e10vq
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2008
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File No. 1-8598
Belo Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   75-0135890
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. employer
identification no.)
     
P. O. Box 655237    
Dallas, Texas   75265-5237
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (214) 977-6606
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.
None
Indicate by check mark whether registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ     No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o    No þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
     
Class   Outstanding at April 30, 2008
Common Stock, $1.67 par value   102,199,481*
*   Consisting of 87,966,921 shares of Series A Common Stock and 14,232,560 shares of Series B Common Stock.
 
 

 


 

BELO CORP.
FORM 10-Q
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Table of Contents

PART I.
Item 1. Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Belo Corp. and Subsidiaries
                 
    Three months ended March 31,  
In thousands, except per share amounts (unaudited)   2008     2007  
 
Net Operating Revenues
  $ 174,827     $ 178,341  
 
               
Operating Costs and Expenses
               
Station salaries, wages and employee benefits
    62,149       59,498  
Station programming and other operating costs
    53,938       52,366  
Corporate operating costs
    9,090       10,550  
Spin-off related costs
    4,249        
Depreciation
    10,884       10,608  
Amortization
          442  
 
           
 
               
Total operating costs and expenses
    140,310       133,464  
 
           
 
               
Earnings from operations
    34,517       44,877  
Other Income and Expense
               
Interest expense
    (22,744 )     (24,151 )
Other income, net
    269       5,087  
 
           
 
               
Total other income and expense
    (22,475 )     (19,064 )
 
               
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
    12,042       25,813  
Income taxes
    22,922       10,038  
 
           
 
               
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations
    (10,880 )     15,775  
 
               
Discontinued operations, net of tax
    (4,499 )     (324 )
 
           
 
               
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (15,379 )   $ 15,451  
 
           
 
               
Net earnings (loss) per share — Basic:
               
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations
  $ (0.11 )   $ 0.15  
Earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations
    (0.04 )      
 
           
Net earnings( loss) per share
  $ (0.15 )   $ 0.15  
 
           
 
               
Net earnings (loss) per share — Diluted:
               
Earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations
  $ (0.11 )   $ 0.15  
Earnings (loss) per share from discontinued operations
    (0.04 )      
 
           
Net earnings (loss) per share
  $ (0.15 )   $ 0.15  
 
           
 
               
Weighted average shares outstanding:
               
Basic
    102,267       102,271  
Diluted
    102,267       102,862  
 
               
Dividends declared per share
  $ 0.075     $ 0.125  
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

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CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
Belo Corp. and Subsidiaries
                 
In thousands, except share and per share amounts   March 31,     December 31,  
(unaudited)   2008     2007  
 
Assets
               
 
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and temporary cash investments
  $ 6,545     $ 11,190  
Accounts receivable, net
    155,873       181,755  
Other current assets
    24,542       26,875  
Current assets of discontinued operations
          124,569  
 
           
Total current assets
    186,960       344,389  
 
               
Property, plant and equipment, net
    225,907       228,012  
Intangible assets, net
    1,293,517       1,293,517  
Goodwill, net
    752,276       752,276  
Other assets
    63,335       60,799  
Long-term assets of discontinued operations
          500,067  
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 2,521,995     $ 3,179,060  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
               
 
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 17,686     $ 34,267  
Accrued expenses
    59,639       84,754  
Dividends payable
    7,669       12,770  
Accrued interest payable
    23,375       13,243  
Other current liabilities
    22,381       23,087  
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
          81,331  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    130,750       249,452  
 
               
Long-term debt
    1,186,475       1,168,140  
Deferred income taxes
    426,745       425,613  
Other liabilities
    29,163       49,741  
Long-term liabilities of discontinued operations
          34,406  
 
               
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value. Authorized 5,000,000 shares; none issued
               
Common stock, $1.67 par value. Authorized 450,000,000 shares
               
Series A: Issued 87,958,521 shares at March 31, 2008 and 88,016,220 shares at December 31, 2007
    146,891       146,987  
Series B: Issued 14,240,960 shares at March 31, 2008 and 14,243,141 shares at December 31, 2007
    23,782       23,786  
Additional paid-in capital
    906,693       905,589  
Retained earnings
    (319,841 )     184,009  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (8,663 )     (8,663 )
 
           
 
               
Total shareholders’ equity
    748,862       1,251,708  
 
           
 
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 2,521,995     $ 3,179,060  
 
           
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

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CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Belo Corp. and Subsidiaries
                 
    Three months ended March 31,  
In thousands (unaudited)   2008     2007  
Operations
               
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (15,379 )   $ 15,451  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operations:
               
Net loss from discontinued operations
    4,499       324  
Depreciation and amortization
    10,884       11,050  
Employee retirement funding
    (7,032 )      
Employee retirement expense
          1,366  
Share-based compensation
    5,366       4,060  
Other non-cash expenses
    (752 )     760  
Equity income (loss) from partnerships
    176       (450 )
Other, net
    (1,407 )     168  
Net change in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    26,634       14,601  
Other current assets
    899       2,218  
Accounts payable
    (16,581 )     (20,439 )
Accrued expenses
    (27,954 )     (12,028 )
Accrued interest payable
    10,166       14,829  
Income taxes payable
    10,018       (8,673 )
 
           
Net cash provided by (used for) continuing operations
    (463 )     23,237  
Net cash provided by (used for) discontinued operations
    (974 )     18,654  
 
           
Net cash provided by (used for) operations
    (1,437 )     41,891  
 
               
Investments
               
Capital expenditures
    (6,136 )     (11,840 )
Acquisition
          (4,268 )
Other, net
    (95 )     (149 )
 
           
Net cash used for investments of continuing operations
    (6,231 )     (16,257 )
Net cash used for investments of discontinued operations
    (304 )     (3,382 )
 
           
Net cash used for investments
    (6,535 )     (19,639 )
 
               
Financing
               
Net proceeds from revolving debt
    72,600        
Payments on revolving debt
    (54,300 )      
Payment of dividends on common stock
    (12,770 )     (12,787 )
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options
          408  
Purchase of treasury stock
    (2,203 )     (3,645 )
Excess tax benefit from option exercises
          11  
 
           
Net cash provided by (used for) financing
    3,327       (16,013 )
 
           
 
               
Net increase (decrease) in cash and temporary cash investments
    (4,645 )     6,239  
Cash and temporary cash investments at beginning of period
    11,190       46,291  
 
           
 
               
Cash and temporary cash investments at end of period
  $ 6,545     $ 52,530  
 
           
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Belo Corp. and Subsidiaries
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(1)   The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of Belo Corp. and subsidiaries (the Company or Belo) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.
 
    On February 8, 2008, the Company completed the spin-off of its newspaper businesses and related assets into a separate public company. The operations for the newspaper businesses and related assets that were part of the spin-off are presented as discontinued operations. See Note 2. The Company’s operating segments are defined as its television stations and cable news channels within a given market. The Company has determined that all of its operating segments meet the criteria under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 131 “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” to be aggregated into one reporting segment.
 
