-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, DecL60V4qVz4R6rlPfObPaj5cp+btvUXK6qxdEliKvcpzXjx0ET3JsUZu+nDRDfB O2tubJGdq2xIS+Uhhn80Hw== 0001157523-08-002978.txt : 20080417 0001157523-08-002978.hdr.sgml : 20080417 20080417101157 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001157523-08-002978 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20080417 ITEM INFORMATION: Results of Operations and Financial Condition ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20080417 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080417 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NEW YORK TIMES CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000071691 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711] IRS NUMBER: 131102020 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-05837 FILM NUMBER: 08761263 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 620 EIGHTH AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10018 BUSINESS PHONE: 2125561234 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 620 EIGHTH AVENUE CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10018 8-K 1 a5660101.htm THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY 8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 17, 2008


The New York Times Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York

1-5837

13-1102020

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York

 

10018

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 556-1234


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Item 2.02     Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On April 17, 2008, The New York Times Company (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the Company’s earnings for the quarter ended March 30, 2008. On April 17, 2008, the Company also issued a press release announcing the Company’s revenues for March 2008. Copies of these press releases are furnished as exhibits to this Form 8-K.

Item 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits

Exhibit Number

Description

Exhibit 99.1

The New York Times Company Earnings Press Release dated April 17, 2008

 
Exhibit 99.2 The New York Times Company March Revenues Press Release dated April 17, 2008



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY

 

 

Date: April 17, 2008 By:

 /s/ Rhonda L. Brauer

Rhonda L. Brauer

Secretary and

Corporate Governance Officer


Exhibit List

Exhibit Number

Description

Exhibit 99.1

The New York Times Company Earnings Press Release dated April 17, 2008

 

Exhibit 99.2

The New York Times Company March Revenues Press Release dated April 17, 2008

EX-99.1 2 a5660101-ex991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1

Exhibit 99.1

The New York Times Company Reports 2008 First-Quarter Results

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2008--The New York Times Company announced today first-quarter 2008 earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $.00, including a $.07 per share non-cash charge for the write-down of assets and a $.03 per share favorable tax adjustment, compared with EPS of $.14 in the first quarter of 2007, which included an unfavorable tax adjustment of $.03 per share. Excluding the charge and the adjustments, EPS from continuing operations was $.04 in the first quarter of 2008 compared with $.17 in the first quarter of 2007.

First-quarter 2008 operating profit was $6.2 million compared with $54.5 million in the first quarter of 2007. Excluding depreciation and amortization and the non-cash charge for the write-down of assets, operating profit was $66.4 million compared with $98.9 million in the first quarter of 2007.

“Advertising revenues decreased in the quarter as weaker economic conditions compounded the effects of secular change in our business,” said Janet L. Robinson, president and CEO. “While this is a challenging time for the media industry, we are diligently managing our business for the long term. Continuing our transition into the digital era, online advertising revenues grew 16 percent, due in part to new offerings and ad formats. At the same time, circulation revenues also showed gains in the quarter, up approximately 2 percent.

“Our disciplined approach to expense management resulted in a 1 percent decrease in operating costs. For the fifth consecutive quarter, operating costs, excluding depreciation and amortization, declined. As we have said before, we expect to achieve cost savings of approximately $130 million in 2008.

“In April, the rate of decline in advertising revenues is expected to be in the mid-single digits. This is an improvement from our performance in March and is due mainly to shifts in the timing of Easter and in the publication of KEY Magazine. During the balance of the year, we plan to stay focused on what we do best – producing high-quality journalism, introducing new products in print and online, and stringently managing our costs.”

Comparisons

The first-quarter 2008 results included the following special items:


  • A non-cash charge for the write-down of assets for a systems project, which amounted to $18.3 million ($10.4 million after tax or $.07 per share). To decrease capital spending, the Company reduced the scope of a major advertising and circulation project, which resulted in the write-down of previously capitalized costs.
  • A favorable tax reserve adjustment of $4.6 million ($.03 per share).

