Gannett Releases March Statistical Report
McLEAN, VA – Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) reported today that total pro forma operating revenues declined 3 percent for the third period ended March 31, 2002 compared with the same period in 2001.
Pro forma newspaper advertising revenues fell 3 percent in the period on a 1 percent increase in ROP volume and flat preprint distribution. Newspaper advertising category results in part reflect the impact of an earlier Easter. As in the past, we recommend combining March and April results for comparison purposes.
Pro forma classified revenues declined 6 percent in the March period on a 1 percent increase in ad volume. Employment revenues fell 24 percent. The company’s UK operations experienced softer help-wanted advertising in March. Classified real estate revenues declined 1 percent and automotive increased 5 percent. Overall, the company’s classified results for Newsquest continue to be stronger than the domestic results.
Pro forma local advertising revenues were flat on a 1 percent decrease in ad volume. The performance of our small to medium-sized advertisers in our domestic newspapers outpaced the revenue performance of our largest advertisers. The consumer electronics category, particularly, continues to lag year-over-year.
Pro forma national advertising revenues declined 3 percent on a 9 percent increase in ad volume. National volume at the company’s local domestic newspapers increased 12 percent. USA WEEKEND, the company’s weekly newspaper magazine, experienced lower 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 decreased 4 percent while paid pages declined 9 percent to 396 from 438. For the year-to-date, USA TODAY’s paid pages numbered 1,178 compared with 1,332 last year, while ad revenues were 9 percent lower.
Pro forma television revenues decreased 1 percent in the third period. National revenues increased 3 percent while local revenues were 2 percent lower.
In addition to our revenue and statistical summary, attached is a chart which shows the consolidated Gannett Internet audience shares for February from Media Metrix and Nielsen/Net Ratings. In February, Gannett’s domestic Web sites had 11.2 million unique visitors reaching 9.4 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
GANNETT CO., INC.
REVENUE & STATISTICAL SUMMARY
Period 3 (Mar. 4, 2002 - Mar. 31, 2002)
%
2002 2001 CHANGE CHANGE
REVENUES:
Advertising:
Local $ 150,452,000 $ 151,149,000 $ (697,000) (0)
National 57,540,000 59,420,000 (1,880,000) (3)
Classified 146,287,000 156,163,000 (9,876,000) (6)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Advertising $ 354,279,000 $ 366,732,000 $ (12,453,000) (3)
Circulation 106,332,000 107,095,000 (763,000) (1)
Television 55,539,000 56,247,000 (708,000) (1)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Revenue $ 516,150,000 $ 530,074,000 $ (13,924,000) (3)
============ ============ ============ ====
VOLUME:
Newspaper Inches:
Local 3,074,529 3,101,454 (26,925) (1)
National 326,145 299,244 26,901 9
Classified 4,381,893 4,325,842 56,051 1
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total ROP 7,782,567 7,726,540 56,027 1
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Preprint Distribution
(in thousands) 839,947 841,737 (1,790) (0)
============ ============ ============ ====
NET PAID CIRCULATION:
Morning (w/USAT) 7,143,003 7,194,380 (51,377) (1)
Evening 1,254,850 1,300,773 (45,923) (4)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Daily 8,397,853 8,495,153 (97,300) (1)
============ ============ ============ ====
Sunday 7,077,690 7,208,237 (130,547) (2)
============ ============ ============ ====
Year-to-Date through Mar. 31, 2002
%
2002 2001 CHANGE CHANGE
REVENUES:
Advertising:
Local $ 428,499,000 $ 434,841,000 $ (6,342,000) (1)
National 167,056,000 175,313,000 (8,257,000) (5)
Classified 419,663,000 457,953,000 (38,290,000) (8)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Advertising $ 1,015,218,000 $ 1,068,107,000 $ (52,889,000) (5)
Circulation 326,115,000 327,379,000 (1,264,000) (0)
Television 167,186,000 155,613,000 11,573,000 7
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Revenue $ 1,508,519,000 $ 1,551,099,000 $ (42,580,000) (3)
============ ============ ============ ====
VOLUME:
Newspaper Inches:
Local 9,049,285 9,129,863 (80,578) (1)
National 919,474 906,103 13,371 1
Classified 13,331,434 13,138,025 193,409 1
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total ROP 23,300,193 23,173,991 126,202 1
============ ============ ============ ====
Preprint Distribution
(in thousands) 2,474,763 2,435,922 38,841 2
============ ============ ============ ====
NET PAID CIRCULATION:
Morning (w/USAT) 7,054,688 7,110,479 (55,791) (1)
Evening 1,249,144 1,281,390 (32,246) (3)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Daily 8,303,832 8,391,869 (88,037) (1)
============ ============ ============ ====
Sunday 7,067,166 7,166,032 (98,866) (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
February 2002
Nielsen/Net Ratings Home/Work Panel Combined Unique Visitors Percentage Reach of Per Month Internet Audience Gannett Online 11,164,000 9.4% Media Metrix Home/Work Panel Combined Unique Visitors Percentage Reach of Per Month Internet Audience Gannett Online 11,083,000 9.9% Gannett Online includes all domestic Gannett owned Web sites including USATODAY.com.