WGN Radio makes numerous changes

Turi Ryder and Carol Roth both out after only six months   Two of WGN Radio’s newest hires are already gone after just six months. Turi Ryder announced her departure from the Tribune-owned station earlier this week, while Carol Roth’s hour-long noon show was canceled Friday. These are the latest moves from management, led by new head honcho Jimmy De […]

Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup – and the TV ratings battle

The Chicago Blackhawks are back on top in the hockey world – and in the ratings. This was quite a year for the Blackhawks, who saw some ups (the 23-game unbeaten streak) and some downs (the late start due to the lockout and Susannah Collins’ controversial firing.) But it was Dave Bolland’s game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins – one […]

T Dog’s Grab Bag: NBA Finals score a slam dunk

– A lot has made of the Stanley Cup Final ratings between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks, but what about the NBA Finals you ask? Well, the seven-game series between the San Antonio spurs and defending champion Miami Heat drew the highest rating overall for ABC since 2010 and the third highest-rated Finals series during its tenure, dating back […]

Richard Matheson dies

Acclaimed science-fiction writer Richard Matheson died last week, according to a statement his family released via a protected Facebook account. Matheson was known for many short stories, including I Am Legend, which was adapted into several screenplays over the years (the latest version starred Will Smith.) In TV circles, Matheson wrote several episodes of the first Twilight Zone. Among the […]

WLS-TV makes midday changes

Windy City Live moves to 11 a.m.; midday newscast moves online (This story was originally posted on T Dog Media’s Google Plus and Facebook pages Thursday. Updated with new info.) To make room for the incoming Live With Kelly & Michael at 9 a.m., ABC-owned WLS-TV (ABC 7) announced it was moving Windy City Live to 11 a.m. weekday mornings […]

James Gandolfini dies

Star of The Sopranos dies at 51. Fans are still in shock over the sudden death of Sorpranos star James Gandolfini Wednesday, who suddenly passed away at the age of 51 while vacationing in Italy. Gandolfini was best known for playing mobster Tony Sorprano on the 1999-2007 critically acclaimed HBO series, which set the tone for successful character-driven dramas on […]

WFLD GM’s editorials a dumb idea

From the station where bad ideas usually flourish: A few months ago, Fox-owned WFLD introduced editorials at the end of their 9 p.m. newscasts on occasion featuring General Manager Mike Renda, who now runs sis station WJBK in Detroit, with former WOFL/WRBW GM Dennis Welsh, as his replacement. Well, Welsh has continued the practice and thus far appeared in two […]

Turn out “The Lite”, the party’s over

WLIT becomes “My 93.9 FM” Clear Channel-owned WLIT-FM didn’t need the late “Dandy” Don Meredith to turn off “The Lite”: they practically took the bulb out of the socket and smashed it to the ground. After 24 years as The Lite, WLIT rebranded itself as My 93.9 FM, in line with a few other Clear Channel-owned AC formatted stations around […]

Blackhawks rock the Stanley Cup House

Big tune in locally – and nationally The Stanley Cup Final began Wednesday night between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins. This marks both teams’ second appearance in the last four years with the Blackhawks last appearing in 2010 and the Bruins in 2011. The Blackhawks not only won Game 1 in a triple-overtime thriller against the Boston Bruins, […]

Gannett, Belo to merge

In what is believed to be one of the biggest deals in at least a decade, McLean, Va.-based Gannett, Inc. announced Thursday morning their intent to buy Dallas-based Belo, Inc. for $2.2 billion, plus the assumption of debt. The deal should close at the end of the year, pending regulatory approval. The sale increased Gannett’s station count to 43; outside […]

Fox O&Os to test “The Real” – with multiethnic panel (updated)

Editor’s Note: This is an updated version of a story that originally ran on June 3. – T.H. In a project announced late Friday, Telepictures productions, a unit of TimeWarner, announced a new daytime talk show featuring five young females of ethnic backgrounds in a format resembling The View and The Talk. Titled The Real, the series is getting a […]

Blackhawks return to the Stanley Cup Final

Well, guess who’s back in the Stanley Cup Final. It’s the Chicago Blackhawks, who are looking to win their second championship in the last four years. They’ll face another “Original Six” foe in the Boston Bruins, who are looking for their second Stanley Cup in three years. Both teams face off Wednesday, with game one scheduled here in Chicago at […]

Is “Katie” on the ropes?

Could Katie get knocked out of the daytime talk show ring before the end of her second season? Another report has surfaced over the increasingly iffy future of Katie Couric’s daytime talk show, which airs in predominantly early fringe time slots on most ABC affiliates. Fox News is reporting that ABC Syndication is looking for a replacement when Couric’s talk […]