WGN AMERICA CONTINUES ITS RATINGS AND DISTRIBUTION MOMENTUM, RISING +16% IN TOTAL VIEWERS AND +14% IN ADULTS 25-54 YEAR-OVER-YEAR IN PRIME, FUELED BY HIT SERIES 'OUTSIDERS' AND 'UNDERGROUND'

Season two of "Outsiders" debuts on Tuesday, January 24 at 9:00 PM ET/PT

Season two of "Underground" debuts on Wednesday, March 8 at 10:00 PM ET/PT

Network Releases New Teaser Trailer for the Groundbreaking Underground Railroad Thriller, "Underground"

"Outsiders" to Offer After-Show for Highly Anticipated Second Season

Pasadena, CA, January 13, 2017 - Continuing its momentum, WGN America scored double-digit, year-over-year ratings growth, increasing +16% in Total Viewers and +14% among Adults 25-54 in prime, led by hit originals "Outsiders" and "Underground," both captivating viewers with strong storytelling and socially relevant themes. "Outsiders" season two premieres Tuesday, January 24 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, with an after-show for fans of the riveting drama that taps into the struggles of small town America. The network also unveiled a teaser for the highly anticipated second season of the critically acclaimed Underground Railroad thriller "Underground," premiering Wednesday, March 8 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Currently available in 80 million homes, the network is set to expand its distribution by nearly three million homes this month. The announcement was made today by Matt Cherniss, President and General Manager, WGN America and Tribune Studios, at the network's presentation to the Television Critics Association at their Winter Press Tour at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena.

"We have grown our primetime audience, expanded distribution and elevated the network as a destination for programming that explores what it means to live in America today," said Cherniss. "This past year we posted our highest gains since launching our original programming strategy, and that's a strong testament to the popularity of our two newest originals 'Outsiders' and 'Underground.'"

The first season of "Underground" averaged 3 million Total Viewers in Live + 3 delivery, with the premiere shattering records as the most watched original program for the network in nearly 18 years. The series also set Twitter ablaze as the #1 most social cable drama on Wednesday nights. "Outsiders'" freshman season averaged a remarkable 2.8 million Total Viewers, and this season, the world of the Farrells expands with a next-day after-show, available on theStream.tv, as well as the official "Outsiders" Facebook page and YouTube channel.

"Outsiders" Season Two

Premieres TUESDAY, January 24 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

The addictive and compelling drama explores the epic struggle of the Farrell Clan, who have lived atop the rugged Shay Mountain for over two hundred years, and their battle to defend their land and way of life from the town below. Last season the uneasy truce that had generally existed between the townspeople and the family tribe came to an abrupt end when Big Coal headed up the mountain. In season two, the standoff continues to have repercussions, putting everyone to the test as they're forced to face new challenges and enemies as the conflict between the clan and the town escalates with the Farrells becoming more isolated than ever before.

The ensemble cast for "Outsiders" includes: David Morse ("Treme," Concussion) as Big Foster; Ryan Hurst ("Sons of Anarchy," "Bates Motel"), as Lil Foster; Thomas M. Wright ("The Bridge," "Top of the Lake") as Sheriff T. Wade Houghton; Gillian Alexy ("The Americans," "Damages") as G'Winveer; Kyle Gallner (American Sniper, "Veronica Mars") as Hasil; Christina Jackson ("Boardwalk Empire," "Deception") as Sally-Ann; Joe Anderson ("The Divide," Across the Universe) as Asa; Francie Swift ("Hostages," "House of Cards") as Haylie Grimes; and Rebecca Harris ("The Good Wife," "Sex and the City") as Ledda.

Hailing from Sony Pictures Television, "Outsiders," is created and written by award-winning playwright Peter Mattei, who executive produces alongside Fedora Entertainment's Emmy(R) Award-winner Peter Tolan ("Rescue Me," Analyze This) and Michael Wimer (2012, "Rake"), and Touchy Feely Films' Emmy(R) Award-winner Paul Giamatti ("John Adams," Sideways) and Daniel Carey (All Is Bright).

