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Acme Television LLC, et al. – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/02

On:  Tuesday, 4/15/03, at 5:25pm ET   ·   For:  12/31/02   ·   Accession #:  892569-3-986   ·   File #s:  333-40277, 333-40281

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  As Of                Filer                Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size              Issuer               Agent

 4/15/03  Acme Television LLC               10-K       12/31/02    1:791K                                   Bowne - Biv/FA
          Acme Intermediate Holdings LLC

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-K        Form 10-K Period Ended December 31, 2002            HTML    725K 

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 10-K

COMMISSION FILE NUMBERS:

ACME INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC 333-40277
ACME TELEVISION, LLC 333-40281

ACME INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC
AND
ACME TELEVISION, LLC
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANTS AS SPECIFIED IN THEIR CHARTER)

2101 E. FOURTH STREET, SUITE 202A
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, 92705
(714) 245-9499
(ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT: NONE
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT: NONE

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have 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, and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [   ]

100% of the membership units of ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC are owned directly or indirectly by the Registrants’ parent, ACME Communications, Inc. 100% of the membership units of ACME Television, LLC are owned directly or indirectly by ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC. Such membership units are not publicly traded and, therefore, have no separate, quantifiable market value.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes [   ] No [ X ]

As of March 31, 2003, ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC and ACME Television, LLC had 910,986 and 200, respectively, membership units outstanding; all such units are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Registrants’ parent, ACME Communications, Inc.

The Registrants meet the conditions set forth in General Instruction I (1) (a) and (b) of Form 10-K and are therefore filing this Form 10-K with the reduced disclosure format.

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AND

ACME TELEVISION, LLC

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

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Forward-looking Statements

     This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “expect,” “believe,” “potential” “might” or “continue” or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our and the television broadcast industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance, achievements and prospects to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K might not occur.

     We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, we make no representation with respect to any materials available on the Internet, including materials available on our website.

PART I

Item 1. Business

     Abbreviated pursuant to General Instruction I (2) (d) of Form 10-K

     ACME Communications, Inc. (“ACME Parent”) was formed on July 23, 1999 in preparation for and in conjunction with an initial public offering of its common stock.

     On September 27, 1999, the Board of Advisors of ACME Television Holdings, LLC (the parent company of ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC — “ACME Intermediate”) and its members and the Board of Directors and stockholder of ACME Parent approved a merger and reorganization (the “Reorganization”), whereby ACME Parent became the direct parent of ACME Television Holdings. As a result of the Reorganization, ACME Communications, Inc. is the ultimate parent of ACME Intermediate, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ACME Television, LLC (“ACME Television”). All transactions contemplated as part of the Reorganization closed on October 5, 1999.

     This integrated Form 10-K is filed pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for each of ACME Intermediate and its subsidiary, ACME Television. Separate financial information has been provided for each entity and, where appropriate, separate disclosure. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to the “Company” refers to both ACME Intermediate and ACME Television.

     The Company owns and operates nine broadcast television stations in medium-sized markets across the United States. Eight of these television stations are network affiliates of The WB Television Network and one station is a network affiliate of UPN. These nine stations broadcast in markets that cover in aggregate approximately 3.7% of the total U.S. television households. We are the fourth largest WB Network affiliated group in the country. Mr. Kellner, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is also a founder of and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The WB Network, and was President of Fox Broadcasting Company from its inception in 1986 through 1993.

     On December 27, 2002, we announced that we had entered into agreements to sell two of our stations, KPLR-TV serving the St. Louis marketplace and KWBP-TV, serving the Portland, Oregon marketplace, to subsidiaries of Tribune Company for an aggregate all-cash consideration of $275 million. We completed these transactions on March 21, 2003. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we have accounted for the results of these two stations as “discontinued operations” and our remaining nine stations represent our continuing operations.

     Since our formation in 1997, we have focused primarily on acquiring independently-owned stations, under-performing stations and construction permits for new stations in markets that we believe have the growth potential and demographic profile to support a successful WB Network affiliate. We believe that medium-sized markets provide advantages such as fewer competitors and lower operating costs compared to large markets. Our strategy is to capitalize on these advantages and to grow our revenues and cash flow with an emphasized focus on local sales. Since we centralize many of our stations’ administrative functions and primarily provide entertainment programming, our station general managers are able to focus on increasing sales and improving operating margins. Additionally, since many of the stations we own are in markets where the

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Federal Communications Commission allows dual ownership of broadcast television stations (“duopoly”), our long-term strategy also includes acquiring such second stations.

     Like The WB Network, we target our programming at younger audiences, in particular, young adults, teens and kids. We believe that these younger audiences are a growing and increasingly important demographic target for advertisers, and that our affiliation with The WB Network affords us a significant competitive advantage over other network affiliated television broadcasters in attracting these younger audiences. Since its launch in 1995 and through the 2001 / 2002 season, The WB Network was the only English-language broadcast network in the United States to increase its audience share in these key target demographic groups. To build and retain our audience share during non-network hours, we also acquire the broadcast rights to popular syndicated programming that we believe complements The WB Network programming. In addition, we broadcast local and regional sports programming in selected markets and provide local news and weather updates in our morning news show. We believe this programming enhances our ability to sell advertising time to local and regional advertisers and increase audience awareness of our newly launched stations.

