“The Conners” head to off-net in 2024 thanks to Lionsgate

Subsidiary Dembar-Mercury to handle domestic sales Also: Big Bang Theory reruns shift to WGN next month [Editor’s Note: This post was updated August 22. See below.] If you forgotten about ABC’s The Conners, well…it’s still around – long enough for it to now enter off-network syndication.  Lionsgate announced Wednesday it has acquired the rights to past and future episodes of […]

The CW nabs rights to NASCAR’s Xfinity Series races

Signs six-year deal that begins in 2025 A NASCAR racing league is shifting gears to a new home – on The CW. The Nexstar-owned network and NASCAR announced Friday the move of the NASCAR Xfinity Series – 33 races in all – to The CW starting in 2025. This marks the first time the entire package would be airing on […]

The first ever NASCAR Chicago Street Race is a winner all around

NBC, NASCAR, City of Chicago benefit despite near-rainout [Editor’s note: This post will be updated as more ratings data comes in.] Despite the constant complaining from numerous residents and local media types, the first-ever NASCAR Chicago Street Race was a smash hit with not only viewers but also fans who attended the race.  The NASCAR race was indeed a boon […]

Red flag banner returns: Nexstar pulls signals from DirecTV, including WGN-TV

Nexstar’s ties to Mission and White Knight Broadcasting once again in question In the latest retrans battle, we have one company whose Grand Rapids station recently was involved in a controversy over giving voice to ‘the other side’ during Pride month vs. one who shoved commercials down our throats last fall featuring Real Housewives cast members, a show known for […]

The Media Notepad: Q101 names James Kudziel as new PD

Also: NBA, Stanley Cup Final earns mixed ratings numbers; Nexstar moves CW affiliations to its owned stations in three markets; “Velma” renewed for season two Usually, trades are reserved for sports teams though this one could be compared to the Chicago White Sox trading a player to the Minnesota Twins. Cumulus Media announced Tuesday the appointment of James Kurdziel from […]

PGA Tour, LIV Golf announce merger

The CW will continue to air LIV Golf matches this year. After that, nobody knows. With the surprise merger of the PGA Golf Tour and LIV Golf, the situation regarding TV rights is up the air.  Announced Tuesday morning on CNBC, the PGA Tour, Europe’s DP World Tour, and LIV Golf merged – catching golfers on each professional tour off […]

The Media Notepad: WGA strikers hit the streets in Chicago

Also: “You Bet Your Life” latest victim of Writer’s Strike; Detroit independent likely to become CW after it’s bought by a Nexstar affiliate; CW cuts off LIV Golf before end  It was Chicago’s turn to stage some writer’s strike action this week as picketers descended on the NBC Tower Wednesday afternoon. The tower is home to NBC-owned WMAQ-TV and Telemundo’s […]

CBS to pull CW affiliations in eight markets

Largest network defection since 1994 when it happened to…CBS With Nexstar acquiring three-fourths of The CW, the network who was once partner in the venture is now dropping the low-rated network from its eight big-market stations by September 1 and is being re-christened as independents. The eight are located in Philadelphia, Atlanta, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, Detroit, Sacramento, and Pittsburgh. […]

Let’s Go Brandon: Johnson wins mayoral race

Tightest margin of victory ever as election night coverage was OK, but WGN-TV bricks hard  In one of the closest mayoral races in the modern media era, Cook County Board member Brandon Johnson pulled off a shocking upset by beating former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas to become Chicago’s 57th mayor with a margin of around 12,000 votes (not […]

WGN-TV at 75

Station’s rich history celebrated. But what about the next 75 years?  It was on April 5, 1948 when Col. Robert McCormick fired up the transmitter to join the herd in taking advantage of a then-brand new medium to reach the masses – television.  People stood outside of Tribune Tower in Chicago to see what the hubbub was about. It was […]

WGN-TV to join YouTube TV lineup

Nexstar strikes deal to bring local channels to vMVPD In a move that fills a gap, Nexstar struck a deal with the Google-owned YouTube TV, bringing powerhouse independent WGN-TV to Chicago subscribers. It’s part of a larger deal made by the Texas-based broadcaster, the biggest in the nation. The agreement either brings or expands existing station contracts with 59 outlets […]

Nexstar to air LIV Golf matches on WGN-TV – and not WCIU

Not all CW affils carrying controversial golf league funded by Saudi interests In a bit of a surprise, LIV Golf’s first tournament on The CW won’t air on its local affiliate here. Instead it’s airing on its former affiliate. As first reported on T Dog Media’s Twitter and Instagram accounts, the controversial golf league is airing on WGN-TV this season […]

WGN-TV owner Nexstar ends live streaming of local news and programs

Cites loyalty to cable and satellite providers (Editor’s Note: It appears this order does not affect WGN-TV and a few big-market Nexstar stations. The last paragraph of this story – relating to the city delaying scanner information a half-hour – was deleted as it is no longer relevant to this story. Updated as of August 3. – T.H.)  In an unusual […]

Comcast reaches retrans agreement to keep WGN-TV on air

Saturday evening, Nexstar and Comcast came to terms on an agreement to keep their stations and cable news network NewsNation on their systems nationwide.  Nexstar owns WGN-TV in Chicago while Comcast is the metro area’s largest subscription TV provider. A blackout could have hurt WGN’s ratings, as it regularly tops the weekday morning news race in the adult 25-54 demo […]