Welcome to the New Year’s Eve Battle Royale

Local stations, broadcast and cable networks battle it out to ring in the new year I think the question we should be asking is who isn’t doing a New Year’s Eve show this year?  The major networks and local stations are throwing their hats in the New Years’ Eve ring as they look to capture their share of an audience […]

Introducing Disney +

The Walt Disney Company unveils its weapon to win the streaming wars (Editor’s Note: This post was updated on November 12, the day Disney + was released.) At Disney Investor Day at Walt Disney Studios in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank came the new everyone was waiting for. The long-awaited Disney answer to Netflix was finally unveiled Thursday afternoon: […]

No contest: ABC, WLS-TV dominate New Year’s Eve programming

NBC 5, other networks could not compete Like the New England Patriots bumrushing over everyone in the NFL, the competition was no match for the Mouse House with Ryan Seacrest, Jenny McCarthy, Janet Davies, and Cheryl Scott. ABC and its owned-and-operated station in Chicago on New Year’s Eve  on Sunday night performed a ratings clinic – a complete total domination […]

T Dog Media’s Notepad: ABC 7 leads in social media rankings

Tamron Hall seeking talk show; Hulu strikes deal for Bob’s Burgers, Futurama, and more; DuckTales returns on Aug. 12   Now you can add social media to ABC 7’s dominance: according to Share Rocket data over the last thirty days, the ABC-owned station ranks first in social media usage with an overall share of 33.8, followed by Fox 32’s 31.2, and […]

“American Idol” heads to ABC

ABC snags hit Fox show for reboot  [Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared Sunday and has been rewritten with new information.]  After rumors American Idol would resurface next year on NBC, ABC has acquired the rights to reboot the franchise. Variety first reported Friday a deal was near with ABC; but Fox, who aired the series for fifteen years, was reportedly still […]

“Countdown Chicago” wins out over “Chi-Town Rising”

But Mariah Carey, Don Lemon steal New Year’s Eve spotlight (what else is new) After getting butt-whipped last year by Chi-Town Rising, WLS-TV’s Countdown Chicago reclaimed the top-spot on New Year’s Eve. According to Robert Feder – and running from 11:08 p.m. to 12:08 a.m., Countdown Chicago drew a 12.1/17 household rating/share, beating WMAQ-TV’s 6/14 for Chi-Town Rising, running from […]

Cheryl Scottt movin’ on up to 10 p.m.

Cheryl Scott promoted to 10 p.m. Jerry Taft reduces schedule, to do weather at 6 and 7 p.m. ABC-owned WLS-TV announced Wednesday it has promoted meteorologist Cheryl Scott to the 10 p.m. newscast, effective August 1. She replaces longtime veteran Jerry Taft, who in turn takes over for Scott on the 7 p.m. newscast (over WCIU) and retains his position […]

Think Tank Express: Chicago, you have a problem

With corruption, high taxes, and gang violence, Chicago has become an international embarrassment and may never recover  If you’ve read this blog for the last ten years, then you know yours truly doesn’t just write about the media business. I’ve also written about Chicago and its image problems. The latest international embarrassment came last week when a nine-year old was […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: According to message board posters, “Everything Isn’t Awesome”

Constant whining about radio, TV threatens to undermine business Before social media, message boards and comment sections were basically a way to post your thoughts about a particular issue and to connect with others. But these days, message boards and comment section sections are often breeding grounds for stupidity and for people to start arguments for the sake of starting arguments. […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: What’s in a name?

  Spike Lee can call his movie whatever he wants – but its the content that matters Chicagoans whine about the “Chiraq” name, turning the city into a bunch of Jan Bradys When filmmaker Spike Lee announced the name of his new movie to be set in Chicago was going to be named Chiraq, it set the city into a […]

Think Tank Express: Jon Stewart to Chicago: Drop Dead

Here we go again: Overrated, blowhard host of The Daily Show slams Chicago again Jon Stewart went after Chicago again Wednesday night on The Daily Show – this time not over pizza, but for the city’s residents for re-electing Rahm Emanuel for a second term on Tuesday, defeating challenger Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, 55 percent to 45 percent (for the record, […]

T Dog’s Grab Bag: Mike Caplan, Lesile Keiling ousted

– Life’s tough in the business: ABC-owned WLS-TV meteorologist Mike Caplan was let go from the station last week after 21 years on the air. There was speculation WLS was going to release one of their meteorologists after hiring WMAQ exile Cheryl Scott late last year. In fact, WLS announced it was going to feature Scott during the 4 and […]

ABC 7 , WCIU hook up for news

In a groundbreaking move for Chicago television, one local station is going to produce a newscast for another local station. ABC-owned WLS-TV (ABC 7) announced it has entered a partnership with Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU to produce a new hour-long 7 p.m. weeknight newscast effective January 12, 2015. Anchoring the program is ABC 7 morning veteran Hosea Sanders, who is teaming […]

T Dog’s Grab Bag: Back to the future for ABC 7’s daytime lineup

– Inside Edition/Jeopardy return to old time slot – WMAQ adds 11 a.m. newscast – Chicago Little Leaguers success on and off the field – Dan McNeil, Cheryl Scott exit while Dish Nation adds a Real Housewife  – Back to the future in early fringe: as expected, ABC-owned WLS-TV is returning syndicated first-run series Inside Edition and Jeopardy to its […]