SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                    Washington, D.C.   20549


                             FORM 8-K

                         CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
                               1934

              Date of Report:  August 22, 1996


                         GANNETT CO., INC.
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                 1-6961                    16-0442930
(State or other       (Commission              (IRS Employer
 jurisdiction          File Number)           Identification No.)
 of incorporation)


         1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia  22234

         (Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

    Registrant's telephone number, including area code (703) 284-6000


ITEM 2.  DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

        Pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated July 9, 1996 among
Gannett Co., Inc., Combined Communications Corporation, Gannett Transit, Inc.,
Shelter Media Communications, Inc., Gannett International Communications, Inc.,
and Outdoor Systems, Inc., on August 22, 1996 Gannett Co., Inc. and its
affiliates sold substantially all of the assets of its Outdoor Division to
Outdoor Systems, Inc. Outdoor Systems, Inc. also exercised an option to buy
Gannett Outdoor's operations in Houston, Texas, subject to obtaining applicable
governmental approvals.  The purchase price for the Outdoor Division, including
the Houston operations, is approximately $710 million in cash.  The purchase
price, subject to a working capital adjustment, was arrived at through
negotiations between Gannett Co., Inc. and Outdoor Systems, Inc.


ITEM  7.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(a) Pro forma financial information.

   (1)  Unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed balance sheet as of
June 30, 1996 and the unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed statements
of operations for the year ended December 31, 1995 and the six months ended
June 30, 1996 (filed as an exhibit hereto).

(c) Exhibits.

    See Exhibit Index for list of exhibits.


                            SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                GANNETT CO., INC.



Dated:   August 22, 1996

By:        /s/Thomas L. Chapple
           -----------------------
                Thomas L. Chapple,
                Senior Vice President,
                General Counsel and Secretary


                           Exhibit Index


Exhibit
Number    Title or Description                            Location
- -----     --------------------                            ----------------
   2      Asset Purchase Agreement among Gannett          Incorporated by
          Co., Inc., Combined Communications              reference to
          Corporation, Gannett Transit, Inc., Shelter     Exhibit 99-3 to
          Media Communications, Inc., Gannett             Form 8-K filed
          International Communications, Inc., and         July 10, 1996.
          Outdoor Systems, Inc.

  99-1    Unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed      Attached.
          balance sheet as of June 30, 1996 and the
          unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed
          statements of earnings for the year ended
          December 31, 1995 and the six month period
          ended June 30, 1996.



                                                        Exhibit 99-1



       UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


     The following unaudited pro forma financial statements give effect to the
exchange of approximately $700 million in cash by Outdoor Systems, Inc. for
substantially all of Gannett Co., Inc.'s outdoor advertising business.  The
transaction involves the sale of assets of certain of the Company's outdoor
subsidiaries and the sale of stock of certain other outdoor subsidiaries.
In addition, Outdoor Systems, Inc. has an option to purchase the Company's
remaining outdoor business in Houston, TX for approximately $10 million.

     The unaudited pro forma balance sheet presents the financial position of
Gannett as of June 30, 1996, assuming that the sale had occurred as
of that date.  Such pro forma information is based on the historical balance
sheet of the Company at June 30, 1996.

     As required by rule 11-02 of regulation S-X, the unaudited pro forma
statements of income have been prepared assuming that the sale
occurred as of the beginning of the earliest period presented.  The unaudited
pro forma statements of income reflect the historical results of operations for
Gannett for its fiscal year ended 1995 and the first six months of 1996.  The
1995 statement also includes the eleven month pro forma effect of the Company's
1995 acquisition of Multimedia, as discussed in note 2 to the financial
statements filed with the Company's 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

      The unaudited pro forma financial statements give effect to certain pro
forma adjustments which are described in the notes to these statements.
Nonrecurring charges related to the transaction are not reflected in the
unaudited pro forma financial statements because they are insignificant.

     The unaudited pro forma data is presented for informational purposes only
and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations or financial
position which would have been achieved had this transaction been completed as
of the date indicated, nor is it necessarily indicative of Gannett's future
results of operations or financial position.

     The unaudited pro forma financial statements should be read in conjunction
with the historical financial statements of the Company, including the related
notes thereto.





