• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, March 19, 2010

Content providers may be circumspect about what to do with the coming iPad tablet. Not USA Today, which has secured a rather un-Internet-like, dual-revenue stream as it debuts.

The paper will employ a subscription model, while a deal with Marriott has the hotel chain funding its iPad presence from day one. The sponsorship will last for the first four months after the device's April debut.

It's unclear what Marriott's relationship will involve, such as inventory on the USA Today locale or other benefits. Efforts to contact the paper's parent Gannett and Marriott were not successful Friday.

But Marriott's underwriting through July 4 will "do a lot to get ... our designs in front of many, many people," according to David Hunke, USA Today's president and publisher.

Gannett executives said Apple reached out to the publisher to debut on the tablet when it goes live on April 3.

"Our guys were very excited about the opportunity -- we will be there," said Hunke in a gathering with analysts last week. "It will be classic, very unique USA Today design that was built for this device, as it was for the iPhone in a previous generation."

Apple did not return a call or email inquiries.

Also during the analyst meeting, Gannett said its station group will be insulated from networks' efforts to capture some of the retransmission consent revenues its affiliates garner. Reason being, its affiliate agreements with ABC, CBS and NBC are locked in for some time.

The ABC deal that covers three stations, including Sacramento, Calif., expires in February 2014. Next comes the CBS deal for six stations, which includes the Washington, D.C. outlet and runs until the end of 2015. And its large NBC group -- 10 stations, including in Atlanta -- has an agreement that expires at the conclusion of 2016.