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Investments in Associated Companies Level 1 (Notes) | 12 Months Ended
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Sep. 25, 2011
Investments In Associated Companies [Abstract] |
Equity Method Investments Disclosure [Text Block] |
2 | 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 circulation of the Arizona Daily Star and, until May 2009, the Tucson Citizen, as well as their 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 financial information of TNI is as follows:
(Thousands of Dollars) | September 25 2011 |  |  | September 26 2010 |
ASSETS |  |  |
Current assets | 7,857 |  |  | 7,812 |
Investments and other assets | 32 |  |  | 32 |
Total assets | 7,889 |  |  | 7,844 |
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' EQUITY |  |  |
Current liabilities | 6,136 |  |  | 5,109 |
Members' equity | 1,753 |  |  | 2,735 |
Total liabilities and members' equity | 7,889 |  |  | 7,844 |
Summarized results of TNI are as follows:
(Thousands of Dollars) | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009 |
Operating revenue | 62,452 |  |  | 64,379 |  |  | 74,407 |
Operating expenses, excluding workforce adjustments, depreciation and amortization | 52,882 |  |  | 52,923 |  |  | 65,339 |
Workforce adjustments | 1,190 |  |  | 784 |  |  | 1,196 |
Operating income | 8,380 |  |  | 10,672 |  |  | 7,872 |
Company's 50% share | 4,190 |  |  | 5,336 |  |  | 3,936 |
Less amortization of intangible assets | 1,092 |  |  | 1,156 |  |  | 1,425 |
Equity in earnings of TNI | 3,098 |  |  | 4,180 |  |  | 2,511 |
Star Publishing's 50% share of TNI depreciation and certain general and administrative expenses associated with its share of the operation and administration of TNI are reported as operating expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). These amounts totaled $76,000, $291,000, and $1,184,000, in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Fees for editorial services provided to TNI by Star Publishing totaled $7,043,000, $7,510,000, and $8,594,000 in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Our impairment analysis resulted in pretax reductions in the carrying value of TNI totaling $11,900,000 and $19,951,000 in 2011 and 2009, respectively. See Note 3. At September 25, 2011, the carrying value of the Company's 50% investment in TNI is $20,606,000. The difference between our carrying value and our 50% share of the members' equity of TNI relates principally to goodwill of $12,366,000 and other identified intangible assets of $7,152,000, certain of which are being amortized over their estimated useful lives through 2020. See Note 3. Annual amortization of intangible assets is estimated to be $723,000 in 2012, $620,000 in 2013 and $418,000, in 2014, 2015 and 2016. 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 sites. 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 financial information of MNI is as follows:
(Thousands of Dollars) | September 25 2011 |  |  | September 26 2010 |
ASSETS |  |  |
Current assets | 22,287 |  |  | 20,284 |
Investments and other assets | 30,484 |  |  | 30,982 |
Property and equipment, net | 8,519 |  |  | 10,013 |
Total assets | 61,290 |  |  | 61,279 |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |  |  |
Current liabilities | 8,428 |  |  | 8,583 |
Other liabilities | 5,960 |  |  | 5,100 |
Stockholders' equity | 46,902 |  |  | 47,596 |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | 61,290 |  |  | 61,279 |
Summarized results of MNI are as follows:
(Thousands of Dollars) | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009 |
Operating revenue | 73,011 |  |  | 75,137 |  |  | 79,291 |
Operating expenses, excluding workforce adjustments, depreciation and amortization | 60,982 |  |  | 61,467 |  |  | 67,764 |
Workforce adjustments | 530 |  |  | 296 |  |  | 532 |
Depreciation and amortization | 2,227 |  |  | 2,372 |  |  | 3,240 |
Operating income | 9,272 |  |  | 11,002 |  |  | 7,755 |
Net income | 6,106 |  |  | 7,132 |  |  | 5,218 |
Equity in earnings of MNI | 3,053 |  |  | 3,566 |  |  | 2,609 |
Fees for editorial, marketing and information technology services provided to MNI by us are included in other revenue in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) and totaled $8,649,000, $8,764,000 and $10,151,000, in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for equity investment, or group of investments, for which combined disclosure is appropriate, including: (a) the name of each investee and percentage of ownership of common stock, (b) accounting policies for investments in common stock, (c) difference between the amount at which the investment is carried and the amount of underlying equity in net assets and the accounting treatment of the difference, (d) the total fair value of each identified investment for which a market value is available, (e) summarized information as to assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the investees (for investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, common stock of joint ventures, or other investments using the equity method), and (f) material effects of possible conversions, exercises, or contingent issuances of the investee. Other disclosures include (a) the names of any investee in which the investor owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock and investment is not accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why not, and (b) the names of any investee in which the investor owns less than 20 percent of the voting stock and the investment is accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why it is. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 32 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903645&loc=d3e32787-111569 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 35 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903645&loc=d3e32847-111569 + Details
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