News Releases

Oct 24, 2007
Meredith's First Quarter Earnings Per Share Rise 10 Percent
Publishing operating profit grows 16 percent driven by strong advertising performance
PRNewswire-FirstCall
DES MOINES, Iowa
(NYSE:MDP)

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP), one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies, today reported fiscal 2008 first quarter earnings per share of $0.68, a 10 percent increase over the prior year quarter. Earnings from continuing operations increased 11 percent to $33 million in the quarter, and revenues rose 5 percent to $404 million.

"We posted outstanding advertising performance and market share gains in our magazine business in the quarter, along with strong results in our custom marketing operations," said Stephen M. Lacy, Meredith's President and Chief Executive Officer. "This record start to fiscal 2008 reflects the strength of our content creation and distribution capabilities, our sales and marketing expertise, and our strategic investments to position Meredith for continued profitable growth."

  OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
  Publishing

Publishing operating profit increased 16 percent over the prior-year quarter to $55 million. Publishing revenues rose 8 percent to $330 million. Publishing advertising revenues grew 13 percent, led by strong performances at Parents (+38%), More (+30%), Family Circle (+10%) and Better Homes and Gardens (+10%) magazines.

"We are very pleased with the gains in magazine advertising, especially our continued strength in the women's service field -- where Better Homes and Gardens and Family Circle now rank first and second -- along with the sharp rebound in our parenthood titles," Lacy said. "Additionally, our custom marketing and online businesses continue to post impressive revenue growth, and we are demonstrating the vibrancy of our brands through new and exciting licensing programs."

Yesterday, Meredith and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced a multi-year licensing agreement for the design, marketing and retailing of a wide range of home products based on the Better Homes and Gardens brand. The program, the largest extension of products bearing the Better Homes and Gardens brand in its 85-year history, is expected to be available in Wal-Mart stores by the fall of 2008. These products will reflect Better Homes and Gardens' high standards and timeless style. This new licensing agreement will not impact financial results until fiscal 2009.

Meredith's collaboration with Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, holds strong marketplace potential. Research shows that Better Homes and Gardens readers are frequent Wal-Mart shoppers, and Meredith's largest advertising customers sell a significant amount of goods at Wal-Mart stores.

Meredith recently announced an agreement with Realogy Corporation to create a new residential real estate franchise under the Better Homes and Gardens brand. Realogy is the largest operator of real estate franchises in the United States, with brands such as CENTURY 21®, Coldwell Banker® and

ERA®. The Better Homes and Gardens franchise is expected to begin operations in July 2008.

Revenues at Meredith Integrated Marketing rose more than 50 percent and operating profit increased more than 80 percent. Results included increased contributions from three online marketing acquisitions over the last 18 months. On a comparable basis, revenues rose more than 15 percent and operating profit increased nearly 10 percent.

Earlier this month Meredith announced the acquisition of Directive, a database marketing and analytics company. Increasingly, database strategy and analysis drive other marketing activities, and Directive is another strategic addition to Meredith's growing array of custom marketing services.

Revenues at Meredith Interactive Media rose more than 20 percent, benefiting from the recent redesigns of BHG.com and Parents.com and strong performance at the Company's niche enthusiast sites. The number of unique visitors, registrations, subscription orders and time spent on the sites each grew approximately 15 percent. During the quarter, visitors to these sites viewed on average more than 100 million web pages and 825,000 videos per month.

Broadcasting

Broadcasting operating profit and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) declined 25 percent and 17 percent, respectively, reflecting the absence of political advertising in this off-election year. Total revenues declined $6 million, or 7 percent, to $75 million.

Net political revenues were $1 million compared to $9 million in the year-ago quarter. Non-political advertising revenues increased 3 percent in the quarter. Operating expenses declined 2 percent.

"In addition to non-political advertising growth, we were pleased with our success in driving non-traditional sources of revenues, including our Cornerstone programs, the Internet and our video initiatives," Lacy said. "This includes Meredith Video Solutions, which draws upon the production and distribution expertise of our Broadcasting group and the content and strong brands of our Publishing group to create compelling broadcast quality video."

Broadcasting online revenues more than doubled. Average monthly page views also doubled and the number of unique visitors rose five-fold, reflecting ongoing investments in technology, content, promotions and sales related activities. The number of videos streamed on Broadcasting's sites nearly doubled to 3.7 million.

During the quarter, Meredith launched Better, a daily lifestyle television program. The Better show airs across the Meredith station group and is syndicated to three non-Meredith stations. Content from the Better show is also available online at http://www.better.tv/ and http://www.parents.tv/, Meredith's broadband video channels.