    In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2008. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
 
    All dollar amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise indicated. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation and to reflect discontinued operations.
 
(2)   On February 8, 2008, the Company completed the spin-off of its newspaper businesses and related assets into a separate public company, A. H. Belo Corporation (A. H. Belo), with its own management and board of directors. The spin-off was accomplished by transferring the assets and liabilities of the newspaper businesses and related assets to A. H. Belo and distributing a pro-rata, tax-free dividend to the Company’s shareholders of 0.20 shares of A. H. Belo Series A common stock for every share of Belo Series A common stock, and 0.20 shares of A. H. Belo Series B common stock for every share of Belo Series B common stock, owned as of the close of business on January 25, 2008.
 
    Except as noted below, the Company has no further ownership interest in A. H. Belo or in any newspaper or related businesses, and A. H. Belo has no ownership interest in the Company or any television station or related business. Belo is not expected to recognize any revenues or costs generated by A. H. Belo that would have been included in its financial results were it not for the spin-off. Belo’s relationship with A. H. Belo is now governed primarily by a separation and distribution agreement, a services agreement and certain other agreements between the two companies or their respective subsidiaries as further discussed below. Belo and A. H. Belo also co-own certain downtown Dallas, Texas real estate and have some overlap in board members and shareholders. Although the services related to these agreements generate continuing cash flows between Belo and A. H. Belo, the amounts are not considered to be significant to the ongoing operations of either company. In addition, the agreements and other relationships do not provide Belo with the ability to significantly influence the operating or financial policies of A. H. Belo and, therefore, do not constitute significant continuing involvement. Therefore, the classification of historical financial information for the newspaper businesses and related assets as discontinued operations is appropriate.

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    The historical operations of the newspaper businesses and related assets are included in discontinued operations in the Company’s financial statements. Below is the summary financial information of discontinued operations.
Statements of discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:
                 
    2008     2007  
Net revenues
  $ 64,869     $ 175,713  
Total operating costs and expenses
    72,319       175,940  
 
           
Loss from discontinued operations
    (7,450 )     (227 )
Other income and expense, net
    101       283  
 
           
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes
    (7,349 )     56  
Income taxes
    2,850       380  
 
           
 
Net loss from discontinued operations
  $ (4,499 )   $ (324 )
 
           
Assets and Liabilities of discontinued operations as of December 31, 2007:
         
Assets
       
Current assets:
       
Cash and temporary cash investments
  $ 7,790  
Accounts receivable, net
    90,523  
Other current assets
    26,256  
 
     
Total current assets from discontinued operations
    124,569  
 
       
Property, plant and equipment, net
    312,472  
Intangible assets, net
    40,425  
Goodwill
    119,667  
Other assets
    27,503  
 
     
Total long-term assets from discontinued operations
    500,067  
 
     
 
       
Total assets from discontinued operations
  $ 624,636  
 
     
 
       
Liabilities
       
 
       
Current liabilities:
       
Accounts payable
  $ 25,377  
Accrued expenses
    30,483  
Other current liabilities
    25,471  
 
     
Total current liabilities from discontinued operations
    81,331  
 
       
Deferred income taxes
    20,368  
Other liabilities
    14,038  
 
     
Total long-term liabilities from discontinued operations
    34,406  
 
     
 
       
Total liabilities of discontinued operations
  $ 115,737  
 
     
    As of February 8, 2008, the Company settled certain intercompany indebtedness between and among Belo and subsidiaries of Belo Holdings, Inc. Belo Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of Belo. The Company settled accounts through offsets, contributions of such indebtedness to the capital of the debtor subsidiaries, distributions by creditor subsidiaries and other non-cash transfers. As of the effective time of the spin-off, the Company had contributed to the capital of A. H. Belo and its subsidiaries the net intercompany indebtedness owed to the Company by A. H. Belo and its subsidiaries and A. H. Belo assumed the indebtedness owed by the Company to the A. H. Belo subsidiaries. Additionally, Belo incurred $4,249 of operating expenses in the first quarter 2008 related to the spin-off.

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    Concurrent with the spin-off, on February 8, 2008, the Company amended its senior revolving credit facility to reduce the capacity under that facility from $1,000,000 to $600,000. The terms of the new credit facility are more fully described in Note 5. In the first quarter of 2008, Belo recorded a charge of approximately $848 related to the write-off of debt issuance costs in connection with the amendment. These costs are included in interest expense.
 
    In connection with the Company’s spin-off of A. H. Belo, the Company entered into a separation and distribution agreement, a services agreement, a tax matters agreement, an employee matters agreement, which allocate liabilities and responsibilities regarding employee compensation and benefit plans and related matters, and other agreements with A. H. Belo or its subsidiaries. In the separation and distribution agreement, effective as of the spin-off date, Belo and A. H. Belo will indemnify each other and certain related parties from all liabilities existing or arising from acts and events occurring, or failing to occur (or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur) regarding each other’s businesses, whether occurring before, at or after the effective time of the spin-off; provided, however, that under the terms of the separation and distribution agreement, the Company and A. H. Belo will share equally in any liabilities, net of any applicable insurance, resulting from certain circulation-related lawsuits. See Note 9.
 
    Under the services agreement, the Company and A. H. Belo (or their respective subsidiaries) will provide each other various services and/or support for a period of up to two years after the spin-off date. Payments made or other consideration provided in connection with all continuing transactions between the Company and A. H. Belo will be on an arms-length basis or on a basis consistent with the business purpose of the parties.
 
    The tax matters agreement sets out each party’s rights and obligations with respect to deficiencies and refunds, if any, of federal, state, local, or foreign taxes for periods before and after the spin-off and related matters such as the filing of tax returns and the conduct of IRS and other audits. Under this agreement, the Company will be responsible for all income taxes prior to the spin-off, except that A. H. Belo will be responsible for its share of income taxes paid on a consolidated basis for the period of January 1, 2008 through February 8, 2008. A. H. Belo will also be responsible for its income taxes incurred after the spin-off. In addition, even though the spin-off otherwise qualifies for tax-free treatment to shareholders, the Company (but not its shareholders) will recognize for tax purposes approximately $51,900 of previously deferred intercompany gains in connection with the spin-off, resulting in a federal income tax obligation of approximately $18,000, and a state tax that is not currently estimable and which is not expected to be material. If such gains are adjusted in the future, then the Company and A. H. Belo shall be responsible for paying the additional tax associated with any increase in such gains in the ratio of one-third and two-thirds, respectively. With respect to all other taxes, the Company will be responsible for taxes attributable to the television business and related assets, and A. H. Belo will be responsible for taxes attributable to the newspaper businesses and related assets. In addition, the Company will indemnify A. H. Belo and A. H. Belo will indemnify the Company, for all taxes and liabilities incurred as a result of post-spin-off actions or omissions by the indemnifying party that affect the tax consequences of the spin-off, subject to certain exceptions.
 
