HBO AND WARNER BROS. DOMESTIC TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION LICENSE SYNDICATION RIGHTS TO ENTOURAGE� AND CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM� TO TRIBUNE BROADCASTING IN MULTIYEAR DEAL
Critically Acclaimed, Award-Winning Comedy Series to Air on Tribune Broadcasting Stations in Fall 2010
BURBANK, Calif., LOS ANGELES and CHICAGO (May 6, 2009) - HBO and Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution have licensed the broadcast television syndication rights to the critically acclaimed and award-winning comedy series Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm to Tribune Broadcasting�s stations in a multiyear agreement for a fall 2010 airing. The announcement was made today by Scott Carlin, President, Domestic Distribution, HBO; Sean Compton, Senior Vice President of Programming & Entertainment, Tribune Broadcasting; and Ken Werner, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD).
Under terms of the three-year pact, Tribune has licensed all seven seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm and all six seasons of Entourage for broadcast on all of Tribune�s owned-and-operated stations in 17 markets, including New York (WPIX-TV), Los Angeles (KTLA-TV) and Chicago (WGN-TV), among others. Both series will be presented in strip form on the Tribune Broadcasting stations, with episodes airing Monday-Friday, along with one weekend telecast, beginning in fall 2010.
"Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm are two of the funniest, most original programs on television, and now, a vast new audience will get to enjoy them," said Carlin. "The broad demographic appeal of both shows, combined with the fact that they are virtually first-run to a majority of viewers, provides local stations with something truly new and exciting to offer their advertisers."
"Tribune stations have a long tradition of successfully programming adult sitcoms in late fringe," said Werner. �Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage represent "A" sitcoms for that audience. We are thrilled during these challenging times to have crafted an arrangement that offers stations flexibility and tremendous upside."
"Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm have performed at exceptional levels on HBO," said Compton. "During a time in the business where the pipeline of future off-net comedies has diminished, this is an opportunity for Tribune to offer two critically acclaimed, award-winning programs, with the benefit of being first-run to most viewers."
Emmy�-winning writer/producer/comedian Larry David created and stars in the Emmy�- and Golden Globe�-winning comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm. Each episode of the signature program features verit�-style footage of David (playing himself) at home, at work and around Los Angeles, as he gets into predicaments with fictional and real-life personalities. The series also stars Jeff Garlin as Larry�s manager, Jeff Greene; Cheryl Hines as Larry�s wife, Cheryl; and Susie Essman as Jeff�s wife, Susie. Each season boasts appearances by a number of notable guest stars playing themselves or character roles. The series has been executive produced by Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Gavin Polone, Robert B. Weide, Larry Charles, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer, and Tim Gibbons.
Entourage was created by Doug Ellin and has been executive produced by Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Doug Ellin, Rob Weiss, Denis Biggs and Larry Charles. The series has won multiple Emmy� Awards as well as a Golden Globe� and Peabody Award. Drawing on the experiences of entertainment industry insiders, the series stars Adrian Grenier as Vince, who is enjoying life in the limelight as a hot young actor; Kevin Connolly as Eric, Vince�s manager, who tries to help him make the right choices; Kevin Dillon as Vince�s half-brother Drama, whose own career has been eclipsed by Vince�s success; Jerry Ferrara as Turtle, the least savvy of the group; and Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold, who serves as Vince�s aggressive, high-powered agent. Additional series regulars include Perrey Reeves as the long-suffering Mrs. Ari and Rex Lee as Ari�s assistant, Lloyd. Recurring guest stars include Debi Mazar as Vince�s publicist, Shauna; Carla Gugino as Ari�s nemesis, Amanda; Emmanuelle Chriqui as Sloan, Eric�s girlfriend; and Beverly D�Angelo as Ari�s partner Babs. Entourage also features a number of high-profile guest stars each season, appearing as themselves or in character roles.
About HBO
Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour pay television services - HBO and Cinemax - to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as HBO on Broadband, HD feeds and multiplex channels. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video on demand products HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile, bring HBO services to over 50 countries. HBO programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.
About Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) is one of the leading suppliers of entertainment programming to the domestic television marketplace, distributing first-run syndicated series, off-network television programs and theatrical motion pictures to local broadcast television stations, as well as to pay, cable, satellite and broadcast networks throughout the U.S. WBDTD handles the domestic distribution of television series produced by Warner Bros. Television, Telepictures Productions, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Horizon Television; selected HBO Independent Productions and the Lorimar Television library; current feature films from Warner Bros. Pictures; and the Studio�s unmatched motion picture library.
About Tribune
TRIBUNE is America's largest employee-owned media company, operating businesses in publishing, interactive and broadcasting. In publishing, Tribune�s leading daily newspapers include the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, Sun-Sentinel (South Florida), Orlando Sentinel, Hartford Courant, Morning Call and Daily Press. The Company's broadcasting group operates 23 television stations, WGN America on national cable, Chicago�s WGN-AM and the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Popular news and information websites complement Tribune�s print and broadcast properties and extend the Company�s nationwide audience. At Tribune we take what we do seriously and with a great deal of pride. We also value the creative spirit and nurture a corporate culture that doesn't take itself too seriously.
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