Urban One, Inc. (NASDAQ: UONEK and UONE) today reported its results for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. Net revenue was approximately $105.9 million, a decrease of 6.8% from the same period in 2018. Broadcast and digital operating income1 was approximately $34.3 million, a decrease of approximately $10.3 million from the same period in 2018. The Company reported operating income of approximately $12.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, compared to approximately $9.4 million for the same period in 2018. Net loss was approximately $7.9 million or $0.18 per share (basic) compared to net income of approximately $116.9 million or $2.62 per share (basic) for the same period in 2018. Adjusted EBITDA2 was approximately $27.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019, compared to approximately $35.3 million for the same period in 2018.
Alfred C. Liggins, III, Urban One's CEO and President stated, "Our Adjusted EBITDA for the year of approximately $133.5 million was adversely impacted by the re-classification of operating lease expenses out of interest expense as previously reported through Q3, absent which accounting reclassification we would have been above the mid-point of our guidance. Our same station radio revenue excluding political advertising was -2.9%, which was in line with our previously reported low-single digit decline in core pacings. With tough political comps (-83.5%) this made for a difficult quarter, but in line with expectations. The first quarter of 2020 started brightly, with both January and February radio division revenues ahead of prior year, and strong political revenues. The Covid-19 outbreak has reversed that growth, with cancellations from clients whose businesses revolve around events, travel, leisure and entertainment. On a same station basis our radio division is currently pacing up mid-single digits including political, and down low single digits excluding political revenue. As a result of the pandemic, we have postponed our annual Tom Joyner's Fantastic Voyage cruise, which will impact our Q2 revenue and EBITDA, and we are monitoring all of our larger public events with a view towards mitigating risk and keeping our employees, clients and listeners safe."
Net revenue decreased to approximately $105.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, from approximately $113.5 million for the same period in 2018. Net revenues from our radio broadcasting segment decreased 11.6% compared to the same period in 2018. We experienced net revenue declines most significantly in our Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Raleigh and St. Louis markets, with our Dallas market experiencing growth for the quarter. The declines in Detroit were driven by the previously announced sales of our Detroit WDMK-FM station as of August 31, 2019 and our Detroit WPZR-FM station as of August 8, 2018. Same station net revenue, excluding political, from our radio broadcasting segment decreased 2.9% compared to the same period in 2018. We recognized approximately $44.8 million of revenue from our cable television segment during the three months ended December 31, 2019, compared to approximately $45.9 million for the same period in 2018, with the decrease primarily in advertising sales revenue. Net revenue from our Reach Media segment decreased approximately $1.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. Finally, net revenues for our digital segment increased $519,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, primarily due to an increase in direct revenues.
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation and impairment of long-lived assets, increased to approximately $82.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, up 2.8% from the approximately $80.0 million incurred for the comparable quarter in 2018. The overall operating expense increase was driven primarily by higher programming and technical expenses, which was partially offset by lower selling, general and administrative expenses and lower corporate selling, general and administrative expenses. The increase in programming and technical expenses was primarily driven by higher program content amortization expense at our cable television segment. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily from our radio broadcasting segment as a result of lower variable sales based compensation expenses and representation fees.
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased to approximately $2.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to approximately $8.3 million for the same quarter in 2018. The decrease in expense is due to the mix of assets approaching or near the end of their useful lives, most notably certain of the Company's cable television affiliate agreements.
Interest expense increased to approximately $19.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to approximately $19.2 million for the same period in 2018. The Company made cash interest payments of approximately $23.7 million on its outstanding debt for the quarter December 31, 2019, compared to cash interest payments of approximately $27.1 million on its outstanding debt for the quarter ended December 31, 2018. On December 20, 2018, the Company closed on a new $192.0 million unsecured credit facility (the "2018 Credit Facility") and a new $50.0 million loan secured by its interest in the MGM National Harbor Casino (the "MGM National Harbor Loan"). As of December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any borrowings outstanding on its asset-backed credit facility.
During the quarter ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded a loss on retirement of debt of approximately $2.8 million. This amount included a write-off of previously capitalized debt financing costs and original issue discount associated with the Company's 9.25% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2020 (the "2020 Notes") in the amount of $649,000 and also included approximately $2.1 million associated with the premium paid to the bondholders.
