As viewers abandon linear TV, the people who run these stations are doing more harm than good Being a meteorologist in the post-Tom Skilling era has been rough. In an unthinkable move just five years ago, Allen Media Group announced nearly two weeks ago that it was firing its entire roster of meteorologists across the station group. The company planned […]
Also: Retro TV adds WGBO; This TV reportedly closes; and Astound offers discounted internet A few days ago, this space wondered how the pending closure of NBC Sports Chicago would impact NBC’s other RSNs. For one of them at least, it might not have much impact. An article in the Philadelphia Inquirer last Wednesday stated that the sister network NBC […]
The newest White Sox PBP is as unprofessional as it comes. So why is he there? I’ve tried to hold my tongue for the last two months and give the new kid a chance, but here’s my verdict on new White Sox play-by-play man John Schriffen. He sounds like ass. But you probably knew that already, given the ridiculous, over-the-top […]
Also: WXRT hires a new afternoon host; Judge Judy reruns renewed in syndication through 2027; Weigel’s stations get ready to cover March madness After 35 years on the morning traffic beat, ABC 7’s (WLS-TV) traffic reporter Roz Varon is calling it a career. Her last day is April 5. Varon was a fixture starting in 1989 as Chicago’s first traffic […]
Comes a day after a former Nexstar exec says it could happen [Editor’s Note: This story has been updated.] News of a potential ABC sale picked up Thursday after Bloomberg reported The Walt Disney Co. was in talks for either Nexstar or Allen Media Group (led by Byron Allen) to purchase ABC and its owned eight stations, after a Deadline […]
…or not, as reruns, court shows dominate local schedules As linear TV viewership continues to tumble, fall schedules for local television stations across the country certainly reflect the trend. Unlike last year when Sherri Shepard and Jennifer Hudson debuted with new syndicated talk shows, there is no such new programming being offered – especially with an ongoing work stoppage in […]
Also: Hulu pulls plug on White City; Alpha Media and Sirius/XM announce layoffs; BET up for sale; Sohn withdraws FCC bid In stunning news, Oak Lawn native and Rays radio broadcaster Dave Wills passed away unexpectedly Sunday at the age of 58. Wills was at Rays spring training camp and broadcasting games last week, but did miss the last two […]
New show however, will not be produced in Chicago as city loses second show in a week with the cancellation of HBO Max’s South Side In the “that was quick” department, Judge Greg Mathis has found a new home mere days after his Warner Bros. show was canceled as Byron Allen swooped in and snagged the free agent and announced […]
The media entrepreneur comes to the rescue with an $11 million buyout Black media entrepreneur Byron Allen has been building his empire one by one and this week, he added another piece. A bankruptcy court judge in Tallahassee, Fla. approved an $11 million buyout of the Black News Channel by Allen Media Group, a company whose holdings include The Weather […]
The media mogul takes task with McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski over comments made about parents of Chicago gun violence victims [Editor’s Note: This post was updated at 3:40 p.m.] The controversy over McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski’s comments over how the parents of two Chicago children killed in gun violence failed them crossed over into the media community Friday as a […]
Also: Don’t Bet Your Life; Bids made for Tegna; Johnny B to host RHOF ceremony The NFL continues to rack up impressive numbers at a time when viewers are abandoning linear TV in droves. Case in point: The Bears game on Sunday against the Bengals drew a household 22.9 rating and 60 share for Fox-owned WFLD-TV Chicago Sunday, easily making […]
Also: The Score’s Danny Parkins raises money for a neighborhood grocery; ESPN 1000 comes to HD Radio; Lauren Lake signs on with Entertainment Studios for new show As the website was under construction for the last two weeks, here were some stories that made news, and as you can imagine, this first item was the biggest. With Alden Global Capital […]
Replaces Laff on O&Os; New “Twist” launches on WGBO 66.5 The long journey of the This TV digital subchannel has added another chapter thanks to a deal with the ABC-owned stations, including WLS-TV in Chicago. The move took place April 1. “Allen Media Group’s over-the-air broadcast television network This TV is now well-positioned for greater success with the addition of […]
Court genre thins out, but still viable After being one of the most reliable genres in first-run syndication during the last decade, the courtroom show pack is thinning the herd a little bit. According to Broadcasting & Cable, MGM (through production company Orion, the former film studio acquired by MGM) has halted production on three court shows – Couples Court […]
The bulb dims on Mark Burnett’s and Roma Downey’s channel [Editor’s Note: This story was updated December 10.] The light is about to be turned off on Light TV as Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios is taking charge. On January 15, Light TV becomes TheGrio.TV, an new digital subchannel network targeted to African-Americans and is based on the website The Grio.com, […]
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