Dick Askin Set to Leave Tribune Entertainment

Dick Askin Set to Leave Tribune Entertainment

LOS ANGELES, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Dick Askin announced today that he will leave his position as President and CEO of Tribune Entertainment effective May 17, 2006.

"My time at Tribune has been one of the highlights of my professional career and I have had the good fortune to work with many exceptional people," Mr. Askin stated. "We accomplished a great deal together but I realized in the last few months that I had taken the job as far as it could go and it was time to explore the next phase of my life. I am proud to be leaving the company in very solid shape. Our industry has changed dramatically in recent years and there are now many interesting options that are available that I intend to pursue."

"Dick and I have worked together for many years and I am very appreciative of the many contributions he has made to the company," said Dennis FitzSimons, Tribune's Chairman and CEO. "Dick has expressed his desire to venture into new areas and assume increased responsibilities. I respect his position and I wish him the very best in the years ahead."

Following Mr. Askin's departure, John Reardon, President and CEO of Tribune Broadcasting will oversee Tribune Entertainment.

Mr. Askin, who also serves as Chairman and CEO of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, oversaw all development, production and distribution activities for more than 15 series, specials and movie packages, including South Park, the DreamWorks SKG film library and American Idol Rewind, one of the most eagerly anticipated first run series for the Fall. In addition, he was responsible for the historic Tribune Studios in Hollywood, the first all-digital studio lot in the United States.

Previously, Mr. Askin was President of Samuel Goldwyn Television. Before that, he held executive positions at Fries Entertainment, WNBC/New York and KNBC/Los Angeles. Beyond his Chairmanship of the Academy, he serves as a Trustee of the American Film Institute (AFI), is on the Board of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS) and a Trustee of the Entertainment Industry Council (EIC).

Tribune Entertainment, the Los Angeles-based entertainment division of The Tribune Company, holds a diverse portfolio of programming for syndication, network and cable. Tribune Entertainment has entered into a variety of distribution, production and ad sales relationships with such major partners as DreamWorks SKG, Fremantle Media North America, Hearst Entertainment, New Line Television, NBC Universal Television and Sony Pictures Television.

CONTACTS:
Gary Weitman Dick Lippin
VP/Corporate Communications The Lippin Group
Tribune Company 323-965-1990
312-222-3394 dlippin@lippingroup.comgweitman@tribune.com

Source: Tribune Entertainment

CONTACT: Gary Weitman, VP/Corporate Communications of Tribune Company,
+1-312-222-3394, gweitman@tribune.com; or Dick Lippin of The Lippin Group,
+1-323-965-1990, dlippin@lippingroup.com, for Tribune Entertainment

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