Tampa Bay Times buys Tampa Tribune

Today, Tampa Tribune subscribers received the Tampa Bay Times at their homes. The Tampa Bay Times announced Tuesday it has bought the rival Tampa Tribune, a move that will leave the metro area with one major daily newspaper and lead to dozens of layoffs.

“The continued competition between the newspapers was threatening to both,” Times Chairman and CEO Paul Tash said, according to the story. “There are very few cities that are able to sustain more than one daily newspaper, and the Tampa Bay region is not among them.”

The story said Tash did not disclose the price paid to Tribune owner Revolution Capital Group. It said the Tribune has about 265 full-time staff members and that at least 100 are likely to be laid off. The deal is part of widespread consolidations of newspapers across the country as the industry struggles financially.

source: The News Service of Florida