Report: U-T San Diego nearing deal to buy Orange County Register

North County Times
Eric Wolff reports that John Lynch, publisher of U-T San Diego, said in a speech Wednesday that his company is in “final talks” to buy the Orange County Register from Freedom Communications. KPBS’ Joanne Faryon reports that Doug Manchester, who bought The San Diego Union-Tribune in December and renamed the paper, told her there’s “no deal yet” for the Register, but an announcement could come next week. However, Wolff reported that when he asked Lynch to confirm his comments, “he responded with a terse email: ‘Not true.’ ” Manchester expressed interest in the Register and the North County Times in March, as well as the Los Angeles Times and The Press-Enterprise in Riverside. “I’m interested in all possibilities of extending or acquiring additional media.” || Related: New owners in Philadelphia, San Diego mark the return of the media barons (The New York Times) || Earlier: New Union Tribune owners stumbling out of the gate (Poynter)