The Omaha World Herald

[damonhynes]

KFAB was talking this AM about an email sent to subscribers that the cost was going up to $11.99. They said it was listed as temporary. (Does that mean only until they close the doors?) They also mentioned that one of the reasons listed for the increase was tariffs. What do they do in the day-to-day costs of doing business that a tariff would impact? Maybe an occasional part or office supply, but I would think they have plenty of "extras''s" lying around with all the layoffs

Canadian newsprint?

[nebugeater]

KFAB was talking this AM about an email sent to subscribers that the cost was going up to $11.99. They said it was listed as temporary. (Does that mean only until they close the doors?) They also mentioned that one of the reasons listed for the increase was tariffs. What do they do in the day-to-day costs of doing business that a tariff would impact? Maybe an occasional part or office supply, but I would think they have plenty of "extras''s" lying around with all the layoffs

Canadian newsprint?

If so, with their current circulation, they likely only need a roll or two a month!

[damonhynes]

KFAB was talking this AM about an email sent to subscribers that the cost was going up to $11.99. They said it was listed as temporary. (Does that mean only until they close the doors?) They also mentioned that one of the reasons listed for the increase was tariffs. What do they do in the day-to-day costs of doing business that a tariff would impact? Maybe an occasional part or office supply, but I would think they have plenty of "extras''s" lying around with all the layoffs

Canadian newsprint?

If so, with their current circulation, they likely only need a roll or two a month!

Haw!

[Bob from Omaha]

If so, with their current circulation, they likely only need a roll or two a month!

This should cover the dozen or so print subscribers.

[jag42]

KFAB was talking this AM about an email sent to subscribers that the cost was going up to $11.99. They said it was listed as temporary. (Does that mean only until they close the doors?) They also mentioned that one of the reasons listed for the increase was tariffs. What do they do in the day-to-day costs of doing business that a tariff would impact? Maybe an occasional part or office supply, but I would think they have plenty of "extras''s" lying around with all the layoffs

Canadian newsprint?

If so, with their current circulation, they likely only need a roll or two a month!

Haw!

Probably to help pay for the class action settlement...I got this postcard in the mail yesterday.

[damonhynes]

KFAB was talking this AM about an email sent to subscribers that the cost was going up to $11.99. They said it was listed as temporary. (Does that mean only until they close the doors?) They also mentioned that one of the reasons listed for the increase was tariffs. What do they do in the day-to-day costs of doing business that a tariff would impact? Maybe an occasional part or office supply, but I would think they have plenty of "extras''s" lying around with all the layoffs

Canadian newsprint?

If so, with their current circulation, they likely only need a roll or two a month!

Haw!

Probably to help pay for the class action settlement...I got this postcard in the mail yesterday.

I got that last week. Must have been because I had a profile on the St. Louis Pist-Disgrace site, because I've never done much on the OWH site.

[jag42]

KFAB was talking this AM about an email sent to subscribers that the cost was going up to $11.99. They said it was listed as temporary. (Does that mean only until they close the doors?) They also mentioned that one of the reasons listed for the increase was tariffs. What do they do in the day-to-day costs of doing business that a tariff would impact? Maybe an occasional part or office supply, but I would think they have plenty of "extras''s" lying around with all the layoffs

Canadian newsprint?

If so, with their current circulation, they likely only need a roll or two a month!

Haw!

Probably to help pay for the class action settlement...I got this postcard in the mail yesterday.

I got that last week. Must have been because I had a profile on the St. Louis Pist-Disgrace site, because I've never done much on the OWH site.

I got 2 of these yesterday...one as an OWH online subscriber, and the other as a very short-term Council Bluffs Nonpareil online subscriber (which I've called to cancel several times, they keep sending me bills, the circle never ends, so frustrating.)

[Big E]

which I've called to cancel several times, they keep sending me bills, the circle never ends, so frustrating.

FWIW you can always call your CC company and block payment to any individual vendor and/or challenge the payments. I've had to do this a few times over the years.

[Bob from Omaha]

There has been an offer to purchase by a bottom feeder who is already the second largest investor in Lee Enterprises. They haven't asked for my opinion but if I were them I'd sell out in a heartbeat. The company has a mountain of debt & while it does make a profit I just don't see it surviving.

Edit. I misspoke. Not about the offer but the offerer. There was an offer about 4 years ago by a bottom feeder & it got turned down. I don't know much about the current one.

