| 
Tribune Revenues Down 0.9% in August
Publishing
advertising revenues up 0.6%
Television revenues down 3.5%
CHICAGO, September 14,
2005 --
Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB) today reported
its summary of revenues and newspaper advertising volume
for period 8, ended
Aug. 28, 2005. Consolidated revenues for the period were
$428 million, down
0.9 percent from last year’s $432 million.
Publishing revenues in August were $298
million, 1.9 percent lower than last year’s
$303 million. Advertising revenues increased 0.6 percent
to $234 million, compared with $233 million in August 2004.
Total advertising inches were down 4.5 percent, while preprint
pieces increased 0.9 percent. Excluding Newsday, which implemented
lower ad rates in September 2004 as the result of the significant
reduction in reported circulation, advertising revenues were
up 0.9 percent.
- Retail advertising revenues decreased
0.9 percent as declines in the food & drug store,
electronics, department store and furniture/home furnishing
categories were partially offset by increases in the
hardware/home improvement store, education and restaurant
categories. Preprint revenues, which are principally
included in retail, were up 3 percent.
- National advertising revenues
decreased 5.5 percent as declines in the technology, movie,
transportation and auto categories were partially offset
by growth in the financial, package goods and media categories.
- Classified
advertising revenues rose 5.9 percent due to gains in help
wanted and real estate, which rose 14 and 12 percent, respectively.
Automotive classified advertising fell 4 percent. Interactive
revenues, which are primarily included in classified, were
$15 million, up 43 percent, due to strength in all categories.
Circulation revenues were down 8.6 percent
primarily due to volume declines at each of the company’s
newspapers as well as selectively higher discounting.
Broadcasting and entertainment group revenues in August
increased 1.5 percent to
$131 million, compared with $129 million last year. Television
revenues decreased
3.5 percent as advertising revenue remains soft in most markets.
Weakness in the movie and retail categories was partially
offset by increases in financial/legal and education. Television
revenues in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston continue
to be impacted by Local People Meters. Radio/entertainment
revenues increased 17.5 percent due to improved results at
the Chicago Cubs.
:: ::
::
This press release contains
certain comments or forward-looking statements 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”),
including the most current annual 10-K report and quarterly
10-Q report, which contain a discussion of various factors
that may affect the company’s business or financial
results. 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,
or for changes made to this document by wire services or
Internet service providers. The Company's next 10-Q report
to be filed with the SEC may contain updates to the information
included in this release.
TRIBUNE (NYSE: TRB) is
one of the country’s
top media companies, operating businesses in publishing and
broadcasting. It reaches more than 80 percent of U.S. households
and is the only media organization with newspapers, television
stations, and websites in the nation’s top three markets.
In publishing, Tribune operates 11 leading daily newspapers
including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Newsday,
plus a wide range of targeted publications such as Spanish-language Hoy.
The company’s broadcasting group operates 26 television
stations, Superstation WGN on national cable, Chicago ’s
WGN-AM and the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Popular news and
information websites complement Tribune’s print and
broadcast properties and extend the company’s nationwide
audience. |
