P.J. Hoff

Long before Tom Skilling or Harry Volkman or John Coleman, Chicago’s favorite TV weatherman was P.J. Hoff.

With little more than an oversized sketch pad and his imagination, the amiable Hoff brought a wealth of talent as a cartoonist to his nightly weather reports over nearly two decades at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2. Continue reading →

Phil Bedella

In an historic long-term deal announced Tuesday, Comcast SportsNet Chicago landed the rights to all 59 state championship events encompassing Illinois High School Association football, basketball and other preps sports.

Starting with the current school year, Comcast SportsNet will be the exclusive home for more than 160 hours of IHSA Championship events, to be produced by PlayOn! Sports. Terms were not disclosed, but it marks the first time the football and basketball championships have both been on a regional sports network since the days of Fox Sports Net. Continue reading →

Howard Griffith

After little more than six months as midday co-host on WGWG LP 87.7, Howard Griffith has cut back to a part-time role as college football insider for the Tribune Broadcasting sports/talk station.

Alex Quigley and Ben Finfer, who previously shared billing with Griffith, now co-host the show themselves from noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Continue reading →

Jeff Herndon and Dawn Hasbrouck

Robservations on the media beat:

Like everything else at WFLD-Channel 32, even the launch of a new Monday-through-Friday news show is done in stealth. Mum’s the word, but rehearsals have been underway for weeks on a hybrid news-and-talk show set to air at 4 p.m. weekdays on the Fox-owned station. Tentatively titled “Studio 32,” it’ll be fronted by Jeff Herndon and Dawn Hasbrouck, who already anchor Fox 32’s 9 p.m. newscast. Insiders describe the format as heavy on social media and chitchat — and light on news. While awaiting approval for the format from Fox bosses in New York, the station continues to list “TMZ Live” at 4 p.m. on its schedule. So much for debuting in time to counter Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, which starts its expanded afternoon newscast at 4 p.m. on Monday. Continue reading →

Roy Leonard

Funeral mass will be Saturday (September 13) for Roy Leonard, the beloved Chicago broadcasting legend who died last Thursday at 83.

Leonard was a popular and respected talk show host and entertainment critic for WGN AM 720 for more than three decades until his retirement in 1998. He also hosted the “Family Classics” movie series and reviewed theater and films for WGN-Channel 9. Continue reading →

Tommy Edwards

So long, L’il Tommy.

Tommy Edwards, the iconic Chicago broadcaster who excelled as both an on-air personality and behind-scenes programmer, is signing off after an amazing 54 years in radio.

Edwards, 70, announced Friday he’s retiring as midday host at WJMK FM 104.3, the CBS Radio classic hits station. Following a weeklong on-air celebration of his career, his last show on K-Hits will be September 12. Continue reading →

Roy Leonard

One of Chicago’s most popular and respected broadcasters for decades, Roy Leonard brought the world of entertainment in all its forms to generations of loyal listeners with warmth, class and style.

Leonard died Thursday at Evanston Hospital after a brief illness. He was 83. Continue reading →

Steve Cochran

Robservations on the media beat:

Just days after marking his one-year anniversary as morning personality on news/talk WGN AM 720, Steve Cochran received a big vote of confidence from his Tribune Broadcasting bosses. On Thursday he signed a new four-year contract to stay right where he is. Terms were not disclosed, but Todd Manley, vice president of content and programming at WGN, confirmed the deal and called Cochran “a treasure to us.” In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, WGN ranked second in mornings with a 5.4 percent share and a cumulative weekly audience of 276,600. “Thanks to my amazing staff of Andrea Darlas, Dave Eanet, Orion Samuelson, Mary Vandevelde, Kevin Powell and my son, Ross, 5 a.m. is actually fun,” Cochran said. “Working for Jimmy de Castro, Todd Manley and Larry Wert is as good as it gets — and I feel like we are just getting started.” Continue reading →

Karen Meyer

Karen Meyer may be irreplaceable, but WLS-Channel 7 hopes to carry on her mission.

After more than two decades as a unique presence in all of local television, Meyer announced Thursday she’s retiring from the ABC-owned station to spend full-time in Southern California with her husband. Her last day on air will be September 28. Continue reading →

There’s a new nighttime lineup in Chicago, according to radio ratings released Tuesday for the period from July 17 to August 13.

Here’s a look at Chicago’s top 10 evening shows as measured by Nielsen Audio among all listeners age 6 and older from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, followed by average share of audience (with previous month’s share in parentheses). Continue reading →