
The Times Mirror Company Story is a fascinating tale of growth and transformation. Founded in 1884 by Nathan Cole Jr., the company started as a small newspaper publisher in Los Angeles.
The company's early success was largely due to its focus on serving the local community. Times Mirror's flagship newspaper, the Los Angeles Times, quickly gained popularity and became a trusted source of news and information for Angelenos.
Under the leadership of Harrison Gray Otis, the company expanded its operations and began to diversify its portfolio. Otis, who served as the publisher of the Los Angeles Times from 1882 to 1917, played a significant role in shaping the company's vision and direction.
As the company grew, so did its influence in the community. Times Mirror became a major player in the Los Angeles media landscape, and its newspapers and magazines reached a wide and diverse audience.
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Company History
The Times Mirror Company has a rich history that spans over a century. It was founded in 1873 as the Mirror Printing and Binding House, a commercial printing company.
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The company's roots in the printing industry date back to 1873. It wasn't until 1881 that the Los Angeles Daily Times was first published, and the company began printing it.
In 1884, the Mirror Printing and Binding House and the Los Angeles Daily Times were combined to form the Times Mirror Company. This marked a significant milestone in the company's history.
Times Mirror acquired the New American Library in 1960, expanding its operations into the book publishing industry. The library was later sold to Odyssey Partners in 1983.
By 1962, Times Mirror had acquired the World Publishing Company, which was producing an impressive 12 million books a year. This made it one of only three American publishers to reach this volume.
In 1967, Times Mirror entered the magazine publishing industry by acquiring several popular titles, including Popular Science and Outdoor Life. This move marked a significant shift in the company's focus.
Times Mirror's portfolio expanded significantly in the 1980s, with the acquisition of several notable publications, including The Baltimore Sun in 1986. The company also acquired Richard D. Irwin Inc. in 1988 to enter the textbook field.
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The company's acquisition spree continued in the 1990s, with the purchase of Wm. C. Brown Co. in 1992. However, Times Mirror sold its textbook operations to McGraw-Hill in 1996.
Times Mirror's history came to an end in 2000, when the company was acquired by the Tribune Company. The Tribune Company subsequently sold several of Times Mirror's assets, including Jeppesen and the company's magazine portfolio.
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Broadcasting and Mergers
Times Mirror Company had a significant presence in the broadcasting industry. The company was a founding owner of television station KTTV in Los Angeles, which opened in January 1949.
The company's broadcasting arm, Times-Mirror Broadcasting Company, was reactivated in 1970 after a seven-year hiatus. This was made possible by the Federal Communications Commission granting an exemption to its cross-ownership policy.
Times-Mirror Broadcasting later acquired several television stations, including KTBC-TV in Austin, Texas in 1973, and a group of stations owned by Newhouse Newspapers in 1980. The company also entered the cable television market with Dimension Cable Television.
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Here is a list of some of the television stations acquired by Times-Mirror Broadcasting:
- KTBC-TV in Austin, Texas (1973)
- WAPI-TV (now WVTM-TV) in Birmingham, Alabama (1980)
- KTVI in St. Louis (1980)
- WSYR-TV (now WSTM-TV) in Syracuse, New York (1980)
- WSYE-TV (now WETM-TV) in Elmira, New York (1980)
- WTPA-TV (now WHTM-TV) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (1980)
The company eventually sold off some of its stations, including the Syracuse, Elmira, and Harrisburg properties, to Smith Broadcasting in 1986.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting was a significant part of Times-Mirror Company's business, with a history dating back to 1949 when they founded television station KTTV in Los Angeles. The station became the company's sole owner in 1951 after re-acquiring minority shares sold to CBS in 1948.
Times-Mirror's broadcasting efforts expanded in the 1970s, with the purchase of the Dallas Times Herald and its radio and television stations, KRLD-AM-FM-TV, in 1970. This move allowed them to retain the newspaper and the television outlet, which was renamed KDFW-TV.
The company continued to grow its broadcasting portfolio, acquiring KTBC-TV in Austin, Texas in 1973. This was followed by the purchase of several stations from Newhouse Newspapers in 1980, including WAPI-TV (now WVTM-TV) in Birmingham, Alabama, and WSYR-TV (now WSTM-TV) in Syracuse, New York.
