Tribune Broadcasting Stations, Tribune Entertainment Company and Sony Pictures Television Pact to Co-Develop and Co-Produce Syndicated Programming

5/4/05 7:27 PM

(NYSE:TRB), Tribune Entertainment Company and Sony Pictures Television (SPT) have entered into a new agreement to develop and produce first-run syndicated programs. The co-venture will debut a daytime program on the Tribune group of television stations in the fall of 2006.

�This agreement reflects our strategy of partnering with programmers to develop and produce projects specifically for Tribune television stations,� said Pat Mullen, Tribune Broadcasting president. �We look forward to working with Sony Pictures Television.�

�We recognize that in this vertically-integrated marketplace, succeeding in syndication requires a collaborative, targeted approach that meets the needs of stations,� said John Weiser, president, distribution, SPT. �We�re excited about this opportunity with Tribune, which is a perfect example of this strategy.�

�Knowing we have a launch group for our upcoming development is a tremendous leg up for us this season,� said Melanie Chilek, senior vice president, development and syndicated programming, SPT. �Together with our partners at Tribune, we will be aggressively out in the creative community.�

Tribune Broadcasting owns and operates 26 television stations concentrated in major markets and Superstation WGN on national cable. The group's combined reach is more than 80 percent of U.S. television households. Tribune Broadcasting also includes Los Angeles-based Tribune Entertainment, a developer and distributor of first-run television programming for the Tribune station group and for national syndication; Chicago's WGN-AM; and the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Investment interests include Comcast SportsNet Chicago (25% owned), The WB Television Network (22%) and TV Food Network (31%).

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry�s leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment for network and cable television, as well as first-run and off-network series for syndication. With more than 25 programs on the air, SPT boasts a program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Sony Pictures Television, Advertiser Sales, is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT syndicated series. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.