NASCAR Chicago Street Race’s fate unknown for 2025

Declining attendance, mixed audience numbers, and less TV exposure could spell doom for event [Editor’s note: This post was updated on July 12 with updated ratings information.] The Chicago Street Race (The Loop 110 and The Grant Park 165) sped through its second edition this past weekend through downtown and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. But it seems the bloom is […]

The Media Notepad: NBC 5’s Andy Avalos retires; Alicia Roman promoted to morning shift

Also: Young Sheldon adds TBS home; Rick Dees becomes voice of RewindTV; Dish and Sinclair avoid blackouts – for now  Veteran meteorologist Andy Avalos announced his retirement on Friday after 33 years on Chicago television. Starting on August 30, fellow NBC 5 (WMAQ) meteorologist Alicia Roman is taking over Avalos’ spot on the morning newscast from 4-7 a.m. She’s been […]

Fox buys Charlotte combo; boots WCCB out the door

Fox Television Stations, owners of WFLD and WPWR here in Chicago, has announced an intention to purchase Capitol Broadcasting’s WJZY (CW) and WMYT (My Network TV). The sale likely ends Fox’s relationship with Bahakel Communications’ WCCB-TV after 26 years.  The deal of course, is contingent on FCC approval. Fox would likely land on WJZY, the strongest of the duopoly, meaning […]

Going for the ratings gold

Chicago ranks 25th in Olympic ratings When it comes to the Summer Olympics, Chicagoans haven’t really been too excited about the games (perhaps we still have a hangover from losing the 2016 Olympics bid to Rio?) The games of the XXX Olympiad from across the pond in London has drawn an average of 32.8 million viewers in primetime for the […]