Also: Shift is underway in Chicago PPM ratings; Pelicans leave Bally Sports Look who’s back in the public eye – it’s none other than former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was hired by CBS Chicago (WBBM-TV) to provide analysis during the Democratic National Convention here in Chicago later this month in a press release posted on social media Wednesday […]
On Tuesday, the Toons take over WCIU Channel 26.7 Judging by the large number of YouTube videos, Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting’s new MeTV Toons arriving Tuesday is perhaps the most highly-anticipated digital subchannel in quite some time, if not ever. After all, some of the content MeTV Toons plans to carry hasn’t been on broadcast television in a long time […]
Also: Retro TV adds WGBO; This TV reportedly closes; and Astound offers discounted internet A few days ago, this space wondered how the pending closure of NBC Sports Chicago would impact NBC’s other RSNs. For one of them at least, it might not have much impact. An article in the Philadelphia Inquirer last Wednesday stated that the sister network NBC […]
New digital subchannel and streamer to feature Bugs, Daffy, Scooby, and more Your favorite cartoon characters are returning to broadcast television. Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting announced Thursday it is launching a new, 24/7 classic animation channel in conjunction with Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns the classic Warner Bros. Loony Tunes and Hanna-Barbera libraries. “We are honored to work with the amazing […]
“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, […]
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 […]
Also: WXRT hires a new afternoon host; Judge Judy reruns renewed in syndication through 2027; Weigel’s stations get ready to cover March madness After 35 years on the morning traffic beat, ABC 7’s (WLS-TV) traffic reporter Roz Varon is calling it a career. Her last day is April 5. Varon was a fixture starting in 1989 as Chicago’s first traffic […]
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 […]
Also: ABC’s stations team up with Nat Geo on another water special; Spectrum says they will drop more under performing channels; Houston’s Space City Home Network launches You heard of The Mod Squad, right? Now meet The Sven Squad. Just in time for Halloween, MeTV’s Svengoolie is adding cast members for the first time. Joining the horror movie host […]
Also: Timberwolves strike iHeartMedia deal; CBS affiliates decline Bears game in large numbers; Survivor names a tribe after an old media company Longtime Chicago radio veteran Rick O’Dell is the latest media figure to announce his retirement, doing so on Facebook. His final day is October 4. Currently the program director of MeTV FM (WRME-FM), O’Dell is best known for […]
The nostalgia-themed network is already available to Chicago-area subscribers through low-power station [Editor’s Note: Updated November 29.] Even though Nexstar is currently blacking out their owned and affiliated stations on DirecTV, the satellite operator is adding new channels. Beginning today, viewers outside of the Chicago area can access Weigel Broadcasting’s MeTV on Channel 77 on DirecTV and DirecTV Stream in […]
Weigel moves to comedy network, featuring sitcoms from 1950s to 1980s [This post was updated March 27.] Weigel Broadcasting announced Monday it was rebranding diginet Decades after eight years and is launching a new channel devoted to comedies from the 1950s to the 1980s branded as Catchy Comedy. The transition takes place March 27 with most stations currently with Decades […]
Plus: MeTV expands Svengoolie; MLS and Apple makes linear broadcasting deals; PBS stations to stream on LocalNow. One of the top-rated overnight voices in Chicago radio is coming back for an encore. The husband-and-wife team of Steve King and Johnnie Putnam will be returning to WGN Radio on Saturday nights starting January 7, where they’ll have a weekly show airing […]
Also: The Drive promotes Janda Lane to middays; Nexstar closes the deal to buy The CW; NATPE files for bankruptcy; Svengoolie is hiring! The move was expected for months, and now it’s official: The Chicago Sun-Times announced Thursday it is removing the paywall for all stories. This comes as the newspaper and Chicago Public Media’s WBEZ-FM announced a non-profit merger […]
Also: Jennifer Hudson’s local time slot set; and the Chicago Blackhawks name new analysts [Editor’s Note: The Blackhawks item has been updated with more information.] If you are a fan of Svengoolie – and I know there are a lot of you out there, then you have a lot to celebrate this October. Weigel’s MeTV is turning the pumpkin month […]