Earlier this week, Meredith announced an agreement with Comcast Corp. where Meredith parenthood video content will debut on all Comcast cable systems on a new video on demand channel branded Parents TV. It will reach more than 12 million households, and Meredith and Comcast will share in the advertising revenue.

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Meredith continued to generate strong free cash flow. The Company repurchased approximately 900,000 shares in the quarter as part of its ongoing share repurchase program, compared to 570,000 shares in the prior year period.

Meredith retired $15 million of debt during the quarter. Total debt was $460 million as of September 30, 2007, versus $560 million as of September 30, 2006. The weighted average interest rate was 5.1 percent on September 30, 2007, compared with 5.3 percent at September 30, 2006.

All earnings per share figures in the text of this release are diluted. Both basic and diluted earnings per share can be found in the attached statement of earnings.

OUTLOOK

Publishing advertising revenues for the second fiscal quarter are currently up in the mid-to-high single digits, led by strong performance at Meredith's parenthood and women's service field titles. Overall Broadcast pacings are currently running down in the mid-to-high teens. Broadcast non-political revenues are pacing up in the mid-single digits.

As a result, Meredith expects fiscal second quarter earnings per share to approximate $0.72, equal to the $0.72 earned in the year-ago quarter, even with the absence of $24 million in net political advertising revenues recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2007.

Looking to the remainder of fiscal 2008, there is limited visibility into advertising budgets which generally reset effective January 1. In addition, the Company is absorbing an annualized postal rate increase of more than $13 million in fiscal 2008.

Given these factors, Meredith continues to expect fiscal 2008 earnings per share to range from $3.50 to $3.55, with growth in the second half of fiscal 2008 spread evenly between the third and fourth quarters.

A number of uncertainties remain that may affect our outlook as stated in this press release for results in the second quarter and full fiscal year. These include overall advertising volatility; the performance of the Company's retail businesses; and paper prices and postal rates. These and other uncertainties are referenced below under "Safe Harbor" and in certain of the Company's SEC filings.

CONFERENCE CALL WEBCAST

Meredith will host a conference call on Oct. 24, 2007, at 11 a.m. EDT (10 a.m. CDT) to discuss fiscal first quarter results. A live webcast will be accessible to the public on the Company's web site, http://www.meredith.com/, and a replay will be available for one week after the call. A transcript will be available within 48 hours following the conference call on http://www.meredith.com/.

RATIONALE FOR USE AND ACCESS TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

Management uses and presents GAAP and non-GAAP results to evaluate and communicate the performance of the Company. Non-GAAP measures should not be construed as alternatives to GAAP measures. EBITDA and free cash flow are common supplemental measures of performance used by investors and financial analysts. Management believes that EBITDA and free cash flow provide additional analytical tools to clarify the Company's results from core operations and delineate underlying trends. Meredith does not use EBITDA or free cash flow as a measure of liquidity or funds available for management's discretionary use because they include certain contractual and non-discretionary expenditures.

Reconciliations of non-GAAP to GAAP measures are included in the attached tables. The attached consolidated financial statements and reconciliation tables will be made available on the Company's web site, http://www.meredith.com/investors/index.html. Please click on "Non-GAAP/GAAP Reconciliation."

SAFE HARBOR

This release contains certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on management's current knowledge and estimates of factors affecting the Company's operations. Statements in this announcement that are forward-looking include, but are not limited to, the statements regarding broadcasting pacings and publishing advertising revenues, along with the Company's earnings per share outlook for the second quarter and all of fiscal 2008.

Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could adversely affect future results include, but are not limited to, downturns in national and/or local economies; a softening of the domestic advertising market; world, national or local events that could disrupt broadcast television; increased consolidation among major advertisers or other events depressing the level of advertising spending; the unexpected loss or insolvency of one or more major clients; the integration of acquired businesses; changes in consumer reading, purchasing and/or television viewing patterns; increases in paper, postage, printing or syndicated programming costs; changes in television network affiliation agreements; technological developments affecting products or methods of distribution; changes in government regulations affecting the Company's industries; unexpected changes in interest rates; and the consequences of acquisitions and/or dispositions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION

Meredith (http://www.meredith.com/) is one of the nation's leading media and marketing companies with businesses centering on magazine and book publishing, television broadcasting, integrated marketing and interactive media. The Meredith Publishing Group features 25 subscription magazines -- including Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal, Family Circle, Parents, American Baby, Fitness and More -- and publishes approximately 180 special interest publications under approximately 80 titles. Meredith has more than 400 books in print. Meredith owns 13 television stations, including properties in top-25 markets Atlanta, Phoenix and Portland, OR. Additionally, Meredith has an extensive online presence that includes more than 40 web sites and two broadband channels -- Better.tv and Parents.tv.

