But this year, without the strong earnings of their broadcast divisions, some newspaper companies would have reported profits that were flat, at best.

Operating income of the company's broadcast division more than doubled in the quarter, and cable TV results were also up.

She then started her own producing business, before being bought out by a larger company and becoming the Managing Director of their broadcast division.

Operating profits for the broadcast division, which includes the cable channels, was up 7 percent, to $337 million, from $316 million a year earlier.

The company said that its broadcast division posted a first-quarter profit of $127.9 million, compared with $86.2 million a year earlier.

For the year, operating income in the broadcast division increased to $679.4 million from $519.7 million.

Mr. Moroney had risen to second-in-command at the broadcast division.

That union formed one broadcast division, and kept the Townsquare name.

Last year the broadcast division lost about $36 million.

Revenues at the broadcast division dropped 11 percent, while cable division revenue rose 12.5 percent.