The Tampa Tribune sold to private equity firm

TAMPA, Fla. — A private equity investment group has bought The Tampa Tribune newspaper for $9.5 million.

The announcement was made Monday.

The Tribune's longtime corporate owner, Virginia-based Media General Inc., is transferring ownership of the Tribune, its affiliated newspapers and TBO.com to the Los Angeles-based Revolution Capital Group. The investment group has formed a locally owned company to run the paper, called The Tampa Media Group.

Media General will retain the NBC affiliate, WFLA, News Channel 8. However, the newspaper and the television operations will continue their news partnership.

The Tampa Media Group will have 618 employees and will continue to operate the Tribune's affiliated publications: Hernando Today, Highlands Today, Suncoast News, Sunbelt Newspapers and the Spanish-language publication Centro.