The E. W. Scripps Company reported consolidated earnings results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009. For the quarter, the company reported net loss attributable to the shareholders of the company of $3.26 million or $0.06 per basic share on operating revenues of $186.40 million compared to net loss attributable to the shareholders of the company of $16.80 million or $0.31 per basic share on operating revenues of $230.25 million for the same period last year. Loss from continuing operations before income taxes was $3.25 million, operating loss was $2.96 million and loss from continuing operations net of tax was $3.54 million or $0.07 per share compared to loss from continuing operations before income taxes of $7.57 million, operating loss of $7.71 million and loss from continuing operations net of tax of $3.06 million or $0.06 per share for the same period last year. For the nine months, the company reported net loss attributable to the shareholders of the company of $221.71 million or $3.83 per basic share on operating revenues of $584.93 million compared to net loss attributable to the shareholders of the company of $463.97 million or $10.10 per basic share on operating revenues of $736.77 million for the same period last year. Loss from continuing operations before income taxes was $235.07 million, operating loss was $233.32 million and loss from continuing operations net of tax was $206.18 million or $3.83 per share compared to loss from continuing operations before income taxes of $801.26 million, operating loss of $764.86 million and loss from continuing operations net of tax of $547.80 million or $10.10 per share for the same period last year.

The E. W. Scripps Company reported capital expenditures in the third quarter of 2009 of approximately $16 million bringing the nine-month figure to $40 million which is down from $62 million last year. The company predicts full year 2009 capital expenditure figure to come in around $45 million. For the year 2010 and beyond the maintenance level of capital expenditures will be around $20 to $25 million a year, although the company will only spend what’s necessary and affordable.

The E. W. Scripps Company, Q3 2009 Earnings Call, Nov-05 2009