10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC. 20549

Form 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 25, 2005

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number: 1-6383

MEDIA GENERAL, INC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commonwealth of Virginia	54-0850433
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
333 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA	23219
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(804) 649-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,

if changed since last report.)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x      No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes x     No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ¨      No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of October 30, 2005.

Class A Common shares:	23,488,117
Class B Common shares:	555,992

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-Q REPORT

September 25, 2005

		Page
Part I.     Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements
	Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets – September 25, 2005 and December 26, 2004	1
	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations – Third quarter and nine months ended September 25, 2005, and September 26, 2004	3
	Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows – Nine months ended September 25, 2005, and September 26, 2004	4
	Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements	5
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	11
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	17
Part II.     Other Information
Item 6.	Exhibits	17
	(a)      Exhibits
Signatures		18

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(000’s except shares)

	(Unaudited) September 25, 2005		December 26, 2004
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	9,774	$	9,823
Accounts receivable - net		110,404		117,177
Inventories		8,732		8,021
Other		46,387		35,826
Total current assets		175,297		170,847
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates		84,510		93,277
Other assets		59,226		59,676
Property, plant and equipment - net		432,185		422,299
Excess of cost over fair value of net identifiable assets of acquired businesses - net		645,487		641,706
FCC licenses and other intangibles - net		564,391		1,092,530
	$	1,961,096	$	2,480,335

1

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(000’s except shares)

	(Unaudited) September 25, 2005			December 26, 2004
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	22,466		$	27,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		89,021			92,163
Income taxes payable		—			7,708
Total current liabilities		111,487			126,871
Long-term debt		400,978			437,960
Borrowings of consolidated variable interest entities		95,320			95,320
Deferred income taxes		314,581			501,655
Other liabilities and deferred credits		130,484			134,760
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock ($5 cumulative convertible), par value $5 per share, authorized 5,000,000 shares; none outstanding
Common stock, par value $5 per share:
Class A, authorized 75,000,000 shares; issued 23,488,079 and 23,230,109 shares		117,440			116,150
Class B, authorized 600,000 shares; issued 555,992 shares		2,780			2,780
Additional paid-in capital		60,219			46,067
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(51,562	)		(50,652	)
Unearned compensation		(16,144	)		(9,408	)
Retained earnings		795,513			1,078,832
Total stockholders’ equity		908,246			1,183,769
	$	1,961,096		$	2,480,335

See accompanying notes.

2

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(000’s except for per share data)

	Third Quarter Ended						Nine Months Ended
	Sept. 25, 2005			Sept. 26, 2004			Sept. 25, 2005			Sept. 26, 2004
Revenues	$	220,801		$	217,644		$	672,447		$	650,690
Operating costs:
Production		100,179			94,333			294,024			280,037
Selling, general and administrative		82,368			75,876			248,474			230,757
Depreciation and amortization		17,084			15,709			51,602			49,280
Total operating costs		199,631			185,918			594,100			560,074
Operating income		21,170			31,726			78,347			90,616
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(7,097	)		(7,643	)		(21,956	)		(23,171	)
Investment income – unconsolidated affiliates		891			523			2,329			330
Gain on sale of Denver		(3	)		—			33,270			—
Other, net		791			335			1,586			1,028
Total other income (expense)		(5,418	)		(6,785	)		15,229			(21,813	)
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		15,752			24,941			93,576			68,803
Income taxes		5,990			9,228			36,132			25,457
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		9,762			15,713			57,444			43,346
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (net of tax benefit of $190,730)		—			—			(325,453	)		—
Net income (loss)	$	9,762		$	15,713		$	(268,009	)	$	43,346
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	$	0.41		$	0.67		$	2.44		$	1.86
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		—			—			(13.84	)		—
Net income (loss)	$	0.41		$	0.67		$	(11.40	)	$	1.86
Earnings (loss) per common share – assuming dilution:
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle	$	0.41		$	0.66		$	2.40		$	1.83
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		—			—			(13.62	)		—
Net income (loss)	$	0.41		$	0.66		$	(11.22	)	$	1.83
Dividends paid per common share	$	0.21		$	0.20		$	0.63		$	0.60

See accompanying notes.

