• by Wayne Friedman , July 22, 2010

Mid-size TV station group Lin TV Corp. has followed other TV companies with strong second-quarter results.

Net income went into the black -- $3.6 million versus a $25.5 million loss in the second quarter of 2009. Net revenues climbed 21% to $99.5 million. As with other stations, Lin benefited from higher political revenues during the period -- $5.3 million versus $1.4 million.

Lin also witnessed big gains from all its digital businesses -- 44% to $14.7 million versus the same period a year ago. Internet advertising and other interactive revenues climbed 164% for the second quarter of 2010.

Lin Internet's businesses for each visitor average about 20 minutes. The company delivered 6.5 million video views and engaged 38 million total daily unique visitors on its stations' Web sites.

Vincent L. Sadusky, president/CEO of Lin TV, stated: "Our results demonstrate continued, sustained improvement over 2009. Television advertising has experienced a strong recovery and our digital business, which now constitutes 15% of our total revenues, continues to grow and differentiate us as a local multimedia company."

Lin also gained from retransmission consent fees -- rising 5% in the second quarter of 2010, compared to the same period in 2009.

For the third quarter, Lin sees continued business improvement -- an estimated $83 million to $88 million in advertising revenues; $15.1 million to $16.6 million in digital revenues; $3.0 million to $3.8 million in network compensation, barter and other revenues; and $101.1 million in $108.4 million in total revenues.