Rafer Weigel
Rafer Weigel, the Chicago television news anchor who got caught up in a tawdry scandal involving texts of nude photos and allegations of revenge porn, said he was fired Monday from Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32.
Weigel, 50, had been on unpaid suspension as anchor of “Good Day Chicago” since October when three-way allegations of harassment and revenge porn surfaced involving a woman from Valparaiso, Indiana, with whom he was having an affair, and a former fiancee. Continue reading
Hugo Balta
Hugo Balta, former senior producer at MSNBC, has been tapped to lead the news operation of WTTW-Channel 11, Chicago’s premier public television station.
Balta, 49, has been named news director for WTTW News and executive producer of “Chicago Tonight,” the station’s flagship nightly news program, parent company Window to the World Communications announced Monday. His appointment is effective February 3. Continue reading
Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat, the famed R&B recording artist and radio personality, is moving to the evening shift on iHeartMedia urban adult-contemporary WVAZ 102.7-FM.
Starting tonight, his Atlanta-based show will air from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday on V103. Since 2014 “The Sweat Hotel” has been airing from midnight to 5 a.m. It's syndicated by iHeartMedia subsidiary Premiere Networks.
"The First Rainbow Coalition"
Robservations on the media beat:
In 1969 the Chicago Black Panther Party formed an unlikely alliance with the Latino Young Lords Organization and the southern white Young Patriots group to combat segregation, police brutality and substandard housing in Chicago. Although the "Rainbow Coalition," as it was called, lasted only until 1973, it served as an organizing model for future activists and politicians across the nation. Now it's the subject of a one-hour documentary by filmmaker Ray Santisteban. Featuring rare archival footage and interviews with former coalition members, "The First Rainbow Coalition" premieres tonight on the PBS series "Independent Lens." It airs here at 10 p.m. on Window to the World Communications WTTW-Channel 11. Continue reading
Paul Meincke
Paul Meincke, the legendary former Chicago television newsman, is on the mend in Los Angeles after undergoing emergency surgery for a torn aorta.
"This was most certainly one of those unexpected bumps in the road," he told me Thursday. "And I’ve learned again that life is precious. Every day is a treat." Continue reading
Justin Breen
Robservations on the media beat:
Epic Business
North Shore native Justin Breen, the former DNAinfo Chicago senior editor who launched his own public relations and communications business in 2017, just turned author. His first book — Epic Business: 30 Secrets to Build Your Business Exponentially and Give You the Freedom to Live the Life You Want! — will be published in May. This week he unveiled a companion website for prepublication orders at brepicbusiness.com. “I am so thankful every day for BrEpic’s success, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned from some of the world’s best and brightest entrepreneurs," Breen said. "Creating a business from ground zero is a tremendous roller coaster of emotions, and I hope this book helps people navigate their own journeys.” Continue reading
93.9 Lite FM
While iHeartMedia adult contemporary WLIT 93.9-FM dominated the ratings in December with nonstop Christmas music, Steve Cochran's swan song as morning star on news/talk WGN 720-AM marked the Nexstar Media Group station's only strong showing for the month.
Nielsen Audio figures released Wednesday gave 93.9 Lite FM its highest audience share in three years, thanks to its 19th consecutive run as “Chicago’s Christmas Station.” It also swept all four dayparts, with first-place finishes for Melissa Forman in mornings, Robin Rock in middays, Mick Lee in afternoons and the syndicated Delilah Rene in evenings. Continue reading
Sheldon Cooper (Photo: NATAS Chicago/Kathleen Virginia Photography)
Over a distinguished career that started in the early days of television, Sheldon Cooper left a lasting impression on Chicago broadcasting as general manager of WGN-Channel 9 and founding president of Tribune Entertainment.
Cooper died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Sunday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to his daughter, Cheryl Cook. He was 93. Continue reading
Kevin “Koz” Koske and Jennifer Roberts
Robservations on the media beat:
Kevin “Koz” Koske will be flying solo for the time being as afternoon personality on Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX 101.9-FM. That's because co-host Jennifer Roberts signed off last week to accept a new job in corporate communications. “A lot of people get prematurely put ‘on the beach’ in this business and I’m thrilled that I’m making my exit completely on my terms,” she tweeted. “There was no threat on the horizon, just a calling in my soul for something better.” Roberts, whose real name is Jennifer Ashrafi, joined The Mix as an intern in 2004 and moved up to afternoon traffic reporter and co-host in 2008. Jimmy Steal, vice president of brand and content at The Mix, said a search is on for her successor. Continue reading
670 The Score
Robservations on the media beat:
If Marquee Sports Network turns out to be the disaster some critics are predicting, another broadcast partner of the Chicago Cubs stands to benefit handsomely. Fans who booed bossman Tom Ricketts when he mentioned the cable network at last weekend's Cubs Convention — and others alienated by the loss of free games on TV and the unknown cost of the new service — can still hear it all on Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM. Under a long-term deal through 2022, Cubs broadcasts on The Score (with Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer) "will remain as free as sunshine and a summer breeze," in the words of Chicago Tribune's Phil Rosenthal, who surmised nearly a year ago: "Hughes and Coomer might even gain listeners amid all the upheaval from the 2020 Marquee launch." If reaction to Ricketts's botched rollout Friday is any indication, he's right. (Here is the link via Aldo Soto.) Said one avid reader of this space and lifelong Cubs fan: "Guess I’m going to be listening to the radio a lot more this season." Continue reading