ACM sells newspapers to Provincial Press Group

By AdNews | 31 March 2023
 

ACM has agreed to sell seven NSW newspapers to independent family publisher Provincial Press Group.

The paid weeklys Parkes Champion-Post, Forbes Advocate, Canowindra News, The Grenfell Record, Cowra Guardian, Boorowa News and Young Witness will join Provincial Press' North East Media’s division current 16 newspaper and magazine titles including the Wangaratta Chronicle. 

Commercial details fo the sale haven't been revealed. 

Provincial Press will be joined in publishing the soon to be former ACM titles in a new trading entity, Regional Media Corp, by Narromine Star owners Lucie Peart and Tim Pankhurst.

Regional Media Corp CEO Edward Higgins said his company was pleased to be the future custodian of the regions’ long-standing newspapers that had served their respective communities for many years.

"We are impressed with the regions’ progressive municipalities and look forward to engaging with all communities covered to deliver an effective local print and digital media service," he said.

"Our aim is to provide strong local news content that reflects each of the communities’ aspirations, and promotes growth and jobs."

ACM managing director Tony Kendall said the company had engaged with Provincial Press after enquiries regarding NSW publications outside the company’s key markets.

“Whilst we were not actively looking to sell these titles we felt the proposed transaction was in the best interest of these publications," Kendall  said.

"Our staff do an amazing job in these regions and I am confident they will continue to serve their communities well under new ownership.”

Staff working on the tiles, which do not include ACM’s regional dailies, have been briefed on the proposed sale with consultations under way ahead of the anticipated completion of the transaction in early May.

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