This is a list of comic strip syndicates. Over the years, many syndicates have been acquired and otherwise absorbed by competitors; this list attempts to illustrate that.

Comic strip syndicates

Andrews McMeel Syndication Andrews McMeel Syndication (formerly Universal Uclick) is an American content syndicate which provides syndication in print, online and on mobile devices for a number of lifestyle and opinion columns, comic strips and cartoons and various other ...

(est. 2009) — formed by merger of

Universal Press Syndicate Universal Press Syndicate (UPS), a subsidiary of Andrews McMeel Universal, was an independent press syndicate. It distributed lifestyle and opinion columns, comic strips and other content. Popular columns include Dear Abby, Ann Coulter, Roge ...

and Uclick;"Universal Press Syndicate and Uclick Merge". Gardner, Alan. The Daily Cartoonist, July 8, 2009.
/ref> formerly called Universal Uclick; includes

GoComics GoComics is a website launched in 2005 by the digital entertainment provider Uclick. It was originally created as a distribution portal for comic strips on mobile phones, but in 2006, the site was redesigned and expanded to include online strip ...

** Uclick (1996–2009; merged with

to form

Universal Uclick Andrews McMeel Syndication (formerly Universal Uclick) is an American content syndicate which provides syndication in print, online and on mobile devices for a number of lifestyle and opinion columns, comic strips and cartoons and various other ...

) — formerly named Universal New Media"About,"
Andres McMeel website. Accessed Nov. 16, 2017. **

(1970–2009; merged with Uclick to form

) — former names include Universal New Media *** Washington Star Syndicate (1965–1979)"Washington Star Syndicate Sold To Kansas City's Universal Press,"
''New York Times'' (May 20, 1979), p. 37. **** George Matthew Adams Service (c. 1916–1965; acquired by The Washington Star Syndicate) — formerly known as the Adams Newspaper Service ***

Chronicle Features Chronicle Features was the syndication arm of the '' San Francisco Chronicle''. Syndicating comic strips, newspaper columns, and editorial features, it operated from 1962 to c. 1998. The syndicate was known for the offbeat comic strips it champio ...

(1962–1998; acquired by

in 1997) *** Editors Press Service (1933–2010; acquired by

in 2004 and renamed Atlantic Syndication) **

United Media United Media was a large editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States, owned by the E. W. Scripps Company, that operated from 1978 to 2011. It syndicated 150 comics and editorial columns worldwide. Its ...

(1978–2011; formed from the consolidation of United Feature and

Newspaper Enterprise Association The Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) is an editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States and established in 1902. The oldest syndicate still in operation, the NEA was originally a secondary ne ...

; eventually acquired by

) ***

(c. 1909–1978; merged into United Media Enterprises) ***

United Feature Syndicate United Feature Syndicate (UFS) is a large American editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States and established in 1919. Originally part of E. W. Scripps Company, it was part of United Media (along ...

(1919–1978; merged into United Media Enterprises) **** Metropolitan Newspaper Service (1919–1932; owned by the

Bell Syndicate The Bell Syndicate, launched in 1916 by editor-publisher John Neville Wheeler, was an American syndicate that distributed columns, fiction, feature articles and comic strips to newspapers for decades. It was located in New York City at 247 West ...

from 1920–1930;"Feature Services Merged: Bell Syndicate Takes Over Metropolitan Newspaper Service,"
''Editor & Publisher'' (April 3, 1920). acquired an eventually absorbed by United Features)"United Feature Syndicate Buys Metropolitan Service From Elser: Both Firms Will Retain Separate Identities, With Elser Remaining as Vice-President — Monte Bourjaily to Direct Both Organizations," ''Editor & Publisher'' (March 15, 1930). Archived a

''Stripper's Guide'' (May 4, 2010). ****

Press Publishing Co. The ''New York World'' was one of the first newspapers to publish comic strips, starting around 1890, and contributed greatly to the development of the American comic strip. Notable strips that originated with the ''World'' included Richard F. Out ...

(c.1910–1931; acquired by E. W. Scripps Company)Hudson, Frederic, Alfred McClung Lee, and Frank Luther Mott. ''American Journalism 1690-1940'', Volume 4 (Psychology Press, 2000), p. 591. **** World Feature Service (c. 1905–1931; acquired by E. W. Scripps Company) ****

(1916–1972; acquired by

United Features United Feature Syndicate (UFS) is a large American editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States and established in 1919. Originally part of E. W. Scripps Company, it was part of United Media (along wit ...

) — known as the Bell-McClure Syndicate from 1930 to 1972 *****

Associated Newspapers DMG Media (stylised in lowercase) is an intermediate holding company for Associated Newspapers, Northcliffe Media, Harmsworth Printing, Harmsworth Media and other subsidiaries of Daily Mail and General Trust. It is based at Northcliffe House in ...

