Sinclair, Nexstar return Jimmy Kimmel to the airwaves

But not without a defense of taking the show off the air Sinclair and Nexstar decided to return Jimmy Kimmel Live! to the airwaves Friday, after over a week off the air due to the host’s comments about the person who assassinated Charlie Kirk. Both parties were “engaged in discussions” with the network after ABC reinstated Kimmel on Tuesday night. […]

Jimmy Kimmel to return to ABC Tuesday night (updated)

Sinclair and Nexstar stand their ground; they won’t air show [Editor’s Note: This post was updated at 8:45 p.m. on September 22 and at 1:30 p.m. on September 23.] Disney-owned ABC announced Monday it is returning Jimmy Kimmel Live to its regular late-night time slot on Tuesday night, after the network forced him to sit out a week due to […]

ABC suspends Jimmy Kimmel for Charlie Kirk joke; show’s future in question

Network makes move after Nexstar, Sinclair drops show indefinitely, and comes after FCC chair threatens ABC In a bold move, ABC has put late-night show Jimmy Kimmel Live on hiatus after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened ABC and Disney after Kimmel committed on Charlie Kirk’s assassination Monday night. Kimmel mistakenly said that suspect Tyler Robinson was a Trump supporter (he […]

Local TV expansion pushes out syndicated fare (updated)

WGN-TV, Fox 32 expands local programming [Editor’s Note: This post was updated on Sept. 8 to reflect the last-minute scheduling changes made at Fox 32 and Fox Chicago Plus.] If there’s any indication about the struggles of first-run and off-network syndication, look no further than this season’s new crop of shows, in which you count on one hand whereas in […]

Fox, YouTubeTV in carriage dispute

Channels could be off by Wednesday With football season set to kick off this weekend, Google’s YouTubeTV and Fox Corporation are at an impasse over a new carriage deal. If there is no deal by Wednesday at 4 p.m. (CT), YouTubeTV customers could lose Fox, Fox News, FS1, FS2, Fox Business, Fox Weather, Fox Nation, Big Ten Network, and 30 […]

Nexstar buys Tegna in $3.6 billion megadeal

Combined entity would own 265 stations covering 80 percent of country As hinted by the Wall Street Journal last week, WGN-TV and WGN Radio owner Nexstar Media Group has agreed to purchase rival Tegna, Inc. for $3.6 billion in the biggest deal in television history. The new combined entity gives Nexstar 265 stations with nine of the top ten markets […]

WGN-TV names Akemi Harrison as its new news director

Jumps from rival NBC 5 to take position Nexstar-owned WGN-TV Chicago announced on Wednesday the hiring of Akemi Harrison as the station’s news director, succeeding the now-retired Dom Stasi in the role starting August 25. Harrison arrives from rival NBC-owned WMAQ (NBC 5), where she held the same position. Harrison’s official title is Director of News and Multiplatform Content, overseeing […]

WGN Radio sportscaster Dave Eanet retires; Andy Masur to replace him

Eanet has been with station since 1996 WGN Radio sportscaster anchor Dave Eanet announced his retirement this morning, but isn’t entirely going away, as he will continue to do play-by-play for Northwestern football and men’s basketball for the station, and he will continue as a fill-in sports anchor for WGN-TV newscasts and late-night sports wrap-up show GN Sports. WGN-TV and […]

WGN-TV to host town hall with Mayor Brandon Johnson

Announced after Nexstar ordered the station to run segments supporting media deregulation  For the first time since he was elected mayor in 2023, Brandon Johnson is sitting down with a local television station to discuss issues facing the city.  Titled A Town Hall Meeting With Mayor Brandon Johnson, the one-hour news special airs this Wednesday at 6 p.m. over Nexstar’s […]

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 […]

Nexstar to advocate for media deregulation – on its stations

Must-run segments parrot Sinclair’s Nexstar Media Group is taking its crusade for deregulation to the streets – and the home viewer. According to a report by The Desk, the broadcaster has instructed its 160-plus local stations to air a brief segment encouraging viewers to contact the FCC regarding potential changes to broadcast regulations that Chairman Brendan Carr is considering. Broadcasters […]

WGN-TV names Ric Harris as VP-General Manager

Veteran broadcaster to lead Nexstar’s flagship station; WGN also announces new programming for WGN+ Irving, Tex.-based Nexstar Media Group announced Ric Harris would become WGN-TV’s new vice president and general manager, effective immediately. “WGN is a powerhouse in local news and the home of high-quality CW programming, including live sports like Xfinity series racing, college football and basketball, and WWE […]

Bob Sirott re-ups at WGN Radio

Signs multi-year extension Nexstar’s WGN Radio announced a multi-year contract extension for Bob Sirott, who will continue to host the station’s morning show.  “Management has given me a terrific on-air and behind-the-scenes team, plus freedom to do whatever I want,” said Sirott in a statement. “That’s why waking up at 4:30 am is fun now. Actually…that last line is a […]

The Media Notepad: WCIU, “On The Block” part ways

Also: Diginet changes in the new year: KSDK becomes the latest media property to leave downtown St. Louis; Diamond becomes Main Street In another blow to local linear TV, non-profit news organization Block Club Chicago and Weigel independent WCIU have parted ways on On The Block after nearly three years.  The announcement was made on X Friday with the last […]