Media General Reports May Revenues; Provides Second-Quarter Guidance

Media General Reports May Revenues; Provides Second-Quarter Guidance

RICHMOND, Va., June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Media General, Inc. (NYSE:MEG) today reported May 2006 total revenues of $76.9 million, a 6 percent increase from May 2005. By business segment, Publishing Division total revenues increased 7.3 percent, Broadcast Division total revenues increased 2.9 percent, and total Interactive Media Division revenues rose 32.1 percent.

"We were pleased that May was such a strong month for total revenue growth and by far the strongest yet in 2006," said Marshall N. Morton, president and chief executive officer. "Newspaper advertising increased 9.3 percent over last year, reflecting particularly strong Retail advertising in connection with Mother's Day and Memorial Day, as well as continued growth in Classified advertising. Broadcast gross time sales increased 4.6 percent, driven by Political revenues and increased Local advertising revenues.

"Interactive Media Division revenues increased 32.1 percent, driven mostly by strong Classified advertising, as well as good growth in all other online advertising categories. Page views and visitor sessions for the month increased 21 percent and 24 percent, respectively, including Media General's game sites," said Mr. Morton.

In the Publishing Division, all three of the company's metropolitan newspapers and the Community newspaper group reported strong revenue growth for the month.

Classified advertising revenues increased $1.5 million, or 9.1 percent. The growth was driven primarily by the strength of real estate advertising at The Tampa Tribune, where total Classified revenues increased 16.6 percent. The Richmond Times-Dispatch had an 8.9 percent increase in total Classified advertising, while the Winston-Salem Journal reported a decrease of 3.4 percent due to lower spending in the automotive category. The Community newspaper group was up 4.1 percent in total for Classified advertising.

Real estate linage increased 51 percent for the company's three metropolitan newspapers, more than offsetting a 14.8 percent decrease in automotive linage that continued to reflect restrained spending by automotive dealers. The significant growth in real estate linage was driven by a 98.5 percent increase at The Tampa Tribune, reflecting a very strong new housing market in the Tampa region, including urban development in downtown Tampa. In addition, The Tampa Tribune has increased its color capabilities to accommodate advertiser needs. The Richmond Times-Dispatch saw a 33.5 percent increase and the Winston-Salem Journal was up 11 percent.

Employment linage at the three metro newspapers was essentially even with last year. Help-wanted linage was up 4.5 and 7.8 percent at the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Winston-Salem Journal, respectively, while linage was down 9.5 percent at The Tampa Tribune. The decrease at The Tampa Tribune reflected, in part, a low unemployment rate in the Tampa market.

Retail revenues in May increased $1.8 million, or 10 percent. The Tampa Tribune generated an 11.9 percent increase in Retail revenues, resulting from higher spending in the furniture, grocery store and medical categories. The Richmond Times-Dispatch posted a 7.6 percent increase, reflecting gains in the home improvement, furniture and department store categories. The Winston-Salem Journal's Retail revenues grew 10 percent for the month, reflecting increases in the department store and financial categories. The Community newspaper group enjoyed a 7.4 percent Retail growth, and strong increases in the Central Virginia and Alabama markets.

National revenues increased $300,000, or 9.7 percent. The Tampa Tribune was up 15.9 percent, due to higher spending in the financial and automotive categories, offset by lower spending in the telecommunications category. The Winston-Salem Journal posted a 28.3 percent increase, reflecting gains in telecommunications, medical and preprint advertising, while the Richmond Times-Dispatch was even with last year.

Circulation revenues were down $330,000, or 5 percent. Approximately one- third of the decline was due to the continued roll-out of a change in wholesale rates to independent carriers at several newspapers. These rate changes, which are expected to be completed at all of the company's newspapers by the end of June 2006, generated a parallel dollar-for-dollar decrease in Circulation expense. In May 2006, nine Media General newspapers posted increases in net paid Daily Circulation for the month, while overall volume decreased slightly.

