CLTV Celebrates 15 Years as Trusted Local News Source 'Around Chicago, Around the Clock'

CLTV Celebrates 15 Years as Trusted Local News Source 'Around Chicago, Around the Clock'

24-Hour News Channel Marks Milestone with News Innovation On-Air, Online

OAK BROOK, Ill., Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- CLTV (Chicagoland Television), as it celebrates 15 years as an established part of the local media landscape, is marking the anniversary with significant investments in its news programming and operations that will position the cable news service for the future.

"We've always been a forward-thinking, future-focused news organization, so our attention right now is on the next 15 years and how we can better serve our viewers and advertisers," said Steve Farber, general manager / CLTV. "Still, it's important to acknowledge how much we've accomplished since we debuted in 1993 and the impact we've had on the local news scene."

Initially created, in part, to help extend the reach of Chicago Tribune journalism through a different medium and audience, CLTV established a newsroom model that incorporated both print and broadcast journalists -- a concept that seemed radical by the industry 15 years ago but is now widely embraced by news organizations around the country.

When it launched on January 1, 1993, CLTV was available in only 400,000 local cable homes compared to more than 1.5 million Chicagoland homes that it serves today. According to Nielsen ratings, CLTV is regularly viewed in more local households than CNN, FOX News Channel or MSNBC.

Since launch, CLTV's newsgathering operations have grown to aggressively cover breaking news and live events as they happen, during times of day when other local stations are unable to interrupt regular programming. This allows viewers to follow the news as it unfolds.

"Our mission was and continues to be to serve viewers with quality content about local stories that matter," said Jill Manuel, news director. "When you look back at the last 15 years, you can see we've really become a definitive local news source."

The pace of change continues to accelerate as the news channel heads into 2008 and makes investments for the future. Recent developments at the channel include:

-- Moving more content to the Web as viewers consume video on multiple
platforms.
-- Relaunching its Metromix entertainment show as a nightly program in
2006, underscoring CLTV's deep commitment to covering the local
entertainment scene.
-- Redefining newsroom roles as news anchors interact with viewers via
blogs and graphic designers take on responsibilities for video on the
Web.
-- Leveraging local partnerships with the launch of "Homes Plus" weekly
real estate program earlier this year and the addition of "Reel Chefs,"
a local restaurant program, to the schedule last month.
-- Preparations for extensive coverage of the Illinois primary in
February. Election coverage continues to be a cornerstone of CLTV's
commitment to local news reporting.

"As our customers' news and information needs grow, so does our need to expand and evolve as a trusted local news organization," Farber said. "CLTV will continue to make smart and thoughtful decisions about the way we cover news and how we deliver it. We look forward to the next 15 years."

(EDITOR'S NOTE: CLTV will premiere "CLTV: 15 Years and Counting" on Friday, December 28 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. It will be rerun frequently on the channel through January 1.)

About CLTV

CLTV (Chicagoland Television) is Chicagoland's premier 24-hour news channel, providing the area with local news, weather, sports and entertainment programming. Since 1993, CLTV has been the trusted source for up-to-the-minute news and information both on-air -- exclusively through Comcast cable -- and online at http://www.cltv.com/.

About Chicago Tribune Company

Chicago Tribune Company publishes the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper with daily readership of about 1.8 million and about 2.6 million on Sunday. The company also operates related print and interactive media serving Chicagoland. Chicago Tribune is the founding publication of Tribune Company, one of the country's leading media companies, operating businesses in broadcasting, publishing and on the Internet.

For more information, contact:

Michael Dizon (312) 222-3165

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Chicago Tribune Company

CONTACT: Michael Dizon for Chicago Tribune Company, +1-312-222-3165

Web site:

http://chicagotribune.com/
http://www.cltv.com/

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