Times Mirror, Zip2 Form Online Venture

Los Angeles-based Times Mirror Co. is teaming up with Zip2, a leading provider of community information for consumers to access via online computer networks. The partnership, to be announced today, will allow the Los Angeles Times, Newsday, the Baltimore Sun and Times Mirror’s other newspapers to use Zip2 technology on their World Wide Web sites. Palo Alto-based Zip2’s products provide online business directories, maps and door-to-door directions for more than half the 30 biggest metropolitan areas in the U.S. Under the partnership, the Times Mirror newspapers will pay Zip2 a monthly licensing fee and then split the revenue from any advertisements associated with the online content, said Zip2 spokeswoman Laura Grams.