In the Broadcast Division, gross time sales increased $1.2 million, or 4.6 percent. Local time sales increased $500,000, or 2.9 percent, and reflected higher spending in the services and telecommunications and specialty stores categories, partially offset by decreases in the automotive and food categories.

National time sales decreased $885,000, or 9.2 percent, and reflected lower spending in the telecommunications, fast food and home improvement categories, offset partially by increases in services and department store advertising. Higher levels of non-returning business and cancellations were the drivers behind the decrease along with increased demand on spot inventory caused by the acceleration in Political spending.

Political revenues for the month were $1.8 million compared with $135,000 last May and were mostly derived from gubernatorial and state and local races in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida.

Interactive Media Division revenue growth reflected increased advertising in all categories, especially online Classifieds for help-wanted and real estate advertising. All Media General Web sites generated significantly higher revenues and nearly all posted improved operating performance in May. National/Regional advertising increased 32.5 percent as a result of additional campaigns across multiple Web sites. Local revenues increased 21.4 percent and reflected additional sales focus and the implementation of new direct-sale products such as video and increased sponsorships.

Outlook

For the second quarter of 2006, the Publishing Division expects advertising revenues to increase approximately 5 percent compared with last year's second quarter. Classified revenue growth will be driven by real estate advertising, partially offset by continued weakness in automotive advertising. New revenue initiatives will bolster Retail growth.

The Broadcast Division anticipates time sales in the second quarter to increase approximately 3.5 percent over the year-ago period. Local time sales are expected to rise about 1 percent, reflecting higher services, telecommunications and furniture advertising. National time sales should decline by about 3 percent, mostly due to lower advertiser spending in the fast food, corporate and specialty stores categories as well as the impact Political advertising is having on available spot inventory. Political revenues are expected to be approximately $4 million as spending for U.S. Senate, state congressional, gubernatorial and various state races is beginning to intensify leading into the general election campaigns.

Equity income from SP Newsprint is expected to exceed $4 million.

Media General expects earnings per share in the second quarter of 2006 to exceed the 2005 second-quarter's 80 cents per diluted share before a gain on the sale of the company's interest in the Denver Post.

The company plans to release second-quarter earnings on July 13, 2006, before the market opens.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties and should be understood in the context of the company's publicly available reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Media General's future performance could differ materially from its current expectations.

About Media General

Media General is a multimedia 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 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 75 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

May
2006 2005 % Change

Revenues (000) 1 $76,944 $72,588 6.0 %
Publishing 48,368 45,078 7.3 %
Broadcast 27,138 26,376 2.9 %
Interactive Media 2,030 1,537 32.1 %
Eliminations (592) (403) (46.9)%

Selected Publishing Revenues (000)
By Category
Advertising $40,991 $37,487 9.3 %
Classified 17,713 16,237 9.1 %
Retail 19,355 17,598 10.0 %
National 3,395 3,096 9.7 %
Other 528 556 (5.0)%
Circulation 6,235 6,562 (5.0)%
By Property
Richmond 11,337 10,806 4.9 %
Tampa 15,901 14,155 12.3 %
Winston-Salem 4,408 4,139 6.5 %
Community Newspapers 16,562 15,812 4.7 %

Advertising Revenues (000) 2
Richmond $9,024 $8,386 7.6 %
Tampa 14,561 12,768 14.0 %
Winston-Salem 3,546 3,339 6.2 %
Community Newspapers 13,508 12,652 6.8 %

Broadcast Time Sales (gross) (000) 1 $27,971 $26,738 4.6 %
Local 17,545 17,045 2.9 %
National 8,674 9,558 (9.2)%
Political 1,752 135 ---

Selected Online Total Page Views
TBO.com 16,156,511 15,951,683 1.3 %
(Tampa, Fla.)
TimesDispatch.com 10,504,031 7,935,106 32.4 %
(Richmond, Va.)
JournalNow.com 3,468,496 3,416,634 1.5 %
(Winston-Salem, N.C.)

