The latest

Wasted opportunity?

Arthur Greenwald of TVnewsday says that many ABC affiliates are passing up a chance to promote Dancing With the Stars locally. He compares the promo efforts of ABC-owned KABC-TV in Los Angeles, Tribune’s WGNO-TV in New Orleans, and Hearst-Argyle’s WTAE in Pittsburgh (which won in his book for its promo efforts over the Tribune station and the network O&O website.)

The Daily Show – Milwaukee style

The joke’s on WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee’s NBC affiliate for falling for a fake story that a blogger posted as an April Fool’s prank. What’s even funnier? – The blogger works for a website that’s co-owned by Journal Communications – the same owner of WTMJ.

WCIU launching new kids show

WCIU-TV is launching a new locally-produced Saturday morning children’s show called Green Screen Adventures, in which Chicago Public School students’ stories will be transformed into real-life television experiences. The show will use the same green-screen technology used in TV weather reports, hence the name Green Screen Adventures. The program airs Saturday morning at 7 a.m. and meets the educational requirements […]

WLS-TV leader profiled by Sun-Times

Robert Feder of the Sun-Times interviews Emily Barr of ABC-owned powerhouse WLS-TV here in Chicago on her ten years at the station, and keeping it one of the highest-rated ABC stations in the country. She also talks about how the station is well-prepared for the transition from analog-to digital (if fact – it’s already there – the station was the […]

No charges in radio station water drinking stunt

The district attorney’s office has determined that Entercom’s KDND-FM (107.9 The End) in Sacramento, and its members (current and former) will not face any charges in the water-drinking radio stunt that killed Jennifer Strange back on January 12. She participated to win a video game system, where whoever drunk the most water without going to the bathroom the longest would […]

Best commentary of the day…

Comes from Richard Huff from the New York Daily News, who blasts the right-wing Parents Television Council (or the Prick Tofu Crud as I call it) for declaring the V-chip a failure and blaming the industry and not the parents who let their kids watch the racy stuff. Good for him! (And good for him on ripping Jennifer Lopez’s no-talent […]

Syndication Update: 2008 development in full swing

After a lackluster 2007 development season, the 2008 syndication development season is packing some punch. Warner Bros. has confirmed it has signed Chicagoan Bonnie Hunt to host a daily talk-show that would begin in September 2008. The Second City alum has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including Life With Bonnie and The Building (a personal favorite of yours […]

Sam Zell wins Tribune auction: Cubs to be sold (Updated)

Chicago billionaire Sam Zell has won the auction for control of the Tribune Co., paying $13 billion to beat out two Los Angeles-area billionaires with a winning bid of $34 a share. Zell is also supporting the new investment with a $315 million influx of cash. In addition, Mr. Zell will became a board member, and will become chairman once […]

Tribune Watch: No word on sale of Tribune Co.

The bids are due today for the Tribune Co., but there is still no word on who will end up with the media conglomerate – Chicago billionaire Sam Zell, who’s offering $33 a share, or the two L.A. billionaires, who’s offering $34 a share. There is a chance that the deadline could be extended, and at this late hour, it […]

More BS from the FCC and the NAB

The FCC has determined that the iPod is not a competitor to satellite radio, a possible blow to the hopes of XM and Sirius merging. Who’s celebrating this? The National Association of Broadcasters, of course. That’s the group (along with the RIAA) that doesn’t want you to have a choice of what platform you want to listen to your music. […]

No more road for Fox Sports pregame show

No, we are no longer on the clock… but the football items roll on… Because of cost concerns, Fox sports has decided to keep its pregame show in L.A. this fall and WNYW-TV New York sports guy Curt Menafee will be the ringmaster of a circus that includes Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, and Jimmy Johnson. Could this mean the return […]