Hawkeye Acquisition (MDP) 8-K Meredith Corporation Third Quarter Earnings Per Share Rise 15 Percent

Exhibit 99

Shareholder and Financial Analyst Contact:

Jim Jacobson
Director of Investor Relations
Phone: (515) 284-2633
E-Mail: jim.jacobson@meredith.com

Media Contact:

Art Slusark
Vice President-Corporate Communications
Phone: (515) 284-3404
E-Mail: art.slusark@meredith.com

MEREDITH CORPORATION THIRD QUARTER
EARNINGS PER SHARE RISE 15 PERCENT

Company reports improved publishing advertising outlook for fourth quarter

DES MOINES, IA (April 26, 2005) - Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP) today reported earnings of $35.2 million, or $0.69 per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2005, a record for a fiscal third quarter. Earnings per share increased 15 percent over the prior-year third quarter, total Company revenues grew 2 percent to $305.5 million, and total operating expenses were flat.

"We continued our track record of delivering strong results," stated Meredith Chairman and CEO William T. Kerr. "The quarter just ended marked the 12^th consecutive quarter we have recorded year-over-year earnings growth."

For the first nine months of fiscal 2005, Meredith's earnings grew 30 percent to $86 million, or $1.67 per share, before the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle related to stock option expensing. Total Company revenues increased 4 percent to $888.9 million and advertising revenues increased 5 percent. Total operating expenses rose 1 percent.

Kerr added, "Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, we are particularly encouraged by the strength of Publishing advertising revenue. We expect to grow fourth quarter earnings per share approximately 15 percent."

Operating Highlights

Broadcasting

Broadcasting operating profit grew 14 percent to $16.2 million in the third quarter. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) margin increased more than 3 points to 31.7 percent from 28.6 percent. Total Broadcasting expenses declined 2 percent.

Total revenues increased 1 percent to $69.8 million and non-political advertising revenues grew 4 percent. These results reflect the benefit of the Company's new stations in Kansas City and Chattanooga, which partially offset the absence of political advertising and the shift of the Super Bowl from CBS to FOX in the quarter.

Most of Meredith's television stations improved ratings and audience share for their newscasts in the February ratings book for the key adult 25-54 demographic group. Some of the noteworthy improvements were:

• KPHO (CBS) in Phoenix increased audience share for its late news by 14 percent. Its 6 to 7 a.m. morning news grew share 75 percent, and KPHO's new 6:30 p.m. newscast tripled share.
• KPTV (FOX) in Portland grew audience share for all of its morning newscasts, and its late news was number two in the market.
• KCTV (CBS) in Kansas City continued to be the fastest growing news station in the market. Its late news grew share 42 percent, and the station posted strong gains for most of its other newscasts as well.

In mid-February, Paul Karpowicz was named President of the Meredith Broadcasting Group. "Paul has hit the ground running," Kerr said. "He has the proven leadership and industry experience required to take Meredith Broadcasting to the next level. Paul is a strong addition to our senior management team."

For the first nine months of fiscal 2005, Broadcasting operating profit grew 43 percent to $62.7 million. EBITDA margin increased to 34.3 percent from 29 percent. Total revenues rose 12 percent to $233 million and non-political advertising revenues grew 4 percent to $209.8 million. The first nine months of fiscal 2005 included $18.7 million in net political advertising revenues compared with $2.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2004. Total Broadcasting expenses increased 3 percent.

Publishing

Publishing operating profit grew 6 percent to $55 million in the quarter. Operating profit margin increased to 23.3 percent from 22.4 percent. These gains were the result of higher profit from the Company's circulation activities along with its integrated marketing and book operations, partially offset by lower advertising revenue. Total Publishing expenses rose 1 percent, including a mid-single digit increase in paper costs.

Total Publishing revenues increased 2 percent to $235.7 million in the quarter. These results reflect higher circulation revenues and growth from the Company's integrated marketing operations, partially offset by a 3 percent decline in advertising revenues. The Company generated fewer advertising pages at most of its magazines, partially offset by higher advertising revenue per page at its mid-size titles.

During the quarter:

• Better Homes and Gardens andLadies' Home Journal increased their combined share of advertising revenues in the women's service field more than one percentage point to 45 percent for the 12 months ended with the March 2005 issues, according to Publishers Information Bureau.
• More magazine generated strong results and continued to build brand presence through major sponsored consumer events such as theMore Marathon. In September 2005, Meredith will increase the rate base of the magazine to 1.1 million.
• The Company increased circulation contribution as a result of improved newsstand results along with its long-term direct-to-publisher circulation model, which continues to differentiate Meredith in the marketplace and generates meaningful contribution.
• Meredith Integrated Marketing posted strong revenue and profit gains, reflecting growth from existing clients and contribution from new programs.

