Server: Netscape-Enterprise/2.0d Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 23:50:09 GMT Accept-ranges: bytes Last-modified: Thu, 06 Nov 1997 17:37:56 GMT Content-length: 3986 Content-type: text/html LIN TELEVISION REPORTS THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
NEWS FROM LIN TELEVISION CORPORATION...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LIN TELEVISION REPORTS THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
Broadcast Cash Flow Surges 11% 
Providence, RI – October 16, 1997 -- LIN Television Corporation (NASDAQ: LNTV) today reported 
record levels of net revenue and broadcast cash flow for the third quarter ended September 30, 1997.
Third quarter net revenues increased 4.6% to $71.9 million compared to $68.8 million in the third quarter 
of 1996.  Broadcast cash flow grew to $34.6 million in the third quarter, up 11.0% from $31.2 million for 
the prior year’s quarter. Increases in net revenue and broadcast cash flow resulted in part from higher 
advertising time sales and continued growth of LIN’s LMA stations.  For the quarter, the LMA stations 
contributed $2.9 million in broadcast cash flow, compared to a loss of $526 thousand for the prior year.  
Financial information for both periods include same-station results and are directly comparable.
Net income for the third quarter of 1997 increased 2.0% to $9.9 million or $0.32 per share on improved 
operating performance and a reduction in interest expense, compared with $9.7 million, or  $0.32 per share 
in the third quarter of 1996.  Included in other expense is a $3.9 million charge for professional services 
related to the proposed merger with Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst.  Excluding these non-recurring costs, 
earnings for the period would have been $12.4 million or $0.40 per share, an increase of 26.9%.
Gary Chapman, President and Chief Executive Officer commented: “LIN Television’s third quarter results 
are impressive, particularly in light of the difficult comparison with the third quarter of 1996, during which 
incremental Olympic and political advertising revenue boosted performance by approximately $5.5 million. 
The strong local identity and superior demographics of the LIN stations enabled the Company to overcome 
the difficult comparisons with 1996.” 
“Fourth quarter pacings to-date are up nicely and will help replace the approximately $5.5 million of 
political revenue generated in the fourth quarter of 1996.  As of today, we expect to modestly exceed the 
results of the 1996 fourth quarter.”
Total debt outstanding as of September 30, 1997 was reduced to $295 million with cash balances of $25.6 
million.  Capital expenditures during the quarter were $2.7 million.
LIN Television Corporation owns and operates eight network-affiliated television stations, and has Local 
Marketing Agreements with stations in four of its eight markets. LIN Television previously announced the 
signing of an agreement on August 12, 1996 whereby Hicks, Muse Tate & Furst would acquire the 
Company for approximately $1.7 billion.  LIN’s O&Os and LMAs include:
									
Market			Station		DMA	Channel	Network	LMA
Dallas-Fort Worth	KXAS 		# 8	     5		NBC	       KXTX /39/ Ind 
Indianapolis	 	WISH		# 25	     8		CBS
New Haven-Hartford 	WTNH		# 27	     8		ABC	       WBNE/59/ WB
Norfolk-Portsmouth 	WAVY		# 39	    10		NBC	       WVBT/43/WB-FOX
Buffalo			WIVB		# 40	     4		CBS
Austin	 		KXAN		# 60	    36		NBC	       KNVA/54/WB
Decatur	 		WAND		# 81	    17		ABC
Fort Wayne	 	WANE		# 102	    15		CBS
AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T Corp. owns approximately 45% of 
LIN.
For further information contact:
LIN Television Corporation		The Abernathy MacGregor Group 
Deb Jacobson				Rob Lerner
Vice President & Treasurer		(212) 371-5999
 (401) 457-9403