Real Cities Adds 'O.C. Register,' Claims Reach Of 30M Visitors

By: E&P Staff Even as it prepares for new ownership, Knight Ridder Digital's Real Cities Network is adding newspaper affiliates. Thursday, Real Cities said it had signed up the local Web sites of the Orange County (Calif.) Register; The Gazette in Colorado Springs, Col.; and The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City.

Real Cities also said, using a "nonstandard, custom aggregation" measurement, that it now reaches more than 30 million unique visitors, or more than 19% of the active Internet population.

"With these three affiliates, Real Cities makes it even easier to reach local buyers with one call," Real Cities Vice President Lem Lloyd said in a statement. "Orange County complements our Los Angeles and San Diego sites, so we cover Southern California like never before. The Gazette strengthens our representation in Colorado, and NewsOK.com brings a new state to the network."

The new sites are www.OCRegister.com; www.NewsOK.com; www.gazette.com.

"We continually look for new revenue streams and Real Cities opens some new doors for us," said Kelly Dyer Fry, NewsOK.com general manager.

Created by Knight Ridder Digital, Real Cities will come under ownership of The McClatchy Co. when its acquisition of Knight Ridder closes this summer.