Postmedia turns $13M net profit after cutting costs

TORONTO — Postmedia Network Canada Corp. is reporting a $13-million net profit in its fiscal third quarter, as cost savings more than offset an 11.1 per cent decline in overall revenue.

The Toronto-based media company says the profit, worth 14 cents per share, was primarily the result of one-time, non-cash items including a $22.8 million gain related to changes in the company’s employee benefit plans.

Revenue dropped to $194 million for the quarter ended May 31, down $24.3 million from the same time last year. The owner of the National Post and several other major Canadian newspapers continued to experience lower revenue from its print operations, only partly offset by higher revenue from digital media.

Print advertising revenue was down $22 million and print circulation revenue fell $5.5 million, though digital revenue rose by $3.9 million from the same time last year.