SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 9, 2011

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

Radio One, Inc.

 

Exchange Offer for up to

$286,794,302

12.5%/15.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016

 

 

 

 

We are offering to exchange:

up to $286,794,302 of our new 12.5%/15.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016

(which we refer to as the “Exchange Notes”)

for

a like amount of our outstanding 12.5%/15.0 Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016

(which we refer to as the “Old Notes” and, together with the Exchange Notes, the “Notes”).

 

Material Terms of Exchange Offer:

 

 

 

For a discussion of certain factors that you should consider before participating in this exchange offer, see “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 of this prospectus.

 

We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a proxy.

 

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved the securities to be distributed in the exchange offer, nor have any of these organizations determined that this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

          , 2011

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since then. We are not making an offer to sell the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

of methodologies other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to revenues, net earnings (loss) or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP, or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities as measures of our liquidity. We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because we consider these important supplemental measures of our performance and believe they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of “high yield” issuers, many of which present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA when reporting their operating results. Management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as internal measures of operating performance, to establish operational goals, to allocate resources and to analyze business trends and financial performance.

 

We define EBITDA as the sum of (1) net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, (2) depreciation and amortization, (3) (benefit from) provision for income taxes and (4) interest expense less interest income. Adjusted EBITDA consists of net loss attributable to common stockholders plus (1) depreciation and amortization, income taxes, interest expense, income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, noncontrolling interest in (loss) income of subsidiaries, impairment of long-lived assets, stock-based compensation and other expense, net, less (2) interest income, gain on retirement of debt and equity in income (loss) of affiliated company. Our calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to that reported by other companies.

 

Our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA measures have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

 

 

Because of these limitations, our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA measures should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business or as measures of cash that will be available to us to meet our obligations. You should compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using these non-GAAP measures only supplementally to evaluate our performance. See “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

We use the term “local marketing agreement” (“LMA”) in various places in this prospectus. An LMA is an agreement under which a Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) licensee of a radio station makes available, for a fee, air time on its station to another party. The other party provides programming to be broadcast during the airtime and collects revenues from advertising it sells for broadcast during that programming. In addition to entering into LMAs, we will from time to time enter into management or consulting agreements that provide us with the ability, as contractually specified, to assist current owners in the management of radio station assets that we have contracted to purchase, subject to FCC approval. In such arrangements, we generally receive a contractually specified management fee or consulting fee in exchange for the services provided.

 

INDUSTRY DATA

 

The industry and market data and other statistical information contained in this prospectus are based on management’s own estimates, independent publications, government publications, reports by market research firms or other published independent sources, and, in each case, are believed by management to be reasonable estimates. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we have not independently verified the information. None of the independent industry publications used in this prospectus were prepared on our or our affiliates’ behalf and none of the sources cited by us consented to the inclusion of any data from its reports, nor have we sought their consent.

 

Unless otherwise indicated:

 

 

In order to obtain timely delivery of the documents, you must request the information no later than five business days before the expiration date of the exchange offer. The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2011.

 

 

These factors and the other risk factors discussed in this prospectus, including under the heading “Risk Factors,” are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other important factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Please see our periodic reports filed with the SEC for more information on these risk factors and other factors that may influence our business. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are made only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

If there is a material change to the information included in this prospectus, we will disclose such material change in the information by means of a supplement or amendment, SEC filing or press release.

 

SUMMARY

Securities Offered		$286,794,302 in aggregate principal amount of 12.5%/15.0% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016.
Exchange Offer		We are offering to exchange the Old Notes for a like principal amount at maturity of the Exchange Notes. Old Notes may be exchanged in integral principal multiples of $1. The exchange offer is being made pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement which grants the initial holders and any subsequent holders of the Old Notes certain exchange and registration rights. This exchange offer is intended to satisfy those exchange and registration rights with respect to the Old Notes. After the exchange offer is complete, you will no longer be entitled to any exchange or registration rights with respect to your Old Notes.
Expiration Date; Withdrawal of Tender		The exchange offer will expire 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2011, or a later time if we choose to extend this exchange offer in our sole and absolute discretion. You may withdraw your tender of Old Notes at any time prior to the expiration date. All outstanding Old Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be exchanged. Any Old Notes not accepted by us for exchange for any reason will be returned to you at our expense as promptly as possible after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.
Resales		We believe that you can offer for resale, resell and otherwise transfer the Exchange Notes without complying with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act so long as:
		• you acquire the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of business;
		• you are not participating, do not intend to participate, and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the distribution of the Exchange Notes;
		• you are not an affiliate of ours; and
		• you are not a broker-dealer.

Shelf Registration Statement		In limited circumstances, holders of Old Notes may require us to register their Old Notes under a shelf registration statement.

	•	if they are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws;
	•	if they are offered or sold under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; or
	•	if they are offered or sold in a transaction not subject to the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

Issuer		Radio One, Inc.
Securities Offered		Up to $286,994,302 in aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes in connection with the exchange offer and additional Exchange Notes issued in respect of interest payments on any such Exchange Notes.
Maturity Date		May 24, 2016.
Interest Rates and Payment Dates		Interest on the Exchange Notes will be payable in cash, or at our election, partially in cash and partially through the issuance of additional Exchange Notes (a “PIK Election”) on a quarterly basis in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, commencing on February 15, 2011. We may make a PIK Election only with respect to interest accruing up to but not including May 15, 2012, and with respect to interest accruing from and after May 15, 2012 such interest shall accrue at a rate of 12.5% per annum and shall be payable in cash. A PIK Election is currently in effect.
		Interest on the Exchange Notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid. Interest will accrue for each quarterly period at a rate of 12.5% per annum if the interest for such quarterly period is paid fully in cash. In the event of a PIK Election, including the PIK Election currently in effect, the interest paid in cash and the interest paid-in-kind by issuance of additional Exchange Notes (“PIK Notes”) will accrue for such quarterly period at 6.0% per annum and 9.0% per annum, respectively.
		In the absence of an election for any interest period, interest on the Exchange Notes shall be payable according to the election for the previous interest period; provided that interest accruing from and after May 15, 2012 shall accrue at a rate of 12.5% per annum and shall be payable in cash.
Optional Redemption		We may redeem some or all of the Exchange Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices set forth under the caption “Description of Notes — Optional Redemption” plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Exchange Notes redeemed to the applicable redemption date.
Ranking		The Exchange Notes will be our senior subordinated obligations and will rank:
		• senior to any of our and our guarantors’ future debt that expressly provides that it is subordinated to the Exchange Notes;

		These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications, which are described under the heading “Description of Notes — Certain Covenants.”
Trustee		Wilmington Trust Company.
Use of Proceeds		We will not receive any cash proceeds from the exchange offer. Old Notes that are validly tendered and exchanged for Exchange Notes pursuant to the exchange offer will be retired and cancelled.

		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								Year Ended December 31,
		2010				2009				2009				2008				2007
		(As adjusted — see note 1 below)
		(In thousands)
Statement of Operation s Data(1):
Net revenue		$	208,703			$	204,835			$	272,092			$	313,443			$	316,398
Programming and technical expenses including stock-based compensation			56,736				56,856				75,635				79,304				70,463
Selling, general and administrative expenses including stock-based compensation			78,290				68,828				91,016				103,108				100,620
Corporate selling, general and administrative expenses, including stock-based compensation			24,581				16,048				24,732				36,356				28,396
Depreciation and amortization			14,195				15,804				21,011				19,022				14,680
Impairment of long-lived assets			—				48,953				65,937				423,220				211,051
Operating income (loss)			34,901				(1,654	)			(6,239	)			(347,567	)			(108,812	)
Interest income			95				98				144				491				1,242
Interest expense(2)			31,059				29,036				38,404				59,689				72,770
Gain on retirement of debt			—				1,221				1,221				74,017				—
Equity in income (loss) of affiliated company			3,832				3,294				3,653				(3,652	)			(15,836	)
Other expense, net			2,934				96				104				316				290

		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								Year Ended December 31,
		2010				2009				2009				2008				2007
		(As adjusted — see note 1 below)
		(In thousands)
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes, noncontrolling interest in (loss) income of subsidiaries and discontinued operations			4,835				(26,173	)			(39,729	)			(336,716	)			(196,466	)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			4,685				7,340				7,014				(45,183	)			54,083
Income (loss) from continuing operations			150				(33,513	)			(46,743	)			(291,533	)			(250,549	)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax			(205	)			(835	)			(1,815	)			(7,414	)			(137,041	)
Consolidated net loss			(55	)			(34,348	)			(48,558	)			(298,947	)			(387,590	)
Noncontrolling interest in income (loss) of subsidiaries			1,427				3,650				4,329				3,997				3,910
Consolidated net loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(1,482	)		$	(37,998	)		$	(52,887	)		$	(302,944	)		$	(391,500	)
Balance Sheet Data (at end of period):
Cash and cash equivalents		$	21,571			$	14,775			$	19,963			$	22,289			$	24,247
Intangible assets, net			872,794				889,121				871,221				944,858				1,310,168
Total assets			1,044,384				1,056,883				1,035,542				1,125,477				1,648,354
Total debt (including current portion)			653,138				659,037				653,534				675,362				815,504
Total liabilities			791,183				784,692				787,489				810,002				1,015,747
Redeemable noncontrolling interests			44,047				49,690				52,225				43,423				58,738
Total stockholders’ equity			209,154				222,501				195,828				272,052				573,870
Statement of Cash Flow Data(1):
Cash flow from (used in):
Operating activities		$	16,775			$	21,864			$	45,443			$	13,832			$	44,014
Investing activities			(3,592	)			(3,640	)			(4,871	)			66,031				78,468
Financing activities			(11,575	)			(25,738	)			(42,898	)			(81,821	)			(130,641	)
Other Financial Data:
EBITDA(3)		$	48,362			$	14,084			$	13,398			$	(269,907	)		$	(251,209	)
Adjusted EBITDA(3)			53,973				64,490				82,358				96,452				119,910
Cash interest expense(4)			28,510				33,346				36,568				68,611				70,798
Capital expenditures			3,251				3,368				4,528				12,597				10,203

(1)		Year-to-year comparisons are significantly affected by Radio One’s acquisitions and dispositions during the periods covered. Certain reclassifications associated with accounting for discontinued operations have been made to prior year balances to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on any other previously reported net income or loss or any other statement of operations, balance sheet or cash flow amounts.
(2)		Interest expense includes non-cash interest, such as the accretion of principal, local marketing agreement (“LMA”) fees, the amortization of discounts on debt and the amortization of deferred financing costs.
(3)		“Adjusted EBITDA” consists of net loss attributable to common stockholders plus (1) depreciation, amortization, income taxes, interest expense, income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, noncontrolling interest in (loss) income of subsidiaries, impairment of long-lived assets, stock-based compensation and other expense, net, less (2) interest income, gain on retirement of debt and equity in income (loss) of affiliated company. Net income before interest expense less interest income, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization is commonly referred to in our business as “EBITDA.” Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA are not measures of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is often a useful measure of a company’s operating performance and is a significant basis used by our management to measure the operating performance of our business because Adjusted EBITDA excludes charges for depreciation, amortization and interest expense that have resulted from our acquisitions and debt financing, our taxes, impairment charges, as well as our equity in income

		(loss) of our affiliated company, gain on retirements of debt, and any discontinued operations. Accordingly, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information about the operating performance of our business, apart from the expenses associated with our physical plant, capital structure or the results of our affiliated company. Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used as one of the bases for comparing businesses in our industry, although our measure of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA do not purport to represent operating income or cash flow from operating activities, as those terms are defined under generally accepted accounting principles, and should not be considered as alternatives to those measurements as an indicator of our performance. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.” A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA has been provided below.

