EXHIBIT 99
PRESS RELEASE
Scripps reports August revenue, statistics
| For immediate release | (NYSE: SSP) | |||
| Sept. 12, 2006 |
CINCINNATI – The E. W. Scripps Company today reported August revenue and statistics for its Scripps Networks, newspaper and broadcast television divisions.
At Scripps Networks revenue was up 17 percent to $80.7 million in August compared with the same month a year ago.
August advertising revenue at Scripps Networks was up 15 percent and affiliate fee revenue increased 10 percent. Scripps Networks includes the company’s portfolio of national cable and satellite television networks, including HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living and Great American Country (GAC). Based on advance advertising sales, the company anticipates September advertising revenue for Scripps Networks will be up about 15 percent.
HGTV and Food Network can each be seen in about 91 million U.S. television households. DIY Network reaches about 39 million households and Fine Living can be seen in about 40 million households. GAC reached 44 million U.S. households in August.
At newspapers managed solely by the company, total revenue was $54.4 million, up slightly from the same period a year ago. Newspaper advertising revenue increased 1.3 percent during August.
Broken down by category, newspaper advertising revenue during the month was:
| • | Local, up 1.0 percent to $11.6 million. |
| • | Classified, down 0.5 percent to $17.5 million. |
| • | National, down 19 percent to $2.7 million. |
| • | Preprint, online and other, up 10.7 percent to $11.9 million. |
At the company’s broadcast television stations, August revenue was up 14 percent to $26.8 million. Broken down by category, broadcast television revenue was:
| • | Local, down slightly to $14.9 million. |
| • | National, up 1.0 percent to $7.6 million. |
| • | Political, $3.3 million compared with $200,000 in the year-ago period. |
For competitive reasons, Scripps does not report monthly revenue and statistics for its interactive media division, which includes online search and price comparison services Shopzilla and uSwitch. The company reports revenue from the interactive media division on a quarterly basis.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements related to the company’s businesses that are based on management’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, including changes in advertising demand and other economic conditions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. The company’s written policy on forward-looking statements can be found on page F-5 of its 2005 SEC Form 10K.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events for circumstances after the date the statement is made.
5
About Scripps
The E. W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) is a diverse and growing media enterprise with interests in national cable networks, newspaper publishing, broadcast television stations, electronic commerce, interactive media, and licensing and syndication.
The company’s portfolio of media properties includes:Scripps Networks, with such brands as HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living, Great American Country and HGTVPro;daily and community newspapers in 18 markets and the Washington-based Scripps Media Center, home to the Scripps Howard News Service; 10broadcast TV stations, including six ABC-affiliated stations, three NBC affiliates and one independent; leading online search and comparison shopping services,Shopzillaand uSwitch;andUnited Media, a leading worldwide licensing and syndication company that is the home of PEANUTS, DILBERT and approximately 150 other features and comics.
###
Contact: Tim Stautberg, The E. W. Scripps Company, 513-977-3826
Email:stautberg@scripps.com
6
| THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY | For more information: | |||
| Unaudited Revenue and Statistical Summary | Tim Stautberg | |||
| Period: August | The E.W. Scripps Company | |||
| Report date: September 12, 2006 | 513-977-3826 |
REVENUE AND STATISTICAL SUMMARY FOR SELECTED OPERATING SEGMENTS
| ( amounts in millions, unless otherwise noted ) | August | Year-to-date | ||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | 2005 | % | 2006 | 2005 | % | |||||||||||||
SCRIPPS NETWORKS | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||
Advertising | $ | 62.4 | $ | 54.3 | 15.0 | % | $ | 544.4 | $ | 467.2 | 16.5 | % | ||||||
Affiliate fees, net | 16.0 | 14.5 | 10.2 | % | 130.3 | 110.1 | 18.4 | % | ||||||||||
Other | 2.3 | 0.5 | 11.7 | 5.0 | ||||||||||||||
Scripps Networks | $ | 80.7 | $ | 69.3 | 16.5 | % | $ | 686.5 | $ | 582.3 | 17.9 | % | ||||||
Subscribers (1) | ||||||||||||||||||
HGTV | 91.1 | 88.8 | 2.6 | % | ||||||||||||||
