Media Companies Re-Launch Sales Academy

Media Companies Re-Launch Sales Academy

DALLAS, June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Belo Corp. (NYSE:BLC), Hearst-Argyle Television (NYSE:HTV) and LIN TV (NYSE:TVL) along with two new partners, Meredith Corporation (NYSE:MDP) and Post Newsweek Stations (NYSE:WPO), announced today their participation in the 2008 Media Sales Academy, a highly successful training program established in 2000 by Belo Corp., Hearst-Argyle Television and LIN TV, the original founders.

The comprehensive program will be conducted in three phases at Belo's corporate offices in Dallas, Texas from July 14, 2008 through November 6, 2008. The Media Sales Academy will provide high-level training to approximately 35 recently hired broadcast sales professionals from each of the five companies. The core of the curriculum will address the disciplines necessary in today's multi-platform media environment as well as the fundamentals of a customer-centric selling approach.

The Academy has produced many outstanding sales professionals over the years. The sponsoring organizations believe that few assets are more valuable than a well-trained and motivated sales force.

The group has hired Noll & Associates, an independent group of business development specialists for television industry clients, to lead the training sessions.

"Noll and Associates is deeply honored to have been selected to continue the Academy's rich tradition of excellence. These companies realize that training is increasingly important in recruiting and developing a diverse sales force, especially in this competitive local advertising environment," said Kennen Williams, President of Noll and Associates.

About Belo

Belo Corp. is one of the nation's largest pure-play publicly-traded television companies, with annual revenue of approximately $775 million. The Company owns and operates 20 television stations reaching more than 14 percent of U.S. television households, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CW and MyNetwork TV affiliates, and their associated Web sites, in 15 highly-attractive markets across the United States. Belo stations consistently deliver distinguished journalism for which they have received significant industry recognition including nine Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton Awards; nine George Foster Peabody Awards; and 19 national Edward R. Murrow Awards -- all since 2000, and in each case more than any other commercial station group in the nation. Nearly all Belo stations rank first or second in their local market. Belo owns stations in seven of the top 25 markets in the nation, with six stations located in the fast-growing, top-14 markets of Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Seattle/Tacoma and Phoenix. Additionally, the Company has created regional cable news channels in Texas and the Northwest increasing its impact in those regions. Additional information is available at http://www.belo.com/ or by contacting Paul Fry, vice president/Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, at 214-977-6835.

About Hearst-Argyle

Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. owns 26 television stations, and manages an additional three television and two radio stations owned by Hearst Corporation, in geographically diverse U.S. markets. The Company's television stations reach approximately 20 million households, or about 18% of U.S. TV households, making it one of America's largest television station groups. Hearst-Argyle owns 12 ABC-affiliated stations, and manages one ABC station owned by Hearst Corporation, and is the largest ABC affiliate group. The Company also owns 10 NBC affiliates, making it the second-largest NBC affiliate owner. Hearst-Argyle owns two CBS affiliates. Also, Hearst-Argyle owns more than 30 Web sites and currently multicasts 18 digital weather channels and one digital channel carrying CW Network programming. Hearst- Argyle is an investor in Internet Broadcasting (http://www.ibsys.com/), which operates a nationwide network of local Websites, and Ripe Digital Entertainment, which provides advertising-supported short-form video content on various on-demand video platforms. Hearst-Argyle Series A Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HTV." HTV debt is rated investment grade by Moody's (Baa3), Standard & Poor's (BBB-) and Fitch (BBB-); Hearst Corporation, Hearst-Argyle's majority owner, is an investor in Fitch's parent Company. Hearst-Argyle's corporate Web address is http://www.hearstargyle.com/.

About LIN TV

LIN TV Corp., along with its subsidiaries ("LIN TV" or "the Company"), is a local television and digital media company, owning and/or operating 29 television stations in 17 U.S. markets, all of which are affiliated with a national broadcast network. LIN TV's highly-rated stations deliver important local news and community stories, along with top-rated sports and entertainment programming, to 9% of U.S. television homes, reaching an average of 10.2 million households per week. LIN TV is also a leader in the convergence of local broadcast television and the Internet through its television station web sites and a growing number of local online innovations. LIN TV is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TVL". Financial information about the Company is available at http://www.lintv.com/.

About Meredith Corporation

Meredith (http://www.meredith.com/) is one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies with businesses centering on magazine and book publishing, television broadcasting, integrated marketing and interactive media. The Meredith Publishing Group features 25 subscription magazines - including Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal, Family Circle, Parents, American Baby, Fitness and More - and publishes more than 200 special interest publications under approximately 80 titles. Meredith has more than 400 books in print. Meredith owns 12 television stations, including properties in top-25 markets Atlanta, Phoenix and Portland, OR. Additionally, Meredith has an extensive online presence that includes more than 30 Web sites and two broadband channels - Better.tv and Parents.tv. Meredith Video Solutions, the company's in-house production unit, creates broadcast quality video based on Meredith's highly trusted magazine brands for multi-platform delivery.

Meredith Integrated Marketing has established marketing relationships with some of America's leading companies. Meredith's consumer database, which contains approximately 85 million names, is one of the largest domestic databases among media companies and enables magazine and television advertisers to conduct precise targeted marketing campaigns. Meredith publishes five Spanish-language titles, making Meredith the leading publisher serving Hispanic women in the United States.

About Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc.

Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc. owns and operates WDIV in Detroit, WJXT in Jacksonville, WKMG in Orlando, WPLG in Miami, KPRC in Houston, and KSAT in San Antonio. In addition to its broadcast television stations, Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc. operates LATV digital affiliates in Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, Houston, and San Antonio; as well as websites in all of its markets. Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc. is the broadcast division of the Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO).

First Call Analyst: Carey P. Hendrickson
FCMN Contact: mmackey@belo.com

Source: Belo Corp.

CONTACT: Paul Fry, vice president|Investor Relations & Corporate
Communications of Belo Corp., +1-214-977-6835

Web site:

http://www.belo.com/
http://www.hearstargyle.com/
http://www.lintv.com/
http://www.meredith.com/

-------
Profile: intent