    The Company’s Dallas/Fort Worth television station, WFAA-TV, and The Dallas Morning News, owned by A. H. Belo, have agreed to provide media content, cross-promotion, and other services to the other on a mutually agreed upon basis. Prior to the spin-off, The Dallas Morning News and WFAA-TV shared media content at no cost, as do other media operating companies of Belo and A. H. Belo. That sharing is expected to continue for the foreseeable future under the agreements discussed above. In addition, the Company and A. H. Belo co-own certain downtown Dallas real estate through a limited liability company formed in connection with the spin-off.

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(3)   The following table sets forth the reconciliation between weighted average shares used for calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:
                 
    2008     2007  
 
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share
    102,267       102,271  
Effect of employee stock options and restricted stock units
          591  
 
           
Weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share
    102,267       102,862  
 
           
 
               
Options excluded(a)
               
Number outstanding
    12,883       9,606  
Weighted average exercise price
  $ 16.75     $ 19.50  
 
               
Restricted stock units (RSU) excluded (b)
               
Number outstanding
    1,126       457  
Weighted average exercise price
  $ 14.48     $ 14.52  
 
(a)   For the three months ended March 31, 2008, all of the options were excluded due to a loss from continuing operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, the options that were excluded were those options where the exercise price is in excess of the average market price.
 
(b)   For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the RSUs were excluded due to a loss from continuing operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, the RSUs were excluded due to performance conditions not probable of being achieved.
(4)   On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities.” This statement permits entities to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. SFAS 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company has elected not to implement the fair value option with respect to any existing assets or liabilities, therefore the adoption of SFAS 159 had no effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
 
    On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” As allowed by FASB Staff Position FAS 157-2, the Company has elected to defer adoption for certain non-financial assets and liabilities until January 1, 2009. SFAS 157 establishes, among other items, a framework for fair value measurements in the financial statements by providing a single definition of fair value, provides guidance on the methods used to estimate fair value and increases disclosures about estimates of fair value. The partial adoption of SFAS 157 had no effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
 
(5)   Effective February 8, 2008, the date of the spin-off of A. H. Belo as discussed in Note 2 above, the Company entered into the First Amendment to its Amended and Restated Five-Year Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders (the Credit Agreement). The First Amendment to the Credit Agreement reduced the total amount of the Credit Agreement from $1,000,000 to $600,000 and modified certain other terms and conditions. The facility may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including letters of credit. Revolving credit borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable interest rate based on either LIBOR or a base rate, in either case plus an applicable margin that varies depending upon the rating of the Company’s senior unsecured long-term, non-credit enhanced debt. Competitive advance borrowings bear interest at a rate obtained from bids selected in accordance with JPMorgan Chase Bank’s standard competitive advance procedures. Commitment fees depending on the Company’s credit rating, of up to 0.225 percent per year of the total unused commitment, accrue and are payable under the facility. The Credit Agreement contains usual and customary covenants for credit facilities of this type, including covenants limiting liens, mergers and substantial asset sales. The Company is required to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios specified in the agreement.
 
(6)   Belo has a long-term incentive plan under which awards may be granted to employees and outside directors in the form of non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted shares, restricted stock units (RSU), performance shares, performance units and stock appreciation rights. In addition, options may be accompanied

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    by stock appreciation rights and limited stock appreciation rights. Rights and limited rights may also be issued without accompanying options. Cash-based bonus awards are also available under the plan.
 
    In connection with the spin-off of A. H. Belo on February 8, 2008, holders of outstanding Belo options received adjusted Belo options for the same number of shares of Belo common stock as held before the spin-off but with a reduced exercise price based on the closing price on February 8, 2008. Holders also received one new A. H. Belo option for every five Belo options held as of the spin-off date (the distribution ratio) with an exercise price based on the closing share price on February 8. Additionally, holders of Belo RSUs retained their existing RSUs and also received restricted stock unit awards for A. H. Belo common stock. The number of A. H. Belo RSUs awarded to Belo’s RSU holders was determined using the distribution ratio. As a result, the Belo RSUs and the A. H. Belo RSUs taken together had the same aggregate value based on the closing prices of the Belo stock and the A. H. Belo stock on the spin-off date as the Belo RSUs immediately prior to the spin-off. Subsequent to the spin-off, Belo recognizes compensation cost related to all unvested modified awards for its employees and non-employee directors that provide service to the Company.
 
    Each stock option and RSU of Belo and A. H. Belo otherwise has the same terms as the original awards. The awards continue to vest, as under the vesting schedules established prior to the spin-off, based on continued employment with Belo or A. H. Belo as applicable.
 
    Share-based compensation cost for awards to Belo’s employees and non-employee directors was $3,097 and $5,462, for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. No compensation cost is recognized related to options issued by Belo but held by employees and non-employee directors of A. H. Belo. There was no income tax benefit recognized in equity for share-based compensation arrangements for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The total income tax benefit recognized in equity for share-based compensation arrangements was $11 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
 
(7)   Belo sponsors a defined contribution plan established effective October 1, 1989. The defined contribution plan covers substantially all employees of the Company. Participants may elect to contribute a portion of their pretax compensation as provided by the plan and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations.
 
    Effective as of February 8, 2008, the Company transferred the vested and non-vested account balances of A. H. Belo employees and former employees from the Company’s defined contribution plan to a defined contribution plan established and sponsored by A. H. Belo. Effective with this transfer, A. H. Belo assumed and became solely responsible for all liabilities of the Company’s defined contribution plan with respect to A. H. Belo’s employees and former employees. Subsequent to the transfer, A. H. Belo and its subsidiaries ceased to be participating employers in the Company’s defined contribution plan.
 
    In March 2007, Belo froze benefits under the Pension Plan. As part of the curtailment of the Pension Plan, the Company is providing transition benefits to affected employees, including supplemental contributions to the Belo pension transition supplement plan, a defined contribution plan, for a period of up to five years.
 
    Prior to February 8, 2008, A. H. Belo established an A. H. Belo pension transition supplement plan, a defined contribution plan. Concurrent with the date that the Company made its contribution to the Company’s pension transition supplement defined contribution plan for the 2007 plan year, the Company transferred the vested and non-vested account balances of A. H. Belo employees and former employees to A. H. Belo’s pension transition supplement defined contribution plan. At that time, A. H. Belo assumed and became solely responsible for all liabilities for pension transition supplement plan benefits with respect to A. H. Belo’s employees and former employees. A. H. Belo will reimburse the Company for the aggregate contribution made by the Company to its pension transition supplement defined contribution plan for the 2007 plan year for the account of A. H. Belo employees and former employees.

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(8)   The net periodic pension cost (benefit) for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 includes the following components:
                 
    2008     2007  
 
Service cost — benefits earned during the period
  $     $ 1,835  
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation
    7,549       7,317  
Expected return on assets
    (9,468 )     (9,087 )
Amortization of net loss
          479  
 
           
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)
  $ (1,919 )   $ 544  
 
           
    In the first quarter 2008, the Company did not make any contributions to its Pension Plan. The Company does not expect to make contributions to the plan during 2008.
 