		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								Year Ended December 31,
		2010				2009				2009				2008				2007
		(In thousands)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(1,482	)		$	(37,998	)		$	(52,887	)		$	(302,944	)		$	(391,500	)
Plus: Depreciation and amortization			14,195				15,804				21,011				19,022				14,680
Plus: Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			4,685				7,340				7,014				(45,183	)			54,083
Plus: Interest expense			31,059				29,036				38,404				59,689				72,770
Less: Interest income			(95	)			(98	)			(144	)			(491	)			(1,242	)
EBITDA		$	48,362			$	14,084			$	13,398			$	(269,907	)		$	(251,209	)
Plus: Equity in (income) loss of affiliated company			(3,832	)			(3,294	)			(3,653	)			3,652				15,836
Plus: Noncontrolling interest in income of subsidiaries			1,427				3,650				4,329				3,997				3,910
Plus: Impairment of long-lived assets			—				48,953				65,937				423,220				211,051
Plus: Stock-based compensation			4,877				1,387				1,649				1,777				2,991
Plus: Other expense, net			2,934				96				104				316				290
Less: Gain on retirement of debt			—				(1,221	)			(1,221	)			(74,017	)			—
Less: Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax			205				835				1,815				7,414				137,041
Adjusted EBITDA		$	53,973			$	64,490			$	82,358			$	96,452			$	119,910

(4)		Cash interest expense is calculated as interest expense less non-cash interest, including the accretion of principal, LMA fees, the amortization of discounts on debt and the amortization of deferred financing costs for the indicated period.

 

An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and the other information included in this prospectus before deciding to invest in the Notes. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones relating to our business, financial condition or operating results or the notes. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known to us or that we do not currently believe to be material also could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results and the value of the Notes. The occurrence of any of the following risks could significantly harm our business, financial condition or operating results or the Notes. In that case, you could lose part or all of the value of your investment in the Notes.

 

Risks Related to the Notes

 

Our substantial level of indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations.

 

We have substantial indebtedness. As of December 31, 2010, we had approximately $642.2 million of total indebtedness, which included approximately $0.7 million related to our 2013 Notes and approximately $286.8 million related to our Old Notes. As of September 30, 2010, we had approximately $653.1 million of total indebtedness, which included approximately $301.5 million related to our Existing Notes. As of September 30, 2010, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the Transactions, we would have had approximately $646.2 million of total indebtedness. In addition, subject to restrictions in our senior credit facility and the indenture governing the Notes, we may incur additional indebtedness. The high level of our indebtedness could have important consequences to the holders of our Existing Notes, the Notes and other indebtedness, including the following:

 

 

We expect to obtain the money to pay our expenses and to pay the principal and interest on the Notes, our senior credit facility and other debt from cash flow from our operations, including our interest in TV One via distributions that may be made by TV One. Our ability to meet our expenses thus depends on our future performance, which will be affected by financial, business, economic and other factors. We will not be able to control many of these factors, such as economic conditions in the markets where we operate and pressure from competitors. Further, the TV One distributions require the consent of third parties. While these third parties did approve TV One distributions for the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2010, there is no assurance that such third-party consents will be granted in the future. Our cash flow may not be sufficient to allow us to pay principal and interest on our debt and meet our other obligations. If we do not have enough liquidity, we may be required to refinance all or part of our existing debt, sell assets or borrow more money. We may not be able to do so on terms acceptable to us, if at all. In addition, the terms of existing or future debt agreements, including our senior credit facility and the indenture governing the Notes may restrict us from pursuing any of these alternatives.

Our failure to comply with restrictive covenants contained in our senior credit facility or the indenture governing the Notes could lead to an event of default under such instruments.

 

Our senior credit facility and the indenture governing the Notes impose significant covenants on us. The agreement governing our senior credit facility also requires us to achieve specified financial and operating results and maintain compliance with specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests. Our ability to comply with these ratios may be affected by events beyond our control. Our breach of any restrictive covenants in the agreement governing our senior credit facility or the indenture governing the Notes or our inability to comply with the required financial ratios could result in a default under the agreement governing our senior credit facility. If a default occurs, the lenders under our senior credit facility may elect to declare all borrowings outstanding, together with all accrued interest and other fees, to be immediately due and payable which would result in an event of default under the Notes. The lenders would also have the right in these circumstances to terminate any commitments they have to provide further borrowings. If we are unable to repay outstanding borrowings when due, the lenders under our senior credit facility will also have the right to proceed against our collateral, including our available cash and owned real property, granted to them to secure the indebtedness. If the indebtedness under our senior credit facility or the Notes were to be accelerated, we cannot assure you that our assets would be sufficient to repay in full that indebtedness and our other indebtedness.

 

Despite current anticipated indebtedness levels and restrictive covenants, we may incur additional indebtedness in the future.

 

Despite our current level of indebtedness, we may be able to incur additional indebtedness, including additional secured or unsecured indebtedness. Although our senior credit facility and the indenture governing the Notes contain restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to important exceptions and qualifications. If we or our subsidiaries incur additional indebtedness which is permitted under these agreements, the risks that we and they now face as a result of our leverage could intensify. If our financial condition or operating results deteriorate, our relations with our creditors, including the holders of the Notes, the lenders under our senior credit facility and our suppliers, may be materially and adversely affected.

 

We may be unable to repay or repurchase the Notes.

 

At maturity, the entire outstanding principal amount of the Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, will become due and payable. We may not have the funds to fulfill this obligation or the ability to refinance this obligation. If the maturity date occurs at a time when other arrangements prohibit us from repaying the Notes, we would try to obtain waivers of such prohibitions from the lenders thereunder, or we could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain the restrictions. If we could not obtain the waivers or refinance these borrowings, we would be unable to repay the Notes.

 

To service our indebtedness, we will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control, and any failure to meet our debt service obligations could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, including the Notes, and to fund working capital needs and planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

 

If our business does not generate sufficient cash flow from operations or if future borrowings are not available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness, including the Notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, including the Notes, on or before the maturity thereof, reduce or delay capital investments or seek to raise additional capital, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, we may not be able to effect any of these actions, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Our ability to restructure or refinance

our indebtedness, including the Notes, will depend on the condition of the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations. The terms of existing or future debt instruments, including the indenture governing the Notes offered hereby, may limit or prevent us from taking any of these actions. In addition, any failure to make scheduled payments of interest and principal on our outstanding indebtedness would likely result in a reduction of our credit rating, which could harm our ability to incur additional indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt service obligations, or to refinance or restructure our obligations on commercially reasonable terms or at all, would have an adverse effect, which could be material, on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as on our ability to satisfy our obligations in respect of the Notes.

 

In addition, if we are unable to meet our debt service obligations under the Notes, the holders of the Notes would have the right following a cure period to cause the entire principal amount of the Notes to become immediately due and payable. If the amounts outstanding under these instruments are accelerated, we cannot assure you that our assets will be sufficient to repay in full the money owed to our debt holders, including holders of the Notes.

 

Restrictive covenants in our senior credit facility and the indenture governing the Notes may limit our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes in our business or to pursue our business strategies.

 

Our senior credit facility and the indenture governing the Notes contain, and any future indebtedness of ours may contain, a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions, including restrictions on our ability to take actions that we believe may be in our interest. Our senior credit facility and the indenture governing the Notes will, among other things, limit our ability to:

 

 

Also, the senior credit facility requires us to maintain compliance with certain financial covenants at all times and a minimum liquidity covenant that is tested weekly. Our ability to comply with these ratios may be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that we will meet these ratios.

 

The restrictions contained in our senior credit facility and in the indenture governing the Notes could adversely affect our ability to:

 

 

 

A breach of any of the restrictive covenants could, or our inability to comply with the maintenance financial covenants would, result in an event of default under our senior credit facility. In each of 2006, 2007 and 2010, we were required to enter into amendments to our senior credit facility to modify or waive compliance with financial covenants thereunder. If, when required, we are unable to repay or refinance our indebtedness under, or amend the covenants contained in, our senior credit facility, or if a default otherwise occurs that is not cured or waived, the lenders under the senior credit facility could elect to declare all borrowings outstanding, together with accrued interest and other fees, to be immediately due and payable or institute foreclosure proceedings against those assets that secure the borrowings under our senior credit facility. Should the outstanding obligations under our senior credit facility be accelerated and become due and payable because of our failure to comply with the applicable debt covenants in the future, we would be required to search for alternative measures to finance current and ongoing obligations of our business. There can be no assurance that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. Our ability to obtain future financing or to sell assets could be adversely affected because a very large majority of our assets have been secured as collateral under our senior credit facility. In addition, our financial results, our substantial indebtedness and our credit ratings could adversely affect the availability and terms of our financing. In addition, there are other situations (including certain changes in the ownership and voting interest in Radio One of our Chairperson and the CEO) where our debt may be accelerated and we may be unable to repay such debt. Any of these scenarios could adversely impact our liquidity and results of operations.

 

Not all of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the Notes and, therefore, the Notes will be structurally subordinated in right of payment to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our existing and future subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes. Your right to receive payments on the Notes could be adversely affected if any of these non-guarantor subsidiaries declare bankruptcy, liquidate or reorganize.

 

The guarantors of the Notes will include each of our existing and future direct or indirect domestic restricted subsidiaries (other than certain immaterial restricted subsidiaries and passive foreign holding companies) and any other of our subsidiaries that guarantee our senior credit facility. As a result, any subsidiary that we properly designate as an unrestricted subsidiary or as an immaterial subsidiary under the Indenture, and any entity in which we control less than a majority of the voting rights, will not provide guarantees of the Notes. As of November 24, 2010, the issue date of the Old Notes, Reach Media is an unrestricted subsidiary under the indenture governing the Notes and, as a result, will not be required to guarantee the Exchange Notes unless it becomes a restricted subsidiary. In the event TV One becomes a subsidiary, it will also be an unrestricted subsidiary under the indenture governing the Notes, unless designated otherwise as a restricted subsidiary.

 

The Notes guarantees will be structurally subordinated to all of the liabilities of any of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes and will be required to be paid before the holders of the Notes have a claim, if any, against those subsidiaries and their assets. Therefore, if there was a dissolution, bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any such subsidiary, the holders would not receive any amounts with respect to the Notes from the assets of such subsidiary until after the payment in full of the claims of creditors, including trade creditors and preferred stockholders, of such subsidiary.

 

The guarantors of the Notes are substantially the same subsidiaries that guarantee the Existing Notes. We include condensed consolidating financial information regarding our guaranteeing subsidiaries in the notes to our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Our ability to meet our obligations under our debt, in part, depends on the earnings and cash flows of our subsidiaries and the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or advance or repay funds to us.

 

We conduct a significant portion of our business operations through our subsidiaries and joint ventures. In servicing payments to be made on the Notes, we will rely, in part, on cash flows from these subsidiaries and joint ventures, mainly dividend payments. The ability of these subsidiaries and joint ventures to make dividend

payments to our Company will be affected by, among other factors, the obligations of these entities to their creditors, requirements of corporate and other law, and restrictions contained in agreements entered into by or relating to these entities. For example, the joint venture agreement (and related agreements) that created and governs TV One contains certain limited conditions under which distributions may be made.

 

We may be unable to repurchase the Notes upon a change of control or asset sale.

