| Scripps August Revenues Increase 4 Percent |
CINCINNATI, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The E.W. Scripps Company's (NYSE: SSP) consolidated revenues increased 4 percent in August to $136 million, compared to $130 million in August 1999. The year-over-year growth rate was affected by the difference in the number of Sundays in August of this year compared to the same month in 1999. Sunday is a major advertising day for newspapers. August 2000 had four Sundays versus five in 1999. If July and August 2000 are combined, eliminating the inconsistent year-over-year comparison, consolidated revenues were up 8.4 percent. Newspaper advertising revenues for August were unchanged at $61 million, reflecting the impact of the negative Sunday comparison. Classified advertising revenues were down 1 percent to $26.1 million. Local advertising revenues decreased 3.3 percent to $21.2 million. Total newspaper revenues were down 3.2 percent to $76.6 million. For July and August combined, newspaper advertising revenues were up 4.1 percent. Category television revenues increased 32 percent to $24.6 million. The number of subscribers at Home & Garden Television reached 65.7 million in August, up 1.5 million from the previous month, according to the Nielsen Homevideo Index. Home & Garden Television now reaches more than 75 percent of all domestic cable households. The number of Food Network subscribers reached 51.8 million in August, up 1.3 million from the previous month, according to the Nielsen index. Broadcast television revenues increased 7.9 percent to $25.9 million. Broadcast television political advertising revenues were $2.6 million in August compared to $400,000 in August 1999. The E.W. Scripps Company is a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, cable television programming and interactive media. Scripps operates 20 daily newspapers, 10 broadcast TV stations and three cable television networks, with plans to launch a fourth. Scripps cable television network brands include Home & Garden Television, Food Network, Do it Yourself, and Fine Living, due to launch in the second half of 2001. The company also operates Scripps Howard News Service, United Media, the worldwide licensing and syndication home of PEANUTS and DILBERT, and 31 Web sites, including hgtv.com, foodtv.com, diynet.com and comics.com. Scripps will be one of the presenters during the Merrill Lynch Media and Entertainment Conference in Marina del Rey, Calif., Sept. 27. The company's presentation will focus on its growing category and interactive media businesses. Unaudited Revenue and Statistical Summary Period: August Report date: September 12, 2000
For comparative purposes, this report excludes divested operations, and
August **** Year-to-date
2000 1999 % 2000 1999 %
CONSOLIDATED REVENUE
Newspapers $76.6 $79.1 (3.2)% $626.1 $606.3 3.3 %
Category Media 24.6 18.6 32.1 % 208.2 140.9 47.8 %
Broadcast
Television 25.9 24.0 7.9 % 212.7 201.8 5.4 %
Licensing and
Other Media 8.5 8.1 4.1 % 65.9 60.7 8.4 %
TOTAL $135.6 $129.9 4.3 % $1,112.8 $1,009.7 10.2 %
NEWSPAPERS ***
Revenue ( in
millions )
Local $21.2 $22.0 (3.3)% $179.3 $176.8 1.4 %
Classified 26.1 26.4 (0.9)% 206.4 192.4 7.3 %
National 3.3 3.0 11.9 % 25.0 23.3 7.4 %
Preprints
and other 10.3 9.7 6.1 % 76.9 67.2 14.4 %
Newspaper
advertising 61.0 61.0 0.0 % 487.6 459.7 6.1 %
Circulation 11.5 12.8 (10.2)% 98.3 104.0 (5.4)%
Other * 4.1 5.3 (23.2)% 40.2 42.6 (5.7)%
Newspapers $76.6 $79.1 (3.2)% $626.1 $606.3 3.3 %
Ad inches (in
thousands )
Local 757 800 (5.4)% 6,504 6,595 (1.4)%
Classified 1,043 1,041 0.2 % 8,284 7,943 4.3 %
National 93 74 24.6 % 670 570 17.6 %
Full run ROP 1,892 1,915 (1.2)% 15,458 15,108 2.3 %
CATEGORY TELEVISION
Revenue
Advertising $19.3 $12.4 55.5 % $165.8 $100.6 64.9 %
Affiliate fees 4.9 4.4 11.5 % 38.9 33.4 16.6 %
Other 0.4 1.8 (76.3)% 3.5 7.0 (50.3)%
Category
Television $24.6 $18.6 32.1 % $208.2 $140.9 47.8 %
Subscribers **
( homes in
millions )
HGTV 65.7 57.6 14.1 %
Food Network 51.8 41.9 23.6 %
BROADCAST TELEVISION
Revenue
Local $13.0 $12.9 0.8 % $113.9 $110.5 3.0 %
National 9.3 9.5 (2.3)% 80.6 78.1 3.3 %
Political 2.6 0.4 8.4 1.1
Other 0.9 1.2 (19.3)% 9.8 12.1 (19.2)%
Broadcast
Television $25.9 $24.0 7.9 % $212.7 $201.8 5.4 %
** According to Nielsen Homevideo Index of homes that receive cable networks. *** For comparative purposes, certain 1999 amounts have been reclassified to conform to 2000 classifications. **** August 2000 had 4 Sundays, versus 5 in 1999. SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company
CONTACT: Tim Stautberg of The E.W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3826, or stautberg@scripps.com/ |