The Washington Post Co. reported a more than four-fold rise in quarterly net profit Wednesday, as cost-cutting helped reverse newspaper division losses despite sinking print advertising revenue.

The Post Co., which owns Kaplan educational services and cable TV operations in addition to Newsweek magaine and the flagship newspaper, said fourth-quarter net profit rose to 82.2 million dollars from 18.8 million dollars a year ago.

For the year, the company reported a net profit of 91.2 million dollars, up from 65.8 million dollars the previous year.

Revenue rose six percent in the fourth quarter to 1.24 billion dollars and was two percent higher for the year at 4.6 billion dollars.

The Post Co. said strong revenue growth in the education and cable divisions was partially offset by revenue declines at its newspaper publishing, magazine publishing and television broadcasting operations.

The Post. Co. owns a profitable string of schools and test preparation centers under the Kaplan brand.

Like other US newspapers, the Post has been grappling with a steep drop in print advertising revenue, steadily declining circulation and the migration of readers to free news online.

In November, the Post announced that it was closing its last three domestic bureaus in the United States in a cost-cutting move which came on the heels of early retirements or buyouts for several hundred Post employees.

The Post Co. said education division revenue increased 16 percent in the fourth quarter to 709.3 million dollars and was four percent higher in the cable television division at 190.6 million dollars. Television broadcasting division revenue fell seven percent to 80.2 million dollars.

Newspaper publishing division revenue declined four percent in the fourth quarter to 193.3 million dollars and was 15 percent lower on the year at 679.3 million dollars.

Print advertising revenue declined nine percent in the fourth quarter to 92.6 million dollars and was 23 percent lower for the year at 317 million dollars.

Newspaper online revenue, primarily from WashingtonPost.com, increased one percent in the fourth quarter to 31.5 million dollars but declined by eight percent for the year to 99.6 million dollars.

The newspaper division posted an operating profit of 3.2 million dollars in the fourth quarter compared to an operating loss of 14.4 million dollars a year ago.

For the year, the newspaper division posted an operating loss of 163.5 million dollars, down from 192.7 million dollars in 2008.

The Post Co. said daily circulation for the newspaper declined 5.9 percent last year to 595,800 while Sunday circulation dipped 4.7 percent to 831,300.

Magazine publishing division revenue declined 30 percent in the fourth quarter to 52.4 million dollars.

The division had an operating loss for the year of 29.3 million dollars compared to an operating loss of 16.1 million dollars in 2008.

Advertising revenue at Newsweek fell 36 percent in the fourth quarter and 37 percent for the year.

Washington Post shares were up 2.96 percent at 424.73 dollars in early trading in New York.