Our Competition

     Broadcast television stations compete for advertising revenues primarily with other broadcast television stations in their respective markets and, to a lesser but increasing extent, with radio stations, cable television system operators, newspapers, billboard companies, direct mail and internet sites. ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox programming generally achieve higher household audience levels than that of The WB Network, UPN and syndicated programming aired by independent stations which is attributable to a number of factors, including:

     However, because The WB Network and UPN provide fewer hours of programming per week than the traditional networks, we have a significantly higher inventory of advertising time for our own use and, therefore, our programs achieve a share of television market advertising revenues greater than their share of the market’s audience. We believe that this available advertising time, combined with our efforts to attract (via our programming) the audiences that are key targets of advertisers, and our focus on advertising sales allows us to compete effectively for advertising revenues within our stations’ markets.

     The broadcasting industry is continuously faced with technical changes and innovations, the popularity of competing entertainment and communications media, changes in labor conditions, and governmental restrictions or actions of federal regulatory bodies, including the FCC, any of which could possibly have an adverse effect on a television station’s operations and profits. Sources of video service other than conventional television stations, the most common being cable television, can increase competition for a broadcast television station by bringing distant broadcasting signals not otherwise available to the station’s audience, serving as a distribution system for national satellite-delivered programming and other non-broadcast programming originated on a cable system and selling advertising time to local advertisers. Other principal sources of competition include home video exhibition, direct-to-home broadcast satellite television, entertainment services and multi-channel multi-point distribution services. Currently, two FCC permittees, DirecTV and Echostar, provide subscription DBS services via high-power communications satellites and small dish receivers, and other companies provide direct-to-home video service using lower powered satellites and larger receivers. Furthermore, emerging technologies that allow viewers to digitally record and play back television programming may decrease viewership of commercials and, as a result, lower television advertising demand.

     Other technology advances and regulatory changes affecting programming delivery through fiber optic telephone lines and video compression could lower entry barriers for new video channels and encourage the development of increasingly specialized niche programming. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 permits telephone companies to provide video

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distribution services via radio communication, on a common carrier basis, as cable systems or as open video systems, each pursuant to different regulatory schemes. We cannot predict the effect that these and other technological and regulatory changes will have on the broadcast television industry or on the future profitability and value of a particular broadcast television station.

     Broadcast television stations compete with other television stations in their designated market areas for the acquisition of programming. Generally, cable systems do not compete with local stations for programming, but various national cable networks do from time to time and on an increasing basis acquire programming that could have been offered to local television stations. Public broadcasting stations generally compete with commercially-rated broadcasters for viewers, but do not compete for advertising revenues. Historically, the cost of programming has increased because of an increase in the number of independent stations and a shortage of quality programming.

Federal Regulation of Television Broadcasting

     Television broadcasting is a regulated industry and is subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. The Communications Act prohibits the operation of television broadcasting stations except under a license issued by the FCC. The Communications Act empowers the FCC, among other things:

     Failure to observe FCC or other governmental rules and policies can result in the imposition of various sanctions, including monetary forfeitures, the grant of short, or less than maximum, license renewal terms or, for particularly egregious violations, the denial of a license renewal application, the revocation of a license or denial of FCC consent to acquire additional broadcast properties.

     License Grant, Renewal, Transfer and Assignment. A party must obtain a construction permit from the FCC to build a new television station. Once a station is constructed and commences broadcast operations, the permittee will receive a license which must be renewed by the FCC at the end of each license term (which may be as long as eight years under current law). The FCC grants renewal of a broadcast license if it finds that the station has served the public interest, convenience, and necessity, there have been no serious violations by the licensee of the Communications Act or FCC rules and policies, and there have been no other violations of the Communications Act and FCC rules and policies which, taken together, would constitute a pattern of abuse. If the FCC finds that a licensee has failed to meet these standards, the FCC may deny renewal, condition renewal, or impose some other sanction (such as forfeiture). Any other party with standing may petition the FCC to deny a broadcaster’s application for renewal. However, only if the FCC issues an order denying renewal will the FCC accept and consider applications from other parties for a construction permit for a new station to operate on that channel. The FCC may not consider any new applicant for the channel in making determinations concerning the grant or denial of the licensee’s renewal application. Although renewal of licenses is granted in the majority of cases even when petitions to deny have been filed, we cannot be sure our station licenses will be renewed for a full term or without modification.

     Our current licenses expire as follows:

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     The Communications Act prohibits the assignment of a broadcast license or the transfer of control of a broadcast licensee without the prior approval of the FCC. In determining whether to permit the assignment or transfer of control of, or the grant or renewal of, a broadcast license, the FCC considers a number of factors pertaining to the licensee, including:

     Character generally refers to the likelihood that the licensee or applicant will comply with applicable law and regulation. Attributable interests generally refer to the level of ownership or other involvement in station operations which would result in the FCC attributing ownership of that station or other media outlet to the person or entity in determining compliance with FCC ownership limitations.