 

Upon the occurrence of specified kinds of change of control events, we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding Notes at the repurchase prices set forth under the caption “Description of Notes — Repurchase at the Option of Holders — Change of Control,” together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.

 

However, it is possible that we will not have sufficient funds when required under the indenture governing the Notes to make the required repurchase of the Notes and restrictions under our senior credit facility may not allow such repurchase. If we fail to repurchase the Notes in that circumstance, we will be in default under the indenture governing the Notes, and, in turn, under our senior credit facility. If we are required to repurchase a significant portion of the Notes, we may require third party financing. We cannot be sure that we would be able to obtain such third party financing on acceptable terms, or at all.

 

One of the circumstances under which a change of control may occur is upon the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of our assets. However, the phrase “all or substantially all” will likely be interpreted under applicable state law and will be dependent upon particular facts and circumstances. As a result, there may be a degree of uncertainty in ascertaining whether a sale or disposition of “all or substantially all” of our capital stock or assets has occurred, in which case, the ability of a holder of the Notes to obtain the benefit of an offer to repurchase all of a portion of the Notes held by such holder may be impaired.

 

It is also possible that the events that constitute a change of control may also be events of default under our senior credit facility. These events may permit the lenders under our senior credit facility to accelerate the indebtedness outstanding thereunder.

 

The agreements governing our other indebtedness, including the senior credit facility, and future agreements may contain prohibitions of certain events, including events that would constitute a change of control or an asset sale and including repurchases of or other prepayments in respect of the Notes. The exercise by the holders of the Notes of their right to require us to repurchase the Notes pursuant to a change of control offer or an asset sale offer could cause a default under these other agreements, even if the change of control or asset sale, if applicable, itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchases on us. In the event a change of control offer or an asset sale offer is required to be made at a time when we are prohibited from repurchasing Notes, we could seek the consent of our lenders under the senior credit facility to the repurchase of Notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If we do not obtain such consent or repay those borrowings, we will remain prohibited from repurchasing the Notes. In that case, our failure to repurchase tendered Notes would constitute an event of default under the indenture governing the Notes which could, in turn, constitute a default under the senior credit facility or the other indebtedness. Finally, our ability to pay cash to the holders of the Notes upon a repurchase may be limited by our then existing financial resources.

 

We must refinance existing indebtedness prior to the maturity of the Notes and our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect.

 

The senior credit facility is scheduled to mature on June 30, 2012, before the final maturity of the Notes. While we expect to refinance this indebtedness prior to or upon maturity, we may not be able to refinance this indebtedness, or refinancing may not be available on commercially reasonable terms. The financial terms or covenants of any new credit facility and/or other indebtedness may not be as favorable as those under our senior credit facility. Our ability to complete a refinancing of the loans under our senior credit facility prior to its respective maturity is subject to a number of conditions beyond our control. If we are unable to refinance the indebtedness under our senior credit facility, our alternatives would consist of negotiating an extension of our senior credit facility with the lenders and seeking or raising new capital. If we were unsuccessful, the

lenders under our senior credit facility could demand repayment of the indebtedness owed to them on the relevant maturity date. As a result, our ability to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes would be adversely affected.

 

Your ability to transfer the Notes may be limited by the absence of an active trading market, and an active trading market for the Notes may not develop.

 

The Notes are new issues of securities for which there is no established public market. We do not intend to have the Notes listed on a national securities exchange.

 

Therefore, an active market for the Notes may not develop, and if a market for the Notes does develop, that market may not continue. Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt has been subject to disruptions that have caused substantial volatility in the prices of securities similar to the Notes. The market, if any, for the Notes may be subject to similar disruptions, and any such disruptions may adversely affect the prices at which you may sell your Notes.

 

The trading prices for the Notes will be directly affected by many factors, including our credit rating.

 

Credit rating agencies continually revise their ratings for companies they follow, including us. Any ratings downgrade could adversely affect the trading price of the Notes, or the trading market for the Notes, to the extent a trading market for the Notes develops. The condition of the financial and credit markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future and any fluctuation may impact the trading price of the Notes.

 

Under certain circumstances a court could cancel the Notes or the related guarantees under fraudulent conveyance laws.

 

Our issuance of the Notes and the related guarantees may be subject to review under federal or state fraudulent transfer law. If we become a debtor in a case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or encounter other financial difficulty, a court might avoid (that is, cancel) our obligations under the Notes. The court might do so, if it found that, when we issued the Notes, (a) we received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration; and (b) we either: (1) were or were rendered insolvent; (2) were left with inadequate capital to conduct our business; or (3) believed or reasonably should have believed that we would incur debts beyond our ability to pay. The court could also avoid the Notes without regard to factors (a) and (b) if it found that we issued the Notes with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud our creditors.

 

Similarly, if one of our guarantors becomes a debtor in a case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or encounters other financial difficulty, a court might cancel its guarantee if it finds that when such guarantor issued its guarantee (or in some jurisdictions, when payments became due under the guarantee), factors (a) and (b) above applied to such guarantor, such guarantor was a defendant in an action for money damages or had a judgment for money damages docketed against it (if, in either case, after final judgment the judgment is unsatisfied), or if it found that such guarantor issued its guarantee with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors.

 

In addition, a court could avoid any payment by us or any guarantor pursuant to the Notes or a guarantee, and require the return of any payment to us or the guarantor, as the case may be, or to a fund for the benefit of the creditors of us or the guarantor. In addition, under the circumstances described above, a court could subordinate rather than avoid obligations under the Notes or the guarantees. If the court were to avoid any guarantee, we cannot assure you that funds would be available to pay the Notes from another guarantor or from any other source.

 

The test for determining solvency for purposes of the foregoing will vary depending on the law of the jurisdiction being applied. In general, a court would consider an entity insolvent either if the sum of its existing debts exceeds the fair value of all of its property, or its assets’ present fair saleable value is less than the amount required to pay the probable liability on its existing debts as they become due. For this analysis, “debts” includes contingent and unliquidated debts.

The indenture governing the Notes limits the liability of each guarantor on its guarantee to the maximum amount that such guarantor can incur without risk that its guarantee will be subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer. We cannot assure you that this limitation will protect such guarantees from fraudulent transfer challenges or, if it does, that the remaining amount due and collectible under the guarantees would suffice, if necessary, to pay the Notes in full when due.

 

If a court avoided our obligations under the Notes and the obligations of all of the guarantors under their guarantees, you would cease to be our creditor or creditor of the guarantors with respect to such obligations and likely have no source from which to recover amounts due under the Notes. Even if the guarantee of a guarantor is not avoided as a fraudulent transfer, a court may subordinate the guarantee to that guarantor’s other debt. In that event, the guarantees would be structurally subordinated to all of that guarantor’s other debt.

 

Your right to receive payment on the Notes and the guarantees is junior to all of our and the guarantors’ senior debt.

 

The Notes are general unsecured obligations, junior in right of payment to all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future senior debt under our senior credit facility, any other obligations under our senior credit facility and all hedging obligations related thereto, but senior in right of payment to the Existing Notes and any of our and our guarantors’ existing and future subordinated obligations. The Notes are not secured by any of our or the guarantors’ assets, and as such will be effectively subordinated to any secured debt that we or the guarantors have now, including all of the borrowings under our senior credit facility, or may incur in the future to the extent of the value of the assets securing that debt.

 

In the event that we or a guarantor is declared bankrupt, becomes insolvent or is liquidated or reorganized, any debt that ranks ahead of the Notes and the guarantees will be entitled to be paid in full from our assets or the assets of the guarantors, as applicable, before any payment may be made with respect to the Notes or the affected guarantees. In any of the foregoing events, we cannot assure you that we would have sufficient assets to pay amounts due on the Notes. As a result, holders of the Notes may receive less, proportionally, than the holders of debt senior to the Notes and the guarantees. The subordination provisions of the indenture governing the Notes also provide that we can make no payment to you during the continuance of payment defaults on our senior debt, and payments to you may be suspended for a period of up to 180 days if a nonpayment default exists under our senior debt. See “Description of Notes — Subordination.”

 

As of December 31, 2010, the Notes and the guarantees were ranked junior to approximately $353.7 million of indebtedness under our senior credit facility. See “Description of Notes — Certain Covenants” and “Description of Certain Other Indebtedness.”

 

U.S. Holders will be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on original issue discount on the Notes.

 

The Old Notes were issued with original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, if you are a U.S. Holder (as defined in “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” herein) you will be required to include such original issue discount in gross income on a constant yield to maturity basis in advance of the receipt of any cash payment to which such income is attributable. You should read the discussion under the “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders — Original Issue Discount” for further information about original issue discount on the Notes.

 

Risks Related to the Old Notes

 

Holders of Old Notes who fail to exchange their Old Notes in the exchange offer will continue to be subject to restrictions on transfer.

 

If you do not exchange your Old Notes for Exchange Notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer applicable to the Old Notes. The restrictions on transfer of your Old Notes arise because we issued the Old Notes under exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. In general, you may only

offer or sell the Old Notes if they are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or offered and sold under an exemption from these requirements. We do not plan to register the Old Notes under the Securities Act. For further information regarding the consequences of failing to tender your Old Notes in the exchange offer, see the discussion below under the caption “Exchange Offer — Consequences of Failure to Exchange.”

 

You must comply with the exchange offer procedures in order to receive new, freely tradable Exchange Notes.

 

Delivery of Exchange Notes in exchange for Old Notes tendered and accepted for exchange pursuant to the exchange offer will be made only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of book-entry transfer of Old Notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC, as depositary, including an agent’s message (as defined herein). We are not required to notify you of defects or irregularities in tenders of Old Notes for exchange. Old Notes that are not tendered or that are tendered but we do not accept for exchange will, following consummation of the exchange offer, continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions under the Securities Act and, upon consummation of the exchange offer, certain registration and other rights under the Registration Rights Agreement will terminate. See “Exchange Offer — Procedures for Tendering Old Notes” and “Exchange Offer — Consequences of Failure to Exchange.”

 

Some holders who exchange their Old Notes may be deemed to be underwriters, and these holders will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements in connection with any resale transaction.

 

If you exchange your Old Notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes, you may be deemed to have received restricted securities and, if so, will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.

 

Risks Related to the Nature and Operations of Our Business

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm recently issued an opinion expressing substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern and, while the issues giving rise to that opinion have been cured, a similar issue could arise.

 

In their report dated August 23, 2010, which was included elsewhere in this prospectus along with our audited financial statements, our independent registered public accounting firm issued an opinion expressing substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern because certain covenant violations under our credit agreements could have resulted in significant portions of our outstanding debt becoming callable by our lenders. These violations were cured as a part of the Transactions. Our audited financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern (which contemplates the realization of assets and discharge of liabilities in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future). Our senior credit facility, as amended and restated, matures on June 30, 2012. Under GAAP, debt coming due within one year must be classified as a current liability. Therefore, unless we have refinanced our senior credit facility prior to July 1, 2011, we may be required to reclassify the senior credit facility as current indebtedness under GAAP. In such an event, our independent registered public accounting firm may once again express doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. We are currently evaluating a number of alternatives with respect to the upcoming maturity of our senior credit facility. Our ability to consummate any such alternatives will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors, some of which may be beyond our control. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company will successfully enter into any definitive agreements for such financing alternatives.

 

Our corporate debt rating has suffered downgrades in the past and we could suffer further downgrades.

