(1888PressRelease)
November 14, 2008 - NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Debut Broadcasting Corporation Inc. (OTC BB: DBTB), a media and entertainment company, today announced it generated positive earnings results of $78,606 before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for its 2008 third quarter (ended Sept. 30), results the company accomplished a full quarter before it expected to do so.
When compared on a quarter-over-quarter basis, Debut Broadcasting™ achieved net revenue of $741,074 for the third quarter of 2008, a slight increase of $14,636 in net revenue, versus net revenue of $726,438 for the prior quarter ended June 30, 2008. More importantly, the company swung from a net loss of $263,285 during the second quarter of 2008 to EBITDA positive results of $78,606 for the third quarter of 2008.
In addition, the company saw a 180 percent increase in advertising revenue for the third quarter of 2008 through its owned and managed radio stations versus comparable advertising revenue in the same quarter in 2007. In spite of the fact that Debut added an additional radio station during the quarter, expenses remained relatively flat.
On a more traditional comparative basis, Debut net revenue for the third quarter of 2008 was $476,544 higher than the net revenue of $264,530 the company generated during the third quarter of 2007 (also ended Sept. 30). At the same time Debut noted that approximately $220,000 of the net revenue growth experienced by the company in the third quarter of 2007 was specifically related to the growth of five radio stations in the Greenville, Mississippi area, and the acquisition of WBBV FM in Vicksburg Mississippi. Additional increases in revenue related to growth in core syndication activities.
Additionally, for the nine months ended Sept. 30 2008, Debut generated net revenue of $1.92 million and a net loss of $594,848 versus net revenue of $528,605 and a net loss of $1.24 million for the comparable year ago nine-month period (ended Sept. 30, 2007).
“We are very pleased to be able to announce that we have achieved operational profitability (before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) a full 90 days ahead of schedule,” said Steven Ludwig, CEO of Debut Broadcasting. “This is a huge accomplishment that required the best work of everyone on the Debut team, and I thank them for their efforts. Although our net revenue was only slightly ahead of last quarter’s results, we feel good about what we achieved during the quarter given the challenges faced by so many other companies during the quarter. On top of that, the fourth quarter is traditionally our strongest quarter of the year, so we’re looking forward to great things this last part of the year.”
Debut executives expect to host an investor conference call before the end of November in order to provide additional updates and insights to investors.
Syndication Revenue Shows Dramatic Increase for the Year
Although gross syndication revenue for the 2008 third quarter was down $110,000 versus second quarter gross syndication revenue for 2008, Debut Broadcasting generated more than $2.5 million in gross syndication revenue during the first nine months of 2008. Such results represent an increase of $750,000 during the first nine months of 2008 versus the gross syndication results of $1.78 million for all of 2007.
Additionally, on a comparable quarter basis, Debut generated $1.21 million in gross syndication revenue for the third quarter of 2008 versus gross syndication revenue of $548,000 for the third quarter of 2007, an increase of $746,000 or more than 220 percent.
Gross Revenue, Syndication
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
2008 $550 K $1.32 M $1.21 M — $2.53 M
2007 $357 K $417 K $464 K $548 K $1.78 M
“Through Impact Radio Networks™, Debut’s syndication arm, the company has already exceeded 2007 gross syndication revenue by more than 40 percent, and we’ve done so in nine months,” Ludwig said. “Impact Radio Networks is a key differentiator for Debut Broadcasting, a differentiator that allows us to provide syndicated content and services to over 1,400 radio stations in the U.S. and Canada and reach more than 45 million listeners weekly. As we add more properties to our growing number of owned-and-operated (O&O) and managed radio stations in the southeastern U.S., we expect we will uncover new opportunities to create for additional radio programs to meet more of the programming needs of our syndication partners.”
This press release is available on the company's official online investor relations site for investor commentary, feedback and questions. Investors are asked to visit http://agoracom.com/ir/debutbroadcasting and view the Debut Broadcasting Investor Contact & Information Center. Alternatively, investors may e-mail questions and correspondence to DBTB ( @ ) Agoracom dot com
About Debut Broadcasting Corporation, Inc.
A media and entertainment company, Debut Broadcasting Corporation, Inc. (OTC BB: DBTB) supports its clients throughout North America while also improving shareholder value through targeted turnaround opportunities in the southeastern United States. Through its entertainment arm, Impact Radio Networks, Debut sells pre-recorded radio programs and related services to more than 1,400 AM and FM stations in the U.S. and Canada, and reaches more than 45 million listeners per week, making it one of the leading syndicators in the industry. The company also provides marketing, consulting and media buying for its radio broadcast stations. Through its media division, Debut identifies and acquires (or manages) underperforming and undervalued media properties in the southeastern U.S. For more information about Debut Broadcasting, please visit www.debutbroadcasting.com or email ir ( @ ) debutbroadcasting dot com dot
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this news release may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “foresee,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “forecast” or future or conditional verb tenses and variations or negatives of such terms. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to the services provided by our Chief Financial Officer, our entry into new markets and fields and our earnings potential.
We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this news release because actual results could differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to provide and market competitive services and products, our ability to attract, train and retain qualified personnel, our ability to operate and integrate new technology, changes in consumer preferences, changes in our operating or expansion strategy, changes in economic conditions, our ability to identify and effectively integrate potential acquisitions, FCC and government approval of potential acquisitions, geographic concentrations of our assets and susceptibility to economic downturns in that area, our ability to compete with other companies that produce and distribute syndicated radio programs and/or own radio stations, other factors generally understood to affect the financial condition or results of companies that produce and distribute syndicated radio programs and/or own radio stations and other factors detailed from time to time in our press releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of changes or unanticipated events, circumstances or results that occur after the date of this news release.
Debut Broadcasting and Impact Radio Networks are trademarks of Debut Broadcasting Corporation, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
INVESTOR CONTACT AT POLITIS COMMUNICATIONS FOR DEBUT BROADCASTING:
David Politis, 801-523-3730 (wk), 801-556-8184 (cell), dpolitis ( @ ) politis dot com
INVESTOR CONTACT AT AGORACOM INVESTOR RELATIONS FOR DEBUT BROADCASTING:
Email: DBTB ( @ ) agoracom dot com, Web site: http://agoracom.com/ir/debutbroadcasting
MEDIA CONTACTS AT POLITIS COMMUNICATIONS FOR DEBUT BROADCASTING:
Jonathan Bacon, 801-523-3730 (wk), 801-660-7820 (cell), jbacon ( @ ) politis dot com, or
Lindsay Thomson, 801-523-3730 (wk), 973-224-2569 (cell), lthomson ( @ ) politis dot com
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