The first-quarter 2007 results included the following special item:

  • An unfavorable tax adjustment of $4.5 million ($.03 per share) primarily from a change in New York state tax law that was effective January 1, 2007.

All quarterly comparisons exclude the results of the Broadcast Media Group, which was sold in May 2007. This release includes non-GAAP financial measures, and the exhibits include a discussion of management’s use of these non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

First-Quarter Results from Continuing Operations

Revenues

Total revenues decreased 4.9 percent to $747.9 million from $786.0 million. Advertising revenues decreased 9.2 percent. Circulation revenues increased 1.9 percent and other revenues rose 7.2 percent.

Operating Costs

Operating costs decreased 1.1 percent to $723.3 million from $731.5 million. Depreciation and amortization declined 5.6 percent to $41.9 million from $44.4 million, mainly because of lower accelerated depreciation expense for the assets at the Edison, N.J., printing facility, which was closed last month.

Excluding depreciation and amortization, operating costs declined 0.8 percent to $681.4 million from $687.1 million mainly due to lower newsprint expense, outside printing and distribution costs, and benefits expense. The cost decline was partially offset by increased stock-based compensation, buyouts and the effect of foreign currency translation because of the Euro-dollar relationship.

Newsprint expense for the first quarter decreased 23.4 percent, with 17.0 percent of the decline resulting from lower consumption and 6.4 percent from lower prices.

Stock-based compensation expense increased $6.2 million in the first quarter primarily because of a shift in the timing of the Company’s annual equity awards. Historically equity awards were made in December of each year. In early 2007, the Board elected to make annual equity awards in February of each year, beginning in February 2008, to better enable it to evaluate performance during the most recently completed fiscal year.

Buyout costs totaled $11.2 million in the first quarter of 2008 and $7.8 million in the same period a year earlier.

While foreign currency translation had a favorable effect on revenues, it increased expenses by $2.4 million in the quarter.

First-Quarter Business Segment Results

News Media Group

Total News Media Group revenues decreased 5.7 percent mainly as a result of lower print advertising.

Advertising revenues in the quarter decreased 10.6 percent due to lower print advertising.


Circulation revenues increased 1.9 percent primarily because of higher home-delivery and newsstand prices. The New York Times increased its prices in the third quarter of 2007. The Globe increased its newsstand price in February of 2008.

Other revenues rose 6.0 percent largely because of rental income from the lease of five floors in our new headquarters, and increased commercial printing. The increase was partially offset by lower subscription revenues for TimesSelect, an online product offering that was discontinued in September 2007.

Total News Media Group operating costs decreased 2.2 percent to $688.1 million from $703.8 million. Excluding depreciation and amortization, operating costs declined 1.9 percent to $651.2 million from $664.1 million mainly due to lower newsprint expense, outside printing and distribution and promotions costs offset in part by increased staff reduction costs and stock-based compensation expense.

Operating profit decreased to $13.3 million from $59.6 million. Operating profit before depreciation and amortization and excluding the non-cash charge for the write-down of assets was $68.5 million compared with $99.4 million in 2007, mainly due to lower print advertising.

About Group

Total About Group revenues increased 25.0 percent to $28.2 million from $22.5 million due to higher cost-per-click advertising and acquisitions.

Total About Group operating costs increased 31.2 percent to $18.6 million from $14.2 million. Excluding depreciation and amortization, operating costs increased 40.9 percent to $15.6 million from $11.1 million because of the acquisition of ConsumerSearch, Inc. in May 2007 and investments in new revenue initiatives that resulted in higher content and compensation costs.

Operating profit grew 14.3 percent to $9.5 million from $8.3 million. Operating profit before depreciation and amortization grew 9.5 percent to $12.6 million from $11.5 million.