 

On a continuing basis, credit rating agencies such as Moody’s and S&P evaluate our debt. On November 24, 2010, S&P raised the Company’s long-term corporate credit rating to “CCC+” from “SD” with a positive rating outlook. In addition, S&P raised our issue-level rating on our senior secured debt to “B” from

“CCC+”. S&P also rated our Old Notes “CCC-”, rated the remaining portion of our 2013 Notes “CCC-” and affirmed a “CCC-” issue-level rating on the remaining portion of our 2011 Notes.

 

S&P’s actions reflected our successful amendment of our senior credit facility and the exchange offer for our Existing Notes. S&P noted the transactions eliminated near-term refinancing risk of our senior secured debt, which was due to mature January 1, 2011 if we were unable to refinance our 2011 Notes prior to that date. S&P further noted that following the amendment, we were able to cure the default on our 2013 Notes by paying defaulted interest resulting from the August 15, 2010 nonpayment.

 

On June 17, 2010, Moody’s placed on review the Company and its debt for a possible upgrade. On August 18, 2010, Moody’s placed us on review for a possible downgrade on our corporate family rating and probability of default rating. The review was driven by our announcement that the lenders under our Senior Credit Facility blocked our August 16, 2010 interest payment on the 2013 Notes. The lenders under our Senior Credit Facility had the ability to block the interest payment as we are in violation of the total leverage covenant under our Senior Credit Facility. On September 20, 2010, Moody’s repositioned our probability of default rating to Caa2/LD from Caa2, following the expiration of the 30-day grace period under the 2013 Notes.

 

On July 20, 2010, S&P revised our CCC+ corporate credit rating outlook from positive to developing. Revision was due to uncertainty surrounding the timing and structure of a potential refinancing. On June 17, 2010 S&P revised our CCC+ corporate credit rating outlook from negative to positive. Revision was due to our announcement of potential refinancing transactions and the proposed increase of our ownership percentage in TV One. On August 24, 2010, S&P lowered our corporate credit rating from CCC+ to SD and lowered the issue-level rating on our 2013 Notes from CCC- to D.

 

On June 24, 2009, S&P lowered our corporate credit rating to CCC+ from B- and the issue-level rating on our $800.0 million secured credit facility to CCC+ from B-. On March 3, 2009, S&P lowered our corporate credit rating to B- from B and the issue-level rating on our $800.0 million secured credit facility to B- from BB-. While noting that our rating outlook was negative, the ratings downgrade reflects concern over the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with financial covenants due to weak radio advertising demand. On May 12, 2009, Moody’s downgraded our corporate family rating to Caa1 from B1. On November 3, 2008, Moody’s placed on review the Company and its debt for a possible downgrade. The review was prompted by heightened concerns that the radio broadcast sector will likely face significant revenue and cash flow deterioration given weakness in the U.S. economy.

 

Although reductions in our bond ratings may not have an immediate impact on our cost of debt or liquidity, they may impact our future cost of debt and liquidity. Increased debt levels and/or decreased earnings could result in further downgrades in our credit ratings, which, in turn, could impede our access to the debt markets and/or raise our long-term debt borrowing rates. Our ability to use debt to fund major new acquisitions or new business initiatives could also be limited.

 

The state and condition of the global financial markets and the U.S. economy may have an unpredictable impact on our business and financial condition.

 

The global equity and credit markets have recently been experiencing unprecedented levels of volatility and disruption. In some cases, the markets have produced downward pressure on stock prices and limited credit capacity for certain companies without regard to those companies’ underlying financial strength. In addition, deterioration in the global and U.S. economies has produced a drop in consumer confidence and spending, which has impacted corporate profits and resulted in cutbacks in advertising budgets. If the economic deterioration and/or current levels of market disruption and volatility continue or worsen, there can be no assurance that we will not experience a further adverse effect, which may be material, on our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ability to access capital. For example, any worsening of the economy, a continuation of market volatility or further weakness in consumer spending could continue to adversely impact the overall demand for advertising. Such a result could have a negative effect on our revenues and results of operations. In addition, our ability to access the capital markets may be severely

restricted at a time when we would like, or need, to do so, which could have an impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions.

 

Any worsening or deterioration of the economy’s ongoing gradual recovery could negatively impact our ability to meet our cash needs and our ability to maintain compliance with our debt covenants.

 

We believe will be able to maintain compliance with the covenants contained in our senior credit facility, as amended in connection with the Transactions, for the foreseeable future. This belief is based on our most recent revenue, operating income and cash flow projections. Our projections, however, are highly dependent on the continuation of the recently improving economic and advertising environments, and any adverse fluctuations, or other unforeseen circumstances, may negatively impact our operations beyond those assumed by management. If economic conditions do not continue to improve, or deteriorate, or if other adverse factors outside our control arise, our operations could be negatively impacted, which could prevent us from maintaining compliance with our debt covenants. If it appears that we could not meet our liquidity needs or that noncompliance with debt covenants is likely, we would implement several remedial measures, which could include further operating cost and capital expenditure reductions and deferrals, seeking our share of distributions from TV One to the extent not already received (which requires the consent of third parties and cannot be assured) and/or further de-leveraging actions, which may include repurchases of discounted senior subordinated notes and other debt repayments, subject to our available liquidity and contractual ability to make such repurchases.

 

We have incurred net losses over the past three years which could continue into the future.

 

We have reported net losses in our consolidated statements of operations over the past three years, due mostly in part to recording non-cash impairment charges for write-downs to radio broadcasting licenses and goodwill, net losses incurred for discontinued operations and revenue declines caused by weakened advertising demand resulting from the current economic crisis. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, we experienced net losses of approximately $52.9 million, $302.9 million, and $391.5 million, respectively. These results have had a negative impact on our financial condition and could be exacerbated given the current economic climate. If these trends continue in the future, it could have a material adverse affect on our financial condition.

 

Our revenue is substantially dependent on spending and allocation decisions by advertisers, and seasonality and/or weakening economic conditions may have an impact upon our business.

 

Substantially all of our revenue is derived from sales of advertisements and program sponsorships to local and national advertisers. Cutbacks or changes in advertisers’ spending priorities and/or allocations across different types of media may affect our results. We do not obtain long-term commitments from our advertisers and advertisers may cancel, reduce or postpone advertisements without penalty, which could adversely affect our revenue. Seasonal net revenue fluctuations are common in the media industries and are due primarily to fluctuations in advertising expenditures by local and national advertisers. In addition, advertising revenues in even-numbered years tend to benefit from advertising placed by candidates for political offices. The effects of such seasonality, combined with the severe structural changes that have occurred in the U.S. economy, make it difficult to estimate future operating results based on the previous results of any specific quarter and may adversely affect operating results.

 

Advertising expenditures also tend to be cyclical and reflect general economic conditions both nationally and locally. Because we derive a substantial portion of our revenues from the sale of advertising, a decline or delay in advertising expenditures could reduce our revenues or hinder our ability to increase these revenues. Advertising expenditures by companies in certain sectors of the economy, including the automotive, financial, entertainment and retail industries, represent a significant portion of our advertising revenues. Structural changes (such as the decreased number of automotive dealers and brands) and business failures in these industries have affected our revenues and continued structural changes, consolidation or business failures in any of these industries could have significant further impact on our revenues. Any political, economic, social or technological change resulting in a significant reduction in the advertising spending of these sectors could

adversely affect our advertising revenues or its ability to increase such revenues. In addition, because many of the products and services offered by our advertisers are largely discretionary items, weakening economic conditions could reduce the consumption of such products and services and, thus, reduce advertising for such products and services. Changes in advertisers’ spending priorities during economic cycles (such as the current cycle) may also affect our results. Disasters, acts of terrorism, political uncertainty or hostilities also could lead to a reduction in advertising expenditures as a result of uninterrupted news coverage and economic uncertainty.

 

Pricing for advertising may continue to face downward pressure.

 

During 2009 and continuing into 2010, in response to weakness and fluctuations in the economy, advertisers increasingly purchased lower-priced inventory rather than higher-priced inventory, and increasingly demanded lower pricing, in addition to increasingly purchasing later and through advertising inventory from third-party advertising networks. If advertisers continue to demand lower-priced inventory and/or otherwise continue to put downward pressure on pricing, our operating margins and ability to generate revenue could be further adversely affected.

 

Our success is dependant upon audience acceptance of our content, particularly our radio programs, which is difficult to predict.

 

Media and radio content production and distribution are inherently risky businesses because the revenues derived from the production and distribution of media content or a radio program, and the licensing of rights to the intellectual property associated with the content or program, depend primarily upon their acceptance by the public, which is difficult to predict. The commercial success of content or a program also depends upon the quality and acceptance of other competing programs released into the marketplace at or near the same time, the availability of alternative forms of entertainment and leisure time activities, general economic conditions and other tangible and intangible factors, all of which are difficult to predict. Finally, the costs of content and programming may change significantly if new performance royalties (such as those that have been proposed by members of Congress from time to time) are imposed upon radio broadcasters or internet operators and such changes could have a material impact upon our business.

 

Ratings for broadcast stations and traffic or visitors on a particular website are also factors that are weighed when advertisers determine which outlets to use and in determining the advertising rates that the outlet receives. Poor ratings or traffic levels can lead to a reduction in pricing and advertising revenues. For example, if there is an event causing a change of programming at one of our stations, there could be no assurance that any replacement programming would generate the same level of ratings, revenues or profitability as the previous programming. In addition, changes in ratings methodology and technology could adversely impact our ratings and negatively affect our advertising revenues.

 

Arbitron, the leading supplier of ratings data for U.S. radio markets, has developed technology to passively collect data for its ratings service. The Portable People Meter ^tm (the “PPM ^tm ”) is a small, pager-sized device that does not require any active manipulation by the end user and is capable of automatically measuring radio, television, Internet, satellite radio and satellite television signals that are encoded for the service by the broadcaster. Our Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Washington, DC market ratings are being measured by the PPM ^tm . In each market, there has been a compression in the relative ratings of all stations in the market, enhancing the competitive pressure within the market for advertising dollars. In addition, ratings for certain stations when measured by the PPM ^tm as opposed to the traditional diary methodology can be materially different. PPM ^tm based ratings are scheduled to be introduced in all of our other markets, except Richmond. Due to its smaller market size, Richmond will remain on the diary methodology. Because of the competitive factors we face and the introduction of the PPM ^tm , we cannot assure investors that we will be able to maintain or increase our current audience ratings and advertising revenue.

A disproportionate share of our net revenue comes from radio stations in a small number of geographic markets and from Reach Media.

 

Within our core radio business, four of the 16 markets in which we operate radio stations accounted for approximately 50.1% of our radio station net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009. Revenue from the operations of Reach Media, along with revenue from both the Houston and Washington, DC markets accounted for approximately 40.8% of our total consolidated net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2009. Adverse events or conditions (economic or otherwise) could lead to declines in the contribution of Reach Media or to declines in one or more of the significant contributing markets (Houston, Washington, DC, Atlanta and Baltimore), which could have a material adverse effect on our overall financial performance and results of operations.

 

Our relationship with a significant customer has changed and we no longer have a guaranteed level of revenue from that customer.

