Tribune Reports 2006 First Quarter Results

CHICAGO, April 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tribune Company today reported first quarter 2006 diluted earnings per share of $.33 compared with $.44 in the first quarter of 2005.

First quarter 2006 results included the following: -- Stock-based compensation expense of $.04 per diluted share as a result of the adoption of the new accounting standard for stock-based compensation. -- A charge of $.04 per diluted share for severance and other payments associated with the new union contracts at Newsday. -- A gain of $.01 per diluted share related to property sales in publishing. -- A net non-operating loss of $.02 per diluted share. First quarter 2005 results included the following: -- A net non-operating gain of $.03 per diluted share.

Tribune presents earnings per share amounts on a generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") basis only. This differs from the pro forma earnings per share amounts supplied by broker analysts to databases such as First Call.

"Newspaper ad revenues were flat for the quarter. Strength in classified, with interactive revenues up nearly 30 percent, was offset by declines in national and retail advertising. Television group revenues trended better, and while down 2 percent, our New York, Washington, D. C., and six Fox stations delivered good growth," said Dennis FitzSimons, Tribune chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Tight cost controls remain in effect," he added, "and our actions in 2005 resulted in a 5 percent year-over-year staff reduction, or approximately 1,200 positions across the company, and lower compensation expense. Looking ahead, our new labor agreements at Newsday will result in significant expense savings, while in TV we expect our affiliation with the CW Network to have a positive impact on revenues later this year."

FIRST QUARTER 2006 RESULTS (1) (Compared to First Quarter 2005) CONSOLIDATED

Tribune's 2006 first quarter operating revenues decreased 1 percent, or $17 million, to $1.30 billion. Consolidated cash operating expenses were up 1 percent, or $15 million. In the first quarter of 2006, cash operating expenses included $18 million of stock-based compensation expense and a charge of $19 million associated with the new union contracts at Newsday, partially offset by a $7 million gain on property sales. All other cash operating expenses were down 2 percent, or $16 million, for the quarter. Operating cash flow was down 10 percent to $279 million from $310 million, while operating profit declined 12 percent to $223 million from $252 million.

PUBLISHING

Publishing's first quarter operating revenues were $997 million, down 1 percent, or $9 million. Publishing cash operating expenses were up 2 percent, or $17 million, as 2006 included a charge of $19 million associated with the new union contracts at Newsday and $7 million of stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by a $7 million gain on property sales. Publishing operating cash flow was $217 million, an 11 percent decrease from $243 million in 2005. Publishing operating profit was down 12 percent to $174 million, from $199 million in 2005.

Management Discussion -- Advertising revenues were flat for the quarter. Excluding Newsday, advertising revenues increased 1 percent. Revenues were favorably impacted by the timing of the Easter holiday. -- Retail advertising revenues were down 2 percent for the quarter. Decreases in the food & drug stores, department stores, and electronics categories were partially offset by an increase in the hardware/home improvement stores category. Preprint revenues declined 2 percent; excluding Newsday, preprint revenues were up 3 percent. -- National advertising was down 8 percent for the quarter, primarily due to a decline in the movie category at Los Angeles. Autos and technology were also down, partially offset by an increase in the telecom/wireless category. -- Classified advertising was up 8 percent for the quarter: help wanted revenues were up 7 percent; real estate revenues rose 35 percent; and auto revenues were down 10 percent. -- Interactive advertising revenues, which are included in the above categories, were up 30 percent to $51 million, mainly due to strength in classified help wanted revenues. -- Circulation revenues were down 4 percent for the quarter. - Individually paid circulation (home delivery plus single copy) for Tribune's 11 metro newspapers averaged 2.8 million copies daily (Mon-Fri) in the first quarter, up 1 percent from the prior year, and 4.2 million copies Sunday, down approximately 1 percent from the same reporting period in 2005. - Total net paid circulation averaged 3.0 million copies daily (Mon-Fri) and 4.3 million copies Sunday in the first quarter, representing a decline of 3 percent, for both daily and Sunday, from the prior year's quarter as the company continued to manage down "other paid" circulation. -- Cash operating expenses increased 2 percent, or $17 million, due to the previously discussed $19 million charge related to the Newsday union contracts and $7 million of stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by $7 million of gains on property sales. All other cash expenses were down slightly as higher newsprint and total market coverage postage expenses were offset by lower compensation and benefits, primarily due to a 5 percent (1,000 positions) reduction in staffing. BROADCASTING AND ENTERTAINMENT

Broadcasting and entertainment's first quarter operating revenues decreased 2 percent to $303 million, down from $310 million in 2005. Group cash operating expenses were down 4 percent, or $10 million, compared with the 2005 first quarter. The first quarter of 2005 included $13.5 million of additional compensation expense recorded by the Chicago Cubs related to a player trade. Operating cash flow was $82 million, up 3 percent from $80 million, and operating profit increased 3 percent to $69 million from $67 million.

