Stay Tuned: Rock on TV

A major multimedia exhibit on the historic connections between rock music and television in America is coming this fall to Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications.

Created in 2018 by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, “Stay Tuned: Rock on TV” will open October 18 for a six-month run at the museum, 360 North State Street. Chicago is the first stop on the exhibit’s nationwide tour. Continue reading →

Brent Musburger

Robservations on the media beat:

VSiN

WLS 890-AM, the Cumulus Media news/talk station, is the latest Chicago media outlet to bet on sports gambling. It's teaming up with VSiN, the Vegas Stats & Information Network, the first multi-channel network dedicated to sports betting. As of this week WLS is airing VSiN's "Action Updates," hosted by legendary sportscaster Brent Musburger, at 6:58 p.m. Monday through Friday. Starting August 31, WLS will air VSiN'S "Sunday Preview" with Dave Farra and Matt Brown from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturdays. The weekly show breaks down every NFL game from a sports bettor's perspective. The programming additions coincide with the move of University of Illinois football and basketball to WLS this fall. "Chicago has always been one of the greatest sports cities with the greatest sports fans," Musburger said. "With regulated sports betting on its way to Illinois, those sports fans might want to have a little action on their favorite teams. We're glad to bring Chicago's sports betting enthusiasts the news and insights they need to win." VSiN updates previously aired on Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM. Continue reading →

Chris Petlak

There’s big news on the night shift at Chicago’s powerhouse hot adult-contemporary station.

Chris Petlak, who created, wrote, produced and starred in “The Jamz,” a TV sitcom about a fictional Chicago radio station, has been hired as evening personality and director of digital content at WTMX 101.9-FM. Continue reading →

Block Club Chicago

A wayward alligator in the Humboldt Park lagoon — as well as generous grants from three local foundations — are making this a great summer for Block Club Chicago.

On Friday the nonprofit subscription-based digital news site, founded by former editors of DNAinfo Chicago, exceeded 20 million page views since its launch in June 2018. It now boasts more than 8,000 paid subscribers. Continue reading →

CBS Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

After holding viewers hostage for 20 days, AT&T restored CBS programming Thursday on DirecTV, DirecTV Now and AT&T U-verse platforms. Since July 20, the blackout affected more than 6.5 million customers in 17 cities, including Chicago. CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 lost more than a quarter of its viewership during the impasse, according to Nielsen figures. "CBS and AT&T regret any inconvenience to their customers and viewers and thank them for their patience," the two companies said in a joint statement. Terms of the multiyear retransmission agreement were not disclosed. Both sides were under pressure to reach a settlement before the start of NFL preseason games. Continue reading →

"A Love Letter to Chicago Journalism"

The Chicago Reader is counting on the gratitude and generosity of local journalists to help jump-start its latest fundraising effort.

The independently-owned alternative weekly will host a 12-hour telethon August 23 during which journalists will be invited to pay tribute to those who inspired their work and careers. The salutes will come in the form of written testimonials to be read by the hosts or delivered by the journalists themselves live on the program. Continue reading →

"You Better You Bet"

Entercom Communications has enlisted a couple of hosts from sports/talk WSCR 670-AM as regular contributors to a new four-hour nightly podcast on sports betting and fantasy sports.

Danny Parkins and Joe Ostrowski will appear on “You Better You Bet,” from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, starting August 19. During NFL season, a special weekend edition will air from 8 a.m. to noon Sundays. Continue reading →

Ryan Baker and Erin Kennedy

Robservations on the media beat:

After 16 years as a high-profile sports anchor in Chicago, is Ryan Baker switching to news? No one will say for sure, but Baker has been spending the week alongside Erin Kennedy as co-anchor of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2's weekday morning newscast. "No guarantees where it’s going," he wrote on social media. "Nice to stretch myself." He followed it with the hashtags "Grow or Die" and "Not Sticking to Sports." Reporter Mike Puccinelli has been co-anchoring with Kennedy since March. Baker and CBS 2 officials did not respond to requests for comment. Baker, a south suburban native and graduate of Thornridge High School and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, joined CBS 2 in 2008 after five years at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5. He previously worked as a sportscaster in Orlando, San Diego and Champaign. Continue reading →

The Drive 97.1 FM

Eighteen years after WDRV 97.1-FM signed on as an edgy new choice for Chicago radio listeners, the Hubbard Radio classic rocker is the most popular station in town.

Nielsen Audio ratings released Monday showed The Drive No. 1 in overall audience share for the first time. The latest monthly survey ran from June 20 to July 17. Continue reading →

Dr. Ruth Westheimer

Robservations on the media beat:

Ryan Seacrest

Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the psychosexual therapist who hosted the groundbreaking radio show “Sexually Speaking” in the 1980s, and Ryan Seacrest, the nationally syndicated radio personality, have been chosen for induction in the Radio Hall of Fame. They’re among nine broadcasters named to the 2019 Hall of Fame class today. Others are Sean "Hollywood" Hamilton, Harry Harrison, Joe Madison, Jim Rome, John Tesh, and the team of Kevin Ryder and Gene "Bean" Baxter. The Chicago-based shrine honors radio’s outstanding personalities and programs. No one from Chicago made the cut this year. Winners will be inducted November 8 at Gotham Hall in New York. Tickets are on sale at radiohalloffame.com. Continue reading →