"Underground" Season Two

Premieres WEDNESDAY, March 8 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

Season two of the 10-episode, hour-long series follows an unremitting struggle for freedom within a divided America on the brink of civil war, each side vying to enact their own justice. Set in the aftermath of the Macon 7's daring attempt to stage the greatest escape in history, this group of American heroes continues on their harrowing journey to freedom, with legendary abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

The celebrated "Underground" cast includes: Jurnee Smollett-Bell ("Friday Night Lights," The Great Debaters), Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton, Hidden Figures), Jessica de Gouw ("Arrow," "Dracula"), Alano Miller (Loving, "Atlanta"), Christopher Meloni ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Amirah Vann ("Girls," And So It Goes) and Marc Blucas ("Blue Bloods").

History truly comes to life this season with guest stars Aisha Hinds ("Under the Dome," Star Trek Into Darkness) in the pioneering role of Harriet Tubman and Academy Award(R) and Golden Globe(R) winner and ten-time Grammy Award(R) winning singer-songwriter John Legend as renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Additional guest stars include Jasika Nicole ("Fringe," "Scandal"), DeWanda Wise ("Shots Fired"), Michael Trotter ("Rosewood"), Jesse Luken ("Justified," 42) and Sadie Stratton ("Code Black," "Boy Meets World").

From Sony Pictures Television, "Underground" is created and written by Misha Green ("Sons of Anarchy," "Heroes") and Joe Pokaski ("Heroes," "Daredevil"), who serve as Executive Producers alongside Emmy-winning director Anthony Hemingway ("The People v. O.J. Simpson," "Treme"); Academy Award-winning writer Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, I Am Legend) of Weed Road Pictures; Tory Tunnell (King Arthur, Holy Rollers) and Joby Harold (King Arthur, Edge of Tomorrow) of Safehouse Pictures; John Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius of Get Lifted Film Co (La La Land, Southside with You); and Mark Taylor ("MadTV"). Season two of the gripping original drama wrapped production last month in Savannah, Georgia.

WGN America's "Underground" was recently honored with a number of recognitions including four NAACP Image Awards nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Amirah Vann) and Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series (Anthony Hemingway). Additionally, the African American Film Critics Association named "Underground" as Best TV Show (Cable/New Media) and the second highest show overall for 2016, and is also honoring Director Anthony Hemmingway with their 2017 Horizon Award. The series was nominated for a TCA Award for Outstanding New Program by the Television Critics Association and is a finalist for the Cynopsis TV Awards in the categories of Best New TV Drama, Best TV Drama, Best Series Writing, and Best Showrunner.

"Underground" was the first public program presented at the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The series was honored with Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News' Diversity in Television & Video Award and won three CableFax Awards, including Best New Program, Best Historical Show/Series and Best Showrunners, Misha Green and Joe Pokaski.

WGN America and Tribune Studios

WGN America, the flagship entertainment network of Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO) is nationally distributed in nearly 80 million homes via cable, satellite and telco, with high-quality entertainment programming including the breakout hit series "Outsiders," "Underground" and "Salem." The network also brings its audience a strong slate of popular first-run syndicated series and blockbuster movies. Through Tribune Studios, the creative development arm of Tribune Media, original content is produced for WGN America and Tribune local stations nationwide. Follow the network on Twitter @wgnamerica. For additional information, please visit www.wgnamerica.com.

Sony Pictures Television

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers, producing and distributing programming worldwide in every genre and for every platform. In addition to managing one of the industry's largest libraries of award-winning feature films, television shows and formats, SPT is home to a thriving US production business and operates 17 wholly-owned or joint venture production companies in 13 countries around the world. SPT's worldwide networks portfolio includes 150 channel feeds, which are available in 178 countries reaching more than 1.3 billion cumulative households worldwide. Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company.