Tribune Media
- Company typePublic
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Tribune Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tribune Media
- Legal name
- Tribune Media Company
- Website
- https://tribunemedia.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tribune Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Broadcast Television Media
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841), Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Entertainment Cable Networks (MPABAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAA)
Keywords
Where Tribune Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Tribune Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising Revenue: Local and national television advertising including political advertising during election cycles
- Retransmission Consent Fees: Fees collected from cable, satellite, and telco distributors for carrying broadcast television station signals
- Cable Network Carriage Fees: Fees from cable and satellite providers for carriage of WGN America national cable network
- Digital and Data Services: Revenue from digital properties including Gracenote metadata services and online platforms
- Equity Investments: Cash distributions from equity method investments including 31% interest in TV Food Network (Food Network and Cooking Channel)
- Real Estate: Rental revenues from owned office and production facilities and real estate properties across the U.S.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Tribune Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tribune Media was a diversified broadcast and digital media company that operated 42 owned or operated local television stations reaching over 50 million U.S. households, the WGN America national cable entertainment network reaching 71-77 million households, WGN Radio in Chicago, and digital multicast networks Antenna TV and THIS TV. The company generated revenue from local and national television advertising, retransmission consent fees paid by cable/satellite/telco distributors, cable network carriage fees, and digital properties including Gracenote metadata services and Covers.com sports betting information.
Product overview
Tribune Media was a diversified media company operating primarily as a broadcast television and digital media platform. Its core portfolio included Tribune Broadcasting (42 local television stations reaching 50+ million households with network affiliations including FOX, CBS, ABC, NBC, CW), WGN America (national cable entertainment network reaching 71-77 million households featuring original programming like 'Salem' and 'Manhattan'), WGN Radio (Chicago AM radio station since 1924), and multicast networks Antenna TV and THIS TV. The company also owned Tribune Studios (content production), Gracenote (metadata service for TV/music EPGs), Tribune Digital Ventures (websites including Covers.com, Zap2it, TVByTheNumbers), and held a 31% stake in TV Food Network. The company was acquired by Nexstar Media Group in September 2019 for approximately $7.2 billion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WGN America: National entertainment cable network reaching approximately 71-77 million households, featuring original programming including Salem, Manhattan, and syndicated series
- WGN Radio
- Antenna TV
- THIS TV
- Tribune Studios
- Tribune Digital Ventures
- Tribune Broadcasting
Products and services
- Tribune Broadcasting Division operating 42 owned or operated local television stations across major U.S. markets, affiliated with FOX, CBS, ABC, NBC, CW, and MyNetworkTV, reaching approximately 50 million households. Targeted at viewers and advertisers seeking local broadcast reach.
- WGN America National entertainment cable network reaching approximately 71-77 million U.S. households, featuring original scripted series like 'Salem' and 'Manhattan' and syndicated programming including 'Person of Interest', 'Elementary', and 'Blue Bloods'. Targeted at cable/satellite subscribers.
- WGN Radio Chicago-based AM radio station (720 AM, 50,000 watts) operating since 1924, broadcasting news, talk, and sports programming including Northwestern athletics. Targeted at Chicago-area listeners.
- Antenna TV National multicast digital television network featuring classic television programming from MGM's library of over 4,000 movie titles. Targeted at classic TV viewers.
- THIS TV National multicast digital television network co-managed with MGM Television featuring movies from MGM's vast library. Targeted at classic movie viewers.
- Tribune Studios Creative development arm producing original content for WGN America and Tribune local stations nationwide. Targeted at internal content needs and syndication partners.
- Gracenote TV and music metadata service powering electronic program guides in televisions, automobiles, and mobile devices. Acquired in January 2014 as part of Tribune's Digital and Data segment. Targeted at device manufacturers and media platforms.
- Covers.com Online sports betting information platform providing betting trends and odds as part of Covers Media Group owned by Tribune Media. Targeted at sports betting consumers and researchers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reaching approximately 39% of U.S. television households
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Tribune Media
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tribune Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Tribune Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Nexstar Media GroupcoreNexstar Media Group completed acquisition of Tribune Media in September 2019 for approximately $7.2 billion including debt assumption. The transaction created the nation's largest local television broadcaster. Tribune Media was absorbed into Nexstar with three former Tribune senior executives joining Nexstar's management team.
- Chicago Entertainment Ventures (Chicago Cubs)minorChicago Entertainment Ventures, LLC, the Cubs' parent company, purchased Tribune Media's remaining 5% membership interests in WGN-Plus/CMAC (Cablevision McGraw-Hill Acquisition Company).
- ART19coreTribune Media partnered with ART19 as its official podcasting partner. ART19 provides cutting-edge technology and services for Tribune Media's expansive audio network.
- Sinclair Broadcast GroupminorTribune Media had a previously announced transaction with Sinclair Broadcast Group that was terminated. Tribune Media filed a lawsuit for breach of contract regarding the terminated merger agreement.
- Ball State UniversityminorWTTV CBS4 partnered with Ball State University to help increase social media audience. College students gained experience creating branding strategies for social media.
