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 […]
Man of the People latest to strike out as viewers head to streaming services on weekends (Editor’s Note: This post has been updated to reflect recent changes in programming schedules.) Funny thing as this person was watching the final Man Of The People Monday night via DVR as in the next-to-last segment, Bill Kurtis said “Tonight we look back at […]
Only two new shows in syndication this fall (Editor’s Note: This post has been updated. See below.) If you love the true crime genre, you are going to be happy with what’s going to air on local stations this fall. In fact, their are just two new shows: CBS Television’s Face The Truth and Debmar-Mercury’s Caught In Providence, featuring an […]
Plus… My Network TV announces new 2018-19 lineup; Chicago Reader under new ownership; Cubs games to be streamed on Facebook As first reported by Robert Feder last week, WSCR-AM co-host Brian Hanley is being removed from his post as Mike Mulligan’s co-host and his overall role at the station reduced. There is no word on who would replace Hanley in […]
Tim Allen? Vicki Lawrence? The once edgy Fox brand is history as the network retools to attract older audiences Fox announced its 2018-19 schedule and it is a radical departure from what it was in years past. In the 1990s, Fox was synonymous with “hip, edgy programming” with The Simpsons, Beverly Hills 90210, In Living Color, and Melrose Place dominating […]
Fox and NBC save shows; why do the networks cancel all these shows in a three-day window? The Bubble didn’t just burst on Friday for several on-the-fence shows…it exploded. According to TV Line, a total of nineteen shows were canceled in twenty-four hours’ time between Thursday and Friday – not unusual for this time of year as the major networks […]
As the major networks go all in on rebooting familiar television shows – even using the same stars, they risk becoming irrelevant Over the last few weeks, you’d think network television executives were taking cues from those who run Chicago radio: over the last few years, we were treated to “reboots” of Jonathon Brandmeier, Mancow, Steve Dahl, Bob Sirott (and […]
The latest in reboot fever Get ready… she’s going to be firing secretaries again. CBS and Warner Bros. Television announced Wednesday a thirteen-episode order of Murphy Brown featuring the woman who played her, Candice Bergen. According to the press release, Bergen reprises her role “set in a world of cable news, social media, fake news, and a very different political […]
Also, The Real renewed through 2020; Anamainics returns; Fox at TCA Our long national nightmare is over: the Mancow-Marv Nyren feud is buried – for now. As first reported by Robert Feder Thursday, WLUP-FM’s Mancow Mueller dropped his “lawsuit” against Marv Nyren, who became his boss again after being named vice president and market manager of Cumulus last fall, who […]
Ratings don’t seem to matter much as ad buyers remained committed to primetime TV This season, the television business has had its share of negative headlines: notably declining ratings for many shows, especially in the key 18-49 demo. But this isn’t deterring buyers from investing their advertising in primetime TV. And nowhere more this was evident than last week as […]
Struggling network goes heavy on sci-fi, picks up Seth MacFarlane show Fox released its 2017-18 schedule this morning in advance of its upfront presentation Monday afternoon and has considerable changes throughout the schedule. The biggest move, Wednesday night sees the once-hot Empire move an hour earlier to accommodate the return of Star, the show that temporally replaced it last winter. […]
Jay Cutler signs with Fox Sports. Caution! You’re about to enter “The No Fumble Zone”. That’s because we now know Jay Cutler won’t be anywhere near a football anymore. But the former Chicago Bears quarterback did decide to trade in his cleats for a broadcasting career by joining Fox Sports’ NFL crew. Beginning next season, he’ll hoof it up with play-by-play […]
CBS remake scores decent sampling; Church of Tisch dominates the evening Note: These results are based on adults 18-49 preliminary ratings. On The Simpsons, Patty and Selma said they’re favorite TV show was MacGvyer, the 1985-92 ABC series featuring Richard Dean Anderson (it was even part of a plot of one 1992 episode where Selma marries Sideshow Bob.) So you […]
Your 2016 syndication fall preview Harry Connick Jr.s’ new syndicated talk show debuts today, and with it comes a question: could this really be the end of the big-budget daytime syndicated show? This year, Connick’s show is the only new syndicated daytime talk shows being rolled out on a full national basis, as opposed to five new talkers in 2012 […]
Local news returns to ABC 7 at 11 a.m.; Dr. Oz returns for three more years; WGN-TV needs a new GM; and more. In a victory for local programming (and yet another defeat for syndicators), ABC-owned WLS-TV (ABC 7) announced Tuesday it was bringing back its 11 a.m. newscast after three years and moving current time slot occupant Windy City […]
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