     To obtain the FCC’s prior consent to assign a broadcast license or transfer control of a broadcast licensee, an application must be filed with the FCC. If the application involves a substantial change in ownership or control, the application must be placed on public notice for a period of no less than 30 days during which petitions to deny the application may be filed by interested parties, including certain members of the public. If the FCC grants the application, interested parties have no less than 30 days from the date of public notice of the grant to seek reconsideration or review of that grant by the commission or, as the case may be, a court of competent jurisdiction. The full FCC commission has an additional 10 days to set aside on its own motion any action taken by the FCC’s staff. When passing on an assignment or transfer application, the FCC is prohibited from considering whether the public interest might be better served by an assignment or transfer to any party other than the assignee or transferee specified in the application.

     Ownership Restrictions. The officers, directors and equity owners of 5% or more of our outstanding voting stock or the voting stock of a company holding one or more broadcast licenses are deemed to have an attributable interest in the broadcast company. However, specified institutional investors, including mutual funds, insurance companies and banks acting in a fiduciary capacity, may own up to (but not as much as) 20% of the outstanding voting stock without being subject to attribution if they exercise no control over the management or policies of the broadcast company. Finally, even if it owns non-voting stock, a third party could be deemed to have an attributable interest if it owns more than 33 percent of a station’s (or the Company’s) asset value (which is generally defined by the FCC to mean the aggregate of equity plus debt) and either has another attributable interest in the same market as the station(s) or provides more than 15 percent of the weekly programming for the station(s).

     The FCC rules generally prohibit the issuance of a license to any party, or parties under common control, for a television station if that station’s Grade B contour overlaps with the Grade B contour of another television station in the same DMA in which that party or those parties already have an attributable interest. FCC rules provide an exception to that general prohibition and allow ownership of two television stations with overlapping Grade B contours under any one of the following circumstances:

     A court of appeals determined in a recent decision that the FCC’s restrictions on television ownership were not justified by evidence in the public record and failed to satisfy the standards set forth in the Communications Act. In reaching that conclusion, the court focused on the inconsistency in the FCC’s assessment of competition in formulating its media ownership rules. In shaping the television ownership rules, the FCC considered only the existence of other television stations on the theory that television does not compete with other media; conversely, in shaping rules concerning common ownership of television and radio stations in the same market, the FCC acknowledged and accounted for competition among television stations, radio stations, daily newspapers and cable television systems. In response to the court decision and other developments, the FCC inaugurated a comprehensive rulemaking proceeding to review its broadcast ownership rules to ensure that they are adequately supported by the factual record and are consistent with each other.

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     FCC regulations also prohibit one owner from having attributable interests in television broadcast stations that reach in the aggregate more than 35% of the nation’s television households. For purposes of this calculation, stations in the UHF band, which covers channels 14 — 69, are attributed with only 50% of the households in their respective markets (while 100% of the market households are attributed to stations in the VHF band, which covers channels 2 — 13). A recent court decision concluded that the FCC’s 35% limitation is not adequately supported by sufficient evidence in the public record and directed the FCC to conduct further proceedings to determine whether a limitation on national television attribution can be justified and, if so, what that limitation should be. As a result, that issue is also being considered in the FCC’s comprehensive rulemaking on broadcast ownership rules.

     The FCC’s comprehensive rulemaking is also considering the radio-television cross-ownership rule. One of those issues concerns rules which generally allow the holder of an attributable interest in a television station to have an attributable interest in:

     Another major issue being considered in the FCC’s comprehensive rulemaking is the newspaper cross-ownership rule. FCC rules generally prohibit a party with an attributable interest in a television station from owning a daily newspaper serving a community located within the relevant coverage area of that television station. The FCC is now seeking evidence and argument to decide whether those rules should be retained, modified, or repealed in their entirety.

     The FCC’s comprehensive rulemaking is not revisiting issues related to common ownership of television stations and cable television systems in the same market. The rule which prohibited that common ownership was vacated by the court which addressed the national cap on television ownership. The FCC did not challenge that judicial decision.

     Restrictions on Foreign Ownership. The Communications Act prohibits the issuance of broadcast licenses to, or the holding of a broadcast license by, foreign citizens or any corporation of which more than 20% of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by non-U.S. citizens or their representatives or by a foreign government or a representative thereof, or by any corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country. The Communications Act also authorizes the FCC to prohibit the issuance of a broadcast license to, or the holding of a broadcast license by, any corporation controlled by any other corporation of which more than 25% of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens. The FCC has interpreted these restrictions to apply to other forms of business organizations, including partnerships. As a result of these provisions, the licenses granted to our subsidiaries that hold FCC licenses could be revoked if more than 25% of our stock were directly or indirectly owned or voted by aliens. Our certificate of incorporation contains limitations on alien ownership and control substantially similar to those contained in the Communications Act. Pursuant to our certificate of incorporation, we have the right to refuse to sell shares to aliens or to repurchase alien-owned shares at their fair market value to the extent necessary, in the judgment of our board of directors, to comply with the alien ownership restrictions.

     Programming and Operation. The Communications Act requires broadcasters to serve the public interest, convenience and necessity. The FCC has gradually restricted or eliminated many of the more formalized procedures it had developed to promote the broadcast of programming responsive to the needs of the station’s community of license. Licensees continue to be required, however, to present programming that is responsive to community problems, needs and interests and to maintain certain records demonstrating such responsiveness. Complaints from viewers concerning a station’s programming will be considered by the FCC when it evaluates the licensee’s renewal application, but these complaints may be filed and considered at any time.

