The Contra Costa Times will abandon its popular TV book in order to cut costs, Publisher and President John Armstrong (pictured) says in a memo to employees.

“The book has been a significant economic drain for several years. On September 14, the weekly TV grids will be inserted in a new Friday tabloid section that also will be devoted to movies. … We can expect push-back from some Contra Costa Times readers, but the alternative was to eliminate weekly TV grids altogether.

Armstrong also says the copy desks of the Coco Times and the Alameda Newspaper Group papers will be combined next year when a new electronic front end system is installed.