Other Financial Data

Internet Revenues

Total Internet revenues grew 11.6 percent to $82.9 million from $74.3 million. Internet advertising revenues increased 16.0 percent in the quarter. Internet businesses include our digital archives, NYTimes.com, Boston.com, About.com and the Web sites of our other newspaper properties. In total, Internet businesses accounted for 11.1 percent of our revenues in the 2008 first quarter versus 9.5 percent in the first quarter of 2007.

Joint Ventures

Net loss from joint ventures was $1.8 million compared with a net loss of $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2007. The improvement was mainly due to better performance at a paper mill in which the Company has an investment.

Interest Expense-net

Interest expense-net increased in the first quarter to $11.7 million from $11.3 million. The Company had lower interest expense primarily due to reduced debt, which was more than offset by a decrease in interest income.


Income Taxes

Income taxes in the quarter benefited from a $4.6 million reserve adjustment for uncertain tax positions. In the first quarter of 2007, the Company recorded an unfavorable tax adjustment of $4.5 million from a change in New York state tax law that was effective January 1, 2007.

Cash and Total Debt

At the end of the quarter, our cash and cash equivalents were approximately $47 million and total debt was approximately $1.1 billion.

Capital Expenditures

In the first quarter, total capital expenditures were approximately $33 million.

Expectations

The following expectations are for 2008 with the exception of cost savings and productivity gains, which are for 2008 and 2009.

  • Cost savings and productivity gains – The Company believes that it can achieve a reduction in costs from its year-end 2007 cash cost base of a total of approximately $230 million in 2008 and 2009, excluding the effects of inflation, buyout costs and one-time costs. About $130 million of these savings are expected in 2008.
  • Depreciation and amortization – $160 to $170 million, which includes approximately $5 million of accelerated depreciation expense in the first quarter of 2008 associated with the New York area plant consolidation project. Depreciation for the new headquarters building is expected to be $8 million per quarter.
  • Income from joint ventures – $16 to $20 million. Previous guidance of $12 to $16 million was increased mainly due to the expectation of better operating results at the paper mills in which the Company has an interest.
  • Interest expense – $50 to $60 million.
  • Capital expenditures – $150 to $165 million, including approximately $42 million for the consolidation of the Company’s New York area plants and about $22 million for its new headquarters. The top end of the range for capital expenditures was lowered to $165 million from $170 million as a result of the reduction in scope of a major systems project.
  • Income tax rate – 40% to 43%. There are many factors that can result in significant volatility quarter to quarter.

Conference Call Information

Our earnings conference call will be held on Thursday, April 17, at 11:00 a.m. E.T. To access the call, dial (888) 271-8603 (in the U.S.) and (913) 312-0394 (international callers). Participants should dial into the conference call approximately 10 minutes before the start time. Online listeners can link to the live webcast at www.nytco.com/investors.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include national and local conditions, as well as competition, that could influence the levels (rate and volume) of retail, national and classified advertising and circulation generated by our various markets and material increases in newsprint prices. They also include other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s publicly filed documents, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2007. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2007 revenues of $3.2 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company’s core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com

Exhibits:   Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Segment Information
News Media Group Revenues by Operating Segment
Footnotes
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Information

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
     
First Quarter    

2008

2007

% Change

Revenues
Advertising $ 458,339 $ 504,915 -9.2 %
Circulation 226,629 222,454 1.9 %
Other (a)   62,887     58,651   7.2 %
Total 747,855 786,020 -4.9 %
 
Operating costs
Production costs 340,564 345,025 -1.3 %
Selling, general and administrative costs 340,854 342,061 -0.4 %
Depreciation and amortization   41,931     44,437   -5.6 %
Total 723,349 731,523 -1.1 %
 
Write-down of assets(b)   18,291     -   N/A
 
Operating profit 6,215 54,497 -88.6 %
 
Net loss from joint ventures (1,793 ) (2,153 ) -16.7 %
 
Interest expense - net   11,745     11,328   3.7 %
 

(Loss)/income from continuing operations

before income taxes and minority interest

(7,323 ) 41,016 *
 
Income tax (benefit)/expense (7,692 ) 20,899 *
 
Minority interest in net (income)/loss
of subsidiaries   (104 )   9   *
 
Income from continuing operations 265 20,126 -98.7 %
 

(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes-

Broadcast Media Group (c)   (600 )   3,776   *
 
Net (loss)/income $ (335 ) $ 23,902   *
 
Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic 143,760 143,905 -0.1 %
Diluted 143,760 144,077 -0.2 %
 
