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If Boston Globe Worth $20 Million, Is U-T Worth $15 Million?
Trust me, I understand how valuations have tanked. I just can't believe that the land in Fashion Valley alone isn't worth close to 15. Add the LJ property and yeah, Id' say it has to be more then 15. The offer for the register is more then 3 times that much, and the papers are pretty comparable number wise. I did notice a new online servie the UT has, where for 25 dollars a yr one can get the entire paper online, 55 cents a week I think. This may be an interesting way to get 25 dollar per-reader instead of giving away the news for free. Local news is where they should contentrate their reporting. I can go to google news to find out what went down in DC today, but if I want to know about a rash of crime in Mission Beach I rely on the the SD union/trib. I watch this scenario closely, and in my opinion, if Copley can hold out I think he should wait for the market to turn around before he sells. Unlike everyone else out there, being debt free is a huge plus. Heck didn't the Journal Register just declare bankruptcy today? I think a real positive though is Lee was able to restructure it's debt...who knows...All I know is I hope this city doesn't lose it's only daily.— February 22, 2009 1:32 p.m.
If Boston Globe Worth $20 Million, Is U-T Worth $15 Million?
I call BS on that price. A paper in Mesa AZ has two offers on the table at 12Mil. per. I also know there is an offer for the OC Register at a substantially higher price then that.— February 20, 2009 3:57 p.m.
Lollipop Guild
*totally* would be upset if you said to my kid, at 5 or whatnot, "Some people don't believe in G-D" What kind of effed up message is that to put in her head when it's a notion her parents have taught her about. I would be royally irked if my non religious, gay brother told that to my 6 yr old.— February 3, 2009 3:14 p.m.
LA Times Editor Says Online Ad Revenue Enough to Cover Entire Print and Online Payroll
Not. True.— January 14, 2009 8:30 p.m.
Union-Tribune Now Telling Employees of "Audience Reach," Not Circulation
I go to many difft. Newspaper websites and to be fair SignonSD is actually pretty navagatable. The search feature is way off though. I don't doubt 3million clicks a month. PerezHilton gets 9million a day...— January 12, 2009 2:41 p.m.
City of Industry to Vote Jan. 20 on $500 Million Infrastructure Bond that Would Serve Planned New Stadium
Why go to the Library and be assailed by the stench of the homeless laying there when I can sign on here at home? All I know is I am going to the superbowl this year in Tampa Bay, and my hotel is upwards of 400 a night. Not to mention the money I will drop on a taxi, and meals out. If the revenue is "only" 35 million I still think that is a great return... I felt like I had written this post before, and realized I kinda did in the comment section of one of the other articles. I am sorry. I don't mean to repeat myself. I just feel strongly that a pro sports team DOES add to a city, and that San Diego is too large, and to great to be without a major athletic team.— January 2, 2009 10:26 a.m.
City of Industry to Vote Jan. 20 on $500 Million Infrastructure Bond that Would Serve Planned New Stadium
There is nothing more NEEDED in San Diego then a new stadium and new sports arena. I would fully support the city giving the land to the Spanos. How many Bowl games did we host this year? SDSU football? Superbowls of years past? That is A LOT of revenue. I love how when the ballot has the option of a new hotel tax to spread to visitors fo the city we vote no. WHY? When I am going on vacation, last thing I factor into it is the % of taxes that go onto my Hyatt bill. I have been to many stadiums the past few years, and even old "Joe Robbie" stadium in Miami is in a much nicer state then our poor ol 'Murph. I love the large parking lot and central location of our Stadium, and I will continue to be raped each year by the Spanos and the NFL to watch my favorite game. A library? Please...do the Public schools even teach kids the dewey decimal system anylonger? Bah humbug, like newspapers the library is a dying breed. I'd pay taxes for a new stadum ANY DAY.— January 1, 2009 3:17 p.m.
