Huffington Post is reporting that Black Press, owners of the Abbotsford News and Chilliwack Progess, will soon own the Abbotsford and Chilliwack Times. That will leave the two communities with only one out-of-town newspaper owner.
Black Press has not yet indicated whether or not it will shut the two papers.
[excerpt] Black Press Ltd. announced on Twitter it will buy the Abbotsford-Mission Times and the Chilliwack Times from the Glacier Newspaper Group.Black will also sell to Glacier the North Shore Outlook, the Westender, Bowen Island Undercurrent and the South Delta Leader in a deal that’s expected to close before Dec. 31.
Each chain already operates a competing newspaper in the communities effected, except for Bowen Island where the Undercurrent is the only publication.
Black Press president and CEO Rick O’Connor wouldn’t reveal how much the deal is worth or if the company would be closing down the competing publications in five of the six communities.
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The Georgia Straight recently reported that Black Press is selling it’s corporate headquarters in Victoria amidst reports of revenue and profit declines.
Glacier Media’s second quarter report indicated continued weakness in its suburban newspaper revenues.