Only two premieres tonight, Cavemen and Carpooling, and they are the pick to definitely skip. These shows suck so bad... If you might have not noticed, these two shows have no laugh track. That's probably because there are no laughs in either. You can put this crap on the board, no!
Plus, Cavemen is set in San Diego. Hasn't the city suffered enough with the Padres and Chargers?
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
WCKG next in line for format switch?
After a number of format flips of CBS FM Talk stations around the country, it looks like low-rated WCKG-FM could be next. An long-overdue makeover is reportedly in the works. The only question is what to do with Steve Dahl, who has a long-term contract with the station.
Gentlemen, start your speculation engines.
Gentlemen, start your speculation engines.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Cubs fans not happy with playoffs on TBS
And the fact that games one and two are on at 9 p.m, Game 4 on Sunday at noon, etc. (just be grateful your team made the playoffs, okay?) This article from the Trib is about TBS getting the divisional series and the NLCS on an exclusive basis (no over-the-air broadcasts) per the new deal.
Chicago (city proper, excluding the 'burbs) has the lowest cable penetration rate in the country, but remember that cable TV came late to Chicago (1987 in fact), and you can thank the Chicago City Council (particularly those 29 aldermen) for holding the cable TV contracts hostage during the Council Wars era.
Interesting that yours truly didn't remember anybody complaining when most Bulls playoff games were only available on cable TV, even during the Michael Jordan era. Don't you just love selective outrage?
Chicago (city proper, excluding the 'burbs) has the lowest cable penetration rate in the country, but remember that cable TV came late to Chicago (1987 in fact), and you can thank the Chicago City Council (particularly those 29 aldermen) for holding the cable TV contracts hostage during the Council Wars era.
Interesting that yours truly didn't remember anybody complaining when most Bulls playoff games were only available on cable TV, even during the Michael Jordan era. Don't you just love selective outrage?
Fraud FM is dead
Free FM is almost officially done with the next-to-last Fraud FM station, WKRK-FM in Detroit flipping to sports and simulcasting WXYT-AM. This means that the Opie and Anthony Morning Show is gone from that station, too.
Meanwhile, CBS' Pittsburgh FM Talk outlet is toast as well. The last Free FM station remaining is KLSX-FM, Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, CBS' Pittsburgh FM Talk outlet is toast as well. The last Free FM station remaining is KLSX-FM, Los Angeles.
"Aliens in America" - best sitcom ever?
"You want to crown them, then crown their ass!"
- Dennis Green
Can the CW finally get on the map with this show? It may be another program in which the critics love but the audience won't watch (i.e. Party of Five, I'll Fly Away, Arrested Development). Though yours truly dismissed this premise last spring, yours truly feels the pain of being unpopular and being awkward (is this sitcom the story of my life, or what? Well, except the foreign exchange student part and the sister...) I'll make this the pick to click. Sadly, I don't think too many people will do the same.
By tomorrow, we'll see if Aliens in America is who we thought they were...
- Dennis Green
Can the CW finally get on the map with this show? It may be another program in which the critics love but the audience won't watch (i.e. Party of Five, I'll Fly Away, Arrested Development). Though yours truly dismissed this premise last spring, yours truly feels the pain of being unpopular and being awkward (is this sitcom the story of my life, or what? Well, except the foreign exchange student part and the sister...) I'll make this the pick to click. Sadly, I don't think too many people will do the same.
By tomorrow, we'll see if Aliens in America is who we thought they were...
Sunday, September 30, 2007
The Tube shuts down
Digital music video channel The Tube has ceased operations. The network, which was seen over WGN's second digital channel here in Chicago, has been struggling financially since its launch. The Tube suffered a huge blow last year when original partner Sinclair Broadcasting pulled out over a dispute regarding three-hour FCC mandated children's educational programming on the music channel.
The Tube's other partners were Tribune Broadcasting (owner of WGN) and Raycom (owners of WOIO/WUAB in Cleveland.) The music channel was broadcast over the digital sub-channels of their owned stations.
No word on what will replace The Tube on WGN's second digital channel.
The final music video played on The Tube was Woke Up This Morning (Chosen One Mix) by A3 (how appropriate), at 10:55 p.m. (CT). It was the theme to The Sopranos, a program that ended its run last June with its infamous "fade to black" ending.