                                          GANNETT CO., INC.
                              UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
                                           JUNE 30, 1996

                                                               Sale of
Outdoor Pro Forma Pro Forma (In thousands) Gannett Business Adjustments Balance Sheet ASSETS Cash and marketable securities $ 33,325 $ (517) $ 32,808 Accounts receivable, net 569,604 (56,435) 513,169 Inventories 105,957 (1,410) 104,547 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 113,955 (25,400) 88,555 --------- ------- ------- --------- Total Current Assets 822,841 (83,762) 739,079 Property, plant and equipment, net 2,066,505 (136,338) 1,930,167 Other assets 3,548,134 (19,671) 3,528,463 --------- ------- ------- --------- Total Assets $6,437,480 $(239,771) $6,197,709 ========= ======= ======= ========= LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY Current maturities of Long-term debt $ 281 $ 0 $ 281 Accounts payable and current portion of film contracts payable 212,429 (13,652) 198,777 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 343,589 (10,590) 332,999 Dividends payable 50,781 0 50,781 Income taxes 57,034 0 57,034 --------- ------- ------- --------- Total Current Liabilities 664,114 (24,242) 639,872 Deferred income taxes 319,120 (6,856) (14,500)(2) 297,764 Long-term debt, less current portion 2,703,891 0 $(493,000)(1) 2,210,891 Postretirement medical and life insurance liabilities 307,729 0 307,729 Other long-term liabilities 140,522 (349) 140,173 Total Shareholders' equity 2,302,104 (208,324) 507,500 (1) 2,601,280 --------- ------- ------- --------- Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $6,437,480 $(239,771) $ 0 $6,197,709 ========= ======= ======= =========
See accompanying notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements. GANNETT CO., INC. UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED STATEMENT OF INCOME SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996
Sale of Pro Forma (In thousands except Outdoor Pro Forma Statement per share data) Gannett Business Adjustments of Income NET OPERATING REVENUES: Newspapers $1,618,542 $1,618,542 Broadcasting 317,994 317,994 Cable 95,246 95,246 Other 281,038 $(120,947) 160,091 --------- ------- --------- Total Operating Revenues 2,312,820 (120,947) 2,191,873 --------- ------- --------- OPERATING COSTS: Total operating expenses, exclusive of depreciation & amortization 1,657,945 (101,519) 1,556,426 Depreciation 106,193 (8,115) 98,078 Amortization of intangible assets 48,520 (388) 48,132 --------- ------- --------- Total Operating Expenses 1,812,658 (110,022) 1,702,636 --------- ------- --------- Total Operating Income/Loss 500,162 (10,925) 489,237 --------- ------- --------- NON-OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSE): Interest expense (77,931) $13,568 (1) (64,363) Other income (expense) (2,240) (2,240) --------- ------- ------ --------- Total Non-operating (80,171) 13,568 (66,603) --------- ------- ------ --------- Income Before Income Taxes 419,991 (10,925) 13,568 422,634 Provision for/benefit of Income Taxes (180,625) 4,261 (5,292)(2) (181,656) --------- ------- ------ --------- Net Income $ 239,366 $ (6,664) $ 8,276 $ 240,978 ========= ======= ====== ========= Net Income Per Share $1.70 ($0.05) $0.06 $1.71 Average Number of Outstanding Shares 140,763 140,763 140,763 140,763
See accompanying notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements. GANNETT CO., INC. UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
Sale of Pro Forma (In thousands except Multimedia Outdoor Pro Forma Statement per share data) Gannett Pro Forma (*) Subtotal Business Adjustments of Income NET OPERATING REVENUES: Newspapers $3,088,423 $150,684 $3,239,107 $3,239,107 Broadcasting 466,187 144,412 610,599 610,599 Cable 15,061 159,581 174,642 174,642 Other 437,065 153,832 590,897 $(253,841) 337,056 --------- ------- --------- ------- --------- Total Operating Revenues 4,006,736 608,509 4,615,245 (253,841) 4,361,404 --------- ------- --------- ------- --------- OPERATING COSTS: Total operating expenses, exclusive of depreciation & amortization 2,944,898 374,623 3,319,521 (209,201) 3,110,320 Depreciation 159,657 53,473 213,130 (15,900) 197,230 Amortization of intangible assets 50,298 48,059 98,357 (776) 97,581 --------- ------- --------- ------- --------- Total Operating Expenses 3,154,853 476,155 3,631,008 (225,877) 3,405,131 --------- ------- --------- ------- --------- Total Operating Income 851,883 132,354 