Scripps, Ion agree to deal

Chicago’s WCPX becomes a Scripps-owned station – but remains an Ion affiliate In a blockbuster move, Cincinnati-based Scripps Thursday announced the purchase of Ion, a network with more than 125 affiliates, including 62-owned stations. The deal includes Ion-owned Chicago’s WCPX – the former Christian station known as WCFC-TV from 1976 to 1998 when the ministry sold the station to Bud […]

Sunday ratings roundup: Viewers friend “God Friended Me”

Cubs, Bears score strong in Chicago Note: All numbers are 18-49 unless otherwise noted. These are finals. In a very contentious time in America, viewers needed a friend. And they found one Sunday night. CBS received strong sampling with new drama God Friended Me Sunday night, with a 1.3 rating/5 share and 10.2 million viewers. The series is about an […]

Reboots of ’80s shows headline CBS’ 2018-19 lineup

Murphy Brown, Magnum P.I. lead eight new programs for next season CBS unveiled its 2018-19 lineup with the ongoing battle between CBS and Viacom as a backdrop. As you know by now, the two companies are at a tug-of-war over a proposed merger with CBS suing majority shareholder National Amusements over control. CBS CEO Les Moonves was absent at CBS’ […]

Sunday Night ratings: “Ghosted” scores in debut

The Toy Box tanks (Editor’s note: these are preliminary adult 18-49 numbers only.)   Sunday night may be football night, but it’s definately not Toy night. Ratings in for the first Sunday of the season show Fox may have a potential hit for new buddy comedy Ghosted, starring Craig Robinson and Adam Scott. The series earned a 1.4 rating, even with […]

“Young Sheldon” is CBS’ centerpiece for 2017-18 season

CBS announces new schedule in front of buyers CBS held its 2017-18 upfront presentation Wednesday and announced its new schedule in front of ad buyers, and made a case for why the network is the “most watched in America”. CBS CEO Les Moonves addressed attendees at an upfronts breakfast Wednesday morning, subbing in for network president Glenn Geller, who is […]

Sunday Night Television: The Brown Bag Club

Sad sack Bears, lackluster ABC and Fox lineups dampen night Note: numbers are 18-49 preliminary unless otherwise noted.  And you thought Friday night television was bad. Sunday is fast becoming Tune-Out Night In America. And the lackluster Bears (and two of their oldest animated sitcoms who are like Steve Dahl and Jonathan Brandmeier – past-their-prime acts who won’t get off the […]

CBS trots out 2016-17 schedule

It’s back to basics as CBS restores Monday comedy block Last season, CBS did the unthinkable: the network axed its Monday night comedy block for three action-adventure series. On a night where Jackie Gleason, Lucille Ball, Gilligan,Amzing A M*A*S*H, Murphy Brown, Raymond, and Charlie Sheen once reigned, CBS was without a regularly scheduled sitcom on the night for the first time […]

CBS unveils new 2015-16 season schedule

CBS announces seven new series – five for fall CBS announced its new 2015-16 season lineup for next season, with the network renewing 22 programs and bringing on seven new series – five of which will debut in the fall. Here’s the night-by-night throwdown: – Monday: Once again, Thursday Night Football is forcing some temporary changes, with The Big Bang […]

“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” slips in week two

Blacklist still strong on Monday Is it time to hit the panic button at Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters? S.H.I.E.L.D. took a spill in its second week as ratings fell 30 percent week-to-week in the adult 18-49 demo (4.7 to 3.3), finishing behind The Voice (4.5) and NCIS (3.5) in the first hour of primetime Tuesday. Despite its third-place finish, […]

“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” debuts big

ABC’s new Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. came out swinging Tuesday night, as the season’s most anticipated new series lived up to the hype with a well-done pilot and a huge debut. Agents debuted with a 4.7 adults 18-49 demo rating, the highest rated premiere for any drama in five years. However, the agents went up against some pretty tough competition from […]

CBS announces new 2013-14 schedule – with a few surprises

Tiffany network looking to maintain dominance CBS released its 2013-14 primetime schedule Wednesday morning ahead of its presentation later in the afternoon – and believe it or not, there were a few surprises in the lineup. For one, CBS is creating a two-hour comedy block on Thursday nights, based on the success of The Big Bang Theory. CBS has slotted […]

T Dog’s Six Pack: “Hey, these things just snap right off.”

Okay, yours truly hasn’t done a winners and losers listing lately. Because finding winners in this industry is too hard to find? T Dog’s Six Pack is back with a hot Blackhawks team, while unless you’re CBS, network television has gone ice cold. Winners. The Chicago Blackhawks. This team is so hot, they’re practically melting the ice they play on! […]

Tuesday ratings: CBS returns to the top

CBS returned to the top spot in night two of the new television strength on the strength of NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and the premiere of 1960’s-set drama Vegas, without Robert Urich or James Caan, of course. Meanwhile, Fox’s new single-camera comedy block had mixed results. All ratings results are among the 18-49 demo, unless otherwise noted. NBC’s The Voice […]

CBS new 2012-13 primetime schedule

CBS unveiled its 2012-13 primetime schedule Wednesday morning in advance of its upfront presentation later in the afternoon. The Tiffany network introduced four new shows – three drams and just one new comedy, along with two new midseason series. But the biggest news is the move of longtime Monday stalwart Two And A Half Men to Thursday night after The […]

“New Girl” = New hit

Judging by the fawning of “New Girl” Zooey Deschannel (left), you’d think every male in America would want to lay her down by the fire and make sweet love to her. And who wouldn’t? While no one spilled the remains of dead fictional sitcom characters or walked through nude in any of last night’s programming (though a lot of us […]