Out after 27 years at ABC-owned station As expected, ABC-owned WLS-TV fired top sports anchor Mark Giangreco was fired late Friday after his on-air comment about co-anchor Cheryl Burton. As first reported by Robert Feder, Giangreco was officially released from his contract, settling financial terms with the station, which were not disclosed. Giangreco arrived at ABC 7 in 1994, after […]
On-air comment has top sports anchor off-air It looks like we’re going to need not one but two new hosts for annual New Year’s Eve special Countdown Chicago. Viewers of ABC 7 (WLS-TV) have noticed top sports anchor Mark Giangreco’s absence for the last few weeks and now we know why he’s been off the air – and it isn’t […]
Former Katz networks to take their place Get ready for a major shift in the digital channel world. Months after Scripps acquired Ion Networks, the company announced it was eliminating three digital subchannel networks: Ion Plus, ShopIon, and Qubo effective at the end of February. Those channels will be replaced by existing Katz channels, including Bounce, Grit, Laff, and Court […]
But national spotlight games keep on coming Over the years here at T Dog Media, it seems I’ve written more negative news about the Chicago Bears than positive – 2006 and 2018 the exceptions, of course. But in most other years, writing about the team has been an absolute drag – especially the infamous 2014 and 2017 seasons. And despite […]
Pandemic, shifting audiences makes it challenging for stations and syndicators Generally, I write these state of syndication articles in January before the NATPE gathering in Miami. But as we know, there has been nothing normal about the current times we live in, the television business included (and of course, NATPE isn’t likely happening as a traditional gathering in 2021.) […]
Helped usher in station’s ratings dominance Months after meteorologist Jerry Taft died, another former well-liked personality from WLS-TV has passed. Anchor Joel Daly, who spent 38 years at the ABC-owned station died peacefully Thursday morning at the home of his daughter Kelly. In recent years, Daly had been suffering from vascular parkinsonism – a condition that leads to mini-strokes. Born […]
Drew Barrymore show set to debut Monday – on TWO local stations [Editor’s Note: An earlier draft listed incomplete time period information for Law & Crime Daily and The First 48. This post was updated on September 19.] With Nick Cannon’s new syndicated talk show on the shelf for another year, it’s just Drew Barrymore as the lone new syndicated […]
Local stations right in the thick of it [Editor’s Note: This is a new version of a story posted earlier Monday.] Just like on Survivor when an unsuspecting contestant is blindsided at Tribal Council, Chicagoans were caught off-guard after a night of looting and vandalism in downtown Chicago and River North areas early Monday morning, and some of the mayhem […]
Iconic television personality dies at 88 Television fans are mourning the loss of Regis Philbin, who was one of the most beloved hosts in the medium. Not only he successfully re-invented morning television with his Live franchise with Kathie Lee Gifford and later Kelly Ripa, but also “saved ABC” as host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. He holds […]
Longtime Chicago meteorologist was at ABC 7, WMAQ-TV and WMAQ-AM After the sudden death of WMAQ-TV anchor Dick Johnson over a month ago, Chicago television viewers are yet again mourning the loss of another television personality – this time is retired meteorologist Jerry Taft, who exited ABC 7 (WLS-TV) in January 2018 after 33 years at the station. Taft died […]
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 […]
Anchor/reporter for NBC5 had 38-year journalism career in Chicago Journalists and anchors were stunned at the sudden death of NBC 5 (NBC-owned WMAQ-TV) anchor Dick Johnson, who passed away Tuesday afternoon at the age of 66. Johnson was forced to take a leave of absence and headed to his home in northern Michigan when the coronavirus epidemic hit as he […]
Riots hit downtown; spread to city neighborhoods and suburbs Sunday National Guard called up [Updated at 8:06 p.m.] The last 24 hours have been truly hellish for Chicagoans, and Americans nationwide. Rioting and disturbances have hit cities across the country in the wake of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, and Chicago was […]
CW 26’s The Jam, ABC 7’s Windy City Live enter production hiatus The coronavirus epidemic has not only crippled the economy and changed the way we live, but it’s now affected television production in Chicago and nationwide. The latest scheduling changes took place last week when CW 26’s (WCIU) morning show The Jam and ABC 7’s (WLS-TV) Windy City Live […]
Decision made after epidemic spreads across globe; Chicago film studio also affected Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 4 p.m. on March 10. The coronavirus epidemic has affected sporting events, large gatherings, canceled trade shows (including four at McCormick Place) and other places around the world. Now, it is affecting tapings of television shows. Late Monday evening, the producers […]