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This article is about the Minneapolis-based media company. For the Spokane-based media company, see Cowles Company.
Cowles Media Company
Company typeHolding company
IndustryMass media
Founded1935; 90 years ago (1935)
FounderJohn Cowles Sr. and Gardner "Mike" Cowles Jr.
Defunct1998; 27 years ago (1998)
Headquarters
Minneapolis, Minnesota
,
U.S.
Area served
United States
Key people
Gardner Cowles Sr., Gardner "Mike" Cowles Jr., John Cowles Jr., Kingsley H. Murphy Jr.
ProductsNewspaper, magazines, television stations
Brands
  • Look, Inc. (1937–1945)
  • Cowles Magazines (1946–1965)
  • Cowles Communications, Inc. (1965–1971)
DivisionsCowles Business Media
Cowles Creative Publishing
Cowles Enthusiast Media

Cowles Media Company (/koʊlz/ KOHLZ) (1935–1998) was a newspaper, magazine and information publishing company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the United States. The company operated Cowles Business Media, Cowles Creative Publishing, and Cowles Enthusiast Media units.

It's flagship publication was the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Other papers owned by the company at one time were the Des Moines Register, the Buffalo Courier-Express, the Scottsdale Progress and the Rapid City Journal. The company also owned the Register and Tribune Syndicate.

The company previously traded as Cowles Magazines (1946–1965), and Cowles Communications, Inc. (1965–1971).[1] From 1969 to 1971 Cowles Communications sold Family Circle and other publications, retaining five broadcasting stations, a travel magazine, and a marketing service.[2] Look magazine (1937–1971) was published by an unrelated company[2] known as Look, Inc. (1937–1945).

In 1998, Cowles Media was acquired by The McClatchy Company. It was absorbed into the larger company at that time and ceased.

History

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Origins

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In 1903, banker Gardner Cowles Sr. acquired a 50% stake in the Des Moines Register and Leader, a newspaper in Iowa. This made him the largest shareholder.[3] The paper was later renamed to The Des Moines Register.[4] In 1908, he acquired the Des Moines Tribune.[5] In 1922, Cowles established the Register and Tribune Syndicate with Henry P. Martin as its general manager.[6] In 1931, the company entered the radio market when it acquired the KSO radio station in Clarinda and moved it to Des Moines, Iowa.[7] In March 1935, KSO became KRNT, with the new call letters, "R 'n T" short for "Register and Tribune."[8]

Growth

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In June 1935, the Cowles family purchased the Minneapolis Star.[9] At that point, the Cowles Media Company formed with Gardner Cowles Sr. handing control of his newspapers to his sons John Cowles Sr. and Gardner "Mike" Cowles Jr.[4] In 1939, the company purchased the Minneapolis Evening Journal and merged it with the Star to form the Star-Journal.[10] In 1941 the company bought the Minneapolis Morning Tribune.[11] This gave Cowles ownership of the major newspapers on the western side of the Twin Cities.[11] The Tribune became Minneapolis' morning newspaper, the Star-Journal (shortened to the Star in 1947) was the evening newspaper, and they published a joint Sunday edition.[12][13] A separate evening newspaper called the Times was spun off and published until 1948.[14] In 1949, Colwes sold WOL (AM) to The Capital Broadcasting Co.[15]

In 1955, Cowles entered the television market as the 60% majority owner of KRNT-TV in Des Moines, Iowa.[16] This marked the start of the company's expansion into television. Later that year Cowles acquired KTVH for $1.07 million.[17] In 1964, Cowles Media acquired the Rapid City Journal.[18] In April 1965, the company bought a 50% stake in Harper's Magazine,[19] followed by the Great Falls Tribune.[20] The company sold WREG-TV to The New York Times Company in 1971,[21] KRNT to Stauffer Publications in 1973,[22] and WREC in 1974.[23] Cowles purchased the South Idaho Press in 1977,[24] and the Buffalo Courier-Express in 1979.[25]

Decline

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In 1980, Harper's Magazine was sold to the MacArthur Foundation after Cowles had announced plans to close the publication.[26] In April 1982, the afternoon Star was discontinued and the two papers merged into a single morning paper called the Minneapolis Star and Tribune.[27] In June 1982, the Des Moines Tribune was absorbed into the Des Moines Register.[28] In July 1982, KTVH was sold for $12 million.[29]

In September 1982, the Buffalo Courier-Express ceased publication after loosing $8.6 million annually.[30] This came after the paper's union rejected a sale to News American Publishing, owned by Rupert Murdoch, as the deal called for a 40% cut in staff and other contract givebacks.[31]

