following:

(in thousands) |  | As of March 31, 2019 |  | As of December 31, 2018
Employee compensation and benefits |  | $ | 21,616 |  |  | $ | 19,775 |
Deferred FCC repack income |  | 26,601 |  |  | 20,620 |
Programming liability |  | 57,040 |  |  | 43,825 |
Liability for pension benefits |  | 197,380 |  |  | 198,444 |
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions |  | 816 |  |  | 811 |
Other |  | 10,502 |  |  | 11,067 |
Other liabilities (less current portion) |  | $ | 313,955 |  |  | $ | 294,542 |

11. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
The following table presents additional information about the change in certain working capital accounts:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Accounts receivable |  | $ | 4,031 |  |  | $ | 9,166 |
Other current assets |  | (4,812 | ) |  | (3,508 | )
Accounts payable |  | 4,539 |  |  | 4,251 |
Accrued employee compensation and benefits |  | (22,399 | ) |  | (13,516 | )
Other accrued liabilities |  | 335 |  |  | 1,412 |
Unearned revenue |  | (3,339 | ) |  | (169 | )
Other, net |  | (4,131 | ) |  | 106 |
Total |  | $ | (25,776 | ) |  | $ | (2,258 | )

12. Employee Benefit Plans
We sponsor noncontributory defined benefit pension plans and non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans ("SERPs"). The accrual for future benefits has been frozen in our defined benefit pension plans and SERPs.
We sponsor a defined contribution plan covering substantially all non-union and certain union employees. We match a portion of employees' voluntary contributions to this plan.
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The components of the employee benefit plans expense consisted of the following:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Interest cost |  | $ | 5,800 |  |  | $ | 5,925 |
Expected return on plan assets, net of expenses |  | (5,058 | ) |  | (5,732 | )
Amortization of actuarial loss and prior service cost |  | 572 |  |  | 921 |
Total for defined benefit pension plans |  | 1,314 |  |  | 1,114 |
Multi-employer plans |  | 41 |  |  | 47 |
SERPs |  | 258 |  |  | 274 |
Defined contribution plan |  | 2,995 |  |  | 2,793 |
Net periodic benefit cost |  | 4,608 |  |  | 4,228 |
Allocated to discontinued operations |  | — |  |  | (203 | )
Net periodic benefit cost — continuing operations |  | $ | 4,608 |  |  | $ | 4,025 |

We contributed $0.3 million to fund current benefit payments for our SERPs and $1.7 million for our defined benefit pension plans during the three months ended March 31, 2019. During the remainder of 2019, we anticipate contributing an additional $1.0 million to fund the SERPs' benefit payments and an additional $16.9 million to fund our qualified defined benefit pension plans.
13. Segment Information
We determine our business segments based upon our management and internal reporting structures, as well as the basis that our chief operating decision maker makes resource allocation decisions. We report our financial performance based on the following segments: Local Media, National Media, Other.
Our Local Media segment includes our local broadcast stations and their related digital operations. It is comprised of seventeen ABC affiliates, five NBC affiliates, two FOX affiliates and two CBS affiliates. We also have two MyTV affiliates, one CW affiliate, two independent stations and four Azteca America Spanish-language affiliates. Our Local Media segment earns revenue primarily from the sale of advertising to local, national and political advertisers and retransmission fees received from cable operators, telecommunications companies and satellite carriers. We also receive retransmission fees from over-the-top virtual MVPDs such as YouTubeTV, DirectTV Now and Sony Vue.
Our National Media segment includes our collection of national brands. Our national brands include Katz, Stitcher and its advertising network Midroll Media (Midroll), Newsy, Triton and other national brands. These operations earn revenue primarily through the sale of advertising.
We allocate a portion of certain corporate costs and expenses, including information technology, certain employee benefits and shared services, to our business segments. The allocations are generally amounts agreed upon by management, which may differ from an arms-length amount.
Our chief operating decision maker evaluates the operating performance of our business segments and makes decisions about the allocation of resources to our business segments using a measure called segment profit. Segment profit excludes interest, defined benefit pension plan expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment charges, divested operating units, restructuring activities, investment results and certain other items that are included in net income (loss) determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
F-16