3

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(000’s)

	Nine Months Ended
	September 25, 2005			September 26, 2004
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	(268,009	)	$	43,346
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss):
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		325,453			—
Depreciation and amortization		51,602			49,280
Deferred income taxes		5,446			21,844
Investment income - unconsolidated affiliates		(2,329	)		(330	)
Net gain on sale of Denver		(19,391	)		—
Change in assets and liabilities:
Retirement plan contributions		(15,000	)		(35,014	)
Accounts receivable and inventories		6,436			6,908
Income taxes payable		(29,170	)		(11,872	)
Other		1,010			5,563
Net cash provided by operating activities		56,048			79,725
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(48,724	)		(29,505	)
Proceeds from sale of Denver		45,850			—
Purchase of businesses		(6,726	)		(2,147	)
Other, net		3,434			1,384
Net cash used by investing activities		(6,166	)		(30,268	)
Financing activities:
Increase in debt		265,000			244,500
Payment of debt		(301,982	)		(291,015	)
Debt issuance costs		(3,772	)		—
Dividends paid		(15,114	)		(14,208	)
Other, net		5,937			9,841
Net cash used by financing activities		(49,931	)		(50,882	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(49	)		(1,425	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		9,823			10,575
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	9,774		$	9,150

See accompanying notes.

4

MEDIA GENERAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial reporting, and with applicable quarterly reporting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. They do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements and, accordingly, should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2004.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of interim financial information, have been included. In addition, as discussed further in Note 4, the Company adopted EITF Topic D-108, Use of the Residual Method to Value Acquired Assets Other than Goodwill, in the first quarter of 2005. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year. Certain prior-year financial information has been reclassified to conform with the current year’s presentation.

2. Inventories are principally raw materials (primarily newsprint).

3. Media News Group, Inc. exercised its option to purchase the Company’s 20% ownership in Denver Newspapers, Inc. (Denver), parent company of The Denver Post. In June 2005, the Company sold its 20% interest for $45.9 million which was determined based on independent appraisals of Denver’s fair value. The Company recorded an after-tax gain of $19.4 million (net of taxes of $13.9 million) on the sale in the second quarter.

4. The Company adopted EITF Topic D-108 at the beginning of fiscal 2005. D-108 requires the use of a direct method for valuing all assets other than goodwill. The Company had used the residual value method, a commonly used method at the time, to value the FCC licenses purchased in conjunction with acquisitions made in 1997 and 2000. It had also recorded goodwill, primarily related to deferred taxes, as part of these transactions. In connection with the adoption of D-108, the Company eliminated the distinction between goodwill and FCC license intangible assets that were recorded as part of these prior acquisitions by reclassifying $190.3 million from goodwill to FCC licenses. Concurrent with the adoption, the Company increased the carrying amount of FCC license intangible assets by an additional $111.5 million with a corresponding increase to deferred tax liabilities. Prior-period balance sheet amounts have also been reclassified to conform to the above presentation, and there was no impact on impairment results previously reported. Further, the Company valued its FCC licenses using a direct method discounted cash flow model and assumptions that included the concept that cash flows associated with FCC licenses are limited to those cash flows that could be expected by an average market participant. In contrast, the residual value method formerly used by the Company included other elements of cash flows which contributed to station value. The results of this direct method were then compared to the carrying value of FCC licenses (including the reclassified amounts) on a station by station basis and a $325.5 million write-down, net of income tax benefit, was recorded as a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle.

5. During the first quarter, in order to take advantage of a favorable bank-credit market, the Company amended its existing $1 billion revolving credit facility which was set to mature in 2006 with a similar $1 billion revolving credit facility that now will mature in 2010. Interest payments under the facility continue to be based on LIBOR plus a margin tied to the Company’s leverage ratio as defined in the agreement.

