Gannett Releases April Statistical Report
McLEAN, VA – Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) reported today that total pro forma operating revenues for the fourth period ended May 5, 2002 were almost even with the same period in 2001.
Pro forma newspaper advertising revenues declined 1 percent in the period on a 2 percent increase in ROP volume and 8 percent rise in preprint distribution. Newspaper advertising category results in part reflect the Easter switch to March this year from April in 2001. As in the past, we recommend combining March and April results for comparison purposes.
Pro forma classified revenues declined 1 percent in the April period on a 7 percent increase in ad volume. Employment revenues fell 15 percent. Classified real estate revenues rose 9 percent and automotive increased 7 percent. Overall, the company’s classified results for Newsquest continue to be stronger than the domestic results.
Pro forma local advertising revenues declined 2 percent on a 4 percent decline in ad volume. The performance of our small to medium-sized advertisers in our domestic newspapers outpaced the revenue performance of our largest advertisers.
Pro forma national advertising revenues rose 1 percent on a 2 percent decline in ad volume. National volume at the company’s local domestic newspapers decreased 1 percent. USA WEEKEND, the company’s weekly newspaper magazine, experienced higher revenues during the period. While revenue statistics include USA WEEKEND, its ad volume is not included in the linage numbers. At USA TODAY, advertising revenues declined 5 percent while paid pages declined 10 percent to 459 from 511. For the year-to-date, USA TODAY’s paid pages numbered 1,636 compared with 1,843 last year, while ad revenues were 8 percent lower.
Pro forma television revenues increased 1 percent in the fourth period. Local revenues increased 1 percent while national revenues were flat.
In addition to our revenue and statistical summary, attached is a chart which shows the consolidated Gannett Internet audience shares for March from Media Metrix and Nielsen/Net Ratings. In March, Gannett’s domestic Web sites had 12.3 million unique visitors reaching 10.7 percent of the Internet audience. Newsquest is also an Internet leader in the UK.
Ad linage for Newsquest and Newscom is not included in the ad volume statistics. Circulation volume numbers for Newsquest’s and Newscom’s paid daily newspapers are included in the enclosed statistics, but volume from unpaid daily and non-daily publications is not included in the circulation volume statistics.
Gannett Co., Inc. is an international news and information company that publishes 95 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns in excess of 300 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. In the United Kingdom, Gannett subsidiary Newsquest plc publishes more than 300 titles, including 15 daily newspapers. Gannett also operates 22 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the Web.
Certain statements in this press release may be forward looking in nature or “forward looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward looking statements contained in this press release are subject to a number of risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual performance to differ materially from these forward looking statements. A number of those risks, trends and uncertainties are discussed in the company’s SEC reports, including the company’s annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward looking statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors.
Gannett is not responsible for updating the information contained in this press release beyond the published date, or for changes made to this press release by wire services, Internet service providers or other media.
Contact: Gracia Martore
Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer
703-854-6918
gmartore@gannett.com
GANNETT CO., INC. REVENUE & STATISTICAL SUMMARY
Period 4 (Apr. 1, 2002 - May 5, 2002)
%
2002 2001 CHANGE CHANGE
REVENUES:
Advertising:
Local $ 171,061,000 $ 173,897,000 $ (2,836,000) (2)
National 66,503,000 65,961,000 542,000 1
Classified 159,564,000 160,650,000 (1,086,000) (1)
------------- ------------- ----------- ----
Total Advertising $ 397,128,000 $ 400,508,000 $ (3,380,000) (1)
Circulation 120,468,000 120,425,000 43,000 0
Television 69,731,000 69,220,000 511,000 1
------------- ------------- ----------- ----
Total Revenue $ 587,327,000 $ 590,153,000 $ (2,826,000) (0)
============= ============= =========== ====
VOLUME:
Newspaper Inches:
Local 3,667,101 3,813,973 (146,872) (4)
National 364,642 372,300 (7,658) (2)
Classified 5,530,274 5,175,754 354,520 7
------------- ------------- ----------- ----
Total ROP 9,562,017 9,362,027 199,990 2
============= ============= =========== ====
Preprint Distribution
(in thousands) 1,036,498 955,596 80,902 8
============= ============= =========== ====
NET PAID CIRCULATION:
Morning (w/USAT) 7,038,906 7,059,877 (20,971) (0)
Evening 1,229,944 1,254,170 (24,226) (2)
------------- ------------- ----------- ----
Total Daily 8,268,850 8,314,047 (45,197) (1)
============= ============= =========== ====
Sunday 7,075,232 7,070,215 5,017 0
============= ============= =========== ====
Year-to-Date through May 5, 2002
%
2002 2001 CHANGE CHANGE
REVENUES:
Advertising:
Local $ 599,560,000 $ 608,737,000 $ (9,177,000) (2)
National 233,559,000 241,274,000 (7,715,000) (3)
Classified 579,227,000 618,603,000 (39,376,000) (6)
------------- ------------- ----------- ----
Total Advertising $1,412,346,000 $1,468,614,000 $(56,268,000) (4)
Circulation 446,551,000 447,773,000 (1,222,000) (0)
Television 236,917,000 224,833,000 12,084,000 5
------------- ------------- ----------- ----
Total Revenue $2,095,814,000 $2,141,220,000 $(45,406,000) (2)
============= ============= =========== ====
VOLUME:
Newspaper Inches:
Local 12,691,389 12,910,907 (219,518) (2)
National 1,284,116 1,278,403 5,713 0
Classified 18,823,549 18,278,595 544,954 3
------------- ------------- ----------- ----
Total ROP 32,799,054 32,467,905 331,149 1
============= ============= =========== ====
Preprint Distribution
(in thousands) 3,507,018 3,390,719 116,299 3
============= ============= =========== ====
NET PAID CIRCULATION:
Morning (w/USAT) 7,051,691 7,096,940 (45,249) (1)
Evening 1,228,200 1,258,069 (29,869) (2)
------------- ------------- ----------- ----
Total Daily 8,279,891 8,355,009 (75,118) (1)
============= ============= =========== ====
Sunday 7,069,789 7,142,120 (72,331) (1)
============= ============= =========== ====
Note: The above revenue and statistics include the pro rata portion from our 50% owned joint operating agencies, consistent with past practice.
The above revenue amounts and statistics have been restated to include all companies presently owned.
Newsquest (which includes Newscom) is a regional newspaper publisher in the United Kingdom with more than 300 titles, including paid and unpaid daily and non-daily products. Circulation volume statistics for Newsquest’s fifteen paid daily newspapers are included above. Circulation volume statistics for Newsquest’s unpaid daily and non-daily publications are not reflected above. Advertising linage for Newsquest publications is not reflected above.
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Gannett Online Internet Audience
March 2002
Nielsen/Net Ratings Home/Work Panel Combined Unique Visitors Percentage Reach of Per Month Internet Audience Gannett Online 11,144,000 9.3% Media Metrix Home/Work Panel Combined Unique Visitors Percentage Reach of Per Month Internet Audience Gannett Online 12,258,000 10.7% Gannett Online includes all domestic Gannett owned Web sites including USATODAY.com.