DirecTV offers RSNs as add-ons in skinny bundles

Some relief for starved Chicago sports fans – but will they take advantage?  As hinted at when it was announced in January, DirecTV is adding regional sports network add-ons to its MySports skinny bundle, including CHSN and Marquee for Chicago-area viewers, just in time for baseball season as the former features the Chicago White Sox, and the latter for the […]

Marquee, CHSN: A possible merger?

Comcast impasse with both fueling speculation According to a report from the Puck newsletter, local regional sports networks CHSN (Chicago Sports Network) and Marquee may be seeking to merge.  CHSN and Marquee have a common enemy: Comcast, the largest cable provider in Chicago, had refused to add CHSN to its network and plans to move Marquee to a higher, more […]

CHSN struggles to gain distribution foothold

The move back to free, over-the-air TV for sports is hitting road bumps You would think making all games from the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox available for free on broadcast television would be terrific for fans, right? Well, you might want to think again. Two weeks after the new Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) launched, the network is having […]

New Orleans Pelicans moves games to over-the-air TV

Follows move by Bulls, Blackhawks, and White Sox Monday Expected after the soon-to-be-defunct Bally Sports New Orleans and the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans parted ways, the team announced a multi-year deal with Gray Television to form the Gulf Coast Sports Network to air all non-network games on Gray’s stations stretching from the Ark-La-Tex area to the Florida panhandle starting next […]

New CHSN firms up on-air talent, distribution plans

Strikes deal with WJYS for carriage The new Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) has been firming up its on-air talent and distribution plans over the last week by announcing a deal with a local TV station for carriage. CHSN will appear on the digital subchannels of religious independent WJYS-TV 62.2 and 62.3, which are currently occupied by home shopping networks Jewelry TV […]

T Dog’s Think Tank: The White Sox uses the CBS Chicago blueprint for its Fan Alienation Plan

Chicago’s South Side MLB team resembles CBS Chicago’s ratings disasters in every way possible  In the early 2000s, then-Chicago Tribune media critic Steve Johnson noted the management at CBS-owned WBBM-TV implemented what he called a “Viewer Alienation Plan”, a series of bad decisions repelling viewers from the station throughout the 1990s, including tabloid newscasts, awful anchor pairings, and a deer-in-headlight […]

Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Network launches today

Adds Steve Harvey to roster  [Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on March 25, but updated April 2 with new information. Keep reading for more.] One-time daytime talk show foes Dr. Phil McGraw and Steve Harvey are teaming up. According to B&C, the former Chicago-based TV talk show host and radio superstar has taken an equity interest in Dr. […]

The Media Notepad: “Judy Justice” adds linear TV run this fall

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 […]

Sinclair charges up Charge for more upgrades

Replace Circle in some markets, including Chicago’s WBBM-TV Sinclair’s digital subchannel Charge returns to the Chicago area, landing at CBS-owned WBBM-TV as part of a deal with the CBS News And Stations Group, who saw several stations also take sci-fi-based channel Comet.  “We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our networks’ distribution and the strengthening of our impactful partnership […]

The Media Notepad: Sinclair launches “The Nest” as Stadium empties

Also: Bally Sports Arizona folds; SAG-AFTRA talks fail; your newest talk show host is…Ken Jeong?  With Sinclair out as partner in Stadium, the digital subchannel occupying the same will have a new name and new format effective October 30.  Called The Nest, Sinclair says the new channel features “family-friendly programming” but with reality cable TV show reruns. Shows featured in […]

The Media Notepad: Bulls, White Sox owner gains control of Stadium

Also: Richard Mline’s wife dies; DirecTV retains NFL Sunday Ticket….for business customers; Standard General-Tegna merger called off  Sports business website Front Office Sports reported Monday evening the owner of the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls acquired a majority stake in Stadium, the multiplatform sports network seen on over-the-air digital channels and streaming. The network is based out of the […]

Chicago stations collaborate on celebrating 2020 grads

Oprah Winfrey to speak to local grads The coronavirus pandemic has wiped out graduation ceremonies all over the Chicago area, but they get to celebrate virtually – with an assist from Chicago’s local stations. In a very rare show of collaboration, Chicago TV stations are simulcasting a virtual celebration titled Grad 2020: For Chicago by Chicago, honoring the Chicago area’s […]

Storms, flooding knock out local stations’ signals

CBS 2, CW 26, others lose signals for the day; WLS-FM, WFMT also forced off air  (Editor’s Note: This post was updated at 12:37 a.m. on May 20.)  A massive rainstorm Sunday evening wrecked havoc in the Chicago area, flooding numerous streets, including Lower Wacker Drive and the already-closed riverwalk. Nearly four inches fell at O’Hare while over eight inches […]

Marquee to launch talk show with Ryan Dempster

But here’s the rub: it’s only going to air monthly Hulu becomes latest operator to sign deal with Marquee In an odd move, the Cubs’ new Marquee network is planning to launch a new talk show featuring former Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster. Speaking to reporters at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. on Saturday, Dempster said his new show would not […]

Court TV to return as a digital subchannel

New Katz network signs with Tribune Media’s WGN-TV and 21 others First, we have TV shows such as Magnum P.I. and Murphy Brown being rebooted. Now, we have whole cable networks getting the treatment. Scripps-owned Katz Broadcasting announced Monday it has acquired the intellectual rights to the Court TV name from Turner Broadcasting and re-launching it as a digital subchannel […]