Metro buys City Paper

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Metro US, the owner of Metro Philadelphia, has acquired the Philadelphia City Paper.

The purchase was announced Wednesday.

The Metro is billed as Philly's #1 daily newspaper. Its owners say Metro US "is the world's largest newspaper - attracting a young, active audience of over 20 million daily in more than 100 cities worldwide."

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia City Paper describes itself as "a prize-winning alternative weekly newspaper that publishes fresh perspectives on local news, arts, music, movies and food. " It publishes every Thursday.

According to Metro, the two publications jointly reach over 840,000 Philadelphians every week.

"I am very happy to welcome City Paper, the 32-year old award-winning alternative institution of Philadelphia, to the Metro family," Yggers Mortensen, Metro US Publisher and CEO, said in a press release.

Mortensen also thanked the Rock family, owners of the City Paper, for the deal.

"We are pleased to have City Paper join Metro's successful group of publications and look forward to watching the paper flourish under its new ownership," Robert Rock said in the same release.

Jennifer Clark immediately becomes Associate Publisher of both City Paper and Metro Philadelphia.

"The addition of City Paper to our media portfolio will strengthen our offerings and market position in Philadelphia," Clark said. "We are glad to bring the best of Philadelphia together for the benefits of readers and advertisers alike."