Information regarding our business segments is as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Segment operating revenues: |  |  |  |
Local Media |  | $ | 203,387 |  |  | $ | 192,059 |
National Media |  | 87,317 |  |  | 60,721 |
Other |  | 1,459 |  |  | 1,411 |
Total operating revenues |  | $ | 292,163 |  |  | $ | 254,191 |
Segment profit (loss): |  |  |  |
Local Media |  | $ | 34,173 |  |  | $ | 31,619 |
National Media |  | 4,941 |  |  | 2,035 |
Other |  | (433 | ) |  | (251 | )
Shared services and corporate |  | (16,158 | ) |  | (14,087 | )
Acquisition and related integration costs |  | (3,480 | ) |  | — |
Restructuring costs |  | (938 | ) |  | (3,807 | )
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets |  | (17,792 | ) |  | (15,420 | )
Gains (losses), net on disposal of property and equipment |  | (173 | ) |  | (717 | )
Interest expense |  | (8,916 | ) |  | (8,759 | )
Defined benefit pension plan expense |  | (1,572 | ) |  | (1,388 | )
Miscellaneous, net |  | (800 | ) |  | 167 |
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes |  | $ | (11,148 | ) |  | $ | (10,608 | )
Depreciation: |  |  |  |
Local Media |  | $ | 7,591 |  |  | $ | 7,556 |
National Media |  | 1,004 |  |  | 96 |
Other |  | 38 |  |  | 38 |
Shared services and corporate |  | 342 |  |  | 409 |
Total depreciation |  | $ | 8,975 |  |  | $ | 8,099 |
Amortization of intangible assets: |  |  |  |
Local Media |  | $ | 3,958 |  |  | $ | 3,705 |
National Media |  | 4,521 |  |  | 3,278 |
Shared services and corporate |  | 338 |  |  | 338 |
Total amortization of intangible assets |  | $ | 8,817 |  |  | $ | 7,321 |
Additions to property and equipment: |  |  |  |
Local Media |  | $ | 9,480 |  |  | $ | 9,500 |
National Media |  | 4,290 |  |  | 1,674 |
Other |  | 31 |  |  | — |
Shared services and corporate |  | 411 |  |  | 60 |
Total additions to property and equipment |  | $ | 14,212 |  |  | $ | 11,234 |

F-17

A disaggregation of the principal activities from which we generate revenue is as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Operating revenues: |  |  |  |
Core advertising |  | $ | 173,361 |  |  | $ | 166,553 |
Political |  | 880 |  |  | 2,584 |
Retransmission and carriage |  | 87,283 |  |  | 71,060 |
Other |  | 30,639 |  |  | 13,994 |
Total operating revenues |  | $ | 292,163 |  |  | $ | 254,191 |

14. Capital Stock
Capital Stock — We have two classes of common shares, Common Voting shares and Class A Common shares. The Class A Common shares are only entitled to vote on the election of the greater of three or one-third of the directors and other matters as required by Ohio law.
Share Repurchase Plan — Shares may be repurchased from time to time at management's discretion. In November 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a repurchase program of up to $100 million of our Class A Common shares. The authorization currently expires on March 1, 2020. Shares can be repurchased under the authorization via open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions, including accelerated stock repurchase transactions, block trades, or pursuant to trades intending to comply with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
As part of the share repurchase plan, the Company entered into an Accelerated Share Repurchase ("ASR") agreement with JP Morgan to repurchase $25 million of the Company’s common stock. Under the ASR agreement, the Company paid $25 million to JP Morgan and received an initial delivery of 1.3 million shares in the third quarter of 2018, which represented 80% of the total shares the Company expected to receive based on the market price at the time of the initial delivery. The transaction was accounted for as an equity transaction. The par value of shares received was recorded as a reduction to common stock with the remainder recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital or retained earnings. Upon initial receipt of the shares, there was an immediate reduction in the weighted average common shares calculation for basic and diluted earnings per share. Upon final settlement of the ASR agreement in February 2019, the Company received additional deliveries totaling 147,164 shares of its common stock based on a weighted average cost per share of $16.70 over the term of the ASR agreement.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we repurchased $0.6 million of shares at prices ranging from $15.54 to $18.72 per share. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we repurchased $4.4 million of shares at prices ranging from $13.29 to $16.86 per share. At March 31, 2019, $49.7 million remained under this authorization.
15. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI") by component, including items reclassified out of AOCI, were as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
(in thousands) |  | Defined Benefit Pension Items |  | Other |  | Total
Beginning balance, December 31, 2018 |  | $ | (95,365 | ) |  | $ | (32 | ) |  | $ | (95,397 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax of $155(a) |  | 460 |  |  | — |  |  | 460 |
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) |  | 460 |  |  | — |  |  | 460 |
Ending balance, March 31, 2019 |  | $ | (94,905 | ) |  | $ | (32 | ) |  | $ | (94,937 | )

F-18

|  | Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
(in thousands) |  | Defined Benefit Pension Items |  | Other |  | Total
Beginning balance, December 31, 2017 |  | $ | (102,955 | ) |  | $ | 33 |  |  | $ | (102,922 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax of $248(a) |  | 740 |  |  | — |  |  | 740 |
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) |  | 740 |  |  | — |  |  | 740 |
Ending balance, March 31, 2018 |  | $ | (102,215 | ) |  | $ | 33 |  |  | $ | (102,182 | )