Hoffman offer

[damonhynes]

There has been an offer to purchase by a bottom feeder who is already the second largest investor in Lee Enterprises. They haven't asked for my opinion but if I were them I'd sell out in a heartbeat. The company has a mountain of debt & while it does make a profit I just don't see it surviving.

Edit. I misspoke. Not about the offer but the offerer. There was an offer about 4 years ago by a bottom feeder & it got turned down. I don't know much about the current one.

Hoffman offer

Either Hoffman is run by masochists, or they need a capital gains offset.

[Bob from Omaha]

I'm assuming they see value in real estate or something else I don't see.

[Brad]

I'm assuming they see value in real estate or something else I don't see.

Not sure about other papers but when Buffett sold the OWH, he kept all the real estate.

[WorldStreet]

I received an email from OWH yesterday stating that they need to raise monthly subscriptions by $5:

We are writing to inform you of a temporary upcoming price increase. With rising operational costs due to inflation and global tariffs, we’re adding a small surcharge. As a result of these industry changes, a charge in the amount of $4.99 per month will be added to your subscription to the Omaha World-Herald.

This will ensure our continued ability to manage rising costs without disrupting your access to the local stories we know matter most to you. We also want to encourage you to enjoy the news on all our digital platforms including our website omaha.com and our app available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Our popular E-edition — which is a digital replica of our print product — is available on our website and our app.

[damonhynes]

I received an email from OWH yesterday stating that they need to raise monthly subscriptions by $5:

We are writing to inform you of a temporary upcoming price increase. With rising operational costs due to inflation and global tariffs, we’re adding a small surcharge. As a result of these industry changes, a charge in the amount of $4.99 per month will be added to your subscription to the Omaha World-Herald.

This will ensure our continued ability to manage rising costs without disrupting your access to the local stories we know matter most to you. We also want to encourage you to enjoy the news on all our digital platforms including our website omaha.com and our app available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Our popular E-edition — which is a digital replica of our print product — is available on our website and our app.

Temporary

[GenX]

I received an email from OWH yesterday stating that they need to raise monthly subscriptions by $5:

We are writing to inform you of a temporary upcoming price increase. With rising operational costs due to inflation and global tariffs, we’re adding a small surcharge. As a result of these industry changes, a charge in the amount of $4.99 per month will be added to your subscription to the Omaha World-Herald.

This will ensure our continued ability to manage rising costs without disrupting your access to the local stories we know matter most to you. We also want to encourage you to enjoy the news on all our digital platforms including our website omaha.com and our app available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Our popular E-edition — which is a digital replica of our print product — is available on our website and our app.

Temporary

They might as well call it a restaurant tax

[nebugeater]

I received an email from OWH yesterday stating that they need to raise monthly subscriptions by $5:

We are writing to inform you of a temporary upcoming price increase. With rising operational costs due to inflation and global tariffs, we’re adding a small surcharge. As a result of these industry changes, a charge in the amount of $4.99 per month will be added to your subscription to the Omaha World-Herald.

This will ensure our continued ability to manage rising costs without disrupting your access to the local stories we know matter most to you. We also want to encourage you to enjoy the news on all our digital platforms including our website omaha.com and our app available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Our popular E-edition — which is a digital replica of our print product — is available on our website and our app.

Temporary

They might as well call it a restaurant tax

It's Temporary because they probably realizee they will not be around for a lot longer.

[WorldStreet]

After decades of subscribing to the OWH, I decided to try to unsubscribe. After logging into my account to cancel or pause, I received a message saying that my account is not eligible to cancel online:
This account is not eligible to cancel online at this time. Please contact us at (402) 346-XXXX.

Not being able to cancel a subscription online (that you originally signed up for online) seems like a way to discourage customers from resubscribing in the future.

[Linkin5]

After decades of subscribing to the OWH, I decided to try to unsubscribe. After logging into my account to cancel or pause, I received a message saying that my account is not eligible to cancel online:
This account is not eligible to cancel online at this time. Please contact us at (402) 346-XXXX.

Not being able to cancel a subscription online (that you originally signed up for online) seems like a way to discourage customers from resubscribing in the future.