    Subsequent to the spin-off of A. H. Belo, the Company retained sponsorship of the Pension Plan and, jointly with A. H. Belo, administers benefits for the Belo and A. H. Belo current and former employees who participate in the Pension Plan in accordance with the terms of the Pension Plan. The spin-off will cause each A. H. Belo employee to have a separation from service for purposes of commencing benefits under the Pension Plan at or after age 55. As sponsor of the Pension Plan, the Company will be solely responsible for satisfying the funding obligations with respect to the Pension Plan and retains sole discretion to determine the amount and timing of any contributions required to satisfy such funding obligations. The Company also retains the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Pension Plan. A. H. Belo will reimburse the Company for 60 percent of each contribution the Company makes to the Pension Plan.
 
(9)   Under the terms of the separation and distribution agreement between the Company and A. H. Belo, they will share equally in any liabilities, net of any applicable insurance, resulting from the circulation-related lawsuits described in the next two paragraphs below.
 
    On August 23, 2004, August 26, 2004, and October 5, 2004, respectively, three related lawsuits, now consolidated, were filed by purported shareholders of the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas against the Company, Robert W. Decherd and Barry T. Peckham, a former executive officer of The Dallas Morning News. James M. Moroney III, an executive officer of The Dallas Morning News, was later added as a defendant. The complaints arise out of the circulation overstatement at The Dallas Morning News announced by the Company in 2004, alleging that the overstatement artificially inflated Belo’s financial results and thereby injured investors. The plaintiffs seek to represent a purported class of shareholders who purchased Belo common stock between May 12, 2003 and August 6, 2004 and allege violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. On April 2, 2008, the court denied plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. On April 16, 2008, plaintiffs filed a petition with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit seeking permission to appeal that denial. No class or classes have been certified and no amount of damages has been specified. The Company believes the complaints are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against them.
 
    On June 3, 2005, a shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed by a purported individual shareholder of the Company in the 191st Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas, against Robert W. Decherd, John L. Sander, Dunia A. Shive, Dennis A. Williamson, and James M. Moroney III; Barry T. Peckham; and Louis E. Caldera, Judith L. Craven, Stephen Hamblett, Dealey D. Herndon, Wayne R. Sanders, France A. Córdova, Laurence E. Hirsch, J. McDonald Williams, Henry P. Becton, Jr., Roger A. Enrico, William T. Solomon, Lloyd D. Ward, M. Anne Szostak and Arturo Madrid, current and former directors of the Company. The lawsuit makes various claims asserting mismanagement and breach of fiduciary duty related to the circulation overstatement at The Dallas Morning News. On May 30, 2007, after a prior discovery stay ended, the court issued an order administratively closing the case. Under the court’s order, the case is stayed and, as a result, no further action can be taken unless the case is reinstated. The court retained jurisdiction and the case is subject to being reinstated by the court or upon motion by any party. The court order was not a dismissal with prejudice.
 
    On October 24, 2006, eighteen former employees of The Dallas Morning News filed a lawsuit against the The Dallas Morning News, the Company, and others in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The plaintiffs’ lawsuit alleges unlawful discrimination and ERISA violations and includes allegations

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    relating to The Dallas Morning News circulation overstatement (similar to the circulation-related lawsuits described above). In June 2007, the court issued a memorandum order granting in part and denying in part defendants’ motion to dismiss. In August 2007, the court dismissed certain additional claims. A trial date in January 2009 has been set. The Company believes the lawsuit is without merit and intends to vigorously defend against it. Pursuant to the separation and distribution agreement, A. H. Belo has agreed to indemnify the Company for any liability arising out of this lawsuit.
 
    In addition to the proceedings disclosed above, a number of other legal proceedings are pending against the Company, including several actions for alleged libel and/or defamation. In the opinion of management, liabilities, if any, arising from these other legal proceedings would not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, liquidity or financial position of the Company.
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
The following information should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements and related Notes filed as part of this report.
Overview
Belo Corp. (Belo or the Company), a Delaware corporation, began as a Texas newspaper company in 1842 and today is one of the nation’s largest publicly-traded television companies. The Company owns 20 television stations (nine in the top 25 U.S. markets) that reach 14 percent of U.S. television households, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW and MyNetwork TV affiliates, and their associated Web sites, in 15 highly-attractive markets across the United States. The Company also manages one television station through a local marketing agreement (LMA), and owns two local and two regional cable news channels and holds ownership interests in two others.
On February 8, 2008, the Company completed the spin-off of its newspaper businesses and related assets into a separate public company, A. H. Belo Corporation (A. H. Belo), with its own management and board of directors. The spin-off was accomplished by transferring the assets and liabilities of the newspaper businesses and related assets in the form of a pro-rata, tax-free stock dividend to the Company’s shareholders. The Company has no further ownership interest in A. H. Belo or in any newspaper or related business, and A. H. Belo has no ownership interest in the Company or any television station or related business. Belo’s relationship with A. H. Belo is now governed primarily by a separation and distribution agreement, a services agreement and several other agreements between the two companies or their respective subsidiaries. The Company and A. H. Belo also co-own certain downtown Dallas, Texas, real estate and several other investments.
The historical results of the Company’s newspapers and related assets are presented as discontinued operations due to the spin-off described above. All prior period amounts presented in the financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations have been adjusted to reflect this discontinued operations presentation.

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The following table sets forth the Company’s major media assets as of March 31, 2008:
Television Group
                                                                 
                                            Number of           Station
            Station/   Year Belo                   Commercial   Station   Audience
    Market   News   Acquired/   Network   Analog   Stations in   Rank in   Share in
Market   Rank(1)   Channel   Started   Affiliation   Channel   Market(2)   Market(3)   Market(4)
 
Dallas/Fort Worth
    5     WFAA     1950     ABC     8       16       1 *     9  
Dallas/Fort Worth
    5     TXCN     1999       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
Houston
    10     KHOU     1984     CBS     11       15       2       9  
Phoenix
    12     KTVK     1999     IND     3       13       4 *     6  
Phoenix
    12     KASW     2000     CW     61       13       7 *     3  
Seattle/Tacoma
    14     KING     1997     NBC     5       13       1       10  
Seattle/Tacoma
    14     KONG     2000     IND     16       13       5 *     2  
Seattle/Tacoma
    14     NWCN     1997       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  
St. Louis
    21     KMOV     1997     CBS     4       8       3       10  
Portland
    23     KGW     1997     NBC     8       8       1       11  
Charlotte
    25     WCNC     1997     NBC     36       8       4       7  
San Antonio
    37     KENS     1997     CBS     5       10       2       9  
San Antonio(5)
    37     KCWX         CW     2       10       9 *     1  
Hampton/Norfolk
    42     WVEC     1984     ABC     13       8       2       10  
Louisville
    48     WHAS     1997     ABC     11       7       1       12  
Austin
    51     KVUE     1999     ABC     24       7       1       9  
New Orleans(6)
    53     WWL     1994     CBS     4       8       1       15  
New Orleans(7)
    53     WUPL     2007     MNTV     54       8       6       1  
Tucson
    68     KMSB     1997     FOX     11       9       4       6  
Tucson
    68     KTTU     2002     MNTV     18       9       5 *     2  
Spokane
    77     KREM     1997     CBS     2       7       2       12  
Spokane
    77     KSKN     2001     CW     22       7       5       2  
Boise(8)(9)
    113     KTVB     1997     NBC     7       5       1       24  
 
(1)   Market rank is based on the relative size of the television market Designated Market Area (DMA), among the 210 generally recognized DMAs in the United States, based on the September 2007 Nielsen Media Research report.
 