 

We have historically derived a significant portion of our net revenue from a single customer, Radio Networks, LLC (“Radio Networks”), a media representation firm which is owned by Citadel. Prior to January 2010, Reach Media, a subsidiary of which we own 53.5%, derived a substantial majority of its net revenue from a sales representative agreement (the “Sales Representation Agreement”) with Radio Networks. The Sales Representation Agreement called for Radio Networks to act as Reach Media’s sales representative primarily for advertising airing on over 106 affiliate radio stations broadcasting the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and to also serve as its sales representative for internet and events sales. The Sales Representation Agreement provided for Radio Networks to retain a portion of Reach Media’s advertising revenues only after satisfying certain minimum revenue guarantee obligations to Reach Media. Further, but to a lesser extent, revenue for Company owned radio stations was also generated from Radio Networks for barter agreements whereby we provided advertising time in exchange for programming content (the “RN Barter Revenue”). Net revenue attributable to the Sales Representation Agreement and the RN Barter Revenue began to account for more than 10% of our total consolidated net revenues as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, and during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 accounted for 11.9%, 10.6% and 10.8%, respectively, of our total consolidated net revenues.

 

During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, Reach Media and Citadel reached an agreement whereby the revenue guarantee obligation to Reach Media for November and December 2009 was reduced by $1.0 million each in exchange for prepayment of the reduced revenue guarantee obligation for fourth quarter of 2009. Further, the Sales Representation Agreement expired in accordance with its terms on December 31, 2009. Reach Media continues to retain Radio Networks in a sales representation capacity; however, Radio Networks is now compensated on a commission basis and Reach Media does not benefit from any guaranteed revenue under its current arrangement with Radio Networks. Further, Reach Media has established its own sales force that is primarily selling in-program advertising inventory. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to replace the lost guaranteed revenue with revenues from new or other existing customers.

 

We may lose audience share and advertising revenue to our competitors.

 

Our radio stations and other media properties compete for audiences and advertising revenue with other radio stations and station groups and other media such as broadcast television, newspapers, magazines, cable television, satellite television, satellite radio, outdoor advertising, the internet and direct mail. Adverse changes in audience ratings, internet traffic and market shares could have a material adverse effect on our revenue. Larger media companies with more financial resources than we have may enter the markets in which we operate causing competitive pressure. Further, other media and broadcast companies may change their programming format or engage in aggressive promotional campaigns to compete directly with our media properties for audiences and advertisers. This competition could result in lower ratings or traffic and, hence, lower advertising revenue for us or cause us to increase promotion and other expenses and, consequently, lower our earnings and cash flow. Changes in population, demographics, audience tastes and other factors beyond our control, including the impact of new audience measurement technology, could also cause changes in audience ratings or market share. Failure by us to respond successfully to these changes could have an

adverse effect on our business and financial performance. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain or increase our current audience ratings and advertising revenue.

 

If we are unable to successfully identify, acquire and integrate businesses pursuant to our diversification strategy, our business and prospects may be adversely impacted.

 

We are pursuing a strategy of acquiring and investing in other forms of media that complement our core radio business in an effort to grow and diversify our business and revenue streams. This strategy depends on our ability to find suitable opportunities and obtain acceptable financing. Negotiating transactions and integrating an acquired business could result in significant costs, including significant use of management’s time and resources.

 

Our diversification strategy partially depends on our ability to identify attractive media properties at reasonable prices and to divest properties that are no longer strategic to our business. Further, entering new businesses may subject us to additional risk factors. Some of the material risks that could hinder our ability to implement this strategy include:

 

 

We can provide no assurance that our diversification strategy will be successful.

 

Reach Media noncontrolling interest shareholders’ put rights may have an impact upon our business and indebtedness.

 

On February 28, 2012 and each anniversary thereafter, for a 30-day period after each such date, the noncontrolling interest shareholders of Reach Media have the right to require Reach Media to purchase all or a portion of their shares at the then current fair market value for such shares. The purchase price for such shares may be paid in cash and/or registered Class D Common Stock of Radio One, at the discretion of Radio One. If we chose to pay for the noncontrolling interest in cash, our ability to fund business operations, new acquisitions or new business initiatives could be limited.

 

We must respond to the rapid changes in technology, services and standards in order to remain competitive.

 

Technological standards across our media properties are evolving and new media technologies are emerging. We cannot assure you that we will have the resources to acquire new technologies or to introduce new services to compete with these new technologies. Several new media technologies are being, or have been, developed, including the following:

 

 

 

New media has resulted in fragmentation in the advertising market, and we cannot predict the effect, if any, that additional competition arising from new technologies may have on the radio broadcasting industry, our multi-media business or on our financial condition and results of operations, which may be adversely affected if we are not able to adapt successfully to these new media technologies.

 

The loss of key personnel, including certain on-air talent, could disrupt the management and operations of our business.

 

Our business depends upon the continued efforts, abilities and expertise of our executive officers and other key employees, including certain on-air personalities. We believe that the combination of skills and experience possessed by our executive officers could be difficult to replace, and that the loss of one or more of them could have a material adverse effect on us, including the impairment of our ability to execute our business strategy. In addition, several of our on-air personalities and syndicated radio programs hosts have large loyal audiences in their respective broadcast areas and may be significantly responsible for the ranking of a station. The loss of such on-air personalities could impact the ability of the station to sell advertising and our ability to derive revenue from syndicating programs hosted by them. We cannot be assured that these individuals will remain with us or will retain their current audiences or ratings.

 

As a part of our diversification strategy, we have placed emphasis on building our internet businesses. Failure to fulfill this undertaking may adversely affect our brands and business prospects.

 

Our diversification strategy depends to a significant degree upon the development of our internet businesses. In order for our internet businesses to grow and succeed over the long-term, we must, among other things:

 

 

We cannot assure that we will be successful in achieving these and other necessary objectives. If we are not successful in achieving these objectives, our business, financial condition and prospects could be adversely affected.

 

If our interactive unit does not continue to develop and offer compelling and differentiated content, products and services, our advertising revenues could be adversely affected.

 

In order to attract internet consumers and generate increased activity on our internet properties, we believe that we must offer compelling and differentiated content, products and services. However, acquiring, developing and offering such content, products and services may require significant costs and time to develop, while consumer tastes may be difficult to predict and are subject to rapid change. If we are unable to provide content, products and services that are sufficiently attractive to our internet users, we may not be able to generate the increases in activity necessary to generate increased advertising revenues. In addition, although

we have access to certain content provided by our other businesses, we may be required to make substantial payments to license such content. Many of our content arrangements with third parties are non-exclusive, so competitors may be able to offer similar or identical content. If we are not able to acquire or develop compelling content and do so at reasonable prices, or if other companies offer content that is similar to that provided by our interactive unit, we may not be able to attract and increase the engagement of internet consumers on our internet properties.

 

Continued growth in our internet advertising business also depends on our ability to continue offering a competitive and distinctive range of advertising products and services for advertisers and publishers and our ability to maintain or increase prices for our advertising products and services. Continuing to develop and improve these products and services may require significant time and costs. If we cannot continue to develop and improve its advertising products and services or if prices for its advertising products and services decrease, our internet advertising revenues could be adversely affected.

 

More individuals are using devices other than personal and laptop computers to access and use the internet, and if we cannot make our products and services available and attractive to consumers via these alternative devices, our internet advertising revenues could be adversely affected.

 

Internet users are increasingly accessing and using the internet through devices other than a personal or laptop computer, such as personal digital assistants or mobile telephones, which differ from computers with respect to memory, functionality, resolution and screen size. In order for consumers to access and use our products and services via these alternative devices, we must ensure that our products and services are technologically compatible with such devices. We also must secure arrangements with device manufacturers and wireless carriers in order to have placement and functionality on the alternative devices and to more effectively reach consumers. If we cannot effectively make our products and services available on alternative devices, fewer internet consumers may access and use our products and services and our advertising revenue may be negatively affected.

 

Unrelated third parties may claim that we infringe on their rights based on the nature and content of information posted on websites maintained by us.

 

We host internet services that enable individuals to exchange information, generate content, comment on our content, and engage in various online activities. The law relating to the liability of providers of these online services for activities of their users is currently unsettled both within the U.S. and internationally. While we monitor postings to such websites, claims may be brought against us for defamation, negligence, copyright or trademark infringement, unlawful activity, tort, including personal injury, fraud, or other theories based on the nature and content of information that may be posted online or generated by our users. Our defense of such actions could be costly and involve significant time and attention of our management and other resources.

 

If we are unable to protect our domain names, our reputation and brands could be adversely affected.

 

We currently hold various domain name registrations relating to our brands, including radio-one.com and interactiveone.com. The registration and maintenance of domain names generally are regulated by governmental agencies and their designees. Governing bodies may establish additional top-level domains, appoint additional domain name registrars or modify the requirements for holding domain names. As a result, we may be unable to register or maintain relevant domain names. We may be unable, without significant cost or at all, to prevent third parties from registering domain names that are similar to, infringe upon or otherwise decrease the value of, our trademarks and other proprietary rights. Failure to protect our domain names could adversely affect our reputation and brands, and make it more difficult for users to find our websites and our services.

Future asset impairment to the carrying values of our FCC licenses and goodwill could adversely impact our results of operations and net worth.

 

FCC licenses and goodwill totaled approximately $836.2 million, or 80.7% of our total assets, at December 31, 2009, and is primarily attributable to accounting for acquisitions in past years. We are required by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, “ Intangibles — Goodwill and Other ,” to test our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually, which we have traditionally done in the fourth quarter, or on an interim basis when events or changes in circumstances suggest impairment may have occurred. Impairment is measured as the excess of the carrying value of the goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible asset over its fair value. Impairment may result from deterioration in our performance, changes in anticipated future cash flows, changes in business plans, adverse economic or market conditions, adverse changes in applicable laws and regulations, or other factors. The amount of any impairment must be expensed as a charge to operations. Fair values of FCC licenses and goodwill have been estimated using the income approach, which involves a 10-year model that incorporates several judgmental assumptions about projected revenue growth, future operating margins, discount rates and terminal values. There are inherent uncertainties related to these assumptions and our judgment in applying them to the impairment analysis.

 

As discussed in Note 6 to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, the lingering economic downturn and limited credit environment has weakened advertising demand in general, and has led to declining radio and online advertising, reduced growth expectations, deteriorating profits and cash flows, debt downgrades and fewer sales transactions with lower multiples. We performed interim testing as of February 28, 2009 for all of our radio markets and as of August 31, 2009 for two of our radio markets, Reach Media and CCI. The outcome of our February 2009 interim testing was to record impairment charges of approximately $49.0 million against radio broadcasting licenses in 11 of our 16 markets during the first quarter of 2009. The results of our August 2009 interim testing indicated carrying values for the two radio markets tested, Reach Media and CCI, had not been impaired. The results of our annual impairment testing in October 2009 were to record additional impairment charges of approximately $16.1 million against radio broadcasting licenses in seven of our 16 radio markets and to impair the remaining goodwill of $628,000 in another one of our markets for that same amount. Similar to our August 2009 interim impairment testing, our October 2009 annual impairment testing indicated the carrying values for Reach Media and CCI had not been impaired. For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, we recorded impairment charges against radio broadcasting licenses and goodwill of approximately $65.6 million, $420.2 million and $211.1 million, respectively.

 

Changes in certain events or circumstances could result in changes to our estimated fair values, and may result in further write-downs to the carrying values of these assets. Additional impairment charges could adversely affect our financial results, financial ratios and could limit our ability to obtain financing in the future.

 

We could incur adverse effects from our voluntary review of stock option grants and resulting financial restatements.