Television's first quarter revenues decreased 2 percent to $284 million, down from $290 million in 2005. Television cash operating expenses were up 4 percent, or $8 million, from last year. Television operating cash flow was $86 million, a 13 percent decrease from $99 million in 2005. Television operating profit declined 15 percent to $74 million, down from $87 million.

Management Discussion -- Television revenue showed less of a decline than in any quarter last year. Station revenues in New York were up for the quarter, while Los Angeles and Chicago lagged. Softness continued in the auto and retail categories, while movies showed growth for the second consecutive quarter. The restaurants, education, and telecom advertising categories were also up. -- Television cash operating expenses were up 4 percent due to an $8 million increase in broadcasting rights and $2 million of stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by staff reductions and other savings. EQUITY RESULTS

Net equity income was $6.5 million in the first quarter of 2006, compared with $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2005. The increase reflects improvements at TV Food Network and Comcast SportsNet Chicago. In addition, the Company is no longer recording losses for The WB Network as the Company's recorded investment has been reduced to zero.

NON-OPERATING ITEMS

In the 2006 first quarter, Tribune recorded a pretax non-operating loss of $14 million ($8 million after-tax), primarily from marking-to-market the derivative component of the Company's PHONES and the related Time Warner investment.

In the 2005 first quarter, Tribune recorded a pretax non-operating loss of $4 million. In addition, the Company recorded favorable income tax settlement adjustments of $12 million as a reduction in income tax expense. In the aggregate, non-operating items in the first quarter of 2005 resulted in an after-tax gain of $9 million, or $.03 per diluted share.

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL DETAILS

Corporate expenses for the 2006 first quarter increased to $20 million from $13 million in the first quarter of 2005. The increase was due to $8 million of stock-based compensation expense recorded in the first quarter of 2006, partially offset by $1 million of savings primarily from staff reductions in 2005.

As of the beginning of 2006, Tribune adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment. The statement requires the Company to expense stock-based compensation in the income statement. Previously, the expense was disclosed in the footnotes to the Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company recorded $18 million, or $.04 per diluted share, of stock-based compensation expense in the first quarter of 2006. The Company plans to record $32 million, or $.07 per diluted share, of stock-based compensation expense for the full year of 2006. The Company issues substantially all of its stock-based awards in February of each year. Stock-based awards granted to retirement eligible employees are required to be expensed immediately. As a result, the 2006 first quarter stock-based expense includes over half of the expected full year expense.

Interest expense for the 2006 first quarter increased to $49 million, up 39 percent from $35 million in the first quarter of 2005, primarily due to higher interest rates and debt levels. Debt, excluding the PHONES, was $2.8 billion at the end of the 2006 first quarter and $1.8 billion at the end of the 2005 first quarter.

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding declined by 5 percent primarily due to stock repurchases. The Company repurchased 4.6 million shares in the first quarter of 2006.

RECENT ACTIONS

On January 8, 2006, Newsday's six collective bargaining units voted to accept four-year contracts that include work-rule flexibility and more efficient staffing, as well as modified retirement and health care plans. Expected savings are approximately $7 million in 2006 and more than $10 million annually thereafter. The Company recorded a charge of $19 million in the first quarter of 2006 for severance and other payments associated with the contracts.

On January 24, 2006, the Company announced that it had reached a 10-year agreement to affiliate 16 of its television stations (including those in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago) with The CW, a new broadcast network, being launched in fall 2006 by Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation.

DETAILS OF CONFERENCE CALL

Today at 8 a.m. CT, management will host a conference call to discuss first quarter 2006 results. To access the call, dial 800/901-5218 (domestic) or 617/786-4511 (international) at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled 8 a.m. start. The participant access code is 11607847. Replays of the conference call will be available April 13 through April 20. To hear the replay, dial 888/286-8010 (domestic) or 617/801-6888 (international) and use access code 89538262. A live webcast will be accessible through http://www.tribune.com/ and http://www.earnings.com/. An archive of the webcast will be available April 13 through April 27.

More information about Tribune is available at http://www.tribune.com/ or by calling 800/757-1694.

