Exhibit 99.1
MEDIA RELEASE

Fisher Communications, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results

Television Core Advertising Revenue Increased 9%

SEATTLE, WA – (MARKETWIRE) – November 7, 2011 – Fisher Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSCI) today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. Fisher’s third quarter net television revenue, excluding political revenue, increased 8% over the same period last year. Fisher’s total consolidated revenue for the quarter, which includes Fisher Plaza, was $39.7 million, down 5% from the third quarter of 2010. Increases in TV core advertising and internet revenue helped offset some of the expected decrease in political revenue. During the quarter, internet revenue increased 52% to $1.4 million and TV core advertising revenue increased 9%.

The Company reported net income of $1.4 million in the quarter, compared to $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2010. The 2010 results included a pre-tax gain on the exchange of broadcast equipment of $0.3 million and a $2.9 million gain from net insurance reimbursements relating to the 2009 Fisher Plaza fire insurance claim. Earnings per share were $0.16 in the third quarter of 2011, compared to $0.38 for the third quarter of 2010.

Direct operating costs and selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter decreased $0.8 million, or 3%, from the third quarter of 2010. Program amortization costs decreased $0.5 million, or 17%. The expense reductions are a reflection of the continuing successful implementation of the Company’s strategic plan.

The decrease in operating costs included $1.5 million of savings related to the non-renewal of the KING-FM Joint Sales Agreement, a reduction in total variable compensation and a credit resulting from the Company’s revised employee vacation policy that was announced in 2010 and became effective January 1, 2011. Some of these savings were offset by additional costs of $0.7 million related to the Plaza strategic review, investments in the internet division and the resumption of the Company’s matching contributions to the 401(k) plan for employees.

EBITDA decreased $1.0 million, or 13%, to $6.8 million in the third quarter of 2011.

Fisher President and Chief Executive Officer Colleen B. Brown commented, “Our solid third quarter performance demonstrates the continued strength of our market-leading broadcast properties and the growing popularity of our digital platform. Through the successful execution of our strategic plan, we have transformed Fisher into a leader in local media by improving audience and revenue share, embracing new ways to distribute our content, and leveraging our unique multiplatform approach. Our demonstrated ability to anticipate the changing nature of advertisers’ spending while developing innovative platforms and channels to meet their needs, positions us well to deliver long-term value to our communities and our shareholders.”

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Financial Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2011

(All comparisons are made to the third quarter of 2010 unless otherwise noted.)

Television:

Radio:

Plaza:

Balance Sheet:

Key Operating and Strategic Highlights

Third Quarter Conference Call

Fisher will host a conference call today at 1:00 p.m. (PST). Senior management will discuss the financial results and host a question and answer session. The dial-in number for the audio conference call is 1-866-783-2138; confirmation code 58746817. A live audio webcast of the call will be accessible to the public on Fisher’s Web site, www.fsci.com. A recording of the webcast will subsequently be archived on the Web site and available for replay for one week following the call. An audio replay of the call can be accessed for one week by dialing 1-888-286-8010 and entering confirmation code 29961898.

Definitions and Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information

The Company reports and discusses its operating results using financial measures consistent with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and believes this should be the primary basis for evaluating its performance.

The preceding discussion of our results includes a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures such as Television cash flow, Radio cash flow, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) and Plaza EBITDA. These non-GAAP measures should not be viewed as alternatives or substitutes for GAAP reporting.

The Company believes the presentation of these non-GAAP measures is useful to investors because they are used by lenders to measure the Company’s ability to service debt; by industry analysts to determine the market value of stations and their operating performance; and by management to identify the cash available to service debt, make strategic acquisitions and investments, maintain capital assets and fund ongoing operations and working capital needs; and, because they reflect the most up-to-date operating results of the stations inclusive of pending acquisitions, time brokerage agreements or local marketing agreements. Management believes they also provide an additional basis from which investors can establish forecasts and valuations for the Company’s business.

Television and radio cash flow are calculated as income (loss) from operations plus amortization of program rights, depreciation and amortization, non-cash charges, Internet and corporate expenses minus gain on asset exchange, net, payments for broadcast rights, amortization of non-cash benefit resulting from a change in national advertising representation firm and non-convergence Internet revenue.

Plaza EBITDA is calculated as Plaza income (loss) from operations plus depreciation, Plaza fire expenses (reimbursements), net, minus Plaza operating expenses allocated to the TV and Radio segments.

EBITDA is calculated as income from operations plus amortization of program rights; depreciation and amortization; stock-based compensation; Plaza fire expenses (reimbursements), net; gain on exchange of assets, net; and non-cash charges minus payments for broadcast rights and amortization of non-cash benefit resulting from a change in national advertising representation firm.

For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measurements to the GAAP financial results cited in this press release, please see the supplemental tables at the end of this release.

About Fisher Communications, Inc.

Fisher Communications (FSCI) is an innovative local media company with television, radio, internet and mobile operations throughout the western United States. Fisher operates 18 television stations, which include network affiliations with ABC, CBS, FOX, Univision and CW that reach 3.5% of U.S. television households, and three radio stations targeting a full range of audience demographics. Fisher Interactive produces more than 120 local and hyper-local websites and delivers comprehensive multiplatform advertising solutions to local businesses. The Company is headquartered at Fisher Plaza, a 300,000 square foot media, telecommunications and data center facility in Seattle, WA. More information about Fisher Communications, Inc. is available at www.fsci.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements include information preceded by, followed by, or that includes the words “guidance,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “could,” or similar expressions. For these statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release, concerning, among other things, changes in revenue, cash flow and operating expenses, involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various important factors, including the impact of changes in national and regional economies, our ability to service and refinance our outstanding debt, successful integration of acquired television stations (including achievement of synergies and cost reductions), pricing fluctuations in local and national advertising, future regulatory actions and conditions in the television stations’ operating areas, competition from others in the broadcast television markets served by the Company, volatility in programming costs, the effects of governmental regulation of broadcasting, industry consolidation, technological developments and major world news events. Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this news release might not occur. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. For more details on factors that could affect these expectations, please see the risk factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts:
Sard Verbinnen & Co
Paul Kranhold or Ron Low
(415) 618-8750
Robin Weinberg
(212) 687-8080

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Fisher Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

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Fisher Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

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Fisher Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
(Unaudited)

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Fisher Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliations
(Unaudited, in thousands)

The following table provides a reconciliation of income from continuing operations (GAAP) to EBITDA (non-GAAP) in each of the periods presented:

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The following table provides a reconciliation of television income from continuing operations (GAAP) to television broadcast cash flow (non-GAAP) in each of the periods presented:

The following table provides a reconciliation of radio income from continuing operations (GAAP) to radio broadcast cash flow (non-GAAP) in each of the periods presented:

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The following table provides a reconciliation of Plaza income from continuing operations (GAAP) to Plaza EBITDA (non-GAAP) in each of the periods presented:

The following table provides television net revenue comparisons in each of the periods presented:

The following table provides radio net revenue comparisons in each of the periods presented:

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