     Stations must also pay regulatory and application fees and follow various FCC rules that regulate, among other things:

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     Failure to observe these or other rules and policies can result in the imposition of various sanctions, including monetary forfeitures, the grant of short, less than the maximum, renewal terms, or for particularly egregious violations, the denial of a license renewal application or the revocation of a license.

     Review of Must Carry Rules. FCC regulations implementing the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 require each television broadcaster to elect, at three-year intervals beginning October 1, 1993, to either:

     The United States Supreme Court upheld the must-carry rules in a 1997 decision. These must carry rights are not absolute, and their exercise is dependent on a variety of factors such as:

     Therefore, under certain circumstances, a cable system may decline to carry a given station. We have elected must carry for each of our stations on all of the cable systems where such carriage can be elected. See also Digital Television Services below.

     Local Marketing Agreements. Under FCC rules, the licensee of a television station providing more than 15% of another television station’s programming under a local marketing agreement is considered to have an attributable interest in the other station for purposes of the FCC’s national and local multiple ownership rules if both stations are located in the same market. The FCC also adopted a grandfathering policy providing that local marketing agreements that are in compliance with the previous FCC rules and policies and were entered into before November 5, 1996, would be permitted to continue in force until the FCC conducts its biennial review of regulations in 2004. Local marketing agreements entered into after November 5, 1996 but prior to the adoption of the new FCC rules in 1999 were grandfathered until August 2001.

     Prior to the adoption of the FCC’s new rules, we did, from time to time, enter into local marketing agreements, generally in connection with pending station acquisitions. By using local marketing agreements, we can provide programming and other services to a station that we have agreed to acquire before we receive all applicable FCC and other governmental approvals.

     Subject to ownership restrictions in the new FCC rules and policies, FCC rules and policies generally permit local marketing agreements if the station licensee retains ultimate responsibility for and control of the applicable station, including finances, personnel, programming and compliance with the FCC’s rules and policies. We cannot be sure that we will be able to air all of our scheduled programming on a station with which we may have a local marketing agreement or that we would receive the revenue from the sale of advertising for such programming.

     Digital Television Services. The FCC has adopted rules for implementing digital television service in the United States. Implementation of digital television will improve the technical quality of television signals and provide broadcasters the flexibility to offer new services, including high-definition television and data broadcasting.

     The FCC has established service rules and adopted a table of allotments for digital television. Under the table, all eligible broadcasters with a full-power television station are allocated a separate channel for digital television operation. Stations will be permitted to phase in their digital television operations over a period of years, after which they will be required to surrender their license to broadcast the analog, or non-digital, television signal. FCC rules required all commercial television stations to be on the air with a digital signal by May 1, 2002. However, the FCC invited television owners in medium and smaller markets to request an extension of that deadline for their respective stations if they needed it, and certain of our stations have received such extensions.

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     In announcing its receptivity to extensions of digital television construction deadlines, the FCC recognized the practical and technical difficulties of requiring television broadcasters to implement digital television. For those same reasons, the FCC suspended most of the construction and service deadlines that had previously been imposed. The FCC recently inaugurated a new rulemaking proceeding to reinstate those deadlines. In the meantime, the Communications Act still requires television broadcasters to return their analog license to the government by 2006 unless specified conditions exist that, in effect, limit the public’s access to digital television transmissions in a particular market. Legislative proposals have been introduced in Congress that could affect that deadline, but to date none have been enacted.

     The Communications Act and the FCC’s rules impose certain conditions on the FCC’s implementation of digital television service. Among other requirements, the FCC must:

     Equipment and other costs associated with the digital television transition, including the necessity of temporary dual-mode operations, will impose some near-term financial costs on television stations providing the services. The potential also exists for new sources of revenue to be derived from digital television. We cannot predict the overall effect the transition to digital television might have on our business.

     Another major issue surrounding the implementation of digital television is the scope of a local cable television system’s obligation to carry the signals of local broadcast television stations. The FCC has issued an order stating that, for the present, a cable television system is only obligated to carry a television’s digital signal if the station does not have an analog signal. The FCC has not yet determined the scope of a cable television system’s “must carry” obligations when a broadcast television station has both an analog signal and a digital signal that each has a substantial audience.

     Children’s Television Act. FCC rules limit the amount of commercial matter that a television station may broadcast during programming directed primarily at children 12 years old and younger. FCC rules further require television stations to serve the educational and informational needs of children 16 years old and younger through the stations’ own programming as well as through other means. Television broadcasters must file periodic reports with the FCC to document their compliance with foregoing obligations.

     Other FCC and Legislative Matters. The FCC repealed the rule that prohibited one of the major television networks (ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox) from owning another television network. Viacom utilized that change in FCC rules to acquire an interest in UPN. The FCC’s comprehensive rulemaking proceeding is now examining the rule that prohibits dual ownership of two or more of the major networks. We cannot predict how the FCC will resolve that issue or how or when the relaxation of the prior dual network rule may affect our business.

