The San Diego Union-Tribune Experiences Record-Breaking Month with Daily Deal Program

SAN DIEGO - April 22, 2011 - The San Diego Union-Tribune's Daily Deal program, the No. 1 revenue-generating program among newspapers nationwide, generated $366,035 through a summer camp deal, making it the Union-Tribune's largest revenue-generating deal to-date and April the highest grossing month in the history of the program.

The Daily Deal that launched April 18 saw 3,853 subscribers purchase a $95 weeklong kids summer camp session through Mission Bay Sportscenter, which offered a 60 percent discount on the valued price of $235. The Union-Tribune's Daily Deal program offers deals at local restaurants, spas, events and more that are 50 to 90 percent off regular prices. Deals are sent directly to subscribers via email, featured on the front page of the Union-Tribune print edition and promoted through the company's extensive marketing channels.

"The success of our Mission Bay Sportscenter Daily Deal is a direct reflection of our strong print and interactive products, and coupled with our extensive reach, give our consumers and valued advertisers access to the best deals available," said Mike Hodges, general manager of SignOn San Diego and vice president for the Union-Tribune. "Unlike our competitors, such as Groupon, LivingSocial and a variety of other startups, we are able to execute through a multi-platform approach and utilize our print, online and interactive resources to ultimately achieve results. Initiatives like our Daily Deal program correlate nicely with our company's mission to improve lives and build a stronger community through information, insight and ideas."

In addition to the Daily Deal's direct subscriber email alert, the kids summer camp deal was promoted with two full-page ads and a front page mention in the print edition of The San Diego Union-Tribune, banner ads on the Union-Tribune's website SignOn San Diego, the company's Facebook and Twitter accounts, and on-air radio mentions. Total revenue and number of buyers reflect an active time period from Monday, April 18 through Thursday, April 21. The Mission Bay Sportscenter is a long-time partner of the Union-Tribune.

"The integration of our interactive Daily Deal brand into our core product and traditional media channels showcases our deep commitment to utilizing all available resources on behalf of our partners," said Ed Moss, president and publisher of The San Diego Union-Tribune. "The unprecedented success of the Mission Bay Sportscenter deal is not only important in terms of revenue for the Union-Tribune, but also demonstrates the excellent results we deliver for our partners as we continue to be the leading media company in the San Diego market and explore innovative ways to grow our business."

As part of the Union-Tribune's overall company strategy to grow audience and revenue, it recently acquired San Diego lifestyle website DiscoverSD.com and its Insider Hook Up program, a move that strengthens its position as the No. 1 local newspaper provider of a daily couponing program. Together, the Daily Deal and Insider Hook Up allow Union-Tribune advertisers access to a wide demographic of residents and comprehensive cross marketing programs.

The San Diego Union-Tribune, LLC, owned by an affiliate of Platinum Equity, is San Diego County's leading local media company, with products reaching 94 percent of all San Diego County households in a given week. The San Diego Union-Tribune and its website, SignOnSanDiego.com, are the leading local sources for news, entertainment, information and classifieds in San Diego County. Together, they reach nearly 1.2 million San Diegans each week. SignOnSanDiego.com generates nearly 27 million page views and has more than 3.35 million unique users in a typical month.