Tribune Revenues Down 0.9% in August

Tribune Revenues Down 0.9% in August

Publishing advertising revenues up 0.6%; Television revenues down 3.5%

CHICAGO, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) today reported its summary of revenues and newspaper advertising volume for period 8, ended Aug. 28, 2005. Consolidated revenues for the period were $428 million, down 0.9 percent from last year's $432 million.

Publishing revenues in August were $298 million, 1.9 percent lower than last year's $303 million. Advertising revenues increased 0.6 percent to $234 million, compared with $233 million in August 2004. Total advertising inches were down 4.5 percent, while preprint pieces increased 0.9 percent. Excluding Newsday, which implemented lower ad rates in September 2004 as the result of the significant reduction in reported circulation, advertising revenues were up 0.9 percent.

-- Retail advertising revenues decreased 0.9 percent as declines in the food & drug store, electronics, department store and furniture/home furnishing categories were partially offset by increases in the hardware/home improvement store, education and restaurant categories. Preprint revenues, which are principally included in retail, were up 3 percent.

-- National advertising revenues decreased 5.5 percent as declines in the technology, movie, transportation and auto categories were partially offset by growth in the financial, package goods and media categories.

-- Classified advertising revenues rose 5.9 percent due to gains in help wanted and real estate, which rose 14 and 12 percent, respectively. Automotive classified advertising fell 4 percent. Interactive revenues, which are primarily included in classified, were $15 million, up 43 percent, due to strength in all categories.

Circulation revenues were down 8.6 percent primarily due to volume declines at each of the company's newspapers as well as selectively higher discounting.

Broadcasting and entertainment group revenues in August increased 1.5 percent to $131 million, compared with $129 million last year. Television revenues decreased 3.5 percent as advertising revenue remains soft in most markets. Weakness in the movie and retail categories was partially offset by increases in financial/legal and education. Television revenues in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston continue to be impacted by Local People Meters. Radio/entertainment revenues increased 17.5 percent due to improved results at the Chicago Cubs.

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. 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. The Company's next 10-Q report to be filed with the SEC may contain updates to the information included in this release.

TRIBUNE (NYSE:TRB) 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 websites 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 such as 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 websites complement Tribune's print and broadcast properties and extend the company's nationwide audience.

TRIBUNE COMPANY SUMMARY OF REVENUES (Unaudited) For Period 8 Ended August 28, 2005 (In thousands)

Period 8 (4 weeks) Year-to-Date (35 weeks) 2005 2004 % 2005 2004 % ---------- ---------- --- ----------- ---------- --- Publishing ---------- Advertising Retail $ 91,051 $ 91,913 (0.9) $ 838,440 $ 832,754 0.7 National 51,494 54,468 (5.5) 504,783 519,788 (2.9) Classified 91,867 86,736 5.9 783,444 750,548 4.4 ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Sub-Total 234,412 233,117 0.6 2,126,667 2,103,090 1.1 Circulation 44,905 49,130 (8.6) 402,593 441,124 (8.7) Other 18,327 21,059 (13.0) 172,358 170,911 0.8 ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Segment Total(A) 297,644 303,306 (1.9) 2,701,618 2,715,125 (0.5) ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Broadcasting & Entertainment -------------- Television 94,846 98,240 (3.5) 830,232 892,794 (7.0) Radio/Enter. 35,866 30,531 17.5 188,129 175,051 7.5 ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Segment Total 130,712 128,771 1.5 1,018,361 1,067,845 (4.6) ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Consol. Rev. $ 428,356 $ 432,077 (0.9) $ 3,719,979 $3,782,970 (1.7) ========== ========== =========== ==========

(A)Publishing advertising and other revenues for 2004 have been reclassified to conform with the 2005 presentation. There was no effect on total revenues.

TRIBUNE COMPANY SUMMARY OF NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING VOLUME (Unaudited)(A) For Period 8 Ended August 28, 2005 (In thousands)

Period 8 (4 weeks) Year-to-Date (35 weeks) 2005 2004 % 2005 2004 % ---------- ---------- --- ----------- ---------- --- Full Run -------- L.A. Times 148 165 (10.3) 1,460 1,602 (8.9) Chicago Tribune 161 157 2.5 1,388 1,433 (3.1) Newsday 114 116 (1.7) 1,026 1,041 (1.4) Other Dailies(B) 1,024 1,063 (3.7) 9,127 9,564 (4.6) ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Total 1,447 1,501 (3.6) 13,001 13,640 (4.7) ========== ========== =========== ==========

Part Run -------- L.A. Times 410 445 (7.9) 3,594 3,912 (8.1) Chicago Tribune 481 538 (10.6) 4,544 4,381 3.7 Newsday 154 139 10.8 1,374 1,270 8.2 Other Dailies(B) 464 472 (1.7) 4,232 4,179 1.3 ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Total 1,509 1,594 (5.3) 13,744 13,742 - ========== ========== =========== ==========

Total Advertising Inches ------------------------ Full Run Retail 391 422 (7.3) 3,789 3,886 (2.5) National 263 287 (8.4) 2,466 2,609 (5.5) Classified 793 792 0.1 6,746 7,145 (5.6) ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Sub-Total 1,447 1,501 (3.6) 13,001 13,640 (4.7) Part Run 1,509 1,594 (5.3) 13,744 13,742 - ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Total 2,956 3,095 (4.5) 26,745 27,382 (2.3) ========== ========== =========== ==========

Preprint Pieces --------------- L.A. Times 299,116 279,067 7.2 2,485,479 2,248,344 10.5 Chicago Tribune 306,033 290,785 5.2 2,637,218 2,479,127 6.4 Newsday 183,278 215,988 (15.1) 1,782,610 1,828,638 (2.5) Other Dailies(B) 311,319 304,025 2.4 2,665,250 2,649,326 0.6 ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Total 1,099,746 1,089,865 0.9 9,570,557 9,205,435 4.0 ========== ========== =========== ==========

(A)Volume for 2004 has been modified to conform with the 2005 presentation. Volume is based on preliminary internal data, which may be updated in subsequent reports. Advertising volume is presented only for daily newspapers.

(B)Other daily newspapers include The Baltimore Sun, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel, The Hartford Courant, The Morning Call, Daily Press, The Advocate, Greenwich Time, Hoy, New York, Hoy, Chicago and Hoy, Los Angeles.

Source: Tribune Company

CONTACT: Media contact, Gary Weitman, +1-312-222-3394 (Office), +1-312-222-1573 (Fax), gweitman@tribune.com , or Investor contact, Ruthellyn Musil, +1-312-222-3787 (Office), +1-312-222-1573 (Fax), rmusil@tribune.com , both of Tribune Company

Web site: http://www.tribune.com/

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