De Niro Group, New York Weekly End Talks of Possible Acquisition

By: E&P Staff Rumors had it that deal was virtually certain, but The New York Times reports today that talk are ended between the weekly The New York Observer and actor Robert De Niro?s Tribeca partners.

?Unfortunately, we could not come to mutually acceptable terms,? Craig Hatkoff, one of the founders of Tribeca Enterprises, said in a statement. The other founders are film producer Jane Rosenthal and De Niro.

Peter W. Kaplan, the editor of The Observer, told the Times, ?It just didn?t happen." Arthur L. Carter, publisher of The Observer, could not be reached for comment.

Hatkoff said in his statement that the paper had approached Tribeca. ?We were very excited by the strategic possibilities and were hopeful to make a deal,? he said.