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Tribune Revenues Down 6.1% in December
Publishing advertising revenues down
4.5%
Television revenues down 10.1%
CHICAGO,
January 19, 2006 -- Tribune Company
(NYSE: TRB) today reported its summary of revenues and newspaper
advertising volume for period 12, ended Dec. 25, 2005. Consolidated
revenues for the period were $539 million, down
6.1 percent from last year’s $574 million.
Publishing revenues in December were
$413 million compared to last year’s
$431 million; the timing of the Christmas holiday on Sunday
and the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma in South Florida accounted
for about $6 million of the decline. Advertising revenues
decreased 4.5 percent to $333 million, compared with $349
million in December 2004.
- Retail advertising revenues decreased 5.2 percent
as weakness in the department store, electronics, food
and drug and furniture/home furnishings categories were
partially offset by increases in the personal services
and hardware/home improvement categories. Preprint revenues,
which are principally included in retail, were down 4.1
percent, due primarily to volume declines at Newsday.
- National advertising revenues declined
9.6 percent, due largely to declines at the Los Angeles
Times. Movie, technology and wireless categories were
down, partially offset by gains in the health care and
package goods categories.
- Classified
advertising revenues rose 2.5 percent due to gains in help
wanted and real estate, which rose 13 percent and 21 percent,
respectively. Automotive classified advertising fell 16
percent. Interactive revenues, which are primarily included
in classified, were $15 million, up 33 percent, due to
strength in all categories.
Circulation revenues were down 3.5 percent
primarily due to volume declines at most of the company’s
newspapers and selectively higher discounting.
Broadcasting and entertainment group revenues in December
decreased 11.9 percent to $126 million, compared with $143
million last year. Television revenues declined 10.1 percent
as advertising revenue remains soft in most markets. Weakness
in telecom, automotive and food was partially offset by increases
in the financial and education categories. Radio/entertainment
revenues decreased 37.3 percent primarily due to lower syndication
revenues at Tribune Entertainment.
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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-K 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. |