 

As described in the Explanatory Note and Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements filed with our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, we recorded additional stock-based compensation expense and related tax effects with regard to certain past stock option grants, and restated certain previously filed financial statements included in that Form 10-K. In February 2007, we received a letter of informal inquiry from the SEC regarding the review of our stock option accounting. While we have not heard further from the SEC on this matter to date, should the SEC further inquire, we would fully cooperate with the SEC’s inquiry. We are unable to predict whether a formal inquiry will be initiated or what consequences any further inquiry may have on us. We are unable to predict the likelihood of or potential outcomes from litigation, regulatory proceedings or government enforcement actions relating to our past stock option practices. The resolution of these matters could be time-consuming and expensive, further distract management from other business concerns and harm our business. Furthermore, if we were subject to adverse findings in litigation, regulatory proceedings or government enforcement actions, we could be required to pay damages or penalties or have other remedies imposed, which could harm our business and financial condition.

While we believe that we have made appropriate judgments in determining the correct measurement dates for our historical stock option grants, the SEC may disagree with the manner in which we have accounted for and reported the financial impact. Accordingly, there is a risk we may have to further restate prior financial statements, amend prior filings with the SEC, or take other actions not currently contemplated.

 

Risks Related to Our Investment in TV One

 

A decline in advertising expenditures could cause TV One’s revenues and operating results to decline significantly in any given period.

 

TV One derives substantial revenues from the sale of advertising. A decline in the economic prospects of advertisers or the economy in general could alter current or prospective advertisers’ spending priorities. Disasters, acts of terrorism, political uncertainty or hostilities could lead to a reduction in advertising expenditures as a result of economic uncertainty. Advertising expenditures may also be affected by increasing competition for the leisure time of audiences. In addition, advertising expenditures by companies in certain sectors of the economy, including the automotive and financial segments, represent a significant portion of TV One’s advertising revenues. Any political, economic, social or technological change resulting in a reduction in these sectors’ advertising expenditures may adversely affect TV One’s revenue. Advertisers’ willingness to purchase advertising may also be affected by a decline in audience ratings for TV One’s programming, the inability of TV One to retain the rights to popular programming, increasing audience fragmentation caused by the proliferation of new media formats, including other cable networks, the internet and video-on-demand and the deployment of portable digital devices and new technologies which allow consumers to time shift programming, make and store digital copies and skip or fast-forward through advertisements. Any reduction in advertising expenditures could have an adverse effect on TV One’s revenues and results of operations.

 

TV One’s success is dependent upon audience acceptance of its content, which is difficult to predict.

 

Television content production is inherently a risky business because the revenues derived from the production and distribution of a television program and the licensing of rights to the associated intellectual property, depend primarily upon their acceptance by the public, which is difficult to predict. The commercial success of a television program also depends upon the quality and acceptance of other competing programs in the marketplace at or near the same time, the availability of alternative forms of entertainment and leisure time activities, general economic conditions and other tangible and intangible factors, all of which are difficult to predict. Rating points are also factors that are weighed when determining the advertising rates that TV One receives. The use of new ratings technologies and measurements could have an impact on TV One’s program ratings. Poor ratings can lead to a reduction in pricing and advertising spending. Consequently, low public acceptance of TV One’s content may have an adverse effect on TV One’s results of operations.

 

The loss of affiliation agreements could materially adversely affect TV One’s results of operations.

 

TV One is dependent upon the maintenance of affiliation agreements with cable and direct broadcast distributors for its revenues, and there can be no assurance that these agreements will be renewed in the future on terms acceptable to such programmers. The loss of one or more of these arrangements could reduce the distribution of TV One’s programming services and reduce revenues from subscriber fees and advertising, as applicable. Further, the loss of favorable packaging, positioning, pricing or other marketing opportunities with any distributor could reduce revenues from subscriber fees. In addition, consolidation among cable distributors and increased vertical integration of such distributors into the cable or broadcast network business have provided more leverage to these distributors and could adversely affect TV One’s ability to maintain or obtain distribution for its network programming on favorable or commercially reasonable terms, or at all.

 

The failure or destruction of satellites and transmitter facilities that TV One depends upon to distribute its programming could materially adversely affect TV One’s businesses and results of operations.

 

TV One uses satellite systems to transmit its programming to affiliates. The distribution facilities include uplinks, communications satellites and downlinks. Transmissions may be disrupted as a result of local disasters

including extreme weather that impair on-ground uplinks or downlinks, or as a result of an impairment of a satellite. Currently, there are a limited number of communications satellites available for the transmission of programming. If a disruption occurs, TV One may not be able to secure alternate distribution facilities in a timely manner. Failure to secure alternate distribution facilities in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on TV One’s businesses and results of operations. In addition, TV One uses studio and transmitter facilities that are subject to damage or destruction. Failure to restore such facilities in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on TV One’s businesses and results of operations.

 

TV One’s operating results are subject to seasonal variations and other factors.

 

TV One’s business has experienced and is expected to continue to experience seasonality due to, among other things, seasonal advertising patterns and seasonal influences on people’s viewing habits. Typically, TV One revenue from advertising increases in the fourth quarter. In addition, advertising revenues in even-numbered years benefit from advertising placed by candidates for political offices. The effects of such seasonality make it difficult to estimate future operating results based on the previous results of any specific quarter and may adversely affect operating results.

 

Economic conditions may adversely affect TV One’s businesses and customers.

 

The U.S. has experienced a slowdown and volatility in its economy. This downturn could lead to lower consumer and business spending for TV One’s products and services, particularly if customers, including advertisers, subscribers, licensees, retailers, and other consumers of TV One’s offerings and services, reduce demands for TV One’s products and services. In addition, in unfavorable economic environments, TV One’s customers may have difficulties obtaining capital at adequate or historical levels to finance their ongoing business and operations and may face insolvency, all of which could impair their ability to make timely payments and continue operations. TV One is unable to predict the duration and severity of weakened economic conditions and such conditions and resultant effects could adversely impact TV One’s businesses, operating results, and financial condition.

 

Increased programming and content costs may adversely affect TV One’s profits.

 

TV One produces and acquires programming (including motion pictures) and content and incurs costs for all types of creative talent, including actors, authors, writers and producers as well as marketing and distribution. An increase in any of these costs may lead to decreased profitability.

 

Piracy of TV One’s programming and other content, including digital and internet piracy, may decrease revenue received from the exploitation of TV One’s programming and other content and adversely affect its businesses and profitability.

 

Piracy of programming is prevalent in many parts of the world and is made easier by the availability of digital copies of content and technological advances allowing conversion of such programming and other content into digital formats, which facilitates the creation, transmission and sharing of high quality unauthorized copies of TV One’s content. The proliferation of unauthorized copies and piracy of these products has an adverse effect on TV One’s businesses and profitability because these products reduce the revenue that TV One potentially could receive from the legitimate sale and distribution of its products and services. In addition, if piracy were to increase, it would have an adverse effect on TV One’s businesses and profitability.

 

Changes in U.S. communications laws or other regulations may have an adverse effect on TV One’s business.

 

The television and distribution industries in the U.S. are highly regulated by U.S. federal laws and regulations issued and administered by various federal agencies, including the FCC. The television broadcasting industry is subject to extensive regulation by the FCC under the Communications Act. The U.S. Congress and the FCC currently have under consideration, and may in the future adopt, new laws, regulations, and

policies regarding a wide variety of matters that could, directly or indirectly, affect the operation of TV One. For example, the FCC has initiated a proceeding to examine and potentially regulate more closely embedded advertising such as product placement and product integration. Enhanced restrictions affecting these means of delivering advertising messages may adversely affect TV One’s advertising revenues. Changes to the media ownership and other FCC rules may affect the competitive landscape in ways that could increase the competition faced by TV One. Proposals have also been advanced from time to time before the U.S. Congress and the FCC to extend the program access rules (currently applicable only to those cable program services which also own or are owned by cable distribution systems) to all cable program services. TV One’s ability to obtain the most favorable terms available for its content could be adversely affected should such an extension be enacted into law. TV One is unable to predict the effect that any such laws, regulations or policies may have on its operations.

 

Vigorous enforcement or enhancement of FCC indecency and other program content rules against the broadcast and cable industries could have an adverse effect on TV One’s businesses and results of operations.

 

The FCC’s rules prohibit the broadcast of obscene material at any time and indecent or profane material on television broadcast stations between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Broadcasters risk violating the prohibition against broadcasting indecent material because of the vagueness of the FCC’s indecency/profanity definition, coupled with the spontaneity of live programming. The FCC vigorously enforces its indecency rules against the broadcasting industry. The FCC has stepped up its enforcement activities as they apply to indecency and has threatened to initiate license revocation proceedings against broadcast licensees for “serious” indecency violations. The FCC has found on a number of occasions that the content of television broadcasts has contained indecent material. In such instances, the FCC issued fines or advisory warnings to the offending broadcast licensees. Moreover, the FCC has in some instances imposed separate fines against broadcasters for each allegedly indecent “utterance,” in contrast with its previous policy, which generally considered all indecent words or phrases within a given program as constituting a single violation. On July 13, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (“Second Circuit”) issued a decision in which it vacated the FCC’s indecency policy pursuant to which any broadcast of a single “utterance” of a “fleeting expletive” would be deemed by the FCC to be presumptively indecent. In this decision, the Second Circuit also called into question the constitutionality of the FCC’s indecency policy generally. On August 25, 2010, the FCC filed a petition for rehearing of the decision with the Second Circuit. It is not possible to predict the outcome of the FCC’s appeal. It is also not possible to predict whether and, if so, how the FCC will revise its indecency policy in response to the Second Circuit decision, or the effect of such decision on TV One. The fines for broadcasting indecent material are a maximum of $325,000 per utterance. The determination of whether content is indecent is inherently subjective and, as such, it can be difficult to predict whether particular content could violate indecency standards. The difficulty in predicting whether individual programs, words or phrases may violate the FCC’s indecency rules adds significant uncertainty to TV One’s ability to comply with the rules. Violation of the indecency rules could lead to sanctions which may adversely affect TV One’s business and results of operations. Some policymakers support the extension of the indecency rules that are applicable to over-the-air broadcasters to cover cable programming and/or attempts to increase enforcement of or otherwise expand existing laws and rules. If such an extension, attempt to increase enforcement or other expansion took place and was found to be constitutional, some of TV One’s content could be subject to additional regulation and might not be able to attract the same subscription and viewership levels.

 

Our President and Chief Executive Officer has an interest in TV One that may conflict with your interests.

 

We have an employment agreement with our President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Alfred C. Liggins, III. The employment agreement provides, among other things, that in recognition of Mr. Liggins’ contributions in founding TV One on our behalf, he is eligible to receive an amount equal to 8% of any dividends paid to us in respect of our investment in TV One and 8% of the proceeds from our investment in

TV One (the “TV One Award”). In both circumstances, our obligation to pay any portion of the TV One Award is only triggered after we recover the full amount of our cumulative capital contributions to TV One. Mr. Liggins will only receive the TV One Award upon the actual cash distributions or distributions of marketable securities to us. Mr. Liggins’ rights to the TV One Award (i) cease if he is terminated for cause or he resigns without good reason and (ii) expire at the end of the term of his employment agreement (but similar rights could be included in the terms of a new employment agreement). As a result of this arrangement, the interest of Mr. Liggins’ with respect to TV One may conflict with your interests as holders of the Exchange Notes. For example, Mr. Liggins may seek to have Radio One acquire additional equity interests in TV One using cash generated from operations or additional borrowings under the senior credit facility or have TV One itself pursue acquisitions, joint ventures, financings or other transactions that, in his judgment, could increase the amount of the TV One Award by increasing the amount of our investment in TV One or enhancing the equity value of TV One, even though such transactions might involve risks to you as a holder of the Exchange Notes.

