ABC 7 window hit with rocks during 4 p.m. newscast

CPD investigating; adds to a string of bizarre incidents at the station over the years Yet another bizarre incident occurred outside of the studios of ABC 7 – this time during a newscast. At the start of the 4 p.m. newscast on the ABC-owned station Thursday, a male suspect threw a rock at the window of WLS-TV’s 190 North State […]

Nexstar’s WGN-TV readies its return to The CW

WGN-TV is set to return to the network after a ten-year absence; CW also moving to new stations in other markets While the fall season doesn’t start for a few weeks, The CW will make numerous station switches this weekend, including in Chicago. On Saturday, WGN-TV officially returns to The CW affiliate lineup after eight years away. In a move […]

Amazon pulls Diamond/Bally offer to fund RSNs

$115 million investment taken away as broadcaster plans to exit bankruptcy Anaheim Ducks dump Bally for new over-the-air/streaming venture [Editor’s Note: This article was updated at 4:47 p.m.] If you are in a Bally Sports market and hoping to stream your favorite games through Amazon, it won’t happen.   The tech and e-commerce giant announced Monday it was pulling its $115 […]

“Drew Barrymore Show” renewed through 2026

Upgrades in several key large markets as future of show was questioned last week Affirming their commitment to Drew Barrymore’s talk show, CBS Media Ventures announced Thursday a sixth-year renewal through the end of the 2025-26 season, as the daytime talker was upgraded in several large markets. Since season three, the show split into two separate half-hours, with most stations […]

Phil Donahue dies at 88

Legendary, pioneering talk show changed TV Phil Donahue, who put the issues-oriented daytime talk show on the map in the 1970s, died Sunday at the age of 88 in his New York City home after a long illness. Even though Donahue’s talk show wasn’t the first syndicated talk show to originate from Chicago, he was an innovator in discussing taboo […]

Chicago’s media gets ready for the DNC

Local stations emphasize streaming coverage Batten down the hatches, Chicago: the Democratic National Convention is coming to town. For four days – August 19 to August 22 to be exact, the nation’s third-largest television and radio market will be the center of the political universe, with the convention taking place at the United Center on the West Side. More than […]

Federal judge blocks Venu launch due to antitrust concerns

Cites antitrust issues; appeal planned A federal judge Friday afternoon temporarily blocked plans for Venu to launch later this month due to anti-trust concerns. Judge Margaret N. Garnett granted the injunction requested by vMVPD Fubo against Disney, Fox. and Warner Bros. Discovery, who formed a joint venture to launch a new sports-centered virtual streaming service. Garnett found reason to believe […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: The White Sox uses the CBS Chicago blueprint for its Fan Alienation Plan

Chicago’s South Side MLB team resembles CBS Chicago’s ratings disasters in every way possible  In the early 2000s, then-Chicago Tribune media critic Steve Johnson noted the management at CBS-owned WBBM-TV implemented what he called a “Viewer Alienation Plan”, a series of bad decisions repelling viewers from the station throughout the 1990s, including tabloid newscasts, awful anchor pairings, and a deer-in-headlight […]

Danny Parkins exits 670 The Score

Reports link him to joining FS1 show After a few days of speculation, 670 The Score (Audacy-owned WSCR-AM) afternoon co-host Danny Parkins announced Tuesday afternoon he is leaving the station.  Parkins hasn’t said where he is going next because of an embargo. But he is likely headed to New York to co-host a new FS1 talk show with Emmanuel Acho […]

“Family Guy”, “Bob’s Burgers” set to exit broadcast syndication

Local stations downgraded animated series to late-night, overnight time slots Family Guy reruns head to Comedy Central [Editor’s Note: This post was updated August 14.] If you’re watching reruns of Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers on your local TV station, you’ll need a new platform to watch them on as both are being removed from broadcast syndication due to expiring […]

New York’s WCBS-AM signs off to make room for ESPN Radio

57 years of radio history ends In an unusual move, Audacy is letting ESPN New York owner Good Karma Brands lease the 880 AM signal in New York City in a local marketing agreement (LMA), effective August 26. The frequency is currently occupied by all-news WCBS-AM, but with this move, the station is shuttering after 57 years in operation, leaving […]

Broadcasting + Cable, Multichannel News to close

Replaced by a new consolidated, yet-to-be-named website Since both broadcasting and cable as media platforms are declining, perhaps it makes sense the magazine bearing both names would wind up ceasing publication. TV trades Broadcasting + Cable and Multichannel News are closing and will no longer print issues or send out newsletters. Instead, both brands will consolidate under a yet-to-be-unveiled new […]

The Chicago Bears’ “Hard Knocks” edition begins tonight

Highly anticipated TV show takes center stage  For Chicagoans, the Chicago Bears’ edition of Hard Knocks might be one of the most anticipated television shows to debut in recent years.  The show is already being met with excitement from fans and those in local sports media, thanks to a trailer that dropped last week featuring rookie Bears QB Caleb Williams […]