T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag

Some news, not enough time: – Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting has sold its three low-power TV stations in South Bend, Ind. to Schurz communications, owners of dominant CBS affiliate WSBT-TV. The three TV stations are WBND (ABC), WCWW (CW) and WMYS (My Network TV.) Weigel has stated its main Chicago and Milwaukee properties are not for sale. – Twentieth Television is […]

Illinois’ other Arbitron books released

Here are the Arbitron rating books for other markets in Illinois, plus South Bend-Elkhart. Quad Cities – Clear Channel’s country outlet (WLLR-FM) dominated the market, with a share that doubles its’ nearest competitor. Peoria – Will AC plays in Peoria? You bet, as Triad’s WSWT-FM finished a dominant first. Rockford – A CHR outlet finished first here, with Cumulus’ WZOK-FM […]

South Bend PBS station may go all-digital

WNIT, a PBS station in South Bend, is asking the FCC permission to broadcast only in digital after the station’s broken-down analog transmitter sputtered out for good on Wednesday. The transmitter broke down last month, when one of two tubes which fed the station’s audio and video feeds stopped working. The feed was rerouted to the station’s other tube, which […]

You want more classic television? Well, Me-Too

WFBT to become WMEU-TV, a.k.a Me-Too; Me-TV expands to Milwaukee; Retro TV Network arrives in Rockford, South Bend Can’t get enough of classic television? You’re not alone. In a major expansion of its digital strategy, Weigel Broadcasting announced it is scrapping ethnic-format programming at low-powered WFBT-Channel 48 and replacing it with a spin-off of its’ already successful WWME-Channel 23 (Me-TV), […]

WCIU profiled

TV Newsday’s Harry Jessell interviews Weigel Broadcasting executive Neal Sabin – the former general manager of WPWR-TV who jumped to WCIU in that same capacity in 1994 and now runs not only WCIU, but now a group of stations, including low power classic-TV formatted WWME-TV and ethnic WFBT in Chicago; and stations in Milwaukee and South Bend, Ind. Sabin talks […]

Mo’ Radio Ratings

Because there’s more to life than Chicago and Milwaukee… Peoria: It’s a trifecta for Triad as the radio station owner holds the top three spots with Country outlet WXCL-FM leading the way. Regent’s Rhythmic outlet (WZPW-FM) finished fourth. The biggest loser here was Regent’s Active Rock station (WIXO-FM) which fell from first place in the Spring book to eighth. Ouch! […]

The battle of South Bend

Broadcasting & Cable’s Market Eye reports this week on nearby South Bend, Ind., where the battle for number one comes down to two long standing rivals – Schurz’s CBS affilate WSBT and the former Notre Dame-owned station, NBC affiliate WNDU-TV, which is now owned by Gray Television (WNDU is still located on the campus of Notre Dame.) Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting […]

Super Bowl Watch: Stations are ready to cover the game

(First off, I’ll be posting mainly in the late-night hours this week because of other commitments that have popped up during other hours of the day…. But I will post breaking news when I feel its warranted…. On that note…) Stations in Illinois and Indiana are gearing up to cover the big game: – The CBS affiliates in the home-team […]