(a) Actuarial gain (loss) is included in defined benefit pension plan expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations
16. Noncontrolling Interest
A noncontrolling owner holds a 30% interest in our venture to develop, produce and air our lifestyle daytime talk show.
17. Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations
Radio Divestiture
In the fourth quarter of 2017, we began the process to divest our radio business. Our radio business consisted of 34 radio stations in eight markets. We closed on the sale of our Tulsa radio stations on October 1, 2018, closed on the sales of our Milwaukee, Knoxville, Omaha, Springfield and Wichita radio stations on November 1, 2018 and closed on the sales of our Boise and Tucson radio stations on December 12, 2018.
Operating results of our discontinued radio operations were as follows:

(in thousands) |  | Three months ended March 31, 2018
Operating revenues |  | $ | 13,299 |
Total costs and expenses |  | (11,516 | )
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets |  | (20,000 | )
Other, net |  | (148 | )
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes |  | (18,365 | )
Provision (benefit) for income taxes |  | 139 |
Net loss from discontinued operations |  | $ | (18,504 | )

During the first quarter of 2018, we recorded $20 million of non-cash impairment charges to write-down the goodwill of our radio business to fair value.
F-19

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. You should read this discussion in conjunction with those financial statements.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains certain forward-looking statements related to the Company's businesses that are based on management’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, including changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document and should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. A detailed discussion of principal risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the section titled “Risk Factors.” The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date the statement is made.
Executive Overview
The E.W. Scripps Company (“Scripps”) is a diverse media enterprise, serving audiences and businesses through a portfolio of local and national media brands. Our Local Media division is one of the nation’s largest independent TV station ownership groups. Following the closing of the Cordillera Communications, LLC acquisition in May 2019 and the anticipated closing of the Nexstar Media Group, Inc. acquisition later in 2019, we will have 60 television stations in 42 markets, reaching 30 percent of U.S. television households. We have affiliations with all of the “Big Four” television networks. In our National Media division, we operate national media brands including podcast industry-leader Stitcher and its advertising network Midroll Media, next-generation national news network Newsy; four national broadcast networks, Katz networks; and the global leader in digital audio technology and measurement services, Triton. We also operate an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and serve as the longtime steward of one of the nation's largest, most successful and longest-running educational programs, the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
We continue to pursue a television station acquisition strategy that allows us to assemble the best-performing portfolio possible. Effective January 1, 2019, we acquired ABC-affiliated stations in Waco, Texas and Tallahassee, Florida. On May 1, 2019, we acquired from Cordillera Communications, Inc. 15 television stations serving 10 markets. Additionally, during the first quarter of 2019, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire eight television stations in seven markets from the Nexstar Media Group, Inc. transaction with Tribune Media. Completion of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions and is expected to close in conjunction with the Nexstar-Tribune merger. These acquisitions allow us to move into new markets that enhance our portfolio and will diversify our network affiliate mix.
We are committed to the continued investment in our national media businesses for long-term growth. We continue to increase our Newsy audience, Stitcher podcast listeners and Katz U.S. household reach through our investment in and creation of quality content. On May 8, 2019, Court TV launched as a fifth over-the-air network operated by Katz, available for cable, satellite and over-the-air and over-the-top carriage. This network is devoted to live, gavel-to-gavel coverage, in-depth legal reporting and expert analysis of the nation's most important and compelling trials.
Additionally, we deliver value to shareholders through our quarterly dividend. Shareholders of record as of March 15, 2019 received a 5 cents per share dividend that was paid on March 25, 2019. This is the fifth cash dividend since reinstatement of a quarterly dividend in February 2018. For the first quarter of 2019, we paid $4.0 million in dividends. We currently expect that quarterly cash dividends will continue to be paid in the future. However, future dividends will be declared at the discretion of the Board and will depend on several factors including our results of operations, financial position, cash flow and other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant.
F-20

Results of Operations
The trends and underlying economic conditions affecting the operating performance and future prospects differ for each of our business segments. Accordingly, you should read the following discussion of our consolidated results of operations in conjunction with the discussion of the operating performance of our business segments that follows.
Consolidated Results of Operations
Consolidated results of operations were as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | Change |  | 2018
Operating revenues |  | $ | 292,163 |  |  | 14.9 | % |  | $ | 254,191 |
Employee compensation and benefits |  | (110,203 | ) |  | 11.9 | % |  | (98,489 | )
Programming |  | (97,995 | ) |  | 17.6 | % |  | (83,363 | )
Other expenses |  | (61,442 | ) |  | 15.9 | % |  | (53,023 | )
Acquisition and related integration costs |  | (3,480 | ) |  |  |  | — |
Restructuring costs |  | (938 | ) |  |  |  | (3,807 | )
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets |  | (17,792 | ) |  |  |  | (15,420 | )
Gains (losses), net on disposal of property and equipment |  | (173 | ) |  |  |  | (717 | )
Operating income (loss) |  | 140 |  |  |  |  | (628 | )
Interest expense |  | (8,916 | ) |  |  |  | (8,759 | )
Defined benefit pension plan expense |  | (1,572 | ) |  |  |  | (1,388 | )
Miscellaneous, net |  | (800 | ) |  |  |  | 167 |
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes |  | (11,148 | ) |  |  |  | (10,608 | )
(Provision) benefit for income taxes |  | 4,334 |  |  |  |  | 2,031 |
Loss from continuing operations, net of tax |  | (6,814 | ) |  |  |  | (8,577 | )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |  | — |  |  |  |  | (18,504 | )
Net loss |  | (6,814 | ) |  |  |  | (27,081 | )
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest |  | — |  |  |  |  | (632 | )
Net loss attributable to the shareholders of The E.W. Scripps Company |  | $ | (6,814 | ) |  |  |  | $ | (26,449 | )

