Meredith, which owns 12 stations across the country, announced its second quarter earnings today, reporting a 13.5% drop in revenue for its local media group.

Meredith’s local unit took in $84 million for the period, compared to $97 million for its Q2 last year.  The company attributes the decline to a decrease in political advertising compared to a year ago–Meredith recorded  $21 million less of political advertising revenue for the quarter.

Non-political advertising revenues rose 9% in the second quarter, with Meredith’s stations in Atlanta (WGCL), Hartford (WFSB), Las Vegas (KVVU), and Portland (KPTV) performing the best. Read more

Meredith reported results for the first quarter of its fiscal year this morning, announcing a drop in revenue for the company’s local media group.

Meredith, which owns 12 stations across the country including WGCL in Atlanta and KPHO in Phoenix, reported $69 million in total revenues for its local media group, compared to $76 million brought in during the same period last year.

In announcing financial results for the quarter, Meredith was quick to point out that its TV stations recorded approximately $11 million less in political advertising revenues than in the same period last year. Excluding political advertising, revenues rose 3%. Read more

Meredith Corporation reported its fiscal 2011 third quarter earnings today, announcing that its Local Media Group saw a 5% gain in non-political advertising revenues on top of a 16% gain compared to the same period a year ago.

Meredith chairman and CEO Stephen Lacy said that the local media division, which includes 12 stations across the country, posted “solid growth” in the quarter.

Looking forward to the next quarter, Lacy pointed out that on March 28th, Meredith’s Atlanta CBS-affiliate (WGCL) began managing the day-to-day operations of Turner Broadcasting’s Peachtree TV (WPCH).  “This strategic partnership with Turner provides Meredith with access to a larger share of the growing Atlanta advertising marketplace because of Peachtree’s younger viewership; a strong lineup of sports programming; and increased inventory in both access and prime-time dayparts,” Lacy said.  “Additionally, it raises our overall profile in Atlanta, the No. 8 television market in the country.”