The slide in newspaper revenues offset increased revenues at the company's growing educational publishing division and cable television operations. The educational division enjoyed 14% revenue growth compared to the second quarter of 2006, to $503.5 million, while cable revenues rose 9% to $154.4 million. Revenue was essentially flat at the company's broadcast TV operations, sliding 1% to $87 million.

The gains in educational publishing and cable couldn't make up for advertising revenue declines at The Washington Post, however. Overall, revenue fell 7% to $227.9 million--largely because of a 13% decline in ad revenues, which ended at $128.4 million. Like other newspaper publishers, the newspaper blamed weakness in national, retail, and classified advertising. Within the classified category, recruitment led declines with a 22% drop, to $13.2 million.

Again, like other newspaper publishers, online revenues are a bright spot at The Washington Post, growing 11% to $28.2 million in the second quarter. However, this figure may be cause for alarm in itself, as it represents a significant slowdown from the company's 36% growth rate in the second quarter of 2006. The rate of growth slowed both in percentage and absolute dollar terms--falling from $6.6 million in 2006 to just $2.9 million in 2005.

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