Smart Market

Results are in:

Tribune Co., one of the nation's top newspaper publishers, said Wednesday its fourth-quarter profit fell 38 percent, hurt by a spate of charges related to work-force cuts and the shutdown of a production plant.

In listening to the conference call, the Trib kept talking about increasing TV ratings on their stations

I guess that's why they want more night games for the Cubs to not broadcast over CW programming.

The other area focused on was acquisitons. After spending lots of money on a big share repurchase program, anyone have any ideas where the Trib might come up with some cash to finance new acquisitions?

No mention of the Cubs, specifically. Also, nothing to suggest that the Cubs are key to future corporate growth. In fact, lots to suggest they aren't.

Still sounds like things are set for a sale. Sometime soon.