Why Berkshire Hathaway's New York Times bet is a fitting end to the Warren Buffett era

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway made a notable investment in The New York Times, acquiring approximately 5.1 million shares valued at $352 million, marking a significant return to the newspaper industry after previously divesting its newspaper holdings [1][12]. Company Summary - The New York Times has shown a recovery in recent years, with revenues increasing by 9% to $2.8 billion and net income rising by 17% to $344 million, driven by a 9% rise in subscription revenues and a 12% increase in advertising revenues [12]. - The publisher added 1.4 million digital-only subscribers, bringing its total subscriber count to 12.78 million as of December 31 [13]. - The stock price of The New York Times has surged approximately 15-fold since its low in early 2009, reaching a record high of $74, with a 50% increase in the past year [13][14]. Industry Summary - Warren Buffett has expressed concerns about the newspaper industry's viability, noting a significant decline in circulation and advertising revenues over the years [6][11]. - Despite these concerns, Buffett previously stated that newspapers delivering reliable information to local communities would remain viable, indicating a belief in the potential for certain newspapers to succeed [10]. - The newspaper industry has faced a transformation, with many traditional titles struggling, leading Buffett to predict that only a few national titles would survive in the long term [11].