Zillow Signs Deal With Newspapers

In what Zillow.com President Lloyd Frink is calling a "groundbreaking partnership," the Seattle online real estate startup has signed a deal to provide its home valuation and neighborhood information to 282 newspapers.

In return, the newspapers -- including large papers such as the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News -- can post classified listings and open-house information on the Zillow Web site.

The alliance is to kick off early next year, with other newspaper companies expected to join.

The launch partners include some of the biggest newspaper chains in the country: Journal Register Co.; Lee Enterprises; MediaNews Group; Morris Communications Co.; Paddock Publications; Pittsburgh Tribune-Review; The E.W. Scripps Co.; and Hearst Newspapers, publisher of the Seattle P-I.

Starting in the first half of next year, newspapers' ad-sales teams will offer advertisers the chance to buy home-for-sale listings and open-house notices on Zillow in addition to print and online classifieds. The newspapers and the Web company will share revenue from the Zillow listings.