After the music video was played, The Tube did exactly that.
updated 12:11 a.m. on 2007-10-01
The Tube's other partners were Tribune Broadcasting (owner of WGN) and Raycom (owners of WOIO/WUAB in Cleveland.) The music channel was broadcast over the digital sub-channels of their owned stations.
No word on what will replace The Tube on WGN's second digital channel.
The final music video played on The Tube was Woke Up This Morning (Chosen One Mix) by A3 (how appropriate), at 10:55 p.m. (CT). It was the theme to The Sopranos, a program that ended its run last June with its infamous "fade to black" ending.
After the music video was played, The Tube did exactly that.
updated 12:11 a.m. on 2007-10-01
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wide Open West, RCN strike deal for Big Ten Network (updated)
In a huge victory for the Big Ten Network, Wide Open West, which serves much of Chicago area (the same territory as Comcast), has signed a deal with the fledging sports net to carry the network on an expanded basic cable package in the eight states where there are Big Ten schools.
Later in the day, BTN also struck a deal with RCN Cable, which serves Chicago's lakefront from Rogers Park on the north to Hyde Park on the south. RCN will also carry the sports net on expanded basic.
BTN is already being carried on Dish Network and Direct TV, as well as many smaller cable operators.
This no doubt will put even more pressure on Comcast, Time Warner, and Charter - the three major cable operators that still refuse to carry the network on their systems.
So come on you three - what are you waiting for? For you all to lose business?
updated 2:22 on 2007-09-29
Later in the day, BTN also struck a deal with RCN Cable, which serves Chicago's lakefront from Rogers Park on the north to Hyde Park on the south. RCN will also carry the sports net on expanded basic.
BTN is already being carried on Dish Network and Direct TV, as well as many smaller cable operators.
This no doubt will put even more pressure on Comcast, Time Warner, and Charter - the three major cable operators that still refuse to carry the network on their systems.
So come on you three - what are you waiting for? For you all to lose business?
updated 2:22 on 2007-09-29
Returning shows dominate on Thursday
Thursday's ratings race showed established returning shows picking up where they left off - grabbing lots of viewers. Here's a quick analysis (all times Central):
7 p.m: Four of the five shows had something to crow out, with Survivor winning in adults 18-49 and total viewers. NBC's hour-long season premiere of My Name Is Earl also did well, particularly among men. Fox's 5th Grader and CW's Smallville also did respectively well, at least with staying on course with year-ago ratings levels. Ugly Betty on the other hand, dropped substantially among total viewers and adults 18-49. Freshman hangover?
8 p.m. - CBS' CSI and ABC's Grey's Anatomy : CSI won in total viewers (24.85 to Grey's 20.48), but Grey's won in adults 18-49 (8.7 to 8.0). NBC's The Office and Fox's Don't Forget the Lyrics! also did respectively well, with The Office notching a 5.1 in the 18-49's, and improving over Earl's lead-in.
9 p.m. CBS' Without a Trace won in 18-49's and total viewers, defeating ER handily. ABC's new Big Shots (not a click to pick), did finish second, but was down substantially from its Grey's lead-in in total viewers and in 18-49's. Do we need to see Christopher Titus in another show after Titus? Sorry, Stacy Keach will always be your dad to me.
7 p.m: Four of the five shows had something to crow out, with Survivor winning in adults 18-49 and total viewers. NBC's hour-long season premiere of My Name Is Earl also did well, particularly among men. Fox's 5th Grader and CW's Smallville also did respectively well, at least with staying on course with year-ago ratings levels. Ugly Betty on the other hand, dropped substantially among total viewers and adults 18-49. Freshman hangover?
8 p.m. - CBS' CSI and ABC's Grey's Anatomy : CSI won in total viewers (24.85 to Grey's 20.48), but Grey's won in adults 18-49 (8.7 to 8.0). NBC's The Office and Fox's Don't Forget the Lyrics! also did respectively well, with The Office notching a 5.1 in the 18-49's, and improving over Earl's lead-in.
9 p.m. CBS' Without a Trace won in 18-49's and total viewers, defeating ER handily. ABC's new Big Shots (not a click to pick), did finish second, but was down substantially from its Grey's lead-in in total viewers and in 18-49's. Do we need to see Christopher Titus in another show after Titus? Sorry, Stacy Keach will always be your dad to me.