ABC-affiliated stations in Waco, Texas and Tallahassee, Florida were acquired effective January 1, 2019 and Triton was acquired on November 30, 2018, which are referred to as the "acquired operations" in the discussion that follows. The inclusion of operating results from these businesses for the periods subsequent to the acquisition impacts the comparability of our consolidated and segment operating results.
Operating revenues increased $38.0 million or 15% for the first three months of 2019 compared to prior year. Excluding the acquired operations, operating revenues increased 8.6%. Higher retransmission revenues in our Local Media group and overall growth within our other National Media businesses contributed to the remainder of the year-over-year revenue increase.
Employee compensation and benefits increased $11.7 million or 12% for the first three months of 2019 compared to prior year. Excluding the acquired operations, employee compensation and benefits increased 5.9%, primarily driven by the expansion of our National Media group.
Programming expense increased $14.6 million or 18% for the first three months of 2019 compared to prior year. Excluding the acquired operations, programming expense increased nearly 16%, due to higher network affiliation fees at our stations, reflecting contractual rate increases, as well as an increase in programming costs associated with our National Media businesses, Katz and Stitcher.
Other expenses increased $8.4 million or 16% for the first three months of 2019 compared to prior year. Excluding the acquired operations, other expenses increased 9.4%, primarily driven by increases in marketing and promotion costs for our national brands, mainly Newsy and Stitcher.
F-21

Acquisition and related integration costs of $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2019 reflect professional service costs incurred to integrate Triton and the Raycom and Cordillera stations, as well as costs incurred for the pending Nexstar acquisition.
Restructuring costs of $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2019 reflect severance, outside consulting fees and other costs associated with our previously announced changes in management and operating structure.
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets increased from $15.4 million in 2018 to $17.8 million in 2019 due to the Triton and Raycom acquisitions.
Interest expense primarily reflects the interest incurred on our outstanding borrowings. Our outstanding borrowings include $400 million aggregate principal amount senior unsecured notes ("the Senior Notes"), which bear interest at a rate of 5.125% per annum and mature on May 15, 2025. We also have a $300 million aggregate principal amount term loan B outstanding that matures in October 2024 and bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR, plus a fixed margin of 2.00%. Interest will reduce to a rate of LIBOR plus a fixed margin of 1.75% if the company's total net leverage, as defined by the amended agreement, is below 2.75. The weighted average interest rate on the term loan B was 4.50% and 3.92% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The effective income tax rate was 39% and 19% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Other differences between our effective income tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory rate are the impact of state taxes, foreign taxes, non-deductible expenses, changes in reserves for uncertain tax positions and excess tax benefits or expense on share-based compensation. Our tax provisions include a $0.6 million benefit in 2019 and $0.7 million expense in 2018 from the exercise and vesting of share-based compensation awards.
F-22

Business Segment Results — As discussed in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, our chief operating decision maker evaluates the operating performance of our business segments using a measure called segment profit. Segment profit excludes interest, defined benefit pension plan expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, impairment charges, divested operating units, restructuring activities, investment results and certain other items that are included in net income (loss) determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Items excluded from segment profit generally result from decisions made in prior periods or from decisions made by corporate executives rather than the managers of the business segments. Depreciation and amortization charges are the result of decisions made in prior periods regarding the allocation of resources and are, therefore, excluded from the measure. Generally, our corporate executives make financing, tax structure and divestiture decisions. Excluding these items from measurement of our business segment performance enables us to evaluate business segment operating performance based upon current economic conditions and decisions made by the managers of those business segments in the current period.
We allocate a portion of certain corporate costs and expenses, including information technology, certain employee benefits and shared services to our business segments. The allocations are generally amounts agreed upon by management, which may differ from an arms-length amount. Corporate assets are primarily cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, property and equipment primarily used for corporate purposes and deferred income taxes.
Information regarding the operating performance of our business segments and a reconciliation of such information to the condensed consolidated financial statements is as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | Change |  | 2018
Segment operating revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |
Local Media |  | $ | 203,387 |  |  | 5.9 | % |  | $ | 192,059 |
National Media |  | 87,317 |  |  | 43.8 | % |  | 60,721 |
Other |  | 1,459 |  |  | 3.4 | % |  | 1,411 |
Total operating revenues |  | $ | 292,163 |  |  | 14.9 | % |  | $ | 254,191 |
Segment profit (loss): |  |  |  |  |  |
Local Media |  | $ | 34,173 |  |  | 8.1 | % |  | $ | 31,619 |
National Media |  | 4,941 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,035 |
Other |  | (433 | ) |  | 72.5 | % |  | (251 | )
Shared services and corporate |  | (16,158 | ) |  | 14.7 | % |  | (14,087 | )
Acquisition and related integration costs |  | (3,480 | ) |  |  |  | — |
Restructuring costs |  | (938 | ) |  |  |  | (3,807 | )
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets |  | (17,792 | ) |  |  |  |  | (15,420 | )
Gains (losses), net on disposal of property and equipment |  | (173 | ) |  |  |  | (717 | )
Interest expense |  | (8,916 | ) |  |  |  | (8,759 | )
Defined benefit pension plan expense |  | (1,572 | ) |  |  |  | (1,388 | )
Miscellaneous, net |  | (800 | ) |  |  |  | 167 |
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes |  | $ | (11,148 | ) |  |  |  | $ | (10,608 | )

