Hearst to Buy News America Syndicate

Hearst Corp. has agreed to purchase the News America Syndicate, a distributor of comics and features owned by media magnate Rupert Murdoch, according to a statement released jointly by the companies on Wednesday.

Although the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, the price for the Irvine-based news syndication is believed to be about $24 million.

The acquisition, which would appear to create the world’s largest syndicator of comics, editorial cartoons, advice columns and opinion page essays, is scheduled to close in early 1987.

News America, which has 85 columnists and cartoonists under contract, is being acquired by North America Syndicate Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of New York-based Hearst, which was formed specifically to absorb News America’s assets. It will be one of the King Features Syndicate group of companies at Hearst.

It was unclear Wednesday whether King Features Syndicate would be merged with News America or the two syndication firms would continue to operate separately.

Richard Newcombe, president and chief executive of News America, said Wednesday that he did not know if the company’s Irvine corporate headquarters would be retained or whether his 71 employees would keep their jobs. He said he had received an “attractive offer” to take a position in the Hearst organization, which he said he is considering along with other options.

Rankings in the syndication industry are uncertain because business figures are kept confidential. But industry observers believe that a merger of King Features and News America would form the largest syndication firm in the nation.

Together, King Features and News America would represent a comic strip powerhouse. Among the comics distributed by News America are “B.C,” “The Wizard of Id,” “Andy Capp,” “Dennis the Menace,” “Crock,” “Marvin,” “Momma,” “Mary Worth,” “Rex Morgan, M.D.,” “Tumbleweeds” and “Funky Winterbean.” Its columnists include Ann Landers, Rowland Evans and Robert Novak, Gary Deeb, Robert Ebert, Dr. Lawrence Lamb and Carl Rowan. Its editorial cartoonists include Herbert Block and Bill Mauldin.