Don’t look for Chicago TV stations to dump their analog signals until June 12. Chicago, along with a lot of other large markets, are keeping their analog signals on the air to avoid confusion from viewers (and perhaps protests from community groups.) President Obama signed a bill today that would keep analog signals on the air until June 12 instead […]
So much so, a rock is actually worth more than their stock. Sirius-XM’s shares tumbled to an all-time low of 5 cents per share on reports the satcaster is headed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Sirius-XM is in talks with Echostar, the owner of Dish Network about a buyout, since the company assumed some of Sirius-XM’s debt. It is also in […]
An all-cable edition of the Grab Bag, with the NBA taking center stage: – The rematch of the last year’s NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics was a ratings blockbuster for TNT Thursday night, with the cable network drawing its highest ratings in 13 years (a Feb. 2 1996 between the Chicago Bulls and Lakers – […]
Warner Bros’ move of Judge Jeanne Pirro from The CW to syndication is now complete, with a group deal with the Fox Television Group. The all-barter deal, which includes Fox’s duopoly of WFLD and WPWR, gives Pirro a clearance rate of 75 percent of the United States. Pirro may have benefited from the cancellation of Cristina’s Court on Friday, which […]
NBC Universal’s The Steve Wilkos Show has been renewed for a third season according to officials at the syndicator, with 70 percent of the country on board. According to this article in TV Week, Wilkos has cleared Tribune stations in New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia – but in Chicago, the article cites a renewal for the “Weigel’s station in […]
Instead, call it a “programming service.” My Network TV is revamping its programming model, with the service airing ten hours of material a week instead of twelve this fall with Saturday nights handed back to affiliates. My Net is also cutting back on original programming, adding a movie night, and instead airing a two-hour block of Law & Order: Criminal […]
Remember a few days ago when I said Chicago media is one big freak show? Well, I think Detroit may have us beat… WDIV in Detroit ran a crawl during NBC’s Super Bowl pre-game coverage when former Detroit Lions GM Matt Millen appeared on-screen and the station ran a crawl ripping into him stating: “Matt Millen was president of the […]
It is sad I could barely scrape up four positive items to put in this week’s four pack. It just goes to show you how bad this business has really become. T Dog’s Fab Four: – Bones. The procedural’s move to Thursday nights finally puts Fox on the map with a 3.2 A18-49 rating, defeating ABC’s Ugly Betty. – NCIS. […]
Another courtroom show has bit the dust. Cristina’s Court became the third courtroom to get the ax this season, following the cancellations of Judge David Young and Judge Karen, both from Sony Pictures Television. The economic climate is partially to blame, but the third-season show wasn’t doing itself any favors by averaging around an 1.1 Nielsen rating overall. Twentieth plans […]
I’m surprised this didn’t happen sooner…. The Tribune Co. announced it was streamlining its two local news operations in Chicago – those of WGN-TV and cable channel CLTV. Beginning soon, CLTV’s news operations (currently based in west suburban Oak Brook) will move to WGN’s Bradley Place headquarters in Chicago. CLTV is Chicago’s first and only around-the-clock local news channel (aside […]
It’s now June 12 again – the House passed a bill that moves the transition date from February 17 to June 12. However, stations can still shut their analog signals on February 17. A somewhat similar bill was defeated in the House last week. President Obama said that he would sign the legislation.
Before I report this, I just want to mention this item was posted on Chicagoland Radio and Media on Monday night and yours truly pondered whether or not to post this story, since it was hearsay at the time and this blog can’t post gossip items which may or may not turn out not to be true, since a written […]
Longtime WGN-AM and WIND-AM personality Eddie Schwartz passed today at the age of 62. Schwartz worked the overnight shift on both station for many years, and is remembered fondly as a person who would listen to anybody and his or her problem. Schwartz also started a food drive at WGN, to help Chicago’s poor. Schwartz hasn’t worked in radio since […]
Sunflower Cable cries Uncle; More Super Bowl numbers; Costas leaves HBO; No Super Bowl bump for NBC – NBC hoped it would get an audience for its Monday lineup of Chuck, Heroes, and Medium. Didn’t work. – But NBC did get some good news: Super Bowl XLIII viewership was adjusted upward to 98.7 million viewers – making it the most-watched […]
The Super Bowl XLIII matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals drew 95.4 million viewers, making it the third most-watched TV show of all time, trailing the 1983 series finale of M*A*S*H and Super Bowl XLII between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. Here’s the breakdown: – In the 56 markets metered for overnight and/or […]
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