Is the Tampa Tribune for sale?
Media General, Inc., the owner of TBO.com, the Tampa Tribune and News Channel 8, today announced that it is exploring the potential sale of newspaper operations.
But the company would not say which of its 23 newspapers are for sale.
“Media General has indicated in recent months that it will consider asset sales at valuations that reflect the strength of its properties as a means of reducing total debt outstanding over time,” a news release states. “The company noted that the valuations of local media properties in recent merger and acquisition transactions, including local newspapers, have reflected the strong market positions of the entities being sold. Media General’s newspaper brands are the leading print products in their core markets.”
All of this comes on a day when Media General named Brad A. Moses president and general manager of WFLA-TV, Media General’s NBC affiliate in Tampa.
“I am pleased to bring such a talented broadcast professional back to our Tampa station,” said John Cottingham, president and market leader for Media General’s Mid-South Market and interim general manager for WFLA.
The Tampa Bay Times’ Eric Deggans reports that “staff at the TV station were told WFLA would get its ‘swagger’ back, disentangling much of its convergence connections to the Tribune. Moses’ hiring would seem a greater step in that direction, bringing in an executive with lots of experience leading TV stations at a time when competition among local television outlets has never been sharper.”
Because two plus two equals four, how can one conclude that the Tampa Tribune is not for sale?
Media General announces it will sell some of its newspapers. Media General brings in a new executive tasked with “disentangling” its television station from its newspaper.
2+2 =4. The Tampa Tribune is on the chopping block.
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Update: Let me share with you what I am already hearing from the conspiratorialists: The Tampa Bay Times just sold off one of its major real estate holdings in St. Petersburg. The Tampa Tribune may be up for sale. Ergo, the Times will soon relocate to Tampa.
what major real estate holding have they sold off? a parking lot they no longer need? only reason its worth anything is becuase its downtown,. they haver been consolidating operations and selling properties for years
First of all, they need the parking lot or they would not be contracting with the new owners to retain 300 parking spots in their new building.
But that is beside the point, if you talk to people like Rick Baker, they’ll tell you that was one of the great puzzle pieces in downtown because it was a large, consolidated lot — and the Times just sold it off for a song during a depressed market.
This article is about the Tampa Tribune. Both of you ( above ) are talking about the Tampa Bay Times ( formerly The St Pete Times )
If anything – your posts show why papers are having trouble. People can’t read and comprehend information anymore.
pc, try reading the “update” peter posted. then get back to me
peter, i do see your point and it will be interesting to see what it actually sold for, perhaps the contract to hold 300 spaces is to allow for more consolidating of offices? or hope for growth in the future. doesnt mean they will use all 300 now. personally i do not think the times will relocate.
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