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Tribune Revenues Increase 1% in November

Publishing revenues up 1.0%

Television revenues up 1.9%

CHICAGO, December 8, 2003 -- Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB) today reported its summary of revenues and newspaper advertising volume for period 11, ended Nov. 23, 2003 . Consolidated revenues for the period were $451 million, up 1.0 percent from last year's $446 million.

Publishing revenues in November were $330 million, 1.0 percent higher than last year's $327 million. Advertising revenues increased 2.0 percent to $258 million, compared with $253 million in November 2002. Total advertising inches were up 1 percent, while preprint pieces increased 5 percent.

Retail, national and classified advertising revenues discussed below include both print and interactive revenues for 2003 and 2002.

  • Retail advertising revenues fell 0.6 percent due to weakness in food, department stores and electronics, partially offset by strength in home furnishings. Preprint revenues, which are principally included in retail, were up 7 percent. Full run retail linage was down 7 percent.
  • National advertising revenues increased 6.0 percent due to strength in movies/entertainment, financial and auto manufacturers, partially offset by lower hi-tech; full run national volume was up 6 percent.
  • Classified advertising revenues rose 2.6 percent due to strength in auto and real estate, which were up 3 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Help wanted was up 1 percent. Full run classified volume was flat in the period.
  • Interactive revenues were $8 million, up 27 percent, due to strength in all categories.
Broadcasting and Entertainment group revenues increased 1.0 percent to $121 million, compared with $119 million in November 2002. Television revenues increased 1.9 percent. Excluding KPLR-TV, St. Louis and KWBP-TV, Portland , both acquired in March 2003, television revenues decreased 1.5 percent. Radio/Entertainment revenues decreased 9.2 percent primarily due to fewer programs 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.

   
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