Tribune Advises Dish Subscribers of Possible Service Interruptions

CHICAGO, June 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tribune Broadcasting's television stations, reaching more than 50 million households in 33 markets across the United States, have begun informing Dish subscribers that they may lose the local news, traffic, weather, sports and entertainment programming provided by the company's 42 television stations at 7 p.m. ET tomorrow, when the contract between Tribune Broadcasting and Dish expires.  At the same time, roughly 7 million Dish subscribers nationwide also may lose access to WGN America, Tribune's basic entertainment cable network and the home of hit shows "Underground" and "Outsiders."  

"We want to reach an agreement with Dish," said Gary Weitman, Tribune Media's senior vice president for corporate relations.  "We've offered the same fair market rates that Dish already pays other local station groups with ABC, CBS, NBC and CW affiliates with top-rated local news, and other similarly valued cable networks.  At the same time, we're willing to accept the same rates for our local stations and WGN America that others are currently paying us.  Dish has refused our offer." 

In the past three years alone, Dish has forced twelve television station groups and cable networks off its distribution system.

"Our offer demonstrates that we want to continue servicing our local communities.   However, we are less than 36 hours from the deadline to reach an agreement with Dish, just as we have done with every one of our other cable, satellite and telco distributors.  Dish, however, is notorious for taking other broadcasters and cable networks off their system rather than agree to market rates.  We want to make sure that Dish subscribers who rely us for news, traffic, weather and live sports are aware that they may lose it all, along with losing access to WGN America."

Dish subscribers in Indianapolis, Richmond, Memphis, and three other markets are at risk of not being able to watch tomorrow's Tony awards, celebrating Broadway's "Hamilton."  Sports fans could be severely impacted by potential service disruptions.  Subscribers in New Orleans, Scranton/Wilkes Barre and the Quad Cities could lose access to Game 5 of the NBA finals tomorrow; subscribers in Des Moines and Oklahoma City could be forced to go without access to the Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals tomorrow.  DISH subscribers in New York could lose access to Mets and Yankees games on WPIX-TV, and subscribers in Chicago would lose access to White Sox and Cubs games on WGN-TV.              

Websites and toll free numbers in each market have been established to enable Dish subscribers to register their concern about losing their local stations (list follows).

Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO) is home to a diverse portfolio of television and digital properties driven by quality news, entertainment and sports programming. Tribune Media is comprised of Tribune Broadcasting's 42 owned or operated local television stations reaching more than 50 million households, national entertainment network WGN America, whose reach is approaching 80 million households, Tribune Studios, and Gracenote, one of the world's leading sources of video, music and sports metadata, powering electronic program guides in televisions, automobiles and mobile devices. Tribune Media also includes Chicago's WGN-AM and the national multicast networks Antenna TV and THIS TV. Additionally, the Company owns and manages a significant number of real estate properties across the U.S. and holds other strategic investments in media. For more information please visit www.tribunemedia.com.

SOURCE Tribune Media Company

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