For the first nine months of fiscal 2005, Publishing operating profit rose 11 percent to $117.6 million and operating profit margin increased to 17.9 percent from 16.5 percent. Publishing revenues grew 2 percent and operating expenses remained unchanged.

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

To date in fiscal 2005, the Company has repurchased approximately 1.9million shares. For all of fiscal 2004, the Company repurchased approximately 750,000 shares.

Net interest expense declined to $4.8million in the third quarter of fiscal 2005 compared with $5.6 million in the prior-year third quarter. Total debt was $270 million at March 31, 2005. Capital expenditures were $7.6 million in the third quarter and $17.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2005.

All earnings per share figures in the text of this release are diluted. Both basic and diluted earnings per share can be found in the attached statements of earnings.

OUTLOOK

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, Publishing advertising revenue is expected to increase in the mid-single digits, and Broadcast pacings, which are a snapshot in time and change frequently, are currently up in the low-single digits compared with the prior year.

Meredith expects earnings per share will approximate $0.83 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, representing a 15 percent increase from the $0.72 the Company earned in the prior-year quarter. These results include investment spending in Publishing to launch Meredith Hispanic Ventures, incremental direct mail investment and a mid-teen increase in paper prices compared with the prior-year fourth quarter.

The Company anticipates earnings per share will approximate $2.50 for all of fiscal 2005, representing a 25 percent increase from the $2.00 the Company earned in fiscal 2004.

CONFERENCE CALL WEB CAST

Meredith will host a conference call on April 26, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. EDT (10:00 a.m. CDT) to discuss fiscal third quarter results. A live web cast will be accessible to the public on the Company's web sitewww.meredith.com.

RATIONALE FOR USE AND ACCESS TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

Non-GAAP measures such as EBITDA should be construed not as alternative measures of, but as supplemental information regarding, the Company's net earnings and income from operations as defined under GAAP.

Management uses and presents GAAP and non-GAAP results to evaluate and communicate the performance of the Company. Because of EBITDA's focus on results from operations before depreciation and amortization, management believes that EBITDA provides an additional analytical tool to clarify the Company's results from core operations and delineate underlying trends. EBITDA is a common alternative measure of performance used by investors and financial analysts. Meredith does not use EBITDA as a measure of liquidity, nor is EBITDA necessarily indicative of funds available for management's discretionary use.

Reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures are included in Table 1. The attached financial statements and reconciliation tables will be made available on the Company's web site. Interested parties should go tohttp://www.meredith.com/investors/index.html and click on "GAAP-Non-GAAP Reconciliation" in the navigation bar on the left side of the page.

SAFE HARBOR

This release contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on management's current knowledge and estimates of factors affecting the Company's operations. Statements in this announcement that are forward-looking include, but are not limited to, the statements regarding broadcast pacings, publishing advertising revenues, and earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, along with the Company's earnings per share outlook for fiscal 2005.

Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could adversely affect future results include, but are not limited to, downturns in national and/or local economies; a softening of the domestic advertising market; world, national, or local events that could disrupt broadcast television; increased consolidation among major advertisers or other events depressing the level of advertising spending; the unexpected loss of one or more major clients; changes in consumer reading, purchase, and/or television viewing patterns; unanticipated increases in paper, postage, printing or syndicated programming costs; changes in television network affiliation agreements; technological developments affecting products or methods of distribution; changes in government regulations affecting the Company's industries; unexpected changes in interest rates; and any acquisitions and/or dispositions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION

Meredith Corporation (www.meredith.com) is one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies with businesses centering on magazine and book publishing, television broadcasting, integrated marketing and interactive media. The Meredith Publishing Group, the country's foremost home and family authority, features 18 subscription magazines includingBetter Homes and Gardens,Ladies' Home JournalandAmerican Baby and approximately 150 special interest publications. Meredith owns or operates 14 television stations including properties in top-25 markets such as Atlanta, Phoenix and Portland, and an AM radio station.

Meredith has approximately 350 books in print and has established marketing relationships with some of America's leading companies including The Home Depot, DIRECTV, DaimlerChrysler, Wal-Mart and Carnival Cruise Lines. Meredith's consumer database, which contains approximately 75 million names, is one of the largest domestic databases among media companies and enables magazine and television advertisers to target marketing campaigns precisely. Additionally, Meredith has an extensive Internet presence that includes 26 web sites and strategic alliances with leading Internet destinations.

Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Earnings - Unaudited
		Three Months							Nine Months
		Ended March 31					Percent Change		Ended March 31					Percent Change
		2005			Restated* 2004				2005			Restated* 2004
(In thousands except per share data)
Revenues
Advertising	$	178,619		$	181,487		(1.6)%	$	535,631		$	510,886		4.8 %
Circulation		64,962			62,962		3.2 %		179,049			183,113		(2.2)%
All other		61,936			55,104		12.4 %		174,253			158,603		9.9 %
Total revenues		305,517			299,553		2.0 %		888,933			852,602		4.3 %
Operating costs and expenses
Production, distribution and editorial		136,699			132,700		3.0 %		389,288			377,470		3.1 %
Selling, general and administrative		97,685			101,562		(3.8)%		318,661			323,634		(1.5)%
Depreciation and amortization		8,831			8,730		1.2 %		26,008			26,282		(1.0)%
Total operating costs and expenses		243,215			242,992		0.1 %		733,957			727,386		0.9 %
Income from operations		62,302			56,561		10.2 %		154,976			125,216		23.8 %
Interest income		259			40		547.5 %		699			124		463.7 %
Interest expense		(5,094	)		(5,647	)	(9.8)%		(15,436	)		(17,208	)	(10.3)%
Earnings before income taxes and cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle		57,467			50,954		12.8 %		140,239			108,132		29.7 %
Income taxes		22,239			19,720		12.8 %		54,272			41,851		29.7 %
Earnings before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle	$	35,228		$	31,234		12.8 %	$	85,967		$	66,281		29.7 %
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle, net of taxes		-			-		-		893			-		100.0 %
Net earnings	$	35,228		$	31,234		12.8 %	$	86,860		$	66,281		31.0 %
Basic earnings per share
Before cumulative effect of change in    accounting principle	$	0.71		$	0.62		14.5 %	$	1.72		$	1.32		30.3 %
Cumulative effect of change in accounting    principle		-			-		-		0.02			-		100.0 %
Net basic earnings per share	$	0.71		$	0.62		14.5 %	$	1.74		$	1.32		31.8 %
Basic average shares outstanding		49,649			50,203		(1.1)%		49,943			50,173		(0.5)%
Diluted earnings per share
Before cumulative effect of change in    accounting principle	$	0.69		$	0.60		15.0 %	$	1.67		$	1.28		30.5 %
Cumulative effect of change in accounting    principle		-			-				0.02			-		100.0 %
Net diluted earnings per share	$	0.69		$	0.60		15.0 %	$	1.69		$	1.28		32.0 %
Diluted average shares outstanding		50,990			51,953		(1.9)%		51,441			51,871		(0.8)%
Dividends paid per share	$	0.14		$	0.12		16.7 %	$	0.38		$	0.31		22.6 %
*  Restated to reflect the amortization of broadcasting network affiliation agreements and the expensing of share-based compensation.

Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries
Segment Information-Unaudited
	Three Months Ended March 31		Percent Change	Nine Months Ended March 31
	2005	Restated* 2004		2005	Restated* 2004

Percent
Change

(In thousands)

Revenues

Publishing

$

235,730

$

230,432

2.3 %

$

655,971

$

643,958

1.9 %

Broadcasting:

   Non-political advertising

68,216

65,600

4.0 %

209,799

201,046

4.4 %

   Political advertising

104

1,665

(93.8)%

18,683

2,459

NM    

   Other revenues

1,467

1,856

(21.0)%

4,480

5,139

(12.8)%

Total broadcasting

69,787

69,121

1.0 %

232,962

208,644

11.7 %

Total revenues

$

305,517

$

299,553

2.0 %

$

888,933

$

852,602

4.3 %

Operating Profit

Publishing

$

54,996

$

51,691

6.4 %

$

117,636

$

105,923

11.1 %

Broadcasting

16,220

14,231

14.0 %

62,659

43,834

42.9 %

Unallocated corporate

(8,914

)

(9,361

) 

4.8 %

(25,319

)

(24,541

)

(3.2)%

Income from operations

62,302

56,561

10.2 %

154,976

125,216

23.8 %

Depreciation & amortization

Publishing

$

2,270

$

2,298

(1.2)%

$

7,031

$

7,405

(5.1)%

Broadcasting

5,886

5,543

6.2 %

17,201

16,663

3.2 %

Unallocated corporate

675

889

(24.1)%

1,776

2,214

(19.8)%

Total depreciation & amortization

$

8,831

$

8,730

1.2 %

$

26,008

$

26,282

(1.0)%

EBITDA

Publishing

$

57,266

$

53,989

6.1 %

$

124,667

$

113,328

10.0 %

Broadcasting

22,106

19,774

11.8 %

79,860

60,497

32.0 %

Unallocated corporate

(8,239

)

(8,472

)

2.8 %

(23,543

)

(22,327

)

(5.4)%

Total EBITDA

$

71,133

$

65,291

8.9 %

$

180,984

$

151,498

19.5 %

NM-Not meaningful

*  Restated to reflect the amortization of broadcasting network affiliation agreements and the expensing of share-based compensation.

Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Unaudited
Assets		March 31 2005		Restated* June 30 2004
(In thousands)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,614	$	58,723
Accounts receivable, net		187,568		164,876
Other current assets		97,134		90,415
Total current assets		287,316		314,014
Property, plant and equipment, net		194,906		195,799
Other assets		92,630		90,843
Intangibles, net		708,464		673,968
Goodwill		196,382		191,303
Total assets	$	1,479,698	$	1,465,927
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity		March 31 2005		Restated* June 30 2004
(In thousands)
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	$	125,000	$	75,000
Accounts payable and accruals		156,620		143,632
Other current liabilities		156,986		152,118
Total current liabilities		438,606		370,750
Long-term debt		145,000		225,000
Other noncurrent liabilities		274,792		260,252
Total liabilities		858,398		856,002
Shareholders' equity
Common stock		39,786		40,802
Class B stock		9,609		9,683
Other shareholders' equity		571,905		559,440
Total shareholders' equity		621,300		609,925
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,479,698	$	1,465,927
*  Restated to reflect the expensing of share-based compensation.

Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries	Table 1
Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Consolidated EBITDA, which is reconciled to net earnings in the following tables, is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Segment EBITDA is a measure of segment earnings before depreciation and amortization.

Segment EBITDA margin is defined as segment EBITDA divided by segment revenues.

	Three Months ended March 31
	2005
	Publishing		Broadcasting		Unallocated Corporate			Total
(In thousands)
Revenues	$	235,730	$	69,787	$	-			$	305,517
Operating profit	$	54,996	$	16,220	$	(8,914	)		$	62,302
Depreciation and amortization		2,270		5,886		675				8,831
EBITDA	$	57,266	$	22,106	$	(8,239	)			71,133
Less:
Depreciation and amortization										(8,831	)
Net interest expense										(4,835	)
Income taxes										(22,239	)
Net earnings									$	35,228
Segment EBITDA margin		24.3 %		31.7 %
	Three Months ended March 31
	2004 - Restated*
	Publishing		Broadcasting		Unallocated Corporate			Total
(In thousands)
Revenues	$	230,432	$	69,121	$	-			$	299,553
Operating profit	$	51,691	$	14,231	$	(9,361	)		$	56,561
Depreciation and amortization		2,298		5,543		889				8,730
EBITDA	$	53,989	$	19,774	$	(8,472	)			65,291
Less:
Depreciation and amortization										(8,730	)
Net interest expense										(5,607	)
Income taxes										(19,720	)
Net earnings									$	31,234
Segment EBITDA margin		23.4 %		28.6 %
*  Restated to reflect the amortization of broadcasting network affiliation agreements and the expensing of share-based compensation.

Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries	Table 1(continued)
Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

	Nine Months ended March 31
	2005
	Publishing		Broadcasting		Unallocated Corporate			Total
(In thousands)
Revenues	$	655,971	$	232,962	$	-			$	888,933
Operating profit	$	117,636	$	62,659	$	(25,319	)		$	154,976
Depreciation and amortization		7,031		17,201		1,776				26,008
EBITDA	$	124,667	$	79,860	$	(23,543	)			180,984
Less:
Depreciation and amortization										(26,008	)
Net interest expense										(14,737	)
Income taxes										(54,272	)
Earnings before cumulative effect    of change in accounting principle									$	85,967
Segment EBITDA margin		19.0 %		34.3 %
	Nine Months ended March 31
	2004 - Restated *
	Publishing		Broadcasting		Unallocated Corporate			Total
(In thousands)
Revenues	$	643,958	$	208,644	$	-			$	852,602
Operating profit	$	105,923	$	43,834	$	(24,541	)		$	125,216
Depreciation and amortization		7,405		16,663		2,214				26,282
EBITDA	$	113,328	$	60,497		(22,327	)			151,498
Less:
Depreciation and amortization										(26,282	)
Net interest expense										(17,084	)
Income taxes										(41,851	)
Net earnings									$	66,281
Segment EBITDA margin		17.6 %		29.0 %
*  Restated to reflect the amortization of broadcasting network affiliation agreements and the expensing of share-based compensation.