 

Risks Related to Regulation

 

Our business depends on maintaining our licenses with the FCC. We could be prevented from operating a radio station if we fail to maintain its license.

 

We are required to maintain radio broadcasting licenses issued by the FCC. These licenses are ordinarily issued for a maximum term of eight years and are renewable. Our radio broadcasting licenses expire at various times, beginning October 1, 2011 through August 1, 2014. Interested third-parties may challenge our renewal applications. In addition, we are subject to extensive and changing regulation by the FCC with respect to such matters as programming, indecency standards, technical operations, employment and business practices. If we or any of our significant stockholders, officers, or directors violate the FCC’s rules and regulations or the Communications Act of 1944, as amended (the “Communications Act”), or is convicted of a felony, the FCC may commence a proceeding to impose fines or sanctions upon us. Examples of possible sanctions include the imposition of fines, the renewal of one or more of our broadcasting licenses for a term of fewer than eight years or the revocation of our broadcast licenses. If the FCC were to issue an order denying a license renewal application or revoking a license, we would be required to cease operating the radio station covered by the license only after we had exhausted administrative and judicial review without success.

 

There is significant uncertainty regarding the FCC’s media ownership rules, and such rules could restrict our ability to acquire radio stations.

 

The Communications Act and FCC rules and policies limit the number of broadcasting properties that any person or entity may own (directly or by attribution) in any market and require FCC approval for transfers of control and assignments of licenses. The FCC’s media ownership rules remain in flux and subject to further agency and court proceedings. On May 25, 2010, the FCC instituted an inquiry as part of its 2010 quadrennial review of its media ownership rules to seek public comment on and evaluate such rules to determine whether any changes are warranted. See the information contained in “Business — Federal Regulation of Radio Broadcasting.”

 

In addition to the FCC media ownership rules, the outside media interests of our officers and directors could limit our ability to acquire stations. The filing of petitions or complaints against Radio One or any FCC licensee from which we are acquiring a station could result in the FCC delaying the grant of, or refusing to grant or imposing conditions on its consent to the assignment or transfer of control of licenses. The Communications Act and FCC rules and policies also impose limitations on non-U.S. ownership and voting of our capital stock.

 

Increased enforcement by the FCC of its indecency rules against the broadcast industry could adversely affect our business operations.

 

In 2004, the FCC indicated that it was enhancing its enforcement efforts relating to the regulation of indecency. Congress has increased the penalties for broadcasting indecent programming and potentially subject

broadcasters to license revocation, renewal or qualification proceedings in the event that they broadcast indecent material. In addition, the FCC’s heightened focus on the indecency regulatory scheme, against the broadcast industry generally, may encourage third parties to oppose our license renewal applications or applications for consent to acquire broadcast stations. The change in administration at the federal level could foster a change in the FCC’s enforcement posture. See “— Vigorous enforcement or enhancement of FCC indecency and other program content rules against the broadcast and cable industries could have an adverse effect on TV One’s businesses and results of operations” above.

 

Changes in current federal regulations could adversely affect our business operations.

 

Congress and the FCC have considered, and may in the future consider and adopt, new laws, regulations and policies that could, directly or indirectly, affect the profitability of our broadcast stations. In particular, Congress is considering a revocation of radio’s exemption from paying royalties to performing artists for use of their recordings (radio already pays a royalty to songwriters, composers and publishers). In addition, commercial radio broadcasters and entities representing artists are negotiating agreements that could result in broadcast stations paying royalties to artists. A requirement to pay additional royalties could have an adverse effect on our business operations and financial performance.

 

New or changing federal, state or international privacy legislation or regulation could hinder the growth of our internet business.

 

A variety of federal and state laws govern the collection, use, retention, sharing and security of consumer data that our internet business uses to operate its services and to deliver certain advertisements to its customers, as well as the technologies used to collect such data. Not only are existing privacy-related laws in these jurisdictions evolving and subject to potentially disparate interpretation by governmental entities, new legislative proposals affecting privacy are now pending at both the federal and state level in the U.S. Changes to the interpretation of existing law or the adoption of new privacy-related requirements could hinder the growth of our internet business. Also, a failure or perceived failure to comply with such laws or requirements or with our own policies and procedures could result in significant liabilities, including a possible loss of consumer or investor confidence or a loss of customers or advertisers.

 

Our operation of various real properties and facilities could lead to environmental liability.

 

As the owner, lessee or operator of various real properties and facilities, we are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. Historically, compliance with these laws and regulations has not had a material adverse effect on our business. There can be no assurance, however, that compliance with existing or new environmental laws and regulations will not require us to make significant expenditures of funds.

 

Risks Related to Our Corporate Governance Structure

 

Two common stockholders have a majority voting interest in Radio One and have the power to control matters on which our common stockholders may vote, and their interests may conflict with yours.

 

As of December 31, 2010, our Chairperson and her son, our President and CEO, collectively held approximately 92% of the outstanding voting power of our common stock. As a result, our Chairperson and our CEO will control our management and policies and most decisions involving or impacting upon Radio One, including transactions involving a change of control, such as a sale or merger. The interests of these stockholders may differ from the interests of our other stockholders and our debtholders. In addition, certain covenants in our debt instruments require that our Chairperson and the CEO maintain a specified ownership and voting interest in Radio One, and prohibit other parties’ voting interests from exceeding specified amounts. In addition, the TV One joint venture agreement provides for adverse consequences to Radio One in the event our Chairperson and CEO fail to maintain a specified ownership and voting interest in us. Our Chairperson

and the CEO have agreed to vote their shares together in elections of members to the board of directors of Radio One.

 

Further, we are a “controlled company” under rules governing the listing of our securities on the NASDAQ Stock Market because more than 50% of our voting power is held by our Chairperson and the CEO. Therefore, we are not subject to NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules that would otherwise require us to have: (i) a majority of independent directors on the board; (ii) a compensation committee composed solely of independent directors; (iii) a nominating committee composed solely of independent directors; (iv) compensation of our executive officers determined by a majority of the independent directors or a compensation committee composed solely of independent directors; and (v) director nominees selected, or recommended for the board’s selection, either by a majority of the independent directors or a nominating committee composed solely of independent directors. In connection with recent legislation, the SEC must adopt, no later than July 16, 2011, new rules regarding compensation committee independence, which may impose additional requirements to the definition of “independence” determined by the applicable national exchanges.

 

Purpose of the Exchange Offer

 

The exchange offer is designed to provide holders of Old Notes with an opportunity to acquire Exchange Notes which, unlike the Old Notes, will be freely transferable at all times, subject to any restrictions on transfer imposed by state “blue sky” laws and provided that the holder is not our affiliate within the meaning of the Securities Act and represents that the Exchange Notes are being acquired in the ordinary course of the holder’s business and the holder is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes.

 

The Old Notes were originally issued and sold on November 24, 2010, to the initial holders pursuant to an Amended and Restated Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation Statement and Offering Memorandum, dated November 5, 2010. The Old Notes were issued and sold in a transaction not registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. The Old Notes may not be reoffered, resold or transferred other than (i) to us or our subsidiaries, (ii) to a qualified institutional buyer in compliance with Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) outside the United States to a non-U.S. person within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iv) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (if available), (v) in accordance with another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act or (vi) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

 

In connection with the original issuance and sale of the Old Notes, we entered into the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to file with the SEC a registration statement covering the exchange by us of the Exchange Notes for the Old Notes, pursuant to the exchange offer. The Registration Rights Agreement provides that we will file with the SEC an exchange offer registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act and offer to holders of Old Notes who are able to make certain representations the opportunity to exchange their Old Notes for Exchange Notes.

 

Based on interpretations of the SEC staff set forth in no-action letters issued to unrelated third parties, we believe that Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer in exchange for Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by any Exchange Note holder without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, if:

 

 

Any holder who tenders in the exchange offer with the intention of participating in any manner in a distribution of the Exchange Notes:

 

 

If, as stated above, a holder cannot rely on the position of the staff of the SEC set forth in “Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation” or similar interpretive letters, any effective registration statement used in connection with a secondary resale transaction must contain the selling security holder information required by Item 507 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

 

We do not intend to seek our own interpretation regarding the exchange offer, and we cannot assure you that the staff of the SEC would make a similar determination with respect to the Exchange Notes as it has in other interpretations to third parties.

Terms of the Exchange Offer; Period for Tendering Outstanding Old Notes

 

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus, we will accept any and all Old Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the exchange offer. We will issue $1 principal amount of Exchange Notes in exchange for each $1 principal amount of Old Notes accepted in the exchange offer. Holders may tender some or all of their Old Notes pursuant to the exchange offer.

 

The form and terms of the Exchange Notes are the same as the form and terms of the outstanding Old Notes except that:

 

 

The Exchange Notes will evidence the same debt as the Old Notes and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

We intend to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

We will be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Old Notes when, as and if we have given oral (promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice of our acceptance to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purpose of receiving the Exchange Notes from us.

 

If any tendered Old Notes are not accepted for exchange because of an invalid tender or the occurrence of specified other events set forth in this prospectus, the certificates for any unaccepted Old Notes will be promptly returned, without expense, to the tendering holder.

 

Holders who tender Old Notes in the exchange offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the exchange offer. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than transfer taxes in certain circumstances, in connection with the exchange offer. See “Fees and expenses” and “Transfer taxes” below.

 

The exchange offer will remain open for at least 20 full business days. The term “expiration date” will mean 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2011, unless we, in our sole discretion, extend the exchange offer, in which case the term “expiration date” will mean the latest date and time to which the exchange offer is extended.

 

To extend the exchange offer, prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date, we will:

 

 

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion:

 

 

If any termination or amendment occurs, we will notify the exchange agent and will either issue a press release or give oral or written notice to you as promptly as practicable.

 

Deemed Representations

 

To participate in the exchange offer, we require that you represent to us that:

 

 

BY TENDERING YOUR OLD NOTES YOU ARE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE THESE REPRESENTATIONS.

 

Broker-dealers who cannot make the representations above cannot use this exchange offer prospectus in connection with resales of the Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer.

 

If you are our “affiliate,” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, if you are a broker-dealer who acquired your Old Notes in the initial offering and not as a result of market-making or trading activities, or if you are engaged in or intend to engage in or have an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of Exchange Notes acquired in the exchange offer, you or that person:

 

 

Procedures for Tendering Old Notes

 

Since the Old Notes are represented by global book-entry notes, DTC, as depositary, or its nominee is treated as the registered holder of the Old Notes and will be the only entity that can tender your Old Notes for Exchange Notes. Therefore, to tender Old Notes subject to this exchange offer and to obtain Exchange Notes, you must instruct the institution where you keep your Old Notes to tender your Old Notes on your behalf so that they are received on or prior to the expiration of this exchange offer.

The letter of transmittal that may accompany this prospectus may be used by you to give such instructions.

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE AT THE BROKER OR BANK WHERE YOU KEEP YOUR OLD NOTES TO DETERMINE THE PREFERRED PROCEDURE.

 

 

 

BY SENDING AN AGENT’S MESSAGE THE DTC PARTICIPANT IS DEEMED TO HAVE CERTIFIED THAT THE BENEFICIAL HOLDER FOR WHOM NOTES ARE BEING TENDERED HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.

 

The delivery of Old Notes through DTC, and any transmission of an Agent’s Message through ATOP, is at the election and risk of the person tendering Old Notes. We will ask the exchange agent to instruct DTC to promptly return those Old Notes that were tendered through ATOP but were not accepted by us, if any, to the DTC participant that tendered such Old Notes on behalf of holders of the Old Notes.

