Fisher, Lin Revs Dip, Digital Mixed

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Two mid-sized TV station groups, Lin TV and Fisher Communications, witnessed drops in revenue in their respective fourth-quarter financial periods -- with Lin TV getting the better results.

Lin's net revenues sank 3% to $101.1 million in the period. Without political advertising, the Providence, RI-based company said revenues were up 12.6% to $94.1 million. Political advertising was $8.3 million for the fourth quarter, versus $24.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Just like other TV station groups, Lin's digital revenues showed strength, climbing 44% to $13.4 million.

Overall, Lin climbed out of the red versus a year ago -- a $10.7 million versus a $625.8 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Another mid-sized publicly traded TV station group, Seattle-based Fisher Communications, didn't fare as well. Revenues retreated 19% to $38.6 million in its fourth-quarter period, also primarily due to unfavorable comparisons to the similar period in 2008 because of lower political advertising.

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On the positive, Fisher did post a net income of $1.1 million for the period, a reversal of the $47.7 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Just looking at TV revenue, revenue fell 23% to $29.1 million. Fisher didn't find any growth from its digital businesses -- just flat at $507,000, which comes to just under 2% of all TV revenue.

Without political advertising, Fisher says revenues climbed 4% to $23 million.

The company said automotive advertising, also up for other TV companies, climbed 14%. The downside was that retail and restaurant advertising categories dropped 13% and 14%, respectively.

Fisher's radio business drifted back 8% to $6.1 million.

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