It’s funny you mention that, an appeals court just blocked the FTC’s effort to allow consumers to cancel online subscriptions with one click. If we all didn’t need a reminder everything is controlled by bad faith actors and greed.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/10/us-ap ... criptions/

[nebugeater]

After decades of subscribing to the OWH, I decided to try to unsubscribe. After logging into my account to cancel or pause, I received a message saying that my account is not eligible to cancel online:
This account is not eligible to cancel online at this time. Please contact us at (402) 346-XXXX.

Not being able to cancel a subscription online (that you originally signed up for online) seems like a way to discourage customers from resubscribing in the future.

Any online sub I do, I use a one-time use CC generated from my Citibank card, where I set the $$$ limit and expiration date. When needed, I can go in and adjust the total and date if I didn't delete it. Save a lot of headache potential with canceling

[WorldStreet]

After decades of subscribing to the OWH, I decided to try to unsubscribe. After logging into my account to cancel or pause, I received a message saying that my account is not eligible to cancel online:
This account is not eligible to cancel online at this time. Please contact us at (402) 346-XXXX.

Not being able to cancel a subscription online (that you originally signed up for online) seems like a way to discourage customers from resubscribing in the future.

Any online sub I do, I use a one-time use CC generated from my Citibank card, where I set the $$$ limit and expiration date. When needed, I can go in and adjust the total and date if I didn't delete it. Save a lot of headache potential with canceling

Sounds like a good creative idea. By the way, after my phone call this morning, I'm still a subscriber, but at a discounted rate.

[Greg S]

After decades of subscribing to the OWH, I decided to try to unsubscribe. After logging into my account to cancel or pause, I received a message saying that my account is not eligible to cancel online:
This account is not eligible to cancel online at this time. Please contact us at (402) 346-XXXX.

Not being able to cancel a subscription online (that you originally signed up for online) seems like a way to discourage customers from resubscribing in the future.

Any online sub I do, I use a one-time use CC generated from my Citibank card, where I set the $$$ limit and expiration date. When needed, I can go in and adjust the total and date if I didn't delete it. Save a lot of headache potential with canceling

Sounds like a good creative idea. By the way, after my phone call this morning, I'm still a subscriber, but at a discounted rate.

That's why they want you (or force you) to call. So they can negotiate. Sirius/XM and others do the same. It's frustrating but can lead to a good deal.

[WorldStreet]

After decades of subscribing to the OWH, I decided to try to unsubscribe. After logging into my account to cancel or pause, I received a message saying that my account is not eligible to cancel online:
This account is not eligible to cancel online at this time. Please contact us at (402) 346-XXXX.

Not being able to cancel a subscription online (that you originally signed up for online) seems like a way to discourage customers from resubscribing in the future.

Any online sub I do, I use a one-time use CC generated from my Citibank card, where I set the $$$ limit and expiration date. When needed, I can go in and adjust the total and date if I didn't delete it. Save a lot of headache potential with canceling

Sounds like a good creative idea. By the way, after my phone call this morning, I'm still a subscriber, but at a discounted rate.

That's why they want you (or force you) to call. So they can negotiate. Sirius/XM and others do the same. It's frustrating but can lead to a good deal.

I was pleased to remain a subscriber because I knew that having access to OWH is worth something to me, just not $30 or $35 per month.

[Greg S]

After decades of subscribing to the OWH, I decided to try to unsubscribe. After logging into my account to cancel or pause, I received a message saying that my account is not eligible to cancel online:
This account is not eligible to cancel online at this time. Please contact us at (402) 346-XXXX.

Not being able to cancel a subscription online (that you originally signed up for online) seems like a way to discourage customers from resubscribing in the future.

Any online sub I do, I use a one-time use CC generated from my Citibank card, where I set the $$$ limit and expiration date. When needed, I can go in and adjust the total and date if I didn't delete it. Save a lot of headache potential with canceling

Sounds like a good creative idea. By the way, after my phone call this morning, I'm still a subscriber, but at a discounted rate.

That's why they want you (or force you) to call. So they can negotiate. Sirius/XM and others do the same. It's frustrating but can lead to a good deal.

I was pleased to remain a subscriber because I knew that having access to OWH is worth something to me, just not $30 or $35 per month.

Same for me. I still subscribe as well.

[windsor]

I'm not a subscriber, but today I was at a local business that still takes the paper, so decided to look through it. I started reading a very interesting story about small town Nebraska grocery stores and dollar stores. I finished the article and though to myself, what a great article. I looked back at the author and realized it was another Flatwater Free Press article. Why does FFP let the World Herald copy their work?