 

Acceptance of Outstanding Old Notes for Exchange; Delivery of Exchange Notes

 

We will accept validly tendered Old Notes when the conditions to the exchange offer have been satisfied or we have waived them. We will have accepted your validly tendered Old Notes when we have given oral (promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purpose of receiving the Exchange Notes from us. If we do not accept any tendered Old Notes for exchange by book-entry transfer because of an invalid tender or other valid reason, we will credit the Notes to an account maintained with DTC promptly after the exchange offer terminates or expires.

 

 

 

The conditions listed above are for our sole benefit and may be asserted by us regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any of these conditions. We may waive these conditions in our discretion in whole or in part at any time and from time to time prior to the expiration date. The failure by us at any time to exercise any of the above rights shall not be considered a waiver of such right, and such right shall be considered an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.

 

Exchange Agent

 

We have appointed Wilmington Trust Company as the exchange agent for the exchange offer. You should direct questions, requests for assistance, and requests for additional copies of this prospectus and the letter of transmittal that may accompany this prospectus to the exchange agent addressed as follows:

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, EXCHANGE AGENT

 

By registered or certified mail, overnight delivery:

 

Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890-1600
Attention: Patrick Healy

 

For Information or to Confirm Call:
(302) 636-6391

 

For facsimile transmission (for eligible institutions only):
(302) 636-4149

 

Delivery to an address other than set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

Wilmington Trust Company is acting as exchange agent on our behalf. We will pay the exchange agent customary fees for its services, reimburse the exchange agent for its reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable fees, costs and expenses of its counsel) incurred in connection with the provisions of these services and pay other registration expenses, including registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state blue sky securities laws, printing expenses, messenger and delivery services and telephone, fees and disbursements to our counsel, application and filing fees and any fees and disbursements to our independent certified public accountants. We will not make any payment to brokers, dealers, or others soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer except for reimbursement of mailing expenses.

 

Additional solicitations may be made by telephone, facsimile or in person by our and our affiliates’ officers and employees.

 

Accounting Treatment

 

The Exchange Notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the existing Old Notes, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, we will recognize no gain or loss for accounting purposes. The expenses of the exchange offer will be capitalized and expensed over the term of the Exchange Notes.

 

Transfer Taxes

 

If you tender outstanding Old Notes for exchange you will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes. However, if you instruct us to register Exchange Notes in the name of, or request that your Old Notes not

tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder, you will be responsible for paying any transfer tax owed.

 

YOU MAY SUFFER ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES IF YOU FAIL TO EXCHANGE OUTSTANDING OLD NOTES.

 

If you do not tender your outstanding Old Notes, you will not have any further registration rights, except for the rights described in the Registration Rights Agreement and described above, and your Old Notes will continue to be subject to the provisions of the indenture governing the Old Notes regarding transfer and exchange of the Old Notes and the restrictions on transfer of the Old Notes imposed by the Securities Act and states securities law when we complete the exchange offer. These transfer restrictions are required because the Old Notes were issued under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, if you do not tender your Old Notes in the exchange offer, your ability to sell your Old Notes could be adversely affected. Once we have completed the exchange offer, holders who have not tendered notes will not continue to be entitled to any increase in interest rate that the indenture governing the Old Notes provides for if we do not complete the exchange offer.

 

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

 

The Old Notes that are not exchanged for Exchange Notes pursuant to the exchange offer will remain restricted securities. Accordingly, the Old Notes may be resold only:

 

 

Shelf Registration

 

The Registration Rights Agreement also requires that we file a shelf registration statement if:

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

This exchange offer is intended to satisfy our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement. We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the Exchange Notes. The Old Notes properly tendered and exchanged for Exchange Notes will be retired and cancelled. Accordingly, no additional debt will result from the exchange. We have agreed to bear the expense of the exchange offer.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods presented.

 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of September 30, 2010 on an actual basis and on a pro forma basis to give effect to the Transactions. You should read this table together with “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

We derived the following selected historical consolidated financial data from our consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. Ernst & Young LLP’s report on the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009, which is included elsewhere herein, included an explanatory paragraph which describes an uncertainty about Radio One, Inc.’s ability to continue as a going concern. The uncertainty was due to certain violations of our loan agreements, which ultimately could have resulted in significant amounts of our outstanding debt becoming callable by our lenders. These violations were cured as a part of the Transactions. The selected historical financial and operating data presented below as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2010 has been derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. In the opinion of management, such unaudited consolidated financial statements include all recurring adjustments and normal accruals necessary for a fair statement of such unaudited consolidated financial data. The results of operations from these interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any future periods.

 

The following selected historical financial and operating data should be read in conjunction with our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

On July 22, 2010, management and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Radio One concluded that: (1) it was necessary to restate our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 and for each quarterly financial reporting period from January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010; and (2) our previously filed consolidated financial statements and any related reports of Ernst & Young LLP for these periods should no longer be relied upon. The Company included its restated consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 in the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on August 23, 2010. The Company included its restated consolidated financial statements for the quarters ended March 31, 2010, September 30, 2009, June 30, 2009 and March 31, 2009 in Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q/A that it filed with the SEC on August 23, 2010. All financial information set forth below and the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus reflects these restatements.

 

 

 

 

This discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting our consolidated operating results, financial condition and liquidity for the three-year period ended December 31, 2009 and for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus as well as the sections entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.

 

Introduction

 

Revenue

 

We primarily derive revenue from the sale of advertising time and program sponsorships to local and national advertisers on our radio stations. Advertising revenue is affected primarily by the advertising rates our radio stations are able to charge, as well as the overall demand for radio advertising time in a market. These rates are largely based upon a radio station’s audience share in the demographic groups targeted by advertisers, the number of radio stations in the related market, and the supply of, and demand for, radio advertising time. Advertising rates are generally highest during morning and afternoon commuting hours.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, approximately 54.6% and 56.8%, respectively, of our net revenue was generated from local advertising and approximately 35.5% and 35.6%, respectively, was generated from national advertising, including network advertising. In comparison, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, approximately 54.4% and 56.0%, respectively, of our net revenue was generated from local advertising and approximately 36.0% and 36.5%, respectively, was generated from national advertising, including network advertising. During the year ended December 31, 2009, approximately 56.2% of our net revenue was generated from local advertising and approximately 37.3% was generated from national advertising, including network advertising. In comparison, during the year ended December 31, 2008, approximately 56.6% of our net revenue was generated from local advertising and approximately 37.1% was generated from national advertising, including network advertising. National advertising also includes advertising revenue generated from our internet segments. The balance of revenue was generated from tower rental income, ticket sales and revenue related to our sponsored events, management fees and other revenue.

 

In the broadcasting industry, radio stations often utilize trade or barter agreements to reduce cash expenses by exchanging advertising time for goods or services. In order to maximize cash revenue for our spot inventory, we closely monitor the use of trade and barter agreements.

 

Community Connect, LLC (“CCI”), which the Company acquired in 2008, currently generates the majority of the Company’s internet revenue and derives its revenue principally from advertising services, including diversity recruiting advertising. Advertising services include the sale of banner and sponsorship advertisements. Advertising revenue is recognized either as impressions (the number of times advertisements appear in viewed pages) are delivered, when “click through” purchases or leads are reported, or ratably over the contract period, where applicable. CCI has a diversity recruiting relationship with Monster, Inc. (“Monster”). Monster posts job listings and advertising on CCI websites and CCI earns revenue for displaying the images on its websites.

 

In December 2006, the Company acquired certain net assets (“Giant Magazine”) of Giant Magazine, LLC. Giant Magazine ceased publication in December 2009 and the results of its operations have been reclassified to discontinued operations.

 

In February 2005, the Company acquired approximately 51% of the common stock of Reach Media for approximately $55.8 million in cash and stock. A substantial portion of Reach Media’s revenue was generated from one customer under a sales representation agreement with Radio Networks. The agreement provided for an annual minimum guarantee in exchange for the advertising inventory on Reach Media’s 106 affiliate radio stations broadcasting the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show. Radio Networks also served as

sales representative for Reach Media’s Internet advertising and special events. This agreement, which commenced in 2003, expired on December 31, 2009.

 

In November 2009, Reach Media entered into a new sales representation and redemption agreement (“the Sales Representation and Redemption Agreement”) with subsidiaries of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation (“Citadel”). Under this agreement, Radio Networks will serve as sales representative for certain portions of Reach Media’s advertising inventory for the period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2012.

 

Expenses

 

Our significant broadcast expenses are: (i) employee salaries and commissions; (ii) programming expenses; (iii) marketing and promotional expenses; (iv) rental of premises for office facilities and studios; (v) rental of transmission tower space; and (vi) music license royalty fees. We strive to control these expenses by centralizing certain functions such as finance, accounting, legal, human resources and management information systems and, in certain markets, the programming management function. We also use our multiple stations, market presence and purchasing power to negotiate favorable rates with certain vendors and national representative selling agencies.

 

We generally incur marketing and promotional expenses to increase our radio audiences. However, because Arbitron reports ratings either monthly or quarterly, depending on the particular market, any changed ratings and the effect on advertising revenue tends to lag behind both the reporting of the ratings and the incurrence of advertising and promotional expenditures.

 

In addition to salaries and commissions, major expenses for our internet business include membership traffic acquisition costs, software product design, post application software development and maintenance, database and server support costs, the help desk function, data center expenses connected with internet service provider (“ISP”) hosting services and other internet content delivery expenses.

 

Performance Metrics

 

We monitor and evaluate the growth and operational performance of our business using net income and the following key metrics (the “Performance Metrics”):

 

(a)  Net revenue:   The performance of an individual radio station or group of radio stations in a particular market is customarily measured by its ability to generate net revenue. Net revenue consists of gross revenue, net of local and national agency and outside sales representative commissions consistent with industry practice. Net revenue is recognized in the period in which advertisements are broadcast. Net revenue also includes advertising aired in exchange for goods and services, which is recorded at fair value, revenue from sponsored events and other revenue. Net revenue is recognized for our online business as impressions are delivered, as “click-throughs” are reported or ratably over contract periods, where applicable.

 

(b)  Station operating income:   Net income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, income taxes, interest income, interest expense, equity in income of affiliated company, noncontrolling interest in income (loss) of subsidiaries, gain on retirement of debt, other expense, corporate expenses, stock-based compensation expenses, impairment of long-lived assets and gain or loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, is commonly referred to in our industry as station operating income. Station operating income is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Nevertheless, we believe station operating income is often a useful measure of a broadcasting company’s operating performance and is a significant basis used by our management to measure the operating performance of our stations within the various markets. Station operating income provides helpful information about our results of operations, apart from expenses associated with our physical plant, income taxes, investments, impairment charges, debt financings and retirements, corporate overhead, stock-based compensation and discontinued operations. Station operating income is frequently used as a basis for comparing businesses in our industry, although our measure of station operating income may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Station operating income does not represent

operating loss or cash flow from operating activities, as those terms are defined under GAAP, and should not be considered as an alternative to those measurements as an indicator of our performance.

 

(c)  Station operating income margin:   Station operating income margin represents station operating income as a percentage of net revenue. Station operating income margin is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Nevertheless, we believe that station operating income margin is a useful measure of our performance because it provides helpful information about our profitability as a percentage of our net revenue.

 

Results of Operations — Three and Nine-Month Periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008