Closure displays challenges of operating a cable network in streaming era In a move coming seemingly out of nowhere, the Black News Channel announced Friday it was suspending operations. Targeted to black viewers and others of color, BNC launched on February 10, 2020 – just a month before the pandemic took a hold of the U.S. Based in Tallahassee, […]
NBCUniversal to shift events to USA Network and streamer Peacock In a move some pundits were predicting, it’s the end of the road for NBC Sports Network – or NBCSN, as the cable sports channel announced Friday it was closing its doors by the end of the year. NBCSN is currently the home of the NHL, NASCAR, Premier League Soccer, […]
Also: No Blackhawks games on free TV next season; WCIU launches new “CW 26” website and fall schedule; CBS 2 returns to DirecTV. For the first time in its history, The Drive sits on top of the Chicago radio world. The Hubbard-owned station also known as WDRV-FM finished first in the latest Chicago radio PPM rankings spanning from mid-June to […]
NBC Sports Group to change name of all its RSNs effective October 2 In a move not unexpected, NBC Sports Group announced Wednesday it was rebranding all of its regional sports networks (RSN) under the NBC Sports umbrella. The news means CSN Chicago – once known as Comcast SportsNet Chicago – is changing its name to NBC Sports Chicago effective […]
Third Cup this decade; sixth Cup overall Blackhawks dominate on the ice and in the ratings How sweet it is! The Chicago Blackhawks on Monday clinched another Stanley Cup championship as they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in front of more than 22,000 happy humans at the United Center – the first time the Cup was won on home […]
Third time the charm; to face Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night Ratings thru roof For the third time in six years, the Chicago Blackhawks are in the Stanley Cup Final. This time however, instead of playing teams with established fan bases (the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins), they get to play the Tampa Bay Lightning – a Sunbelt expansion team […]
Rose, Kane injuries could have local and national ratings impact Like in golf, Chicago sports fans would like a mulligan and start 2015 all over again. After a fall season of horrendous Bears football, Chicagoans spent the early part of 2015 turning their focus toward the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, who were […]
Tribune Broadcasting scores a hat trick of good ratings Sunday and Monday Is no-longer-bankrupt Tribune Broadcasting becoming a “must watch” destination? Chicago’s WGN-TV lit the ratings lamp twice with a Blackhawks game Sunday night and Monday morning news coverage. Meanwhile, a few Tribune stations outside of Chicago lit the ratings lamp of their own Monday with the premiere of a […]
ABC canceled hour-long drama Lucky 7 on Friday after two low-rated episodes and became one of the shortest-lived dramas in the network’s history. The Tuesday drama premiered on Sept. 24, with a 1.3 adult 18-49 demo and dropped to a 0.7 in its second airing, declining 46 percent week-to-week and drawing just 2.6 million viewers opposite CBS’ Person Of Interest, […]
The Chicago Blackhawks are back on top in the hockey world – and in the ratings. This was quite a year for the Blackhawks, who saw some ups (the 23-game unbeaten streak) and some downs (the late start due to the lockout and Susannah Collins’ controversial firing.) But it was Dave Bolland’s game-winning goal against the Boston Bruins – one […]
Well, guess who’s back in the Stanley Cup Final. It’s the Chicago Blackhawks, who are looking to win their second championship in the last four years. They’ll face another “Original Six” foe in the Boston Bruins, who are looking for their second Stanley Cup in three years. Both teams face off Wednesday, with game one scheduled here in Chicago at […]
– In a stunning move, the Chicago Sun-Times fired almost all of its photography staff on Thursday, which left 28 people out of work. The Wrapports -owned paper instead plans to train reports to take pictures with smartphones. Yes, smartphones. Among those who were laid off include 35-year veteran Pulitzer-prize winning photographer John H. White, one of the first African-American […]
In a move that is being praised by many media observers, former Evergreen Media exec Jimmy de Castro has been named president and general manager of Tribune Broadcasting’s WGN-AM (720), effective June 3. He will report to Tribune President of local programming Larry Wert – the same Wert who reported to DeCastro at WLUP-AM/FM in the 1990’s. de Castro succeeds […]
The next time someone tells you a playoff game doesn’t resonate in Chicago – even when the hometown team is down 3-to-1 in a series – don’t believe them. According to Ed Sherman on his Sherman Report blog, Game 5 of the Chicago Bulls-Miami Heat NBA playoff series drew a surprisingly strong 8.9 household rating locally for TNT, despite the […]
– Robin Robinson is going to stay at Fox-owned WFLD after all: first mentioned by Robert Channack at the Chicago Tribune last Thursday and verified by Time Out Chicago’s Robert Feder the following day, Ms. Robinson has signed a one-year contract extension to continue co-anchoring the station’s 9 p.m. newscast alongside Bob Sirott. According to the Tribune, the deal was […]