     The Satellite Home Viewer Act and related FCC regulations allow satellite carriers to deliver broadcast programming to subscribers who are unable to obtain television network programming over the air from local television stations. Congress later amended the act to facilitate the ability of satellite carriers to provide subscribers with programming from both local and non-local television stations (regardless of the subscribers’ ability to receive the television signals over the air). The FCC has adopted rules to implement certain of those legislative changes and is conducting rulemaking proceedings to implement others. A principal component of the new regulation requires satellite carriers to carry the analog signals of all local television stations in a market if they carry one. We have taken advantage of that regulation to require carriage of our stations on satellite systems in the Salt Lake City, Albuquerque — Santa Fe, Knoxville and Ft. Myers — Naples markets. The FCC has refused to require satellite carriers to carry a television station’s digital signal, even if the station does not have an analog signal. We cannot predict whether that policy will remain in place and, if so, whether it could adversely affect our business in the future.

     On November 7, 2002, the FCC adopted new rules that require broadcast licensees to provide equal employment opportunities. The new rules require broadcast licensees to widely disseminate information on employment vacancies and to promote diversification in their employment. The new rules are intended to supplement a broadcaster’s obligation to refrain from racial or other prohibited discrimination in its employment practices under other applicable federal as well as state and

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local laws and regulations. The new EEO rules impose substantial record-keeping obligations on broadcasters, require that certain television stations (those with five or more full-time employees) submit reports concerning their EEO efforts mid-way through their license term, and require all television stations to submit information on their EEO compliance with their renewal applications.

     Federal regulatory agencies and Congress from time to time consider proposals for additional or revised rules. We cannot predict how those proposals or other issues discussed above will be resolved, although their outcome could have an adverse or favorable impact on the broadcasting industry generally or us specifically.

     The foregoing summary of FCC and other governmental regulations is not intended to be comprehensive. For further information concerning the nature and extent of federal regulation of broadcast stations, you should refer to the Communications Act, other Congressional acts, FCC rules, and the public notices and rulings of the FCC.

Employees

     At December 31, 2002, our continuing operations had 253 employees, none of whom are subject to collective bargaining agreements. We believe that our relationships with our employees are good.

Available Information

     The Company maintains an Internet website at www.acmecommunications.com where the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports are available without charge, as soon as reasonably practicable following the time that they are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Item 2. Properties

     All of our leased studio, office and tower facilities are leased pursuant to long-term leases. We believe that all facilities and equipment are adequate, with minor changes and additions, for conducting operations as presently contemplated. Set forth below is information with respect to our studios and other facilities for our current stations and our discontinued operations. Information as to tower size reflects the height above average terrain of the antenna radiation center.

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings

     We currently, and from time to time, are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business. We maintain comprehensive general liability and other insurance that we believe to be adequate for the purpose. We are not currently a party to any lawsuit or proceeding that we believe could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

     Omitted under the reduced disclosure format pursuant to General Instrument I (2) (c) of Form 10-K.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

     All of the membership units of ACME Intermediate are directly or indirectly owned by ACME Communications, Inc. All of the membership units of ACME Television are directly or indirectly owned by ACME Intermediate.

     No Distributions on ACME Intermediate or ACME Television membership units have ever been declared or paid. The right of ACME Television to make any distributions in the future is subject to restrictions imposed by both the revolving credit facility loan agreement and the indenture governing ACME Television’s 10 7/8% senior discount notes. The right of ACME Intermediate to make any distributions is subject to restrictions contained in the indenture governing its 12% senior secured notes.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     Abbreviated pursuant to General Instruction I (2) (a) of Form 10-K.

Overview

     On December 27, 2002, we announced that we had entered into agreements to sell two of our stations, KPLR-TV serving the St. Louis marketplace and KWBP-TV, serving the Portland, Oregon marketplace, to subsidiaries of Tribune Company for an aggregate, all-cash, consideration of $275 million plus a payment for the closing-date working capital (subject to adjustment) of the St. Louis Station. We completed these transactions on March 21, 2003. The results relating to these two stations have been accounted for as discontinued operations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

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     The nine television stations that comprise our continuing operations are regionally diverse and range in market size (based on television households) from 36 through 86 in the nation. All but one of our stations are affiliates of The WB Television Network. Our second station in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe marketplace is a UPN affiliate. Our nine stations have only been on the air, or achieving measurable ratings, for 3-6 years.

     We derive revenues primarily from the sale of advertising time to local, regional and national advertisers. Our revenues depend on popular programming that attracts audiences in the demographic groups targeted by advertisers, allowing us to sell advertising time at satisfactory rates. Our revenues also depend significantly on factors such as the national and local economy and the level of local competition.

     Our revenues are generally highest during the fourth quarter of each year, primarily due to increased expenditures by advertisers in anticipation of holiday season consumer spending and an increase in viewership during this period. We generally pay commissions to advertising agencies on local, regional and national advertising and to national sales representatives on national advertising. Our revenues reflect deductions from gross revenues for commissions payable to advertising agencies and national sales representatives.

