The Score House

Robservations on the media beat:

670 The Score

Can the stars of The Score survive for a week in the desert under one roof? That’s the reality-show premise of an inspired stunt playing out on Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM. Midday hosts Dan Bernstein and Connor McKnight and afternoon hosts Dan McNeil and Danny Parkins aren’t just broadcasting their shows from Cubs spring training at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona. They’re all occupying a rented house together in Scottsdale along with operations director Mitch Rosen, their show producers and a video producer from Entercom Chicago. On Thursday, they’ll be joined for dinner at The Score House by morning hosts Mike Mulligan and David Haugh. (Those two will be staying at a hotel nearby.) Video highlights of the adventure will be posted each day at 670thescore.com. “At the end of the week this could be epic radio,” said Rosen, who added: “Pray for me.” Continue reading →

Kevin "DreX" Buchar

Tamron Hall

The firing of Kevin "DreX" Buchar as morning personality at Entercom Top 40 WBBM 96.3-FM and the signing of Tamron Hall's new syndicated talk show by Weigel Broadcasting WCIU-Channel 26 led the top 10 most-read stories here in February.

To read the full posts, click on the headlines: Continue reading →

"WGN Morning News" stars Pat Tomasulo, Larry Potash, Robin Baumgarten, Paul Konrad

Robservations on the media beat:

The just-ended February sweep was one for the books at WGN-Channel 9. The Tribune Broadcasting station's "WGN Morning News" finished first in total households and among viewers between 25 and 54, with year-to-year increases every hour from 4 to 10 a.m. It's a testament to the popularity of "Chicago's Very Own" and an exceptional ensemble cast led by news anchors Larry Potash and Robin Baumgarten. "WGN Midday News" also led the market in households and 25-54 adults. February's other big winner was ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7, with No. 1 ratings at 4, 5, 6 and 10 p.m. in households and 25-54 adults. Tuesday's municipal election night coverage ended with a split decision as ABC 7 claimed victory at 10 p.m. in households, while WGN captured the key adult demo for its marathon reporting, which ran from 7 p.m. on. Continue reading →

Peggy Kusinski

Veteran Chicago sportscaster Peggy Kusinski has been named broadcast recipient of the 2019 Ring Lardner Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism.

Named for the world famous sportswriter, humorist and satirist, the award will be presented April 18 at Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard. Continue reading →

Dag Juhlin, Steve Dahl and Brendan Greeley

Robservations on the media beat:

Two months after Cumulus Media dropped radio legend Steve Dahl as afternoon personality on news/talk WLS 890-AM, the company has terminated its partnership agreement for his daily podcast. Dahl was notified Tuesday that his deal with Cumulus will be over as of Friday. But he said he was confident he’ll continue the subscription podcast he’s been hosting at dahl.com since 2011 along with co-hosts Dag Juhlin and Brendan Greeley. “I think it was a good partnership and it benefitted both parties when we were still on the air there,” Dahl said of the breakup. “Now that we are off the air, it really didn’t make a lot of sense for either of us to continue the relationship. No hard feelings.” Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune

Robservations on the media beat:

KT Hawbaker

KT Hawbaker didn't just burn a few bridges after quitting the Chicago Tribune last week. Hawbaker incinerated all of them. Here's an excerpt from the farewell email the former arts and entertainment writer sent to colleagues: "I want to be clear that I am leaving because the paper’s management continues to prioritize writers who refer to abortion as 'babykilling' and who’ve revealed their bald-faced racism by wishing for Chicago’s own version of Hurricane Katrina. The Kavanaugh endorsement was a nasty left-hook to sexual assault survivors across the newsroom — including myself — and offered a clear vision of the misogyny sitting in the bones of this paper like a cancer. I am very aware that these attitudes are a part of the city’s public discourse, but the Tribune’s lopsided politics continue to threaten marginalized communities and alienate the very people we’re trying to reach. How does leadership plan to draw in new subscribers with this kind of reputation? It’s a shame that this institution incubates hostile views of women, queer folks, and people of color while hemorrhaging its diverse talent — the recent mass exodus is not a random coincidence, and I hope the higher-ups see that. I hope they figure out the difference between diversity and equity, and I hope they go all-in on fair contracts for their employees." Hawbaker, who joined the Tribune as an editorial assistant in 2017, tweeted that she's now freelancing for the Chicago Reader. Continue reading →

Makenzie "Kenzie K” Kramer

WBBM 96.3-FM is banking on a radio personality from the Tampa Bay area to boost the Entercom Top 40 station’s record-low ratings in middays.

Makenzie Kramer, known on the air as "Kenzie K,” has been hired to host from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at B96, starting Tuesday. She replaces Nikki Imbracsio, who was cut after 10 years as midday personality. Continue reading →

Roseanne Tellez

Robservations on the media beat:

Rafer Weigel

Roseanne Tellez, who resigned last week from CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 after 15 years as a reporter and news anchor, has jumped to Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32. Starting March 4, she’ll co-anchor “Good Day Chicago” from 4 to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday with Rafer Weigel, who moves up from weekend anchor. Tellez spent 14 years at Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9 before joining CBS 2 in 2004. “Roseanne exemplifies our station’s brand of journalists that Chicagoans recognize, respect and trust,” said Matt Piacente, news director of Fox 32. Weigel, son of legendary Chicago sports anchor Tim Weigel, joined Fox 32 as a reporter and weekend anchor in 2017. Tellez and Weigel replace Anthony Ponce and Natalie Bomke on the early morning newscast. Ponce will move to weekend anchor and Bomke will take on evening reporting duties, according to the station. Continue reading →

WBBM Newsradio (Photo: Bart Shore)

Whether you think of it as the home of the Bears or the place for "traffic and weather on the eights," WBBM Newsradio got Chicago radio listeners through a bitterly cold January riding high atop the ratings.

The Entercom all-news combo of WBBM 780-AM and WCFS 105.9-FM blasted back into first place in the Nielsen Audio survey released Tuesday. The survey period ran from January 3 to January 30. Continue reading →

Nikki Imbracsio

Robservations on the media beat:

The latest talent overhaul at underperforming WBBM 96.3-FM just took out Nikki Imbracsio after 10 years as midday personality. Friday was her last day on the Entercom Top 40 station. Imbracsio's departure followed that of Kevin "DreX" Buchar, who was cut as morning personality one week earlier. "I had a solid 10-year run at one of the greatest radio stations in the country, but now my B book has closed," Imbracsio told All Access. "I feel so blessed for the amazing experience and people." She previously hosted afternoons on iHeartMedia Top 40 WKSC 103.5-FM. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, B96 ranked 20th in middays with a 2.0 percent share. No word yet on a permanent replacement for Imbracsio. Continue reading →