Media General Inc. announced Wednesday that its Q1 loss narrowed year-over-year on reduced expenses and the growth on its TV business, The Associated Press reported.

The loss for Q1 was US$16.7 million, or 75 cents per share, better than that of $21.3 million, or 96 cents per share, in the same quarter one year ago.

Broadcast revenues was up 12.1 percent to $67.1 million, thanks to local advertising and national advertising revenue gain, at 12.1 percent and 13.1 percent, respectively. Cable/satellite retransmission revenues also boosted 27.5 percent, Media Post reported.

The publishing business, however, fell 9.4 percent in revenues compared to the previous year, but improved from a 14-percent drop in Q4, 2009. Publishing revenues totaled $81.3 million.

The company's overall revenues were $158.9 million, about even with last year.

Operating income totaled $8.7 million, up from the $11.6 million operating loss in the same period last year, according to the AP article posted on Business Week.