5

6. The following table sets forth the Company’s current and prior-year financial performance by segment:

(In thousands)	Publishing			Broadcasting			Interactive Media			Eliminations			Total
Three Months Ended September 25, 2005
Consolidated revenues	$	142,100		$	74,689		$	5,263		$	(1,251	)	$	220,801
Segment operating cash flow	$	32,960		$	17,163		$	(604	)				$	49,519
Allocated amounts:
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliate								3						3
Gain on sale of Denver		(3	)											(3	)
Depreciation and amortization		(5,942	)		(4,742	)		(317	)					(11,001	)
Segment profit (loss)	$	27,015		$	12,421		$	(918	)					38,518
Unallocated amounts:
Interest expense														(7,097	)
Investment income – SP Newsprint														888
Acquisition intangibles amortization														(4,897	)
Corporate expense														(9,556	)
Other														(2,104	)
Consolidated income before income taxes													$	15,752
Three Months Ended September 26, 2004
Consolidated revenues	$	137,659		$	77,308		$	3,526		$	(849	)	$	217,644
Segment operating cash flow	$	35,286		$	24,397		$	(1,202	)				$	58,481
Allocated amounts:
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliate		207												207
Depreciation and amortization		(5,847	)		(4,215	)		(303	)					(10,365	)
Segment profit (loss)	$	29,646		$	20,182		$	(1,505	)					48,323
Unallocated amounts:
Interest expense														(7,643	)
Investment income – SP Newsprint														316
Acquisition intangibles amortization														(4,109	)
Corporate expense														(9,636	)
Other														(2,310	)
Consolidated income before income taxes													$	24,941

6

(In thousands)	Publishing			Broadcasting			Interactive Media			Eliminations			Total
Nine Months Ended September 25, 2005
Consolidated revenues	$	431,993		$	229,250		$	14,726		$	(3,522	)	$	672,447
Segment operating cash flow	$	105,635		$	61,229		$	(1,710	)				$	165,154
Allocated amounts:
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates		221						162						383
Gain on sale of Denver		33,270												33,270
Depreciation and amortization		(17,590	)		(14,627	)		(1,174	)					(33,391	)
Segment profit (loss)	$	121,536		$	46,602		$	(2,722	)					165,416
Unallocated amounts:
Interest expense														(21,956	)
Investment income – SP Newsprint														1,946
Acquisition intangibles amortization														(14,366	)
Corporate expense														(30,497	)
Other														(6,967	)
Consolidated income before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle													$	93,576
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2004
Consolidated revenues	$	413,893		$	229,434		$	10,010		$	(2,647	)	$	650,690
Segment operating cash flow	$	105,023		$	73,175		$	(3,625	)				$	174,573
Allocated amounts:
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliate		355												355
Depreciation and amortization		(17,771	)		(14,183	)		(1,053	)					(33,007	)
Segment profit (loss)	$	87,607		$	58,992		$	(4,678	)					141,921
Unallocated amounts:
Interest expense														(23,171	)
Investment loss – SP Newsprint														(25	)
Acquisition intangibles amortization														(12,327	)
Corporate expense														(30,994	)
Other														(6,601	)
Consolidated income before income taxes													$	68,803

7

7. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle:

	Quarter Ended Sept. 25, 2005						Quarter Ended Sept. 26, 2004
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Income (Numerator)			Shares (Denominator)	Per Share Amount		Income (Numerator)			Shares (Denominator)	Per Share Amount
Basic EPS
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle available to common stockholders	$	9,762		23,558	$	0.41	$	15,713		23,399	$	0.67
Effect of dilutive securities
Stock options				160						132
Restricted stock and other		(15	)	255				(8	)	199
Diluted EPS
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle available to common stockholders plus assumed conversions	$	9,747		23,973	$	0.41	$	15,705		23,730	$	0.66
	Nine Months Ended Sept. 25, 2005						Nine Months Ended Sept. 26, 2004
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Income (Numerator)			Shares (Denominator)	Per Share Amount		Income (Numerator)			Shares (Denominator)	Per Share Amount
Basic EPS
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle available to common stockholders	$	57,444		23,511	$	2.44	$	43,346		23,339	$	1.86
Effect of dilutive securities
Stock options				138						188
Restricted stock and other		(50	)	237				(24	)	200
Diluted EPS
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle available to common stockholders plus assumed conversions	$	57,394		23,886	$	2.40	$	43,322		23,727	$	1.83

