Alpha Media lures him away from Audacy – despite ongoing layoffs across the company As first reported by Radio Insight, Alpha Media announced Friday it was flipping its Hot AC WXLC-FM (102.3 FM) to Country and simulcasting the signal of WCCQ-FM (98.3 FM), based in southwest suburban Crest Hill and Joliet, now branded as “Free Country Radio”. The new Country […]
Plans to make digital initiative a daily TV show by August In an unusual way of launching a TV show, Fox Television Stations announced Tuesday it is launching Battleground, a new series tracking the 2024 Presidential Election, which is expected to be the most contested in history. The show will focus on seven battleground “swing” states, hence the name: Arizona, […]
Also: The Drive reclaims the top spot in Chicago radio ratings; Young Sheldon redeems himself [Editor’s Note: The second item of this piece was updated on May 21.] Wrapping up the upfronts: ABC released its fall schedule last week as part of a Disney upfront presentation that hardly mentioned the network. And little wonder – there isn’t much to talk […]
Still on track to launch this fall After first announcing the new sports streaming service in February, Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery finally came up with a name: Venu. Not to be confused with Venmo the Internet Pay app, or Ventura, the transit card used by the CTA, Pace, and Metra, the service is still on track to launch […]
Three-year deal marks first Big Four sports rights deal for streamer The world’s most dominant streamer is teaming up with the world’s most dominant sports league. In a landmark deal, Netflix announced Wednesday morning it has agreed to stream two Christmas Day games beginning with the 2024 season, and at least one game in 2025 and 2026. Like other cable […]
Also: Roku Channel to air Sunday MLB baseball While back to normalcy is the word at Upfronts week after years of interruptions (from labor unrest and Covid), unfortunately so are the stupid and awful presentations to advertisers with Jimmy Fallon headlining NBC’s and Fox featuring Rob Lowe and new Fox Sports football analyst Tom Brady. One tradition that didn’t return […]
Deal includes Fox 32 and My50 Sony Pictures Television made their first deals for the two-hour syndicated version of NFL Network’s Good Morning Football by signing the Fox Television Stations group. Known in syndication as GMFB, Fox did sign their duopoly markets including Chicago, but several non-duopoly ones as well, including WITI Milwaukee, WAGA Atlanta, WTVT Tampa-St. Petersburg, and WTXF […]
Includes Hulu and but no word on if new sports streaming service is included In a move for their streaming services to become more economical for subscribers, The Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. Discovery announced Wednesday a plan to bundle their streaming services. Both plan to launch the bundle this summer with ad-supported and commercial-free tiers being offered. Notably […]
Highlights the rarity of two competing networks on the same platform Starting today, Chicago viewers can now find WMAQ-TV’s streaming local news channel on Pluto TV. “We are excited to grow our existing partnership with Pluto TV and expand the reach of our premium local news content to new audiences,” said Amy Geary, senior VP of NBCUniversal Content Distribution. “News […]
Also: Daily Herald makes changes; CBS releases fall sked early; US 99’s Drew Walker exits The new proposed regional sports network featuring the Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox now may have a behind-the-scenes change. In a surprising move reported by The Athletic Saturday night, the new regional sports network Jerry Reinsdorf is looking to launch will now be handled by […]
New digital subchannel and streamer to feature Bugs, Daffy, Scooby, and more Your favorite cartoon characters are returning to broadcast television. Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting announced Thursday it is launching a new, 24/7 classic animation channel in conjunction with Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns the classic Warner Bros. Loony Tunes and Hanna-Barbera libraries. “We are honored to work with the amazing […]
Station shifts music to 1990s-2000s to attract younger listeners As first reported by Radio Insight, Hubbard-owned WSHE-FM adjusted its music playlist Thursday to feature pop hits from the 1990s and 2000s and rebranded itself as Throwback 100.3. WSHE is also promoting the new format by launching a promotion where listeners have a chance to win a “throwback experience” and qualify […]
“CW 26” is no more after five years; third affiliation change in eight years as WCIU returns to independence As anticipated since Nexstar Media Group bought a controlling interest in The CW, the company’s WGN-TV returns to the network as an affiliate beginning September 1, as first reported by The Desk. This comes as the contract for its current affiliate, […]
ABC ABC-Owned Stations ABC 7 Chicago American Idol CBS CBS 2 Chicago CBS Media Ventures CBS News And Stations Chicago Bears Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Bulls Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox ESPN Family Guy FCC Fox Fox 32 Fox Television Stations Los Angeles Milwaukee NBC NBC 5 NBC Owned Television Stations NBCUniversal Syndication Studios New York City Nexstar Media Group Radio Ratings Sinclair Inc. Syndication The Big Bang Theory The CW The Simpsons Tribune Media Warner Bros. WBBM-TV Chicago WCIU Chicago WFLD Chicago WGN-TV Chicago WGN Radio WLS-AM Chicago WLS-TV Chicago WMAQ Chicago WPWR Chicago