From StockSpot email.................
**Agreement with Tribune Broadcasting Launches the Tube Music Network into 22 New Markets**
Thursday March 9, 8:43 am ET
Broadcast Media Powerhouse Among First to Deliver Programming On New Digital Multicast Spectrum
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 2006--Les Garland, President and CEO, The Tube Music Network, announced a distribution agreement today with Tribune Broadcasting Company, a division of Tribune Company, one of the country's leading broadcast television companies, operating 26 television stations in 22 markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston and Miami.
This new strategic partnership is the second of its kind for THE TUBE, following a distribution agreement made with Raycom Media Inc. announced in April 2005.
"This agreement with Tribune Broadcasting greatly expands our reach. Tribune Broadcasting is well established in the industry with stations in nine of the country's top 10 markets, and 18 of the top 30. This landmark agreement firmly positions us at the forefront of the digital multicast era and enables us to marry innovative content with ground-breaking technology, delivering real benefit to the consumer," said Garland, one of the pioneers of the music television genre who co-founded MTV, VH-1 and The Box.
THE TUBE is the first music network to be distributed using a new broadcast technology known as digital multicasting. Viewers in Tribune, Raycom and other television markets will be able to receive the network free, over-the-air on television sets equipped with digital tuners and on the digital cable tier where available.
THE TUBE Music Network is a pure, music network that features a bold fusion of the best artists, the best songs and the best images of all time. The playlist reflects the music of some of the biggest touring acts in America today, including The Rolling Stones, U2, The Dave Matthews Band, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, Elton John, Prince and Rod Stewart; mixed with newer artists such as Norah Jones, Coldplay, Jack Johnson, James Blunt, Alicia Keys and John Mayer. There are no reality shows, award shows or game shows on THE TUBE and the viewer response to this new format has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
Further differentiating THE TUBE Music Network will be the ability for viewers to purchase the music they see and hear on THE TUBE immediately, whether online or on the phone.
"We're excited to be partnering with THE TUBE Music Network in our first multicast initiative," said John Reardon, President, Tribune Broadcasting. "This agreement allows us to capitalize on our stations' digital broadcast capabilities and provide enhanced content to viewers in our markets."
Tribune stations will begin broadcasting THE TUBE Music Network programming in local markets this summer.
Paul McTear, CEO, Raycom Media, said, "This agreement with Tribune underscores our initial belief and support of THE TUBE Music Network. We are committed to our role in propelling THE TUBE into becoming the most watched music network on television and to that end we plan to offer the network on 13 new stations we recently acquired through Liberty Media."
THE TUBE Music Network is a wholly-owned subsidiary of THE TUBE MEDIA CORPORATION (OTCBB:TUBM - News).
ABOUT TRIBUNE BROADCASTING COMPANY
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%).
Attention Media: there will be a conference call at 10:30 a.m., EST March 9, to discuss this announcement. Please dial in to 866-365-4406 then dial 4228535# (pound). Press are asked to call in at 10:20 a.m. (EST) so we may get a list of reporters and set up a Q&A schedule to accommodate everyone.
Media wishing to view the "look" of The Tube Music Network can access a sampling at thetubetv.com.
News stations wishing to access broadcast-ready hi-resolution footage, as well as a brief interview with the Tube Music Network President and CEO, Les Garland, running a total length of 10:25, can access it at: Galaxy 3C C09, 95 degrees, DL freq. 3880 Horizontal.
Times are: Thursday, March 9th, 16:45-17:00 EST, Friday, March 10th, 10:30-10:45 EST.
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