8. The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s benefit plans for the third quarter and nine months ended 2005 and 2004:

	Third Quarter Ended
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
(In thousands)	Sept. 25, 2005			Sept. 26, 2004			Sept. 25, 2005		Sept. 26, 2004
Service cost	$	3,449		$	3,072		$	64	$	99
Interest cost		5,610			5,210			422		515
Expected return on plan assets		(6,218	)		(6,154	)		—		—
Amortization of prior-service cost		52			88			—		—
Amortization of net loss		1,769			1,051			—		42
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4,662		$	3,267		$	486	$	656

8

	Nine Months Ended
	Pension Benefits						Other Benefits
(In thousands)	Sept. 25, 2005			Sept. 26, 2004			Sept. 25, 2005		Sept. 26, 2004
Service cost	$	10,347		$	9,215		$	191	$	297
Interest cost		16,830			15,631			1,266		1,544
Expected return on plan assets		(18,654	)		(18,463	)		—		—
Amortization of prior-service cost		157			264			—		—
Amortization of net loss		5,308			3,153			—		126
Net periodic benefit cost	$	13,988		$	9,800		$	1,457	$	1,967

In December of 2003 Congress passed the “Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003” (the Act). The Act established a prescription drug benefit under Medicare, known as “Medicare Part D,” and a federal subsidy to sponsors of retiree health care benefit plans that are at least actuarially equivalent to Medicare Part D. The Act reformed Medicare in such a way that the Company expects to receive subsidy payments beginning in 2006 for continuing retiree prescription drug benefits and also expects a reduction in the rate of participation by current employees in the plan. In the second quarter of 2004, the Company retroactively adopted FASB Staff Position 106-2, Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2000, based on guidance available at that time. This resulted in a decrease in the Company’s net periodic postretirement benefit cost of approximately $195 thousand for each quarter of 2004. Final regulations implementing the Act were issued in January 2005; clarifying interpretations were released in April 2005. Based on this definitive guidance, the Company believes an additional segment of its retiree population will be considered actuarially equivalent. Accordingly, the Company recorded a $450 thousand benefit in the second quarter of 2005 as a reduction to its net periodic postretirement benefit cost; a $225 thousand benefit was recorded in the third quarter and a similar amount is expected in the fourth quarter of 2005. Additionally, the Company’s accumulated postretirement benefit obligation was reduced by $6.7 million.

During the second quarter of 2005, the Company made a contribution of $15 million to its retirement plan. Depending upon changes in market values, rates of return, and discount rates, the Company expects this level of contribution may continue over the next few years.

9. The Company’s comprehensive income (loss) consisted of the following:

	Quarter Ended						Nine Months Ended
(In thousands)	Sept. 25, 2005			Sept. 26, 2004			Sept. 25, 2005			Sept. 26, 2004
Net income (loss)	$	9,762		$	15,713		$	(268,009	)	$	43,346
Unrealized gain on derivative contracts (net of deferred taxes)		532			827			1,888			3,066
Change in minimum pension liability (net of deferred taxes)		—			—			478			4
Unrealized holding loss on equity securities (net of deferred taxes)		(976	)		(2,161	)		(3,276	)		(3,457	)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	9,318		$	14,379		$	(268,919	)	$	42,959

10. The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation utilizing the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. The following table

9

illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to stock-based employee compensation. The fair value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for 2005 and 2004, respectively: risk-free interest rates of 4.1% and 3.8%; dividend yields of 1.5% and 1.4%; volatility factors of .27 and .36; and an expected life of 8 years.

