WNEG TV32's parent company Media General reports March revenues

RICHMOND - Media General today reported revenues of $64.3 million for March 2002,<br> essentially even with revenues from March 2001.<br> <br> Publishing revenues declined 3.7 percent from March of last year. Broadcast revenues increased 7.1 percent, while Interactive Media revenues were up 19.1 percent.<br> <br> In the Publishing Division, classified revenues declined 9.4 percent due to continued weakness in employment advertising. Help-wanted linage decreased 34 percent at the Winston-Salem Journal, 31 percent at The Tampa Tribune and 30 percent at the Richmond Times-Dispatch. <br> <br> Retail advertising revenues were down slightly, while national revenues increased 35.4 percent, aided largely by advertising related to the Compaq-Hewlett Packard proxy fight. Preprint sales decreased 5.8 percent on lower volumes in several markets, and<br> circulation revenues were down 1.2 percent after adjusting for the impact of<br> the change to independent carriers in Tampa.<br> <br> In the Broadcast Division, gross television time sales increased 4.5 percent from the same month last year. Local advertising improved 1.2 percent, while national advertising was up 8.3 percent. Political advertising<br> increased to $187,000 from $25,000 in March of 2001, and revenues from the division&#39;s broadcast equipment subsidiary, Professional Communications Systems, were up substantially.<br> <br> In the Interactive Media Division, classified up-sell arrangements with the company&#39;s daily newspapers drove March&#39;s revenue growth. Local banner and sponsorship advertising also contributed to the increase.<br> <br> Media General is an independent communications company situated primarily in the Southeast with interests in newspapers, television stations, interactive media and diversified information services. Media General is the parnt company of Toccoa&#39;s WNEG TV 32<br> <br> Media General also has a 33 percent interest<br> in SP Newsprint Co., which operates newsprint mills in Dublin, Ga., and Newberg, Ore.<br>