In the fourth quarter of 2012, revenue for the Washington Post Company’s Post-Newsweek television group rose to $116.2 million, an increase of 32% on the year-ago quarter.

Post-Newsweek also reported a 54% increase in operating income, from $40.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 to $62.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. The company cited improved advertising demand in political and Olympics related ads, as well as increased retransmission consent fees, for the strong gains.

The Washington Post Co., the parent company of the Post-Newsweek stations, reported a +44% increase in revenue for the television broadcasting division during the third quarter of 2012.

Television broadcasting revenue for Q3 was $106.4 million, up from $73.8 million in the same period of 2011. The company also reported operating income of $54.1 million, up from $24.1 million in the third quarter of last year.

The Washington Post Co. said the increases were due to an “improved advertising demand across many product categories,” including a $15.6 million increase in political advertising revenue, this quarter. There was also a $10.8 million increase in Olympic-related advertising on the company’s NBC affiliates and increased retransmission revenues.

While its newspaper and education divisions continue to struggle, The Washington Post Co. is celebrating the success of its broadcast television unit.

The company’s Post-Newsweek station group was the only Post division to record higher operating profit in the second quarter than last year.

The Post Co. today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2012 and revenue for the company’s television broadcasting division increased 13% in the period, to $95.6 million.  Revenue for the first six months of the year was also up 13%, $177.1 million. Read more

John Idler, who was named president and general manager of Chicago ABC O&O WLS earlier this week, hopes to do a lot of listening in his first days on the job.

“The first thing I’m going to do is to reconnect with everybody in the building and figure out where the departments are strategically,” Idler told Time Out Chicago’s Robert Feder recently.  “Beyond that, as far as any long-terms plans or specific goals for the station, it’s way too early to talk about them.”

Idler joined WLS as an account executive in 1998 and served as vice president and general sales manager at the station before leaving to run WTVD, the ABC O&O in Raleigh-Durham. Read more

The Washington Post Company, owner of the Post-Newsweek station group, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter as well as the full year of 2011.

Revenue for the company’s station group declined 7% in 2011, to $319.2 million, and decreased 14% for the fourth quarter, compared to the same period in 2010.

“The decline in revenue is due primarily to the absence of $4.7 million in incremental winter Olympics-related advertising in the first quarter of 2010 and a $32.8 million and $18.9 million decrease in political advertising revenue for 2011 and the fourth quarter of 2011, respectively,” the company stated.

“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.”

Miami ABC-affiliate WPLG is returning local news to its 5 p.m. time slot.

After scrapping its 5 o’clock newscast in favor of “Dr. Phil” a few years ago, the Post-Newsweek station is set to debut a new 5 p.m. show on August 22nd.

Calvin Hughes and Laurie Jennings (right), WPLG’s team at 6 and 11, will be behind the anchor desk from 5:00 to 5:30, with Jen Herrerra subbing for Jennings during the last half-hour.

In a recent phone conversation with TVSpy, WPLG vice president and general manager Dave Boylan said the programming shift comes down to dollars and cents.

“5 p.m. newscasts make sense given today’s economy,” Boylan said. Read more

Washington Post Co. reported its second quarter earnings today and revenue from Post-Newsweek stations was up 3% for the period, compared to last year.

Post-Newsweek stations brought in $84.9 million during the second quarter, compared to $82.6 million from the same period in 2010. For the first half of this year, revenue increased 1% to $157.1 million, from $156.1 million in 2010.

The station group, which is comprised of six stations including Houston’s KPRC and Orlando’s WKMG, was able to overcome a $2.5 million decrease in political advertising for the second quarter with improved demand across a handful of product categories.

Overall, the Washington Post Co., which has taken hits in its education and newspaper divisions, was down 10% for the quarter.

Jim Joslyn is retiring as vice president and general manager of San Antonio’s KSAT. He has been with the Post-Newsweek station since 1991.

“Jim has run KSAT for 20 years and the results speak for themselves,” said Post-Newsweek CEO Alan Frank in a memo obtained by TVNewsCheck. “It’s a dominant station by every measure–ratings, revenue and impact in the community. This success is a reflection on Jim’s leadership, his character and the great team that he has assembled.”

Joslyn, who led Tuscon’s KVOA before joining KSAT, has recently overseen an aggressive expansion of the station’s local news programming.

KSAT viewers know Joslyn for his regular editorial segments and in 1997 he was recognized by the Texas Associated Press for his editorials and commentaries.

KSAT has yet to name Joslyn’s successor.

Kim Voet has been named news director at Detroit’s WDIV.

Voet has worked her way up the ranks of WDIV’s newsroom for the past 14 years. After working as a news producer, executive producer, and senior executive producer, Voet was appointed assistant news director of the NBC-affiliate at the end of 2009.

“Throughout her many years at Local 4, Kim has had a hand in every key initiative in our newsroom,” said Marla Drutz, WDIV’s vice president and general manager, in announcing the move.  “She has consistently demonstrated a passion for being the best in breaking news coverage, and has a great understanding of what is truly important to our community.”

The move comes after Deborah Collura, who spent several years as news director of Post Newsweek-owned WDIV, was promoted to vice president-managing director of news for Post Newsweek stations.