	Quarter Ended						Nine Months Ended
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	Sept. 25, 2005			Sept. 26, 2004			Sept. 25, 2005			Sept. 26, 2004
Net income (loss), as reported	$	9,762		$	15,713		$	(268,009	)	$	43,346
Deduct: total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value method for all awards, net of related tax effects		(726	)		(772	)		(4,184	)		(4,307	)
Pro forma net income (loss)	$	9,036		$	14,941		$	(272,193	)	$	39,039
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic – as reported	$	0.41		$	0.67		$	(11.40	)	$	1.86
Basic – pro forma	$	0.38		$	0.64		$	(11.58	)	$	1.67
Diluted – as reported	$	0.41		$	0.66		$	(11.22	)	$	1.83
Diluted – pro forma	$	0.38		$	0.63		$	(11.40	)	$	1.65

Expense attribution for the majority of options was based on a three-year vesting considering actual forfeitures. However, options granted to employees with ten years of service and who have reached age 55 are reflected as a pro forma expense immediately upon grant in the first quarter as these options would automatically vest upon their retirement. Accordingly, option expense in the first quarter is higher than that of the remaining three quarters.

As permitted under the SEC’s recent announcement which defers implementation of SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, the Company will adopt the standard at the beginning of 2006. The Company continues to study the impact of this standard, including evaluation of option-pricing models to value share-based transactions initiated subsequent to the adoption of the statement.

11. At September 25, 2005, the Company had borrowings of $200 million in senior notes and $6 million from bank lines due within one year that have been classified as long-term debt in accordance with the Company’s intention and ability to refinance these obligations on a long-term basis under existing facilities.

10

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

OVERVIEW

Media General is an independent, publicly owned communications company situated primarily in the Southeast with interests in newspapers, television stations and interactive media.

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the last Sunday in December.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Year-to-date comparative results were substantially impacted by the January adoption of EITF Topic D-108 which requires the use of a direct method for valuing all acquired assets other than goodwill. The direct method requires the company to value its FCC licenses (acquired in conjunction with acquisitions made in 1997 and 2000) using an average market participant concept. Use of the direct value method with the average market participant concept, which differs markedly from the residual value method, resulted in a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle charge of $325.5 million ($13.62 per diluted share) in the first quarter. See Note 4 for a full discussion of this charge. Additionally, year-to-date results were positively impacted by an after-tax gain of $19.4 million ($0.81 per diluted share) attributable to the Company’s sale of its 20% interest in Denver Newspapers, Inc. (parent company of The Denver Post) to Media News Group, Inc.

Net income of $9.8 million in the third quarter was down $6 million from the prior year’s same period. Decreased Broadcast and Publishing operating profits were primarily responsible for the diminished quarterly results. Broadcast operating results declined as that Division endeavored to replace two prior-year sources of income: an $8.1 million decline in Political revenues and the absence of $5 million in Olympic advertising in this off-election, non-Olympic year. Lower Publishing operating results reflected higher expenses for newsprint, employee benefits and fuel. Conversely, several encouraging factors partially offset these items: operating results at the Interactive Media Division improved 39% in the form of a reduced operating loss, interest expense decreased 7% (lower average debt levels more than offset higher rates) and Publishing revenues grew more than 3% reflecting strong advertising growth. Additionally, the Company’s share of SP Newsprint’s income in the quarter increased to nearly three times the level of last year’s third quarter (from $.3 million to $.9 million); the improvement was attributable to higher newsprint selling prices offset in part by higher energy and raw material costs.

Excluding the Denver gain, income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $38.1 million in the first nine months of 2005 was down $5.3 million from the prior year’s same period. Broadcast Division operating profits declined 21% in this year-to-date period due in large part to the $15.8 million year-over-year decrease in Political revenues, as well as the absence of $5 million in Olympic-related advertising. Again excluding the Denver gain, Publishing Division operating profits rose nearly 1% on the strength of Classified and Retail advertising growth, while the Interactive Media Division showed a 42% reduction in its operating loss compared to the first nine months of 2004. Other dynamics which shaped year-to-date results included a 16.5% increase in intangibles amortization (principally due to the shortening of network affiliation intangible asset useful lives from 40 to 25 years in the fourth quarter of 2004), and a 5.2% reduction in interest expense (lower average debt levels more than offset higher average rate). Additionally, the Company’s share of SP Newsprint’s results in the year-to-date period was income of $1.9 million compared to its break-even position in the prior year, as higher selling prices again outpaced increased energy and raw material costs.