     Our primary ongoing operating expenses are programming costs, employee compensation, advertising and promotion expenditures and depreciation and amortization. Programming expense consists primarily of amortization of broadcast rights relating to syndicated programs as well as costs associated with our morning news show, The Daily Buzz, music rights fees and sports rights fees. Changes in employee compensation expense result primarily from increases in total staffing levels, from adjustments to fixed salaries based on individual performance and inflation and from changes in sales commissions paid to our sales staff based on levels of advertising revenues. Advertising and promotion expenses consist primarily of media and related production costs resulting from the promotion of our stations and programs. This amount is net of any reimbursement received or due to us for such advertisement and promotion from The WB Network, UPN or from other program suppliers.

     In the fall of 2000, we began to experience a noticeable slowdown in non-political advertiser demand. By December 2000, it was clear that there was a dramatic weakness in demand affecting all media-related companies and there were broader indications that the U.S. economy was in a slowdown. This slack demand continued through all of 2001, and the resultant effect of the events of September 11, 2001 only made a tough year worse. By industry accounts, 2001 television revenues declined approximately 13-15% over 2000, the steepest decline in the last 50 years. Nearly every publicly traded television broadcaster, including the Company, posted year-over-year declines in advertising revenues. Advertising demand began to rebound early in 2002 and by the end of the year, aided by robust political advertising demand in most markets, year-over-year gains in most of our markets averaged approximately 10%.

     Although television advertising revenues grew in 2002 over 2001, and early 2003 market audits seem to indicate that this growth trend has continued, the current Iraqi conflict and an uncertain national economic environment provides little visibility as to the health of the advertising marketplace in general, and the eight marketplaces that we serve in particular.

Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2002 compared to Year Ended December 31, 2001

     Net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2002 increased $8.2 million (30%) to $36.0 million compared to $27.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2001. These revenue gains reflect primarily our ratings gains over the past year along with modest market revenue gains during 2002. On a same-station basis, excluding the results of our Madison acquisition in 2002, our revenues increased 29%.

     Station operating expenses increased to $37.0 million compared to the prior year’s operating expenses of $30.8 million. This increase of 20% was attributable primarily to our continued investment in programming, including our September 2002 launch of a new three-hour morning news show, The Daily Buzz, increases in our sales related costs and new expenses related to our roll-out of digital transmission services at most of our stations.

     Depreciation and amortization expense for 2002 was $4.0 million compared to $9.4 million for 2001. This $5.4 million decrease reflects the cessation of the amortization of intangible assets effective January 1, 2002 in connection with our implementation of SFAS No. 142 — Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

     Corporate expenses for 2002 increased to $3.9 million from $3.4 million in 2001. This increase in corporate expenses was due to increased incentive compensation expense, professional fees and increased directors and officers insurance costs.

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     Equity-based compensation was $267,000 in 2002 compared to $335,000 in 2001. This non-cash expense, which relates to options granted below market value in 1999 to certain management in exchange for the termination of their participation in the Company’s previously established long-term incentive plan, and decreased in 2002 due to the termination of some of those participants.

     Interest expense for the current year was $30.9 million and $21.8 million for ACME Intermediate and ACME Television, respectively, compared to $28.6 million and $20.8, respectively, for 2001. This increase in interest expense was the result of higher interest charges on our senior credit facility, which was undrawn during 2001, but which was drawn upon in 2002 to fund interest payments on the Television Notes and capital expenditures in excess of operating cash flow before interest payments, and, for ACME Intermediate, increasing principal balances arising from continued amortization of original issuance discounts on its 12% Senior Secured Discount Notes due 2005.

     We incurred a tax expense in 2002 of $24.9 million and $18.7 million for ACME Intermediate and ACME Television, respectively, compared to a tax benefit of $14.6 million and $11.6 million, respectively, in 2001. The tax expense in 2002 relates primarily to an increase in the valuation allowance required as a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 142 in the first quarter of 2002. The difference in the statutory federal rate of 34% and the Company’s income tax expense relates to the impact of the increase in the valuation allowance.

     Our income from discontinued operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002 was $8.4 million compared to $3.2 million for calendar 2001. This increased income relates primarily to a reduction in amortization of intangibles (as a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 142), partially offset by an increase in the tax expense of discontinued operations.

     Our net loss for 2002 was $56.6 million and $41.3 million for ACME Intermediate and ACME Television, respectively, compared to $26.9 million and $22.1 million, respectively, for 2001. This increase in our net loss is primarily the result of the one-time deferred tax expense recorded in 2002 resulting from the impact of SFAS No. 142 and increased interest expense, partially offset by improved operating results and reduced amortization of intangible assets.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     Net cash used in operating activities was $26.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2002 compared to net cash used in operating activities of $25.0 million for 2001, an increase in use of cash of $1.2 million. The increased use was primarily due to an increase in working capital needs as receivables built at the end of 2002 on strengthening ad sales.

     Net cash used in investing activities was $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, compared to $477,000 in cash provided by investing activities for 2001. The $1.9 million increased use relates primarily to our purchase of our Madison Station and increased purchases of property and equipment, net of increased contributions from our Parent.

     Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2002 was $15.2 million, compared to $1.8 million in 2001. The increase relates primarily to our borrowings to fund our Madison acquisition and increased capital expenditures relating to our digital build-out.