Cowles sold WDRB for $10 million in 1984,[32] the Des Moines Register to Gannett Co. in 1985,[33] and the Register and Tribune Syndicate to Hearst for $4.3 million in 1986.[34] The company acquired the Scottsdale Progress in May 1987,[35] and then sold the South Idaho Press to Park Communications in July 1987,[36] the Rapid City Journal to Lee Enterprises for $45 million in February 1990,[37] Great Falls Tribune to Gannett Co. in May 1990,[38] and the Scottsdale Progress to Cox Newspapers in 1993.[39]

The Cowles Media Company was purchased by The McClatchy Company for $1.4 billion in 1997.[40] McClatchy kept the Star Tribune newspaper, which by then was the primary asset in the sale, and sold the other business units to PRIMEDIA and to a management team.[41]

Newspapers owned by the Cowles Media Company

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Name City Years owned Fate
Des Moines Register Des Moines, Iowa 1903–1985 Sold to the Gannett Company
Des Moines Tribune Des Moines, Iowa 1908–1982 Absorbed into the Des Moines Register
Star-Tribune Minneapolis, Minnesota 1935–1998 Sold to The McClatchy Company
Buffalo Courier-Express Buffalo, New York 1979–1982 Ceased publication after sale to Rupert Murdoch was rejected by union
Scottsdale Progress Scottsdale, Arizona 1987–1993 Sold to Cox Newspapers
Rapid City Journal Rapid City, South Dakota 1964–1990 Sold to Lee Enterprises
Great Falls Tribune Great Falls, Montana 1965–1990 Sold to Gannett Company
South Idaho Press Burley, Idaho 1977–1987 Sold to Park Communications

List of specialty magazines

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Healthy lifestyles

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Collectibles

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History magazines

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Eight of the history magazines subsequently published by Weider History Group starting around 2006.

Hunting

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Recreation

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Former television stations

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City of License / Market Station Channel Years owned Current status
Daytona Beach–Orlando, FL WESH-TV 2 1965–1985 NBC affiliate owned by Hearst Television
Honolulu, HI KHON-TV 1 2 1979–1985 Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Moline–Rock Island, IL–Davenport, IA WQAD-TV 8 1978–1985 ABC affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.
Louisville, KY WDRB 41 1977–1983 Fox affiliate owned by Block Communications
Des Moines, IA KRNT-TV/KCCI 8 1955–1985 2 CBS affiliate owned by Hearst Television
Sioux City, IA KVTV[44] 9 1953–1957 ABC affiliate KCAU-TV, owned by Nexstar Media Group
Wichita–Hutchinson, KS KTVH 12 1955–1983 CBS affiliate KWCH-DT, owned by Gray Media
Memphis, TN WREC-TV 3 1962–1971 CBS affiliate WREG-TV, owned by Nexstar Media Group
Huntington–Charleston, WV WHTN-TV 13 1956–1960 CBS affiliate WOWK-TV, owned by Nexstar Media Group

Notes:

