Netflix buys Warner Bros. Discovery in blockbuster $82.7 billion deal

I Beats Paramount and Comcast in bidding Deal includes HBO and HBO Max; does not include WBD’s cable networks, which will be spun off Passing regulatory tests could be difficult In a move that gained steam in the 24 hours before it was announced, Netflix is buying Warner Bros. Discovery for $82.7 billion, closing a period during which two other […]

Warner Bros. Discovery to spinoff cable networks

  Splits company into two; aims to complete by mid-2026 Warner Bros. Discovery announced on Monday that it will separate the conglomerate into two separately publicly traded companies. Speculated for some time, the move will separate its streaming and studios business from its cable networks, making it a stand-alone company. One company (temporarily named “Streaming and Studios”) will house Warner […]

The Chicago Bears’ “Hard Knocks” edition begins tonight

Highly anticipated TV show takes center stage  For Chicagoans, the Chicago Bears’ edition of Hard Knocks might be one of the most anticipated television shows to debut in recent years.  The show is already being met with excitement from fans and those in local sports media, thanks to a trailer that dropped last week featuring rookie Bears QB Caleb Williams […]

Chicago Bears involvement on “Hard Knocks” a win for NFL, Max

Comes over Bears’ Chairman’s objections While former President Donald Trump’s 34 felony indictments were being handled down Thursday afternoon, the NFL snuck through this piece of news –  the Chicago Bears will finally be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks for a five-week run beginning August 6 and streaming on Max.  “We are honored to feature such an iconic NFL franchise […]

Showtime closes sports division, ends boxing on network

Follows HBO’s exit five years ago  With the decline of linear TV – and traditional Pay TV in general, it’s no surprise Paramount Global’s Showtime Sports division is shuttering its doors after 37 years in operation. The unit was mostly home to boxing events run by Premier Boxing Champions and Bellator MMA fighting plus sports documentaries, would close by the […]

To The Max: Warner Bros. Discovery rebrands streaming service

Warner Bros. Discovery unveils revamped HBO Max without the HBO name It’s entertainment… to the Max. That’s what Warner Bros. Discovery is offering as the media conglomerate announced Wednesday at a press event the long-awaited rebranding of its four year-old streaming service as it removes the “HBO” from its name and merges its content with those of Discovery Plus. The […]

Rewinding media in 2021: You just can’t explain it

  Popularity isn’t exactly overrated as 2021 ends a wild year in media Like mystery of the sphinx or crop circles, you just can’t explain the continued popularity of certain things despite questionable changes. After the firing of Mark Giangreco and seemingly public disdain for one of her former co-anchors, ABC 7 remains on top of local Chicago news ratings, […]

“Dr. Oz” future in question after host announces Senate run

FCC’s equal-time rules takes show out of New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh markets [Editor’s Note: This post was updated at 8 p.m.]  The future of Sony Pictures Television’s Dr. Oz is in serious question after the host of said show announced Tuesday he was running for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania.  Mehmet Oz – who is a cardiac […]

Rewinding 2019 in media

  Disney Plus made the biggest splash of the year 2019 saw the end of several institutions, big media battles, and disappointing sports teams. Let’s start with the huge changes in big media, as Disney closed on its purchase of the 20th Century Fox film studio and Viacom reuniting with CBS again with a new name (ViacomCBS) as the race […]

Media Notepad: “Red Line” derails in the ratings against “Game of Thrones”

Plus…. Ratings for Bulls and Blackhawks continue to fall; Jeopardy continues to roll thanks to a winning contestant; Crain’s partners with WGN Radio As one might have predicted, CBS’ new limited-series drama The Red Line got off to a rough start Sunday night, and it was indeed “A Long Night”. The two-hour premiere of the shot-in-Chicago series drew next-to-nothing in […]

The Media Notepad: “Game of Thrones”, Masters score big

Also… Face The Truth won’t be back for a second season; CourTV returns May 8; AT&T sells Hulu strike While HBO turned Chicago’s weather into one big promotional machine (Winter came on Sunday…and left a big, slushy mess), it seemed to have worked: Sunday’s eighth-season premiere of Game Of Thrones proved to be a big draw. The season premiere attracted […]