EX-12 4 exhibit12.htm THIRD QUARTER 10-Q EXHIBIT 12 EXHIBIT 12 THIRD QUARTER 2003 FORM 10-Q

   EXHIBIT 12

TRIBUNE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(In thousands, except ratios)

 

Three Quarters
Ended
Fiscal Year Ended December
9/28/2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
Income from continuing operations, before              
       cumulative effect of accounting change  $   552,966   $   608,579   $111,136   $310,401   $1,449,962   $389,197  
Add: 
     Income tax expense  350,728   331,376   157,815   270,351   933,981   272,660  
     Loss on equity investments  6,695   40,875   60,813   79,374   40,083   33,980  
     Distributed income from equity investees  9,283   12,567   21,784   9,693      
     Minority interest expense, net of tax        16,335      






        Subtotal  919,672   993,397   351,548   686,154   2,424,026   695,837  






Fixed charge adjustments 
  Add: 
     Interest expense  150,273   213,309   254,521   240,708   113,031   88,451  
     Amortization of capitalized interest  2,418   3,269   2,989   4,012   2,065   2,068  
     Interest component of rental expense (1)  16,914   22,503   22,853   18,620   9,312   8,871  






Earnings, as adjusted  $1,089,277   $1,232,478   $631,911   $949,494   $2,548,434   $795,227  






Fixed charges: 
     Interest expense  $  150,273   $   213,309   $254,521   $240,708   $   113,031   $  88,451  
     Interest capitalized  355   2,383   3,184   1,950   1,117   1,897  
     Interest component of rental expense (1)  16,914   22,503   22,853   18,620   9,312   8,871  
     Interest related to guaranteed ESOP debt (2)  2,127   5,565   8,191   10,718   13,146   15,578  






Total fixed charges  $   169,669   $   243,760   $288,749   $271,996   $   136,606   $114,797  






Ratio of earnings to fixed charges  6.4   5.1   2.2   3.5   18.7   6.9  






(1) Represents a reasonable approximation of the interest cost component of rental expense incurred by the Company.

(2) Tribune Company guarantees the debt of its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”).