The Media Notepad: iHeartMedia Chicago names new region president

Also: A new syndicated radio show originates from Chicago; St. Louis Cardinals strikes new deal with FanDuel [This post was updated on November 12.] Amid layoffs, iHeartMedia announced some promotions on Friday with a pair of new Region Presidents. Adam Kurtz will take over from Matt Scarano in Chicago and oversee all six iHeart brands, including AC 93.9 The Lite, Adult […]

The Media Notepad: White Sox for sale?

Also: WFMT host files suit after dismissal; Bally rebrands to FanDuel  As the Chicago White Sox are coming off their worst season in history and the new CHSN has distribution woes, now comes this piece of news: 88-year-old owner Jerry Reinsdorf is “open” to selling the team, something fans have long wanted.  But there’s a catch – the party in […]

Amazon pulls Diamond/Bally offer to fund RSNs

$115 million investment taken away as broadcaster plans to exit bankruptcy Anaheim Ducks dump Bally for new over-the-air/streaming venture [Editor’s Note: This article was updated at 4:47 p.m.] If you are in a Bally Sports market and hoping to stream your favorite games through Amazon, it won’t happen.   The tech and e-commerce giant announced Monday it was pulling its $115 […]

Bally Sports to stick around after all – but with different name

  Say so long to the name but not the RSN: Bally Sports is getting a rebrand this fall.  It’s like Diamond’s regional sports networks are sticking around after all. As part of its reorganization plan last week, a Houston bankruptcy judge approved two key items: a $450 million debtor-in-possession financing package and a $495 million settlement from Sinclair, who […]

Amazon, Bally Sports announce partnership

Amazon to invest in Bally parent Diamond; could save RSN It looks like Bally Sports, targeted for extinction this fall due to bankruptcy, may be saved after all. On Wednesday, Amazon announced they were taking a minority stake in Bally Sports parent Diamond Sports as part of a bankruptcy restructuring agreement. This means Amazon could potentially stream Bally’s teams on […]

Cubs games now available direct-to-consumer as Marquee revamps app

  Revamped app launched Tuesday  As their subsidiary Diamond Sports Group struggles to pay MLB teams and saw two of them fly the coop, things are faring much better for Sinclair in Chicago.  Marquee Sports Network – the joint venture between the Maryland-based broadcaster and the Chicago Cubs announced Tuesday a new, direct-to-consumer service to stream games for fans in […]

Arizona Uprising: Bally Sports near death in the Cactus State

Suns and Diamondbacks bail on bankrupt RSN The sun is setting on Bally Sports Arizona in the Valley Of The Sun as Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks are the latest team to bail on the company who runs the regional sports network.  A significant development took place Monday as Bally’s bankrupt owner Diamond Sports Group skipped its rights payment to […]

The Media Notepad: Cubs, Marquee to launch direct-to-consumer service

Also: NBC Sports Chicago plans extensive NHL Draft coverage; Magnum P.I. canceled a second time; Paramount Plus guts lineup as sale rumors of the studio swirl  Soon, they’ll be some relief for Cubs fans who are shut out of watching their games if they don’t subscribe to a cable or satellite provider or Fubo. As first reported by the Sun-Times […]

The Media Notepad: Chicago native Jason Matheson returns to local airwaves

Also: MLB takes over San Diego Padres local broadcasts; Fox 32’s Mike Flannery calls it a career; Director’s Guild reaches tentative agreement with studios Chicago native Jason Matheson’s talk show is getting another chance in his hometown. Starting today, the Minneapolis-based daytime talk show host returns to the airwaves in Chicago with a two-month run of The Jason Show on […]

The Media Notepad: Cumulus Chicago’s Troy Hanson exits

Also: New Illinois member of Congress supports Standard General-Tegna; Toledo’s WNWO ends “local” newscasts; Phoenix’s basketball teams bail on Bally In what you can call a “weekend news dump”, Cumulus Chicago last Friday let Troy Hanson go from his positions at the cluster. During his time there, he wore several hats including PD of Q101 (WKQX), and VP of programming […]

The Media Notepad: Judge Marliyn Milan returns to TV in a new show

Also: B96 hires Canavah’s replacement; Diamond Sports Group skips payments to Guardians and Twins; Extra renewed for season thirty  The other shoe has dropped in Warner Bros.’ decision to exit the court genre as Marilyn Milian has signed with Allen Media Group for a new hour-long court show, Justice For The People With Judge Milan, debuting this fall.  “We at […]

Bally Sports files for Chapter 11

Impact might not be felt immediately  The nation’s biggest regional sports network chain just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but of all the talk and bluster about its implosion, they actually might come out fine. Well, maybe. Bally Sports parent Diamond Sports Group entered those waters last Tuesday with the Southern District of Texas bankruptcy court as the company – […]