TRIBUNE is one of the country's top media companies, operating businesses in publishing and broadcasting. It reaches more than 80 percent of U.S. households and is the only media organization with newspapers, television stations and web sites in the nation's top three markets. In publishing, Tribune operates 11 leading daily newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Newsday, plus a wide range of targeted publications including Spanish-language Hoy. The Company's broadcasting group operates 26 television stations; Superstation WGN on national cable; Chicago's WGN-AM; and the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Popular news and information web sites complement Tribune's print and broadcast properties and extend the Company's nationwide audience.

This press release contains certain comments or forward-looking statements that are based largely on the Company's current expectations and are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties. Such comments and statements should be understood in the context of Tribune's publicly available reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the most current annual 10-K report and quarterly 10-Q report, which contain a discussion of various factors that may affect the Company's business or financial results. Any of these factors could cause actual future performance to differ materially from current expectations. Tribune Company is not responsible for updating the information contained in this press release beyond the published date, or for changes made to this document by wire services or Internet service providers. This press release is being furnished to the SEC through a Form 8-K. The Company's next 10-Q report to be filed with the SEC may contain updates to the information included in this release.

(1) "Operating profit" for each segment excludes interest and dividend income, interest expense, equity income and losses, non-operating items and income taxes. "Operating cash flow" is defined as operating profit before depreciation and amortization. "Cash operating expenses" are defined as operating expenses before depreciation and amortization. Tables accompanying this release include a reconciliation of operating profit to operating cash flow and operating expenses to cash operating expenses. References to individual daily newspapers include their related businesses. TRIBUNE COMPANY FIRST QUARTER RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) FIRST QUARTER (A) --------------------------------- % 2006 2005 Change --------- --------- ------ OPERATING REVENUES $ 1,299,083 $ 1,315,744 (1.3) OPERATING EXPENSES (B) 1,076,226 1,063,687 1.2 --------- --------- OPERATING PROFIT(C) 222,857 252,057 (11.6) Net Income on Equity Investments 6,548 471 NM Interest and Dividend Income 2,180 1,082 101.5 Interest Expense (48,772) (35,091) 39.0 Non-Operating Items(D) (13,697) (3,843) NM --------- --------- Income Before Income Taxes 169,116 214,676 (21.2) Income Taxes(D) (66,352) (71,829) (7.6) --------- --------- NET INCOME 102,764 142,847 (28.1) Preferred Dividends (2,103) (2,090) 0.6 --------- --------- Net Income Attributable to Common Shares $ 100,661 $ 140,757 (28.5) ========= ========= EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic $ .33 $ .44 (25.0) --------- --------- Diluted(E) $ .33 $ .44 (25.0) --------- --------- DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE $ .18 $ .18 - --------- --------- Diluted Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding(F) 305,959 320,366 (4.5) --------- --------- (A)2006 first quarter: Dec. 26, 2005 to March 26, 2006. (13 weeks) 2005 first quarter: Dec. 27, 2004 to March 27, 2005. (13 weeks) (B)Operating expenses for the first quarter of 2006 included stock-based compensation expense of $18 million, or $.04 per diluted share, a charge of $19 million, or $.04 per diluted share, for severance and other payments associated with the new union contracts at Newsday, and a gain of $7 million, or $.01 per diluted share, related to property sales in publishing. (C)Operating profit excludes interest and dividend income, interest expense, equity income and losses, non-operating items and income taxes. (D)The first quarter of 2006 included the following non-operating items: Pretax After-tax Diluted Gain(Loss) Gain(Loss) EPS --------- --------- --------- Loss on derivatives and related investments (1) $ (10,317)$ (6,293)$ (.02) Gain on sales of investments 3,466 2,114 .01 Loss on investment write-downs and other, net (6,846) (4,176) (.01) --------- --------- --------- Total non-operating items $ (13,697)$ (8,355)$ (.02) ========= ========= ========= The first quarter of 2005 included the following non-operating items: Pretax After-tax Diluted Gain(Loss) Gain(Loss) EPS --------- --------- --------- Loss on derivatives and related investments(1) $ (2,252)$ (1,374)$ - Gain on sales of investments 1,108 