In N.Y., Amy Chozick reported Time Warner yesterday "announced it would spin off its Time Inc. magazine unit into a separate, publicly traded company, a move that will allow the media conglomerate to focus entirely on its cable television and film businesses.” The announcement came hours after Time Warner and Meredith Corp. “ended negotiations on a proposal that would have joined in a separate company many Time Inc. titles with magazines published by Meredith.” The deal “fell apart in part because of Time Warner’s concern over the fate of four of Time Inc.’s famous but struggling magazines -- Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and Money” (NYTIMES.com, 3/6). In N.Y., Keith Kelly writes the hiring of Time Inc. CEO Laura Lang “proved disastrous.” Sources said that Time Warner Chair & CEO Jeff Bewkes “grew impatient with publishing because he had lost confidence in her ability to turn it around" (N.Y. POST, 3/7).
POWER TO THE PEOPLE: San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith wrote in a memo yesterday that city officials “can’t force Time Warner to broadcast Padres games or require it give cable companies that carry the games access to infrastructure.” But Goldsmith wrote an organized effort by Time Warner Cable customers “could do wonders.” In San Diego, Matthew Hall notes Goldsmith’s involvement "comes a few days after” San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and City Council member Sherri Lightner sent letters to TWC execs in N.Y. “urging them to end the impasse before it stretches into a second year” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/7).
MEDIA HIRES: In Houston, David Barron reported CBS Radio’s new program director for KILT-AM and KIKK-AM is Ryan McCredden, who previously “worked for four years with CBS Radio in Dallas.” He also was exec producer for the Texas Rangers Radio Network (CHRON.com, 3/6)....In Cincinnati, C. Trent Rosecrans noted he has “joined the team” at the Cincinnati Enquirer, where he will serve as a Reds beat writer alongside John Fay (CINCINNATI.com, 3/6)....The N.Y. Times promoted Metro Reporter Sam Dolnick to Deputy Sports Editor (THE DAILY).