F-23

Local Media — Our Local Media segment includes our local broadcast stations and their related digital operations. It is comprised of seventeen ABC affiliates, five NBC affiliates, two FOX affiliates and two CBS affiliates. We also have two MyTV affiliates, one CW affiliate, two independent stations and four Azteca America Spanish-language affiliates. Our Local Media segment earns revenue primarily from the sale of advertising to local, national and political advertisers and retransmission fees received from cable operators, telecommunications companies and satellite carriers. We also receive retransmission fees from over-the-top virtual MVPDs such as YouTubeTV, DirectTV Now and Sony Vue.
National television networks offer affiliates a variety of programs and sell the majority of advertising within those programs. In addition to network programs, we broadcast internally produced local and national programs, syndicated programs, sporting events and other programs of interest in each station's market. News is the primary focus of our locally produced programming.
The operating performance of our Local Media group is most affected by local and national economic conditions, particularly conditions within the automotive and services categories, and by the volume of advertising purchased by campaigns for elective office and political issues. The demand for political advertising is significantly higher in the third and fourth quarters of even-numbered years.
Operating results for our Local Media segment were as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | Change |  | 2018
Segment operating revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Core advertising |  | $ | 113,404 |  |  | (2.2 | )% |  | $ | 116,010 |
Political |  | 880 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,584 |
Retransmission |  | 85,377 |  |  | 20.6 | % |  | 70,791 |
Other |  | 3,726 |  |  | 39.3 | % |  | 2,674 |
Total operating revenues |  | 203,387 |  |  | 5.9 | % |  | 192,059 |
Segment costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee compensation and benefits |  | 74,911 |  |  | 1.0 | % |  | 74,182 |
Programming |  | 60,717 |  |  | 14.2 | % |  | 53,145 |
Other expenses |  | 33,586 |  |  | 1.4 | % |  | 33,113 |
Total costs and expenses |  | 169,214 |  |  | 5.5 | % |  | 160,440 |
Segment profit |  | $ | 34,173 |  |  | 8.1 | % |  | $ | 31,619 |

ABC-affiliated stations in Waco, Texas and Tallahassee, Florida were acquired effective January 1, 2019, which are referred to as the "acquired stations" in the discussion that follows. The inclusion of operating results from these stations for the periods subsequent to the acquisition impacts the comparability of our Local Media segment operating results.
Revenues
Total Local Media revenues increased $11.3 million or 5.9% for the first three months of 2019 compared to prior year. Higher retransmission revenues were offset by lower political revenues in a non-election year and lower core revenue, which decreased $2.6 million or 2.2% year-over-year. The 2018 quarter included Winter Olympics and Super Bowl advertising on our five NBC-affiliated stations, whereas the 2019 quarter only included Super Bowl advertising on our two CBS-affiliated stations, which led to incremental revenue in 2018 compared to 2019. Excluding the incremental revenue from the Winter Olympics, Super Bowl and our acquired stations, core was down about 1% year-over-year due to weakness in our automotive category.
Costs and expenses
Employee compensation and benefits were relatively flat for the first quarter of 2019 compared with 2018.
Programming expense increased $7.6 million or 14% for the first three months of 2019 compared to prior year. Excluding the results of the acquired stations, programming expense increased 10%, primarily due to higher network affiliation
F-24

