Tribune Media Services Expands TV Information Deal With Microsoft

Tribune Media Services Expands TV Information Deal With Microsoft

CHICAGO, March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Tribune Media Services (TMS) has expanded its licensing deal with Microsoft Corp. for TV program listings and for movie show times for the U.S. and Canada.

The new multi-year agreement extends the long-time relationship between TMS and Microsoft. Under the deal, TMS' industry-leading TV and movie listings databases will be incorporated into a wide range of entertainment navigation products from Microsoft, including Windows XP Media Center Edition, MSN.com and MSN TV.

TMS will continue to provide Microsoft with analog, digital and HDTV television listings information, including local over-the-air, cable/satellite channel line-ups and detailed program descriptions for the U.S. and Canada.

Microsoft will also have access to TMS' enhanced TV listings service, which offers more frequent availability of updates to program schedules, providing Microsoft's consumers with the best information available for making entertainment decisions.

"As Microsoft continues to develop and deliver exciting technologies such as Windows XP Media Center Edition, which enables high-quality digital entertainment experiences, the electronic program guides play an important role in enabling an integrated, easy-to-use TV-viewing experience," said Martin Sacchi, Director of Business Development for the eHome Division at Microsoft. "We are excited to be able to expand our relationship with TMS in order to offer our customers the very best in digital entertainment."

Kathy Tolstrup, General Manager of Sales and Marketing for TMS Entertainment Products said, "TMS continues to maintain its commitment to provide high-quality service and accurate and comprehensive entertainment listings. We are delighted to continue our relationship with Microsoft to meet their diverse needs for TV and movie information. As our clients expand worldwide, TMS is growing its databases to meet their international needs."

About Tribune Media Services Entertainment Products Division

Tribune Media Services (TMS) is a leading provider of print, online and on-screen entertainment listings and editorial information to newspapers and online media, cable and satellite operators, and consumer electronics companies. Offering a full line of enhanced entertainment information products and services, TMS' TV information clients include Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, New York Times, USA Today, TiVo and Microsoft. TMS collects information from more than 12,500 broadcast, cable and satellite sources worldwide. Its newspaper, cable and satellite program magazines reach more than 30 million households in over 50 major markets on a weekly and monthly basis. Additionally, TMS' passive program guide (PPG) is available in 9 million homes worldwide.

TMS print and online advertising networks provide opportunities to reach nearly 70 million people, through major market newspaper TV supplements and Zap2it.com. TMS Movies collects data from more than 35,000 movie theater screens in North America to create and market print and electronic movie information products and services. TMS Movie information clients include Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp., Clear Channel Interactive, Cox Communications, Inc., Los Angeles Times and others. TMS Movies is also the exclusive licensing agent for the Fandango Ticketing Service, the nation's largest online and phone movies ticketing service.

Additionally, TMS offers Zap2it.com, a leading entertainment information website for TV and Movie listings and editorial, and information on the latest video and DVD releases.

Product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Kristy Bremer Tribune Media Services 323-660-9004 kbremer@tribune.com

Source: Tribune Media Services

CONTACT: Kristy Bremer of Tribune Media Services, +1-323-660-9004, kbremer@tribune.com

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