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PUBLISHING

Operating income for the Publishing Division decreased $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2005; a $4.4 million increase in revenues was more than offset by higher operating expenses. Excluding the Denver gain, operating income increased $.7 million in the first nine months of 2005 on an $18.1 million rise in revenues. As illustrated by the following chart, Classified revenues remained the Division’s strongest performer in both the quarter and year to date and fueled the Division’s twelfth consecutive quarter of revenue growth over the equivalent prior-year period. Classified advertising revenues contributed more than two-thirds of the Division’s overall revenue gain in both the quarter and first nine months of 2005 on the strength of robust employment advertising in almost all markets. Retail revenues posted notable gains in the year to date and were up moderately in the quarter, reflecting increases in the entertainment and medical categories as well as solid growth in preprints. National revenues were essentially flat in the quarter, while the year to date, up 7.3%, benefited from strong telecommunications advertising in certain markets combined with good preprint growth carried over from the first half of the year.

Publishing Segment operating expenses increased $6.8 million and $17.3 million in the third quarter and first nine months of this year over the equivalent 2004 periods due to a combination of factors. Newsprint expense was up $2.1 million in the quarter and $5.5 million in the year to date. In the quarter, a $66 per ton rise in average price accounted for the majority of the higher newsprint expense. In the year to date, a $51 per ton rise in average price caused most of the increase; the balance was attributable to additional consumption (due to higher advertising linage). Employee compensation and benefit costs were up $3.5 million (6.8%) in the quarter and $7.8 million (5%) in the year to date due to annual salary increases, higher retirement plan expenses and increased health care costs. Additionally, certain other costs, including advertising incentives, training costs and circulation-

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related expenses, were up between 3% and 3.5% in both the quarter and nine months, most notably at the Florida properties.

BROADCAST

Compared to the same prior-year periods, Broadcast operating income declined $7.8 million and $12.4 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2005 due to the confluence of several factors. Most significant was a decline in the quarter of $8.1 million and in the year to date of $15.8 million in Political revenues which necessitated an increase in operating expenses as the Division worked to replace not only Political revenues, but also $5 million in 2004 Olympic-related advertising revenues. Despite the challenges presented in this odd-numbered year, revenue declines were limited to $2.6 million and $.2 million in the quarterly and year-to-date periods. The following chart illustrates the divergent paths of Local and Political advertising, as well as a slight dip in National advertising as it fell just short of achieving prior-year revenue levels. Aggressive sales development initiatives drove the strong Local time sales due primarily to strength in the financial, fast food and furniture categories. National advertising lost some ground in the quarter, which also affected the year to date, as a result of lower spending in the automotive and fast food categories.

The Broadcast Division’s advertising sales outperformed that of the industry for the first eight months of the year. According to the Television Bureau of Advertising (a not-for-profit trade association of America’s broadcast television industry), time sales across the broadcast industry (including Political revenues in either National or Local, as appropriate) have decreased 5.4% through August 2005 compared to the Division’s 1% decline. This better-than-industry revenue performance was driven by the Division’s local time sales which rose 6.4% and contrasted sharply with the industry’s 2.6% decline. During the same period, industry National time sales fell by 9.8% as compared with the Division’s 12.8% decrease, largely a reflection of the exceptionally strong 2004 Political advertising garnered by the Division’s TV stations.

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Broadcast operating expenses rose $5.2 million and $12.2 million in the third quarter and the first nine months of this year as compared to the equivalent 2004 periods. The primary factor driving these increases was higher employee compensation and benefit costs which rose 8.5% in the quarter and 7.2% in the year to date due to annual salary increases, sales commission growth associated with new business, increased retirement plan expense, and higher health care costs. Increased sales-related expenses (including higher customer sales incentives and increased consulting fees related to new business development initiatives) as well as costs associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita also adversely impacted Broadcast operating expenses in the quarter and year to date.