(2)   Represents the number of analog television stations (both VHF and UHF) broadcasting in the market, excluding public stations, low power broadcast stations and cable channels.
 
(3)   Station rank is derived from the station’s rating, which is based on the February 2008 Nielsen Media Research report of the number of television households tuned to the Company’s station for the Sunday-Saturday 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. period (sign-on/sign-off) as a percentage of the number of television households in the market.
 
(4)   Station audience share is based on the February 2008 Nielsen Media Research report of the number of television households tuned to the station as a percentage of the number of television households with sets in use in the market for the sign-on/sign-off period.
 
(5)   Belo operates KCWX-TV through a local marketing agreement.
 
(6)   WWL also produces “NewsWatch on Channel 15,” an around-the-clock local news and weather cable channel.
 
(7)   On February 26, 2007, Belo purchased WUPL-TV. Included in the purchase was WBXN-CA, a Class A television station in New Orleans, Louisiana.
 
(8)   The Company also owns KTFT-LP (NBC), a low power television station in Twin Falls, Idaho.
 
(9)   Using its digital multicast capabilities, in 2003 KTVB launched “24/7 Local News Channel,” an around-the-clock local news and weather channel.
 
*   Tied with one or more stations in the market.
The Company intends for the discussion of its financial condition and results of operations that follows to provide information that will assist in understanding the Company’s financial statements, the changes in certain key items in those statements from period to period and the primary factors that accounted for those changes, as well as how certain accounting principles, policies and estimates affect the Company’s financial statements.

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Results of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                         
            Percentage        
Three Months ended March 31,   2008     Change     2007  
 
Net operating revenues
  $ 174,827       (2.0 %)   $ 178,341  
Operating costs and expenses
    140,310       5.1 %     133,464  
 
                   
Earnings from operations
    34,517       (23.1 %)     44,877  
Other income (expense)
    (22,475 )     17.9 %     (19,064 )
 
                   
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
    12,042       (53.3 %)     25,813  
Income taxes
    (22,922 )     128.4 %     (10,038 )
 
                   
Net earnings(loss) from continuing operations
    (10,880 )     (169.0 %)     15,775  
Discontinued operations, net of tax
    (4,499 )     1,288.6 %     (324 )
 
                   
Net earnings (loss)
  $ (15,379 )     (199.5 %)   $ 15,451  
 
                   
 
                       
Net Operating Revenues
                         
            Percentage        
Three Months ended March 31,   2008     Change     2007  
 
Non-political advertising
  $ 155,236       (6.4 %)   $ 165,809  
Political advertising
    5,068       553.9 %     775  
Other
    14,523       23.5 %     11,758  
 
                   
Net operating revenues
  $ 174,827       (2.0 %)   $ 178,342  
 
                   
Non-political advertising revenues decreased $10,573, or 6.4 percent, in the first three months of 2008 as compared to the first three months of 2007. This decrease is primarily due to a $12,313, or 7.8 percent, decrease in local and national spot revenue. Spot revenue decreases in the automotive, health and beauty, grocery and telecommunications categories were partially offset by increases in the pharmaceutical and insurance categories. The spot revenue decreases were partially offset by an increase in Internet advertising revenues of $1,666, or 31.7 percent. Political advertising revenues increased $4,293 in the first quarter 2008 as compared with the first quarter 2007. Political revenues are generally higher in even-numbered years than in odd-numbered years due to elections for various state and national offices. Other revenues increased primarily due to increases in retransmission revenues.
Operating Costs and Expenses
Station salaries, wages and employee benefits increased $2,651, or 4.5 percent, primarily due to increases in full-time salaries of $1,108, benefits and payroll taxes of $776, and share-based compensation of $720, partially offset by a decrease in bonus expense. Station programming and other operating costs increased $1,572, or 3.0 percent, primarily due to an increase in outside services. Corporate operating costs decreased $1,460, or 13.8 percent, primarily due to an increase in the pension benefit primarily related to the curtailment of the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and an increase in the discount rate applied to future pension obligations. During the first quarter 2008, the Company incurred $4,249 in charges related to the spin-off of its newspaper businesses and related assets mentioned above.
Other income (expense)
Interest expense decreased primarily due to lower interest rates when in the second quarter 2007, the Company repaid $234,477 of outstanding 7-1/8 percent senior notes with funds from the revolving credit facility, which has a lower interest rate. This decrease was partially offset by a charge of $848 related to amending the Company’s credit facility.
Other income (expense) net decreased $4,818 in the first quarter 2008 compared to the first quarter 2007 primarily due to an insurance settlement of $4,000 received in the first quarter 2007, related to losses suffered from Hurricane Katrina.

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Income taxes increased $12,884, or 128.4 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2007, primarily due to additional taxes related to the spin-off of the Company’s newspaper businesses and related assets. Even though the spin-off otherwise qualifies for tax-free treatment to shareholders, the Company (but not its shareholders) will recognize for tax purposes approximately $51,900 of previously deferred intercompany gains related to the transfer of certain intangibles to A. H. Belo, resulting in a federal income tax obligation of approximately $18,235.
Discontinued Operations
The historical results of the Company’s newspapers and related assets are presented as discontinued operations due to the spin-off of these assets into a separate public company on February 8, 2008. All prior period amounts presented in the financial statements and Managements’ Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations have been adjusted to reflect this discontinued operations presentation.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Operating Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operations, bank borrowings and long-term debt are Belo’s primary sources of liquidity. Net cash used for operations was $1,437 in the first quarter 2008 compared with net cash provided by operations of $41,891 in the first quarter 2007. The 2008 operating cash flows consisted of $463 used for continuing operations and $974 used for discontinued operations. The 2007 cash flows consisted of $23,237 provided by continuing operations and $18,654 provided by discontinued operations. The 2008 cash flows were primarily used for routine changes in our working capital requirements, payment of supplemental retirement costs, and payment of spin-off related cost. The 2007 cash flows were primarily used for routine changes in our working capital requirements, including a $17,600 federal tax extension payment the Company made in the first quarter 2007.
The Company believes its current financial condition and credit relationships are adequate to fund its current obligations.
Investing Cash Flows
Net cash flows used in investing activities were $6,535 in the first quarter 2008 compared to $19,639 in the first quarter 2007. The 2008 investing cash flows consisted of $6,231 used in continuing operations investing activities and $304 used in discontinued operations investing activities. The change from 2007 cash flows are primarily attributable to higher capital expenditures in the first quarter 2007.
Capital Expenditures
Total capital expenditures for continuing operations were $6,136 in the first quarter 2008 compared with $11,840 in the first quarter 2007. Total capital expenditures for discontinued operations were $304 in the first quarter 2008 compared with $3,382 in the first quarter 2007.
Acquisition
On February 26, 2007, the Company purchased the assets of WUPL-TV, the My Network TV affiliate, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Financing Cash Flows
Net cash flows provided by financing activities were $3,327 in the first quarter 2008 compared with net cash flows used for financing activities of $16,013 in the first quarter 2007. There were no financing cash flows from discontinued operations for either period. The 2008 financing activity cash flows consisted primarily of borrowings and repayments under the Company’s revolving credit facility, dividends on common stock and repurchase of treasury stock as described below. The 2007 cash flows from continuing operations financing activities are primarily dividends on common stock and repurchase of treasury stock.

