The Media Notepad: WGCI announces new evening personality

Also: Jonathan Brandmeier returns with a podcast; daytime talkers perform from home; changes at Tamron Hall. Even though iHeartMedia and other radio companies are either furloughing or laying off employees due to the loss of advertising revenue caused by COVID-19, one station did manage to announce a promotion: iHeart’s WGCI announced last Tuesday that Zach Boog is the new evening […]

TV, radio see increased usage amid coronavirus crisis

  Many viewers and listeners rediscover two old standbys In a time of crisis, Americans are tuning to two sources they trust the most: radio and television. Numerous reports have been published this week detailing how both mediums are benefiting (for the lack of a more suited term) from the current coronavirus crisis as homes using television levels and people […]

Coronavirus update: Local shows shut down production

CW 26’s The Jam, ABC 7’s Windy City Live enter production hiatus The coronavirus epidemic has not only crippled the economy and changed the way we live, but it’s now affected television production in Chicago and nationwide. The latest scheduling changes took place last week when CW 26’s (WCIU) morning show The Jam and ABC 7’s (WLS-TV) Windy City Live […]

Coronavirus update: ABC shifts “Nightline” an hour earlier (updated)

WGN, ESPN puts sports shows on hiatus Editor’s Note: This post has been updated.  When Nexstar CEO Perry Sook a few weeks ago said local stations would benefit from people being at home due to the coronavirus outbreak, many mocked him. Turns out he could be right. As restaurants, bars, and other places where people gather are increasingly being shut […]

Coronavirus update: The bottom falls out

Everything is canceled. You won’t find anyone in empty arenas or stadiums for the foreseeable future – and now that includes the players themselves. The bottom fell out of the sports and entertainment industry Thursday as leagues suspended or canceled events. The NBA, NHL, XFL, AHL, Major League Baseball, and Major League Soccer have suspended their seasons until further notice. […]

Coronavirus update: More cancellations, including NAB Show

NBA suspends season, more New York talk shows suspend audiences The coronavirus continues to wreck havoc in every faucet of life and it’s getting worse by the day as more and more people are affected with the deadly virus. Never before in the modern media era have we seen… anything like this. Here’s the latest: – The NBA became the […]

Coronavirus fears forces “Wendy Williams”, others to pull live studio audiences

Syndicated, network daytime shows latest to pull audiences due to coronavirus After Sony’s decision to close tapings of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune to the public as of Monday night due to coronavirus concerns, more shows have followed suit as expected. Tuesday night, Debmar-Mercury and Wendy Williams announced they would not host audiences for their show for now: pic.twitter.com/pM3yZEitZU — […]

Coronavirus sacks “Jeopardy”, “Wheel” live studio audiences

Decision made after epidemic spreads across globe; Chicago film studio also affected Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 4 p.m. on March 10.  The coronavirus epidemic has affected sporting events, large gatherings, canceled trade shows (including four at McCormick Place) and other places around the world. Now, it is affecting tapings of television shows. Late Monday evening, the producers […]