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Tribune Revenues Increased 4% in April
Publishing
revenues up 1%
Television revenues up 18%
CHICAGO, May 12, 2003 --
Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB)
today reported its summary of revenues and newspaper advertising
volume for period 4, ended April 27, 2003. Consolidated revenues
for the period were $435 million, up 4 percent from last year’s
$417 million.
Publishing revenues in April were $306 million,
1 percent higher than last year’s
$302 million. Advertising revenues increased 1 percent to
$232 million, compared with $231 million in April 2002. Total
advertising inches were up 1 percent, while preprint pieces
grew 10 percent.
- Retail print advertising increased 5 percent
due to gains in most categories, including food, department
stores and home/furnishings, which were partially offset
by a decrease in electronics. Preprint revenues, which are
principally included in retail, were up 12 percent. Full
run retail linage was up 2 percent.
- National print advertising rose 6 percent
due to strength in the hi-tech, movies/entertainment and
auto manufacturers categories, which were partially offset
by a decrease in travel/resorts; full run national volume
was up 10 percent.
- Classified print advertising decreased 8
percent, due to softness in help wanted, which was down
21 percent. Auto and real estate were down 4 percent and
up
1 percent, respectively. Full run classified volume was
down 1 percent in the period.
- Interactive revenue increased 9 percent
due mainly to gains in classifieds.
Broadcasting and Entertainment group revenues
increased 12 percent to $129 million, compared with $115 million
in April 2002. Television revenues increased 18 percent driven
by strength in the movie, packaged goods and retail categories.
Excluding WTTV-Indianapolis, which was acquired in July 2002,
KPLR in St. Louis and KWBP in Portland, both acquired in March
2003, television revenues increased 13 percent. Radio/entertainment
revenues decreased 13 percent primarily due to the divestiture
of radio stations in Denver.
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 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.
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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, publishing and on the Internet. It reaches
more than 80 percent of U.S. households, and is the only media
company with television stations, newspapers and Web sites
in the nation’s top three markets. In publishing, Tribune
operates 12 market-leading daily newspapers such as the Los
Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Newsday plus a wide range
of targeted publications including Spanish-language newspapers.
In broadcasting, Tribune properties include 26 television
stations and Superstation WGN on national cable. These publishing
and broadcasting interests are complemented by high-traffic
news and information Web sites in 20 of the nation’s
top 30 markets.
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