So where is the world is Mark Supplesa going to end up next? Channel 2? Channel 5? Channel 9? CLTV? (One can only hope not.) The speculation engines are revving up and circulating on where the news anchor, who rejected a generous offer from Fox-owned WFLD-TV, is going to land next. Supplesa is planning to stay in the Chicago market, […]
Maybe its the writers’ strike. Maybe its the Cubs’ post-season run. Maybe its the Blackhawks’ resurgence. Maybe its the Celtics and Lakers making noise in the NBA playoff race. Maybe its the hugely successful NFL post-season. Whatever it is, sports is gaining viewers from a year ago, and all sports are benefiting. Even a Cubs exibition game from nine days […]
Mark Suppelsa who is co-anchor of Fox-owned WFLD-TV’s 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. newscast, has stepped down. No word was given on why Mr. Suppelsa is leaving the broadcast, but he recently rejected a four-year renewal pact from the station. Suppelsa came to WFLD-TV in 2003 from NBC-owned WMAQ-TV, where he started on the noon newscast, then was promoted to […]
The Price Is Right did it again Friday night, giving away another one million dollars on its Million Dollar Spectacular prime-time special, when a contestant came within $500 of the retail price in the Showcase Showdown. Meanwhile, the hapless louts over at Deal or No Deal have yet to give anyway a million on their program, despite having thirteen million […]
Some things have been changed on the sidebar at The T Dog Media Blog: -Since the Writer’s Guild strike is over (thankfully), I have taken down the WGA Strike Central section, but several of those links have relocated to the sidebar: Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood Daily blog has been added, as well as The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. – As […]
XM ends partnership with AOL, launches new online radio initiative CBS Radio and AOL struck a major deal Friday, which allows AOL to stream all CBS-owned radio stations on its Internet Radio service. The deal will mesh CBS-owned radio stations with AOL’s existing radio stations, and it also calls for CBS to create custom radio stations exclusively for the Internet. […]
Today’s feedback in Robert Feder’s column in today’s Sun-Times was about the recent corporate cutbacks at Citadel’s WLS-AM and WZZN-FM. Among the universally critical letters of Citadel were three former WLS staffers – one of which (Jake Hartford) was fired Friday. If the Citadel firings are any indication, the radio business has taken a major step backwards (again) and has […]
Remember when Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane was upset with Fox for airing those episodes of Family Guy that were not approved by him during the recent writer’s strike? Well, I guess all is forgiven… Fox is talks with McFarlane about a possible spin-off of Family Guy featuring Cleveland Brown, the lone African-American character on the show. If you watch […]
The former White Sox and Orioles pitcher and Cubs commentator signs on full time with the Chicago White Sox to be their new color analyst, replacing Chris Singleton in the role. Singleton is reportedly heading to ESPN’s Baseball Tonight. White Sox games air over WSCR-AM. Thankfully, the new contract doesn’t call for Stone doing Public Insurance commercials (remember those?) But […]
If this article in TV Week is any indication, the major broadcast networks are in for more audience erosion – but read my latest Think Tank and I’ll give you even more reasons why they are. Meanwhile, the relentless assault on the First Amendment continues from the FCC and PTC groups, though its too bad the government (and the PTC) […]
Robert Feder of the Sun-Times wrote a pretty good article today, analyzing WLS-AM and WZZN-FM’s firing spree on Friday, in which fourteen people lost their jobs – a dead-on piece that pretty much sums up the state of the media business today, especially radio. And that’s not all: On top of that, Feder reported that four employees at CBS-owned WBBM-TV […]
Oprah Winfrey’s new prime-time reality show on ABC was a big hit last night, with the program finishing first in total viewers, adults 18-49, and in households, despite the fact critics ultimately panned the show (so much for that extra promotion – but does the queen of daytime TV really even need them?) Meanwhile, Fox’s The Simpsons scored the highest […]
If you’re a fan of America’s Next Top Model, Everybody Hates Chris, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, and Supernatural – good news – your show has been picked up for next season, though Top Model and Chris were renewed ahead of time. Left off the list (for now) are Reaper, The Game, and Aliens in America. Gone are WWE […]
Last week, two programs reminded us how much the words “vertical integration” meant to the TV business. The possible renewals of tired sitcoms According to Jim and Scrubs. Both come from the same studio (ABC Studios) and both are being considered for pickups by ABC next season, despite the fact both have drawn less and less viewers over the last […]
A reminder: the new WMEU-CA, branded Me-Too is launching today at 5 a.m.The new channel is a spin-off of Me-TV (WWME-CA), which launched in 2005. WMEU is taking the place of ethnic-programmed WFBT-CA, which is switching to one of WCIU’s sub-channels. WMEU, WFBT, WWME, and WCIU are all owned by Weigel Broadcasting. Me-Too is available on broadcast analogchannel 48 (good […]
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