Media General, Inc. profile and media properties

Media Owners editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 12:42pm on Thursday, February 17, 2011

With Google's One Pass, Two More Newspaper Chains Join The Paywall Brigade

-- On February 16, 2011, the Guardian newspaper's paidContent.org reported:

"Included in the announcement of Google's long-expected One Pass paid content system for publishers is news that two more U.S. newspaper chains are planning to put up online paywalls at some of their newspaper sites this year: Media General, Inc. plans to use One Pass to charge users who access its 180,000-plus circulation Richmond Times-Dispatch, while midwest newspaper chain Rust Communications will soon charge some users at three of its newspaper sites.

MediaGeneral spokesman Raymond Kozakewicz tells us the company will put up a paywall at the Times-Dispatch's site within three months. He would not say how much the chain would charge and did not say how the model would work."

Get the full story.

Media Owners editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 9:36pm on Thursday, November 18, 2010

Media General TV Stations Generated $41.5 Million in 2010 Political Revenues

November 17, 2010 -- Media General announced today that its 18 broadcast television stations generated approximately $41.5 million in political advertising revenues through November 2.

Four Media General television stations generated about two-thirds of the total, including WFLA in Tampa, Fla.; WCMH in Columbus, Ohio; WSPA in Spartanburg, S.C.; and WJAR in Providence R.I. Additionally, a late surge in advocate group and party spending for two hotly contested Congressional races in the Virginia 5th and 9th Districts generated more revenues than anticipated for WSLS in Roanoke, Va., and WJHL in Johnson City, Tenn.

"Media General benefited from a surge in issue and national party spending in the final weeks and days leading up to November 2. Our stations, most of which are rated number one or number two in their respective markets, were in an excellent position to benefit from Political advertising this year. We generated nearly $24 million in political revenues in October and the first two days in November," said Marshall N. Morton, president and chief executive officer of Media General.

Political revenues at WFLA and WCMH were the result of gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races, and WCMH also benefited from three hotly contested Congressional races. WJAR generated the majority of its revenues from Rhode Island's gubernatorial race and from a Congressional race in Massachusetts. The gubernatorial race in South Carolina and a Congressional race in North Carolina accounted for the majority of Political revenues generated by WSPA. Media General stations in Alabama and Georgia delivered significant political revenues this year from gubernatorial elections in both states, and a Congressional race in Georgia.

In addition to the political revenues from its broadcast television stations, Media General's newspapers generated approximately $450,000 in political revenues and the company's websites garnered approximately $50,000. "While the dollars are much smaller compared to television advertising, we were pleased to see our other media platforms viewed as a reliable way to convey issue and campaign messages to a target audience," said Mr. Morton.

Media Owners editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 8:52am on Thursday, November 4, 2010

-- November 4, 2010 -- Media General, Inc. announced today that Marilyn L. Hammond has been named president and market leader, North Carolina, effective January 1, 2011. Dan Bradley has been named president and market leader, Ohio/Rhode Island, effective immediately. In her new role, Ms. Hammond will succeed James R. Conschafter, who will become president and market Leader, Virginia/Tennessee. In his new role, Mr. Conschafter will succeed James A. Zimmerman, who plans to retire after 35 years with Media General, effective December 31, 2010.

Media Owners editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 1:59pm on Wednesday, September 29, 2010

WCMH TV 4 Is the First Media General Station to Launch MDTV

-- September 29, 2010 -- Media General, Inc. said that WCMH TV 4, its NBC Television Network affiliate in Columbus, Ohio, is the company's first broadcast television station to launch mobile digital television (MDTV). The real-time local broadcast service began on September 23, and can be received on suitably equipped laptops, mobile phones and other portable devices.

Marshall N. Morton, president and chief executive officer of Media General, said, "Mobile DTV is an important new way to extend our reach and deliver content to our viewers, when, where and how they want it. Mobile DTV now allows us to deliver our television content to on-the-go consumers. We look forward to launching Mobile DTV in as many as 5-7 additional television markets in the coming months."

Dan Bradley, WCMH-TV vice president and general manager, said, "We are excited to launch this convenient and free new service. We are eager to meet the needs of our viewers with unique content wherever they go, helping to expand their viewing day. Launching a simulcast of WCMH's primary channel is the first step."

Media General is actively engaged with a leading group of broadcasters in deploying mobile television. Mobile DTV allows broadcasters to provide their local content to suitably equipped mobile devices, including live and on-demand video, local and national news from print and electronic sources, and sports and entertainment programming. Some devices have a "chipset" already built in to receive the signal, while others require an external USB-type or other tuner available at electronics stores. Research shows that mobile-equipped consumers watch more television than before and that they particularly appreciate convenient access to live, local news.