Basic Earnings Per Share:
Income from continuing operations $ 0.00 $ 0.14 N/A
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes   0.00     0.03   N/A

Net (loss)/income

$ 0.00   $ 0.17   N/A
 
Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Income from continuing operations $ 0.00 $ 0.14 N/A
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes   0.00     0.03   N/A

Net (loss)/income

$ 0.00   $ 0.17   N/A
 
Dividends Per Share 0.230 0.175 31.4 %
 
* Represents an increase or decrease in excess of 100%.
 
See footnotes page for additional information.

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
SEGMENT INFORMATION
(Dollars in thousands)
     
First Quarter    

2008

2007

% Change

 

Revenues

News Media Group $ 719,685 $ 763,477 -5.7 %
About Group   28,170     22,543   25.0 %
Total $ 747,855   $ 786,020   -4.9 %
 

Operating Profit(Loss)

News Media Group $ 13,285 $ 59,629 -77.7 %
About Group 9,521 8,330 14.3 %
Corporate   (16,591 )   (13,462 ) 23.2 %
Total $ 6,215   $ 54,497   -88.6 %
 

Operating Profit(Loss) Before Depreciation & Amortization and a Special Item(d)

News Media Group $ 68,496 $ 99,352 -31.1 %
About Group 12,554 11,463 9.5 %
Corporate   (14,613 )   (11,881 ) 23.0 %
Total $ 66,437   $ 98,934   -32.8 %
 
See footnotes page for additional information.

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
NEWS MEDIA GROUP REVENUES BY OPERATING SEGMENT
(Dollars in thousands)
   
2008
First Quarter

%

Change vs.

2007

 
The New York Times Media Group
Advertising $ 276,700 -6.9 %
Circulation 165,785 3.2 %
Other   43,281 2.9 %
Total $ 485,766 -2.8 %
 
New England Media Group
Advertising $ 81,378 -16.3 %
Circulation 37,675 -2.1 %
Other   12,594 34.1 %
Total $ 131,647 -9.3 %
 
Regional Media Group
Advertising $ 74,081 -17.0 %
Circulation 23,169 -0.6 %
Other   5,022 -15.7 %
Total $ 102,272 -13.7 %
 
Total News Media Group
Advertising $ 432,159 -10.6 %
Circulation 226,629 1.9 %
Other (a)   60,897 6.0 %
Total $ 719,685 -5.7 %
 
See footnotes page for additional information.

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
FOOTNOTES
(Dollars in thousands)
   
(a)

Other revenues consist primarily of revenue from wholesale delivery operations, commercial printing, news services/syndication, digital archives, advertising service revenue, rental income and Baseline StudioSystems.

 
(b)

Represents a non-cash charge for the write-down of assets for a systems project. To decrease capital spending, the Company reduced the scope of a major advertising and circulation project, which resulted in the write-down of previously capitalized costs.

 
(c)

On May 7, 2007, the Company sold the Broadcast Media Group, consisting of nine network-affiliated television stations, their related Web sites and the digital operating center, for $575 million. Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, the Broadcast Media Group is treated as a discontinued operation. The Company has made reclassifications in all periods presented to reflect this change.

 

In the first quarter of 2008, there were post-closing adjustments totaling $0.6 million to the gain on sale of the Broadcast Media Group recorded in 2007. In the first quarter of 2007, the Broadcast Media Group had pre-tax income of $6.5 million and net income of $3.8 million.

 
(d)

See "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Information" for reconciliations of operating profit(loss) to operating profit(loss) before depreciation & amortization and excluding a special item.


THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP INFORMATION
(Dollars in thousands)
       
In this release, the Company has included non-GAAP financial information with respect to earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations excluding special items, operating profit(loss) before depreciation and amortization and excluding a special item, and operating costs before depreciation and amortization and raw materials. The Company has included these non-GAAP financial measures because management reviews them on a regular basis and uses them to evaluate and manage the performance of the operations. Management believes that, for the reasons outlined below, these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors as a supplement to reported EPS from continuing operations, operating profit(loss) and operating costs. However, these measures should be evaluated only in conjunction with the comparable GAAP financial measures and should not be viewed as alternative or superior measures of GAAP results.
 
EPS from continuing operations excluding special items provide useful information in evaluating the Company’s period-to-period performance because it eliminates items that the Company does not consider to be indicative of earnings from ongoing operating activities. Operating profit(loss) before depreciation and amortization and excluding a special item is useful in evaluating the Company’s ongoing cash-generating ability as it excludes the significant non-cash impact of depreciation and amortization as well as excludes items, if any, not indicative of ongoing operating activities. Total operating costs include depreciation and amortization and raw materials. Total operating costs excluding depreciation and amortization provide a useful measure of manageable costs. Total operating costs excluding depreciation and amortization and raw materials provide investors with helpful supplemental information on the Company’s underlying operating costs.
 
Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures from, respectively, EPS from continuing operations, operating profit(loss) and operating costs, the most directly comparable GAAP items, are set out in the tables below.
 

Reconciliation of earnings per share from continuing operations excluding special items

           
First Quarter

2008

2007

% Change

 
Earnings per share from continuing operations $ 0.00 $ 0.14 N/A
 
Adjustments:
 
Write-down of assets 0.07 -
 
Income tax adjustment   (0.03 )   0.03      
 

 

Earnings per share from continuing operations excluding special items

$ 0.04   $ 0.17     -76.5 %
 

Reconciliation of operating profit(loss) before depreciation & amortization and a special item

               
First Quarter 2008

News Media

About

Total

Group

Group

Corporate

Company

 
Operating profit(loss) $ 13,285 $ 9,521 $ (16,591 ) $ 6,215
 
Add:
Depreciation & amortization   36,920     3,033     1,978     41,931  
 

Operating profit(loss) before depreciation & amortization

50,205 12,554 (14,613 ) 48,146
 
Add:
 
Write-down of assets   18,291     -     -     18,291  
 

Operating profit(loss) before depreciation & amortization and a special item

$ 68,496   $ 12,554   $ (14,613 ) $ 66,437  
 
               
First Quarter 2007

News Media

About

Total

Group

Group

Corporate

Company

 
Operating profit(loss) $ 59,629 $ 8,330 $ (13,462 ) $ 54,497
 
Add:
 
Depreciation & amortization   39,723     3,133     1,581     44,437  
 

Operating profit(loss) before depreciation & amortization

$ 99,352   $ 11,463   $ (11,881 ) $ 98,934  
 
               

% Change

News Media

About

Total

Group

Group

Corporate

Company

 
Operating profit(loss) -77.7 % 14.3 % 23.2 % -88.6 %
 
Add:
 
Depreciation & amortization   -7.1 %   -3.2 %   25.1 %   -5.6 %
 

Operating profit(loss) before depreciation & amortization

-49.5 % 9.5 % 23.0 % -51.3 %
 
Add:
 
Write-down of assets   N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A  
 

Operating profit(loss) before depreciation & amortization and a special item

  -31.1 %   9.5 %   23.0 %   -32.8 %

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP INFORMATION (continued)
(Dollars in thousands)
     
 
Reconciliation of total operating costs excluding depreciation & amortization and raw materials
         
First Quarter

2008

2007

% Change

 
Total operating costs $ 723,349 $ 731,523 -1.1 %
 
Less:
Depreciation & amortization   41,931   44,437  
 

Total operating costs before depreciation

  & amortization

681,418 687,086 -0.8 %
 
Less:
 
