Tribune Revenues Down 2.2% in April

Tribune Revenues Down 2.2% in April

Publishing advertising revenues up 1.0%; Television revenues down 7.1%

CHICAGO, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) today reported its summary of revenues and newspaper advertising volume for period 4, ended April 24, 2005. Consolidated revenues for the period were $437 million, down 2.2 percent from last year's $447 million.

Publishing revenues in April were $317 million, 0.5 percent lower than last year's $319 million. Advertising revenues increased 1.0 percent to $250 million, compared with $247 million in April 2004. Total advertising inches were down 0.3 percent, while preprint pieces increased 8 percent. Excluding Newsday, which implemented lower ad rates as the result of the significant reduction in reported circulation in September 2004, advertising revenues were up 2.1 percent.

-- Retail advertising revenues were flat as growth in the furniture/home
furnishings, general merchandise, auto supply, and hardware/home
improvement store categories was offset by declines in the department
store and food & drug store categories. Preprint revenues, which are
principally included in retail, were up 4 percent.
-- National advertising revenues decreased 7.0 percent as declines in the
movies, transportation and technology categories were partially offset
by growth in the telecom and media categories.
-- Classified advertising revenues rose 8.2 percent due to gains in help
wanted and real estate, up 18 and 21 percent, respectively. Auto
classified advertising fell 6 percent. Interactive revenues, which are
primarily included in classified, were $14 million, up 51 percent, due
to strength in all categories.

Circulation revenues were down 8.8 percent primarily due to volume declines at each of the company's newspapers.

Broadcasting and Entertainment group revenues in April were down 6.5 percent to $120 million, compared with $129 million last year. Television revenues decreased 7.1 percent as advertising revenue remains soft in most markets. Weakness in autos, movies and retail was partially offset by increases in fast food, education and financial. Television revenues in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston continue to be impacted by Local People Meters. Radio/entertainment revenues fell 3.6 percent due in part to fewer syndicated shows being produced by Tribune Entertainment Company.

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.

TRIBUNE COMPANY
SUMMARY OF REVENUES (Unaudited)
For Period 4 Ended April 24, 2005
(In thousands)

Period 4 (4 weeks) Year-to-Date (17 weeks)
2005 2004 % 2005 2004 %
---------- ---------- --- ----------- ---------- ---
Publishing
----------
Advertising
Retail $ 98,313 $ 98,334 - $ 400,067 $ 393,202 1.7
National 58,852 63,286 (7.0) 265,361 270,953 (2.1)
Classified 92,558 85,553 8.2 372,284 357,741 4.1
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Sub-Total(A) 249,723 247,173 1.0 1,037,712 1,021,896 1.5
Circulation 46,685 51,187 (8.8) 198,401 217,090 (8.6)
Other 20,593 20,253 1.7 86,400 83,210 3.8
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Segment Total 317,001 318,613 (0.5) 1,322,513 1,322,196 -
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Broadcasting &
Entertainment
--------------
Television 99,731 107,328 (7.1) 389,820 413,767 (5.8)
Radio/Enter. 20,651 21,420 (3.6) 40,794 43,715 (6.7)
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Segment Total 120,382 128,748 (6.5) 430,614 457,482 (5.9)
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Consol. Rev. $ 437,383 $ 447,361 (2.2) $ 1,753,127 $1,779,678 (1.5)
========== ========== =========== ==========

(A)Publishing advertising revenues for 2004 have been reclassified to
conform with the 2005 presentation. There was no effect on total
revenues.

TRIBUNE COMPANY
SUMMARY OF NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING VOLUME (Unaudited)(A)
For Period 4 Ended April 24, 2005
(In thousands)

Period 4 (4 weeks) Year-to-Date (17 weeks)
2005 2004 % 2005 2004 %
---------- ---------- --- ----------- ---------- ---
Full Run
--------
L.A. Times 162 184 (12.0) 745 806 (7.6)
Chicago Tribune 158 165 (4.2) 661 692 (4.5)
Newsday 121 117 3.4 474 479 (1.0)
Other Dailies (B) 1,052 1,106 (4.9) 4,341 4,625 (6.1)
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Total 1,493 1,572 (5.0) 6,221 6,602 (5.8)
========== ========== =========== ==========

Part Run
--------
L.A. Times 399 420 (5.0) 1,709 1,861 (8.2)
Chicago Tribune 526 495 6.3 2,198 2,045 7.5
Newsday 168 145 15.9 628 572 9.8
Other Dailies (B) 515 479 7.5 2,114 2,028 4.2
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Total 1,608 1,539 4.5 6,649 6,506 2.2
========== ========== =========== ==========

Total Advertising Inches
------------------------
Full Run
Retail 455 464 (1.9) 1,860 1,863 (0.2)
National 281 317 (11.4) 1,279 1,380 (7.3)
Classified 757 791 (4.3) 3,082 3,359 (8.2)
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Sub-Total 1,493 1,572 (5.0) 6,221 6,602 (5.8)
Part Run 1,608 1,539 4.5 6,649 6,506 2.2
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Total 3,101 3,111 (0.3) 12,870 13,108 (1.8)
========== ========== =========== ==========

Preprint Pieces
---------------
L.A. Times 286,527 265,573 7.9 1,177,423 1,021,336 15.3
Chicago Tribune 361,096 298,695 20.9 1,430,303 1,201,250 19.1
Newsday 215,831 216,889 (0.5) 883,461 853,970 3.5
Other Dailies (B) 303,817 299,987 1.3 1,277,887 1,273,327 0.4
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Total 1,167,271 1,081,144 8.0 4,769,074 4,349,883 9.6
========== ========== =========== ==========

(A)Volume for 2004 has been modified to conform with the 2005
presentation. Volume is based on preliminary internal data, which may
be updated in subsequent reports. Advertising volume is presented only
for daily newspapers.

(B)Other daily newspapers include The Baltimore Sun, South Florida Sun-
Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel, The Hartford Courant, The Morning Call,
Daily Press, The Advocate, Greenwich Time, Hoy, New York, Hoy, Chicago,
and Hoy, Los Angeles.

Source: Tribune Company

CONTACT: Media, Gary Weitman, +1-312-222-3394, fax, +1-312-222-1573,
gweitman@tribune.com , or Investor, Ruthellyn Musil, +1-312-222-3787, fax,
+1-312-222-1573, rmusil@tribune.com , both of Tribune Company

Web site: http://www.tribune.com/

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