     The Company has carried a high debt level since the issuance of its Television Notes and its Intermediate Notes in September 1997. These notes were issued at an original discount. The Television Notes began accruing cash interest on October 1, 2000 and the first semi-annual interest payment of $9.5 million was made on March 31, 2001. The Intermediate Notes began accruing cash interest on October 1, 2002 and the initial semi-annual interest payment of $4.2 million will be made on March 31, 2003. As of December 31, 2002, the balance under the Company’s senior revolving credit facility was approximately $18.8 million. The Company was in compliance with the covenants of all of our credit agreements as of December 31, 2002. At December 31, 2002, the Company had $1.8 million of cash, $2.9 million of which is restricted to collateralize capital lease obligations, and working capital of $144.8 million and $147.1 million for ACME Intermediate and ACME Television, respectively.

     Although we generated positive annual operating cash flow from our combined continuing and discontinued broadcast operations, before considering interest payments, since our inception in 1997, the weak advertising environment in 2001 resulted in our first-ever decline in such cash flow. On December 27, 2002, we announced that we had entered into agreements to sell our stations KPLR-TV, serving the St. Louis marketplace, and KWBP-TV, serving the Portland, Oregon marketplace, to subsidiaries of Tribune Company (the “Tribune Transaction”) for $275 million in an all-cash transaction. The proceeds from these transactions, which closed on March 21, 2003, will be substantially used to repay much of the

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Company’s debt. On March 21, 2003, we repaid all balances owing under our senior credit facility, issued redemption notices for all of our $175 million Television Notes at the call price of 102.72 and issued a partial redemption notice for $41.634 million of our $71.634 million Intermediate Notes at the call price of 103.00. The redemption date for both issues is set for April 21, 2003. Following the redemption, we will have $30 million outstanding of the Intermediate Notes. Our semi-annual interest payment on the Intermediate Notes will be reduced to $1.8 million with the next payment due September 30, 2003.

     At December 31, 2002, amounts due under all capital lease facilities was $12.2 million bearing an implicit average interest rate of 8.41% per annum. We expect to incur approximately $6 million in additional capital expenditures in 2003, primarily related to our upgrade of our transmission facilities at WBUW in Madison and, to a lesser extent, the routine capital expenditures at our other eight television stations.

     Until such time as we amend, restructure or replace our current senior credit agreement, we have no borrowings available under that facility. The Company’s remaining nine television stations will generate significantly reduced broadcast cash flow without the discontinued operations, but the Company’s debt level and related interest expense will have been substantially reduced. The Company believes that the remaining proceeds from the Tribune Transaction, after repayment of the senior credit facility and redemption of the Television Notes and $41.634 million of Intermediate Notes, will be sufficient to satisfy the Company’s cash requirements for its existing operations for at least the next twelve months.

     We expect to either amend, restructure or replace our senior credit facility during the second quarter of 2003. We are also in discussions to secure a capital lease line to finance our ongoing and future capital equipment expenditures. The Company expects that any future acquisitions (and related capital expenditures) of television stations, including any of the four construction permits, would be financed through these same sources and, if necessary, through additional debt and equity financings by ACME Parent. Although we believe it would be a secondary alternative, we also have the ability to sell select stations in the event of unforeseen credit difficulties, such as might be experienced if there were further declines in the U.S. economy or in advertising demand. There is no guarantee that such other means of raising capital will be at terms acceptable to the Company.

Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

     In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, Business Combinations, and SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. SFAS No. 141 requires that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations completed or initiated after June 30, 2001 SFAS No. 141 also specifies criteria that must be met before intangible assets acquired in a purchase method business combination can be recognized and reported apart from goodwill, noting that any purchase price allocable to an assembled workforce may not be accounted for separately. SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives no longer be amortized, but instead, tested for impairment (at least annually) in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 also requires that intangible assets with definite useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long Lived Assets and for Long Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of”.

     The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 141 in June 2001 and adopted SFAS No. 142 effective January 1, 2002. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and other intangible assets acquired in business combinations that were completed before July 1, 2001 were amortized until the adoption of SFAS No. 142.

     As the Company represents one reporting unit, as defined by SFAS No. 142, goodwill has been evaluated on a consolidated basis. The Company determined that its fair value exceeded its carrying value as of January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2002 (its annual impairment testing date) and, accordingly, no impairment was recorded during 2002. In addition, as prescribed by SFAS No. 142, the Company is no longer amortizing goodwill effective January 1, 2002.

     In the connection with the adoption with Statement 142, the Company determined that its intangible assets have an indefinite life. Accordingly, the Company tested these intangible assets in accordance with the provisions of Statement 142 and no longer amortizes these intangibles effective January 1, 2002. The Company also determined that the fair value of its intangible assets exceeded their carrying values as of January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2002 and, accordingly, there was no impairment.

     As of the date of adoption, January 1, 2002, the Company had unamortized goodwill in the amount of $87.7 million and unamortized identifiable intangible assets in the amount of $165.0 million, all of which was subject to the transition provisions of Statements 141 and 142. No amortization expense related to goodwill and intangible assets was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2002.