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Long-Term Debt
At March 31, 2008, Belo had $1,049,125 in fixed-rate debt securities as follows: $350,000 of 8% Senior Notes due 2008; $249,125 of 6-3/4% Senior Notes due 2013, $200,000 of 7-3/4% Senior Debentures due 2027; and $250,000 of 7-1/4% Senior Debentures due 2027. The weighted average effective interest rate for the fixed-rate debt instruments is 7.5%. The Company expects to repay the $350,000 of 8% Senior Notes due November 1, 2008, with available funds and borrowings under long-term facilities including funds drawn from its revolving credit facility.
Effective February 8, 2008, the date of the spin-off of A. H. Belo, the Company entered into the First Amendment to its Amended and Restated Five-Year Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders (the Credit Agreement). The First Amendment to the reduced the total amount of the Credit Agreement from $1,000,000 to $600,000 and modified certain other terms and conditions. The facility may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including letters of credit. Revolving credit borrowings under the 2008 Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable interest rate based on either LIBOR or a base rate, in either case plus an applicable margin that varies depending upon the rating of the Company’s senior unsecured long-term, non-credit enhanced debt. Competitive advance borrowings bear interest at a rate obtained from bids selected in accordance with JPMorgan Chase Bank’s standard competitive advance procedures. Commitment fees depending on the Company’s credit rating, of up to 0.225 percent per year of the total unused commitment, accrue and are payable under the facility. The Credit Agreement contains usual and customary covenants for credit facilities of this type, including covenants limiting liens, mergers and substantial asset sales. The Company is required to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios specified in the agreement. At March 31, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenant requirements. As of March 31, 2008, there were borrowings outstanding of $137,350 and the weighted average interest rate was 4.0%.
Dividends
On January 25, 2008, the Company paid fourth quarter 2007 dividends of $.125 per share, or $12,782, on Series A and Series B common stock outstanding to shareholders of record on January 10, 2008.
The Company declared first quarter 2008 dividends of $.075 cents per share, on Series A and Series B common stock outstanding to be paid on June 6, 2008 to shareholders of record on May 16, 2008.
Share Repurchase Program
In the first quarter 2008, the Company purchased 191,000 shares of its Series A common stock under a stock repurchase program pursuant to authorization from Belo’s Board of Directors in December 2005. The remaining authorization for the repurchase of shares as of March 31, 2008 under this authority was 13,030,716 shares. In addition, the Company has a stock repurchase program authorizing the purchase of up to $2,500 of common stock annually. During the first quarter 2008, no shares were repurchased under this program. There is no expiration date for these repurchase programs. The total cost of the treasury shares purchased in the first quarter 2008 was $2,203. All shares repurchased in the first quarter 2008 were retired as of March 31, 2008.
Other
The Company has various sources available to meet its 2008 capital and operating commitments, including cash on hand, short-term investments, internally-generated funds and a $600,000 revolving credit facility. The Company believes its resources are adequate to meet its foreseeable needs.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities.” This statement permits entities to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The objective is to improve financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and

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liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. SFAS 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company has elected not to implement the fair value option with respect to any existing assets or liabilities, therefore the adoption of SFAS 159 had no impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” As allowed by FASB Staff Position FAS 157-2, the Company has elected to defer adoption for certain non-financial assets and liabilities until January 1, 2009. SFAS 157 establishes, among other items, a framework for fair value measurements in the financial statements by providing a single definition of fair value, provides guidance on the methods used to estimate fair value and increases disclosures about estimates of fair value. The partial adoption of SFAS 157 had no impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this Form 10-Q concerning Belo’s business outlook or future economic performance, anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses, dividends, capital expenditures, investments, future financings or other financial and non-financial items that are not historical facts, are “forward-looking statements” as the term is defined under applicable federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those statements.
Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding the costs, consequences (including tax consequences) and other effects of the distribution of the newspaper businesses and related assets of Belo; changes in capital market conditions and prospects, and other factors such as changes in advertising demand, interest rates and programming and production costs; changes in viewership patterns and demography, and actions by Nielsen; changes in network-affiliate business model for broadcast television; technological changes, including the transition to digital television and the development of new systems to distribute television and other audio-visual content; changes in the ability to secure, and in the terms of, carriage of Belo programming on cable, satellite and other program distribution methods; development of Internet commerce; industry cycles; changes in pricing or other actions by competitors and suppliers; Federal Communications Commission and other regulatory, tax and legal changes; adoption of new accounting standards or changes in existing accounting standards by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting standard-setting bodies or authorities; the effects of Company acquisitions, dispositions and co-owned ventures; general economic conditions; and significant armed conflict, as well as other risks detailed in Belo’s other public disclosures, and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Other than as disclosed, there have been no material changes in the Company’s exposure to market risk from the disclosure included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
During the quarter ended March 31, 2008, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Belo’s internal control over financial reporting.
The Company carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s president and Chief Executive Officer and executive vice president/Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the president and Chief Executive Officer and executive vice president/Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective such that information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be disclosed in the Company’s SEC reports (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the president and Chief Executive Officer and executive vice president/Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

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PART II.
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
In addition to the disclosure below and proceedings previously disclosed (see Note 9 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1), a number of other legal proceedings are pending against the Company, including several actions for alleged libel and/or defamation. In the opinion of management, liabilities, if any, arising from these other legal proceedings would not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, liquidity or financial position of the Company.
On August 23, 2004, August 26, 2004, and October 5, 2004, respectively, three related lawsuits, now consolidated, were filed by purported shareholders of the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas against the Company, Robert W. Decherd and Barry T. Peckham, a former executive officer of The Dallas Morning News. James M. Moroney III, an executive officer of The Dallas Morning News, was later added as a defendant. The complaints arise out of the circulation overstatement at The Dallas Morning News announced by the Company in 2004, alleging that the overstatement artificially inflated Belo’s financial results and thereby injured investors. The plaintiffs seek to represent a purported class of shareholders who purchased Belo common stock between May 12, 2003 and August 6, 2004 and allege violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. On April 2, 2008, the court denied plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. On April 16, 2008, plaintiffs filed a petition with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit seeking permission to appeal that denial. No class or classes have been certified and no amount of damages has been specified. The Company believes the complaints are without merit and intends to vigorously defend against them.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from the disclosure included in the Annual Report on Form-10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
There have been no unregistered sales of equity securities in the last three years. All repurchases of securities detailed below were retired in the quarter they were repurchased.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table sets forth the Company’s Series A common stock repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2008. The Company did not repurchase any shares of Series B Common Stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2008.
                                 
