Charles Koch: Tribune Newspaper Bid Is 'Not On The Front Burner, But It's Possible'

Charles Koch: Tribune Newspaper Bid Is 'Possible'
In this February 26, 2007 file photograph, Charles Koch, head of Koch Industries, talks passionately about his new book on Market Based Management. (Bo Rader/Wichita Eagle/MCT via Getty Images)
In this February 26, 2007 file photograph, Charles Koch, head of Koch Industries, talks passionately about his new book on Market Based Management. (Bo Rader/Wichita Eagle/MCT via Getty Images)

In his first public statement about the Tribune Company newspapers, Charles Koch said in an interview published Tuesday that "it's possible" that his company will make a bid.

Rumors have been swirling for months now that the conservative billionaire and his brother David are eyeing the titles, which include the Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel. Neither of them acknowledged the reports, until Charles Koch recently sat down with the Wichita Eagle.

“It’s possible,” he told the newspaper about plans to make a bid. “It’s not on the front burner, but it’s possible.”

Koch first confirmed in June that he and David were looking into buying newspapers, though he did not mention Tribune specifically. At the time, he also insisted that any potential acquisitions would have to be economically viable in order for them to move forward.

In his latest interview, he seemed to pull back on the prospect of buying just newspapers and talked about media in general. "We’re back at square one analyzing where is the most change, where are the best opportunities for new entrants to come in and add value?" Koch said. "And so newspapers are one, but there are all sorts of others. There’s the Internet, there’s TV. There’s entertainment. And so we don’t know where we’ll end up on that.”

The comments may not reassure Tribune staffers or readers, many of whom have raised concerns that the Koch brothers will use the newspapers to advance a conservative agenda. Reports about the Koch brothers' interest in Tribune have spurred protests and ads against a potential deal.

The company announced Wednesday that it wants to spin the publications off into a separate company.

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