NBC Sports Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

Just in time for coverage of White Sox Opening Day Friday, NBC Sports Chicago will unveil its fancy new studio. The 4,100 square-foot space will serve as the main set for White Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls pre/postgame shows as well as "SportsTalk Live" and additional programming. Among its many bells and whistles is an LED floor equipped to break down plays for all sports. “Our incredible new studio will allow our expert talent roster to showcase our robust multi-platform content like never before,” said Kevin Cross, senior vice president/general manager of NBC Sports Chicago. “The state-of-the-art design will lend itself to our ongoing innovation on how we deliver content to the entire Chicago sports fan base. We’re very excited and looking forward to Friday night’s inaugural broadcast from this world-class studio facility.” Continue reading →

Newsweb Corporation

Robservations on the media beat:

Fred Eychaner

For the second time in five years, Chicago-based Newsweb Corp. has shut down a suburban radio station and given its license back to the FCC. WAIT 850-AM has been off the air since August 2019 when Newsweb sold the transmitter site in Crystal Lake to McHenry County College. Last week Newsweb notified the FCC that the station has "permanently ceased operations" and the company was surrendering its license. Newsweb acquired the 2,500-watt daytime station for $8.25 million in 2003. In 2015 Newsweb shut down and returned the license of WCFJ 1470-AM in south suburban Chicago Heights. "We have learned these fringe AMs with limited coverage cannot produce enough revenue to cover out-of-pocket operating costs of the most efficient operators," Mark Pinski, general manager of Newsweb Radio, said in a company statement. "Our remaining stations have very competitive signals. We expect there will be other failures in suburban radio particularly given the abysmal advertising climate." Owned by media magnate and Democratic megadonor Fred Eychaner, Newsweb operates progressive talk WCPT 820-AM and time-brokered WCPY 92.7-FM, WSBC 1240-AM and WNDZ 750-AM. Continue reading →

Fox 32

In the first expansion of its news operation in years, Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 announced plans Thursday to add an hourlong newscast at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“First at Four,” to be anchored by Anthony Ponce and Sally Schulze, will debut August 3. Continue reading →

Roland S. Martin

Robservations on the media beat:

Details are still being finalized, but look for Midway Broadcasting news/talk WVON 1690-AM to supplement its lineup with news reports from BIN: Black Information Network, the 24/7 national audio news service recently launched by iHeartMedia. "It's a perfect complement to our Black talk format," said Melody Spann Cooper, chair and CEO of Midway Broadcasting. "WVON is hyperlocal, but what impacts Black America impacts us here in Chicago, where we represent one-third of the city's population. Enhanced news is needed and iHeart's timing is perfect." Since June 30, the network also has been carried in Chicago on the HD-2 subchannel of WVAZ 102.7-FM, the iHeartMedia RB station.

Black Information Network

The first major hire for BIN: Black Information Network, announced this week, is prominent political pundit Roland S. Martin, who'll deliver daily commentaries for the network. "We are living in a time where we need more coverage about the issues facing African Americans," Martin said. His deal also calls for his daily digital program, "Roland Martin Unfiltered," to be carried by the iHeartPodcast Network. Now based in Washington, D.C., Martin previously was executive editor and general manager of the Chicago Defender and hosted mornings and middays on WVON. Continue reading →

Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson

Fans of Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson's morning show can now hear them around the clock seven days a week.

Salem Media news/talk WIND 560-AM, which airs “Chicago’s Morning Answer with Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson” from 5 to 9 a.m. weekdays, just launched a new digital streaming channel dedicated exclusively to the duo. Continue reading →

WBBM Newsradio

Even the No. 1 radio station in town isn't exempt from cutbacks sweeping the media industry.

WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM, the top-rated and top-billing Entercom all-news powerhouse, just laid off two station stalwarts known for their dedication and consistently excellent work — longtime sports anchor George Ofman and "Mobile 780" radio traffic and spot news helicopter reporter Kris Habermehl. Continue reading →

Me-TV FM

Robservations on the media beat:

Don't worry, Me-TV FM fans. Your favorite soft-rock oldies station won't be going away. At least that's the word from Venture Technologies Group, which owns the license for WRME 87.7-FM, the low-power analog station on VHF Channel 6 leased by Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting as the home of Me-TV FM. On Monday the FCC reaffirmed July 13, 2021, as the deadline for all low-power Channel 6 TV stations operating as radio stations on 87.7 FM to cease broadcasting. (Here is the link.) "We have a solution and [are] moving forward," Paul Koplin, CEO of Venture Technologies Group, told me. The company is in the process of converting its Channel 6 stations (including those in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and elsewhere) to digital with an analog audio carrier imbedded in the signal. "We have submitted technical studies to the FCC to demonstrate how this works, and stations in several markets are converting right now," Koplin said. Neal Sabin, vice chair of Weigel Broadcasting and creator of Me-TV FM, said simply: "Please stand by." In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, Me-TV FM posted an impressive 3.0 percent audience share, ranking 12th overall. Continue reading →

Erich Mancow Muller and Roger Stone (July 10, 2020)

Robservations on the media beat:

When Chicago radio personality Erich Mancow Muller flew down to Florida last week he thought he'd be attending a pity party for his friend Roger Stone, who was set to begin serving a 40-month prison sentence for lying to Congress and witness intimidation. But thanks to a last-minute commutation Friday, it turned into a high-spirited celebration for the Republican political operative and former adviser to President Donald Trump. In a series of fundraisers last year, the morning host on Cumulus Media news/talk WLS 890-AM raised more than $100,000 for Stone’s defense. "They got Roger Stone on nothing," said Muller, just back in town. "It's kind of like they got Al Capone on tax evasion. There was nothing there. The Russian collusion story is totally fake. . . . All of us commit felonies walking outside every day. It's a kabuki dance with the deep state." Continue reading →

Trey Wingo and Mike Golic

Robservations on the media beat:

All we know for sure is that Mike Golic and Trey Wingo are going away. Beyond that it's anyone's guess as to who'll be hosting mornings on Good Karma Brands sports/talk WMVP 1000-AM after this month. ESPN Network announced a new lineup this week that includes Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Zubin Mehenti from 5 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Although Williams is a former Chicago Bulls player, there's no assurance the new show will be picked up here by ESPN 1000. No matter what market manager Mike Thomas decides, he can't do much worse: In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, ESPN 1000 tied for 20th in mornings with a 1.4 percent audience share. Entercom arch rival WSCR 670-AM tied for 17th in mornings with a 1.7 share for Mike Mulligan and David Haugh. Continue reading →

Bob Stroud

Robservations on the media beat:

Bob Stroud, one of Chicago radio’s most knowledgable and respected authorities on rock music for 40 years, has been nominated for induction in the Radio Hall of Fame. The top-rated midday star and host of the long-running “Rock ’n Roll Roots” on Hubbard Radio classic WDRV 97.1-FM is one of 24 nominees in six categories announced today. Chicago's only other nominee is “Wait Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me!,” the NPR comedy-quiz show produced by Chicago Public Media WBEZ 91.5-FM. (Here is the link.) Winners will be announced August 17. In lieu of an awards dinner this year, the 2020 induction ceremony will be a live radio broadcast from multiple locations in October. The Radio Hall of Fame is based at Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications. Continue reading →