The Media Notepad: “Judy Justice” adds linear TV run this fall

Also: Cubs PA announcer looking to become next talk show host; A new MeTV FM hire; the former Trump Country recently became an all-Taylor Swift station  Just what we need – even more of Judy.  As expected, repeats of Judy Sheindlin’s new Freevee court show Judy Justice is a firm go in syndication this fall with nearly 400 episodes never […]

Marquee Sports Network, NBC Sports Chicago battle for Bears fans

Marquee expands Bears programming by adding “Bears Post Game Live” ; NBC Sports Chicago resumes similar shows Even though neither Marquee Sports Network and NBC Sports Chicago carries any Chicago Bears games, it doesn’t mean the two regional sports networks are ignoring them – in fact, both are stepping their game bigtime to serve fans who are looking for more […]

Warner Bros. pulls plug on long-running “Judge Mathis”, “People’s Court”

Departure of “Mathis” leaves Chicago without a nationally daily syndicated show for the first time since 1986 Warner Bros. Discovery announced late Friday it was ending long-running courtroom shows Judge Mathis and The People’s Court after 24 and 26 seasons respectively. While Court was taped in Connecticut, Judge Mathis‘ cancellation leaves Chicago without a national daily program to call home […]

The Media Notepad: Former TV personalities have rough election night

Also: NASCAR Chicago race lines up radio, TV outlets;  Chicago’s Thanksgiving Parade returns to TV  It was not a great election night if you were a former television personality. Republican challenger Dr. Memhet Oz, who quit his daytime talk show to run for the U.S. Senate last year, lost to Pennsylvania Democratic challenger John Fetterman in a race where four […]

Weigel, IHSA strike major deal for high school championships

  High school championships to remain on free TV  Even though the future of WCIU’s affiliation with The CW is unclear due to the sale of the network to Nexstar, there is one guarantee set for the future – Weigel’s stations will be home to the high school sports for sometime to come.  On Monday, Chicago-based Weigel and the Illinois […]

Marquee signs deal to carry Chicago Sky games

  New Multi-year deal keeps some games on local over-the-air TV and also includes streaming There was no doubt the Chicago Sky’s first-ever WNBA Championship would send the value of their media rights soaring, by achieving something no other pro Chicago team (with the possible exception of the White Sox) is in the position to do for the foreseeable future.  […]

Block Club Chicago comes to TV

  On The Block to cover neighborhood news One of the Chicago area’s newest non-profit journalism start-up is expanding into the linear TV realm. Block Club Chicago and Weigel Broadcasting are teaming up to launch a new half-hour weekly newsmagazine show featuring stories from the city and suburbs. Titled On The Block and hosted by Brandon Pope, the show aims […]

WTTW’s “Check, Please” bounced out after 20 years

WTTW announced the 20th season of Check Please would be its last One of Chicago television’s longest-running shows is closing its doors after two decades on the air. WTTW announced Wednesday the end of Check, Please, one of the PBS member station’s longest running local shows in its history. “This upcoming season, as ‘Check, Please!’ leaves our schedule, we look […]

“Windy City Live”, “Chicago’s Best” to end runs

Cancellations a blow to local TV production The pandemic has thrown a wrench into local TV revenues and the latest reflection of the tough times came within the last few days as two well-known local TV shows are ceasing production. ABC-owned WLS-TV/ABC7 announced the end of local talk show Windy City Live as a weekday strip after ten seasons Wednesday, […]

Bears slide in standings and ratings

But national spotlight games keep on coming Over the years here at T Dog Media, it seems I’ve written more negative news about the Chicago Bears than positive  – 2006 and 2018 the exceptions, of course. But in most other years, writing about the team has been an absolute drag – especially the infamous 2014 and 2017 seasons. And despite […]