Chicago Tribune doubling, tripling subscription rates

The Chicago Tribune is doubling and tripling weekday delivery rates for some readers when their subscriptions come up for renewal.

The newspaper, a unit of Chicago-based Tribune Co., has sent some subscribers letters notifying them of the increases; others have simply seen a higher price show up on their credit card bills. The size of the rate jump depends on what a customer was paying previously. In a statement, the paper said, "We are asking our home-delivery customers to pay a new rate based on the value we provide and the increasing cost of doing business. All home delivery subscribers will still enjoy a discount off of the newsstand price." The rate increase follows the paper's decision in June to add some 40 pages of additional content each week. The move catered to the paper's loyal home-delivery customers at a time of increased competition from national papers such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal in the Chicago market. (11/22)