Media General Reports December Revenues

Media General Reports December Revenues

RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Media General, Inc. (NYSE:MEG) today reported that December 2005 revenues of $73.3 million increased 1.5 percent from December 2004. On a divisional basis, Publishing's total revenues showed a small decline of 0.4 percent, Broadcast revenues increased 3.3 percent and Interactive Media revenues rose 42.5 percent.

In the Publishing Division, newspaper advertising revenues increased $270,000, or 0.7 percent, compared to a strong December 2004. Including revenues from the company's newspaper Web sites, newspaper advertising revenues rose 1.3 percent for December and total Publishing revenues increased 0.1 percent.

Classified revenues increased $260,000, or 2 percent. Including online advertising, total Classified revenues increased 3.6 percent in December. Employment linage at The Tampa Tribune increased 9.1 percent and rose 12.3 percent at the Winston-Salem Journal. The Richmond Times-Dispatch posted a 1.9 percent decline mostly due to lower employment advertising by state and local governments and schools.

At The Tampa Tribune, total Classified advertising revenues increased 4.1 percent, the Richmond Times-Dispatch was even with last year, and the Winston- Salem Journal was down 1.7 percent. Community newspapers were up 0.8 percent.

For the company's three metro newspapers, employment linage increased 4.2 percent and real estate linage rose 31.7 percent. Automotive linage was down 17 percent, similar to the last several months, due to automotive dealers continuing to hold back on spending.

Retail revenues decreased $30,000 or 0.2 percent. The Tampa Tribune's retail revenues were below last year by 1.4 percent, mostly the result of declines in the department store category. Retail revenues at the Richmond Times-Dispatch declined 7.5 percent, primarily due to decreases in the department and jewelry store categories. The Winston-Salem Journal was up 3.7 percent, reflecting higher spending in the department store, sporting goods and jewelry store categories. Community newspaper Retail revenues were up 1.2 percent.

National revenues declined $80,000, or 2 percent. The Tampa Tribune's National revenues were even with last year, while the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported a 2.3 percent decline, reflecting lower spending in the telecommunications category, and the Winston-Salem Journal had a 14.7 percent decrease, also the result of lower telecommunications advertising as well as a decrease in National automotive advertising.

Due primarily to a change in wholesale rates to independent carriers, for which there was a corresponding expense decrease, Circulation revenues were down 5.7 percent, or $390,000, from last year. While some Media General newspapers experienced circulation volume declines in December, 11 newspapers reported Daily circulation volume growth and five newspapers did so for Sunday.

Gross time sales in the Broadcast Division of $25.1 million were up $2.1 million, or 9.2 percent, due to strong Local and National time sales growth. In December, Political spending was minimal in this off-election year.

Local time sales grew $1.4 million, or 9.3 percent, driven by new business development initiatives, particularly at the company's Tampa, Spartanburg, Birmingham, Roanoke and Florence stations. There were advances in the furniture, automotive, financial, department store and telecommunications categories.

National time sales increased $670,000, or 9 percent. This increase was due primarily to higher spending in the department store, telecommunications and automotive categories, which offset decreases in fast food and specialty store advertising.

Interactive Media Division revenues rose 42.5 percent to $1.7 million, fueled by a 35.7 percent increase in Classified advertising, led by employment, as well as a strong performance in various new products and a 19.1 percent increase in Local advertising. Revenues from Blockdot, acquired in July 2005, also contributed to the growth.

About Media General

Media General is a diversified communications company operating leading newspapers, television stations and online enterprises, primarily in the Southeastern United States. The company's publishing assets include three metropolitan newspapers, The Tampa Tribune, Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Winston-Salem Journal; 22 daily community newspapers in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina; and more than 100 weekly newspapers and other publications. The company's broadcasting assets include 26 network-affiliated television stations that reach more than 30 percent of the television households in the Southeast and nearly 8 percent of those in the United States. The company's interactive media assets include more than 50 online enterprises that are associated with its newspapers and television stations. Media General also owns a 33 percent interest in SP Newsprint Company, a manufacturer of recycled newsprint.

MEDIA GENERAL INC.
Revenues and Page Views

December
2005 2004 % Change

Revenues (000) $73,259 $72,167 1.5 %
Publishing 46,132 46,327 (0.4)%
Broadcast 25,845 25,015 3.3 %
Interactive Media 1,650 1,158 42.5 %
Eliminations (368) (333) (10.5)%

Selected Publishing Revenues (000)
By Category
Advertising $38,713 $38,440 0.7 %
Classified 13,273 13,017 2.0 %
Retail 20,335 20,367 (0.2)%
National 4,047 4,131 (2.0)%
Other 1,058 925 14.4 %
Circulation 6,460 6,848 (5.7)%
By Property
Richmond 10,277 10,950 (6.1)%
Tampa 15,055 14,874 1.2 %
Winston-Salem 4,473 4,494 (0.5)%
Community Newspapers 16,039 15,798 1.5 %

Advertising Revenues (000)
Richmond $8,003 $8,391 (4.6)%
Tampa 13,628 13,463 1.2 %
Winston-Salem 3,653 3,669 (0.4)%
Community Newspapers 12,988 12,710 2.2 %

Broadcast Time Sales (gross) (000) $25,108 $22,987 9.2 %
Local 16,986 15,545 9.3 %
National 8,118 7,449 9.0 %
Political 4 (7) ---

Selected Online Total Page Views
TBO.com 16,698,444 15,102,136 10.6 %
(Tampa, Fla.)
TimesDispatch.com 8,467,655 6,902,525 22.7 %
(Richmond, Va.)
JournalNow.com 3,372,323 2,880,611 17.1 %
(Winston-Salem, N.C.)