Dolly Wilson    Hickory, North Carolina

Posted at 5:26am on Monday, May 31, 2010

I find it appalling that I have been a customer of Hickory Daily Record and the NewsHerald for over 30 years and for the last 3 days have not received a newspaper due to a broken contract and slack in documentation on the part of the manager of this paper. On November 7, 2009 I called to cancel my paper. I was told I could get the paper for 50% off for a year if I continued my subscription. I continued to receive bills. I called 6 times to remind them of their promise and was told "someone" would call me back. I never received a call so continued to spend precious time calling again. I finally received assurance from Mike the manager that I would get my paper for this agreed upon time and price. I called yesterday and received an obnoxious remark by Anthony (when I said I only received one phone call during work hours on Friday so could not get anyone after 5). He stated "how many phone calls would you like Miss Wilson?" I spoke to Franscheska about this and she assured me someone would call me yesterday. Today, no paper, no phone call. I feel very disrespected and disappointed and hope Mike and Anthony review customer service policy and the importance of keeping your word.

Barry Reichard    Homosassa, FL, USA

Posted at 7:50am on Sunday, March 21, 2010

My comment is relative to Tampa's Channel 8 TV.

Barry Reichard    Homosassa, FL, USA

Posted at 7:48am on Sunday, March 21, 2010

On the very eve of a very close and critical vote on the most important legislation in our country's recent history, your evening news coverage of the historical health care reform actions ended by airing a statement from a man on the street!!!

He essentially said, "You either buy your own or have big government control."

Nothing was reported about his credentials, but he sounded like a Tea Party radical repeating the misleading Republican mantra at worse, and at best really did not know what was in the legislation.

He obviously does not know what the government already does to help provide or protect his healthcare, and I guess the only way he ever will is if all that government support is taken away. The news media rarely if ever tells about all the good things our governments do for us. But I'll bet this guy will be the first to bitch if something goes wrong or if we truly let big business conduct their business without any government controls. This recession is pretty good evidence of where the lack of sufficient controls on greedy big businesses will lead us.

And I wonder what this guy would say if he lost his job and health care insurance and encountered a catastrophic health problem?

Are your news people really this biased or bent on reporting only what they perhaps think is popular? Do they not have the resources to learn about and report on the facts?

Perhaps worse than the end of this coverage was the fact that the report was extremely uninformative and primarily showed Tea Party protesters and the Republican leader talking about Armageddon.

No facts about of the legislation were reported, not even negative facts.

Does this kind of reporting satisfy your mission statement?

Is it your mission to report only the popular? To stir up more radicalism? To provide free campaign advertisements to the Republicans?

My family has watched your evening news since we moved here fifteen years ago.

Last night was probably the end of that. I think you just lost our viewer ship!!!

Media Owners editors    Boulder, Colorado USA

Posted at 10:40pm on Saturday, January 30, 2010

Media General Reports Fourth-Quarter 2009 Results

January 28, 2010 -- Media General, Inc. (NYSE: MEG) today reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 of $27.4 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $85.5 million, or $3.86 per diluted share, in the 2008 fourth quarter. Income from continuing operations before income taxes, and adjusted for severance and impairment in both years, increased 40 percent to $22.9 million, compared with $16.4 million in the 2008 fourth quarter.

"Media General's fourth-quarter results improved year-over-year and sequentially from the third quarter of 2009. Total revenues in the fourth quarter decreased 14 percent, a sequential improvement from an 18 percent decrease in the third quarter of 2009. In addition, the 2009 quarter included only $3.7 million of Political revenues, compared with $23.4 million in the 2008 fourth quarter. Advertising sales strengthened as the quarter unfolded. In the month of December, total revenues were essentially even with December 2008," said Marshall N. Morton, president and chief executive officer.

Frank Littleton    Graceville, Florida

Posted at 9:53am on Saturday, September 12, 2009

Jerry Tramel. How many are their? This article must be hurting all of them, named Jerry Tramel.What is funny is this is Media Genrals Web and it doesn't even move the article. The crawlers are surely blocked. What he wrote is correct. I tried moving the article about him and it does not budge! That is very wrong. I believe that is called defamation of character. Someone with Media General and The Floridan should look at this.
Besides, the man committed No Crimes. No Court. All charges were Dismissed! This is absurd.
I agree all articles about Jerry Tramel should be retracted.

John Reitz    Panama City, Florida

Posted at 6:27pm on Friday, September 11, 2009

After reading the article on Jerry Tramel and then finding out the man was not even convicted of anything, that is overboard!! The Jackson County Floridan should run a retraction of all their articles concerning Jerry Tramel. This newspaper should really know its' liabilties!
Be realistic, the mans credentials are real! Ruled on by the Circuit Judge and agreed on by the State Attorneys Office! Except the fact, he's real!
I also checked the article in question and yes someone has locked the crawlers from this article which will exempt it from being read by Crawlers and never moved.
Hey, Mr.Tramel Bay County has a lot of good Attorneys!!