Possible merger could be driven by increased appetite for podcasts The merger mania gripping local television and Hollywood is now spreading to the podcasting world. Reports surfacing in Bloomberg and The Wrap on Friday that satellite radio company SiriusXM and terrestrial broadcaster iHeartMedia are discussing a possible merger – one that could drastically reshape radio and podcasting. The Bloomberg report […]
Sports business program already cleared in 85 percent of the country In a first-of-its-kind programming venture, Front Office Sports, a sports business publication owned by Redbird IMI, is launching a nightly, half-hour syndicated strip called Front Office Sports Tonight, already clearing 85 percent of the country with the Fox owned-and-operated stations as the main launch group, debuting September 14. The […]
Terrific survey for Audacy properties For the first time in its storied history, Triple A (Adult Album Alternative) WXRT-FM took the top spot in Nielsen’s monthly PPM rankings. The Audacy-owned station finished first ahead of competitors The Drive (WDRV-FM) and WLIT-FM, ahead of sister station WBBM Newsradio, which finished second. WXRT also finished second in the key adult 25-54 […]
Says it violates federal antirust law A federal judge blocked the $6.2 billion merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tegna Friday evening, setting the stage for a long and perhaps costly court battle. As first reported by The Desk, U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley in Sacramento issued the 52-page injunction, stating the mega-merger violates antitrust laws, and declared it illegal, […]
Another new NCIS show. Also: Daytime soap Beyond The Gates renewed for two more seasons CBS became the first broadcast network to unveil its schedule for the 2026-27 television season, a month ahead of everyone else as the top-rated network looks to maintain its ratings lead. It’s also the first under new Paramount ownership under David Ellison, who is looking […]
He’s the latest personality to join the station In another coup, NBC-owned WMAQ-TV, or NBC 5, announced on Monday the hiring of Richard Roeper as entertainment and cultural critic, starting April 10. Roeper will appear on the station’s afternoon and early-evening newscasts, and make regular appearances on Chicago Today, the station’s daily fifteen-minute local entertainment show. Roeper will appear on […]
A headline you thought you would never see. But here we are. If I were to tell you three years ago that Byron Allen would replace Stephen Colbert in late-night, you’d be questioning my sanity. But he we are, and that’s exactly what’s happening. In a signal that linear TV is on its deathbed, CBS announced Monday it was replacing […]
Channels dropped in the middle of primetime In the ultimate April Fools’ prank that really wasn’t, channels owned by Scripps were yanked off the air Tuesday evening from Comcast systems after their contract expired. The move stunned Comcast subscribers, whose company uses the Xfinity name to brand their products. Channels were yanked during primetime; in one instance, during a Ottawa […]
Brings back “ET” for 46th season, adds new courtroom show, off-network “AFHV” With NBCUniversal Syndication Studios recently withdrawing first-run syndication, CBS Media Ventures is taking a different approach by renewing existing properties and even launching a new courtroom show. Earlier this week, the Paramount-owned syndicator officially renewed the rest of its current shows: Entertainment Tonight, Inside Edition, Flip Side, and […]
The Star falls as the Hot AC format is replaced with Classic Hits After 22 years, Joilet’s Star 96.7 fell on Friday morning, went “on hold,” and was replaced with the new phrase the kids are using these days and posting on social media: “6-7”. However, there is a key difference: there is a “9” in front of the “6-7”. […]
Launched in 1927, the long-running news service is a victim of budget cuts by the Paramount-owned network In a stunning decision, Paramount’s CBS News announced Friday that it was closing its radio division after 99 years, leaving nearly 700 radio stations affiliated with the network scrambling for replacements. The news impacts Audacy-owned WBBM-AM here in Chicago; the station has been […]
Marquee lands on Prime Video and Hulu + Live TV; the White Sox to air ten games in The U this season With the baseball season officially starting in a week, Chicago’s baseball teams have announced additional ways fans can tune in. The Cubs’ Marquee Sports announced Wednesday it has struck a deal with Disney’s Hulu + Live TV virtual […]
Approved despite lawsuits by states, DirecTV In a historic move, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice approved the $6.2 billion merger between Irving, Tex.-based Nexstar and McLean, Va.-based Tegna, despite a lawsuit filed by eight state attorneys general and DirecTV. The deal officially closed Thursday night. The FCC granted waivers to Nexstar despite the national ownership cap […]
New channel to air over WGCI HD-2 ; TikTok’s new life began March 13 TikTok Radio made its official move to the iHeartRadio platform on March 13, and it seems the company – which was once known as Clear Channel and earned the moniker “Cheap Channel” for its known cost-cutting and voice tracking, seems to be pouring more effort and […]
Both were journalistic legends in Chicago radio Also: Jorie Lueloff, the first female TV newscaster in Chicago, dies at 85 Chicago radio observers are mourning the loss of two huge giants who were at the top of their game from the 1960s through the 1980s. WGN Radio announced the passing of radio legend Orion Samuelson on Monday. Originally a dairy […]
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