Media Group Seeks 'Freedom' from Newspaper & TV Ownership

Image via WikipediaLos Angeles Times media writer James Rainey reports today that Irvine, Calif.-based Freedom Communications, which counts 33 dailies, 70 weeklies and eight tv stations among its holdings, is putting its properties up for auction.

The Orange County Register, Freedom's Flagship daily, reportedly is drawing interest from the Tribune Co., owner of The Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune, and Denver-based MediaNews, which includes the Torrance Daily Breeze, San Bernardino Sun and the Long-Beach Press Telegram among its nine California properties, according to Rainey.

Bids are expected sometime next month.  Freedom Communications emerged from a 2009 Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April of last year (see "TUOL" post 11/19/10).