Aug 25, 2010

News Corp-ification of the L.A. Times?

I was tempted to say the "Disney-fication" of the Times because Tribune Co. creditors want former Disney CEO Michael Eisner to lead the company when it emerges from bankruptcy. But it would be Jeff Shell, former News Corp. executive and now Comcast big wig, who would have the more hands on role of chief executive, taking over from Randy Michaels.

All of this is informed speculation, given the uncertainties of the bankruptcy proceedings. But Eisner confirmed he's buying up Tribune debt. From the LA Times:
Eisner was unavailable for comment, according to his spokeswoman. But he told Variety in a wide-ranging interview Monday that he has been accumulating Tribune debt. “You are talking to somebody who is buying debt in the Tribune Co. The salvation of the newspaper is some kind of pay arrangement [online], which will evolve into something significant,” Eisner said in the interview.

Shell, 44, a Los Angeles native who runs Comcast’s cable channels group from the company’s headquarters in Philadelphia, declined to comment. Earlier in his career, Shell worked for Disney on the strategic planning staff when Eisner ran the company.
Tribune owns six newspapers, including the LA Times and Chicago Tribune, and 23 television stations.

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