Fox Chicago duopoly announces management change with Glenn Berk named new SVP/GM

From WITI Milwaukee, he replaces retiring Sheila Oliver As first reported by TVNewsCheck Thursday, Glenn Berk has been named Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Fox-owned WFLD and WPWR, branded respectively as Fox 32 and Fox Chicago Plus. He succeeds Sheila Oliver, who announced her retirement yesterday. The move takes place on June 30th.  Berk comes from Fox-owned sister station WITI […]

“The Jennifer Hudson Show”, “Tamron Hall” renewed for 2025-26

Daytime shows renewed by Fox, ABC/Hearst stations respectively Despite several observers writing off the daypart both are in, Disney’s Tamron Hall and Warner Bros. Discovery’s The Jennifer Hudson Show were renewed for the 2025-26 season for their seventh and fourth seasons, respectively. “Tamron’s distinctive, thoughtful ability to tap into the meaningful issues of the day continue to resonate with her […]

Fox dumps syndicated shows – and possibly Jennifer Hudson, too

Pictionary, Person Place Or Thing, and Dish Nation to end as Fox’s TV stations plan to make significant changes next season In a surprise shellacking, Fox First-Run canceled three syndicated half-hour shows Tuesday: Person Place Or Thing, Pictionary, and the long-running Dish Nation, according to TVNewsCheck as Fox’s owned stations – including Fox 32 (WFLD) and Fox Chicago Plus (WPWR), […]

The Media Notepad: WCIU, “On The Block” part ways

Also: Diginet changes in the new year: KSDK becomes the latest media property to leave downtown St. Louis; Diamond becomes Main Street In another blow to local linear TV, non-profit news organization Block Club Chicago and Weigel independent WCIU have parted ways on On The Block after nearly three years.  The announcement was made on X Friday with the last […]

Local news organizations drawn in to Tiffany Henyard drama

NBC 5 joins WGN News, and Fox 32 in documenting Dolton’s chaos as media tries to navigate choppy waters on covering her As you know, there is never a shortage of political scandals to cover in Illinois. From Operation Silver Shovel to Blago, the non-stop corruption has kept journalists busy and fascinated observers.  And in the Year Of Our Lord […]

ABC 7 window hit with rocks during 4 p.m. newscast

CPD investigating; adds to a string of bizarre incidents at the station over the years Yet another bizarre incident occurred outside of the studios of ABC 7 – this time during a newscast. At the start of the 4 p.m. newscast on the ABC-owned station Thursday, a male suspect threw a rock at the window of WLS-TV’s 190 North State […]

Phil Donahue dies at 88

Legendary, pioneering talk show changed TV Phil Donahue, who put the issues-oriented daytime talk show on the map in the 1970s, died Sunday at the age of 88 in his New York City home after a long illness. Even though Donahue’s talk show wasn’t the first syndicated talk show to originate from Chicago, he was an innovator in discussing taboo […]

The Media Notepad: Stanley Cup Game 7 scores for ABC

Also: Kenya Moore out at Housewives; Fox and Sinclair team up for new syndicated true crime show; Paramount looking to sell assets Even though the recent NBA Finals naturally drew a larger audience on average, the excitement of the Stanley Cup Final was unparalleled as the series lasted seven games with historic implications. The Edmonton Oilers – who won four […]

Fox-owned stations launch “Battleground”

Plans to make digital initiative a daily TV show by August In an unusual way of launching a TV show, Fox Television Stations announced Tuesday it is launching Battleground, a new series tracking the 2024 Presidential Election, which is expected to be the most contested in history.  The show will focus on seven battleground “swing” states, hence the name: Arizona, […]

Syndicated version of “Good Morning Football” clears Fox-owned stations

Deal includes Fox 32 and My50 Sony Pictures Television made their first deals for the two-hour syndicated version of NFL Network’s Good Morning Football by signing the Fox Television Stations group. Known in syndication as GMFB, Fox did sign their duopoly markets including Chicago, but several non-duopoly ones as well, including WITI Milwaukee, WAGA Atlanta, WTVT Tampa-St. Petersburg, and WTXF […]

The Media Notepad: Paris Schutz heads to Fox 32 as new political reporter

Also: Alyssa Donovan promoted to full-time to WGN-TV’s Weather Team; WBEZ continues its ratings freefall; Indianapolis station to air Fever games As hinted by Politico’s Shia Kapos last week, it was made official Tuesday: Paris Schutz is headed to Fox-owned WFLD (Fox 32) where he’ll be the chief political reporter and anchor his own half-hour weekly political show, essentially replacing […]

Station group supports new ESPN-Fox-WBD sports streaming service

s Questionable if others are on board; cable group opposes effort With the surprise announcement of a new sports streaming service this week involving three big media conglomerates, reaction is pouring in and as expected, it’s mixed. Local station broadcaster Gray Television said it would support the new planned effort between Fox, Disney-owned ESPN/ABC, and Warner Bros. Discovery under one […]