fees. Network affiliation fees have been increasing industry-wide due to higher rates on renewals, as well as contractual rate increases, and we expect that they may continue to increase over the next several years.
Other expenses were relatively flat for the first quarter of 2019 compared with 2018.
National Media — Our National Media segment is comprised of the operations of our national media businesses, including four national broadcast networks, the Katz networks; podcast industry-leader, Stitcher, and its advertising network Midroll Media; next-generation national news network, Newsy; the global leader in digital audio technology and measurement services, Triton; and other national brands. Our National Media group earns revenue primarily through the sale of advertising.
Operating results for our National Media segment were as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | Change |  | 2018
Segment operating revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |
Katz |  | $ | 50,395 |  |  | 18.2 | % |  | $ | 42,650 |
Stitcher |  | 15,104 |  |  | 37.5 | % |  | 10,985 |
Newsy |  | 8,378 |  |  |  |  |  | 3,657 |
Triton |  | 10,462 |  |  |  |  |  | — |
Other |  | 2,978 |  |  | (13.2 | )% |  | 3,429 |
Total operating revenues |  | 87,317 |  |  | 43.8 | % |  | 60,721 |
Segment costs and expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee compensation and benefits |  | 20,525 |  |  | 61.4 | % |  | 12,719 |
Programming |  | 37,418 |  |  | 23.8 | % |  | 30,218 |
Other expenses |  | 24,433 |  |  | 55.1 | % |  | 15,749 |
Total costs and expenses |  | 82,376 |  |  | 40.4 | % |  | 58,686 |
Segment profit (loss) |  | $ | 4,941 |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,035 |

Triton was acquired on November 30, 2018 and the inclusion of operating results from this business for the periods subsequent to the acquisition impacts the comparability of our National Media segment operating results.
Revenues
National Media revenues increased $26.6 million or 44% for the first three months of 2019 compared to prior year. Triton accounted for $10.5 million of the increase. The remainder of the increase came from growth in the other National Media brands. Katz's revenues increased as a result of growth on all four of its networks. Stitcher's revenues increased due to advertising growth from existing podcasts, as well as the addition of new titles to its portfolio of podcasts. Newsy's revenues increased primarily from the growth of advertising on over-the-top platforms, as well as revenues from its expansion into cable.
Costs and expenses
Employee compensation and benefits increased $7.8 million or 61% for the first three months of 2019 compared to prior year. Excluding the impact of Triton, employee compensation and benefits increased 31%, mainly attributable to the hiring of personnel to support the growth of our national brands, as well as higher bonus and commission expenses tied to revenue performance.
Programming expense increased $7.2 million or 24% for the first three months of 2019 compared to prior year. Programming expense includes the amortization of programming for Katz, podcast production costs and other programming costs. The overall increase is attributable to the continual investment in Katz programming, higher affiliate fees related to the increased distribution of all four of the Katz networks and the additional programming costs for our podcast business.
Other expenses increased $8.7 million or 55% for the first three months of 2019 compared to prior year. Excluding the impact of Triton, other expenses increased 41%, attributed to increased marketing, promotion and occupancy costs incurred to support the growth of our national brands.
F-25

Shared services and corporate
We centrally provide certain services to our business segments. Such services include accounting, tax, cash management, procurement, human resources, employee benefits and information technology. The business segments are allocated costs for such services at amounts agreed upon by management. Such allocated costs may differ from amounts that might be negotiated at arms-length. Costs for such services that are not allocated to the business segments are included in shared services and corporate costs. Shared services and corporate also includes unallocated corporate costs, such as costs associated with being a public company.
F-26

Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary source of liquidity is our available cash and borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility.
Operating activities
Cash flows from operating activities for the three months ended March 31 are as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |  |  |  |
Loss from continuing operations, net of tax |  | $ | (6,814 | ) |  | $ | (8,577 | )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  | 17,792 |  |  | 15,420 |
(Gain)/loss on sale of property and equipment |  | 173 |  |  | 717 |
Programming assets and liabilities |  | (1,133 | ) |  | (4,947 | )
Deferred income taxes |  | (4,341 | ) |  | (2,209 | )
Stock and deferred compensation plans |  | 7,352 |  |  | 4,658 |
Pension expense, net of contributions |  | (408 | ) |  | (1,581 | )
Other changes in certain working capital accounts, net |  | (25,776 | ) |  | (2,258 | )
Miscellaneous, net |  | (37 | ) |  | 101 |
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities from continuing operations |  | (13,192 | ) |  | 1,324 |
Net cash provided by operating activities from discontinued operations |  | — |  |  | 3,691 |
Net operating activities |  | $ | (13,192 | ) |  | $ | 5,015 |

In 2019, we used $13.2 million in cash for operating activities from continuing operations compared to the $1.3 million of cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations in 2018. A $23.5 million increase in cash used from changes in certain working capital accounts contributed to the decrease in cash from operating activities. This was partially offset by a $3.8 million reduction in cash outlay for programming, a $3.2 million increase in segment profit year-over-year, as well as lower pension contributions and lower cash outlay for restructuring activities year-over-year.
The timing of payments received on accounts receivable and the timing of payments made on current liabilities, as well as higher year-over-year annual incentive payments, were the main factors contributing to the increase in cash used for certain working capital accounts.
Investing activities
Cash flows from investing activities for the three months ended March 31 are as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: |  |  |  |
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired |  | $ | (55,199 | ) |  | $ | — |
Acquisition of intangible assets |  | (404 | ) |  | — |
Additions to property and equipment |  | (13,440 | ) |  | (11,362 | )
Purchase of investments |  | (115 | ) |  | (117 | )
Proceeds from FCC repack |  | 1,520 |  |  | — |
Miscellaneous, net |  | 1 |  |  | 192 |
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations |  | (67,637 | ) |  | (11,287 | )
Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations |  | — |  |  | (320 | )
Net investing activities |  | $ | (67,637 | ) |  | $ | (11,607 | )