Food Network | 90.8 | 87.7 | 3.5 | % | ||||||||||||||
Great American Country | 44.2 | 39.0 | 13.3 | % | ||||||||||||||
NEWSPAPERS (2) | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||
Local | $ | 11.6 | $ | 11.4 | 1.0 | % | $ | 104.3 | $ | 103.1 | 1.2 | % | ||||||
Classified | 17.5 | 17.6 | (0.5 | )% | 158.3 | 148.5 | 6.6 | % | ||||||||||
National | 2.7 | 3.3 | (18.9 | )% | 24.8 | 27.0 | (7.9 | )% | ||||||||||
Preprints, online and other | 11.9 | 10.8 | 10.7 | % | 96.9 | 86.9 | 11.5 | % | ||||||||||
Newspaper advertising | 43.7 | 43.2 | 1.3 | % | 384.2 | 365.4 | 5.2 | % | ||||||||||
Circulation | 9.6 | 9.8 | (2.1 | )% | 82.4 | 84.6 | (2.5 | )% | ||||||||||
Other | 1.1 | 1.2 | (8.6 | )% | 10.3 | 10.2 | 1.4 | % | ||||||||||
Newspapers managed solely by us | $ | 54.4 | $ | 54.1 | 0.4 | % | $ | 477.0 | $ | 460.2 | 3.7 | % | ||||||
Ad inches (excluding JOAs) (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||
Local | 394 | 405 | (2.7 | )% | 3,494 | 3,554 | (1.7 | )% | ||||||||||
Classified | 746 | 706 | 5.6 | % | 6,462 | 5,916 | 9.2 | % | ||||||||||
National | 69 | 85 | (19.1 | )% | 645 | 740 | (12.9 | )% | ||||||||||
Full run ROP | 1,208 | 1,196 | 1.0 | % | 10,600 | 10,210 | 3.8 | % | ||||||||||
BROADCAST TELEVISION | ||||||||||||||||||
Operating Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||
Local | $ | 14.9 | $ | 15.0 | (0.2 | )% | $ | 136.3 | $ | 125.9 | 8.3 | % | ||||||
National | 7.6 | 7.5 | 1.0 | % | 67.7 | 64.3 | 5.3 | % | ||||||||||
Political | 3.3 | 0.2 | 8.7 | 1.3 | ||||||||||||||
Other | 1.0 | 0.8 | 25.6 | % | 7.2 | 8.9 | (18.8 | )% | ||||||||||
Broadcast Television | $ | 26.8 | $ | 23.5 | 14.1 | % | $ | 220.0 | $ | 200.4 | 9.8 | % | ||||||
| (1) | Subscriber counts are according to the Nielsen Homevideo Index of homes that receive cable networks. |
| (2) | On February 1, 2006, we contributed the Boulder Daily Camera, the Colorado Daily and the twice-weekly Broomfield Enterprise in exchange for a 50% interest in a partnership we jointly operate with MediaNews Group Inc. To enhance comparability the reported revenues do not include operating revenues of these newspapers prior to the formation of the partnership. Our 50% share of the operating profit (loss) of the partnership is reported as “Equity in earnings of JOAs and other joint ventures” in our financial statements. |
7
| THE E.W. SCRIPPS COMPANY | For more information: | |||
| Unaudited Revenue and Statistical Summary | Tim Stautberg | |||
| Period: August | The E.W. Scripps Company | |||
| Report date: September 12, 2006 | 513-977-3826 |
REVENUE AND STATISTICAL SUMMARY FOR SELECTED OPERATING SEGMENTS
| ( amounts in millions, unless otherwise noted ) | July and August | ||||||||
| 2006 | 2005 | % | |||||||
SCRIPPS NETWORKS | |||||||||
Operating Revenues | |||||||||
Advertising | $ | 124.4 | $ | 105.6 | 17.8 | % | |||
Affiliate fees, net | 32.8 | 28.5 | 15.2 | % | |||||
Other | 5.4 | 1.2 | |||||||
Scripps Networks | $ | 162.6 | $ | 135.3 | 20.2 | % | |||
Subscribers (1) | |||||||||
HGTV | 91.1 | 88.8 | 2.6 | % | |||||
Food Network | 90.8 | 87.7 | 3.5 | % | |||||
Great American Country | 44.2 | 39.0 | 13.3 | % | |||||
NEWSPAPERS (2) | |||||||||
Operating Revenues | |||||||||
Local | $ | 22.9 | $ | 22.9 | (0.3 | )% | |||
Classified | 36.9 | 36.8 | 0.4 | % | |||||
National | 5.5 | 6.7 | (18.3 | )% | |||||
Preprints, online and other | 24.0 | 21.8 | 9.9 | % | |||||
Newspaper advertising | 89.2 | 88.2 | 1.1 | % | |||||
Circulation | 19.7 | 20.3 | (3.2 | )% | |||||
Other | 2.0 | 2.1 | (7.1 | )% | |||||
Newspapers managed solely by us | $ | 110.9 | $ | 110.7 | 0.2 | % | |||
Ad inches (excluding JOAs) (in thousands) | |||||||||
Local | 794 | 804 | (1.3 | )% | |||||
Classified | 1,557 | 1,473 | 5.7 | % | |||||
National | 136 | 177 | (23.3 | )% | |||||
Full run ROP | 2,487 | 2,454 | 1.3 | % | |||||
BROADCAST TELEVISION | |||||||||
Operating Revenues | |||||||||
Local | $ | 28.8 | $ | 28.3 | 1.9 | % | |||
National | 14.2 | 14.3 | (0.7 | )% | |||||
Political | 5.0 | 0.8 | |||||||
Other | 1.8 | 1.6 | 10.2 | % | |||||
Broadcast Television | $ | 49.7 | $ | 44.9 | 10.7 | % | |||
| (1) | Subscriber counts are according to the Nielsen Homevideo Index of homes that receive cable networks. |
| (2) | On February 1, 2006, we contributed the Boulder Daily Camera, the Colorado Daily and the twice-weekly Broomfield Enterprise in exchange for a 50% interest in a partnership we jointly operate with MediaNews Group Inc. To enhance comparability the reported revenues do not include operating revenues of these newspapers prior to the formation of the partnership. Our 50% share of the operating profit (loss) of the partnership is reported as “Equity in earnings of JOAs and other joint ventures” in our financial statements. |
8