Post-Newsweek Broadcast Revenue Down 7% in Q4

Post-Newsweek reported
broadcasting revenue of $80.2 million in the fourth quarter, a 7%
decrease from
the same quarter last year. "The decrease in revenue is due to weaker
advertising demand in most markets and product categories, particularly
automotive," Post-Newsweek said in a statement. "Political advertising
revenue
also declined by $19.4 million and $12.4 million for 2009 and the fourth
quarter of 2009, respectively."

Broadcasting's operating income
declined 22% to $29 million in the quarter.

Washington Post Company's
overall revenue for the quarter was up 6%, aided by cable TV, which saw a
4%
increase in fourth quarter revenue to $190.6 million. The increase was
"due to
continued growth in the division's cable modem and telephone revenues,
and a $4
monthly rate increase for most basic subscribers in June 2009," said
Washington
Post Co. in its earnings.

Washington Post owns Cable ONE,
along with TV stations in Detroit, Houston and Miami,
among others.

Newspaper publishing revenue
was down 15% in the quarter while magazines were down 30%.

Michael Malone

Michael Malone, senior content producer at B+C/Multichannel News, covers network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television. He hosts the podcasts Busted Pilot, about what’s new in television, and Series Business, a chat with the creator of a new program, and writes the column “The Watchman.” He joined B+C in 2005. His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Playboy and New York magazine.