WGN Radio changes: Conn out, Landecker in

Latest shakeup continues overhaul of iconic station In the ultimate Friday evening news dump – coming before the start of a long holiday weekend, Nexstar-owned WGN-AM announced huge changes to its weekday lineup. As first reported by Robert Feder, gone was longtime radio host Roe Conn and in is Radio Hall Of Famer John Records Landecker, who’ll take over evenings […]

WGN Radio shakes up schedule; Bill and Wendy exit

Nexstar makes footprint known As first reported by Robert Feder Wednesday night, WGN-AM made significant changes to its schedule, seeing several realignments and the exit of one of Chicago’s longest-running radio duos. The Nexstar-owned radio station parted ways with Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder even though Leff was on vacation, depraving their fans of at least one final goodbye. Their […]

T Dog’s Media Notepad: Funtime is over

The latest news and um…notes: Todd Cavanah, sticking to….stuff not related to politics, a lackluster MTM tribute, and correction to make and more Todd Cavanah takes over programming duties at US99 WBBM-FM and WJMK-FM program director Todd Cavanah is adding another new position in his arsenal – program director of sister station WUSN-FM, according to Robert Feder. He succeeds Jeff […]

Jimmy DeCastro exits WGN-AM

  WGN-AM President and General Manager Jimmy deCastro has decided to step down from the station effective at the end of this month. The decision was made as the radio exec decided to more focus more on his Evanston-based company, The Content Factory. His firm handles syndication for several programs and distributes new media content. “I’ve done everything I can […]

T Dog’s Media Notebook: WGN-AM extends deals for Cochran, Manley

WFLD finally launches 5 p.m. newscast ABC’s game show block off to good start Sorry, Cochran haters: As first reported by Robert Feder Monday, WGN-AM morning personality Steve Cochran has re-upped with the Tribune Media station through 2020. Cochran had been with the station off-and-on since 2000 but was off it in 2010 after being fired by former WGN program […]

T Dog’s Media Notepad: WGN Radio adds Wood, Dempster to lineup

WGN adds Wood and Dempster, plus Manley’s idiotic comment Media Life magazine article on iHeart causing a stir Empire roars back BET to add “Soul Train” WGN-AM has recruited former Cubs pitchers Kerry Wood and Ryan Dempster to provide weekly baseball analysis on Thursdays for the Tribune Broadcasting-owned radio station. Beginning this week, Ryan Dempster will talk baseball with Steve Cochran […]

Mancow wins WLUP morning gig

The “contest” saw Mancow beat out three other competitors. Was the fix in?  Given this is Chicago, you knew the outcome before this was even thought of. To no one’s surprise, Erich “Mancow” Mueller has won WLUP’s morning personality search (The Chicago Way, of course), beating out three other competitors jockeying for the job: former WKQX jock Abe Kanan; former […]

WGN Radio, WLS-AM make huge changes (Updated)

Big John Howell heads to WLS; Roe Conn to WGN-AM (Editor’s Note: This post was updated to add new information from WGN and to replace an incorrect Feder link in the article, as yours truly used the wrong one.  T Dog Media apologizes for the errors. -T.H.) In order to attract more listeners, Cumulus’ WLS-AM and WGN-AM made moves this week, with WLS […]

Can Steve Dahl do it again?

We’ll find out for sure soon enough as one of Chicago’s radio legends returns to the airwaves Monday for the first time in five years. The last time Steve Dahl was regularly employed at WLS-AM, the artists the station had in rotation were Whitney Houston, Tears For Fears, Mr. Mister, Prince, and Pat Benetar. The Cosby Show was the top-rated […]

Eddie and JoBo: On the outs

Here we go again: another Chicago radio partnership has ended in divorce. A deal that would have brought Eddie Volkman and Joe “Bohannon” Colburn to Cumulus-owned Classic Hits station WLS-FM in morning drive collapsed Saturday after Colburn turned down the deal and left Volkman fuming on Twitter. “Eddie & JoBo” were best known for their successful morning drive show at […]

Chicago media just keeps serving up the has-beens

On the old PI Feedback forums at the former Mediaweek.com, a poster named “Twins12” often referred to the hit reality TV series Dancing With The Stars as Dancing With The Has-Beens, noting the program’s inability to land A-list celebrities, but those whose best days were behind them. In Chicago media, being a has-been can be beneficial – even if no […]

Make it Non-Stop

Today not only marks the beginning of a brand new month, but a brand-new channel on Chicago’s television landscape. NBC-owned WMAQ-TV is launching Non-Stop Chicago today on digital subchannel 5.2, Comcast channel 252, RCN channel 130, and other dial positions once occupied by NBC’s now-defunct WeatherPlus network. In the time since, WMAQ had been running a non-stop loop of weather […]

The Grab Bag: WGN Radio Changes, Local 18-49 numbers

– Put ’em up: It’s an afternoon at the fights! In this corner, its WLS-AM’s Roe Conn and new partner Richard Roeper… and in the other corner, its Conn’s former partner and friend – Garry Meier on WGN-AM. Beginning Monday, Conn & Roeper are on from 2-6 while Garry Meier is on from 3-7 (on days when the Cubs aren’t […]

T Dog’s Four Pack – Olympic sized fun

A midweek edition of T Dog’s Four Pack: What’s not – and what’s not: Worthy of Gold Olympic hockey. Nothing hokey about it – most watched program ever in Canada, third most-watched hockey game in history in the United States – and we had four Blackhawks in the game! Undercover Boss. Whaaa? This is the surprise Sunday Night 8 p.m. […]