(1912–c. 1966; acquired by

in 1930)Saunders, David
"SAMUEL S. McCLURE (1857-1949),"
Field Guide to Wild American Pulp Artists. Accessed Nov. 1, 2018. *****

McClure Newspaper Syndicate McClure Newspaper Syndicate, the first American newspaper syndicate, introduced many American and British writers to the masses. Launched in 1884 by publisher Samuel S. McClure, it was the first successful company of its kind. It turned the marke ...

(1884–1952; absorbed into Bell-McClure Syndicate)Knoll, Erwin
"McClure Syndicate Sold to Bell-NANA"
''Editor & Publisher'' (September 6, 1952). — began syndicating comic strips c. 1903 ****** Wheeler Syndicate (1913–1916; acquired by

McClure Syndicate McClure Newspaper Syndicate, the first American newspaper syndicate, introduced many American and British writers to the masses. Launched in 1884 by publisher Samuel S. McClure, it was the first successful company of its kind. It turned the marke ...

) — syndicated the work of

Bud Fisher Harry Conway "Bud" Fisher (April 3, 1885 – September 7, 1954) was an American cartoonist who created ''Mutt and Jeff'', the first successful daily comic strip in the United States. Early life Born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a merchant, ...

and

Fontaine Fox Fontaine Talbot Fox, Jr. (June 4, 1884 – August 9, 1964) was an American cartoonist and illustrator best known for writing and illustrating his ''Toonerville Folks'' comic panel, which ran from 1913 to 1955 in 250 to 300 newspapers across North ...

* ArcaMax Publishing (est. 1996Note: Second page of articl
appears on page C8
or 1999)Eckerle, Courtne
"CASE STUDY: Email Deliverability: Publisher moves beyond double opt-in to avoid 1,000 hard bounces per day,"
''Marketing Sherpa'' (May 21, 2013). — web distribution through email *

Creators Syndicate Creators Syndicate (also known as Creators) is an American independent distributor of comic strips and syndicated columns to daily newspapers, websites, and other digital outlets. When founded in 1987, Creators Syndicate became one of the few suc ...

(est. 1987) — formed in reaction to

King Features King Features Syndicate, Inc. is a American content distribution and animation studio, consumer product License, licensing and print syndication company owned by Hearst Communications that distributes about 150 comic strips, columnist, newspaper c ...

' acquisition of the Register and Tribune Syndicate and News America Syndicate *

King Features Syndicate King Features Syndicate, Inc. is a American content distribution and animation studio, consumer product licensing and print syndication company owned by Hearst Communications that distributes about 150 comic strips, newspaper columns, editoria ...

(est. 1914) **

Central Press Association The Central Press Association was American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. Originally independent, it was a subsidiary of King Features Syndicate from 1930 onwards. At its peak, the ...

(1910–1971; acquired and eventually absorbed by

)

Ron Goulart Ronald Joseph Goulart (; January 13, 1933 – January 14, 2022) was an American popular culture historian and mystery, fantasy, and science fiction author. He published novelizations and other work under various pseudonyms: Kenneth Robeson, Con ...

, "The 30s – Boomtime for SF Heroes". ''

Starlog ''Starlog'' was a monthly science fiction magazine that was created in 1976 and focused primarily on ''Star Trek'' at its inception. Kerry O'Quinn and Norman Jacobs were its creators and it was published by Starlog Group, Inc. in August 1976. ...

'' magazine, January 1981 (pp. 31–35). until ceasing operations in 1971) *** North American Press Syndicate (?–1912; acquired by and absorbed into

) *** Editors Feature Service (?–1927; acquired by and absorbed into

)Watson, Elmo Scott. "CHAPTER VIII: Recent Developments in Syndicate History 1921-1935," ''A History Of Newspaper Syndicates In The United States, 1865-1935'' (Western Newspaper Union, 1936)
Archived at ''Stripper's Guide''
** Register and Tribune Syndicate (1922–1986; acquired by Hearst /

), ** Field Newspaper Syndicate (1941–1984; acquired by

News Corporation News Corporation (abbreviated News Corp.), also variously known as News Corporation Limited, was an American multinational mass media corporation controlled by media mogul Rupert Murdoch and headquartered at 1211 Avenue of the Americas in Ne ...

and then

) — former names include the Chicago Sun Syndicate, the Field Enterprises Syndicate, and the Chicago Sun-Times Syndicate; later renamed News America Syndicate and then North America Syndicate *** Chicago Times Syndicate (c. 1935-1948; acquired by Field Enterprises with the merger of the ''Chicago Sun'' and the ''Chicago Daily Times'') ***

Publishers Syndicate Publishers Newspaper Syndicate was a syndication service based in Chicago that operated from 1925 to 1967, when it merged with the Hall Syndicate. Publishers syndicated such long-lived comic strips as ''Big Chief Wahoo/Steve Roper'', '' Mary Wort ...

