content: 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
  
  
  
                                  October 18, 1996
                                  ----------------
                  Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
  
  
  
  
  
                                   TRIBUNE COMPANY
                                   ---------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
  
                                      Delaware
                                      --------
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
  
  
          1-8572                                            36-1880355
          ------                                            ----------
  (Commission File Number)                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  
  435 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois                60611
  --------------------------------------------                -----
    (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)
  
  
          Registrant's telephone number, including area code (312) 222-9100
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
  Item 5.     Other Events
  ------------------------
  
       On October 18, 1996, Tribune Company issued its third quarter 1996
  earnings press release, filed herewith as exhibit 99.1.
  
  
  Item 7.     Financial Statements and Exhibits
  ---------------------------------------------
  
  (c)         Exhibits
       
              99.1     Earnings press release issued by Tribune Company on 
                       October 18, 1996.
  
  
  
                                        - 2 -
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
                                      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 thereunto duly authorized.
  
  
  
                                   TRIBUNE COMPANY
  
  
  
                                By /s/ R. Mark Mallory
                                   -------------------
                                   R. Mark Mallory
                                   Vice President and Controller
  
  
  October 21, 1996
  
                                        - 3 -
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
                                    -------------
  
  
  Exhibit No.    Exhibit Description
  -----------    -------------------- 
  
  99.1           Earnings press release issued by Tribune Company on 
                 October 18, 1996.
  
  
  
  
                                        - 4 -
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TRIBUNE CO", "cik": "0000726513", "assigned-sic": "2711", "irs-number": "361880355", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-08572", "film-number": "96646021"}, "business-address": {"street1": "435 N MICHIGAN AVE", "city": "CHICAGO", "state": "IL", "zip": "60611", "phone": "3122229100"}}
text: 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
  
                                  October 18, 1996
                                  ----------------
                  Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
  
                                   TRIBUNE COMPANY
                                   ---------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                      Delaware
                                      --------
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
          1-8572                                            36-1880355
          ------                                            ----------
  (Commission File Number)                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  435 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois                60611
  --------------------------------------------                -----
    (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)
  
          Registrant's telephone number, including area code (312) 222-9100
  Item 5.     Other Events
  ------------------------
  
       On October 18, 1996, Tribune Company issued its third quarter 1996
  earnings press release, filed herewith as exhibit 99.1.
  
  Item 7.     Financial Statements and Exhibits
  ---------------------------------------------
  
  (c)         Exhibits
       
              99.1     Earnings press release issued by Tribune Company on 
                       October 18, 1996.
  
                                        - 2 -
  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 thereunto duly authorized.
  
                                   TRIBUNE COMPANY
  
                                By /s/ R. Mark Mallory
                                   -------------------
                                   R. Mark Mallory
                                   Vice President and Controller
  
  October 21, 1996
  
                                        - 3 -
  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                    -------------
  
  Exhibit No.    Exhibit Description
  -----------    -------------------- 
  
  99.1           Earnings press release issued by Tribune Company on 
                 October 18, 1996.
  
                                        - 4 -