McClatchy’s Online Ad Revenue Bucks Trend; Slips 2.6 Percent In May; May Sell CareerBuilder Stake

In line with prevailing industry trends, The McClatchy Company’s May 2007 ad revenue dropped 11.5 percent to $152 million from $172 million, as total revenues were down 10.4 percent compared to May 2006. But in a departure from most of its competitors, May ’07 online revenues for the publisher of The Miami Herald and Sacramento Bee dipped 2.6 percent to $13.6 million from $14 million. Still, year-to-date, online revenues were up 2.1 percent to $70 million from $68.8 million. Overall, year-to-date advertising revenues for McClatchy, which also owns a stake in CareerBuilder, declined 7.1 percent. Total YTD revenues were down 6.2 percent.

McClatchy is scheduled to provide an in-depth review of its business performance and outlook today at the Newspaper Association of America’s Mid-Year Media Review, an analyst forum being held at the McGraw-Hill Building in New York. Release | Webcast (10:00 am EST)

Update: During his presentation at NAA, McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt said the company is considering selling its 14.4 percent stake in CareerBuilder, Reuters reported. The company shares ownership of the recruitment site with Microsoft, which bought a 4 percent stake in May; both Tribune Company and Gannett each have a 40.8 percent stake. Pruitt expressed some reluctance about a possible sale, saying, “We would prefer to stay with CareerBuilder… We have to consider all options, which would include the possibility of selling our share out.”

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