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  <TITLE>Form 8-K - December 22, 2005</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:&nbsp;&nbsp;December 22, 2005</b></center>
  
  <br><center><b>Commission file number 1-8572</B></CENTER>
  <BR>
  <CENTER><FONT SIZE=4><B>TRIBUNE COMPANY</B></FONT> <br><FONT SIZE=3>(Exact
  name of registrant as specified in its charter)</FONT></CENTER>
  <BR>
  
  <table CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
    <tr>
      <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>
  <TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
       <TD ALIGN="LEFT"></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT SIZE="-1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><B>435 North Michigan Avenue<BR>
      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>
    </tr>
  </table>
  <BR>
  
  
  <CENTER>Registrant's telephone number, including area code:&nbsp;&nbsp;(312) 222-9100</CENTER>
  <br>
  
  
  <!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
  <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>Check the appropriate box below if
  the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the obligation of the registrant
  under any of the following provisions: </FONT></P>
  
  
  
  <p>[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp; Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</P>
  
  <p>[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</P>
  
  <p>[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</P>
  
  
  <p>[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
  240.13e-4(c)) </P>
  
  <HR>
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
  
  <!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Major Left Bold" FSL="Default" -->
  <A NAME=A001></A>
  <H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><B>ITEM 8.01.&nbsp;&nbsp;OTHER EVENTS.</B> </FONT></H1>
  
  <!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
  <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>On December 16, 2005, pursuant to
  authorization by the Compensation &amp; Organization Committee of the Tribune Company
  Board of Directors, Tribune Company (the &#147;Company&#148;) accelerated the vesting of
  certain stock options as follows: </FONT></P>
  
  
  <TABLE CELLPADDING=1 CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=1 WIDTH=600>
  <TR VALIGN=Bottom>
       <TH COLSPAN=2></TH>
       <TH COLSPAN=2></TH></TR>
  
  <TR VALIGN=Bottom BGCOLOR="#cceeff">
       <TD WIDTH=30% ALIGN=CENTER><B><I>Date of Grant</I></B></TD>
       <TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><I><B>Total Options<BR>Accelerated</B></I></TD>
       <TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><B><I>Grant Price</I></B></TD>
       <TD WIDTH=20% ALIGN=CENTER><B><I>New Vest Date</I></B></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN=Bottom>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>February 11, 2003</TD>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>377,000</TD>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>$45.90</TD>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>December16, 2005</TD>
  </TR>
  <TR VALIGN=Bottom>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>February 10, 2004</TD>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>417,750 </TD>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>$52.05</TD>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>December 16, 2005</TD></TR>
  <TR VALIGN=Bottom>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>February 8, 2005</TD>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>3,547,300</TD>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>$40.59</TD>
       <TD ALIGN=CENTER>December 16, 2005</TD></TR>
  
  </TABLE>
  <BR>
  
  
  
  <!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
  <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>The February 2003 and February 2004
  stock options that were accelerated are held by executive officers of the Company and were
  not previously accelerated in June 2005 when the unvested February 2003 and February 2004
  stock options held by non-executive officers were accelerated. The February 2005 stock
  options that were accelerated constitute all outstanding stock options granted to
  employees on that date, including stock options granted to executive officers of the
  Company. All other terms and conditions of the stock options that were accelerated are
  unchanged. No other Company stock option grants are affected by this action. </FONT></P>
  
  <!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
  <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>The accelerated vesting of these
  stock options is one of several actions the Company has recently taken to reduce
  stock-based compensation expense that will be recorded in future years with the adoption
  of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R. Over the last two years, the
  Company has reduced the number of stock options granted by approximately 45%. Also, the
  February 2004 and February 2005 stock option grants have 8-year terms, down from 10 years
  for previous grants, and do not have a replacement option feature. </FONT></P>
  
  <!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Major Center Bold" FSL="Default" -->
  <A NAME=A003></A>
  <H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=3>SIGNATURE </FONT></H1>
  
  <!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Flush" FSL="Default" -->
  <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>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. </FONT></P>
  
  
  <br>
  <table CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%">
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;<P></td>
      <td WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;TRIBUNE COMPANY<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          (Registrant)</FONT><BR>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</TD></tr>
    <tr>
      <td WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;December 22, 2005</FONT> </td>
      <td WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><p ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;Mark W. Hianik</u><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          &nbsp;&nbsp;Mark W. Hianik<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vice President/Assistant General Counsel</FONT></td>
    </tr>
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "form8k122205.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K - DECEMBER 22, 2005", "secsgml_size_bytes": 6736}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TRIBUNE CO", "cik": "0000726513", "assigned-sic": "2711", "irs-number": "361880355", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1225"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-08572", "film-number": "051282845"}, "business-address": {"street1": "435 N MICHIGAN AVE", "street2": "STE 600", "city": "CHICAGO", "state": "IL", "zip": "60611", "phone": "3122229100"}}
text: Form 8-K - December 22, 2005
  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:  December 22, 2005
  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
  Check the appropriate box below if
  the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the obligation of the registrant
  under any of the following provisions:
  [  ]   Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  [  ]    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  [  ]    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  [  ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
  240.13e-4(c))
  ITEM 8.01.  OTHER EVENTS.
  On December 16, 2005, pursuant to
  authorization by the Compensation & Organization Committee of the Tribune Company
  Board of Directors, Tribune Company (the "Company") accelerated the vesting of
  certain stock options as follows:
  Date of Grant
  Total Options
  Accelerated
  Grant Price
  New Vest Date
  February 11, 2003
  377,000
  $45.90
  December16, 2005
  February 10, 2004
  417,750
  $52.05
  December 16, 2005
  February 8, 2005
  3,547,300
  $40.59
  December 16, 2005
  The February 2003 and February 2004
  stock options that were accelerated are held by executive officers of the Company and were
  not previously accelerated in June 2005 when the unvested February 2003 and February 2004
  stock options held by non-executive officers were accelerated. The February 2005 stock
  options that were accelerated constitute all outstanding stock options granted to
  employees on that date, including stock options granted to executive officers of the
  Company. All other terms and conditions of the stock options that were accelerated are
  unchanged. No other Company stock option grants are affected by this action.
  The accelerated vesting of these
  stock options is one of several actions the Company has recently taken to reduce
  stock-based compensation expense that will be recorded in future years with the adoption
  of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R. Over the last two years, the
  Company has reduced the number of stock options granted by approximately 45%. Also, the
  February 2004 and February 2005 stock option grants have 8-year terms, down from 10 years
  for previous grants, and do not have a replacement option feature.
  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:  December 22, 2005
  /s/  Mark W. Hianik
  Mark W. Hianik
  Vice President/Assistant General Counsel