What to look for and who to watch in 2021
New year, new administration brings changes When 2021 started, we had hope in a new year. But it looks like we're going to spending a lot of time cleaning up the messes of 2020. For one, we had an insurrection in Washington D.C. just six days in the new year, as white supremacists and neo-Nazi groups descended on the Capitol […]
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Time to "Toon In With Me" – MeTV adds classic animated shows
One hour weekday block to launch with Bill Leff, plus three hours on Saturday mornings On the same day Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts gang packed up their bags and headed to Apple TV's streaming service, there was another announcement – one returning classic Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes cartoons back to broadcast television. Weigel Broadcasting's MeTV announced Monday […]
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Rewinding 2019 in media
Disney Plus made the biggest splash of the year 2019 saw the end of several institutions, big media battles, and disappointing sports teams. Let's start with the huge changes in big media, as Disney closed on its purchase of the 20th Century Fox film studio and Viacom reuniting with CBS again with a new name (ViacomCBS) as the race […]
WGN Radio shocker: Cochran out, Sirott in
Sirott returns to morning shift; Cochran canned for second time from WGN In a week filled with numerous Chicago media changes, here's another one and this turns out to be the biggest one of them all. As first reported by Robert Feder Friday morning, WGN-AM morning personality Steve Cochran was dropped from the station and replaced by a returning Bob […]
WGN Radio shakes up schedule; Bill and Wendy exit
Nexstar makes footprint known As first reported by Robert Feder Wednesday night, WGN-AM made significant changes to its schedule, seeing several realignments and the exit of one of Chicago's longest-running radio duos. The Nexstar-owned radio station parted ways with Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder even though Leff was on vacation, depraving their fans of at least one final goodbye. Their […]
WLUP's long run comes to an end
Sale to the Educational Media Foundation ends 41 years of Rockin' fun In a stunning development, Merlin Media has sold Classic Rock WLUP-FM to the Educational Media Foundation (EMF) for $21.5 million, a company specializing in Christian music with two automated formats: K-Love and Air 1. The sale means the end of one of Chicago's most iconic radio station brands, […]
John Williams returns to WGN Radio's daily schedule
Kathy and Judy are out….again Groundhog day isn't until Thursday, but for WGN Radio, it came on Monday. As first reported by Robert Feder (whose article on this story has 185 comments – and counting at the time of this writing), the Tribune-owned radio station announced Monday it is bringing back John Williams (not to be confused with the award-winning […]
WGN Radio, WLS-AM make huge changes (Updated)
Big John Howell heads to WLS; Roe Conn to WGN-AM (Editor's Note: This post was updated to add new information from WGN and to replace an incorrect Feder link in the article, as yours truly used the wrong one. T Dog Media apologizes for the errors. -T.H.) In order to attract more listeners, Cumulus' WLS-AM and WGN-AM made moves this week, with WLS […]
Dahl: WGN Radio "the worst"
Dahl calls out Tribune Media station in a rant. Too bad its something Chicago radio listeners already know. A T Dog Media Think Tank [Editor's Note: contains strong language. Reader discretion is advised.] Last week, viewers flocked back to their television sets as the new fall season began, with new high-profile programs and a strong lineup of above-quality shows which […]
WGN Radio changes: Williams in, Meier out
Williams returns to 720; Meier sent to WGN.FM With the season finale of Survivor Wednesday night, Tribune's WGN-AM decided to play its own version of the popular CBS show earlier in the day with Radio Tribal Council. And at the end, it was Garry Meier who was sent packing and sent to WGN's version of Redemption Island – WGN.FM. In […]
Massive shakeup ahead at WGN Radio
WGN Radio brings back some of its personalities; station hopes listeners return as well; Brandmeier moves online – for now Hoping to undo the damage done by years of mismanagement, WGN-AM general manager Jimmy DeCastro is retooling the station's lineup nearly from top to bottom, bringing back familiar names and hoping to reconnect with Chicago listeners. As first hinted by […]
Milt Rosenberg dumped by WGN Radio
Yeah, it's a great time to be in Chicago… Sunday, we complained about the Bears and their inept management after their loss to the hated Green Bay Packers. On Monday, we complained about the latest moves made by the inept management at WGN Radio. And this is one of them: after 39 years, Milt Rosenberg and his late-night Extension 720 […]
The Grab Bag: WGN Radio's Steve and Johnnie to sign off
In the latest Grab Bag, we have items on the departure of a legendary duo from Chicago radio; a welcome departure from the ABC exec ranks; and Bill Cunningham's talk show is getting outrated by… a 45-year old Western? Steve & Johnnie Exit WGN Radio. It's official: Steve King and Johnnie Putnam are exiting WGN-AM this Friday after nearly 27 […]
Jonathan Brandmeier heads to WGN Radio
For years, many in the radio industry here in Chicago were talking about the possibility of Jonathan Brandmier landing on WGN Radio. Ladies and gentlemen, the mission has been accomplished. In a move being considered a game changer in Chicago radio, former WLUP radio personality Jonathan Brandmeier signed a deal with Tribune Broadcasting's WGN-AM to take over the coveted morning […]
T Dog's Grab Bag – Jerry Agar, "Undercover Boss", KNBC and more
It's been a little while since yours truly has done a Grab Bag of news and notes – so here's what's going on in the world of media today: – Was yours truly wrong on Undercover Boss? People are still tuning in, and Ben Grossman of B&C offers up a great defense of the show and reality TV in general […]