Tribune Media Company, FOX extend Seattle affiliate agreement

NEW YORK -- The Tribune Media Company and 21st Century FOX have reached an agreement on a new multi-year extension of the FOX affiliation for KCPQ-TV in Seattle, Tribune Media announced Friday.

Under the terms of the agreement, Tribune will continue its FOX affiliation with KCPQ-TV in Seattle through July 2018. As part of the agreement, FOX has withdrawn its previously delivered termination notice and has agreed that the affiliation will no longer be subject to early termination prior to July 2018.

“We are pleased to have secured multi-year agreement with FOX to extend our affiliation with KCPQ-TV in Seattle through July 2018,” said Peter Liguori, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tribune Media.  “Tribune is not only FOX’s largest local affiliate group, but also has a far-reaching business partnership with FOX on nearly 20 syndicated programs as well as Salem, a WGN America original series.  Today’s agreement illustrates the value both parties place on resolving issues on mutually satisfactory and beneficial terms.”

The agreement means FOX programming -- including NFL games and primetime shows -- will continue to be broadcast on KCPQ-TV.

"KCPQ is an outstanding station driven by the high-quality local news, entertainment and sports programming offered by the station and its continued affiliation with FOX," said Larry Wert, president of Tribune Broadcasting. "This extension serves the community of Seattle, and reinforces the vibrancy of our station group."

KCPQ provides 10 hours of local news throughout all of western Washington each weekday in addition to the FOX prime time entertainment and weekend sports programming through its affiliation.  KCPQ is the official television partner of the Seattle Seahawks and has exclusive rights to their pre-season games.  As a FOX affiliate, the television station carries the network’s prime time and sports programming including the regular season Seattle Seahawks and other NFL games, Major League Baseball's World Series, Pac-12 Football and NASCAR.

Tribune Media Company includes 42 owned or operated local television stations reaching 50 million households across the nation.