676 - Loss on investment write-downs and other, net (2,699) (1,646) - Income tax adjustments (2) - 11,829 .03 --------- --------- --------- Total non-operating items $ (3,843)$ 9,485 $ .03 ========= ========= ========= (1) Loss on derivatives and related investments represents the net change in fair values of the derivative component of the Company's PHONES and the related Time Warner shares. (2) In the first quarter of 2005, the Company reduced its income tax expense and liabilities by a total of $12 million as a result of favorably resolving certain federal income tax issues. (E)For the first quarters of 2006 and 2005, weighted average common shares outstanding used in the calculations of diluted earnings per share ("EPS") were adjusted for the dilutive effect of stock-based compensation grants. The Company's Series C, D-1 and D-2 convertible preferred shares were not included in the calculation of diluted EPS for the first quarter of either year because their effects were antidilutive. Following are the calculations for the first quarter: First Quarter --------------------- 2006 2005 --------- --------- Net Income $ 102,764 $ 142,847 Dividends for Series C, D-1 and D-2 preferred stock (2,103) (2,090) --------- --------- Net income attributable to common shares $ 100,661 $ 140,757 --------- --------- Weighted average common shares outstanding 304,219 317,307 Adjustment for stock-based compensation grants 1,740 3,059 --------- --------- Adjusted weighted average common shares outstanding 305,959 320,366 --------- --------- Diluted earnings per share $ .33 $ .44 ========= ========= (F)The number of common shares outstanding, in thousands, at March 26, 2006 was 302,482. TRIBUNE COMPANY FIRST QUARTER BUSINESS SEGMENT DATA (Unaudited) (In thousands) FIRST QUARTER --------------------------------- % 2006 2005 Change PUBLISHING --------- --------- ------ Operating Revenues $ 996,529 $ 1,005,512 (0.9) Cash Operating Expenses(A)(B)(C) (779,698) (762,327) 2.3 --------- --------- Operating Cash Flow(D)(E) 216,831 243,185 (10.8) Depreciation and Amortization Expense (42,609) (44,646) (4.6) --------- --------- Total Operating Profit(E) $ 174,222 $ 198,539 (12.2) ========= ========= BROADCASTING AND ENTERTAINMENT Operating Revenues Television $ 284,243 $ 290,089 (2.0) Radio/Entertainment 18,311 20,143 (9.1) --------- --------- Total Operating Revenues 302,554 310,232 (2.5) Cash Operating Expenses(A)(C) Television (198,503) (190,970) 3.9 Radio/Entertainment(F) (22,228) (39,450) (43.7) --------- --------- Total Cash Operating Expenses(F) (220,731) (230,420) (4.2) Operating Cash Flow(D)(E) Television 85,740 99,119 (13.5) Radio/Entertainment (3,917) (19,307) (79.7) --------- --------- Total Operating Cash Flow 81,823 79,812 2.5 Depreciation and Amortization Expense Television (11,533) (11,678) (1.2) Radio/Entertainment (1,292) (1,168) 10.6 --------- --------- Total Depreciation and Amortization Expense (12,825) (12,846) (0.2) Operating Profit(Loss)(E) Television 74,207 87,441 (15.1) Radio/Entertainment (5,209) (20,475) (74.6) --------- --------- Total Operating Profit $ 68,998 $ 66,966 3.0 ========= ========= CORPORATE EXPENSES Operating Cash Flow(D)(E) $ (20,024)$ (13,047) 53.5 Depreciation and Amortization Expense (339) (401) (15.5) --------- --------- Total Operating Loss(E) $ (20,363)$ (13,448) 51.4 ========= ========= CONSOLIDATED Operating Revenues $ 1,299,083 $ 1,315,744 (1.3) Cash Operating Expenses(A)(C) (1,020,453) (1,005,794) 1.5 --------- --------- Operating Cash Flow(D)(E) 278,630 309,950 (10.1) Depreciation and Amortization Expense (55,773) (57,893) (3.7) --------- --------- Total Operating Profit (E) $ 222,857 $ 252,057 (11.6) ========= ========= (A)The Company uses cash operating expenses to evaluate internal performance. The Company has presented cash operating expenses because it is a common measure used by rating agencies, financial analysts and investors. Cash operating expenses are not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles("GAAP") and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Following is a reconciliation of operating expenses to cash operating expenses for the first quarter of 2006: Publishing B&E Corporate Consol. --------- --------- --------- --------- Operating expenses $ 822,307 $ 233,556 $ 20,363 $1,076,226 Less: depreciation and amortization expense 42,609 12,825 339 55,773 --------- --------- --------- --------- Cash operating expenses $ 779,698 $ 220,731 $ 20,024 $1,020,453 ========= ========= ========= ========= Following is a reconciliation of operating expenses to cash operating expenses for the first quarter of 2005: Publishing B&E Corporate Consol. --------- --------- --------- --------- Operating expenses $ 806,973 $ 243,266 $ 13,448 $1,063,687 Less: depreciation and amortization expense 44,646 12,846 401 57,893 --------- --------- --------- --------- Cash operating expenses $ 