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Rival Local Tabloids Discuss Partnership

The New York Times

Representatives from Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, owners of The New York Post, and Mortimer Zuckerman's Daily News have been meeting to discuss a possible partnership.  The talks began informally following Cablevision's successful takeover of Newsday.

The long-time rivals are looking at ways to combine their business operations, printing, distribution and other back-office functions, while maintaining separate companies and news staffs, in an effort to cut millions in annual costs.

The Times notes that how to best combine the papers' printing operations will be a stumbling block as both The Post and The Daily News have invested heavily in new printing plants.  The Post has a $300 million printing plant in the South Bronx and The News' allows it to print in color on every page.

Related: Cablevision Defends Newsday Purchase

Murdoch Expects Deal to Buy Newsday Soon

Bloomberg

News Corp. plans to wrap up an agreement to buy Newsday from Tribune Co. in the next seven days according to statements made by Chairman Rupert Murdoch on a conference call to discuss the company's third-quarter results.  Murdoch added that the purchase of Newsday would improve News Corp.'s cash flow by $100 million a year and offer "great savings" in combining printing and distribution with the New York Post.

> Cablevision Doesn't Need Newsday

> Source Says Murdoch Won't Raise Bid for Newsday

> Cablevision Plans to Bid for Newsday