Cox Enterprises will consolidate its separate television, radio and newspaper media units into a new organization named Cox Media Group as of January 2009 in an effort to create new efficiencies and become more cost-effective, the company said Dec. 3.
The businesses comprising Cox Media Group will include 17 daily and 26 non-daily newspapers, 15 TV stations, 86 radio stations, more than a hundred digital services associated with these businesses and direct marketer Valpak. The company’s planned sale of Valpak and newspapers in Texas, North Carolina and Colorado will continue during the reorganization.
According to the company, each of Cox’s three media units will benefit from more comprehensive and efficient corporate resources and will retain separate operations. All of Cox’s media properties are managed and run locally with employees who live in the communities they serve.
Another expected benefit of the move will be enhanced online and mobile audience experiences resulting from the pooling of Cox Media Group’s digital resources, said Sandy Schwartz, who will serve as group president.
The announcement comes one day after Cox Newspapers announced it would close its Washington, D.C.-based national and international bureau in April 2009. The Cox Washington broadcast news bureau will remain open, the company said.
