Citing a person familiar with the matter, The Boston Globe is reporting that The New York Times Co. is actively attempting to end its days as a minority owner of the Red Sox.

According to the report, investors have been pushing the media company to sell some noncore assets to help offset the struggles that have been created by declining advertising revenues.

At a cost of $75 million in 2002, The Times Co. bought 17.5 percent in New England Sports Ventures LLC, the holding company that owns the Sox, Fenway Park, and 80 percent of the New England Sports Network.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported that this share in the Red Sox could be sold for $200 million. But citing the existence as a minority owner and the nation's current financial problems, Marc Ganis, a Chicago sports consultant, told The Globe that the selling price would likely be closer to $100 million than $200 million.

"It's a bad economic climate to be selling an illiquid asset," Ganis told The Globe. "Who knows? They may take $60 million or $70 million in cash and call it a deal because that is the best they can get and because they need the cash."

The Globe's report also indicated that the Times Co. may want to make a quick sale because of the presence of a $400 million revolving credit facility that expires in May.

Along with The New York Times, the Times Co. owns The Boston Globe, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, the International Herald Tribune, About.com, and 16 smaller papers.