Year-to-Date
2006 2005 % Change

Revenues (000) 1 $394,117 $380,841 3.5 %
Publishing 253,905 245,700 3.3 %
Broadcast 132,236 129,126 2.4 %
Interactive Media 10,714 7,913 35.4 %
Eliminations (2,738) (1,898) (44.3)%

Selected Publishing Revenues (000)
By Category
Advertising $212,613 $202,916 4.8 %
Classified 97,531 88,523 10.2 %
Retail 94,406 92,270 2.3 %
National 17,550 19,164 (8.4)%
Other 3,126 2,959 5.6 %
Circulation 35,391 37,215 (4.9)%
By Property
Richmond 59,259 59,070 0.3 %
Tampa 86,480 80,069 8.0 %
Winston-Salem 22,689 22,551 0.6 %
Community Newspapers 84,610 83,120 1.8 %

Advertising Revenues (000) 2
Richmond $46,565 $45,654 2.0 %
Tampa 78,138 71,678 9.0 %
Winston-Salem 18,173 18,229 (0.3)%
Community Newspapers 67,932 66,204 2.6 %

Broadcast Time Sales (gross) (000) 1 $134,239 $128,298 4.6 %
Local 86,637 83,649 3.6 %
National 45,198 43,932 2.9 %
Political 2,404 717 235.3 %

Selected Online Total Page Views
TBO.com 79,842,815 86,122,571 (7.3)%
(Tampa, Fla.)
TimesDispatch.com 55,865,999 41,872,761 33.4 %
(Richmond, Va.)
JournalNow.com 18,553,538 17,591,297 5.5 %
(Winston-Salem, N.C.)

Notes: All data are subject to later adjustment.
1 Includes revenues from certain broadcast and interactive media
operations that the Company is selling.
2 Amounts reflected included both daily and weekly newspapers.

MEDIA GENERAL INC.
Daily Newspapers Advertising Linage*

May
2006 2005 % Change
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Retail 32,991 30,960 6.6 %
National 8,376 9,365 (10.6)%
Classified 70,934 73,560 (3.6)%
Total 112,301 113,885 (1.4)%

Tampa Tribune
Retail 44,983 43,653 3.0 %
National 12,393 13,952 (11.2)%
Classified 135,830 128,427 5.8 %
Total 193,206 186,032 3.9 %

Winston-Salem Journal
Retail 38,571 38,212 0.9 %
National 8,362 7,321 14.2 %
Classified 53,633 55,519 (3.4)%
Total 100,566 101,052 (0.5)%

Community & Associates Dailies
Retail 347,603 335,582 3.6 %
National 19,569 25,088 (22.0)%
Classified 452,270 436,707 3.6 %
Total 819,442 797,377 2.8 %

Media General Dailies Total
Retail 464,148 448,407 3.5 %
National 48,700 55,726 (12.6)%
Classified 712,667 694,213 2.7 %
Total 1,225,515 1,198,346 2.3 %

Year-to-Date
2006 2005 % Change
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Retail 161,235 162,220 (0.6)%
National 49,421 55,401 (10.8)%
Classified 374,404 395,740 (5.4)%
Total 585,060 613,361 (4.6)%

Tampa Tribune
Retail 233,285 234,063 (0.3)%
National 67,647 77,994 (13.3)%
Classified 736,395 706,817 4.2 %
Total 1,037,327 1,018,874 1.8 %

Winston-Salem Journal
Retail 186,456 183,517 1.6 %
National 42,328 45,362 (6.7)%
Classified 293,438 318,384 (7.8)%
Total 522,222 547,263 (4.6)%

Community & Associates Dailies
Retail 1,722,871 1,657,308 4.0 %
National 101,189 148,690 (31.9)%
Classified 2,294,135 2,283,378 0.5 %
Total 4,118,195 4,089,376 0.7 %

Media General Dailies Total
Retail 2,303,847 2,237,108 3.0 %
National 260,585 327,447 (20.4)%
Classified 3,698,372 3,704,319 (0.2)%
Total 6,262,804 6,268,874 (0.1)%

* Advertising is in column inches - full run only

Source: Media General, Inc.

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

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

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