The Media Notepad: Audacy, Cumulus merger afoot?

Also: The Talk to end after 15 years; NCAA Women’s Championship draws record high; NHL team headed to Utah With the future of Paramount Global all the chatter, there could be some radio merger and acquisition action, too. A report in Radio Insight suggests Audacy – soon to be controlled by Soros Fund Management after coming out of bankruptcy – […]

“Dilbert” dropped by Chicago Tribune, other papers after creator’s racist comments (updated)

Comments hateful toward Black people were made on his YouTube show  [Editor’s Note: This story was updated on February 27 with new information. – T.H.] The Chicago Tribune – among numerous other newspapers – have pulled the plug on the “Dilbert” comic strip after the creator made racist remarks. As a result, syndicator Andrews McMeel Universal has severed ties with […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: “It’s not you, it’s me”

WPWR-CW breakup illustrates how some affiliate partnerships don’t work The major networks have enjoyed long, prosperous relationships with their affiliates. For example, Milwaukee’s WTMJ, St. Louis’ KSDK, and Cincinnati’s WLWT each has enjoyed a long relationship with NBC dating back to the late 1940s. CBS and New Orleans’ WWL have been partners since 1957. And ABC and Dallas’ WFAA go […]

The future for WGN-TV, The CW, and My Network TV

After Monday’s announcement of The CW shifting to WPWR, where does these channels stand? Back in 2008, WGN-TV aired a retrospective of its 60th year in broadcasting. Hosted by Jim Belushi, the special looked back on the station’s local programming such as Garfield Goose, Ray Rayner, and Bozo. Airing on a Sunday night, the special did better in the ratings […]

KPLR shifts CW primetime to 8 p.m.

Tribune’s KPLR-TV in St. Louis is moving its half-hour 9 p.m. newscast to 7 p.m. and expanding it to a hour beginning on Sept. 8. This means CW primetime fare currently airing at 7 p.m. is shifting to 8 p.m., with KPLR taking the Mountain Time feed. For example, when 90210 airs in St. Louis (8 p.m. Central), it’ll air […]

T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag

With so much stories to mention, I thought I throw them all together in a new feature. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the inagural T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag. Enjoy! -Tribune-owned WGN-TV has become the third station in Chicago to broadcast its news in 1080i high-definition. The station launched its HD newscasts over the weekend, with a new, […]