Tribune Broadcasting Responds to Frivolous Lawsuit Filed by Dish Network

CHICAGO, June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Tribune Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Tribune Media Company (NYSE: TRCO), today issued the following statement regarding a lawsuit filed against the company Monday by Dish Network:

"For almost nine days, since the expiration of the contract between our companies, Tribune Broadcasting has tried repeatedly to engage in meaningful negotiations with Dish Network," said Gary Weitman, Tribune Media's Senior Vice President for Corporate Relations.  "Instead, Dish has run to a courthouse to wage its campaign of delay and distraction, rather than sit down at the negotiating table and come to terms on a new contract. This lawsuit is baseless and we will respond to it in court.  But it does nothing to restore service to millions of Dish subscribers in our markets across the country, which should be Dish's primary concern. 

"Throughout this process we have repeatedly offered Dish an extension through August 31, 2016, which Dish has continually rejected.  We are exploring every avenue to get a deal done quickly.  Meanwhile, millions of Dish subscribers in our markets across the country missed Games 5, 6 and 7 of an exciting and historic NBA finals, Game 6 of the NHL Finals, this past weekend's U.S. Open Golf Tournament, and multiple baseball games involving the New York Yankees and Mets, and the Chicago White Sox and Cubs." 

"This is typical for Dish Network," Weitman continued. "Dish constantly puts itself before the needs of its subscribers and our local viewers.  Dish has forced other station groups and cable networks off its distribution system 15 times in the last three years—it's one of the reasons the company has lost more than 150,000 subscribers in the last year alone."

Tribune Broadcasting's 42 owned or operated television stations, which reach more than 50 million households across the United States, were forced off Dish Network's satellite distribution system on June 12, when the contract between Tribune Broadcasting and Dish expired.  At the same time, roughly 7 million Dish subscribers nationwide also lost access to WGN America, Tribune's basic entertainment cable network and the home of hit shows "Underground" and "Outsiders."

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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