Hearst-Argyle Television and Verizon Sign Retransmission Consent Agreement for Four TV Stations

NEW YORK, July 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. today announced a long-term agreement with Verizon providing retransmission consent for carriage over Verizon FiOS TV, its digital fiber- optic service, of Hearst-Argyle's television stations, WCVB-TV, Boston; WMUR-TV, Manchester, NH; WBAL-TV, Baltimore; and WMOR-TV, Tampa. The agreement includes video-on-demand (VoD) and high-definition digital (HDTV) rights to the stations' local programs and carriage of digital multicast programming.

WCVB and WMUR are ABC affiliates; WBAL is an NBC affiliate; WMOR is an independent station.

The stations are available to all FiOS TV customers in their respective markets. In the Boston region, WCVB and WMUR are available on channels 5 and 9 respectively in Woburn, Reading Lynnfield, Winchester, Burlington and North Reading, where Verizon has introduced FiOS TV service. Verizon also received video franchises for Tewksbury, Wakefield, Hamilton, Wenham, Ipswich and Stoneham, Mass., and will announce FiOS TV in those communities when it is available.

In Maryland, Verizon offers WBAL on channel 11 in parts of Clarksdale, Columbia and Ellicott City, and it has franchise authorization to launch FiOS TV in Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Bowie and Laurel.

In Florida, Verizon offers WMOR on channel 12 in parts of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Hillsborough, Pasco and Manatee counties. It recently was awarded a franchise for Sarasota County.

"Popular local video content is essential to the success of program distributors, whether that distribution is over the broadcast airwaves, or via satellite, coaxial cable or fiber-optic lines," said David Barrett, Hearst- Argyle Television President and CEO. "Our TV stations are leading providers of branded local video content because of our commitment to localism, which is characterized by continual investment in high-quality local news coverage and other local programming. For this reason, our stations are among the most- watched TV channels in our markets."

WCVB-TV, Channel 5, is the #1 TV station in Boston, the nation's 5th- largest television market. WCVB's venerable newsmagazine, "Chronicle," approaching its 25th anniversary, is among the nation's most honored local TV programs and typically leads in its competitive primetime "access" time period. WMUR-TV, Channel 9, is situated in Manchester, New Hampshire, and is New Hampshire's leading TV station though is included by Nielsen within the Boston designated market area (DMA), making it part of a "duopoly" with WCVB. In April 2006, WMUR, which also airs a popular local version of "Chronicle," reached a milestone as its 6 p.m. newscast ranked #2, behind only WCVB, in Nielsen ratings in the key demographic category of Adults 25-54, despite reaching less than 20% of the Boston DMA. WMUR's coverage of the quadrennial New Hampshire presidential primaries, including nationally televised debates, has exemplified the quality of political-news coverage that has earned Hearst- Argyle Television and its stations three Walter Cronkite Awards for excellence in television political journalism, a distinction shared only by NBC's "Meet the Press."

WBAL-TV, Channel 11, a 2005 Peabody Award recipient, is the #1 TV station in Baltimore, the nation's 24th largest TV market, and consistently delivers leading ratings in all newscast time periods; "11 TV Hill," its locally produced community affairs roundtable show, also typically leads in the ratings in its timeslot. In May 2006, the station recorded its 13th consecutive Nielsen ratings "sweeps" victory for its 5pm, 6pm and 11pm newscasts, ranking it third among all top-25-market U.S. TV stations in this benchmark.

WMOR-TV, Channel 32, is a popular viewing destination for younger audiences in the fast-growing Tampa market and is noted for its strong commitment to community service. The station produces the local portion of the United Negro College Fund "Evening of Stars" annual broadcast. WMOR's Pool Patrol initiative, to help prevent childhood drowning, includes on-air safety vignettes and a coloring/activity book for kids. WMOR is a four-time recipient of the Governors' Award in association with the partnership for Drug Free Florida and the Florida office of Drug Control.

About Verizon FiOS TV

Verizon FiOS TV provides an array of digital video and music channels, two dozen high-definition channels, up to 2,500 on-demand titles and features such as FiOS TV Widgets, which supplies on-touch, on-demand access to real-time local weather and traffic. FiOS TV is delivered over Verizon's fiber-to-the- premises network, the largest of its kind in the country. Verizon offers FiOS TV in parts of seven states: California, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Texas. It is adding new markets as it obtains franchises giving it the legal authority to do so.

About Hearst-Argyle

Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc. owns 25 television stations, and manages an additional three television and two radio stations, in geographically diverse U.S. markets. The Company's television stations reach approximately 18% of U.S. TV households, making it one of America's largest television station groups. Hearst-Argyle owns 12 ABC-affiliated stations, and manages an additional ABC station owned by the Hearst Corporation, and is the largest ABC affiliate group. The Company also owns 10 NBC affiliates, and is the second- largest NBC affiliate owner, and owns two CBS affiliates. Hearst-Argyle Series A Common Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HTV." HTV debt is rated investment grade by Moody's (Baa3), Standard & Poor's (BBB-) and Fitch (BBB-), each with a stable outlook. The Company's Web address is http://www.hearstargyle.com/.