INTERACTIVE MEDIA

The Interactive Media Division reduced its operating loss by 39% in the third quarter and 42% in the year-to-date period from the equivalent prior-year periods. Revenues increased $1.7 million (49%) and $4.7 million (47%) in the third quarter and year to date, with more than two-thirds of the increase in each period coming from Classified advertising as upsell and other arrangements continued to thrive. Under these up-sell arrangements, customers pay an additional fee to have their classified advertisement placed online simultaneously with its publication in the newspaper. Classified advertising has grown every quarter since the Division’s inception in 2001, with many of those quarters (including all three quarters in 2005) producing a period-over-period improvement of nearly 50%. Operating expenses were up $1.1 million and $2.9 million in the quarter and year to date, resulting primarily from higher employee compensation and benefits expense due to sales positions being filled, additional sales-related commissions and annual salary increases.

The Interactive Media Division remains focused on expanding product offerings, securing and retaining high-quality personnel, invigorating revenues through sales initiatives and enhancing content and design across all the Company’s online enterprises. During the third quarter, the Company purchased Blockdot, Inc., a leading advergaming and game development firm known for product innovation and services. The addition of Blockdot enhances the Division’s ability to provide innovative product offerings. The Division continues to progress as demonstrated by consistent profitability at TBO.com and TimesDispatch.com, the Company’s two largest online enterprises. Several of the Division’s smaller online enterprises also demonstrated profitability this quarter and others continue to advance toward profitability.

INTEREST EXPENSE

Interest expense decreased $.5 million and $1.2 million in the quarter and year to date from the equivalent year-ago periods due to a decrease in average debt outstanding of more than $100 million in each period, which more than offset higher average rates which increased 70 to 80 basis points due to a year-over-year increase in LIBOR (which influences interest rates applicable to the Company’s revolving credit facility). This meaningful debt reduction was partially facilitated by use of the proceeds from the sale of the Company’s interest in Denver.

Although it has none now, the Company periodically uses interest rate swaps; such instruments are not traded for profit or loss, but used as part of an overall strategy to manage interest cost and risk associated with variable interest rates, primarily short-term changes in LIBOR. Toward the end of the first quarter of 2004, two of the Company’s swaps with notional amounts totaling $100 million matured, leaving two remaining swaps with notional amounts of $50 million each which matured in the first quarter of 2005. These interest rate swaps were cash flow hedges that effectively converted the covered portion of the Company’s variable rate debt to fixed rate debt.

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INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective tax rate on income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle was 38% in the third quarter and 38.6% in the year to date as compared to 37% in each of the equivalent prior-year periods. The increase was due to the higher effective tax rate related to the gain from the sale of the Company’s 20% interest in Denver. The Company continues to evaluate the American Jobs Creation Act which provides a deduction that has the effect of reducing the effective corporate income tax rate for domestic manufacturers. This Qualified Production Activity Deduction (QPAD) is being phased in over five years beginning in 2005. The IRS issued preliminary guidance earlier this year regarding the definition and computation of the QPAD; however, many questions and issues remain open with respect to the final interpretation. The Company is awaiting further guidance in the form of proposed regulations, which are expected by the end of the year, before it can further refine its estimate of the impact of the QPAD.

LIQUIDITY

Net cash generated from operating activities in the first nine months of 2005 of $56 million, combined with $45.9 million in proceeds from the sale of Denver and other sources of funds, enabled the Company to reduce debt by $37 million, to make capital expenditures of $48.7 million, to contribute $15 million to its retirement plan, to pay dividends to stockholders of $15.1 million, to make acquisitions totaling $6.7 million, and to pay debt issuance costs of $3.8 million associated with the amendment of its revolving credit facility.

Like many corporate pension plans, the Company’s retirement plan remains in an underfunded position. Although not required to do so, the Company elected to make contributions of $21 million in 2003 and $35 million in early 2004 with the expectation of reducing the ultimate amount that it would need to contribute. The Company made an additional $15 million contribution in the second quarter of 2005. Depending upon changes in market values, rates of return, and discount rates, the Company expects this level of contribution may continue over the next few years.

