Operating expenses increased $12.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021. Audio operating expenses increased $9.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021, primarily due to continued recovery from the
COVID-19
pandemic. Digital operating expenses increased $2.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021, primarily due to continued investment in the digital segment.
Corporate expenses increased $0.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021, primarily due to an increase in cash compensation, contract services, and travel expenses.
Due to an increase in interest rates in the U.S. economy, we tested our FCC licenses and goodwill for impairment during the second quarter of 2022. As a result of the quantitative impairment tests, we recorded impairment losses of $2.8 million related to the FCC licenses in our Fort Myers-Naples, FL, Las Vegas, NV, and Wilmington, DE market clusters and impairment losses of $5.9 million related to the goodwill in our Boston, MA, Charlotte, NC, Fayetteville, NC, Fort Myers-Naples, FL and Tampa-Saint Petersburg, FL market clusters. The impairment losses were primarily due to an increase in the discount rate used in the discounted cash flow analyses to estimate the fair value of FCC licenses and goodwill due to certain risks associated with the U.S. economy. On April 1, 2022, we completed the sale of substantially all of the assets used in the operations of
WWNN-AM
in West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL to a third party for $1.25 million in cash. As a result of the sale, we recorded an impairment loss of $1.9 million related to the FCC license during the first quarter of 2022.
Other Operating Income, Net.
Other operating income, net for the six months ended June 30, 2021 includes life insurance proceeds of $3.0 million related to the death of Mr. George Beasley, the Company’s former Chairman, in June 2021, partially offset by certain payments totaling $1.5 million that were accrued in accordance with Mr. Beasley’s employment contract, payments of $0.6 million for consulting services related to the
COVID-19
pandemic and expenses of $0.5 million related to the early termination of a programming contract.
Interest expense increased $1.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021. The primary factors affecting interest expense were an increase in long-term debt outstanding and the applicable interest rate.
Loss on Extinguishment of Long-Term Debt.
We recorded a loss on extinguishment of long-term debt of $5.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2021, resulting from the issuance of the Notes on February 2, 2021 and the use of proceeds to repay the credit facility.
Our effective tax rate was approximately (27)% and (13)% for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2022, respectively. These rates differ from the federal statutory rate of 21% due to the effect of state income taxes, certain
non-taxable
income, and certain expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes.
Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $18.0 million compared to a net loss of $10.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 as a result of the factors described above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of liquidity are internally generated cash flow and cash on hand. Our primary liquidity needs have been, and for the next twelve months and thereafter are expected to continue to be, for working capital, debt service, and other general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and radio station acquisitions. Historically, our capital expenditures have not been significant. In addition to property and equipment associated with radio station acquisitions, our capital expenditures have generally been, and are expected to continue to be, related to the maintenance of our office and studio space, the maintenance of our radio towers and equipment, and digital products and information technology. We have also purchased or constructed office and studio space in some of our markets to facilitate the consolidation of our operations.
In response to the
COVID-19
pandemic, our board of directors has suspended future quarterly dividend payments until it is determined that resumption of dividend payments is in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders. In addition, as discussed in “Secured Notes” below, the Indenture governing our Notes limits our ability to pay dividends.