Notes: All data are subject to later adjustment.

MEDIA GENERAL INC.
Revenues and Page Views

Year-to-Date
2005 2004 % Change

Revenues (000) $917,937 $900,420 1.9 %
Publishing 587,849 566,487 3.8 %
Broadcast 314,412 323,653 (2.9)%
Interactive Media 20,487 13,920 47.2 %
Eliminations (4,811) (3,640) (32.2)%

Selected Publishing Revenues (000)
By Category
Advertising $489,948 $465,240 5.3 %
Classified 209,964 193,942 8.3 %
Retail 226,471 219,739 3.1 %
National 45,541 44,163 3.1 %
Other 7,972 7,396 7.8 %
Circulation 85,101 89,025 (4.4)%
By Property
Richmond 138,970 137,851 0.8 %
Tampa 191,987 178,681 7.4 %
Winston-Salem 54,307 53,771 1.0 %
Community Newspapers 200,104 193,959 3.2 %

Advertising Revenues (000)
Richmond $108,119 $104,862 3.1 %
Tampa 173,676 160,735 8.1 %
Winston-Salem 43,945 43,725 0.5 %
Community Newspapers 160,368 153,794 4.3 %

Broadcast Time Sales (gross) (000) $313,639 $323,608 (3.1)%
Local 206,323 183,529 12.4 %
National 105,135 102,423 2.6 %
Political 2,181 37,656 (94.2)%

Selected Online Total Page Views
TBO.com 228,815,803 231,493,016 (1.2)%
(Tampa, Fla.)
TimesDispatch.com 106,937,752 81,767,495 30.8 %
(Richmond, Va.)
JournalNow.com 43,929,947 35,147,735 25.0 %
(Winston-Salem, N.C.)

Notes: All data are subject to later adjustment.

MEDIA GENERAL INC.
Daily Newspapers Advertising Linage*

December
2005 2004 % Change
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
Retail 30,885 35,418 (12.8)%
National 9,715 11,132 (12.7)%
Classified 50,895 56,288 (9.6)%
Total 91,495 102,838 (11.0)%
TAMPA TRIBUNE
Retail 49,010 51,184 (4.2)%
National 17,072 16,349 4.4 %
Classified 116,950 116,240 0.6 %
Total 183,032 183,773 (0.4)%
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
Retail 41,994 39,521 6.3 %
National 8,217 9,618 (14.6)%
Classified 46,471 47,231 (1.6)%
Total 96,682 96,370 0.3 %
COMMUNITY & ASSOCIATES DAILIES
Retail 354,914 348,987 1.7 %
National 28,915 30,477 (5.1)%
Classified 345,950 386,627 (10.5)%
Total 729,779 766,091 (4.7)%
MEDIA GENERAL DAILIES TOTAL
Retail 476,803 475,110 0.4 %
National 63,919 67,576 (5.4)%
Classified 560,266 606,386 (7.6)%
Total 1,100,988 1,149,072 (4.2)%

* Advertising is in column inches -- full run only

MEDIA GENERAL INC.
Daily Newspapers Advertising Linage*

Year-to-Date
2005 2004 % Change
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH
Retail 379,846 409,466 (7.2)%
National 123,406 128,879 (4.2)%
Classified 898,985 915,432 (1.8)%
Total 1,402,237 1,453,777 (3.5)%
TAMPA TRIBUNE
Retail 559,827 543,824 2.9 %
National 186,811 184,871 1.0 %
Classified 1,653,673 1,645,569 0.5 %
Total 2,400,311 2,374,264 1.1 %
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
Retail 445,451 463,189 (3.8)%
National 104,856 103,136 1.7 %
Classified 734,889 726,998 1.1 %
Total 1,285,196 1,293,323 (0.6)%
COMMUNITY & ASSOCIATES DAILIES
Retail 4,074,576 4,080,481 (0.1)%
National 348,336 365,577 (4.7)%
Classified 5,314,619 5,551,227 (4.3)%
Total 9,737,531 9,997,285 (2.6)%
MEDIA GENERAL DAILIES TOTAL
Retail 5,459,700 5,496,960 (0.7)%
National 763,409 782,463 (2.4)%
Classified 8,602,166 8,839,226 (2.7)%
Total 14,825,275 15,118,649 (1.9)%

* Advertising is in column inches - full run only

Source: Media General, Inc.

CONTACT: Investor Contact: Lou Anne J. Nabhan, +1-804-649-6103, or Media
Contact: Ray Kozakewicz, +1-804-649-6748, both of Media General, Inc.

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

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