Investments in Associated Companies

3 Months Ended

Dec. 29, 2013

Investments In Associated Companies [Abstract]

Equity Method Investments Disclosure [Text Block]

INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES

TNI Partners

In Tucson, Arizona, TNI, acting as agent for our subsidiary, Star Publishing Company (“Star Publishing”), and Citizen Publishing Company (“Citizen”), a subsidiary of Gannett Co. Inc., is responsible for printing, delivery, advertising, and subscription activities of the Arizona Daily Star as well as the related digital platforms and specialty publications. TNI collects all receipts and income and pays substantially all operating expenses incident to the partnership's operations and publication of the newspapers and other media.

Income or loss of TNI (before income taxes) is allocated equally to Star Publishing and Citizen.

Summarized results of TNI are as follows:

	13 Weeks Ended		14 Weeks Ended
(Thousands of Dollars)	December 29 2013		December 30 2012
Operating revenue	16,072		17,544
Operating expenses, excluding workforce adjustments, depreciation and amortization	12,371		13,637
Workforce adjustments	(87	)	—
Operating income	3,788		3,907
Company's 50% share of operating income	1,894		1,954
Less amortization of intangible assets	105		181
Equity in earnings of TNI	1,789		1,773

Star Publishing's 50% share of TNI depreciation and certain general and administrative expenses (income) associated with its share of the operation and administration of TNI are reported as operating expenses (benefit) in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). These amounts totaled $8,000and $(168,000)in the 13 weeks endedDecember 29, 2013and in the 14 weeks endedDecember 30, 2012, respectively.

Annual amortization of intangible assets is estimated to be $418,000 in each of the 52 week periods ending December 2014, December 2015, December 2016, December 2017 and in the 53 week period ending December 2018.

Madison Newspapers, Inc.

We have a 50% ownership interest in MNI, which publishes daily and Sunday newspapers, and other publications in Madison, Wisconsin, and other Wisconsin locations, and operates their related digital platforms. Net income or loss of MNI (after income taxes) is allocated equally to us and The Capital Times Company (“TCT”). MNI conducts its business under the trade name Capital Newspapers.

Summarized results of MNI are as follows:

	13 Weeks Ended
(Thousands of Dollars)	December 29 2013	December 30 2012
Operating revenue	17,312	18,558
Operating expenses, excluding workforce adjustments, depreciation and amortization	13,259	14,049
Depreciation and amortization	398	383
Operating income	3,655	4,126
Net income	2,259	2,543
Equity in earnings of MNI	1,130	1,272