The impairment of long-lived assets for the three months ended December 31, 2019, was related to a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $5.8 million to reduce the carrying value of our digital segment goodwill as well as a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $1.0 million associated with our Indianapolis market radio broadcasting license. By comparison, the impairment of long-lived assets for the three months ended December 31, 2018 in the amount of approximately $14.7 million, was related to a non-cash impairment charge recorded to reduce the carrying value of our Atlanta market goodwill.
The increase in stock-based compensation for the three months ended December 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, is primarily due to grants and vesting of stock awards for certain executive officers and other management personnel.
For the three months ended December 31, 2019, we recorded a provision for income taxes of approximately $2.5 million on a pre-tax loss from continuing operations of approximately $5.3 million, which results in a tax rate of (47.9)%. For the three months ended December 31, 2018, we recorded a benefit from income taxes of approximately $127.8 million on a pre-tax loss from operations of approximately $10.4 million, that results in a tax rate of (1,225.9)%. The tax benefit is primarily attributable to deferred tax benefits from federal and state net operating losses of approximately $128.5 million that will be recognized in a future period, and the Company also recorded current state tax expense of approximately $671,000. The Company received a net tax refund of $321,000 and $131,000 for the quarters ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Other income, net, was approximately $2.4 million and $2.2 million for the quarters ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized approximately $1.7 million and $1.9 million, respectively, of cost method investment income from its investment in MGM National Harbor.
The decrease in noncontrolling interests in income of subsidiaries was due primarily to lower net income recognized by Reach Media during the three months ended December 31, 2019, compared to the same period in 2018.
Other pertinent financial information includes capital expenditures of approximately $1.2 million and $709,000 for the quarters ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
During the three months ended December 31, 2019, the Company did not repurchase any Class A or Class D common stock. During the three months ended December 31, 2018, the Company did not repurchase any Class A common stock but repurchased 914,086 shares of Class D common stock in the amount of approximately $2.0 million.
The Company, in connection with its prior 2009 stock option and restricted stock plan and its current 2019 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan (the "2019 Plan"), is authorized to purchase shares of Class D common stock to satisfy employee tax obligations in connection with the vesting of share grants under the plan. During the three months ended December 31, 2019, the Company executed a Stock Vest Tax Repurchase of 86,512 shares of Class D Common Stock in the amount of $192,000. During the three months ended December 31, 2018, the Company executed a Stock Vest Tax Repurchase of 13,162 shares of Class D Common Stock in the amount of $27,000.
Other Matters:
The Company noted that the coronavirus pandemic was having an impact on certain of its revenue and alternative revenue sources. Most notably, the Company announced that a number of advertisers across significant advertising categories were reducing advertising spend due to the outbreak. Further, the Company announced that the outbreak has caused the postponement of its 2020 Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage cruise and was impairing ticket sales of other tent pole special events.
During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company reclassified the interest expense component of operating leases accounted for under ASC 842 from interest expense into operating expenses. The amount reclassified for the fourth quarter was approximately $1.6 million and the full year reclassification was approximately $5.7 million.
Supplemental Financial Information:
For comparative purposes, the following more detailed, unaudited statements of operations for the three months and years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are included.
Access to live audio and a replay of the conference call will also be available on Urban One's corporate website at www.urban1.com. The replay will be made available on the website for seven days after the call.
Urban One, Inc. (urban1.com), together with its subsidiaries, is the largest diversified media company that primarily targets Black Americans and urban consumers in the United States. The Company owns TV One, LLC (tvone.tv), a television network serving more than 59 million households, offering a broad range of original programming, classic series and movies designed to entertain, inform and inspire a diverse audience of adult Black viewers. As of January 2020, Urban One currently owns and/or operates 61 broadcast stations (including all HD stations, translator stations and the low power television stations we operate) branded under the tradename "Radio One" in 14 urban markets in the United States. Through its controlling interest in Reach Media, Inc. (blackamericaweb.com), the Company also operates syndicated programming including the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, the Russ Parr Morning Show and the DL Hughley Show. In addition to its radio and television broadcast assets, Urban One owns iOne Digital (ionedigital.com), our wholly owned digital platform serving the African-American community through social content, news, information, and entertainment websites, including its Cassius, Bossip, HipHopWired and MadameNoire digital platforms and brands. We also have invested in a minority ownership interest in MGM National Harbor, a gaming resort located in Prince George's County, Maryland. Through our national multi-media operations, we provide advertisers with a unique and powerful delivery mechanism to the African-American and urban audiences.
