Chicago Tribune Reports Increased Circulation

Improved performance in home delivery and individually paid circulation

CHICAGO, May 8, 2006 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Chicago Tribune today released circulation and readership results for the most recent periods. For the six-months reporting period ended March 31, 2006, Chicago Tribune's Monday-Friday individually paid circulation (home delivery plus single copy) was up 2.1% to 547,257. Home Delivery was a key factor behind this growth and was up 3.3 percent. Total average paid circulation Monday-Friday was 579,078, up 0.9 percent from the same period last year. Sunday individually paid grew 0.4% to 915,405, also driven by home delivery growth, up 2%. Total average Sunday paid circulation was 957,212, up 0.4 percent from the same time last year. In addition, Saturday individually paid was up 0.9%, driven by single copy growth. All circulation information is according to Publisher's Statement figures filed by the newspaper with the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC), subject to audit.

The newspaper also reported that readership of the Chicago Tribune among adults in the market is approximately 2.7 million readers on Sunday and 1.7 million on weekdays.*

"We are pleased to show circulation increases on both daily and Sunday, especially in individually paid circulation most valued by advertisers," said David Hiller, president and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. "Our readers are responding to the value they see in our new editorial sections and features."

The Chicago Tribune credits the improving trends in circulation to editorial innovations, as well as increased investment in sales and marketing and product enhancements. The paper's news and feature reporting emphasizes content readers can't get anywhere else - including exclusive Tribune investigations, profile stories bringing more people and personality, and an across the board focus on utility for the reader. Examples of these enhancements are:

-- Expanded entertainment coverage and features - every day of the week - including Thursday's At Play section, the popular On the Town section on Fridays and the Metromix Planner, a daily guide to events and best bets.
-- More color pages in the newspaper as a result of press enhancements.
-- Hard-hitting Tribune investigations such as "Pipeline to Peril," a two part award-winning series that exposed forced labor and human trafficking in privatized U.S. military support operations in Iraq; and a three-part investigative series into high mercury levels in fish; as well as "What's Your Problem?," a new, twice-weekly feature that provides solutions to challenges faced by local readers, emphasizes our newsroom's strong commitment to public service journalism.
-- Subscriber Advantage, a loyalty program for subscribers, continues to provide members unique benefits such as exclusive access to content on chicagotribune.com, special discounts from advertisers and VIP access to local events and performances. Since its launch in January 2005, Subscriber Advantage has gained a membership base of more than 125,000.

"Our circulation growth shows the value the Chicago Tribune provides readers -- top-notch editorial content, great availability through home delivery, retail locations and honor boxes, and best-in-the-market customer service," says Hiller. "All this solidifies our position as Chicagoland's circulation, readership and advertising leader, an excellent vehicle for reaching both broad and targeted audiences."

* Gallup Poll of Media Usage & Consumer Behavior -- Chicago Market (C) 2005-2006. Circulation results for each individual day of the week were also reported in the company's Publisher's Statement. The above circulation figures do not include the Chicago Tribune's RedEye edition.

About Chicago Tribune

Chicago Tribune Company publishes the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper with daily readership of 1.7 million and 2.7 million on Sunday. Together with other media businesses it operates -- including chicagotribune.com, RedEye, Hoy and Chicago Magazine -- Chicago Tribune Company reaches approximately 60 percent of adults in Chicagoland every week. Chicago Tribune is the founding publication of Tribune Company (TRB), one of the country's leading media companies with businesses in broadcasting, publishing and on the Internet.

SOURCE Chicago Tribune