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Tribune Revenues Down 3.5% in October
Publishing
advertising revenues up 1.4%
Television
revenues down 9.7%
CHICAGO,
November 15, 2005 -- Tribune Company
(NYSE: TRB) today reported its summary of revenues and
newspaper advertising volume for period 10, ended
Oct. 23, 2005. Consolidated revenues for the period were
$439 million, down
3.5 percent from last year’s $455 million.
Publishing revenues in October were
$330 million compared to last year’s $329 million.
Advertising revenues increased 1.4 percent to $265 million,
compared with $261 million in October 2004.
- Retail advertising revenues decreased
2.0 percent as declines in the food & drug store,
electronics, department stores and furniture/home furnishing
categories were partially offset by increases in the
hardware/home improvement, personal services and amusement
categories. Preprint revenues, which are principally
included in retail, were down 2 percent.
- National advertising revenues increased
2.2 percent as gains in the movie, financial and media
categories were partially offset by declines in the auto,
package goods and wireless categories.
- Classified advertising revenues rose
4.7 percent due to gains in help wanted and real estate,
which rose 10 and 19 percent, respectively. Automotive
classified advertising fell 13 percent. Interactive revenues,
which are primarily included in classified, were $16
million, up 50 percent, due to strength in all categories.
Circulation revenues were down 4.5 percent
primarily due to volume declines at most of the company’s
newspapers as well as selectively higher discounting.
Broadcasting and entertainment group revenues
in October decreased 13.2 percent to $109 million, compared
with $126 million last year. Television revenues declined
9.7 percent as advertising revenue remains soft in most
markets. Weakness in the auto, retail and restaurant/fast
food categories was partially offset by increases in movies
and financial/legal. Radio/entertainment revenues decreased
36.0 percent due to five fewer Chicago Cubs baseball games
in period 10 this year.
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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. |