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Here's a list of the stations acquired by Times-Mirror in 1980:
- WAPI-TV (now WVTM-TV) in Birmingham, Alabama
- KTVI in St. Louis
- WSYR-TV (now WSTM-TV) in Syracuse, New York
- WSYE-TV (now WETM-TV) in Elmira, New York
- WTPA-TV (now WHTM-TV) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Times-Mirror also ventured into cable television, launching Times-Mirror Cable, which was later renamed Dimension Cable Television. They serviced areas including Phoenix and San Diego, but eventually sold the cable systems to Cox Communications in the mid-1990s.
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Cox Cable Announces Merger
Cox Communications, a major cable provider in the US, announced a merger with a smaller cable company in 2019.
The merger was a significant move for Cox, which has been expanding its services to compete with larger telecommunications companies.
Cox Communications has over 6 million customers across the US.
The acquisition of the smaller cable company added thousands of new customers to Cox's customer base.
This merger is part of a larger trend of consolidation in the broadcasting industry.
In recent years, several major broadcasting companies have merged or been acquired by larger companies.
The broadcasting industry is highly competitive, with many companies vying for market share.
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Cox Communications has a long history of innovation in the broadcasting industry, dating back to its founding in the 1960s.
The company has been at the forefront of many technological advancements in the industry.
Cox Communications has a strong presence in several major US cities, including Atlanta, Phoenix, and Omaha.
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Former Stations and Lawsuits
Times Mirror Company had a significant presence in various media markets across the United States. They owned and operated several television stations, including WVTM-TV in Birmingham, Alabama, which they purchased in 1980 and later sold in 1993.
The company's expansion into new markets was a key factor in their growth, with notable acquisitions including KTTV in Los Angeles, California, purchased in 1949 and sold in 1963. They also acquired KTBC-TV in Austin, Texas, in 1973, which was later sold in 1993.
Here are some of the notable stations owned by Times Mirror Company, listed in a table for easy reference:
Former Stations

In the early days of broadcasting, Times Mirror Company was a major player in the industry, owning several stations across the country.
Here are some of the stations they owned, but eventually sold: WVTM-TV in Birmingham, Alabama, was one of them, purchased in 1980 and sold in 1993.
KTTV in Los Angeles, California, was another notable station, acquired by Times Mirror in 1949 and sold in 1963. This station was a significant part of the company's portfolio.
WMAR-TV in Baltimore, Maryland, was purchased by Times Mirror in 1986, but surprisingly, it was sold the same year.
Times Mirror also owned KTVI in St. Louis, Missouri, which was acquired in 1980 and sold in 1993. This station was part of a larger portfolio of stations the company sold during this time period.
WETM-TV in Elmira, New York, was purchased by Times Mirror in 1980 and sold in 1986, as was WSTM-TV in Syracuse, acquired in 1980.
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Harrisburg's WHTM-TV was another station owned by Times Mirror, purchased in 1980 and sold in 1986. This station was part of a larger group of stations the company sold during this time period.
KTBC-TV in Austin, Texas, was acquired by Times Mirror in 1973 and sold in 1993. This station was one of the many that the company sold during this time period.
KDFW-TV in the Dallas-Fort Worth market was purchased by Times Mirror in 1970 and sold in 1993. The company also acquired KRLD-AM-FM as part of its purchase of the Dallas Times Herald, but sold the radio stations to comply with FCC cross-ownership restrictions.
Here's a list of the stations owned by Times Mirror Company that were eventually sold:
United States v. 274 F. Supp. 606
United States v. 274 F. Supp. 606 was a significant case that involved a former station. The case was decided in favor of the station, but the details of the decision are not specified in the available information.

The case was related to a lawsuit filed against the station, but the specific allegations and outcome are not provided. It's worth noting that this case is just one example of a lawsuit involving a former station.
The station in question was likely a radio or television station, given the context of the lawsuit. However, the exact nature of the station is not specified in the available information.
Company Perspectives
Times Mirror Company is committed to sustaining editorial excellence, which has been a cornerstone of their success. They recognize that their reputation for editorial excellence is one of their greatest strengths.
To build on this reputation, Times Mirror will continue to focus on doing what they do best. This means delivering high-quality content that meets the needs of their readers.
Innovation is a key driver of growth for Times Mirror. They believe that innovation will help them create new products and businesses that will propel them forward.
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