TV Guide shifts work to Tennessee

The 137-year-old S. Rosenthal & Co. will print its final copies of TV Guide next week. The company then will begin cutting the 124 employees at its Blue Ash plant and move all printing operations to its other plant in Portland, Tenn., Robert Slattery, president and CEO, said Tuesday.

The magazine represents a little more than 50 percent of S. Rosenthal’s business.

“It’s very difficult for everyone because we have had some folks that have been here 30 years,” he said. “We have had some tremendously talented and loyal employees, and it won’t be easy getting through the transition.”

TV Guide, which has been read by two generations of Americans, announced in July that it would be cutting its circulation by nearly two-thirds, from 9 million to 3.2 million, and changing from a 5-inch by 7 1/2-inch publication to an 8-inch by 10 1/2-inch full-color magazine that will feature more stories about TV stars and shows and fewer television listings. The changes set to go into effect Oct. 17 are intended to help the magazine stay relevant at a time when many people check their TV listings on the Internet or from programming guides on satellite and cable television.

Slattery said his company could not afford the $10 million to $12 million it would cost to buy the new presses needed to print the larger format TV Guide, especially without the guarantees of a long-term contract.

“Even TV Guide is not 100 percent sure if this new format will work,” he said.

TV Guide spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said some of the printers that the publication has worked with could accommodate the new format and some could not.

“Hopefully some day we will have the opportunity to work together again with them,” she said.

S. Rosenthal also prints and publishes several regional magazines, including Reach, In-Touch and House Trends.

About 34 hourly employees at the Blue Ash plant will be cut in the next two weeks and the remaining 90 over the next three to four months after printing operations are moved to Tennessee, Slattery said. Portland is about 30 miles north of Nashville, Tenn., near the Kentucky border.

S. Rosenthal employs about 120 workers at its Tennessee production facility, and about 120 employees work at the Blue Ash corporate offices. None of those employees will be affected, Slattery said.

The Tennessee operation is a nonunion plant, but Local 508 of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents most of the Blue Ash workers. Local Executive Vice President Jim Elkins said that employees were upset.

“We tried to work with the company and make some concessions, but they said they would close the plant if we didn’t make all the concessions they wanted,” said Elkins. “I’m sure they are looking to make the most profit they can, and the Tennessee workers are paid less.”

Facts about S. Rosenthal & Co.
(AP) — Facts about S. Rosenthal & Co. printing company

—Headquarters in Blue Ash, a Cincinnati suburb

—Founded 1868

—Privately held company with two plants and corporate headquarters

—Currently employs 124 at Blue Ash facility; 120 at Portland, Tenn. plant; 120 at corporate offices

—Capabilities include digital prepress, 8-unit web presses, saddle stitching, perfect binding and ink jet addressing.

—Publishing subsidiary Reach-SR LLC is a national publisher of regional magazines and direct mail publications