WCIU clears Rules of Engagement; show now in 75% of country You can always count on your Friends – especially in syndication. Tribune Broadcasting announced a third-cycle syndication renewal for Friends, the Emmy-winning sitcom that was a mainstay on NBC’s “Must-See TV” from 1994-2004. The renewals cover the fifteen Tribune stations currently airing the series, including WGN-TV here in Chicago […]
If you thought the 4:30 a.m. news craze was something… wait ’til you hear about the next one in the works – the 4 a.m. news craze. Tribune’s WGN-TV announced today it is launching a new 4 a.m. newscast beginning on July 11th, becoming the first station in the Chicago market to expand into the half-hour. The move comes as […]
Often the industry joke (well, besides NBC and MyNetworkTV), The CW unveiled four new shows during its upfront presentation Thursday in New York City at Time Warner Center. CW’s upfront was tailored to their young-female audience – flashing lights, a musical act no one over the age of 35 can’t stand, and other hip, happening stuff. The only problem is […]
A lot of news and notes this week’s Grab Bag: -Management changes at Weigel. Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting announced management changes on Monday, with Neal Sabin now president of content and networks. Sabin is now responsible for all programming on Weigel stations and owned and affiliated networks; development of multiplatform content on local and national levels; strategic planning; marketing of content; […]
In a move that is seldom used involving off-network syndicated product, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution is removing Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage from broadcast syndication, effective in September. The news broke Friday afternoon on Broadcasting & Cable’s website and Deadline Hollywood. The request is coming from HBO, who asked sibling Warner Bros. (both are owned by Time Warner) to […]
There are many reasons why shows get canceled or end their runs: the star dies or retires, declining ratings, getting too expensive to produce, etc. But because of a rant against his boss? That’s a new one to me! As you’ve heard by now, CBS and Warner Bros. has suspended production on Two And A Half Men again – this […]
The legendary Fontainbleau Resort in Miami, where NATPE is being held The NATPE convention rolls on in South Beach with news on Big Tigger, Daryl Hall and his house, and a new show featuring Fat Albert – whoops, I mean Father Albert – Litton Entertainment announced it was launching a new weekly half-hour syndicated series targeted for weekend late fringe […]
The 47th annual National Association of Television Program Executives convention kicked off today in a new location: The Fontainebleau in Miami, Fla. on the East Coast after years of being based in the western U.S. In the past, NATPE has been held in San Francisco, Houston, New Orleans, and Las Vegas, where it was held for the last several years. […]
Des Moines, Ia. –based Meredith Corp., owner of CBS affiliate WGCL-TV in Atlanta, has agreed to take over day-today operations of Turner Broadcasting’s WPCH-TV (aka Peachtree TV) in a local marketing agreement giving Meredith control of the station’s marketing, promotions, advertising, and technical operations while Turner stays on as owner and licensee. The deal takes effect in the next few […]
Modern Family syndication sales reaches up to 50 percent of the U.S. Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution seems to benefitting the most thus far when it comes to replacing The Oprah Winfrey Show when it leaves this September, with Anderson Cooper and Ellen DeGeneres’ talk shows snapping up time slots soon-to-be formerly held by the queen of talk. Anderson has […]
Want more Two and a Half Men in syndication? You got it. But if you want more crazy Charlie Sheen going ape in a hotel room moments, you’ll have to wait – those come at random. In a story Broadcasting & Cable broke Wednesday, Tribune Broadcasting and Sinclair Broadcasting announced they has renewed Two and a Half Men for a […]
It look like Sean Compton has decided to make his legancy known before he is shown the door. In the huge upheaval that was happening last week at Tribune (which saw the exit of CEO Randy Michaels), one of Michaels’ hires cut a programing deal with NBC Universal to continue to carry its conflict talk shows on its station group […]
Twentieth Television made its first broadcast syndication sale of Emmy-winning sitcom Modern Family and not surprisingly, it was sold to ten Fox-owned stations, including Fox’s duopoly of WFLD-TV and WPWR-TV. The series is being sold for a fall 2013 start. Fox also bought the program for its eight other duopoly markets, as well as WUTB in Baltimore. This is the […]
Ward L. Quaal, a Chicago television and radio pioneer instrumental in laying the groundwork for WGN-AM and WGN-TV, died Friday at the age of 91. Quaal began his career in 1936 at a radio station in Marquette, Mich., and went to WGN Radio in 1941. As a staff announcer, he broke the news that Pearl Harbor was bombed, which brought […]
Tribune Broadcasting ad Twentieth Television have formed a rather unlikely alliance to clear a new syndicated program. Titled Pt. Dume, the new weekly scripted hour for next fall is about troubled teenagers who are sequestered in a Los Angeles detention camp (are you excited already?) The series was created by Gregory Bonnan, who created Baywatch. The sun-and-surf drama which gave […]
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