“Young Sheldon” to close up shop after seven seasons

CBS comedy calls it a career In news that could trigger celebrations across this great Earth of ours, top-rated CBS sitcom Young Sheldon is ending after seven seasons and 100+ episodes.  “As a prequel to one of the biggest comedies, Young Sheldon proved lightning can strike twice,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “It set itself apart with a […]

The WWE heads back to The CW with NXT

Five-year deal comes as Smackdown heads back to cable Finally….the WWE has come back to The CW! But it’s not the show you think. World Wrestling Entertainment announced Tuesday afternoon its NXT franchise, which showcases up-and-coming wrestling talent, is moving to The CW next fall after a long run at NBCUniversal’s USA Network, who’ll regain Smackdown this fall after five […]

The Media Notepad: Introducing the Sven Squad

  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 […]

WGN-TV’s Tom Skilling announces retirement

Last day on the air February 28 Longtime WGN-TV meteorologist Tom Skilling announced on the station’s 5 p.m. newscast his retirement after 47 years broadcasting the weather. His last day on the air is February 28 of next year.  “There’s no formula for this. I am going to retire at the end of February after a marvelous 45 years at […]

WLS-TV celebrates 75 years

Comes at a time of uncertain future for local institution While all the hoopla was over WGN-TV celebrating its 75th year of broadcasting, let’s not forget there’s another station celebrating its 75th, too. ABC-owned WLS-TV, branded as ABC 7 since the 1990s, celebrated its 75th on September 17. Although there was no two-hour special to comminate the occasion like WGN’s, […]

DirecTV, WGN-TV owner Nexstar reach agreement, restoring service

Impasse lasted 77 days [Editor’s Note: This article was originally published a day earlier. It has been slightly re-written to reflect updated news.] In news that broke overnight Sunday (and I do mean literally), the signal for Nexstar stations returned this morning to DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, and U-Verse after 77 days under an interim agreement, leading to a more concrete […]

“Chicago Tonight” reduced to twice a week

The decline of linear TV claims another victim as WTTW pairs back public affairs show With the news Nexstar is looking to buy ABC and its owned stations – which could eliminate a local newsroom in Chicago in a possible merger of WLS-TV and WGN-TV, comes this bit of unwelcome news: WTTW is reducing the number of episodes of its […]

Report: Nexstar, Byron Allen looking to buy ABC (updated)

Comes a day after a former Nexstar exec says it could happen  [Editor’s Note: This story has been updated.] News of a potential ABC sale picked up Thursday after Bloomberg reported The Walt Disney Co. was in talks for either Nexstar or Allen Media Group (led by Byron Allen) to purchase ABC and its owned eight stations, after a Deadline […]

Syndication: What’s new this fall

…or not, as reruns, court shows dominate local schedules As linear TV viewership continues to tumble, fall schedules for local television stations across the country certainly reflect the trend. Unlike last year when Sherri Shepard and Jennifer Hudson debuted with new syndicated talk shows, there is no such new programming being offered – especially with an ongoing work stoppage in […]

The long, hot dispute “impasse summer” continues

…and may extend until fall – or even later as the Unions-Hollywood and DirecTV-Nexstar show no sign of ending soon  Despite the WGA being on strike since May 1 and Nexstar stations vanishing off DirecTV since July 2nd, the disputes are only getting uglier and may require government intervention if there is any hope of these being resolved. And now […]

“The Conners” head to off-net in 2024 thanks to Lionsgate

Subsidiary Dembar-Mercury to handle domestic sales Also: Big Bang Theory reruns shift to WGN next month [Editor’s Note: This post was updated August 22. See below.] If you forgotten about ABC’s The Conners, well…it’s still around – long enough for it to now enter off-network syndication.  Lionsgate announced Wednesday it has acquired the rights to past and future episodes of […]

The CW nabs rights to NASCAR’s Xfinity Series races

Signs six-year deal that begins in 2025 A NASCAR racing league is shifting gears to a new home – on The CW. The Nexstar-owned network and NASCAR announced Friday the move of the NASCAR Xfinity Series – 33 races in all – to The CW starting in 2025. This marks the first time the entire package would be airing on […]

WGN-TV to launch new afternoon show, “Spotlight Chicago”

WGN unveils latest local programming initiative as station dumps first-run syndicated product After the September 2021 launch of Daytime Chicago, Nexstar-owned WGN-TV is looking to duplicate its success by launching another lifestyle show, this time in the afternoons.  Beginning September 11, WGN is launching Spotlight Chicago, a new weekday show to air at 3 p.m. According to a rather vague […]

Red flag banner returns: Nexstar pulls signals from DirecTV, including WGN-TV

Nexstar’s ties to Mission and White Knight Broadcasting once again in question In the latest retrans battle, we have one company whose Grand Rapids station recently was involved in a controversy over giving voice to ‘the other side’ during Pride month vs. one who shoved commercials down our throats last fall featuring Real Housewives cast members, a show known for […]