{"id":14757,"date":"2017-07-05T06:00:30","date_gmt":"2017-07-05T11:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=14757"},"modified":"2017-07-05T06:00:30","modified_gmt":"2017-07-05T11:00:30","slug":"robservations-univision-scores-10-p-m-news-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2017\/07\/05\/robservations-univision-scores-10-p-m-news-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Robservations: Univision scores a 10 p.m. news victory"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/a> Noticias Univision Chicago<\/p><\/div>\n

Robservations on the media beat:<\/p>\n

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Doug Levy<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s fiesta time at Univision Chicago where WGBO-Channel 66<\/a> scored an historic ratings victory in June. For the first time the Spanish-language station\u2019s 10 p.m. newscast was No. 1 among all viewers between 18 and 49. Simulcast with UniM\u00e1s<\/em> sister station WFXT-Channel 60, Noticias Univision Chicago<\/em> tied ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 with a 1.4 rating in the young adult demo, but narrowly edged out ABC 7 in the late-news audience stats, according to Nielsen. Calling it \u201cincredibly gratifying to reach this milestone,\u201d Doug Levy,<\/strong> senior vice president and general manager of Univision Chicago, said the achievement was \u201ca testament not only to the vibrancy and relevancy of local Spanish-language media, but to the unparalleled relationship we have with our audience and our mission to continue to serve Hispanic America.\u201d Added Teri Arvesu,<\/strong> vice president of content for Univision Chicago: \u201cI see this as not only a win for Univision Chicago, but more importantly, for the community we serve.\u201d The coup for Hispanic media came days after Chicago Tribune Media Group\u00a0cut back<\/a> on publication of its Spanish newspaper Hoy.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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WYCC<\/p><\/div>\n

Last week\u2019s layoff of 120 workers<\/a> at City Colleges of Chicago included numerous positions at its noncommercial television station WYCC-Channel 20,<\/a> including supervising producer Shelley Spencer,<\/strong> senior producer Mario Tharpe<\/strong> and coordinator Toni Reed.<\/strong> Nearly half the station\u2019s staff has been eliminated in the past year, with further reductions expected to follow, according to insiders. It\u2019s all leading up to the transfer of its broadcast license, which was sold in the FCC spectrum auction<\/a>\u00a0last April for a relatively modest $15.9 million. Sources said the City Colleges failed to maximize the value of its license by not consulting with industry experts before the auction. No word yet on what\u2019s ahead for the operation.<\/p>\n

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Robert K. Elder<\/p><\/div>\n

Job cuts last week also hit Crain Communications,<\/a> including the division headed by veteran Chicago media exec and author Robert K. Elder.<\/strong> He\u2019s leaving after more than two years as executive director of digital product development and innovation. \"Crain\u00a0let me build an amazing product, hire a top-notch team and expand the brand across the continent,\u201d Elder said in a statement. \u201cWe created an exciting, enduring new platform, and I'm proud to have been a part of it.\u00a0I made lasting friendships at Crain companies and at innovation centers nationwide. For all this,\u00a0I'm very grateful to KC Crain<\/strong> and the company.\"<\/p>\n

In a must-see takedown <\/a>of Sinclair Broadcast Group, HBO\u2019s John Oliver<\/strong> took dead aim Sunday at the company that\u2019s about to acquire<\/a> Chicago-based Tribune Media, including WGN-Channel 9 <\/a>and WGN AM 720.<\/a> The specter of Sinclair saddling its stations with right-wing \u201cmust-run\u201d content in their local newscasts threatens to diminish the credibility and tarnish the brand of \u201cChicago Very Own.\u201d Despite protests from public interest groups, the $3.9 billion Sinclair deal for Tribune Media remains on track with federal regulators.<\/p>\n