The Media Notepad: Remembering Mike Ditka

Also: Sasha-Ann Simons exits WBEZ; Disney letting you watch Super Bowl LXI in a variety of ways Chicago Bears fans (me included) are mourning the loss of “Da Coach”, Mike Ditka, who led the team for eleven seasons and helped guide the team to its only Super Bowl title in the 1985 season, clinched at the Louisiana Superdome in New […]

Chicago PPM Report: Immigration blitzes and ICE protests sends listeners to news and talk stations

The Drive tops overall ratings while Kiss 103.5 FM is first in 25-54s With the continuing ICE enforcement and National Guard drama in Chicago, listeners tuned in to the city’s news, talk, and information stations in increasing numbers during the month of September in PPMs released earlier this week.  Operation Midway Blitz was fanned across the nation’s third-largest radio and […]

WBEZ revamps lineup; shifts Mary Dixon to new show, ends “Reset”

Moves come after loss of federal funding Despite the loss of federal funding, Chicago Public Media’s WBEZ is shaking up its schedule and is adding more local programming to its weekday lineup.  Beginning Sept. 15, WBEZ debuts In The Loop With Sasha-Ann Simons, a Chicago-focused talk show discussing the headlines of the day (and there will be a few that […]

Audacy stations land on iHeartRadio’s platforms

Agrees to stream on archrival’s platform  Starting today, Audacy’s 200+ radio stations will be available on the iHeartRadio app.  Joining iHeartMedia’s local stations on the platform in Chicago are sports talker 670 The Score (WSCR-AM), Newsradio 105.9 FM (WBBM-AM 780/WCFS-FM 105.9), Adult Album Alternative 93XRT (WXRT-FM), Top 40/CHR B96 (WBBM-FM), Country US99 (WUSN-FM), and Classic R&B/Hip-Hop 104.3 Jams (WBMX-FM).  Other […]

The Media Notepad: “The Food Guy” exits NBC 5

Steve Dolinsky takes job at Levy Restaurants; Chicago Sky expands distribution; 93.9 The Lite returns to the top of the PPMs [Editor’s Note: The first item of this piece was updated on May 22 to add Facebook post.] “The Food Guy” has reviewed his final plate on Chicago television. Steve Dolinsky announced this week he was departing NBC 5 (NBC-owned […]

Trump administration ends funding for NPR, PBS in executive order

Chicago area’s public broadcasters to be affected American public networks PBS and NPR are exploring legal options after President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday night, eliminating federal funding for both. The moves are certain to impact Chicago’s WTTW and WBEZ, and Merrillville’s Lakeshore Public Media, which consists of WYIN and WLPR-FM (89.1 FM). The order comes as no […]

March PPMs: Q101 maintains hot streak

Best ranking since the return to 101.1 frequency The March PPMs were released on Tuesday and showed an interesting trend: the resurgence of Q101.  The Cumulus-owned Alternative station is on a hot streak. WKQX scored an overall ratings increase for the fourth consecutive month and finished in a tie for eleventh place with WBEZ – the highest overall ranking since […]

The Media Notepad: Chicago Public Media to offer buyouts to selected employees of WBEZ, Sun-Times

Also: Meteorologist loses job due to social media post; new game show announced; Trump Country returns to SW Florida With revenues falling short of expectations, WBEZ and Sun-Times owner Chicago Public Media announced Wednesday it was offering buyouts to certain employees, including journalists at the paper and business employees from the radio station. In a staff meeting Wednesday, newly installed […]

SAG-AFTRA files labor complaint against WBEZ management

Relations continue to deteriorate between Chicago Public Media and WBEZ employees  The clash between SAG-AFTRA and WBEZ management is heading to a showdown. On Monday, SAG-AFTRA filed an unfair labor complaint to the National Labor Relations Board against Chicago Public Media, the non-profit owner of the Chicago Sun-TImes and WBEZ -the first since the station’s employees joined the union in […]

The Media Notepad: Paris Schutz heads to Fox 32 as new political reporter

Also: Alyssa Donovan promoted to full-time to WGN-TV’s Weather Team; WBEZ continues its ratings freefall; Indianapolis station to air Fever games As hinted by Politico’s Shia Kapos last week, it was made official Tuesday: Paris Schutz is headed to Fox-owned WFLD (Fox 32) where he’ll be the chief political reporter and anchor his own half-hour weekly political show, essentially replacing […]

The Media Notepad: Fallout continues from Chicago Public Media layoffs

Paramount, Skydance advance merger talks; Iger survives Disney proxy board vote The fallout continues from the decision to lay off fourteen employees at WBEZ and Sun-Times owner Chicago Public Media last Wednesday, with a Chicago alderperson from the city’s 49th Ward on the far North Side being the latest to weigh in. “Seeing the increases, seeing the benefits, and then […]

Chicago Public Media announces layoffs, shutters Vocalo

WBEZ and Sun-Times owner closes content generator comes after 17 years amid storm of controversy In a controversial move, the non-profit Chicago Public Media has announced layoffs of fourteen people and dissolved its content development unit, responsible for producing several podcasts. As a result, Nerdette, Making, and When Magic Happens are ending.  Of the fourteen laid off, nine were from […]

Chicago Public Media CEO Matt Moog to step down

Successor is yet to be named As first reported by Radio Insight, Chicago Public Media CEO Matt Moog is planning to step down from his position as soon as his successor is found.  “I plan to return to my roots as a technology entrepreneur“, said Moog in a statement. “I feel a great sense of gratitude for the Board, staff, […]