762,327 $ 230,420 $ 13,047 $1,005,794 ========= ========= ========= ========= (B)Publishing cash operating expenses for the first quarter of 2006 included a charge of $19 million for severance and other payments associated with the new union contracts at Newsday and a gain of $7 million related to property sales. (C)Cash operating expenses for the first quarter of 2006 included stock- based compensation expense of $7 million for Publishing, $3 million for Broadcasting and Entertainment and $8 million for Corporate. (D)Operating cash flow is defined as operating profit before depreciation and amortization. The Company uses operating cash flow along with operating profit and other measures to evaluate the financial performance of the Company's business segments. The Company has presented operating cash flow because it is a common alternative measure of financial performance used by rating agencies, financial analysts and investors. These groups use operating cash flow along with other measures as a way to estimate the value of a company. The Company's definition of operating cash flow may not be consistent with that of other companies. Operating cash flow does not represent cash provided by operating activities as reflected in the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows, is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. (E)Operating profit for each segment excludes interest and dividend income and interest expense, equity income and losses, non-operating items and income taxes. Following is a reconciliation of operating profit(loss) to operating cash flow for the first quarter of 2006: Publishing B&E Corporate Consol. --------- --------- --------- --------- Operating profit(loss)$ 174,222 $ 68,998 $ (20,363)$ 222,857 Add back: depreciation and amortization expense 42,609 12,825 339 55,773 --------- --------- --------- --------- Operating cash flow $ 216,831 $ 81,823 $ (20,024)$ 278,630 ========= ========= ========= ========= Following is a reconciliation of operating profit(loss) to operating cash flow for the first quarter of 2005: Publishing B&E Corporate Consol. --------- --------- --------- --------- Operating profit(loss)$ 198,539 $ 66,966 $ (13,448)$ 252,057 Add back: depreciation and amortization expense 44,646 12,846 401 57,893 --------- --------- --------- --------- Operating cash flow $ 243,185 $ 79,812 $ (13,047)$ 309,950 ========= ========= ========= ========= (F)Broadcasting and entertainment cash operating expenses for the first quarter of 2005 included $13.5 million related to a Chicago Cubs player trade. TRIBUNE COMPANY SUMMARY OF REVENUES AND NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING VOLUME (Unaudited) For Period 3 Ended March 26, 2006 (In thousands) Period 3 (4 weeks) Year-to-Date (13 weeks) 2006 2005 % 2006 2005 % ---------- ---------- --- ----------- ---------- --- Publishing ---------- Advertising Retail $ 93,956 $ 97,359 (3.5) $ 297,601 $ 304,181 (2.2) National 53,677 58,206 (7.8) 183,562 200,514 (8.5) Classified 102,742 89,695 14.5 306,526 282,772 8.4 ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Sub-Total 250,375 245,260 2.1 787,689 787,467 - Circulation 45,075 46,598 (3.3) 145,864 151,716 (3.9) Other 20,271 21,323 (4.9) 62,976 66,329 (5.1) ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Segment Total (A) 315,721 313,181 0.8 996,529 1,005,512 (0.9) ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Broadcasting & Entertainment -------------- Television 94,857 95,503 (0.7) 284,243 290,089 (2.0) Radio/Enter. 9,061 10,056 (9.9) 18,311 20,143 (9.1) ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Segment Total 103,918 105,559 (1.6) 302,554 310,232 (2.5) ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Consol. Rev. $ 419,639 $ 418,740 0.2 $ 1,299,083 $1,315,744 (1.3) ========== ========== =========== ========== Total Advertising Inches (B) ------------------------ Full Run Retail 416 439 (5.2) 1,325 1,385 (4.3) National 264 299 (11.7) 897 966 (7.1) Classified 889 740 20.1 2,645 2,381 11.1 ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Sub-Total 1,569 1,478 6.2 4,867 4,732 2.9 Part Run 1,686 1,619 4.1 4,961 4,999 (0.8) ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Total 3,255 3,097 5.1 9,828 9,731 1.0 ========== ========== =========== ========== Preprint Pieces (B) --------------- Total 1,050,733 1,095,088 (4.1) 3,351,367 3,498,865 (4.2) ========== ========== =========== ========== (A)Publishing advertising and other revenues for 2005 have been reclassified to conform with the 2006 presentation. There was no effect on total revenues. (B)Volume for 2005 has been modified to conform with the 2006 presentation. Volume includes only the daily newspapers and is based on preliminary internal data, which may be updated in subsequent reports. The presentation of volume data has been changed to be more consistent with the summary of revenues table.