Singleton: 'Rocky' Sale Not Going to Happen

Posted Friday, December 5, 2008 12:00 am

By: E&P Staff MediaNews Group CEO and Denver Post Publisher William Dean Singleton sees no chance that his Denver joint operating agreement (JOA) partner E.W. Scripps will find a buyer for the Rocky Mountain News.

"I don't believe anybody thinks the Rocky can be sold," he said in a Friday Post article by Steve Raabe.

Scripps announced Thursday that it was selling the Rocky and its 50% stake in the Denver JOA. The Cincinnati-based company said it had lost $11 million in the first nine months of the year, but executives said they believe a buyer will emerge despite the brutal climate for newspaper publishing.

Singleton suggested market forces will ultimately force the closure of the 149-year-old newspaper.

"This market produces enough profit for one newspaper, but not for two newspapers," he said.

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Singleton: 'Rocky' Sale Not Going to Happen

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