[Bob from Omaha]

I got a notice in the mail today that I am probably part of a settlement regarding a breach of data.

So the cynic in me says they "temporarily raised rates" to cover the cost of the settlement? Probably not, but still...

[Louie]

I'm not a subscriber, but today I was at a local business that still takes the paper, so decided to look through it. I started reading a very interesting story about small town Nebraska grocery stores and dollar stores. I finished the article and though to myself, what a great article. I looked back at the author and realized it was another Flatwater Free Press article. Why does FFP let the World Herald copy their work?

Its plausible that the OWH is paying them for the rights to distro the article.

[Bob from Omaha]

I just got a cold call asking, more like begging, me to resubscribe. I said no and the person on the other end sighed and said "Don't you want to support local journalism?" I said I like local journalism and maybe I'd be more positive about it if the owh actually employed local journalists. He kind of laughed and said he'd keep that in mind & hung up.

[jag42]

I just got a cold call asking, more like begging, me to resubscribe. I said no and the person on the other end sighed and said "Don't you want to support local journalism?" I said I like local journalism and maybe I'd be more positive about it if the owh actually employed local journalists. He kind of laughed and said he'd keep that in mind & hung up.

The caller probably wasn't local either lol

[Bob from Omaha]

A few weeks ago I paid 99 cents for a month subscription to the Lincoln Journal. I'm posting this here because it and the owh are owned by Lee Enterprises.

Anyway, I just hung up from their subscriber services, intending to cancel. Lee has a policy that you have to call to cancel so they can beg you to continue to subscribe.

Me: I want to cancel
Him: I'm sorry to hear that. Why do you want to cancel?
Me: I don't need the subscription anymore.
Him: Why did you subscribe last month?
Me: I had a need. I don't anymore
Him: Did you only look at one article?
Me: I'd like to cancel. Please cancel my subscription
Him: Did you net see all the benefits of a subscription?
Me: You're paid to be on this call. I'm not. Let's just cancel the subscription now.
Him: You can download the app and customize your information. Did you try that?
Me: Nice script. Cancel my subscription
Him: Local journalism is important. Don't you want to support local journalism?
Me: I may have wanted to when I called you but with you not helping me you've talked me out of it
Him: I have a great deal for you to continue to subscribe. Let me share it with you.
Me: No. And if you don't cancel my subscription right now I'm going to send a bill for my time on the phone.
Him: That's not part of the subscription.
Me: Are you going to cancel my subscription? Ever?
Him: If I have to but before I do may I share your other options?
Me: The clock is ticking. I charge $150 an hour for my time with a two hour minimum.'
Him: It sound like you can afford to support local journalism
Me: Is there a cancellation anywhere in my future?
Him: I am finished cancelling your subscription.
Me: Where do I send the bill for my time?
Him: You will receive an email confirmation. Is there anything else I can help you with?

[GenX]

A few weeks ago I paid 99 cents for a month subscription to the Lincoln Journal. I'm posting this here because it and the owh are owned by Lee Enterprises.

Anyway, I just hung up from their subscriber services, intending to cancel. Lee has a policy that you have to call to cancel so they can beg you to continue to subscribe.

Me: I want to cancel
Him: I'm sorry to hear that. Why do you want to cancel?
Me: I don't need the subscription anymore.
Him: Why did you subscribe last month?
Me: I had a need. I don't anymore
Him: Did you only look at one article?
Me: I'd like to cancel. Please cancel my subscription
Him: Did you net see all the benefits of a subscription?
Me: You're paid to be on this call. I'm not. Let's just cancel the subscription now.
Him: You can download the app and customize your information. Did you try that?
Me: Nice script. Cancel my subscription
Him: Local journalism is important. Don't you want to support local journalism?
Me: I may have wanted to when I called you but with you not helping me you've talked me out of it
Him: I have a great deal for you to continue to subscribe. Let me share it with you.
Me: No. And if you don't cancel my subscription right now I'm going to send a bill for my time on the phone.
Him: That's not part of the subscription.
Me: Are you going to cancel my subscription? Ever?
Him: If I have to but before I do may I share your other options?
Me: The clock is ticking. I charge $150 an hour for my time with a two hour minimum.'
Him: It sound like you can afford to support local journalism
Me: Is there a cancellation anywhere in my future?
Him: I am finished cancelling your subscription.
Me: Where do I send the bill for my time?
Him: You will receive an email confirmation. Is there anything else I can help you with?