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In 2019 and 2018, we used $68 million and $11 million, respectively, in cash for investing activities from continuing operations. The primary factors affecting our cash flows from continuing investing activities for the periods presented are described below.

• | In 2019, we acquired television stations owned by Raycom Media — Waco, Texas ABC affiliate KXXV/KRHD and Tallahassee, Florida ABC affiliate WTXL — for $55 million in cash.

• | In 2019, capital expenditures increased $2.1 million. Within capital expenditures for 2019 and 2018, there were $6.0 million and $5.8 million, respectively, in costs incurred related to the FCC repacking process.

• | In 2019, we received $1.5 million in proceeds from the FCC repacking process.

Congress authorized the FCC to conduct so-called “incentive auctions” to auction and re-purpose broadcast television spectrum for mobile broadband use. In the repacking process associated with the auction, the FCC has reassigned some stations to new post-auction channels. We do not expect reassignment to new channels to have a material impact on our stations' broadcast signals as viewed in their markets. We received letters from the FCC in February 2017, notifying us that 17 of our stations have been assigned to new channels. The legislation authorizing the incentive auction and repack provides the FCC with up to a $2.75 billion fund to reimburse reasonable costs incurred by stations that are reassigned to new channels in the repack. We expect the FCC fund will be sufficient to cover the costs we would expect to incur for the repack and that our only potential funding risks would be limited to any disagreements with the FCC over reimbursement of expenditures incurred. Reimbursements provided by the FCC are recognized as the cash is received.
We expect to spend approximately $55 million through the end of 2020, of which, $26.8 million has been spent to date. We have received total reimbursement proceeds from the FCC of $3.0 million as of March 31, 2019.
Financing activities
Cash flows from financing activities for the three months ended March 31 are as follows:

|  | Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands) |  | 2019 |  | 2018
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: |  |  |  |
Proceeds from long-term debt |  | $ | 30,000 |  |  | $ | — |
Payments on long-term debt |  | (30,750 | ) |  | (750 | )
Dividends paid |  | (4,040 | ) |  | (4,125 | )
Repurchase of Class A Common shares |  | (584 | ) |  | (4,409 | )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |  | — |  |  | 234 |
Tax payments related to shares withheld for RSU vesting |  | (3,649 | ) |  | (1,868 | )
Miscellaneous, net |  | (2,862 | ) |  | (804 | )
Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations |  | $ | (11,885 | ) |  | $ | (11,722 | )

