Chicago Sun-Times Sunday Circulation Rises 4.5 Percent for Six Months Ended September 30, 2008 versus Prior Year; Chicago Sun-Times Daily Circulation Begins to Stabilize

Business Wire, Oct 27, 2008

Chicago Sun-Times has good performance during period between April 2008 and September 2008, with gains in both daily and Sunday circulation vs. prior six-month period; Sun-Times News Group overall flat for six months compared to prior six-month period, down modestly year over year

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Sun-Times today announced its Sunday newspaper circulation rose 4.5 percent for the six months ended September 30, 2008 compared with the prior-year period. Sunday total average paid circulation for this period was 255,905. The newspaper's daily (Monday through Friday) circulation narrowed previous annual declines, with average daily circulation decreasing 3.9 percent to 313,176 between the six-month period ended September 30, 2007 and the six-month period ended September 30, 2008, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulation's FAS-FAX report, which was released today by ABC. For the six-month period ended September 30, 2008, the Chicago Sun-Times' daily (Monday through Friday) circulation rose 0.3 percent and Sunday circulation increased 3.4 percent when compared to the six-month period ended March 31, 2008. Historically, Chicago Sun-Times circulation for the September period has been lower than the March period.

The six-month increase in Chicago Sun-Times newspaper circulation Monday through Friday was the result of a number of factors, including: single-copy circulation promotions, an increase in the number of distribution outlets, aggressive marketing, home delivery promotions and a redefined focus on customer sales and retention. Growth in Sunday circulation is due in part to an increase in hawker presence on the streets, promotions and expansion of new distribution outlets.

Combined circulation for the Sun-Times News Group's daily newspapers, which includes the Chicago Sun-Times and seven suburban newspaper titles, fell 4.2 percent (Monday through Friday), while Sunday circulation rose 3.8 percent for the six months ended September 30, 2008 when compared to the September 2007 period.

ABC also reported that past 7 day readers in the Chicago DMA for the Chicago Sun-Times was 2,338,216. Average monthly unique users of suntimes.com for the six-month period ending August 31, 2008 was 2,691,000.

"Our newspapers have performed relatively strongly during a difficult period for newspaper circulation, and we are delighted with the momentum we have gained. It is a testament to our employees' hard work, and more proof that Chicagoans know that the Sun-Times News Group newspapers and Web sites are simply the Chicago area's best source of local news and information," said Cyrus Freidheim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun-Times Media Group, Inc., which owns the Sun-Times News Group. Mr. Freidheim is also Publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times.

"While the Sun-Times News Group aggressively continues to invest in our digital future and online growth, news companies like ours cannot overlook the importance of print products," Mr. Freidheim said. "Both are key to continuing and growing Sun-Times Media Group's leadership position in the Chicago area."

About Sun-Times Media Group

Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. is dedicated to being the premier source of local news and information for the greater Chicago area. Its media properties include the Chicago Sun-Times and Suntimes.com as well as newspapers and Web sites serving more than 200 communities across Chicago. Further information can be found at www.thesuntimesgroup.com.

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