Gannett and DirecTV have reached a new retransmission agreement, keeping Gannett’s stations on the air for DirecTV subscribers.

The two parties faced a November 30 deadline to renegotiate their carriage contract. Gannett began warning viewers of a possible service interruption on its 23 stations last week.

Financial terms of the deal, which was agreed on in the early hours of Saturday morning, were not disclosed.

Gannett today reported earnings figures for the third quarter of 2012 that included $233 million in television revenues, a +38.1% increase compared to the third quarter of last year.

Revenue growth was driven by $42 million in political ads and $37 million in ads related to the Summer Olympics, according to Gannett. The company also reported retransmission revenues of $22.3 million, an increase of +11.5% this quarter.

“Our TV stations leveraged top 10 ratings positions and a more locally focused sales effort to generate substantially higher Olympic spending,” Gannett president and CEO Gracia Martore said in a statement. “Through strong ratings and a great footprint, they also maximized the opportunity to attract political spending.”

Rita Andolsen is leaving her news director post at WKYC to become the station’s director of advocacy and community initiatives, a newly created position.

The Plain Dealer reports that Andolsen got married earlier this year and, returning from a delayed honeymoon on Monday, she informed WKYC president and general manager Brooke Spectorasky that she wanted the new job.

“This was completely Rita’s decision,” Spectorasky told The Plain Dealer.  “This is a job that that fits her like a glove. She is so wired into the community and highly respected. She sees a real opportunity here for the station and herself. I created this position about five weeks ago, and Rita hinted then that she thought it was really cool job.” Read more

Gannett today reported earnings figures for the first quarter of 2012 that included $170.9 million in television revenues, a 7.9% increase compared to the first quarter of last year.

The increase was attributed to advertising associated with the Super Bowl, as well as increased political advertising. Gannett also said retransmission revenues were 17% higher and television station digital revenues were 6.4% higher than Q1 2011.

“Our first quarter results were impacted by spending on strategic investments and advertising softness, particularly during January’s industry-wide slowdown,” Gracia Martore, Gannett’s president and CEO, said in a statement.  Read more

According to a new study from Borrell Associates, local television stations racked up $1.97 billion in online ad revenue in 2011, a 41 percent increase over the previous year. The study predicts an even better 2012. Broadcasting & Cable has details:

Stations are forecasted to blow past the $2 billion threshold this year. Borrell Associates forecasts $2.7 billion in local TV online revenue, a 35% increase over 2011. Borrell revealed the numbers in its new Benchmarking Local Online Media survey.

“Local TV broadcasters continue to grow online ad revenue at an impressive clip,” said the study, which singled out Gray Television and Meredith for growing revenue at a 50% rate in the last half of 2011, along with LIN, Nexstar and Gannett for their digital gains as well.

Lane Michaelsen, who until recently was vice president of news at Miami’s WTVJ, has been named news director at WCPO in Cincinnati.

Michaelsen replaces longtime WCPO news director Bob Morford, who announced his plans to leave the station at the beginning of the year.

“Lane is exactly the news director this market needs right now, and we’re very pleased to have his talent and experience in our newsroom,” WCPO vice president and general manager Steve Thaxton said, announcing the hiring. “His deep understanding of journalism and the tenets of serving communities will make a major impact on our team and the Tri-State.” Read more

Gannett, which owns 23 stations across the country including WUSA in D.C. and KARE in Minneapolis, countered a significant drop in political advertising in the fourth quarter with an 11.3% increase in non-political revenues.

Gannett’s television revenues for the fourth quarter were $192.4 million, $27.9 million less than the $220.2 million brought in during the same period last year.

The company attributes its increase in non-political revenues to significant growth in auto advertising for the quarter.

Gannett also saw a 30.3% increase in retrans revenues, which totaled $21.4 million for the quarter. Read more

“Steve Harvey,” the one-hour talk show hosted by, well, Steve Harvey, has now been sold in 70% of the country.

NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution announced today that the show, which is set to debut next fall and has already been sold to NBC, Fox, CBS, Hearst and others, was recently purchased by a handful of station groups including Gannett, Gray, and Post Newsweek.

“‘Steve Harvey’ is the most versatile show to come to daytime syndication in a long time and the response that we have received in the marketplace in the past several weeks has been phenomenal,” NBCUniversal Domestic Television Distribution president Barry Wallach said in a statement.  “This new talk show has a unique appeal in daytime as Steve’s comedic approach to a wide array of relatable topics attracts a broad audience and allows all affiliates to benefit from his popularity.”

Gannett, which owns 23 stations across the country, experienced a slight dip in television revenues for the third quarter compared to the same period last year.  The company is attributing the decrease to a decline in political advertising.

Gannett brought in $168.8 million in TV revenues for the quarter–$10.8 million less than last year’s Q3.  Excluding an $18.4 million decrease in political advertising, though, revenues were 4.7% higher.

“The increase was due, in part, to strengthening demand for auto advertising in September,” the company stated in its press announcement this morning.

In addition to a higher demand for auto advertising in the quarter, Gannett experienced a 26.7% increase in retrans revenue and a 27.5% gain in online revenues for its stations.

Less than a month after taking a medical leave, Craig Dubow has resigned as chairman and CEO of Gannett, the company announced today.

“For me, the decision to step down was difficult, but I must now focus on my health and my family,” Dubow said in a statement. “I will miss working with the talented team at Gannett and firmly believe the company’s best days lie ahead.”

Dubow will be replaced as CEO by Gracia Martore, who has been acting as principal executive officer since in Dubow’s absence. Marjorie Magner has been named chairman of the board.

“I have great admiration for what Craig has achieved in building our business to meet the changing needs of consumers and businesses today,” Martore said in a statement. “We will miss him and wish him and his family the very best.”