984,237 (27,964) 956,273 --------- ------- --------- ------- --------- NON-OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSE): Interest expense (52,175) (154,570) (206,745) $29,486 (1) (177,259) Other income (expense) 3,754 417 4,171 4,171 --------- ------- --------- ------- ------ --------- Total Non-operating (48,421) (154,153) (202,574) 29,486 (173,088) --------- ------- --------- ------- ------ --------- Income Before Income Taxes 803,462 (21,799) 781,663 (27,964) 29,486 783,185 Provision for/benefit of Income Taxes (326,200) (7,600) (333,800) 10,906 (11,500)(2) (334,394) --------- ------- --------- ------- ------ --------- Net Income $ 477,262 $(29,399) $ 447,863 $ (17,058) $17,986 $ 448,791 ========= ======= ========= ======= ====== ========= Net Income Per Share $3.41 ($0.21) $3.20 ($0.12) $0.13 $3.21 Average Number of Outstanding Shares 139,968 139,968 139,968 139,968 139,968 139,968
* In December, 1995, the Company completed the acquisition of Multimedia, Inc ("Multimedia"). The amounts in this column reflect the estimated results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries as though the Multimedia acquisition was made at the beginning of the year in which the transaction was consummated along with the related costs of financing the acquisition and the additional goodwill and depreciation expense associated with the purchase. Refer to note 2 of the Company's financial statements filed with its 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information concerning this acquisition. See accompanying notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements. NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Note 1 - Basis of Presentation The unaudited pro forma balance sheet has been prepared to reflect the sale of the Company's outdoor advertising business for an aggregate price of approximately $700 million in cash. The unaudited pro forma balance sheet presents the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 1996 assuming that the transaction occurred as of that date. Such pro forma information is based on the historical balance sheet of Gannett as of June 30, 1996, adjusted for the effects of the sale. As required by rule 11-02 of regulation S-X, the unaudited pro forma statements of income have been prepared assuming that the sale occurred as of the beginning of the earliest period presented. The unaudited pro forma statements of income reflect the historical results of operations for Gannett for its fiscal year ended 1995 and first six months of 1996. The 1995 pro forma statement of income also includes the eleven month pro forma effect of the Company's 1995 acquisition of Multimedia, as presented in note 2 to the financial statements filed with the Company's 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company believes that the assumptions used in preparing the unaudited pro forma financial statements provide a reasonable basis for presenting all of the significant effects of the sale and that the pro forma adjustments give effect to those assumptions in the unaudited pro forma financial statements. Note 2 - Pro forma Adjustments A. Pro forma adjustments to the unaudited condensed balance sheet are made to reflect the following: (1) Adjustment to reflect the pay down of long-term debt from the after-tax proceeds of the sale. The proceeds are reduced by the tax on the estimated gain on sale of the business, using a combined federal and state tax rate of 39% (2) Adjustment to reflect payment of net deferred taxes related to the outdoor advertising business. B. Pro forma adjustments to the June 30, 1996 unaudited condensed statement of income are made to reflect the following: (1) Reduction in interest expense due to pay down of long-term debt from the after-tax proceeds of the sale. The rate used to calculate the reduction in interest expense is based on the weighted average rate paid by Gannett for commercial paper during the six-month period ended June 30, 1996. (2) Record income tax effect of pro forma adjustments described in item 1. C. Pro forma adjustments to the December 31, 1995 unaudited condensed combined statement of income are made to reflect the following: (1) Reduction in interest expense due to pay down of long-term debt from net proceeds of the sale. The rate used to calculate the reduction in interest expense is based on the weighted average rate paid by Gannett for commercial paper during the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 1995. (2) Record income tax effect of pro forma adjustment in item 1.