Argyros, Higby Could Bid for OC Register

Orange County Business Journal, Sep 15-Sep 21, 2008 by Reiff, Rick

Under the plan, according to sources, the ownership and editorial operations of the Times and Register would remain separate. Printing, distribution and mailing would be combined. Whether advertising would be combined is in question, according to sources.

The potential move would be a dramatic change from the 1990s, when the two papers waged war for readers in OC. The battle faded with Chicago-based Tribune Co.'s 2000 buy of the Los Angeles Times and a shift to a more regional focus.

Joint operations are one of several moves the Register is looking at to deal with a newspaper slump that seems to be getting worse.

Register publisher Home recently told trade publication Editor & Publisher that his paper is studying a switch to a tabloid size.

The potential move would cut the size of the paper by about half, taking it from a vertical, broadsheet that folds in the middle to a more compact size like those of the Register's weekly community newspapers.

In May, Home said in a speech that he wouldn't be surprised if every paper in the country became a tabloid in five years, although the Register had no plans to switch at the time.

With the switch under consideration, Home says he prefers a tabloid as it is easier on readers.