IN AN ENORMOUS SHIFT IN THE SYNDICATION BUSINESS, two popular comic strips along with about 150 other features have been handed from United Media to Universal Uclick, which will now manage all aspects of syndication for the Scripps' subsidiary.

The outsourcing of content from United Media to Universal Uclick took effect immediately and will be completed by June 1. Under the deal, Universal Uclick will honor all existing United contracts and provide editorial and production services, sales and marketing, sales support and customer service, and distribution and fulfillment for all the news features and United Media comics.

Cincinnati-based Scripps said it will retain "certain copyrights" and "control the licenses" for those properties.

"We think this puts us in a great position," said John Glynn, vice president of acquisitions and at Universal. "In the short term, it means one less guy selling against us."

The move reduces the number of large syndicates providing content to newspapers from three to two, with King Features being the other. According to Lisa Klem Wilson, senior vice president and general manager at United Media, the consolidation of newspaper syndicates was unavoidable.

"There can only be two top players now in newspaper syndication,' Wilson told The Washington Post. "The market is shrinking--the number...