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Impact of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

     In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations”. SFAS No. 143 requires the Company to record the fair value of an asset retirement obligation, as a liability, in the period in which it incurs a legal obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset. The Company is also required to record a corresponding asset that is depreciated over the useful life of the asset. Under SFAS No. 143, the asset retirement liability is to be adjusted each accounting period to reflect the passage of time and any changes in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 143 on January 1, 2003. The Company does not currently have a significant amount of asset retirement obligations and therefore believes the adoption of SFAS No. 143 will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

     On December 31, 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure (“SFAS 148”), which amends SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS 123”). SFAS 148 amends the disclosure requirements in SFAS 123 for stock-based compensation for annual periods ending after December 15, 2002 and for interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002. The disclosure requirements apply to all companies, including those that continue to recognize stock-based compensation under APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Effective for financial statements for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002, SFAS 148 also provides three alternative transition methods for companies that choose to adopt the fair value measurement provisions of SFAS 123. We do not choose to adopt the fair value measurement provisions of SFAS 123. However, we are in compliance with the disclosure requirements as of December 31, 2002.

     In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others (“FIN 45”), which addresses the disclosure to be made by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under guarantees. The disclosure requirements are effective for interim and annual financial statements ending after December 15, 2002. We do not have any guarantees that require disclosure under FIN 45.

     FIN 45 also requires the recognition of a liability by a guarantor at the inception of certain guarantees. FIN 45 requires the guarantor to recognize a liability for the non-contingent component of a guarantee, which is the obligation to stand ready to perform in the event that specified triggering events or conditions occur. The initial measurement of this liability is the fair value of the guarantee at inception. The recognition of the liability is required even if it is not probable that payments will be required under the guarantee or if the guarantee was issued with a premium payment or as part of a transaction with multiple elements. The initial recognition and measurement provisions are effective for all guarantees within the scope of FIN 45 issued or modified after December 31, 2002.

     As noted above we have adopted the disclosure requirements of FIN 45 and will apply the recognition and measurement provisions for all guarantees entered into or modified after December 31, 2002. To date we have not entered into any guarantees.

     In February 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN 46”), which addresses the consolidation by business enterprises of variable interest entities, which have one or both of the following characteristics: (1) the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support from other parties, or (2) the equity investors lack one or more of the following essential characteristics of a controlling financial interest: (a) the direct or indirect ability to make decisions about the entity’s activities through voting or similar rights, (b) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity if they occur, or (c) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity if they occur. FIN 46 will have a significant effect on existing practice because it requires existing variable interest entities to be consolidated if those entities do not effectively disburse risks among parties involved. In addition, FIN 46 contains detailed disclosure requirements. FIN 46 applies immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interest entities in which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. It applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003, to variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003. This Interpretation may be applied prospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date on which it is first applied or by restating previously issued financial statements for one or more years with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the first year restated.

     In June 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.” SFAS No. 146 supersedes previous accounting guidance, principally Emerging Issues Task Force Issue (“EITF”) No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an

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Activity (including Credit Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).” SFAS No. 146 requires that the liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity be initially measured at fair value and recognized when the liability is incurred. The provisions of SFAS No. 146 are required to be applied prospectively to exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. The adoption of SFAS No. 146 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     The Company’s revolving credit facility has a variable interest rate. Accordingly, the Company’s interest expense could be materially affected by future fluctuations in the applicable interest rate. At December 31, 2002, the Company had outstanding borrowings of $18.8 million under the revolving credit facility, all of which was repaid on March 21, 2003.

     We are also exposed to risk from a change in interest rates to the extent we are required to refinance existing fixed rate indebtedness at rates higher than those prevailing at the time the existing indebtedness was incurred. As of December 31, 2002, our $175.0 million Television Notes and $71.6 million Intermediate Notes mature in the years 2004 and 2005, respectively. Effective October 1, 2000, the senior discount notes began accruing cash interest. The interest payment on these notes amounts to approximately $9.5 million every six months. Cash interest on the senior secured discount notes is payable semi-annually, in arrears, commencing on March 31, 2003. Based upon the quoted market price, the fair value of the senior discount notes and senior secured discount notes was $177.6 and $68.1 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2002.

     On March 21, 2003, we closed the sale of our discontinued operations to subsidiaries of the Tribune Company. In connection with that closing, we repaid all outstanding borrowings under our senior credit facility and issued a redemption notice on all of our $175 million Television Notes and $41,634 million of our $71,634 million Intermediate Notes. Following the redemption of the notes, set for April 21, 2003, we will have $30 million of the Intermediate Notes outstanding requiring a semi-annual interest payment of $1.8 million.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplemental Data

ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
ACME Television, LLC and Subsidiaries

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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Independent Auditors’ Report

The Members
ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC
ACME Television, LLC:

     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries and ACME Television, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC) (collectively the Companies) as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of operations, members’ capital and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002. In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, we have also audited the financial statement schedules listed in the index of Item 15. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules based on our audits.

     We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

     In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC and subsidiaries and ACME Television, LLC and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

     As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2002, the Companies adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”

/s/ KPMG LLP

Los Angeles, California
February 13, 2003, except for note 14,
which was as of March 21, 2003

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ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
ACME Television, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets

See the notes to the consolidated financial statements

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ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
ACME Television, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations

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ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
ACME Television, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Members’ Capital

See the notes to the consolidated financial statements

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ACME Intermediate Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries
ACME Television, LLC and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows