{"id":5525,"date":"2014-10-31T10:30:51","date_gmt":"2014-10-31T15:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=5525"},"modified":"2014-10-31T10:52:49","modified_gmt":"2014-10-31T15:52:49","slug":"tribune-buys-suburban-newspapers-from-sun-times-and-sun-times-buys-more-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2014\/10\/31\/tribune-buys-suburban-newspapers-from-sun-times-and-sun-times-buys-more-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Tribune buys suburban newspapers from Sun-Times \u2014 and Sun-Times buys more time"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chicago<\/a>

<\/a> Chicago Tribune<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s official: Tribune Publishing Co.<\/a> announced Friday it has acquired all 38 suburban publications owned by the Sun-Times <\/a>parent company and will continue printing and distributing the Sun-Times daily newspaper under a new long-term agreement with Wrapports LLC.<\/a><\/p>\n

Terms of the agreement, first reported here<\/a> October 21, were not disclosed. Sources said negotiations to finalize the deal ran late into the night Thursday in order to meet the goal of a November 1 deadline.<\/p>\n

Tribune Publishing paid cash for the suburban newspapers, insiders said, which include the Aurora Beacon-News, Elgin Courier-News, Lake County News-Sun, Naperville Sun, Post-Tribune in Northwest Indiana, SouthtownStar and the 32 Pioneer Press weekly newspapers. They now become part of Chicago Tribune Media Group, which operates the Chicago Tribune, RedEye, Chicago magazine and Hoy, among other brands.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re excited and thrilled to add these iconic titles to the Chicago Tribune Media Group,\u201d Tony Hunter, chief executive officer of Chicago Tribune Media Group, said in an interview Friday. \u201cWe believe it\u2019s an opportunity for growth. We\u2019re looking forward to growing the hyperlocal content we provide to consumers, growing the number of solutions that we can provide to clients, and frankly, just growth in general.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great deal for us, and we believe a great deal for these titles. We believe they are already good, strong brands in their markets. We think we\u2019ll enhance their capabilities, especially on the digital front, and we also believe that there\u2019s other scalable solutions that we have done at Tribune Publishing that can help them do their jobs better. We believe they\u2019re in great position already, and we will make them better.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur main priority in the short term is to continue to provide great service and content to our consumers and clients, and also to make this seamless to our employees. We\u2019re thrilled to add these talented employees to our company. In the near term, we believe it should be seamless to our news employees and seamless to our consumers,\u201d Hunter said.<\/p>\n

Bob Fleck, executive vice president of advertising for Chicago Tribune Media Group, will oversee the acquisitions in his new role as publisher and general manager of suburban operations.<\/p>\n

Fleck said the company will continue to publish TribLocal<\/a> suburban inserts in the Chicago Tribune as well. \u201cWe think we really can bring together the great things that are happening with TribLocal as well as what\u2019s happening with the newly acquired suburban properties, and make it better for all,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s no plan to abandon the TribLocal strategy. We believe this is just going to make everything stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Chicago<\/a>

Chicago Sun-Times<\/p><\/div>\n

The Sun-Times\u2019 current printing and distribution agreements with Tribune Publishing, in place since 2011 and 2007, respectively, were due to end this spring. While the new deal assures short-term life for of the Sun-Times, it leaves Wrapports a shell of its former self, with only the Sun-Times daily and free weekly Reader in its print portfolio. Earlier this week, Wrapports announced plans<\/a> to launch Sun Times Network with websites and apps delivering content from multiple sources to 70 cities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis transaction allows Wrapports to focus on our international digital strategy and to financially strengthen the Chicago Sun-Times,\u201d Wrapports chairman Michael Ferro Jr. said in a statement. \u201cWe will invest in the Sun Times Network and Cube Network while ensuring the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper remains journalistically independent and on financially sound footing for many years to come.\"<\/p>\n

(My blog is published independently under a licensing agreement with Chicago Tribune Media Group.)<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here is the text of the Tribune Publishing press release:<\/p>\n

Tribune Publishing Co. Acquires Wrapports Chicago Suburban Publications;\u2028Secures Long-Term Print & Delivery Contract For Chicago Sun-Times<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Suburban Chicago Dailies, Weeklies Become Integral Part of Chicago Tribune Media Group; \u00a0Bob Fleck Appointed Publisher & General Manager of Suburban Operations<\/strong><\/p>\n

CHICAGO, Oct. 31, 2014 \u2013 Tribune Publishing Company today announced the acquisition of six daily and 32 weekly suburban news and information brands from Wrapports, LLC. The acquired publications \u2013 which include the Aurora Beacon-News, The Elgin Courier-News, the Lake County News-Sun, The Naperville Sun, the Post-Tribune in Northwest Indiana, The SouthtownStar and the 32 Pioneer Press weekly newspapers \u2013 will become part of the diversified portfolio of the Chicago Tribune Media Group (CTMG), which operates the Chicago Tribune, RedEye, Chicago magazine, Hoy and other Chicago-based media brands. The acquired papers have collective circulations of 72,000 daily, 87,000 Sunday and 52,000 weekly.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

In addition to acquiring these suburban newspapers, CTMG today announced a long-term agreement to continue printing and distributing the Chicago Sun-Times, also owned by Wrapports. CTMG has printed the Sun-Times since 2011 and distributed the newspaper since 2007. This new agreement solidifies the continuation of this key commercial relationship for the Company.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Terms of the acquisition and printing-and-distribution deals were not disclosed.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis acquisition represents an important step forward for Tribune Publishing Company and the Chicago Tribune Media Group,\u201d said Jack Griffin, CEO of Tribune Publishing. \u201cIt supports our stated strategy of leveraging our existing infrastructure, resources and management teams to drive growth for our Company. Additionally, the new print and distribution agreement for the Chicago Sun-Times continues an important commercial relationship that supports our stated strategy of revenue diversification.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

To oversee the newly acquired publications, Tribune Publishing has appointed a senior Chicago-based executive with deep local roots and expertise. Bob Fleck, who most recently served as EVP of Advertising, spent 22 years at the Chicago Tribune in numerous managerial capacities. He assumes his role as Publisher & General Manager immediately and will report to CTMG CEO Tony Hunter.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have long admired the strong commitment to journalism and deep community ties exemplified by these suburban dailies and weeklies,\u201d Hunter said. \u201cWith the addition of these great titles, Chicago Tribune Media Group is significantly expanding its portfolio and geographic footprint with an unrivaled suite of print and digital solutions. Bob Fleck is the perfect person to lead our efforts.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Added Fleck: \u201cWe look forward to strengthening these great news brands that first and foremost serve their local communities with news and information that cannot be found anywhere else. As a lifelong Chicagoan, I understand the value of these publications to the residents and businesses in each of these vibrant communities and intend to build on that with the team.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The acquisition of the suburban Chicago papers is the fourth in a series completed by Tribune Publishing this year. Previous acquisitions include:<\/em><\/p>\n