According to recent reports, Viacom's Simon & Schuster and Time Warner Trade Publishing are discussing a joint venture in which the two would share responsibilities for warehousing, marketing and sales in the interests of streamlining operations and increasing profits. How such a move would pan out remains murky, with the question of authority among the most perplexing. Still, TWTP chief Larry Kirshbaum has acknowledged in the past that he has discussed a similar deal with different trade houses.
At press time, employees at S&S told PW that they had not been informed that any change was imminent.