As noted previously, in March 2005, the Company amended its $1 billion revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks providing the Company lower interest rates and greater financial flexibility, primarily through less restrictive covenants; this agreement has a term of five and one-half years. In addition to the amended revolving credit facility, the Company also has in place a universal shelf registration which allows for combined public debt or equity totaling $1.2 billion (together, the “Facilities”). At the end of the third quarter, there were borrowings of $195 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility and $200 million in senior notes outstanding under the universal shelf. The Facilities carry cross-default provisions between the revolving credit and the senior notes. The revolving credit has both interest coverage and leverage ratio covenants. These covenants, which involve debt levels, interest expense, and EBITDA (a measure of cash earnings as defined in the revolving credit agreement), can affect the Company’s maximum borrowing capacity under the Facilities. The Company was in compliance with all covenants at quarter-end and expects to remain in compliance with them going forward. The Company believes that internally generated funds provided by operations, together with the unused portion of the Facilities, provide it with significant flexibility to manage working capital needs, pay dividends, finance capital expenditures, make pension plan contributions and take advantage of new strategic opportunities.

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OUTLOOK

Publishing advertising revenues are expected to climb on the sustained strength of Classified and Retail advertising in the quarter but may not be enough to overcome higher newsprint prices combined with increased employee compensation and benefit costs. The Interactive Media Division anticipates strong revenue growth in the fourth quarter and continued progress toward division-wide profitability. The impact of skyrocketing energy costs will adversely impact SPNC’s results despite higher newsprint prices in the current year. The Broadcast Division’s profit comparison will be extremely challenged in the fourth quarter due to its outstanding performance in garnering Political advertising during that same period in 2004. While the Division anticipates that Local sales growth throughout the rest of the year will replace some of the Political advertising, the associated rise in expenses to generate the Local revenue growth combined with a lethargic National advertising environment are expected to result in an operating profit decline.

The Company continues to monitor developments at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and its anticipated commencement of new proceedings involving, among other things, the ownership of broadcast television stations and newspapers in the same markets. Resolution of this matter will take some time, and while this process continues, the Company has sought license renewals and waivers from the FCC for several of its television stations where cross-ownership remains an issue under old regulations.

* * * * * *

Certain statements in this quarterly report that are not historical facts are “forward-looking” statements, as that term is defined by the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements related to the impact of new accounting standards, pension plan contributions, accounting estimates and assumptions, the Internet, as well as expectations regarding newsprint prices, energy costs, general advertising levels, divisional profitability, and the effects of changes to FCC regulations. Forward-looking statements, including those which use words such as the Company “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “projects,” “presumes,” “plans” and similar words, are made as of the date of this filing and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements.

Some significant factors that could affect actual results include: changes in advertising demand, the availability and pricing of newsprint, changes in interest rates, energy prices, changes to pending accounting standards, health care cost trends, natural disasters, the performance of pension plan assets, and regulatory rulings and laws.

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that are reasonably likely to adversely affect internal control subsequent to the date of this evaluation.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits

31.1	Section 302 Chief Executive Officer Certification
31.2	Section 302 Chief Financial Officer Certification
32	Section 906 Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Certification

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	MEDIA GENERAL, INC.
DATE: November 3, 2005	/s/ Marshall N. Morton
	Marshall N. Morton
	President and Chief Executive Officer
DATE: November 3, 2005	/s/ John A. Schauss
	John A. Schauss
	Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer

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EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) and RULE 15d-14(a)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Marshall N. Morton, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Media General, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting: and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 3, 2005

/s/ Marshall N. Morton        

Marshall N. Morton

President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) and RULE 15d-14(a)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, John A. Schauss, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Media General, Inc.;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 3, 2005

/s/ John A. Schauss        

John A. Schauss

Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Media General, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 25, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), we, Marshall N. Morton, Chief Executive Officer, and John A. Schauss, Chief Financial Officer, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/ Marshall N. Morton        

Marshall N. Morton

President and Chief Executive Officer

November 3, 2005

/s/ John A. Schauss        

John A. Schauss

Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer

November 3, 2005