Mike North ousted at ChicagoSportsWebio.com

It’s not a beautiful thing. Or sight. With all the news regarding the digital TV transition, this piece of news came out of left field: Mike North was ousted at ChicagoSportsWebio.com today, after helping launch the Internet radio sports station earlier this year. Also ousted were his wife, BeBe North; and Jeff Schwartz. North was fired after he asked CEO […]

Today’s the day

For you to make the switch to digital TV. and if you haven’t done so – you’d better. Remember, if you are a cable or satellite subscriber, you are set. If you have a digital-ready set or a converter box, you are also set. If not, and you still rely on analog TV, you’d better do something or you will […]

Chicago TV stations to form "lifeline" for stranded analog viewers

Three Chicago TV stations are partnering up to inform viewers about the digital TV transition, which happens tomorrow. NBC-owned WMAQ-TV, CW affiliate WGN-TV and Independent WCIU-TV will run news, entertainment, and informational programming on Weigel’s WWME-CA – a low-power station not affected by the analog shutoff for now (all full-power stations are scheduled to shut off their analog signals on […]

T Dog’s Four Pack

The list of winners and losers are back! Yes, they can! Conan. As Conan O’ Brien is settling down in his new Tonight Show role, he has more than proven himself as a successor to Jay Leno (or… maybe not.) Futurama returns. Six years later after Fox canceled this underrated show, Comedy Central comes to the rescue with 26 new […]

Bob Sirott out at Channel 5

Longtime media personality and fill-in anchor Bob Sirott and NBC-owned WMAQ-TV parted ways today, apparently over money regarding a contractual provision stating he would succeed retiring 10 p.m. anchor Warner Saunders, which would lead to an increase in salary. WMAQ tried to renegotiate Sirott’s contract to short the multi-year deal, so Sirott and WMAQ decided to end their relationship. This […]

"Futurama" returns

Well, how about this. Six years after Fox canceled the series, Twentieth Television and Comedy Central have agreed to revive the animated sci-fi comedy Futurama. New episodes of the series are expected to air in mid-2010. A broadcast network window (most likely Fox) could open up as well. 26 half-hours are planned. The move gives the series enough episodes to […]

"Rachael Ray" moves to WGN-TV

Rachael Ray is on the move. After three underperforming seasons at CBS-owned WBBM-TV, Rachael Ray’s talk show is shifting to Tribune-owned CW affiliate WGN-TV this fall. Rachael Ray has not fared well in its 2 p.m. time slot, with tougher competition coming from Chicago native Bonnie Hunt, whose talk show airs opposite it and has beat Rachael in the ratings. […]

WCIU picks up "Old Christine"

Sinclair also picks up sitcom; double run could air in prime, displacing My Network TV shows WCIU-TV here in Chicago has picked up the off-network syndication rights to The Old Adventures of New Christine from Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution for airing beginning in the fall of 2010. The Weigel-owned station is expected to air the show twice a day […]

Chicago DJs rally for peace

Three competing local morning radio personalities gathered together yesterday to rally for peace on Chicago’s streets. Organized by Father Michael Pflager, Soul 106.3’s Tom Joyner, WGCI’s Tony Sculfield, and Power 92’s Trey held a rally at Daley Plaza, urging an end to the violence that has plagued Chicago’s (and even some suburbs‘) streets this year. Even though serious crimes have […]

Chicago turns out for "Conan"

The debut of Conan O’Brien on The Tonight Show Monday scored huge ratings, though not as big as Leno’s sendoff on Friday. Conan debuted to a 7.1 overnight household rating and 17 overnight household share, according to Nielsen. Locally in Chicago (WMAQ-TV, NBC5), O’Brien’s debut notched a 8.7/18 (scroll down), tied for fifth with Pittsburgh (WPXI-TV) for the most-watched market. […]

Dan McNeil returns to The Score

He’s back home. Dan McNeil, who was with WSCR-AM from 1991-2000, has returned to the station and assumed the midday shift at the station.McNeil was previously at rival WMVP-AM (ESPN 1000) until last January after the station declined to pick up the last year of his contract. The return of McNeil is good news for the sports talk station, whose […]

Radio & Records folds

We all could use some R&R. But in this economy, even that’s going away. The Nielsen Company announced today it was ceasing publication of Radio & Records after 36 years. The move takes place immediately; the Radio & Records website has been shut down and redirected to sister website Billboard.biz, where some of the airplay charts are available (subscription required.) […]

"Conan" is ready to go (Updated)

Now that the Jay Leno era has come to a close, it’s time for Conan O’Brien to step in. Beginning tonight, Conan O’Brien becomes the fifth host to front The Tonight Show in the program’s 55-year history, following Steve Allen (and Ernie Kovacs, who hosted the Monday and Tuesday episodes of “Tonight” during the Allen era), Johnny Carson, and Jay […]