The Media Notepad: ABC 7’s Ryan Chiaverini named lead sports anchor

Also: SAG-AFTRA strike ends; Jennifer Hudson’s ratings grow; Disney names two cable networks as possible sale candidates It’s official – Ryan Chiaverini was named lead sports anchor by ABC-owned WLS-TV Thursday, succeeding Jim Rose, who retired in September after 41 years at the station. “Ryan knows Chicago sports inside out and cuts right to the heart of what this city’s […]

The Media Notepad: Sinclair launches “The Nest” as Stadium empties

Also: Bally Sports Arizona folds; SAG-AFTRA talks fail; your newest talk show host is…Ken Jeong?  With Sinclair out as partner in Stadium, the digital subchannel occupying the same will have a new name and new format effective October 30.  Called The Nest, Sinclair says the new channel features “family-friendly programming” but with reality cable TV show reruns. Shows featured in […]

Writer’s strike officially ends

148 days makes work stoppage the second longest on record Late night shows to return next week After 148 days, the 2023 WGA Strike officially came to an end at 2:01 a.m. Wednesday after 148 days – the second longest on record, just five days short of tying the mark set by the 1988 walkout taking place from March 7 […]

The long, hot dispute “impasse summer” continues

…and may extend until fall – or even later as the Unions-Hollywood and DirecTV-Nexstar show no sign of ending soon  Despite the WGA being on strike since May 1 and Nexstar stations vanishing off DirecTV since July 2nd, the disputes are only getting uglier and may require government intervention if there is any hope of these being resolved. And now […]

The dual Hollywood strikes: Where things stand now

Both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are om strike outside of Paramount Studios in Hollywood. With no settlement in sight, the entire 2023-24 TV season for scripted shows could be wiped out When SAG-AFTRA joined the WGA on the picket lines on July 12, the entire industry shut down and the thinking was, this would spur some kind of progress in […]

Hollywood’s labor situation goes from bad to worse

Actors likely to join writers on picket line as studios continue to hold the line If the last 24 hours are any indication, it might be a long time before your favorite TV shows come back. Despite a twelve day extension – and barring any last-minute deal, SAG-AFTRA is expected to hit the picket lines Thursday morning for the first […]