Pro-football pushing San Diego closer to bankruptcy
I have no issues with the Chargers or any major NFL franchise being in SD. I think it adds luster, and I am a fan of the NFL. I do think all the dilly dally'ing about where to put a stadium is crazy. The "new" stadium, whenever it comes, and it will come, SD is too large of a town to be w/o a major sports facility, should just be where the Q sits today. I do have issues with the management of our tax dollars. I pay upwards of 20k a year in property taxes, have no kids attending public school, and still they mismanage. I do not see how doing crazy things like ending firepits, or closing libraries is going to help. Now do we press for a new library right now? I think not, but saying flat out that we don't want the NFL here is also wrong. I see too many city workers sitting in their PB watering hole at 2pm. Instead of keeping these people on the payrole, there should be accountiblity. San Diego is a great city, not the city of the 70's when I remember it best, but it still has the potential to be great. Donna Frye & Kevin Falkuner (sp?)play a larger part of the problem, in my opinion then Sanders/Aguirre et al. I think the city has no other choice then to BK itself.— December 25, 2008 8:45 a.m.
Copley Puts Tiny Borrego Sun Up for Sale
No way will Newspapers go 100% online. Nor is the Sd Union the only newspaper in the region that is hurting. I do not know about the debt load of the co. but if it is minimal, then at least the 'shareholder' will see some money. Other papers in the region are burdened with a lot more debt. Freedom Communications & Tribune Co. both are debt laden, yet still continue to bring in close to a hundred million dollars EBITDA. The profit margin is lower then ever, and newspapers will just have to get used to getting by with less. I think all papers have written classifieds off. The hard part is when retailers, and auto pull out. Add to that, the Real estate market is tanking, so the home advertising is gone. How does a paper replicate its income? The price of newsprint is through the roof, and I know everyone says papers should go to the net, but what I don't understand is, HOW ELSE can mom and pop sewing machine store advertise to anyone? How can a gun range or a local knife sharpening place advertise and get customers other then a newspaper? it isn't cost effective to advertise to sewers online...I'd guess most people who sew are still in the demographic to get a newspaper everyday. Just becoming a net based business will lead to failure. The "BRANDING" power of the SDUT or the OCRegister, or the LA Times is powerful, certainly not as powerful as it once was, but there is value there, there is value to having the ability to reach 200k people....sure it's not 400k but 200k isn't a joke. With the advent of Tivo tv advertising isn't what it once was either. It is a matter of figuring out a new way to make money. As for Copley, so what his mom was a golddigger, etc. (?) Fact remains the guy is a trustafarian, let him spend his money any way he wishes. Is mgmt to balme for the newspapers downfall?! Partly, but not 100%. This is the "perfect storm" for Newspaper co. and until someone comes up with a surefire way to make money and the economy goes on an upswing, then we will see newspapers sell for a pittance of what they were once worth. The problem I see with attracting buyers here locally....who is going to dump 100mil into a paper when there is no upside in sight? Industry wide? MY personal opinion is add to the newsroom, make the journalism A+ Grade. But unfortunately all I see is the firing of news staff, and keeping CEO's on who make close to 7 figures. If papers made their focus reporting the news, and more investigative reporting, people would come....lol, not to sound like a bad movie, but seriously...I read the reader bc I like when a good juicy story is followed through with a local bent to it. Lastly, the editorial page at the Trb is just lacking. We need an opinionated editor who is willing to stand independently and tell it like it is, some subjects may lean conservative, some liberal, but the all or nothing approach isn't something the young demograph is swayed by any longer.— November 28, 2008 11:17 p.m.
Copley Puts Tiny Borrego Sun Up for Sale
I hope this isn't a repeat post, my last one seems to have not been posted. Anyway, my gripe was about the way people speak of David Copley. I don't know the man, but I am a long time LJ resident and I know he has been in bad health since the 80's. I heard he had a heart transplant at one point, and well, to be frank, why hold it against the guy to get out now, and enjoy life? The Bankroft family was the last family to have truly gotten out in time....Newspapers value continue to sink, and I don't see a way out that is "worth" the investment when one isn't vested in the business itself. Does that make sense? What appears to be the downfall of many of the private newspaper co. is there isn't involvement on the business side of things by family members. Mgmt has no real incentive to upright a sinking ship, and well...without that passion I don't see the papers surviving. I just see all the sly little digs here and there and really I don't blame the guy for enjoying whatever last years he has on this Earth. Rumor has it the offer for the SD Union was 15mil over the price of the real estate! omg! This was a paper that could have brought in 400 mil only 3 yrs ago. AT LEAST. Why Mr. Copleys decision to sell his papers now is a bad one leaves me scratching my head. What is he supposed to do? Wait til the paper is bleeding money and then go under?— November 26, 2008 6:03 p.m.