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Tribune
Broadcasting Stations, Tribune Entertainment Company and
Sony Pictures Television Pact to Co-develop and Co-produce
Syndicated Programming
Series to Debut Fall 2006
CHICAGO and CULVER CITY, CA.,
May 4, 2005 -- Tribune Broadcasting
stations (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."
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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.
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