Comcast SportsNet drops Aiyana Cristal

Aiyana Cristal

Aiyana Cristal

Aiyana Cristal, the Comcast SportsNet Chicago reporter who was at the center of a social media controversy earlier this year, has left the regional sports network.

“After two years of positive contributions, Aiyana Cristal is no longer part of our on-air team,” a Comcast SportsNet spokesman said in a statement. “We appreciate the hard work and professionalism she brought to her role at CSN and wish her the best.” Continue reading

Back on the market for Tribune Tower

Tribune Tower

Tribune Tower

Maybe the current bosses will have better luck than their predecessors, but this isn’t the first time in recent years they’ve slapped a “for sale” sign on Tribune Tower.

Thursday’s announcement that Chicago-based Tribune Media had hired real estate banking company Eastdil Secured to “begin exploring strategic monetization alternatives for Tribune Tower and adjacent land” was reminiscent of a similar declaration by Sam Zell, the real estate magnate who took Tribune Company private and dragged it into bankruptcy. Continue reading

It’s ‘Noon Business’ as usual for WBBM

WBBM Newsradio

WBBM Newsradio

CBS Radio Chicago appears to be in no rush to name a replacement for Sherman Kaplan as co-host of the top-rated “WBBM Noon Business Hour” alongside Kris Kridel.

Kaplan retired September 22 after 46 years at all-news WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9, where he most recently co-anchored Monday-through-Friday midday newscasts, including the station's highly popular and profitable business news report. Continue reading

Rick O’Dell to program Me-TV FM

Rick O'Dell

Rick O'Dell

Chicago radio veteran Rick O’Dell has been named program director of Weigel Broadcasting’s WRME LP 87.7, the soft rock/oldies station branded as Me-TV FM.

It marks a return to the same frequency he once programmed as Chicago's Smooth 87.7 FM. Although O’Dell is best known as the city’s preeminent authority on smooth jazz programming, no change is expected in the current music format of Me-TV FM. Continue reading

Sun-Times CEO Timothy Knight exits

Timothy Knight

Timothy Knight

The future of the Sun-Times appeared more cloudy than ever Monday with the resignation of Timothy Knight as chief executive officer of parent company Wrapports LLC.

Knight, 50, is leaving to become president of the Cleveland-based Northeast Ohio Media Group, which operates cleveland.com and the Sun News, and is responsible for all advertising and marketing for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Continue reading

Robservations: Skilling drops midday weather forecasts

Tom Skilling

Tom Skilling

Robservations on the media beat:

Demetrius Ivory

Demetrius Ivory

With superstar weatherman Tom Skilling adding a leading role on WGN-Channel 9’s new 10 p.m. newscast starting Monday, something had to give. In this case, it’s the Tribune Media station’s midday newscast. “We all know there’s only one Tom Skilling, and with his role at 10 p.m., we needed to shift his schedule a bit,” said Greg Easterly, president and general manager of WGN. “He’ll continue his weather reports on the 9 p.m. news, as well as the evening news at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.” The incomparable Skilling, 63, has been WGN’s chief meteorologist since 1978. Replacing him on “WGN Midday News,” which airs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be meteorologist Demetrius Ivory, who’ll also continue to appear on “WGN Morning News” from 4 to 6 a.m. Continue reading

Eric & Kathy, The Drive win Marconi Awards

Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart

Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart

ATLANTA — For the second time in three years, Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart won top honors Thursday in the National Association of Broadcasters’ Marconi Awards.

The immensely popular morning team on Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX FM 101.9 was named Major Market Personalities of the Year. Both were on hand to receive their industry’s highest honor at the culminating dinner of the NAB Radio Show at the Marriott Marquis Atlanta. Continue reading