FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Media General Reports March Revenues

RICHMOND, Va. – Media General, Inc. (NYSE: MEG) today reported that total revenues for March 2005 increased 5.3 percent, to $72.1 million, from March 2004. On a divisional basis, Publishing revenues increased 4.8 percent, Broadcast revenues grew 4.7 percent, and Interactive Media Division revenues rose 50.7 percent.

Newspaper advertising revenues increased $2.2 million, or 6 percent, over last March, and reflected gains in all categories. Including revenues from the company’s newspaper Web sites, publishing revenues increased 5.7 percent and newspaper advertising revenues rose 7.1 percent for the month.

Classified revenues increased $750,000, or 4.8 percent, compared with March 2004, and reflected growth in virtually all markets. The Tampa Tribune was up strongly, 6.9 percent, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Winston-Salem Journal were up a little more than 1 percent each, compared with last March. As expected, Classified revenue growth softened during the month, compared to the double-digit increases experienced in January and February of this year, due to the Easter holiday. Newspapers typically see a decline in employment linage on holidays. Including online advertising, the overall increase in Classified revenues was 6.5 percent.

Classified advertising growth continued to be driven principally by help-wanted advertising. In March, employment linage for The Tampa Tribune increased 20.1 percent and the Richmond Times-Dispatch was up 13.1 percent. Running counter-trend, the Winston-Salem Journal reported a 3 percent decline, due mainly to the Easter holiday. Automotive linage at The Tampa Tribune was even with last year. The Winston-Salem Journal reported a 1.6 percent increase in automotive linage, while the Richmond Times-Dispatch was down 19.1 percent. Real estate linage at the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Winston-Salem Journal was up 7 percent and 21 percent, respectively, while it was down at The Tampa Tribune.

Retail revenues increased $650,000, or 3.9 percent. The Tampa Tribune reported the largest increase, 6.8 percent, due to a strong performance in the financial, home furnishings and medical categories. The Richmond Times-Dispatch declined 3.2 percent, due to lower medical, department store and furniture advertising and a special section from last year that did not repeat. The Winston-Salem Journal’s retail revenues were up 1.5 percent, resulting from increased preprints and use of color. The Community newspaper group reported a 6.4 percent increase in retail advertising.

National revenues increased $570,000, or 18.9 percent, resulting from strong telecommunications advertising in all three metro markets as well as financial and pharmaceutical advertising in Tampa.

Circulation revenues were $170,000, or 2.4 percent below last year, mostly due to a change in wholesale rates to independent carriers.

In the Broadcast Division, gross time sales increased $915,000, or nearly 4 percent. Gains in Local and National transactional time sales more than offset a substantial decline in Political spot sales.

Local time sales increased $1.4 million, or 9.5 percent, reflecting strong results from the division’s new business development initiatives. Growth in services, furniture and home improvement advertising offset declines in the fast food and automotive categories.

National time sales rose $210,000, or 2.6 percent, due to gains in the corporate, home improvement and specialty stores categories that offset declines in telecommunications and automotive advertising.

Although down substantially from last year, Political revenues of $250,000 exceeded expectations and reflected issues advertising for Social Security and educational reforms.

Interactive Media Division revenues rose 50.7 percent to a monthly record of $1.6 million. The growth was driven by a 45.4 percent increase in Classified advertising, reflecting continued strong liner upsell activity and special product revenue. Local advertising also was up significantly, reflecting continued success with new products.

About Media General
Media General is a diversified communications company operating leading newspapers, television stations and online enterprises, primarily in the Southeastern United States.  The company’s publishing assets include three metropolitan newspapers, The Tampa Tribune, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and the Winston-Salem Journal; 22 daily community newspapers in Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina; and more than 100 weekly newspapers and other publications.  The company’s broadcasting assets include 26 network-affiliated television stations that reach more than 30 percent of the television households in the Southeast and nearly 8 percent of those in the United States.  The company’s interactive media assets include more than 50 online enterprises that are associated with its newspapers and television stations. Media General also owns a 20 percent interest in The Denver Post and a 33 percent interest in SP Newsprint Company.

Investor Contact:
Lou Anne Nabhan
(804) 649-6103

Media Contact:
Ray Kozakewicz
(804) 649-6748

Charts follow:
Revenue Report
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