Tribune pulls signals from DirecTV

  Seems like a cruel April Fools’ prank to play on your viewers. It seemed DirecTV had a deal with Tribune Broadcasting – owner of WGN-TV in Chicago and WGN America, with a new retransmission deal. Or so we thought. DirecTV announced a deal Saturday stating it reached an agreement with Tribune two days earlier to compensate them for transmitting […]

T Dog’s Think Tank Update: Mayor Emanuel stands behind journalists

(Editor’s Note: Even though Prop 101 is still in effect, its being lifted for this story only, since WIQI is part.) A little over ten days ago, yours truly wrote a Think Tank regarding an incident that happened outside Mt. Sinai Hospital between the Chicago Police and two journalists – WGN-TV’s Dan Ponce and WMAQ videographer Donte Williams who were […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: Terminating the right to report: could it happen?

A bizarre scene unfolded Saturday afternoon at a West Side hospital involving WGN-TV reporter Dan Ponce, a WMAQ-TV cameraman, and the Chicago police. Three local stations and four cameramen were at Mt. Sinai Hospital to file reports from the place on camera after a six-year old girl was gunned down in Chicago’s Little Village (South Lawndale) neighborhood earlier in the […]

“The Middle” heads to WGN-TV, ABC Family for syndication

In what can be billed as a blindside announcement, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution announced Tuesday the sale of ABC Wednesday night sitcom The Middle to 92 percent of the country for off-network syndication beginning in September 2013, with station groups representing Tribune, Sinclair, Weigel, Raycom, and CBS. The swift announcement – and just as swift clearance of the show […]

The Sevens have it

Want a winner? Bet on seven every time – NY, LA, Chicago ABC O&Os dominate February sweeps No Oprah? No All My Children? No One Life to Live? No problem. Even without three of their long-time stalwarts of their schedule (and threats from soap opera fans never to watch ABC again), ABC owned-and-operated stations continue  their  ratings domination in the […]

The Grab Bag: Conan, “Archer” receive contract extensions

  – One up, one down: Archer just received a vote of confidence from FX as the cable net green-lighted the animated series for a fourth season for thirteen new episodes. Ratings for the show in the Thursday night time slot are up 32 percent in total viewers and 62 percent among adults 18-34. In addition, the show’s creators (Adam […]

T Dog’s Six Pack: The Valentine’s edition

It’s a Valentine’s edition of T Dog’s Six Pack – the heart-shaped winners and the prune-shaped losers: A fine box of chocolates The Grammys. Fueled by the death of Whitney Houston (who paid tribute) and Adele’s 6-for-6 night, the 54th Grammy Awards drew 40 million viewers, the second-largest audience for the awards show in history (The 1984 Grammys drew 43.8 […]

Don Cornelius dies

  The television and music industries are mourning the death of Soul Train host and creator Don Cornelius. He was found dead in his home in Los Angeles Wednesday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Cornelius’ health had been declining for the last few years and was reportedly showing signs of dementia. Cornelius also had brushes with the law; he was […]

T Dog’s Six Pack: Pour a wet beverage on me

It’s time to grab your favorite beverage (a six pack of it would be best…) because it’s time for T Dog’s Six Pack! In this edition, Jerry Bryant expands his business, Betty White’s is actually on her rockers celebrating her 90th birthday while the Rev. Michael Pflager is far off his.       Rounds of Hot Cocoa for everyone. […]

T Dog’s Six Pack: Bringing in the New Year

It’s the first Six Pack of 2012 and here’s and the list of winners and losers of the new year so far: A Happy New Year Chicago Bulls. With the team off to a strong start this (abbreviated) season, ratings are already soaring for Comcast SportsNet and WGN-TV – not a good thing to hear for the major networks locally, […]

WFLD hires Phyills Schwartz as new news director

Carol Fowler bounced from station after three disastrous years In a move that was pretty much expected, Fox-owned WFLD has fired news director Carol Fowler and replaced her with Phyills Schwartz, who held the same position for five years at ABC-owned WLS-TV. The changeover is effective immediately. Schwartz was at top rated WLS-TV for thirteen years with five of them […]

2012: A look ahead

Happy New Year, everyone! There will be a lot going on in 2012 – elections, international summits, the Olympics, and much, much, more! Here’s what to look for in 2012: – Look for CBS to continue their prime-time ratings domination. – With Family Guy running on empty and The Cleveland Show shifting time periods every week, look for Fox’s Animation […]

The Excellent 10 of 2011

There is a lot of mediocrity that abounded in the media business this year. But in this post, T Dog Media is honoring the standouts of 2011 – the year’s ten best shows and the best media items. Let’s countdown the best shows of the year first… Best shows of 2011 10. Bob’s Burgers (Fox). What could’ve been the next […]

The Toilet 10 of 2011

And other media misfires of note Scrubbing the commodes for you… the Toilet 10 of 2011 – the worst shows of television and media items sure to make your head stick in one. And away we go. Worst TV Shows of 2011 1. Allen Gregory (Fox). Not only this is the worst show of the year – this is the […]