Tribune Update

We've been waiting to see what the changes are at the Tribune.  Here's the word from a source inside the paper. 

Greg

The bottom line is that in October the Tribune will go for a two pronged approach – paid subscriptions with a free version of the Tribune.

The new paper will be highly zoned, seven days a week with an A section reduced to tabloid size, but tailored to a neighborhood - the example mentioned was that Chandler would have two versions.

People who pay for a subscription will get the tab sized A section with the rest of the paper (business, sports etc.) inserted.  The A section will be bundled and racked at convenient locations and maybe delivered to driveways for free for everyone else.  The point is to get as many copies of the paper out and about as possible.

As to cancelling subscriptions –we were told that the Trib paid $500,000 a year to deliver 2,900 papers north of

Bell Road

.  The idea was to cancel the 2,900 subscriptions and instead put the money into printing more papers to get out so that advertisers  see the value in the paper.

Comments

[Michael Marizco]

2,900 newspapers at $500,000 a year is about $172 a year per paper – which is about fifty cents per issue which is about breaking even at newsstand cost – assuming each of those papers is being purchased.
That's crazy; I had never thought about that before. No wonder it's being given away.
Thank you for following up on this.

[JF]

I heard the Tribune was also launching a Central Phoenix edition?? U know anything about that?