Raw materials   59,076   74,896  
 

Total operating costs before depreciation

  & amortization and raw materials

$ 622,342 $ 612,190 1.7 %
 
Reconciliation of News Media Group operating costs excluding depreciation & amortization
         
First Quarter

2008

2007

% Change

 

News Media Group

 
Total operating costs $ 688,109 $ 703,848 -2.2 %
 
Less:
Depreciation & amortization   36,920   39,723  
 

Operating costs before depreciation &

  amortization

$ 651,189 $ 664,125 -1.9 %
 
Reconciliation of About Group operating costs excluding depreciation & amortization
         
First Quarter

2008

2007

% Change

 

About Group

 
Total operating costs $ 18,649 $ 14,213 31.2 %
 
Less:
Depreciation & amortization   3,033   3,133  
 

Operating costs before depreciation &

  amortization

$ 15,616 $ 11,080 40.9 %

CONTACT:
The New York Times Company
Catherine J. Mathis, 212-556-1981
mathis@nytimes.com
or
Paula Schwartz, 212-556-5224
paula.schwartz@nytimes.com

EX-99.2 3 a5660101-ex992.htm EXHIBIT 99.2

Exhibit 99.2

The New York Times Company Reports March Revenues

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2008--The New York Times Company announced today that in March total Company revenues from continuing operations decreased 6.4% compared with the same month a year ago. Advertising revenues decreased 11.1% and circulation revenues increased 1.7%. The About Group again posted strong advertising growth in the month, up 22.4%.

As expected, the Company’s results for March were adversely affected by the timing of Easter. Easter Sunday, which fell in March this year, but was in April last year, is traditionally a time of reduced advertising at both The New York Times and The Boston Globe.

All comparisons are for March 2008 to March 2007 unless otherwise noted:

News Media Group: Advertising revenues for the News Media Group decreased 12.5% mainly because of weaker classified advertising.

The New York Times Media Group - Advertising revenues for The New York Times Media Group decreased 6.0%. National advertising revenues decreased as weakness in the transportation, telecommunications, healthcare, packaged goods, studio entertainment and national automotive categories offset triple-digit growth in financial services advertising. Retail advertising revenues decreased mainly due to softness in home furnishings, cosmetic manufacturers and department store advertising. Classified advertising revenues decreased because of weakness in real estate, help-wanted and automotive advertising. Real estate advertising was adversely affected by a shift in the timing of KEY Magazine, which was published in April this year but appeared in March last year.


New England Media Group - Advertising revenues for the New England Media Group decreased 25.9% in March 2008 compared with growth of 2.2% in March 2007. National advertising revenues were lower mainly because of decreases in the travel, banking, telecommunications, financial services and national automotive categories. Retail advertising revenues decreased primarily due to weakness in home improvement, home furnishings, jewelry/watches, sports/toys and food/drug advertising. Classified advertising revenues decreased because of continued softness in real estate, help-wanted and automotive advertising.

Regional Media Group - Advertising revenues for the Regional Media Group decreased 19.4%. Retail advertising revenues were down mainly because of decreases in the home furnishings, banking/financial services, medical/dental and telecommunications categories. Classified advertising revenues decreased due to continued weakness in real estate, help-wanted and automotive advertising.

Internet advertising revenues included in the News Media Group rose 14.8% due to growth in display advertising.

Circulation revenues for the News Media Group increased 1.7%. Revenues increased at The New York Times and the Regional Media Groups, and decreased at the New England Media Group.

About Group – Advertising revenues at the About Group (which includes the Web sites of About.com, ConsumerSearch.com, UCompareHealthCare.com and Calorie-Count.com) rose 22.4% due to growth in cost-per-click advertising. In addition, advertising revenues reflect the acquisition of ConsumerSearch.com in May 2007. Excluding acquisitions, advertising revenues increased approximately 15%.

