Inauguration ratings; Litton clears Street Court in New York and Chicago; Erica Cobb has a new gig. – The Inauguration of Barack Obama scored in the ratings yesterday, with the most watched swearing-in ceremony since President Reagan in 1981, with a 29.2 rating in the 56 markets metered by Nielsen on an “overnight” basis. In Chicago, here’s how the household […]
While Barack Obama was being sworn in as our 44th President, something else was going on. And it wasn’t good. Clear Channel made what is perhaps the biggest one-day layoff of any media company in history by axing around 1,850 jobs nationwide from Chicago to Atlanta, from Detroit to San Francisco, and everywhere in between. Clear Channel CEO Mark Mays […]
Our very own Barack Obama – from the South Side of Chicago – is the nation’s 44th President – and the first African-American to be in the Oval Office. It’s a historic day in this country. Just like the day the Chicago White Sox won the 2005 World Series – President Obama’s election makes yours truly proud to be a […]
As you know by now, ESPN’s WMVP-AM cut Dan McNeil from the Mac, Jurko & Harry show, with only Jurko & Harry remaining, joined by Carmen DeFalco – for now. Ed Sherman (formerly of the Chicago Tribune) wrote in his sports blog for Crain’s Chicago Business with more on McNeil’s firing – one important factor was McNeil’s high salary, commanding […]
The T Dog Media Blog has two tenants who recently moved into The Sidebar: Welcome new neighbors Media and Marketing Mix blog from the Sun-Times’ Lewis Lazare and Jerry Del Colliano’s Inside Music Media blog. You’ll find both new links on The Sidebar under “T Dog’s Media Friends” to the right. Yours truly has also recently added another new webiste […]
The major broadcast networks made their presentations at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour this week. Among the highlights: NBC – NBC announced Conan O’ Brien’s final night on Late Night will be on Feb. 20, just three months before he is scheduled to take over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno in Los Angeles. Replacing him is Jimmy […]
The Mac, Jurko, and Harry show at WMVP-AM ESPN 1000, is now just Jurko, Harry, and some other person. Bosses at the Disney-owned sports radio talk station showed him the door today, not opting to pick up the fifth year of his contract. Replacing McNeil as of Monday on the afternoon show is Carmen DeFalco. McNeil hasn’t been an angel […]
The rumors of Fox-owned local stations laying off appear to be true: WFLD-TV and WPWR-TV recently eliminated seven positions, including the vice president of programming and promotions position, which was held by longtime Chicago TV veteran Dominic Mancuso. Mancusco departed on January 7, though the announcement of the layoffs came on Wedensday. Ironically, Mancuso’s last position before working for Fox […]
The Chicago Tribune asked this question regarding Chicago’s frigid weather in January – a really, really, really stupid question…. And boy, did yours truly ever respond: This article is one of the most insipid pieces of crap I’ve ever read on the Tribune’s website. It’s January. It’s supposed to be cold! Big deal! Why is this a story? Does The […]
He’s leaving on January 20. Good riddance. Don’t hit your pompous ass on your way out the door.
A new size for the Trib; A new FCC Chairman (hooray!); Stargate Atlantis exits with a bang; Fox cancels Prison Break. – One advantage the Chicago Sun-Times had over the Trib was its tabloid-like size and the ease of reading it on the bus or on the “L”. Now, that’s gone. Oh-oh… Chicago Tribune introduces a new size: The paper […]
Given all what’s going in Chicago lately, I guess there’s a need for another public-affairs program (one show can’t cover it all…) WTTW is debuting a new review-of-the-week show this Friday night at 8:30 p.m., aptly titled Rewind. The new program is hosted by WMAQ-TV anchor and reporter Anna Davlantes. Though the program plans to be somewhat similar to Chicago […]
From the Winter Press Tour: – BET isn’t going to pass up a history-making event as this one. The network is going to be there front and center for President-elect Barack Obama’s Inauguration. BET will air special programming beginning this Saturday, including extended coverage of Obama’s Inauguration on Jan. 20. Click here to read more. – HBO is launching a […]
Wendy Williams goes forward. CBS Television Distribution has decided to shelve preacher T.D. Jakes’ new syndicatedtalk show until 2010, according to the distributor. The reason given was the tough economic conditions stations and advertisers are facing this year. Meanwhile, Debmar-Mercury’s new Wendy Williams syndicated talk show is going forward, clearing 70 percent of the country.
Broadcasting & Cable is reporting that two Sony-distributed courtroom strips (Judge David Young and Judge Karen) are expected to be canceled soon. Young will exit after two seasons and Karen after only one. The possible moves come as the tough economy has taken a toll on the first-run syndication business, as ratings and revenue coming in are very low for […]
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