Business News

Media General Reports Fourth-Quarter 2007 Results

Friday 01. February 2008 - Media General, Inc. (NYSE:MEG) today reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2007 of $9.6 million, or 43 cents per diluted share, compared with $31.6 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2006.

The 2007 fourth quarter includes write-downs of $15 million related to the sale of SP Newsprint Co., in which Media General has a one-third interest, an accrued after-tax loss of $2 million associated with the company’s plans to divest three television stations, and a $1.4 million write-down related to an investment in a company that produces interactive entertainment. The fourth quarter also includes a pre-tax gain of $17.6 million on an insurance settlement related to a June 2007 fire at the company’s Richmond Times-Dispatch printing plant. Income from continuing operations was $10.4 million, or 47 cents per diluted share, compared with $31.3 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, in the 2006 fourth quarter.

The 2007 fourth quarter had 13 weeks compared with 14 weeks in the 2006 quarter. Although it is difficult to precisely quantify the impact of the additional week, the company has estimated the impact on key metrics throughout this release in order to allow meaningful comparisons. The company estimates the effect of the additional week in 2006 contributed approximately $18.5 million in total revenues and about $2.5 million of net income.

Total company revenues in the fourth quarter of 2007 were $243.8 million, an approximate 10 percent decrease from the equivalent prior-year period.

“Media General’s lower profit in the fourth quarter was chiefly attributable to markedly lower Political revenues compared to the record $33 million generated in last year’s fourth quarter, and a $6.8 million loss from the company’s share of the operating results of SP Newsprint,” said Marshall N. Morton, president and chief executive officer. “Additionally, lower Publishing Division results reflected the extremely weak economic climate in Florida, which drove declines in all major advertising categories in our Tampa market, particularly Classified advertising. Expense savings for the division of more than 5 percent helped to mitigate the revenue shortfall.

“We are pleased with the Interactive Media Division’s continued solid revenue growth, up about 36 percent, led by increased advergaming revenues and Local and National/Regional advertising,” Mr. Morton said. “Revenues from Yahoo!HotJobs also partially helped mitigate overall softness in online Classified revenues. Page views and visitor sessions for the fourth quarter rose about 12-to-14 percent, partially driven by our ‘Web-First’ approach to local news in a number of markets.”

Publishing Division

Publishing Division profit for the quarter decreased approximately 22 percent, total revenues decreased about 9 percent, and newspaper advertising revenues declined about 11 percent.

Classified advertising revenues in the fourth quarter were below last year by about $10 million, or 22 percent. The Tampa, Richmond and Winston-Salem markets saw estimated decreases of 42 percent, 11 percent and 8 percent, respectively. The Community Newspapers group posted an approximate 8 percent decrease in Classified revenues.

For the company’s three metro markets, real estate revenues were down about 36 percent, employment revenues decreased approximately 27 percent, and automotive revenues declined about 24 percent.

Retail revenues decreased about $2 million, or less than 3 percent. At the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Retail revenues increased nominally, including advertising generated by a weekly newspaper acquired in 2007, partially offset by lower advertising in the department store and furniture store categories. The Tampa market experienced an approximate 8 percent decrease in Retail revenues, including lower spending in the home improvement, home furnishings and grocery store categories. The Winston-Salem Journal also experienced a nominal decrease in Retail revenues, with declines in the home improvement category partially offset by advertising from two new monthly publications. Retail revenues for the Community Newspaper group decreased nominally.

National advertising revenues for the quarter decreased approximately $2 million, or 15 percent. The Richmond market generated an increase of about 11 percent, mainly the result of higher spending in the telecommunications, insurance and automotive categories. National advertising fell approximately 31 percent in the fourth quarter in the Tampa market due to declines in pharmaceutical, telecommunications and financial advertising.

Circulation revenues for the fourth quarter were down less than $300,000, or about 1 percent. Daily and Sunday net-paid circulation declines for the month were partially offset by rate increases at the metro newspapers.

Publishing Division expenses declined more than 5 percent for the quarter, reflecting significant decreases in newsprint expense, salaries, and benefits. Newsprint expense decreased as the result both of lower prices and consumption. The average price per ton decreased $93 from the 2006 quarter. Salaries and benefits declined due, in part, to actions taken earlier in the year in response to the weak revenue environment as well as favorable experience in healthcare and retirement-related expenses.

Broadcast Division

Broadcast Division profit for the quarter declined approximately 42 percent, and total Broadcast revenues decreased about 14 percent. The decline was largely due to lower Political revenues from last year’s record quarter. The Broadcast Division results exclude three television stations that are being held for sale and reported as discontinued operations.

Total Political revenues of $4.3 million compared with a record $33.3 million in the 2006 quarter. The current quarter’s revenues were generated from Presidential primary campaigns in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia, state races in many of the company’s markets and issue spending in a number of states.

Gross time sales declined about $20 million, or 17 percent. Local time sales grew approximately $6 million, or 10 percent. Higher spending in the grocery store and services categories offset lower furniture and specialty store advertising. National time sales were up about $3 million, or 8 percent. Categories showing increases for the quarter included telecommunications and specialty stores, while automotive declined.

Broadcast expenses for the quarter increased about 3 percent, due to increased commissions and customer incentives to replace the prior year’s Political revenues along with higher depreciation expense on digital equipment purchased in recent years.

Interactive Media Division

Interactive Media Division revenues of $9.2 million increased approximately 36 percent over the 2006 quarter. The growth reflected a significant increase in the advergaming business, which was profitable for the third consecutive quarter, on revenues that more than tripled from last year. Local revenues increased about 50 percent as the result of continued growth in banners and sponsorships and increased success with direct sales. National/Regional revenues also grew more than 50 percent, due to a greater focus on national networks, particularly at TBO.com in Tampa. Classified advertising was down approximately 11 percent as lower newspaper advertising volumes, especially help-wanted, had an unfavorable impact on the company’s Web sites. The division’s quarterly loss of $2.6 million included a $1.4 million write-down of an investment. Excluding the write-down, the division’s quarterly loss was $1.2 million.

Other results

Interest expense decreased by $1.5 million, almost completely due to one less week in 2007’s fourth quarter. Corporate expense and other expenses were less directly impacted by the extra week, but did reflect lower expense for stock-based compensation and postemployment plans.

EBITDA (income from continuing operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) in the fourth quarter of 2007 was $47.4 million, compared with $82.9 million in the 2006 period. After-Tax Cash Flow was $27.9 million compared to $48.8 million in the prior year. Free Cash Flow for the quarter (After-Tax Cash Flow minus capital expenditures) was $4.9 million, compared with $24.6 million in the prior-year period. All comparisons were significantly impacted by the reduction in Political advertising.

Media General provides the non-GAAP financial metrics EBITDA, After-Tax Cash Flow, and Free Cash Flow. The company believes these metrics are useful in evaluating financial performance and are common alternative measures used by investors, financial analysts and rating agencies. These groups use EBITDA, along with other measures, to evaluate a company’s ability to service its debt requirements and to estimate the value of the company. A reconciliation of these metrics to amounts on the GAAP statements has been included in this news release.