Meteorologists from WLS-Channel 7 will deliver weather reports on the Sun-Times’ website as part of a new marketing agreement between the ABC-owned station and the newspaper.

Starting this week, ABC 7’s Tracy Butler, Mike Caplan and Phil Schwarz will record video forecasts three times a day on weekdays and twice daily on weekends for streaming on suntimes.com. Continue reading →

WCIU logo (2014)

Fifty years ago this week, Chicagoans lucky enough to receive snowy signals on their makeshift UHF tuners got their first glimpse of WCIU-Channel 26 (whose call letters stand for “Chicago’s First UHF”).

In addition to time-brokered ethnic and foreign language programming, initial offerings on the new broadcast outlet included old movies, local wrestling matches, bloody bullfights from Mexico and reruns of the 1950s sitcom “Amos ’n Andy.” Continue reading →

Twenty-five years ago a public television documentary captured Chicago’s hottest radio station at its absolute zenith.

The station was WLUP AM/FM 1000/97.9, its biggest stars were Jonathon Brandmeier, Steve Dahl, Garry Meier and Kevin Matthews, and the man at the center of it all was a brash 35-year-old executive named Jimmy deCastro. After eight years as ringmaster of the Loop, he was openly gunning for top-rated WGN AM 720. Continue reading →

Steve Edwards

There is life after radio for Steve Edwards — and it keeps getting better.

The former Chicago Public Media star, who hosted “The Afternoon Shift” and “Eight Forty-Eight” on WBEZ FM 91.5, has been named executive director of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. Edwards most recently was deputy director for programming at the public policy and public service institute founded and led by David Axelrod.

“Thrilled to welcome Steve Edwards, whose thoughtful show was a staple on Chicago public radio, as new exec director of @UChiPolitics,” Axelrod tweeted Thursday. Continue reading →

Mark Suppelsa, Dan Roan, Tom Skilling and Micah Materre

Tom Skilling still may be America’s weatherman, but his unparalleled nightly forecasts aren’t reaching viewers from coast to coast anymore.

After more than 35 years as a staple of Tribune Broadcasting’s cable superstation, WGN-Channel 9’s 9 p.m. newscast has been dropped from the nightly schedule of WGN America. Continue reading →

Dave Savini (Naperville police photo)

An apologetic Dave Savini said he took “full responsibility” for his actions after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to drunk driving last month in west suburban Naperville.

“There’s no doubt about it, I made a mistake and used bad judgement, to drive after drinking,” the WBBM-Channel 2 investigative reporter said in a statement after his appearance in DuPage County Circuit Court. It was the first public comment by Savini since his arrest Jan. 4 following a minor traffic accident in a Taco Bell parking lot. Continue reading →

Alan Krashesky and Linda Yu

Veteran Chicago news anchor Linda Yu was back on the air Monday — one month after she broke her leg in a traffic accident while vacationing in Florida.

Just in time for the February sweeps, Yu returned to the 4 p.m. weekday newscast she anchors with Alan Krashesky on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. A 30-year veteran of the station, Yu also delivers news updates on “Windy City Live.” Continue reading →

Matt Piacente

Veteran Chicago television news producer Matt Piacente has been named vice president of news at WVIT-TV, the NBC-owned station in Hartford, Conn.

Piacente, who most recently has been manager of news and content development at WMAQ-Channel 5, held a variety of roles in his 15 years at the NBC-owned station here, including executive producer of news and special projects. He previously worked as a producer at ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 and Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9 and CLTV. Continue reading →

Rick O'Dell

Rick O’Dell’s “Sunday Brunch,” the show that introduced smooth jazz to Chicago in 1987 and ran for 25 years on three local stations, is making a comeback on terrestrial radio.

Starting this weekend, “The Sunday Jazz Brunch” will air from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays on WDCB FM 90.9, the west suburban College of DuPage public radio station.

“We’re excited to have a consummate pro like Rick O’Dell on board as part of our jazz announcing team,” Dan Bindert, station manager of WDCB, said in a statement Monday. “His passion for the music is infectious, and he’ll set the perfect mood for a Sunday show.” Continue reading →

Rachael Ray

Look for WLS-Channel 7 to move “Inside Edition” and “Jeopardy!” back to their old time slots at 3 and 3:30 p.m. this fall when the ABC-owned station shuffles its daytime schedule for the third time in three years.

Triggering the latest realignment is the cancellation of Katie Couric’s syndicated talk show after two seasons and the station’s acquisition of “The Rachael Ray Show,” which currently airs at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday on Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9. Continue reading →