Seems like they use the same support staff that SiriusXM does.

[nativeomahan]

I spent a good hour on the phone yesterday with a customer service person, based overseas, working for Cox. I called to see if they could offer me, a loyal customer since 1993, with a better rate for our bundle of services, before I pull their plug and complete the switch to Quantum. I was put on hold at least 5 or 6 times before being told there was no better rate available to me right now, but if I called back in one month a better deal might be available. I asked to cancel the WiFi and a cell phone, but leave the cable and home phone. I was told that in order to do that a tech specialist would have to come out to run a cable to the one TV still receiving cable (via wireless). There would be a $112 charge for the appointment. I advised that I would not pay a penny for their tech person to come and do what needed to be done, and if that didn’t work we would just cancel the cable TV part of the service on top of the other things I had called to cancel. She eventually agreed to waive the fee, once it was incurred and billed to me, if I called later to ask for it to be waived. Supposedly she left notes on the account.
I have long enjoyed the Cox services we have been receiving, but the price is ridiculous for all of those services, and now with Quantum and Google aggressively marketing in our neighborhood, I should be able to save about $40 or more per month.
These companies are basically all the same. They make it very difficult to cancel anything once you are a customer. Make that “extremely” difficult.
I hope that we enjoy the Quantum service as much as my brother in law does, who have had them for over 6 months.

[nebugeater]

It is not the OWH, but KFAB just said that the Minneapolis Tribune is closing its Printing facility and laying off its staff. The paper will now be printed in Des Moines

That almost seems crazy, with adding 3 1/2 hours minimum transit time to get the printed papers there, and with dock times, it is probably more like 5 Hours

[Bob from Omaha]

The KCStar is also printed in DSM.

I do have a trick I use that works maybe 75% of the time.
If I do need to talk to an American, and it's usually with Comcast, I do it around 9 AM my time. When I get to the automated attendant I use a harsh voice and yell into the phone. Repeatedly. If successful I get an agent either in Michigan or Texas. Calling after around 11 AM and on through the day just gets me somewhere in Asia where they must be forbidden to say anything but what's on the script.
I have never had that kind of luck with the owh but that's ok because I only want to cancel and when I do that I merely repeat what I want regardless of what's on the script. At some point they give up trying to get me to stay & cancel me.

[Bob from Omaha]

The KCStar is also printed in DSM. DSM has a mountain of printing capacity and both MSP & KC are right up and down I-35

I do have a trick I use that works maybe 75% of the time.
If I do need to talk to an American, and it's usually with Comcast, I do it around 9 AM my time. When I get to the automated attendant I use a harsh voice and yell into the phone. Repeatedly. If successful I get an agent either in Michigan or Texas. Calling after around 11 AM and on through the day just gets me somewhere in Asia where they must be forbidden to say anything but what's on the script.
I have never had that kind of luck with the owh but that's ok because I only want to cancel and when I do that I merely repeat what I want regardless of what's on the script. At some point they give up trying to get me to stay & cancel me.

[Ankeny Husker Freak]

The Sioux Falls paper has been printed in Des Moines the last several years. Why even bother printing, I wonder what time the daily editions go to print?

[riceweb]

Why isn't the World Herald available in Apple News yet? It makes no sense for them to go it alone. Platforms like Apple News are the only possible future, where they're bundled into a subscription that offers other things like Music, cloud storage, etc., leaving the News part as kind of a nice perk that nobody really minds being bundled.

[Bob from Omaha]

The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press are now printed in Canton, Ohio. South of Cleveland.

[ricko]

Re: subscription cancellation.

About 20 years ago I had a Kafkaesque 90 minute attempt to cancel my service with AT&T, to no avail. I called back and told them I was in the military and was being transferred to Korea. Problem solved.

[nativeomahan]

Re: subscription cancellation.

About 20 years ago I had a Kafkaesque 90 minute attempt to cancel my service with AT&T, to no avail. I called back and told them I was in the military and was being transferred to Korea. Problem solved.

Now that is thinking outside the box!

[WBR_Tom]

It's seemed inevitable for awhile, and now it's official. They just pushed out this note to subscribers:

Starting the week of Nov. 3, The World-Herald will produce a printed paper six days a week, from Tuesday through Sunday. We will continue to produce an E-edition seven days a week and post the latest news, sports, weather and features on Omaha.com.