(1925–1967; acquired by

Field Enterprises Field Enterprises, Inc. was a private holding company that operated from the 1940s to the 1980s, founded by Marshall Field III and others, whose main assets were the '' Chicago Sun'' and ''Parade'' magazine. For various periods of time, Field Ente ...

) — became Publishers-Hall *** Publishers-Hall Syndicate (1944–1975; merged into Field Newspaper Syndicate) — former names include Hall Syndicate, New York Post Syndicate, Post-Hall Syndicate, Inc., Hall Syndicate **** New York Herald Tribune Syndicate (c. 1920–1966) — remaining strips taken over by Publishers-Hall *

Royal Comics Syndicate Royal Comics Syndicate is a Finnish comics syndicate that was founded in 2004 by comic artist Timo Kähkönen. The syndicate's ongoing goal is to internationalize domestic comics by operating as an agent for comic artists and selling the publishi ...

(Finland) (est. 2004) *

Torstar Syndication Services Torstar Syndication Services is an operating division of Star Media Group led by the ''Toronto Star'', Canada's largest daily newspaper. (Star Media Group is a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a Torstar Company.) Torstar Syndication ...

(Canada) (est. 1930) — King Features Syndicate's distribution partner in Canada; former names include Toronto Star Syndicate *

Tribune Content Agency Tribune Content Agency (TCA) is a syndication company owned by Tribune Publishing. TCA had previously been known as the Chicago Tribune Syndicate, the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate (CTNYNS), Tribune Company Syndicate, and Tribune Media ...

(est. 1918)Watson, Elmo Scott
"The Era of Consolidation, 1890-1920" (Chapter VII)
in ''A History Of Newspaper Syndicates In The United States, 1865-1935'' (Western Newspaper Union, 1936)

/ref> — former names include Tribune-New York (Daily) News Syndicate, Chicago Tribune Syndicate, the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate, Tribune Company Syndicate, and Tribune Media Services ** Los Angeles Times Syndicate (c. 1949–2000; acquired by

Tribune Media Services Tribune Content Agency (TCA) is a syndication company owned by Tribune Publishing. TCA had previously been known as the Chicago Tribune Syndicate, the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate (CTNYNS), Tribune Company Syndicate, and Tribune Media S ...

) — former names include Mirror Enterprises Syndicate and Los Angeles Times Mirror Syndicate *** General Features Corp. (1937–1974; acquired by the Los Angeles Times Syndicate in 1967"Times Mirror Company And General Features,"
''New York Times'' (January 4, 1967), p. 84. and absorbed into its operations in 1974) * The Washington Post Writers Group (est. 1973)

Defunct comic strip syndicates

Al Smith Feature Service Al Smith (March 21, 1902 – November 24, 1986) was an American cartoonist whose work included a long run on the comic strip '' Mutt and Jeff''. Comics historian R. C. Harvey postulates that Smith's nearly 50-year run on the strip was, at the tim ...

(1951–c. 1999) — mainly weekly strips * AP Newsfeatures (1930–1961) — owned by the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. n ...

Holtz, Allan. ''Stripper's Guide''
/ref> * Columbia Features (1953–1994) * Comx Box Comics Syndicate (2014–2018) — distributed webcomics * Frank Jay Markey Syndicate (c. 1936–c. 1950) — Markey was originally an executive at the

McNaught Syndicate The McNaught Syndicate was an American newspaper syndicate founded in 1922. It was established by Virgil Venice McNitt (who gave it his name) and Charles V. McAdam. Its best known contents were the columns by Will Rogers and O. O. McIntyre, the ...

* Lafave Newspaper Features (1931–1963) *

Ledger Syndicate The Public Ledger Syndicate (known simply as the Ledger Syndicate) was a syndication company operated by the Philadelphia '' Public Ledger'' that was in business from 1915 to circa 1950 (outlasting the newspaper itself, which ceased publishing in ...

(1915–c. 1950) — outlived its corporate owner, the Philadelphia '' Public Ledger'' *

(1966–c. 1973) — second iteration of the syndicate *

(1922–1989) ** New York City Central Press Association (1920–1922; absorbed into

) * National Newspaper Syndicate (1917–c. 1984) — formerly known as the John F. Dille Co. ** Uncle Ray Syndicate (?–1922; acquired by National Newspaper Syndicate)"Uncle Ray Syndicate is Absorbed by Chicago Newspaper Service," ''Fourth Estate'' (August 26, 1922).

References

{{reflist Print syndication

Comic strip syndicates

Defunct comic strip syndicates

See also

References