Tribune License Challenge & Newspaper Sale

UCC CHALLENGES TRIBUNE LICENSE RENEWALS IN HARTFORD
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
The United Church of Christ has challenged the license renewals of two Tribune stations, WTIC-TV and WTXX, both Hartford (CT) where Trib also owns the Hartford Current newspaper. "Tribune has not demonstrated that it is entitled to a permanent waiver of the [newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership (NBCO)] rule," UCC said in its filing with the FCC. "Permitting common ownership of the three media outlets does not serve the purpose of the NBCO rule of promoting a diversity of local news sources," it said. "Indeed, the very fact that Tribune utilizes the resources of the Courant to produce its news programming for WTIC-TV and then simulcasts the same news program on WTXX illustrates how Tribune’s cross-ownership diminishes the diversity of sources of local news in Hartford." The UCC said it shouldn't get another temporary waiver either. "Previously, the Commission granted three temporary waivers to permit Tribune time to make its best efforts divest WTXX or the Hartford Courant. The Commission has granted Tribune more than sufficient time to divest the appropriate media outlets and yet Tribune has not done so." Tribune has been operating the stations under a succession of temporary waivers --the FCC declined to grant permanent ones -- and has asked for another such waiver, or alternately one that will extend until the FCC has reconsidered and revamped its media ownership rules.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6420876.html?display=Breaking...

GANNETT TO BUY 2 TRIBUNE CO NEWSPAPERS
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Frank Ahrens]
Tribune Company has agreed to sell its two smallest newspapers, both in Connecticut, to Gannett for more than $65 million, as the media giant edges closer to accepting or rejecting bids for the entire company. Tribune said in September that it planned to sell $500 million in assets. As part of the sale, Tribune offered the Greenwich Time and Stamford Advocate to two prospective buyers, McLean (VA)-based Gannett and MediaNews Group of Denver. Gannett eventually outbid MediaNews for the two papers, which report a combined circulation of 39,623. Tribune sought as much as $75 million for the Connecticut papers and $25 million more for the real estate on which they sit, which is likely to be sold to third parties.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/01/AR200703...
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