The New York Times Company Reports February Revenues

    Business Editors

    NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2005--The New York Times Company announced today that in February 2005 advertising revenues for the Company's business units increased 3.1% and total Company revenues increased 2.1% compared with the results for the same month in 2004.

    Advertising results for February were as follows:

    The New York Times Media Group - Advertising revenues for The New York Times Media Group increased 2.2% for February 2005 compared with February 2004. National advertising revenues increased as strength in banking, corporate, alcoholic beverages and transportation advertising offset weakness in telecommunications, technology products and financial services advertising. Retail advertising revenues increased due to strong growth in department store advertising. Classified advertising revenues rose as gains in real estate, automotive and other classified advertising offset softness in help-wanted advertising.

    New England Media Group - Advertising revenues for the New England Media Group increased 0.8% for February 2005 compared with February 2004. National advertising revenues increased as strength in national automotive, financial services, airline and theater advertising offset weakness in banking and telecommunications advertising. Retail advertising revenues rose on growth in home improvement, electronics, jewelry/watches and sports/toys advertising. Classified advertising revenues decreased as softness in automotive advertising offset gains in help-wanted and real estate advertising.

    Regional Media Group - Advertising revenues for the Regional Media Group grew 9.6% for February 2005 compared with February 2004. Excluding the North Bay Business Journal, which was purchased on February 1, 2005, advertising revenues increased 8.3%. Retail advertising revenues increased due to strength in telecommunications, home improvement, food and furnishings advertising. Classified advertising revenues increased as strong growth in help-wanted advertising offset softness in real estate and automotive advertising.

    The Company's Internet ad revenues, which are included in the figures for the three media groups above, increased 31.1% for February 2005 compared with February 2004 due to strong growth in display advertising and in all classified advertising categories.
    Circulation revenues increased 0.8% for February 2005 compared with February 2004. Circulation revenues increased at The New York Times Media Group and the Regional Media Group and declined at the New England Media Group.
    Broadcast Media Group - Advertising revenues for the Broadcast Media Group increased 3.5% for February 2005 compared with February 2004, as growth in local advertising was offset in part by lower national spot and political ad revenue.

    The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT), a leading media company with 2004 revenues of $3.3 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 16 other newspapers, eight network-affiliated television stations, two New York City radio stations and more than 40 Web sites, including NYTimes.com and Boston.com. For the fifth consecutive year, the Company was ranked No. 1 in the publishing industry in Fortune's 2005 list of America's Most Admired Companies. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

    This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY 2005 TOTAL COMPANY REVENUES (a) FEBRUARY AND YEAR TO DATE

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Total Company Revenues ($ 000's) February Year to Date ----------------------------------------------------- % % 2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change --------- --------- ------ --------- --------- ------ Advertising Revenues News Media National (b) $ 75,394 $ 73,917 +2.0 $157,173 $156,590 +0.4 Retail (c) 36,773 34,475 +6.7 75,446 71,676 +5.3 Classified (d) 45,696 45,423 +0.6 100,978 99,206 +1.8 Other Ad Revenue (e) 4,773 3,884 +22.9 9,614 8,362 +15.0 --------- --------- --------- --------- Sub-Total 162,637 157,700 +3.1 343,211 335,833 +2.2 Broadcast Media 9,714 9,389 +3.5 20,188 20,131 +0.3 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total Advertising Revenues 172,350 167,088 +3.1 363,399 355,965 +2.1

Circulation Revenues 67,869 67,319 +0.8 151,198 151,675 -0.3 Other Revenues (f) 17,095 17,535 -2.5 33,733 34,757 -2.9 --------- --------- --------- ---------

Total Company Revenues $257,314 $251,943 +2.1 $548,330 $542,397 +1.1 ========= ========= ========= =========

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(a) Numbers may not add due to rounding. (b) Includes all ad revenue from the International Herald Tribune. (c) Includes all preprint revenues. (d) Includes legal advertising. (e) Primarily includes ad revenue from the Regional Media Group's magazines. (f) Primarily includes revenues from wholesale delivery operations, news services, direct marketing, digital archives and commercial printing.

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY 2005 ADVERTISING REVENUES (a) FEBRUARY AND YEAR TO DATE

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Total Company Advertising Revenues ($ 000's)

February Year to Date ----------------------------------------------------- % % 2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change --------- --------- ------ --------- --------- ------ News Media

New York Times Media Group(b) $ 98,205 $ 96,065 +2.2 $205,836 $201,320 +2.2

New England Media Group(c) 35,421 35,157 +0.8 75,925 77,301 -1.8

Regional Media Group(d) 29,011 26,478 +9.6 61,451 57,212 +7.4 --------- --------- --------- ---------

Sub-Total 162,637 157,700 +3.1 343,211 335,833 +2.2

Broadcast Media 9,714 9,389 +3.5 20,188 20,131 +0.3 --------- --------- --------- ---------

Total Company Ad Revenues $172,350 $167,088 +3.1 $363,399 $355,965 +2.1 ========= ========= ========= =========

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(a) Numbers may not add due to rounding.

(b) The New York Times, NYTimes.com, International Herald Tribune and WQXR-FM.

(c) The Boston Globe, Boston.com and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

(d) Beginning in February 2005, includes the results of the North Bay Business Journal, purchased Feb. 1, 2005. Excluding the North Bay Business Journal, advertising revenues were up 8.3% in February.

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY 2005 NEWS MEDIA AD REVENUE GROWTH BY CLASSIFIED CATEGORY FEBRUARY AND YEAR TO DATE

---------------------------------------------------------------------- % Change % Change Feb. '05 YTD '05 vs. Feb. '04 vs. YTD '04 ---------------------------------------------

News Media Help-Wanted +6.8 +7.8 Real Estate -0.4 +1.6 Automotive -7.8 -7.1

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THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY 2005 PRINT ADVERTISING VOLUME (a) (Inches in thousands, Preprints in thousands of copies) FEBRUARY AND YEAR TO DATE

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February Year to Date ---------------------------------------------------------------------- % % 2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change -------- -------- ------ -------- -------- ------ National(b) 194.3 197.8 -1.8 National(b) 400.7 424.7 -5.6 Retail 501.5 483.2 +3.8 Retail 1,039.3 1,038.9 +0.0 Classified 736.2 739.2 -0.4 Classified 1,603.0 1,611.9 -0.6 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total ROP 1,432.0 1,420.2 +0.8 Total ROP 3,043.0 3,075.5 -1.1 -------- -------- -------- --------

Part Run/ Part Run/ Zoned 156.5 171.1 -8.6 Zoned 329.1 355.3 -7.4 -------- -------- -------- -------- Total 1,588.4 1,591.3 -0.2 Total 3,372.1 3,430.8 -1.7 ======== ======== ======== ========

Preprints 214,658 205,228 +4.6 Preprints 466,546 440,330 +6.0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

(a) Advertising volume is based on preliminary internal data, which may be updated in subsequent reports and may not be indicative of advertising revenue or operating profit. Numbers may not add due to rounding.

(b) Includes all ad volume from the International Herald Tribune.

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CONTACT: The New York Times Company Catherine J. Mathis, 212-556-1981 mathis@nytimes.com or Paula Schwartz, 212-556-5224 schwap@nytimes.com

KEYWORD: NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PUBLISHING ADVERTISING/MARKETING BANKING EARNINGS SOURCE: The New York Times Company

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