Lee Hopscotching Syndicates?
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Lee Enterprises seems to jump from one syndicate to another in search of lower costs.
Five Years Ago – the Tulsa World, a Lee Enterprises newspaper:
It’s 2021 and the Tulsa World editor, like the other 70+ Lee Enterprises newspaper editors, have a free hand in deciding which and how many comic strips and panels are carried by, in this case, his paper.
Four Years Ago – the Tulsa World:
In 2022, by executive fiat, all Lee Enterprises newspapers are restricted to a half page of a specific list of Andrews McMeel Syndicate comic strips and panels. The mandate affects all 70 or so Lee papers.
Two Years Ago – the Tulsa World:
Come 2024 Lee Enterprises and all its newspapers switch from Andrews McMeel Syndication to King Features Syndicate. The numbers for the half page of now KFS comics stays the same – 8 strips and 2 panels.
It seems that Lee has been signing two year contracts with the syndicates and coming “this Fall” to the Tulsa World may be a new line-up? A Creators Syndicate lineup?
From the August 3, 2026 Tulsa World is a letter to the editor and her response (or here):
I am still regretting that the World dropped “Pickles” and “Pearls Before Swine” from the comic page…
Editor’s note: Hi, Denny! I’m sorry you don’t like our selection of “funnies,” as my grandma calls them. I don’t choose which comic strips we publish because they’re part of our syndication package. But our deal just got sweeter. In the fall, we’ll get access to 20 additional comics, including classics like “B.C.,” “Wizard of Id” and “Archie,” and other favorites like “Scary Gary” and “Dog Eat Doug.”
The “we’ll get access to 20 additional comics” statement leaves room for uncertainty. Will the print newspaper replace the King Features comics with Creators Syndicate comics (those listed comics are all from Creators) or will some Creators comics be added to the half page making a full page of comics or will some Creators comics join the half page and so replace some of the King comics?
Or will Lee Enterprises be adding the Creators e-portal making the comics available to their e-subscribers?
And in 2028 will it be the Tribune Content Agency‘s turn to underbid?
Stay tuned.
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