In 2019 and 2018, we used $11.9 million and $11.7 million in cash for financing activities from continuing operations, respectively. The primary factors impacting our cash flows from financing activities are described below.
Our current share repurchase program allows the purchase of up to $100 million of our Class A Common shares through March 1, 2020. Shares can be repurchased under the authorization via open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions, including accelerated stock repurchase transactions, block trades, or pursuant to trades intending to comply with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We repurchased $0.6 million of shares during the first three months of 2019. During the first three months of 2018, we repurchased $4.4 million of shares. At March 31, 2019, $49.7 million remains available for repurchase under our share repurchase program.
As part of the share repurchase program, we entered into an Accelerated Share Repurchase ("ASR") agreement with JP Morgan on August 21, 2018 to repurchase $25 million of the Company's common stock. We received an initial delivery of 1,349,528 shares during the third quarter of 2018, which represented 80% of the total shares we expected to receive based on the market price at the time of initial delivery. Upon final settlement of the ASR agreement in February 2019, we received additional deliveries totaling 147,164 shares of the Company's common stock based on a weighted average cost per share of $16.70 over the term of the ASR agreement.
In the first quarter of 2019 and 2018, we paid dividends of 5 cents per share, totaling $4.0 million and $4.1 million, respectively. We currently expect that quarterly cash dividends will continue to be paid in the future. However, future dividends
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will be declared at the discretion of the Board and will depend on several factors including our results of operations, financial position, cash flow and other factors that the Board of Directors may deem relevant.
We have $400 million of senior unsecured notes ("the Senior Notes"), that mature on May 15, 2025 and bear interest at a rate of 5.125% per annum. We also have a $300 million term loan B that matures in October 2024. Following an amendment to the term loan on April 4, 2018, interest is payable at a rate based on LIBOR, plus a fixed margin of 2.00%. Interest will reduce to a rate of LIBOR plus a fixed margin of 1.75% if the company’s total net leverage, as defined by the amended agreement, is below 2.75. The term loan requires annual principal payments of $3 million.
We have a revolving credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") with a capacity of $150 million that matures in April 2022. Interest is payable on the Revolving Credit Facility at rates based on LIBOR, plus a margin based on our leverage ratio ranging from 1.75% to 2.50%. There were no outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit agreement at March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018. The revolving credit agreement includes certain financial covenants which we were in compliance with for all periods presented.
Our financing agreement includes the maintenance of a net leverage ratio if we borrow on the Revolving Credit Facility. The term loan B requires that if we borrow additional amounts or make a permitted acquisition that we cannot exceed a stipulated net leverage ratio on a pro forma basis at the date of the transaction. We were in compliance with all financial covenants in the financing agreement at March 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018.
Our financing agreement also includes a provision that in certain circumstances we must use a portion of excess cash flow, as defined, to repay debt. As of March 31, 2019, we were not required to make additional principal payments for excess cash flow.
Our $55 million acquisition of Waco, Texas and Tallahassee, Florida television stations, which closed in the first quarter of 2019, was financed through cash on hand at time of the closing. Our $521 million acquisition of Cordillera Communications, LLC, which closed on May 1, 2019, was financed with a $765 million term loan B, of which $240 million of the proceeds were segregated for financing a portion of our $580 million acquisition of the Nexstar-Tribune stations. The acquisition of the Nexstar-Tribune stations is expected to close later in 2019 with the remainder of the purchase price financed with unsecured debt.
Other
We expect to contribute approximately $17.9 million during the remainder of 2019 to fund our defined benefit pension plans and our SERPs in order to meet our funding requirements under the provisions of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 and the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
We expect that our cash, cash from operating activities and available borrowing capacity will be sufficient to meet our operating and capital needs over the next 12 months.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
There have been no material changes to the off-balance sheet arrangements disclosed in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us to make a variety of decisions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures, including the selection of appropriate accounting principles and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. In reaching such decisions, we apply judgment based on our understanding and analysis of the relevant circumstances, including our historical experience, actuarial studies and other assumptions. We are committed to incorporating accounting principles, assumptions and estimates that promote the representational faithfulness, verifiability, neutrality and transparency of the accounting information included in the financial statements.
Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K describes the significant accounting policies we have selected for use in the preparation of our financial statements and related disclosures. An accounting policy is deemed to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used or changes in estimates that are likely to occur could materially change the financial statements. We believe the accounting for acquisitions, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets and pension plans to be our most critical accounting policies and estimates. A detailed description of these accounting policies is included in the Critical Accounting Policies section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Guidance
Refer to Note 2 – Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Standards of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q) for further discussion.
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Earnings and cash flow can be affected by, among other things, economic conditions and interest rate changes. We are also exposed to changes in the market value of our investments.
Our objectives in managing interest rate risk are to limit the impact of interest rate changes on our earnings and cash flows and to reduce overall borrowing costs.
The following table presents additional information about market-risk-sensitive financial instruments:

|  | As of March 31, 2019 |  | As of December 31, 2018
(in thousands) |  | Cost Basis |  | Fair Value |  | Cost Basis |  | Fair Value
Financial instruments subject to interest rate risk: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Variable rate credit facility |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Senior unsecured notes |  | 400,000 |  |  | 382,752 |  |  | 400,000 |  |  | 374,000 |
Term loan B |  | 295,500 |  |  | 286,635 |  |  | 296,250 |  |  | 288,844 |
Long-term debt, including current portion |  | $ | 695,500 |  |  | $ | 669,387 |  |  | $ | 696,250 |  |  | $ | 662,844 |
Financial instruments subject to market value risk: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investments held at cost |  | $ | 4,084 |  |  | (a) |  |  | $ | 4,114 |  |  | (a) |
(a) Includes securities that do not trade in public markets so the securities do not have readily determinable fair values. We estimate that the fair value of these securities approximates their carrying value.

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Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Scripps management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

1. | pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

2. | provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the Company; and

3. | provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error, collusion and the improper overriding of controls by management. Accordingly, even effective internal control can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control may vary over time.
The effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) was evaluated as of the date of the financial statements. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There were no changes to the Company's internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. We implemented internal controls to ensure we properly assessed the impact of the new lease accounting standard on our financial statements to facilitate its adoption on January 1, 2019. There were no significant changes to our internal controls over financial reporting due to the adoption of the new standard. We acquired Triton Digital Canada, Inc. on November 30, 2018 and the Raycom Media television stations KXXV/KRHD and WTXL effective January 1, 2019 and have excluded these businesses from management's reporting on internal control over financial reporting, as permitted by SEC guidance, for the quarter ended March 31, 2019. The acquired operations have total assets of approximately $202 million, or 9% of our total assets as of March 31, 2019 and revenues of $16.1 million, or 5.5% of our total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
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