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 […]
Door could open for a few Blackhawks, Bulls games in the future The Chicago Sports Network announced Wednesday it has agreed to simulcast seven Chicago White Sox games this season on Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU, branded as The U. Chicago Sports Network and Weigel Broadcasting Co.’s WCIU, The U, have announced a new partnership to simulcast seven Chicago White Sox games […]
Event saw ratings drop this year due to network shifts It might be a while before you hear the roar of NASCAR engines downtown. NASCAR released a statement Friday stating it will not hold the Chicago Street Race in 2026, but hopes to return in 2027 on a later date: The Chicago Street Race debuted in 2023, but the NASCAR […]
So far, no impact has been felt – but it’s early If you put this trade war in an entertainment context, it’s Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake on a much larger scale. President Donald Trump is taking on the country where Drake is from, slapping tariffs on Canada, urging them to become the 51st state (although the District of Columbia and […]
WGN-TV is set to return to the network after a ten-year absence; CW also moving to new stations in other markets While the fall season doesn’t start for a few weeks, The CW will make numerous station switches this weekend, including in Chicago. On Saturday, WGN-TV officially returns to The CW affiliate lineup after eight years away. In a move […]
Also: The U branding returns to Channel 26; CBS 2 boss takes over sister station in Detroit [Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on July 30 and updated to provide the latest information on CW 26’s shift back to independent status.] Making good on their promise, Warner Bros. Discovery filed suit against the NBA Friday after rejecting their matching […]
Also: American Crimes replaces NBC Home LX on digital subchannel space; Last Call for Last Call; TMZ launches new spin-off show WGN-TV vice president and general manager Paul Rennie announced his retirement, effective August 30 after a seven-year run. “It has truly been a great run, and I am filled with a mix of emotions as I prepare to leave […]
Also: The Drive reclaims the top spot in Chicago radio ratings; Young Sheldon redeems himself [Editor’s Note: The second item of this piece was updated on May 21.] Wrapping up the upfronts: ABC released its fall schedule last week as part of a Disney upfront presentation that hardly mentioned the network. And little wonder – there isn’t much to talk […]
“CW 26” is no more after five years; third affiliation change in eight years as WCIU returns to independence As anticipated since Nexstar Media Group bought a controlling interest in The CW, the company’s WGN-TV returns to the network as an affiliate beginning September 1, as first reported by The Desk. This comes as the contract for its current affiliate, […]
Owner of rival Ion couldn’t agree on new deal with Nexstar-owned network [Editor’s Note: This post was updated April 25.] Seven Scripps stations currently affiliated with The CW will not be in September as the broadcaster and the network couldn’t agree on terms to renew their deal, as first reported by The Desk Friday. Of the seven, two are in […]
But only for traditional satellite customers In a controversial move, DirecTV announced Sunday it was offering a new package without local stations. As first reported by Broadcasting & Cable (NextTV), DirecTV would offer consumers a package that would let subscribers save $12 a month (roughly $144 per year) if they dropped them. It's now officially official (thanks) https://t.co/JlHu8kTsF0 — T […]
Could be a dress rehearsal for more According to a report in the Sun-Times, Weigel’s CW 26 (or WCIU) announced Monday it is televising a Chicago Cubs spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 12 at 8 p.m. The game will be simulcast on Marquee Sports Network, the home of all Cubs games since 2020 a year after […]
Major acquisition is a game changer for streaming In a major move signaling a tremendous shift for streaming – and continued dominance over its studio peers for some time to come, Netflix and the WWE announced the company’s flagship Raw program will be moving to the streamer in January 2025 in a ten-year, $5 billion deal. This means Raw is […]
A year dominated by labor strife, awful Chicago sports teams, and – oh yeah, Elon If you watched the WWE, you remember Vince McMahon playing himself as an arrogant CEO and billionaire, ruling over anything and everything – the ultimate heel. It’s a real-life trend we’re seeing as we close 2023. Led by billionaire Elon Musk, CEOs – whether […]
NAACP, Operation PUSH urge sale of WADL The saga involving Detroit’s WADL has taken another turn with the owner getting support from unlikely sources. Chicago-based Rainbow PUSH Coalition and the NAACP have each sent a letter of support of Kevin Adell to the FCC in his efforts to sell his WADL to Mission Broadcasting. The Rev. Jesse Jackson sent a […]
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