• by Ray Schultz , August 4, 2022

Newspaper chain Lee Enterprises generated $195 million in revenue in its third quarter, down by less than 2% YoY. Net income totaled $0.2 million. 

Digital revenue grew by 27% to $61 million. Included in that were $11 million in digital subscription sales, up 44%, and $48 million in advertising/marketing services, up 28%. Digital ad sales of $46 million accounted for 51% of total advertising revenue. 

Like other publishers, Lee has faced pressures caused by COVID-19 and the economy, plus higher newsprint and other commodity costs. 

Operating expenses rose by 10% to $190 million the quarter. The company has pursued cost reductions across the entire organization, with print seeing significant cutting, primarily in distribution. Still, the company is investing in local content generation. 

Lee, deemed a juicy acquisition candidate by Alden Global Capital (an attempt the firm has opposed), now has 501,000 digital-only subscribers, exceeding its earlier guidance of 495,000. 

Lee Chairman and CEO Kevin Mowbray noted that the firm exceeded its full-year targets in digital subscriptions, digital subscription revenue, and Amplified Digital® revenue a full quarter ahead of schedule.

In addition, the company expects “substantial fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA growth as we reaffirm our full year target of $95 million - $98 million,” Mowbray said.