                    (c)   (d)
                    Total Number of Shares   Maximum Number of
    (a)   (b)   Purchased as Part of   Shares that May Yet be
    Total Number of   Average Price   Publicly Announced   Purchased Under the
Period   Shares Purchased   Paid per Share   Plans or Programs   Plans or Programs(1)
 
January 1, 2008 through January 31, 2008
                      13,221,716  
 
                               
February 1, 2008 through February 28, 2008
                      13,221,716  
 
                               
March 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008
    191,000     $ 11.50       191,000       13,030,716  
 
Total
    191,000     $ 11.50       191,000       13,030,716  
 
(1)   In December 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 15,000,000 shares of common stock. As of March 31, 2008, the Company had 13,030,716 remaining shares under the December 2005 purchase authority. In addition, Belo has a stock repurchase program authorizing the purchase of up to $2,500 of Company stock annually. There is no expiration date for these repurchase programs.

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Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibits marked with an asterisk (*) are incorporated by reference to documents previously filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as indicated. All other documents are filed with this report. Exhibits marked with a tilde (~) are management contracts, compensatory plan contracts or arrangements filed pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K.
       
Exhibit    
Number   Description
  2.1 Separation and Distribution Agreement by and between Belo Corp. and A. H. Belo Corporation dated as of February 8, 2008 (Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2008 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “February 12, 2008 Form 8-K”))
 
  3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 15, 2000 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598) (the “1999 Form 10-K”))
 
  3.2 Certificate of Correction to Certificate of Incorporation dated May 13, 1987 (Exhibit 3.2 to the 1999 Form 10-K)
 
  3.3 Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company dated April 16, 1987 (Exhibit 3.3 to the 1999 Form 10-K)
 
  3.4 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated May 4, 1988 (Exhibit 3.4 to the 1999 Form 10-K)
 
  3.5 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated May 3, 1995 (Exhibit 3.5 to the 1999 Form 10-K)
 
  3.6 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated May 13, 1998 (Exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 002-74702)(the “2nd Quarter 1998 Form 10-Q”))

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Exhibit    
Number   Description
  3.7 Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated December 20, 2000, but effective as of 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2000 (Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 2000 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598))
 
  3.8 Amended Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company dated May 4, 1988 (Exhibit 3.7 to the 1999 Form 10-K)
 
  3.9 Certificate of Designation of Series B Common Stock of the Company dated May 4, 1988 (Exhibit 3.8 to the 1999 Form 10-K)
 
  3.10 Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective December 31, 2000 (Exhibit 3.10 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 13, 2001 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “2000 Form 10-K”))
 
  3.11 Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective February 7, 2003 (Exhibit 3.11 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 12, 2003 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “2002 Form 10-K”))
 
  3.12 Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective May 9, 2005 (Exhibit 3.12 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598))
 
  3.13 Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, effective July 27, 2007 (Exhibit 99.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2007 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598))
 
  4.1   Certain rights of the holders of the Company’s Common Stock are set forth in Exhibits 3.1-3.13 above
 
  4.2 Specimen Form of Certificate representing shares of the Company’s Series A Common Stock (Exhibit 4.2 to the 2000 Form 10-K)
 
  4.3 Specimen Form of Certificate representing shares of the Company’s Series B Common Stock (Exhibit 4.3 to the 2000 Form 10-K)
 
  4.4   Instruments defining rights of debt securities:
  (1) Indenture dated as of June 1, 1997 between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the “Indenture”)(Exhibit 4.6(1) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 002-74702)(the “2nd Quarter 1997 Form 10-Q”))
 
  (3) $200 million 7-3/4% Senior Debenture due 2027 (Exhibit 4.6(4) to the 2nd Quarter 1997 Form 10-Q)
 
  (4) Officers’ Certificate dated June 13, 1997 establishing terms of debt securities pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Indenture (Exhibit 4.6(5) to the 2nd Quarter 1997 Form 10-Q)
 
  (5)
(a) $200 million 7-1/4% Senior Debenture due 2027 (Exhibit 4.6(6)(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1997 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 002-74702)(the “3rd Quarter 1997 Form 10-Q”))
 
   
(b) $50 million 7-1/4% Senior Debenture due 2027 (Exhibit 4.6(6)(b) to the 3rd Quarter 1997 Form 10-Q)
 
  (6) Officers’ Certificate dated September 26, 1997 establishing terms of debt securities pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Indenture (Exhibit 4.6(7) to the 3rd Quarter 1997 Form 10-Q)

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Exhibit    
Number   Description
  (7) $350 million 8.00% Senior Note due 2008 (Exhibit 4.7(8) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “3rd Quarter 2001 Form 10-Q”))
 
  (8) Officers’ Certificate dated November 1, 2001 establishing terms of debt securities pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Indenture (Exhibit 4.7(9) to the 3rd Quarter 2001 Form 10-Q)
 
  (9) Form of Belo Corp. 6-3/4% Senior Notes due 2013 (Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2006 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “May 26, 2006 Form 8-K”))
 
  (10) Officers’ Certificate dated May 26, 2006 establishing terms of debt securities pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Indenture (Exhibit 4.2 to the May 26, 2006 Form 8-K)
 
  (11) Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt Securities), dated May 24, 2006 (Exhibit 1.1 to the May 26, 2006 Form 8-K)
 
  (12) Underwriting Agreement, dated May 24, 2006, between the Company, Banc of America Securities LLC and JPMorgan Securities, Inc. (Exhibit 1.2 to the May 26, 2006 Form 8-K)
  10.1   Financing agreements:
  (1) Amended and Restated Five-Year Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement dated as of June 7, 2006 among the Company, as Borrower; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent; J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Banc of America Securities LLC, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners; Bank of America, N.A., as Syndication Agent; and SunTrust Bank, The Bank of New York, and BNP Paribas, as Documentation Agents; and Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., as Co-Documentation Agent (Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 7, 2006 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598))
 
  (2) First Amendment dated as of February 4, 2008 to the Amended and Restated Five-Year Competitive Advance and Revolving Credit Facility Agreement dated as of June 7, 2006 among the Company and the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5, 2008 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598))
  10.2   Compensatory plans:
  ~(1)    Belo Savings Plan:
  * (a)   Belo Savings Plan Amended and Restated effective August 1, 2004 (Exhibit 10.2(1)(a) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “2nd Quarter 2004 Form 10-Q”))
 
