Classified Ventures Adds 3 Newspaper Groups

Online newspaper classified ad network Classified Ventures added Central Newspapers Inc., Gannett Co. Inc. and The McClatchy Co. as affiliates.

Chicago-based Classified Ventures offers auto, apartment and real estate advertising listings, plus resources and services in 42 states through linked local and national Web sites.

“With the addition of these major groups and their presence in 19 states not previously covered by Classified Ventures, we are quickly building a truly national network capable of delivering to consumers and advertisers the Internet’s most comprehensive national and local classified advertising listings and related information,” said Tim Landon, Classified Ventures’ chief executive officer.

The network now has the resources of 135 newspapers that serve 35 of the nation’s top 50 markets, Landon added.

“We believe that the best way to win nationally, is to win locally. The strength of our newspapers’ local brands gives us a tremendous advantage against competitors from outside the newspaper industry,” Landon said.

Affiliate Web sites offer online local classified listings, advertising and information–including, for example, news about local schools and communities–linked to Classified Ventures’ nationally branded Internet sites. Affiliates also contribute network content, such as additional new-car reviews, as well as national advertising, decision-support tools and services, such as car payment calculators and financial service information.

Other newspaper companies involved are Knight Ridder, Times Mirror, Tribune Co. and The Washington Post Co.

Classified Ventures currently operates the national Apartments.com Web site and the national cars.com site. In June, the company will adopt Knight Ridder’s HomeHunter.com brand for its real estate category.