  • 1 Cowles also owned KHON-TV's satellite in Wailuku, KAII-TV. Another KHON-TV satellite, KHAW-TV in Hilo, was owned by a third party but leased to Cowles. The Hawaii stations were NBC affiliates under Cowles.
  • 2 Cowles owned a majority share of this station when it first signed on and became its sole owner shortly thereafter.
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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Look Magazine Photograph Collection, Background and Scope". Library of Congress. 9 May 2005. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
  2. ^ a b "Cowles Closing Look Magazine After 34 Years". The New York Times. 1971-09-17. p. 1. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  3. ^ "Mr. Cowles Becomes The Chief Owner | Algona Man Buys Half Interest in Des Moines Register and Leader". The Niobrara Tribune. Niobrara, Nebraska. November 12, 1903. p. 1.
  4. ^ a b "Gardner Cowles Sr." The Annals of Iowa #28 (1946), 75-76.
  5. ^ "Des Moines Tribune Sold". The Pittsburg Daily Headlight. Pittsburg, Kansas. November 17, 1908. p. 4.
  6. ^ "Henry Martin Retires From Paper Syndicate". The Atlanta Journal. Atlanta, Georgia. Associated Press. November 24, 1959. p. 27.
  7. ^ "Register Buys KSO Station From Berry's | Will Eventually Move It To Des Monies". Adams County Free Press. Corning, Iowa. June 4, 1931. p. 11.
  8. ^ "-- With Columbia Programs!". The Des Moines Register. March 17, 1935. p. 77.
  9. ^ "Register Buys Northern Paper | Minneapolis Star Sold to Cowles Interests of Des Moines". The Sioux City Journal. Associated Press. June 15, 1935. p. 2.
  10. ^ "Minneapolis Journal And Star Consolidate". The Lincoln Star. Associated Press. August 1, 1939. p. 5.
  11. ^ a b "Newspapers Merge in Minneapolis | Star Journal, Tribune, Times Tribune United for Publication". Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Associated Press. Apr 30, 1941. p. 1.
  12. ^ Morison, Bradley (1966). Sunlight on Your Doorstep: The Minneapolis Tribune's First Hundred Years. Minneapolis: Ross & Haines.
  13. ^ "Timeline: A Look at History of Star Tribune". Star Tribune. 21 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Times Merges Monday With Star and Tribune". Times, the Picture Paper. May 15, 1948. p. 1.
  15. ^ "Cowles Company Sells Radio Station WOL". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. August 4, 1949. p. 12.
  16. ^ "Cowles, Murphy Firms Merge Interests For New Television Station". Globe-Gazette. Mason City, Iowa. Associated Press. March 4, 1955. p. 2.
  17. ^ "$1,070,00 Paid By Corporation For Station KTVH". Evening Eagle. Wichita, Kansas. June 30, 1955. p. 3.
  18. ^ "Rapid City Journal Sold". Morning Pioneer. Mandan, North Dakota. Associated Press. December 14, 1964. p. 3.
  19. ^ "Star and Tribune Co. Buys Harper's Magazine Interest". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. April 29, 1965. p. 13.
  20. ^ "Great Falls Tribune To Minneapolis Newspaper". The Montana Standard. Butte, Montana. Associated Press. April 11, 1965. p. 1.
  21. ^ "Times Acquires Cowles' WREC-TV". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. Associated Press. October 16, 1971. p. 29.
  22. ^ "Cowles Sells Radio Stations In Des Moines". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Iowa City, Iowa. Associated Press. October 16, 1973. p. 14.
  23. ^ "Cowles sells stations". The Tampa Times. Tampa, Florida. June 18, 1974. p. 10.
  24. ^ "Newspaper in Burley Sold". The Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. Associated Press. June 8, 1977. p. 37.
  25. ^ "Family newspaper tradition ends | Buffalo Courier-Express sold". The Paducah Sun. Associated Press. August 26, 1979. p. 36.
  26. ^ "Harper's magazine sold". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. July 10, 1980. p. 2.
  27. ^ "Star, Tribune to merge April 5". West Central Tribune. Wilmar, Minnesota. Associated Press. March 24, 1982. p. 6.
  28. ^ "Des Monies to merge with sister paper". The Flint Journal. Flint, Michigan. United Press International. June 3, 1982. p. 7.
  29. ^ "Cowles Media sells Kansas TV station". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. July 31, 1982. p. 24.
  30. ^ Meyers, Mike; Dowd, Joe (September 8, 1982). "Buffalo Courier-Express may close down". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. p. 1.
  31. ^ "in brief | Buffalo newspaper folds". The Belleville News-Democrat. Belleville, Illinois. Associated Press. September 19, 1982. p. 5.
  32. ^ "Cowles Media Co. sells TV station". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. March 9, 1984. p. 24.
  33. ^ "Des Monies Register sold to Gannett". Chronicle Tribune. Marion, Indiana. February 1, 1985. p. 17.
  34. ^ Strentz, Herb. "John Cowles," Cowles Family Publishing Legacy: Drake University, Cowles Library. Accessed Jan. 3, 2018.
  35. ^ Schwartz, John; Cole, Joe (May 1, 1987). "Newspaper chain buys 'Progress'". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. 6.
  36. ^ "SIP sale proposal announced". South Idaho Press. July 14, 1987. p. 1.
  37. ^ "Gazette owner buys Rapid City Journal". The Billings Gazette. Billings, Montana. February 27, 1990. p. 5.
  38. ^ "'Great Falls Tribune' joins the fold". USA Today. May 3, 1990. p. 7.
  39. ^ "Cox Enterprises purchases Scottsdale paper". Longview News-Journal. Longview, Texas. July 28, 1993. p. 2.
  40. ^ Endicott, William (November 14, 1997). "McClatchy buys media company for $1.4 billion". The Fresno Bee. p. 33.
  41. ^ "McCLATCHY FINDS NEW HOMES FOR COWLES DIVISIONS". NewsInc. Jan 19, 1998. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Cowles Enthusiast Media Magazines archived 1998 January 19. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  43. ^ cowles.com - Women's History, archived 1998 January 19. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  44. ^ "FCC Asked to Okay WNAX, KVTV (TV) Sales" (PDF). Broadcasting. November 4, 1957. p. 74. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
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