  * (b)   First Amendment to the Belo Savings Plan (as Amended and Restated effective August 1, 2004), dated March 1, 2005 (Exhibit 10.2(1)(b) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “1st Quarter 2006 Form 10-Q”))
 
  * (c)   Second Amendment to the Belo Savings Plan (as Amended and Restated effective August 1, 2004), dated December 1, 2005 (Exhibit 10.2(1)(c) to the 1st Quarter 2006 Form 10-Q)
 
  * (d)   Third Amendment to the Belo Savings Plan (as Amended and Restated effective August 1, 2004), dated September 29, 2006 (Exhibit 10.2(1)(d) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598))
 
  * (e)   Fourth Amendment to the Belo Savings Plan (as Amended and Restated effective August 1, 2004), dated November 30, 2006 (Exhibit 10.2(1)(e) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 1, 2007 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “2006 Form 10-K”))

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Exhibit    
Number   Description
  * (f)   Fifth Amendment to the Belo Savings Plan (as Amended and Restated effective August 1, 2004), dated May 7, 2007 (Exhibit 10.2(1)(f) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598))
 
  * (g)   Belo Savings Plan Amended and Restated effective January 1, 2008 (Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 11, 2007 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “December 11, 2007 Form 8-K”))
  ~(2)    Belo 1986 Long-Term Incentive Plan:
  * (a)   Belo Corp. 1986 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Effective May 3, 1989, as amended by Amendments 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) (Exhibit 10.3(2) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 10, 1997 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “1996 Form 10-K))
 
  * (b)   Amendment No. 6 to 1986 Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated May 6, 1992 (Exhibit 10.3(2)(b) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 19, 1998 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 002-74702)(the “1997 Form 10-K”))
 
  * (c)   Amendment No. 7 to 1986 Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated October 25, 1995 (Exhibit 10.2(2)(c) to the 1999 Form 10-K)
 
  * (d)   Amendment No. 8 to 1986 Long-Term Incentive Plan, dated July 21, 1998 (Exhibit 10.3(2)(d) to the 2nd Quarter 1998 Form 10-Q)
  ~(3)   Belo 1995 Executive Compensation Plan, as restated to incorporate amendments through December 4, 1997 (Exhibit 10.3(3) to the 1997 Form 10-K)
  * (a)   Amendment to 1995 Executive Compensation Plan, dated July 21, 1998 (Exhibit 10.2(3)(a) to the 2nd Quarter 1998 Form 10-Q)
 
  * (b)   Amendment to 1995 Executive Compensation Plan, dated December 16, 1999 (Exhibit 10.2(3)(b) to the 1999 Form 10-K)
 
  * (c)   Amendment to 1995 Executive Compensation Plan, dated December 5, 2003 (Exhibit 10.3(3)(c) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 4, 2004 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “2003 Form 10-K”))
 
  * (d)   Form of Belo Executive Compensation Plan Award Notification for Employee Awards (Exhibit 10.2(3)(d) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 6, 2006 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598)(the “2005 Form 10-K”))
  ~(4)   Management Security Plan (Exhibit 10.3(1) to the 1996 Form 10-K)
  * (a)   Amendment to Management Security Plan of Belo Corp. and Affiliated Companies (as Restated Effective January 1, 1982) (Exhibit 10.2(4)(a) to the 1999 Form 10-K)
  ~(5)    Belo Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
  * (a)   Belo Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2004 (Exhibit 10.2(5)(a) to the 2003 Form 10-K)
 
  * (b)   Belo Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2007 (Exhibit 99.6 to the December 11, 2007 Form 8-K)
  ~(6)   Belo Pension Transition Supplement Restoration Plan effective April 1, 2007 (Exhibit 99.5 to the December 11, 2007 Form 8-K)
  ~(7)   Belo 2000 Executive Compensation Plan (Exhibit 4.15 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 333-43056) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 4, 2000)
  * (a)   First Amendment to Belo 2000 Executive Compensation Plan effective as of December 31, 2000 (Exhibit 10.2(6)(a) to the 2002 Form 10-K)
 
  * (b)   Second Amendment to Belo 2000 Executive Compensation Plan dated December 5, 2002 (Exhibit 10.2(6)(b) to the 2002 Form 10-K)

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Exhibit    
Number   Description
  * (c)   Third Amendment to Belo 2000 Executive Compensation Plan dated December 5, 2003 (Exhibit 10.2(6)(c) to the 2003 Form 10-K)
 
  * (d)   Form of Belo Executive Compensation Plan Award Notification for Employee Awards (Exhibit 10.2(6)(d) to the 2005 Form 10-K)
  ~(8)   Belo 2004 Executive Compensation Plan (Exhibit 10.2(6) to the 2nd Quarter 2004 Form 10-Q)
  * (a)   Form of Belo 2004 Executive Compensation Plan Award Notification for Executive Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Awards (Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2006 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598) (the “March 2, 2006 Form 8-K”))
 
  * (b)   Form of Belo 2004 Executive Compensation Plan Award Notification for Employee Awards (Exhibit 10.2 to the March 2, 2006 Form 8-K)
 
  * (c)   Form of Award Notification under the Belo 2004 Executive Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Director Awards (Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12, 2005 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598) (the “December 12, 2005 Form 8-K”))
 
  * (d)   First Amendment to the Belo 2004 Executive Compensation Plan, dated November 30, 2006 (Exhibit 10.2(7)(d) to the 2006 Form 10-K)
 
  * (e)   Second Amendment to the Belo 2004 Executive Compensation Plan, dated December 7, 2007 (Exhibit 99.2 to the December 11, 2007 Form 8-K)
  ~(9)   Summary of Non-Employee Director Compensation (Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2008 (Securities and Exchange Commission File No. 001-08598))
  ~(10)   Belo Corp. Change In Control Severance Plan (Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 1, 2007 (Securities and Exchange Commission file No. 001-08598))
  10.3   Agreements relating to the distribution of A. H. Belo:
  (1) Tax Matters Agreement by and between Belo Corp. and A. H. Belo Corporation dated as of February 8, 2008 (Exhibit 10.1 to the February 12, 2008 Form 8-K)
 
  (2) Employee Matters Agreement by and between Belo Corp. and A. H. Belo Corporation dated as of February 8, 2008 (Exhibit 10.2 to the February 12, 2008 Form 8-K)
 
  (3) Services Agreement by and between Belo Corp. and A. H. Belo Corporation dated as of February 8, 2008 (Exhibit 10.3 to the February 12, 2008 Form 8-K)
  31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
  31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
  32   Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

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SIGNATURES
      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
  BELO CORP.
 
 
May 12, 2008  By:   /s/ Dennis A. Williamson    
    Dennis A. Williamson   
    Executive Vice President/
Chief Financial Officer
(Authorized Officer, Principal Financial Officer) 
 
 
         
     
May 12, 2008  By:   /s/ Carey P. Hendrickson    
    Carey P. Hendrickson   
    Senior Vice President/Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer) 
 
 

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