LIN Media Announces Retransmission Consent Contract with DISH Expires March 4, 2011

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--()--LIN Media (NYSE: TVL), a local multimedia company, today announced that its current retransmission consent contract with DISH Network, L.L.C. (“DISH”) expires on March 4, 2011 at Midnight (MST) and at this time it appears unlikely that a new agreement will be reached. If a new retransmission consent contract is not reached by March 4, 2011, by law, DISH cannot carry certain local television stations owned, operated, or serviced by LIN Media on its satellite system.

The contract includes the following television stations owned, operated, or serviced by LIN Media:

  • Albuquerque: KRQE-TV (CBS) and KASA-TV (FOX)
  • Austin: KXAN-TV (NBC) and KNVA-TV (CW)
  • Buffalo: WIVB-TV (CBS) and WNLO-TV (CW)
  • Columbus: WWHO-TV (CW)
  • Dayton: WDTN-TV (NBC), WBDT-TV (CW)
  • Ft. Wayne: WANE-TV (CBS)
  • Grand Rapids: WOOD-TV (NBC), WOTV-TV (ABC)
  • Green Bay: WLUK-TV (FOX)
  • Indianapolis: WISH-TV (CBS) and WNDY-TV (MyNetwork TV)
  • Lafayette: WLFI-TV (CBS)
  • Mobile: WALA-TV (FOX) and WFNA-TV (CW)
  • New Haven: WTNH-TV (ABC) and WCTX-TV (MyNetwork TV)
  • Norfolk: WAVY-TV (NBC) and WVBT-TV (FOX)
  • Providence: WPRI-TV (CBS) and WNAC-TV (FOX)
  • Springfield (Mass): WWLP-TV (NBC)
  • Terre Haute: WTHI-TV (CBS)
  • Toledo: WUPW-TV (FOX)

“Our highly-rated television stations are important assets to our local communities and it is unfortunate that DISH does not recognize their fair market value,” said LIN Media’s President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Sadusky. “We look forward to continuing negotiations with DISH to reach a deal before our contract expires.”

In the event that these stations are no longer carried by DISH, viewers may continue to watch their local news, lifestyle and sports programs, as well as top-rated prime time and syndicated programming, over-the-air via antenna or by switching to an alternative pay-TV service provider.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including statements regarding our future plans and strategies. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties, including, among other factors, general economic conditions, demand for advertising, competition for audience and programming, government regulations and new technologies, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could contribute to such differences include the risks detailed in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Reports may be accessed online at www.sec.gov or www.linmedia.com. By making these forward-looking statements, we undertake no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this press release.

About LIN Media

LIN Media, along with its subsidiaries, is a local multimedia company that owns, operates or services 32 network-affiliated broadcast television stations, interactive television station and niche web sites, and mobile platforms in 17 U.S. markets. LIN Media's online advertising business, RMM, leverages unique technology, new product innovation and customized interactive and mobile advertising solutions to deliver measurable results to local, regional and national clients.

LIN TV Corp. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TVL”. Financial information about the company is available at www.linmedia.com.

Contacts

LIN Media
Courtney Guertin, 401-457-9501
Corporate Communications Manager
courtney.guertin@linmedia.com

Contacts

LIN Media
Courtney Guertin, 401-457-9501
Corporate Communications Manager
courtney.guertin@linmedia.com