As reported here and on other trade sites last week, Queen Latifah’s return to daytime TV snared its first major deal with Sony Pictures Television: CBS’ owned and operated TV stations signed on for the show in sixteen markets. According to an article in Broadcasting & Cable last Monday, Latifah’s show will in fact, be shown on WBBM-TV next fall, […]
It’s time to get Cozi. As first scooped by Time Out Chicago’s Robert Feder on October 17, NBCUniversal confirmed today it was changing the name of its dot-two digital subchannels from NonStop to CoziTV, adding classic TV shows and movies from the NBCUniversal library and other studios to the mix, while retaining the lifestyle programming NonStop is currently airing, with […]
Brenly becomes new Arizona Diamondbacks color analyst The latest Grab Bag is here with a possible new classic TV channel on the way, two primetime network series renewed, and more: – Bob Brenly, who has been the color analyst for Chicago Cubs broadcasts alongside Len Kasper over WGN-TV broadcasts and Comcast SportsNet since 2005 announced he’s leaving the team to […]
Dish Nation bombs in debut Thanks to prized time slots on ABC-owned and ABC affiliates, Katie blew out her two freshmen rivals who premiered Monday. In info obtained from B&C, Katie Couric’s new show from Disney-ABC Domestic Television debuted with a 2.8 hosuehold rating and an 8 household share – the highest rated-debut for a show since Rachael Ray’s debut […]
The Jeff Probst Show finally clears Chicago, landing at WBBM-TV Due to a busy schedule covering and analyzing Upfront Week, there were a lot of notable media stories mentioned in the past week: – First mentioned in Robert Feder’s Time Out Chicago blog last week, ABC-owned WLS-TV has acquired Live With Kelly beginning in September 2013, falling in line with […]
For the first time in many years, syndication is going to have an original sitcom – or two. Entertainment Studios announced Monday it has finished casting its new sitcom Mr. Box Office, one of two first-run sitcoms its planning to launch in syndication this fall. And the talent appearing in these shows are not no-name actors – no, these are […]
A packed post full of items in this edition of The Grab Bag: – Say au revoir to Swift Justice: CBS Television Distribution’s first-run courtroom strip is over and out after two years, as reported by Broadcasting & Cable last week. The series was originally presided over by Nancy Grace, but she left the show after one season and was […]
Want a winner? Bet on seven every time – NY, LA, Chicago ABC O&Os dominate February sweeps No Oprah? No All My Children? No One Life to Live? No problem. Even without three of their long-time stalwarts of their schedule (and threats from soap opera fans never to watch ABC again), ABC owned-and-operated stations continue their ratings domination in the […]
As far as NATPE goes, the days of the big booths with a just-as-big picture of Mary Hart front and center are long gone. But the mission remains the same – for individuals to gather and network with industry professionals (not to mention making a sale or two.) The three day gathering got underway Monday with increased attendance and increased […]
It’s time to grab your favorite beverage (a six pack of it would be best…) because it’s time for T Dog’s Six Pack! In this edition, Jerry Bryant expands his business, Betty White’s is actually on her rockers celebrating her 90th birthday while the Rev. Michael Pflager is far off his. Rounds of Hot Cocoa for everyone. […]
Carol Fowler bounced from station after three disastrous years In a move that was pretty much expected, Fox-owned WFLD has fired news director Carol Fowler and replaced her with Phyills Schwartz, who held the same position for five years at ABC-owned WLS-TV. The changeover is effective immediately. Schwartz was at top rated WLS-TV for thirteen years with five of them […]
Ho, Ho, Ho! It’s Terry Claus about to deliver you a special Christmas edition of The Grab Bag! I got special presents from the world of media that will make you happy – or cringe. Let’s start handing out the gifts! Ho! Ho! Ho! – WGN-TV has extra good reasons to cheer this holiday season – the Tribune-owned CW affiliate’s […]
Sony Pictures Television and Harpo Studios announced on Friday it was not going forward with a third season of The Nate Berkus Show. The series will finish out the current season and produce all episodes it was contracted for. The cancellation was first reported on Broadcasting & Cable’s website early Friday evening. Nate Berkus rose to fame as Oprah Winfrey’s […]
In the latest Grab Bag, we have items on the departure of a legendary duo from Chicago radio; a welcome departure from the ABC exec ranks; and Bill Cunningham’s talk show is getting outrated by… a 45-year old Western? Steve & Johnnie Exit WGN Radio. It’s official: Steve King and Johnnie Putnam are exiting WGN-AM this Friday after nearly 27 […]
It’s been awhile, so let’s do an expanded edition of T Dog’s Six Pack – with an extra item in the winners and losers column this week. It doesn’t get any better than that! Okay, yes it can… Winning. Regis Philbin. After 28 years on daytime television. Regis Philbin steeped down as co-host of the popular morning chatfest Live With […]
ABC ABC-Owned Stations ABC 7 Chicago American Idol CBS CBS Chicago CBS Media Ventures CBS News And Stations Chicago Bears Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Bulls Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox ESPN Family Guy FCC Fox Fox 32 Fox Television Stations Los Angeles Milwaukee NBC NBC 5 NBC Owned Television Stations NBCUniversal Syndication Studios New York City Nexstar Media Group Radio Ratings Sinclair Inc. Syndication The Big Bang Theory The CW The Simpsons Tribune Media Warner Bros. WBBM-TV Chicago WCIU Chicago WFLD Chicago WGN-TV Chicago WGN Radio WLS-AM Chicago WLS-TV Chicago WMAQ Chicago WPWR Chicago