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  <TITLE>FORM 8-K 10/16/03</TITLE>
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  <CENTER><FONT SIZE=4><B>UNITED STATES <BR>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></FONT> <br>
  <FONT SIZE=3><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B></FONT></CENTER>
  
  <H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT SIZE=4>FORM 8-K</FONT></H1>
  
  
  <CENTER><B>CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)<BR>
   OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</B></CENTER>
  <br>
  <br>
  <CENTER><B>DATE OF REPORT:  October 16, 2003</b></center>
  
  <br><center><b>Commission file number 1-8572</B></CENTER>
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  <CENTER><FONT SIZE=4><B>TRIBUNE COMPANY</B></FONT> <br><FONT SIZE=3>(Exact
  name of registrant as specified in its charter)</FONT></CENTER>
  
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      <td WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><B>Delaware</B><BR>(State or other
      jurisdiction of<BR>incorporation or organization)<P></td>
      <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><B>36-1880355</B><BR>
      (I.R.S. Employer<BR>
      Identification No.)<BR></td></tr>
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       <TD ALIGN="LEFT"></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT SIZE="-1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
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      <td WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><B>435 North Michigan Avenue,
      Chicago, Illinois</B><BR>
      (Address of principal executive offices)<BR></td>
      <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><B>60611</B><BR>
      (Zip code)</td>
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  <CENTER><FONT SIZE=2>Registrant's telephone number, including area code:&nbsp;&nbsp;(312) 222-9100</FONT></CENTER>
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  <P><B>ITEM 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.</B></P>
  
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       <TD ALIGN="RIGHT" WIDTH="6%">(c) </TD>
       <TD ALIGN="LEFT" WIDTH="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
       <TD WIDTH="71%"><P ALIGN="LEFT">Exhibit.</P></TD>
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       <TD ALIGN="RIGHT" WIDTH="6%">&nbsp; </TD>
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       <TD WIDTH="71%"><P ALIGN="LEFT">99 - Press release dated October 16, 2003.</P></TD>
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  <p><b>ITEM 9.&nbsp;&nbsp; REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.</b></p>
  
  <p>In accordance with
  Securities and Exchange Commission Release No. 33-8216, the information in this
  Item 9 is being furnished under Item 12 of Form 8-K. On October 16, 2003,
  Tribune Company released earnings information for the quarter ended September
  28, 2003.  Set forth as Exhibit 99 is a copy of the press release.</p>
  
  <br>
  
  <CENTER><B>SIGNATURE</B></CENTER>
  
  <P>Pursuant to the
  requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
  caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
  authorized.</P>
  
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      <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;<P></td>
      <td WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;  </TD></tr>
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      <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;<P></td>
      <td WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="LEFT">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TRIBUNE COMPANY<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          (Registrant)<BR>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</TD></tr>
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      <td WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="left">Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;October 16, 2003</td>
      <td WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;R. Mark Mallory</u><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          &nbsp;&nbsp;R. Mark Mallory<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vice President and Controller</td>
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "form8k3q2003.htm", "description": "OCTOBER 16, 2003 - FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3736}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TRIBUNE CO", "cik": "0000726513", "assigned-sic": "2711", "irs-number": "361880355", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1227"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-08572", "film-number": "03942845"}, "business-address": {"street1": "435 N MICHIGAN AVE", "street2": "STE 600", "city": "CHICAGO", "state": "IL", "zip": "60611", "phone": "3122229100"}}
text: FORM 8-K 10/16/03
  UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
  OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  DATE OF REPORT:  October 16, 2003
  Commission file number 1-8572
  TRIBUNE COMPANY
  (Exact
  name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  (State or other
      jurisdiction of
  incorporation or organization)
  36-1880355
  (I.R.S. Employer
  Identification No.)
  435 North Michigan Avenue,
      Chicago, Illinois
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  60611
  (Zip code)
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (312) 222-9100
  ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
  (c)
  Exhibit.
  99 - Press release dated October 16, 2003.
  ITEM 9.   REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.
  In accordance with
  Securities and Exchange Commission Release No. 33-8216, the information in this
  Item 9 is being furnished under Item 12 of Form 8-K. On October 16, 2003,
  Tribune Company released earnings information for the quarter ended September
  28, 2003.  Set forth as Exhibit 99 is a copy of the press release.
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant to the
  requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
  caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
  authorized.
  TRIBUNE COMPANY
  (Registrant)
  Date:  October 16, 2003
  /s/  R. Mark Mallory
  R. Mark Mallory
  Vice President and Controller