- Northwestern AthleticsminorFour-year broadcast rights holder extension keeping Wildcats football and men's basketball on WGN Radio AM-720.
- RentrakcoreAgreement for Rentrak to provide full suite of local market ratings services including automotive and political Advanced Demographics for all Tribune Broadcasting television stations in 33 markets. Tribune stations had been using Rentrak in Cleveland and Des Moines since 2012.
- ABC TelevisioncoreComprehensive long-term affiliation agreement renewal covering WGNO-TV (New Orleans), WQAD-TV (Davenport, Rock Island, Moline), and WNEP-TV (Wilkes Barre) through Dreamcatcher Broadcasting.
- MGM Television (THIS TV)coreTribune Broadcasting and MGM Television joined forces for new programming operations relationship for THIS TV, the 24/7 free digital network featuring movies from MGM's library of over 4,000 titles.
- 21st Century FoxcoreMulti-year extension of FOX affiliation in Seattle with KCPQ-TV station.
- CBS CorporationcoreComprehensive long-term agreement renewing existing affiliation agreements and giving CBS a new home in Indianapolis (WTTV). Renewed all existing affiliation agreements for stations nationwide.
- Local TV HoldingscoreTribune acquired Local TV Holdings, LLC in December 2013, creating the largest combined independent broadcast group and content creator in the country with 39 television stations.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tribune Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nexstar Media Group: Nexstar Media Group is the direct peer and ultimate acquirer of Tribune Media, operating the same local television broadcast and digital media model across 197 full-power stations in 115 U.S. markets with comparable retransmission, carriage and advertising revenue mix.
- Sinclair Broadcast Group: Sinclair Broadcast Group operates the largest U.S. television broadcast station group by station count with similar local news, sports and network affiliation economics; had a terminated merger agreement with Tribune Media in 2018.
- Gray Television: Gray Television operates a peer local broadcast TV station portfolio (and acquired Raycom Media), with the same dependence on retransmission consent, local advertising, political cycle revenue and network affiliations.
- Tegna: Tegna is a comparable pure-play local broadcast TV station group with similar revenue mix (local/national advertising, retransmission) and a pending sale process; structurally the closest comp to Tribune Broadcasting prior to its Nexstar deal.
- Hearst Television: Hearst Television is a privately held U.S. local broadcast TV station group operating dozens of stations affiliated with NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX, making it a direct private-market comparable for Tribune Broadcasting's station portfolio and economics.
- E.W. Scripps Company: E.W. Scripps operates a portfolio of local broadcast television stations and national networks (ION, Court TV, Scripps News), offering comparable local ad-supported broadcasting plus national network cable exposure analogous to Tribune's WGN America position.
Broad incumbents
- Fox Corporation: Fox Corporation owns and operates FOX broadcast network and FOX News alongside entertainment and sports cable channels, serving as a major network affiliate counterparty to Tribune's stations and competing for the same advertisers and retransmission dollars.
- The Walt Disney Company (ABC/ESPN): Disney owns the ABC broadcast network as well as ESPN and other cable networks, and is a network affiliate counterparty to Tribune's ABC-affiliated stations while competing for the same advertising and distribution dollars.
- Warner Bros. Discovery: Warner Bros. Discovery operates a portfolio of general-entertainment and news cable networks (TNT, TBS, CNN, HGTV via prior Discovery assets) that compete with WGN America for cable carriage and original scripted programming audiences.
Others
- Cumulus Media / iHeartMedia: Major U.S. commercial radio broadcasters and ad-supported audio platforms (iHeartMedia, Cumulus Media) most directly comparable to Tribune's WGN-AM radio business and broader audio/podcast initiative (ART19 partnership).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tribune Media social profiles
Digital presenceTribune Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tribune Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Tribune Media subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries11 records
Tribune Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tribune Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A4 records
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tribune Media
What does Tribune Media do?
Tribune Media was a diversified broadcast and digital media company that operated 42 owned or operated local television stations reaching over 50 million U.S. households, the WGN America national cable entertainment network reaching 71-77 million households, WGN Radio in Chicago, and digital multicast networks Antenna TV and THIS TV. The company generated revenue from local and national television advertising, retransmission consent fees paid by cable/satellite/telco distributors, cable network carriage fees, and digital properties including Gracenote metadata services and Covers.com sports betting information.
Is Tribune Media a public or private company?
Tribune Media is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Tribune Media founded?
Tribune Media was founded in 2013. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Tribune Media based?
Tribune Media is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tribune Media make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Advertising Revenue is the primary driver. The others are retransmission Consent Fees, cable Network Carriage Fees, digital and Data Services, equity Investments and real Estate.
Who are Tribune Media's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Gray Television, Tegna, Hearst Television and E.W. Scripps Company. Broad incumbents are Fox Corporation, The Walt Disney Company (ABC/ESPN) and Warner Bros. Discovery. Cumulus Media / iHeartMedia is listed as an others.
Does Tribune Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tribune Media.
What industry is Tribune Media in?
Tribune Media's product category is Broadcast Television Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAFAA, General Entertainment Cable Networks, with a secondary code of MPABAAAA, National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks. Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.