In addition, The New York Times Company had the 11th largest presence on the Web, with 50.4 million unique visitors in the United States in March 2008 according to Nielsen Online, up approximately 16% from 43.5 million unique visitors in March 2007. Also according to Nielsen Online, NYTimes.com had 18.9 million unique visitors in March versus 14.5 million in March 2007, up about 30%, and was the No. 1 newspaper Web site in the United States, a position it has long held.

The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2007 revenues of $3.2 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com.


THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
2008 TOTAL COMPANY REVENUES (a)
($ 000's)
                       
         
March   Year to Date
% %

2008

2007

Change

2008

2007

Change

Advertising Revenues
News Media
National $68,927 $73,416 -6.1 $216,441 $224,902 -3.8
Retail 31,270 35,397 -11.7 95,427 107,349 -11.1
Classified 32,117 43,220 -25.7 105,319 136,107 -22.6
Other Ad Revenue 5,001 4,982 +0.4 14,972 15,236 -1.7
Total News Media Group 137,316 157,016 -12.5 432,159 483,594 -10.6
 
About Group (b) 8,200 6,698 +22.4 26,180 21,321 +22.8
 
Total Ad Revenues from Continuing Operations 145,516 163,714 -11.1 458,339 504,915 -9.2
 
Circulation Revenues 70,116 68,928 +1.7 226,629 222,454 +1.9
Other Revenues (c) 19,732 18,884 +4.5 62,887 58,651 +7.2
 
Total Company Revenues from Continuing Operations $235,364 $251,525 -6.4 $747,855 $786,020 -4.9
 
Discontinued Operations: Broadcast Media Group (d) 0 11,351 N/A 0 32,904 N/A
                       
 
(a) Numbers may not add due to rounding.
 
(b) Includes the Web sites of About.com, ConsumerSearch.com, UCompareHealthCare.com and Calorie-Count.com.
 
(c) Primarily includes revenues from wholesale delivery operations, commercial printing, news services/syndication, digital archives, advertising service revenue, rental income and Baseline StudioSystems.
 
(d) On May 7, 2007, the Company sold the Broadcast Media Group, consisting of nine network-affiliated television stations, their related Web sites and the digital operating center, for approximately $575 million.

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
2008 ADVERTISING REVENUES (a)
($ 000's)
 
         
March   Year to Date
% %

2008

2007

Change

2008

2007

Change

News Media Group
New York Times Media Group $90,120 $95,849 -6.0 $276,700 $297,146 -6.9
New England Media Group 24,122 32,543 -25.9 81,378 97,242 -16.3
Regional Media Group 23,075 28,623 -19.4 74,081 89,206 -17.0
 
Total News Media Group 137,316 157,016 -12.5 432,159 483,594 -10.6
 
About Group (b) 8,200 6,698 +22.4 26,180 21,321 +22.8
 
Total Ad Revenues from Continuing Operations $145,516 $163,714 -11.1 $458,339 $504,915 -9.2
 
Discontinued Operations: Broadcast Media Group (c) 0 11,138 N/A 0 32,229 N/A
 
                       
 
(a) Numbers may not add due to rounding.
 
(b) Includes the Web sites of About.com, ConsumerSearch.com, UCompareHealthCare.com and Calorie-Count.com.
 
(c) On May 7, 2007, the Company sold the Broadcast Media Group, consisting of nine network-affiliated television stations, their related Web sites and the digital operating center, for approximately $575 million.

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
2008 NEWS MEDIA GROUP AD REVENUE GROWTH
BY CLASSIFIED CATEGORY
 
       
% Change % Change
Mar. '08 YTD '08
vs. Mar. '07   vs. YTD '07
 
Help Wanted -35.0 -31.9
Real Estate -29.7 -25.7
Automotive -20.2 -17.3
Other

 -1.8

 

 +1.6

Total Classified -25.7   -22.6

CONTACT:
The New York Times Company
Catherine J. Mathis, 212-556-1981
mathis@nytimes.com
or
Paula Schwartz, 212-556-5224
paula.schwartz@nytimes.com

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