Earnings: Preparing To Go Private, Tribune’s Q2 Income Falls 58.7 Percent; Online Up 17 Percent

Citing the declining ad sales that’s plagued much of the newspaper industry, Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB), in perhaps its last earnings report before going private, said its Q2 income fell 58.7 percent to $36.3 million, or 18 cents a share, from $87.8 million, or 28 cents a share, last year. Revenue fell 6.8 percent to $1.31 billion in Q2 as well. The publisher of the Chicago Tribune and LA Times was sold to Chicago real estate mogul for $8.2 billion this past April. The publisher’s other Q2 highlights included:

— Advertising revenues dropped 11 percent, or $91 million. Retail ads were down 5 percent, while national ad sales fell 11 percent and classified declined 18 percent. Circulation revenues slid 6 percent.

— Interactive revenues were up 17 percent to $66 million, mainly due to strength in the classified auto and real estate categories.

— Publishing’s operating revenues were $920 million, down 9 percent, or $95 million, as the division’s cash operating expenses increased $7 million, or 1 percent, to $773 million. The Broadcasting and entertainment unit’s quarterly operating revenues were flat at $393 million. A spokesman said that the company will not be holding a conference call to discuss its results. Earnings release

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