Investments in Associated Companies

6 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2015

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		26 Weeks Ended
(Thousands of Dollars)	March 29 2015	March 30 2014	March 29 2015	March 30 2014
Operating revenue	14,373	15,065	29,973	31,137
Operating expenses, excluding workforce adjustments, depreciation and amortization	11,745	12,297	23,847	24,667
Workforce adjustments	—	—	—	(87	)
Operating income	2,628	2,768	6,126	6,557
Company's 50% share of operating income	1,314	1,384	3,063	3,279
Less amortization of intangible assets	105	104	209	209
Equity in earnings of TNI	1,209	1,280	2,854	3,070

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. These amounts totaled $(130,000)and $(41,000)in the 13 weeks endedMarch 29, 2015andMarch 30, 2014, respectively, and totaled $(198,000)and$(34,000)in the 26 weeks endedMarch 29, 2015andMarch 30, 2014, respectively.

Annual amortization of intangible assets is estimated to be $418,000 in each of the 52 week periods ending March 2016, March 2017, March 2018, the 53 week period ending March 2019 and in the 52 week period ending March 2020.

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		26 Weeks Ended
(Thousands of Dollars)	March 29 2015	March 30 2014	March 29 2015	March 30 2014
Operating revenue	16,022	16,119	34,678	33,432
Operating expenses, excluding workforce adjustments, depreciation and amortization	14,178	14,597	28,810	27,856
Workforce adjustments	47	229	57	229
Depreciation and amortization	463	398	927	794
Operating income	1,334	895	4,884	4,553
Net income	888	625	3,112	2,885
Equity in earnings of MNI	444	313	1,556	1,442