Cheryl Scott

If it was hard for Cheryl Scott’s legion of fans to see her bid farewell from WMAQ-Channel 5 Sunday night, it wasn’t any easier for Scott.

“Signing off this weekend was difficult for me,” said Scott, who delivered her final forecast as the NBC-owned station’s weekend meteorologist. “It’s been three great years at NBC, and the outpouring of support from Chicago viewers has been amazing. I am so thankful for what has been a great experience in one of the best cities in the country.” Continue reading →

Tim Virgin

It’s a whole new day at WLUP FM 97.9 as the Cumulus Media classic rock station unveils a revamped weekday talent lineup Monday.

Returning as afternoon personality is Tim Virgin, who previously worked at The Loop in the mid-’90s before two stints at alternative rock WKQX FM 101.1. He most recently hosted afternoons at KEGY in San Diego. Continue reading →

Alexa Helms

Even by the minimal standards for news anchors these days at WFLD-Channel 32, poor Alexa Helms just couldn’t cut it.

Three months after she was plucked from the Fox affiliate in Miami and hired as a weekend and fill-in anchor at the Fox-owned station here, Helms has been taken off the anchor desk and moved to full-time reporting duties, according to station insiders. Continue reading →

Scott Shannon

It’s been two years since the unmistakable voice of Scott Shannon graced the FM airwaves in Chicago. Now the Radio Hall of Famer is about to make a comeback here.

“Scott Shannon Presents America’s Greatest Hits,” a brand-new nationally syndicated four-hour weekly show, has been picked up by CBS Radio’s 10 classic hits stations, including WJMK FM 104.3. Starting October 18, it will air from 6 to 10 a.m Saturdays on K-Hits, according to program director Todd Cavanah. Continue reading →

John Barron

John Barron, the former Chicago Sun-Times publisher and editor who crossed over last year to the Chicago Tribune, was promoted Wednesday to general manager of Tribune Content Agency, the rapidly growing syndication and licensing unit of Tribune Publishing.

In his new role, Barron will be responsible for operations, marketing and technology while continuing as editor.  James Pinnick, who had been general manager of Tribune Content Agency for four years, left earlier this month to become vice president of licensing and content acquisition of Cision. Continue reading →

P.J. Hoff

Long before Tom Skilling or Harry Volkman or John Coleman, Chicago’s favorite TV weatherman was P.J. Hoff.

With little more than an oversized sketch pad and his imagination, the amiable Hoff brought a wealth of talent as a cartoonist to his nightly weather reports over nearly two decades at CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2. Continue reading →

Phil Bedella

In an historic long-term deal announced Tuesday, Comcast SportsNet Chicago landed the rights to all 59 state championship events encompassing Illinois High School Association football, basketball and other preps sports.

Starting with the current school year, Comcast SportsNet will be the exclusive home for more than 160 hours of IHSA Championship events, to be produced by PlayOn! Sports. Terms were not disclosed, but it marks the first time the football and basketball championships have both been on a regional sports network since the days of Fox Sports Net. Continue reading →

Howard Griffith

After little more than six months as midday co-host on WGWG LP 87.7, Howard Griffith has cut back to a part-time role as college football insider for the Tribune Broadcasting sports/talk station.

Alex Quigley and Ben Finfer, who previously shared billing with Griffith, now co-host the show themselves from noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Continue reading →

Jeff Herndon and Dawn Hasbrouck

Robservations on the media beat:

Like everything else at WFLD-Channel 32, even the launch of a new Monday-through-Friday news show is done in stealth. Mum’s the word, but rehearsals have been underway for weeks on a hybrid news-and-talk show set to air at 4 p.m. weekdays on the Fox-owned station. Tentatively titled “Studio 32,” it’ll be fronted by Jeff Herndon and Dawn Hasbrouck, who already anchor Fox 32’s 9 p.m. newscast. Insiders describe the format as heavy on social media and chitchat — and light on news. While awaiting approval for the format from Fox bosses in New York, the station continues to list “TMZ Live” at 4 p.m. on its schedule. So much for debuting in time to counter Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, which starts its expanded afternoon newscast at 4 p.m. on Monday. Continue reading →

Roy Leonard

Funeral mass will be Saturday (September 13) for Roy Leonard, the beloved Chicago broadcasting legend who died last Thursday at 83.

Leonard was a popular and respected talk show host and entertainment critic for WGN AM 720 for more than three decades until his retirement in 1998. He also hosted the “Family Classics” movie series and reviewed theater and films for WGN-Channel 9. Continue reading →