Meredith Integrated Marketing has established marketing relationships with some of America's leading companies. Meredith's consumer database, which contains approximately 85 million names, is one of the largest domestic databases among media companies and enables magazine and television advertisers to conduct precise targeted-marketing campaigns. Meredith publishes five Spanish-language titles, making Meredith the leading publisher serving Hispanic women in the United States.

  Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended September 30,             2007        2006      Change
  (In thousands except per share data)

  Revenues
  Advertising                              $254,756    $238,569       6.8 %
  Circulation                                80,286      83,761      (4.1)%
  All other                                  69,452      64,021       8.5 %
    Total revenues                          404,494     386,351       4.7 %
  Operating expenses
  Production, distribution,
   and editorial                            175,898     167,565       5.0 %
  Selling, general, and administrative      155,819     150,940       3.2 %
  Depreciation and amortization              12,261      11,030      11.2 %
    Total operating expenses                343,978     329,535       4.4 %
  Income from operations                     60,516      56,816       6.5 %
  Interest income                               352         233      51.1 %
  Interest expense                           (6,163)     (7,320)    (15.8)%
    Earnings from continuing
     operations before
     income taxes                            54,705      49,729      10.0 %
  Income taxes                               21,335      19,543       9.2 %
    Earnings from continuing
     operations                              33,370      30,186      10.5 %
  Income from discontinued
   operations, net of taxes                       -         310    (100.0)%
  Net earnings                              $33,370     $30,496       9.4 %

  Basic earnings per share
  Earnings from continuing operations         $0.70       $0.63      11.1 %
  Discontinued operations                         -        0.01    (100.0)%
  Basic earnings per share                    $0.70       $0.64       9.4 %
  Basic average shares outstanding           47,795      47,996      (0.4)%

  Diluted earnings per share
  Earnings from continuing operations         $0.68       $0.62       9.7 %
  Discontinued operations                         -           -         -
  Diluted earnings per share                  $0.68       $0.62       9.7 %
  Diluted average shares outstanding         48,828      48,854      (0.1)%

  Dividends paid per share                   $0.185      $0.160      15.6 %



  Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Segment Information (Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended September 30,             2007        2006      Change
  (In thousands)

  Revenues
  Publishing                               $329,522    $305,448      7.9 %
  Broadcasting
    Non-political advertising                72,913      70,734      3.1 %
    Political advertising                     1,072       8,558    (87.5)%
    Other revenues                              987       1,611    (38.7)%
      Total broadcasting                     74,972      80,903     (7.3)%
  Total revenues                           $404,494    $386,351      4.7 %

  Operating profits
  Publishing                                $55,433     $47,828     15.9 %
  Broadcasting                               13,416      17,991    (25.4)%
  Unallocated corporate                      (8,333)     (9,003)     7.4 %
  Income from operations                    $60,516     $56,816      6.5 %

  Depreciation and amortization
  Publishing                                 $5,200      $4,588     13.3 %
  Broadcasting                                6,521       5,931      9.9 %
  Unallocated corporate                         540         511      5.7 %
  Total depreciation and
   amortization                             $12,261     $11,030     11.2 %

  EBITDA(1)
  Publishing                                $60,633     $52,416     15.7 %
  Broadcasting                               19,937      23,922    (16.7)%
  Unallocated corporate                      (7,793)     (8,492)    (8.2)%
  Total EBITDA(1)                           $72,777     $67,846      7.3 %


  (1) EBITDA is earnings from continuing operations before interest, taxes,
  depreciation, and amortization.



  Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                (Unaudited)
                                               September 30,        June 30,
  Assets                                           2007              2007
  (In thousands)

  Current assets
  Cash and cash equivalents                      $25,483           $39,220
  Accounts receivable, net                       273,117           267,419
  Inventories                                     54,981            48,836
  Current portion of subscription
   acquisition costs                              64,882            70,553
  Current portion of broadcast rights             23,324            11,307
  Other current assets                            25,082            15,305
  Total current assets                           466,869           452,640
  Property, plant, and equipment                 442,741           445,846
  Less accumulated depreciation                 (242,489)         (239,820)
  Net property, plant, and equipment             200,252           206,026
  Subscription acquisition costs                  61,210            66,309
  Broadcast rights                                 9,044             9,309
  Other assets                                    96,794           101,178
  Intangibles assets, net                        791,413           794,996
  Goodwill                                       460,547           459,493
  Total assets                                $2,086,129        $2,089,951

  Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
  Current liabilities
  Current portion of long-term debt             $135,000          $100,000
  Current portion of long-term
   broadcast rights payable                       23,872            12,069
  Accounts payable                                81,551            78,156
  Accrued expenses and other
   liabilities                                   107,174           105,359
  Current portion of unearned
   subscription revenues                         182,160           191,445
  Total current liabilities                      529,757           487,029
  Long-term debt                                 325,000           375,000
  Long-term broadcast rights payable              18,889            18,584
  Unearned subscription revenues                 163,298           167,873
  Deferred income taxes                          136,923           166,597
  Other noncurrent liabilities                    99,761            41,667
  Total liabilities                            1,273,628         1,256,750
  Shareholders' equity
  Common stock                                    38,191            38,970
  Class B stock                                    9,255             9,262
  Additional paid-in capital                      64,106            58,945
  Retained earnings                              709,492           727,628
  Accumulated other comprehensive
   income                                          1,493             2,499
  Unearned compensation                          (10,036)           (4,103)
  Total shareholders' equity                     812,501           833,201
  Total liabilities and shareholders'
   equity                                     $2,086,129        $2,089,951



  Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)


  Three Months Ended September 30,                 2007              2006
  (In thousands)

  Net cash provided by operating
   activities                                    $61,806           $31,337

  Cash flows from investing activities
    Acquisitions of businesses                         -               (15)
    Additions to property, plant, and
     equipment                                    (4,273)           (5,670)
  Net cash used in investing activities           (4,273)           (5,685)

  Cash flows from financing activities
    Proceeds from issuance of long-term
     debt                                         75,000            10,000
    Repayments of long-term debt                 (90,000)          (15,000)
    Purchases of Company stock                   (49,772)          (27,489)
    Proceeds from common stock issued              2,293             5,818
    Dividends paid                                (8,830)           (7,686)
    Excess tax benefits from share-based
     payments                                         39               463
  Net cash used in financing activities          (71,270)          (33,894)
  Net decrease in cash and cash
   equivalents                                   (13,737)           (8,242)
  Cash and cash equivalents at
   beginning of period                            39,220            30,713
  Cash and cash equivalents at end of
   period                                        $25,483           $22,471



  Meredith Corporation and Subsidiaries
  Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

  EBITDA
  Consolidated EBITDA, which is reconciled to earnings from continuing
   operations in the following tables, is defined as earnings from
   continuing operations before interest, taxes, depreciation, and
   amortization.
  Segment EBITDA is a measure of segment earnings before depreciation and
   amortization.
  Segment EBITDA margin is defined as segment EBITDA divided by segment
   revenues.


                                 Three Months Ended September 30, 2007
                                                        Unallocated
                            Publishing   Broadcasting   Corporate    Total
  (In thousands)

  Revenues                  $329,522      $ 74,972     $      -    $404,494

  Operating profit          $ 55,433      $ 13,416     $ (8,333)   $ 60,516
  Depreciation and
   amortization                5,200         6,521          540      12,261
  EBITDA                    $ 60,633       $19,937     $ (7,793)     72,777
  Less:
  Depreciation and
   amortization                                                     (12,261)
  Net interest expense                                               (5,811)
  Income taxes                                                      (21,335)
  Earnings from continuing
   operations                                                      $ 33,370

  Segment EBITDA margin         18.4%        26.6%



                                 Three Months Ended September 30, 2006
                                                        Unallocated
                            Publishing   Broadcasting   Corporate     Total
  (In thousands)

  Revenues                  $305,448      $80,903      $     -     $386,351

  Operating profit           $47,828      $17,991      $ (9,003)   $ 56,816
  Depreciation and
   amortization                4,588        5,931          511       11,030
  EBITDA                     $52,416      $23,922      $ (8,492)     67,846
  Less:
  Depreciation and
   amortization                                                     (11,030)
  Net interest expense                                               (7,087)
  Income taxes                                                      (19,543)
  Earnings from continuing
   operations                                                       $30,186

  Segment EBITDA margin         17.2%        29.6%



  FREE CASH FLOW
  Free cash flow, which is reconciled to earnings from continuing
   operations in the following table, is defined as earnings from
   continuing operations plus depreciation and amortization less capital
   expenditures.


  Three Months Ended September 30,                 2007              2006
  (In thousands)

  Free cash flow                                 $41,358           $35,546
  Depreciation and amortization                  (12,261)          (11,030)
  Capital expenditures                             4,273             5,670
  Earnings from continuing operations            $33,370           $30,186

SOURCE: Meredith Corporation

CONTACT: Shareholder-Financial Analyst Contact, Mike Lovell, Director of
Investor Relations, +1-515-284-3622, Mike.Lovell@Meredith.com , or Media, Art
Slusark, VP-Corporate Communications, +1-515-284-3404,
Art.Slusark@Meredith.com, both of Meredith Corporation

Web site: http://www.meredith.com/