Gannett Releases January Statistical Report
MCLEAN, VA – Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) reported today that total pro forma operating revenues declined 6 percent for the first period ended February 3, 2002 compared with the same period in 2001.
Pro forma newspaper advertising revenues fell 8 percent in the period on pro forma flat ROP volume and a 1 percent increase in preprint distribution.
Pro forma classified revenues declined 12 percent in the January period on a 1 percent increase in ad volume. Employment revenues fell 32 percent. The company’s UK operations experienced softer help-wanted advertising in January. Classified real estate revenues advanced 2 percent and automotive also increased 5 percent. Overall, the company’s classified results for Newsquest continue to be stronger than the domestic results.
Pro forma local advertising revenues declined 3 percent on a 1 percent decrease in ad volume. Revenues from the company’s largest advertisers in its domestic newspapers outpaced the revenue performance from its small and medium sized advertisers.
Pro forma national advertising revenues declined 11 percent on a 2 percent decline in ad volume. National volume at the company’s local domestic newspapers increased 2 percent. At USA TODAY, advertising revenues declined 22 percent while paid pages declined 19 percent to 394 from 487. Travel advertising at USA TODAY continues to be particularly hard hit.
Pro forma television revenues declined 2 percent in the first period. Local revenues increased 1 percent, while national revenues were 7 percent lower.
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 USA TODAY.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 1 (Dec. 31, 2001 - Feb. 3, 2002)
%
2002 2001 CHANGE CHANGE
REVENUES:
Advertising:
Local $ 141,581,000 $ 146,543,000 $ (4,962,000) (3)
National 55,654,000 62,608,000 (6,954,000) (11)
Classified 141,996,000 160,758,000 (18,762,000) (12)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Advertising $ 339,231,000 $ 369,909,000 $ (30,678,000) (8)
Circulation 118,572,000 118,658,000 (86,000) (0)
Television 49,521,000 50,707,000 (1,186,000) (2)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Revenue $ 507,324,000 $ 539,274,000 $ (31,950,000) (6)
============ ============ ============ ====
VOLUME:
Newspaper Inches:
Local 3,105,825 3,141,449 (35,624) (1)
National 301,575 308,129 (6,554) (2)
Classified 4,762,758 4,705,408 57,350 1
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total ROP 8,170,158 8,154,986 15,172 0
============ ============ ============ ====
Preprint Distribution
(in thousands) 829,273 820,818 8,455 1
============ ============ ============ ====
NET PAID CIRCULATION:
Morning (w/USAT) 6,930,827 6,965,370 (34,543) (0)
Evening 1,228,619 1,247,800 (19,181) (2)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Daily 8,159,446 8,213,170 (53,724) (1)
============ ============ ============ ====
Sunday 7,031,312 7,106,686 (75,374) (1)
============ ============ ============ ====
Year-to-Date through Feb. 3, 2002
%
2002 2001 CHANGE CHANGE
REVENUES:
Advertising:
Local $ 141,581,000 $ 146,543,000 $ (4,962,000) (3)
National 55,654,000 62,608,000 (6,954,000) (11)
Classified 141,996,000 160,758,000 (18,762,000) (12)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Advertising $ 339,231,000 $ 369,909,000 $ (30,678,000) (8)
Circulation 118,572,000 118,658,000 (86,000) (0)
Television 49,521,000 50,707,000 (1,186,000) (2)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Revenue $ 507,324,000 $ 539,274,000 $ (31,950,000) (6)
============ ============ ============ ====
VOLUME:
Newspaper Inches:
Local 3,105,825 3,141,449 (35,624) (1)
National 301,575 308,129 (6,554) (2)
Classified 4,762,758 4,705,408 57,350 1
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total ROP 8,170,158 8,154,986 15,172 0
============ ============ ============ ====
Preprint Distribution
(in thousands) 829,273 820,818 8,455 1
============ ============ ============ ====
NET PAID CIRCULATION:
Morning (w/USAT) 6,930,827 6,965,370 (34,543) (0)
Evening 1,228,619 1,247,800 (19,181) (2)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----
Total Daily 8,159,446 8,213,170 (53,724) (1)
============ ============ ============ ====
Sunday 7,031,312 7,106,686 (75,374) (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.