The Grammys head to ABC, Disney

Ten-year linear, streaming deal start in 2027 The Grammy Awards has a new home as music’s biggest night is headed to ABC. The Walt Disney Co. announced Wednesday it has obtained the rights to carry the Grammy Awards to air on ABC and streaming on Hulu and Disney Plus. The ten-year deal reunites the awards show with the Alphabet network […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: Bad times on media row

Journalists under fire from Trump, the left, and even Mayor Johnson as journalism’s prestige continues to sag If you thought the 2024 Chicago White Sox had a rough year, the media had it worse.  Daily attacks on the Fifth Estate have become commonplace in the last few weeks leading up to the Presidential election. And it’s not just coming from […]

“Georgie & Mandy” – the next “Sanford Arms”?

A lot at stake for the sitcom, as a Young Sheldon sequel makes its debut  Once the goldmine, the sitcom has fallen on hard times, like the rest of linear TV. For decades, the format pioneered by I Love Lucy would successfully run in primetime, then reruns would go to off-network syndication and earn unparalleled riches. Since entering syndication in […]

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 […]

Paramount, Skydance deal finally consummated

After near collapse, the duo finally crosses the finish line With several false starts and a near collapse, the Paramount-Skydance deal is finally done.  Announced Sunday evening, Paramount Global and Skydance finally agreed to merge in a two-step process: First, Skydance will purchase National Amusements – a company long held by the Redstone family for $2.4 billion and pay another […]

The Media Notepad: Stanley Cup Game 7 scores for ABC

Also: Kenya Moore out at Housewives; Fox and Sinclair team up for new syndicated true crime show; Paramount looking to sell assets Even though the recent NBA Finals naturally drew a larger audience on average, the excitement of the Stanley Cup Final was unparalleled as the series lasted seven games with historic implications. The Edmonton Oilers – who won four […]

Paramount, Skydance deal falls through

Future uncertain for the studio A merger between Paramount Global and Skydance has collapsed as controlling company National Amusements has ended talks.  National Amusements, Inc. (NAI) is the controlling shareholder of Paramount Global, owned by Shari Redstone, daughter of the late Sumner Redstone, who ran NAI and controlled the former Viacom. She reportedly had a deal with Skydance, run by […]

The Media Notepad: Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox go a different direction to launch new RSN

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 […]

Bob Bakish out as CEO of Paramount Global

His position to be reconditioned as an “Office of the CEO” as company’s bid with Skydance hangs in the balance Coming as no surprise given the speculation surrounding his future was a hot topic all weekend, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish has stepped down. In his place, Paramount announced a new management structure called the “Office Of The CEO,” run by […]

‘Late Show’ coming to Chicago for DNC this summer

Stephen Colbert to bring his late-night show to town A late-night network show is visiting Chicago for the first time in years with Stephen Colbert bringing his Late Show to the Chicago Auditorium Theater from August 19th to the 22nd, coinciding with the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. “I lived in Chicago for 11 years, and it holds […]

The Media Notepad: Audacy, Cumulus merger afoot?

Also: The Talk to end after 15 years; NCAA Women’s Championship draws record high; NHL team headed to Utah With the future of Paramount Global all the chatter, there could be some radio merger and acquisition action, too. A report in Radio Insight suggests Audacy – soon to be controlled by Soros Fund Management after coming out of bankruptcy – […]

DirecTV to offer package without local stations

But only for traditional satellite customers In a controversial move, DirecTV announced Sunday it was offering a new package without local stations. As first reported by Broadcasting & Cable (NextTV), DirecTV would offer consumers a package that would let subscribers save $12 a month (roughly $144 per year) if they dropped them. It's now officially official (thanks) https://t.co/JlHu8kTsF0 — T […]

CBS, NAACP, P&G join together on new daytime serial “The Gates”

First daytime serial to debut in 25 years In an unusual deal, CBS Studios is teaming up with the NAACP and Procter and Gamble (P&G) to launch The Gates, a new daytime serial centered around a wealthy African-American family. The effort is born out of an agreement between CBS and the NAACP made in 2020 to increase the viability of […]

Super Bowl LVIII ratings: One for the record books

Kansas City Chiefs were not the only winners; so were CBS, Univision, and Paramount Global For the first time in nearly two decades, we have a repeat Super Bowl champion as the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII in a thrilling game against the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime – the second overtime game in Super Bowl history. […]

Rewinding media in 2023

it’s Elon Musk, 2023 had No Chance In Hell to be a quiet year. (LA Times) A year dominated by labor strife, awful Chicago sports teams, and – oh yeah, Elon  If you watched the WWE, you remember Vince McMahon playing himself as an arrogant CEO and billionaire, ruling over anything and everything – the ultimate heel. It’s a real-life […]