Remembering Ted Turner

Dies at 87, CNN founder reshaped TV Ted Turner, who reshaped television and changed journalism with his groundbreaking launch of CNN, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Though a cause of death has yet to be determined, Turner suffered from Lew Body’s Disease, the same kind of ailment Casey Kasem was diagnosed with as he passed away in June […]

NBA Finals, Stanley Cup conclude with mixed ratings results

  Florida repeats while OKC wins their first title, but the world was either at the beach or festivals [Editor’s Note: This article was updated on June 25 to update ratings numbers.] Summer’s here and the time is right – we’re dancing in the streets and not at home watching championship basketball or hockey. The NBA and NHL playoffs have […]

NBC in 2025-26: More NBA, less entertainment

Tuesdays are set aside for hoops; Jimmy Fallon adds a primetime show NBCUniversal held its upfront presentation on Monday, and while the focus wasn’t necessarily on NBC and its 2025-26 season (but on Peacock and the newly-reacquired NBA instead), we are seeing how primetime is shaping up next season and if you’re a fan of scripted and unscripted fare, you […]

Report: CHSN and WGN-TV could link up to carry games

Comes as RSN is still shut out of Comcast’s systems [Editor’s Note: This post was updated on April 20, as the CHSN app is now available on Samsung TVs.] The Chicago Sun-Times reported on Friday that a deal could be in the works for Nexstar’s WGN-TV to simulcast a limited number of White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks games.  Nothing has […]

The 4 Nations Face-Off fights its way to the top of the ratings

  Sock ’em robots match a hit with viewers  [Editor’s Note: This piece does contain profanity. Reader discretion is advised.] Remember when some guy named Terence initially dismissed the 4 Four Nations Face-Off as a quick money grab and would flop hard on the ice? I have never made such a miscalculation in the 19-year run of T Dog Media […]

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 […]

The Media Notepad: WBD strikes back against NBA with lawsuit

Also: The U branding returns to Channel 26; CBS 2 boss takes over sister station in Detroit [Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on July 30 and updated to provide the latest information on CW 26’s shift back to independent status.] Making good on their promise, Warner Bros. Discovery filed suit against the NBA Friday after rejecting their matching […]

NBA announces new media deals: NBC, Peacock in; WBD out

Deals worth $76 billion NBA returns to NBC for the first time in 21 years Amazon Prime gets streaming games for first time  Warner Bros. Discovery may take legal action against the league in an unprecedented move  [This article has been updated. See the bottom of this post for notations.] Roundball Rock is coming home.  After months…and months of speculation, […]

2024 NBA Finals underperform as Celtics win 18th title

Celtics win in five in a truly awful series If one were to measure the excitement of the 2024 NBA Finals, it would be right between reruns of “Joanie Loves Chachi” and a White Sox game.  But that’s where we are, and the matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics was one to forget from a competitive and […]

The Media Notepad: Digitial network Bounce may soon be on the sales block

Also: Judge Judy and Hot Bench renewed through 2026; Bulls’ regular-season ratings fall; WLS-AM host falls for phishing scam Digital subchannel Bounce could soon have a new owner, according to CNBC.  Cincinnati-based Scripps has hired a financial firm to evaluate potential offers. Bounce was founded by Katz Communications and launched in 2011, offering various dramas, sitcoms, and sporting events targeted […]

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 […]

Disney-Fox-WBD joint venture: DOA with the DOJ?

Justice Department to analyze deal as the NFL pushes back The planned sports streaming venture proposed by Disney’s ESPN, Fox Corporation, and Warner Bros. Discovery could be finished before it even gets off the ground. Two significant developments took place this week as the Department of Justice (DOJ) is now looking at the proposed joint venture for anti-trust concerns. The […]

The Media Notepad: WLIT takes early Chirstmas ratings lead

WGN-TV hires new traffic reporter; NBC Sports Chicago adding alternative Blackhawks telecasts; New Orleans Pelicans latest Bally team to seek an over-the-air TV deal  The PPM ratings survey for November was released this week and to no one’s surprise, iHeartMedia’s 93.9 The Lite is ahead of the competition. WLIT took first place from Hubbard’s The Drive as the Gold AC […]