Bill Wirtz dies

The Chicago Blackhawks owner dies at 77. Rather than type something here, I’ll just guide you to this link. It sums up my thoughts, exactly. And here’s a Think Tank (the first one I wrote) you can read from last year on the Hawks and the NHL.

"Family Guy", "Men" show growth in Week 2 (corrected)

In what may be encouraging signs for Warner Bros. Two and a Half Men and Twentieth Television’s Family Guy, ratings for both off-network programs in syndication are up from the previous week in metered markets, ever so slightly. Both look like they’re keepers. Law & Order: Criminal Intent scored a 1.0/3 as a strip in off-network syndication in its first […]

Reap the rewards

Tonight’s pick to click (you at home select yours): –Reaper. This is a show that is check-out worthy. It’s a dramedy (yes, it’s a term we haven’t used since the Molly Dodd days) about a big-box employee who works for the Devil. Literally. You can read more in Maureen Ryan’s review of the show here. Should be a hoot. Meanwhile, […]

Picks to click: Three new shows debut tonight

Check out Chuck and The Big Bang Theory, both of which got mixed reviews. They are my picks to click for tonight (you at home select yours), as well as Heroes. On the other hand, skip Journeyman, as there have been many time-travel shows on the tube over the years (Quantam Leap, Time Trax), and this one isn’t necessarily better. […]

Orlando TV news laden with crime

Orlando Weekly’s Jeffrey Billman watches the local news for three weeks in Orlando and comes away with that amazing observation. Of course, if you watched local news anywhere in this country for the last 20 years (particularly in Chicago), it wouldn’t surprise – or amaze anyone.

So they covered it after all…

It turns out some media outlets did report on the FCC public hearings that took place last night: From WBBM-TV: Hundreds Line Up Speak To FCC About Media Rules From Fox News Chicago (WFLD): FCC Hearing Attracts Hundreds in Chicago WMAQ-TV also mentioned the hearing last night on its’ 10 p.m. newscast.Meanwhile, Presidential candidate and Illinois Senator Barack Obama is […]

New weekend anchor at Channel 2

One could wonder if the announcement yesterday hiring of Mai Martinez as the new weekend anchor of WBBM-TV’s weekend newscasts coincided with the FCC hearings on media diversity scheduled on the same day- or the fact that they are broadcasting Saturday’s Mexican Independence Parade (don’t ask about her qualifications.)

Live blogging the FCC hearings

12:30am It’s finally over. Thanks for hanging in with us.12:05 am A Korean television station (WOCH) is now being talked about.12:01 am (now 9/21) Just a thought: Where was Mancow? Too busy filing another lawsuit? 11:46pm Did the author of that book just swear? The FCC will fine him personally. That $8 million for you.11:43pm The corporate shills and charity […]

Kid Nation fianlly airs

And as of this writing, it’s still on the air (it actually did well in the ratings). But it was light on the ads. And to no one’s surprise, most critics hated the series. Meanwhile, Back to You and Kitchen Nightmares rocked in their debuts, but Gossip Girl tanked losing from its lead-in and underperforming from year-ago time period levels. […]

Congress introduces indecency bill

Several Congressmen introduced introduced legislation called the Protection Children from Indecent Programming Act, which “requires the FCC to maintain a policy that a single word or image may be considered indecent in enforcing regulations concerning the broadcast of indecent programming over the public airwaves.” So, where is the anti-gun legislation to protect our children? No wonder Congress and politicians in […]

FCC hearings set for Chicago Thursday

Tomorrow’s Federal Communications Commission hearing on media ownership at Operation Push is going to be a spectacle, no doubt it. It’s an endless debate that will no doubt be exhaustive. As you know, the FCC has been traveling the country gauging public opinion on media ownership. Chicago will no doubt be the agency’s toughest test, since it is home to […]

More Mariotti = More crap

The Chicago Daily Onion (a.k.a the Sun-Times) is giving so-called sportswriter Jay Mariotti a blog, of sorts, with “Mariotti 24/7”, asking us if we can handle more Mariotti. Of course the answer is no, but the Daily Onion (yours truly has been banned from commenting on their blogs), tries to force junk on their readers that will drive them away. […]

Peachtree TV’s new schedule

As noted before, WPCH, or Peachtree TV will premiere on Oct. 1. in Atlanta, replacing WTBS. To see the new schedule, click here (note that the schedule may change.) WPCH will take over WTBS’ dial position over-the-air channel 17 and cable channel 7, while the national feed of TBS will become available for the first time in the Atlanta area […]

Small webcasters sign deal with SoundExchange

Twenty-four small webcasters have signed deals with SoundExchange to continue to stream. The agreements to pay royalty fees are in effect until the end of 2010. The rates they will pay basically are the same ones they have been previously been paying, and lower than the rates Copyright Royalty Board set last spring. Ah, the art of negotiation. It works!