'WSJ' Not Ready to Challenge 'NYT' -- Says 'NYT'

That much discussed effort by Wall St. Journal to go head to head with the Times in New York--they just announced a big hiring splurge -- has run into tech delays, claims the NYT in new article. Also, story suggests they could get help -- from NYT. The problem is, they want to start publishing in April but won't have plant in use. Daily News turned them down so now Times is considering helping, for a fee. Excerpt:

Scott Heekin-Canedy, president and general manager of The Times, said, “We are in discussions with News Corp. to allow them to make use of our presses,” but refused to elaborate. “This is an advantageous business transaction and nothing more,” he said.

Industry executives said that at typical printing rates, the work would yield The Times no more than $200,000, and they questioned the logic of helping a rival for so little return. But people briefed on the discussions said the price was likely to be significantly higher.