CBS 2 Chicago

The coronavirus pandemic threatens to delay the launch of two ambitious new Chicago-based television news operations in the coming months.

CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 had announced plans to roll out CBSN Local, a 24/7 streaming news service, by the end of March. But in light of everything else going on, CBS 2 officials said Monday they don't know when the service will start up. Continue reading →

WGN Radio

Robservations on the media beat:

Now we know how WGN 720-AM is going to fill one of the hours previously occupied by evening host Justin Kaufmann, who left last week after his contract was not renewed. Starting tonight the Nexstar Media Group news/talk station will simulcast WGN-Channel 9 news from 10 to 11 p.m. weeknights. That includes the half-hour newscast at 10 p.m., followed by “WGN News Special Report: COVID-19 Pandemic" at 10:30 p.m. "We are going to do it for at least a month or longer depending on how long we are in this period," said a WGN Radio source, calling it "critical for an out-of-home audience heading to work shifts, truckers etc." Since December WGN Radio has been simulcasting the first hour of "WGN Early Morning News" from 4 to 5 a.m. weekdays, leading into Bob Sirott's morning show. Continue reading →

Bob Stroud

Robservations on the media beat:

Redefining their role on the fly, radio stations everywhere are adapting to a world where commuting suddenly has been replaced by sheltering at home. But few have gone as far as Hubbard Radio classic rock WDRV 97.1-FM, which just launched a television marketing campaign associated with the national emergency. One of the spots features top-rated midday personality Bob Stroud telling listeners: "These are some pretty strange days we've gotten ourselves into, so we're going to keep rolling out great classic rock and give you the latest information you need on what's going on out there. Our radio family would like to help keep your family safe with information you need and keep you happy with all this great classic rock. So thank you for putting your trust in us." (Here is the link.) Last week The Drive began airing live hourly "COVID-19 Chicago Updates," reported by Jill Egan and Janda Lane. Continue reading →

Justin Kaufmann (Photo: WGN Radio)

Justin Kaufmann, the Chicago public radio veteran whose hiring as evening host at WGN 720-AM was supposed to signal a new day for the legacy news/talk station, just followed Steve Cochran, Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder out the door.

Wednesday was Kaufmann’s last night on the air. Nexstar Media Group chose not to renew his contract, which expires in early April. Continue reading →

Michael Jordan (Photo: NBC Sports Chicago)

Robservations on the media beat:

Twenty-five years ago today Michael Jordan stunned the world with the two-word declaration: “I’m back.” NBC Sports Chicago will mark the 25th anniversary of Jordan's Chicago Bulls comeback with a half-hour documentary premiering at 6:30 p.m. tonight. "I'm Back: The Return of Michael Jordan," produced by Sarah Lauch, Ryan McGuffey and Matt Buckman, features interviews with numerous teammates and other players, Jordan's former agent David Falk, and sportscasters Mark Giangreco and Marc Silverman. The quick turnaround by NBC Sports Chicago follows disappointing news Tuesday from ESPN that it still hasn't completed production on "The Last Dance," the long-awaited 10-part documentary series on Jordan and the 1990s Bulls dynasty. Continue reading →

WBBM Newsradio

In the weeks leading up to the coronavirus crisis Entercom all-news combo WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM moved up to No. 1 among all Chicago radio stations, according to the Nielsen Audio survey released Monday.

February figures also showed WBBM Newsradio first in mornings with Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy, and tied for first in afternoons with Keith Johnson and Lisa Fielding. Also first in afternoons was Kevin “Koz” Koske, who soon may be on his way out at Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX 101.9-FM. Continue reading →

Mark Giangreco

I caught up with Mark Giangreco just as he was heading home Sunday from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to ask the obvious question: What does a sportscaster do when there’s no sports going on?

For Chicago’s No. 1 sports anchor, the answer is to play your greatest hits. Continue reading →

Terrell Brown (Photo: ABC 7 Chicago)

Robservations on the media beat:

The world changed dramatically this week — and so did television. As it has few times in our lives, TV suddenly became the source of essential information to millions of viewers hunkered down at home and desperate to make sense of the bewildering and rapidly developing coronavirus story. At the outset of the crisis, Perry Sook, chairman and CEO of Nexstar Media Group (parent company of "Chicago's Very Own" WGN-Channel 9), told investors: “If you’re quarantined in your home and one of the few things you can do is watch television, I think advertisers see the benefit in that.” As inartfully as he phrased it, Sook may have been on to something. News ratings are up substantially, according to preliminary reports, even as newsrooms across the country make adjustments on the fly and encourage employees to work from home. News media across all platforms will take on an even more vital role providing accurate information and a semblance of reassurance in the days and weeks ahead. Continue reading →

Prudential Plaza

Robservations on the media beat:

The coronavirus story became personal for multiple media organizations Wednesday after an unidentified employee of the Prudential Building tested positive for COVID-19. The two-tower downtown complex houses Tribune Publishing (including the Chicago Tribune), Hubbard Radio Chicago and Entercom Chicago, all of which encouraged employees to work from home if possible. Elsewhere a growing number of Chicago area journalists also began working remotely, including much of the staff of Crain's Chicago Business. As a precautionary test on Thursday, virtually the entire editorial department of the Sun-Times will remain off site too. "Let’s be clear: This is a trial run," the Sun-Times wrote in an editorial. "We have seen no evidence of COVID-19 in our newsroom or in the places we send reporters." Continue reading →

Dr. Eugenia Cheng

This Saturday — March 14 — is known internationally as "Pi Day," when the date's numerical value of 3.14 matches the Greek letter Pi, symbolizing the first three digits of the mathematical constant. What better day to introduce a series on the relationship between math and music?

"Math in Music" will launch online then as an 11-episode digital series from WFMT 98.7-FM, the Window to the World Communications classical music station. Continue reading →