The Internet has made them look closely at whole new competitor the classified ads. Eight leading news organizations formed an online affiliate network called Classified Ventures, that represented more than 140 U.S. daily papers. Interactive and search capabilities that the Net provides, make old want ads a thing of the past. By the year 2003, Forrester projects the Net classified services will control 4.7 billion in revenues of the 17.8 billion in the classified business. It is projected to grow 18.8 billion this year.
Newspapers can play the game, how well they play remains the question.