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Tribune Revenues Increased 2.2% in
October
Publishing revenues up 2.0%; Television revenues up 1.3%
CHICAGO, November 11, 2003
-- Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB)
today reported its summary of revenues and newspaper advertising
volume for period 10, ended Oct. 26, 2003 . Consolidated
revenues for the period were $445 million, up 2.2 percent
from last year's $435 million.
Publishing revenues in October were $325 million, 2.0 percent
higher than last year's $318 million. Advertising revenues
increased 2.9 percent to $252 million, compared with $245
million in October 2002. Total advertising inches were up
2 percent, while preprint pieces increased 4 percent.
Retail, national and classified advertising revenues discussed
below include both print and interactive revenues for 2003
and 2002.
- Retail advertising revenues
rose 2.5 percent due to strength in home furnishing,
food and other retail, partially offset by a decline
in department stores. Preprint revenues, which are principally
included in retail, were up 8 percent. Full run retail
linage was flat.
- National advertising revenues
increased 5.1 percent due to strength in financial,
hi-tech and movies/entertainment, partially offset
by lower travel/resorts; full run national volume was
up 5 percent.
- Classified advertising
revenues rose 1.7 percent due to strength
in auto and real estate, which were up 3 percent and
9 percent, respectively. Help wanted was down 1 percent.
Full run classified volume was up 1 percent in the period.
- Interactive
revenues were $9 million, up 40 percent, due to strength
in all categories.
Broadcasting and Entertainment group revenues increased
2.7 percent to $120 million, compared with $117 million in
October 2002. Television revenues increased 1.3 percent.
Excluding KPLR-TV, St. Louis and KWBP-TV, Portland , both
acquired in March 2003, television revenues decreased 1.9
percent. Radio/Entertainment revenues improved 18.1 percent
primarily due to playoff related revenue at the Chicago Cubs,
offset by fewer projects at Tribune Entertainment..
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This press release contains certain
comments that are based largely on the company's current
expectations and are subject to certain risks, trends and
uncertainties. Such comments and statements should be understood
in the context of Tribune's publicly available reports
filed with the SEC, including the most current 10-Q and
10-K that contain a discussion of various factors that
may affect the company's business. These factors could
cause actual future performance to differ materially from
current expectations.
Tribune Company is not responsible for updating the information
contained in this press release beyond the published date,
nor for changes made to this document by wire services or
Internet service providers. More information on Tribune is
available on the Internet at www.tribune.com.
TRIBUNE (NYSE: TRB) is one of the country's
premier media companies, operating businesses in broadcasting
and publishing. It reaches more than 80 percent of U.S. households
and is the only media organization with television stations,
newspapers and Web sites in the nation's top three markets.
In publishing, Tribune operates 13 leading daily newspapers
including the Los Angeles Times , Chicago Tribune,
Newsday and Spanish-language Hoy , plus a wide
range of targeted publications. The company's broadcasting
group operates 26 television stations; Superstation WGN on
national cable; WGN-AM in Chicago; and the Chicago Cubs baseball
team. Popular news and information Web sites complement Tribune's
print and broadcast properties and extend the company's nationwide
audience. |