Copps against Tribune, XM/Sirius deals
Democratic FCC commissioner Michael Copps has voiced his opposition against two pending media deals: Sam Zell's acquisition of Tribune and the XM/Sirius merger. Tribune would need a waiver from the FCC so the deal can go through - and that Tribune can keep it radio/TV/newspaper combo intact in Chicago.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
No broadcast TV for Cubs playoff games - unless they go to the World Series
The Daily Southtown lays into Major League Baseball, calling the new deal that puts most playoff games on cable TV isn't friendly to fans, particularly to those of the Chicago Cubs, whose team may make the postseason, and fans without cable or satellite are out of luck.
When ESPN had the rights to the divisional series in the past, they let local stations in the markets playing in the games to simulcast this feed, but that won't happen this time as new rightsholder TBS has exclusive rights (Fox still has rights to one of the championship series and the World Series.)
While the Daily Southown's stance is dated (circa 1986), they do have a point. But don't forget that Fox dumped part of the postseason so they can run their regular programming (and to please ad buyers.) And ratings for playoff baseball have fallen over the last several years, making that attraction much more lucrative. I guess the Southtown forgot to point that out...
If there is any consolation, The NBA and NHL have the majority of their playoff games on cable, and the ratings have stunk.
When ESPN had the rights to the divisional series in the past, they let local stations in the markets playing in the games to simulcast this feed, but that won't happen this time as new rightsholder TBS has exclusive rights (Fox still has rights to one of the championship series and the World Series.)
While the Daily Southown's stance is dated (circa 1986), they do have a point. But don't forget that Fox dumped part of the postseason so they can run their regular programming (and to please ad buyers.) And ratings for playoff baseball have fallen over the last several years, making that attraction much more lucrative. I guess the Southtown forgot to point that out...
If there is any consolation, The NBA and NHL have the majority of their playoff games on cable, and the ratings have stunk.
Wilkos leads first-run syndicated rookies...
with a huge, huge, gigantic 0.9 rating. Meanwhile, Family Guy finished ahead of Friends and Seinfeld among off-network sitcoms and finished only behind Everybody Loves Raymond, whose rating fell thanks in part to downgrades by several stations (including WGN-TV here) into the wee hours because of an expiring contract that comes next spring. In other words, Raymond is in "lame duck" status on these stations.
Keep in mind, though that cable runs are a part of the numbers for all of these shows, and Turner (through TBS and Adult Swim) run "Family Guy" a lot.
Keep in mind, though that cable runs are a part of the numbers for all of these shows, and Turner (through TBS and Adult Swim) run "Family Guy" a lot.
Warner, NBC O&O's come to long-term deal
It doesn't give them TMZ, but it does give the ten O&Os a new talk show hosted by Chicagoan Bonnie Hunt for fall 2008 (with the exception of WCAU in Philly); a renewal for Extra through 2012; and a renewal for Ellen through 2011. Both programs air on NBC-owned WMAQ-TV in Chicago.
"Private", "Bionic" score
NBC's Bionic Woman scored an upset over ABC's Private Practice in the 18-49 demo, 5.5 to 5.1 (though Private drew more viewers, 14.24 to Bionic's 13.59.) CBS' Criminal Minds also was strong in the 8 p.m. (CT) time period, so that may be bad news for CW's Gossip Girl and Fox's Kitchen Nightmares, both turning in less than spectacular ratings in week two of their existence.
Otherwise, Dancing With the Stars dominated the ratings (as usual) while America's Next Top Model and Deal or No Deal's better days seem to be behind them. You also have to ask why Fox did not slot Back to You between Sunday powerhouses The Simpsons and Family Guy.
Otherwise, Dancing With the Stars dominated the ratings (as usual) while America's Next Top Model and Deal or No Deal's better days seem to be behind them. You also have to ask why Fox did not slot Back to You between Sunday powerhouses The Simpsons and Family Guy.
Steve & Garry reunite on TV
Current WCKG hosts and radio legends Steve Dahl and Garry Meier (both have separate shows at the station) appeared together on WGN-TV's morning news today, promoting a charitable event they are co-hosting with the Sun-Times Susanna Hoffman and Gilda's Club Chicago on Friday called "A Night of a Thousand Noogies" at the Park West (it's located at 322 W. Armitage.)
A letter to Jay Mariotti
Usually yours truly doesn't devote a space here to attack someone (yeah, right), but I have to give attention to Jay Mariotti's latest column from the Daily Onion regarding the death of Chicago Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz...
From: T Dog
To: Jay Mariotti, Chicago Sun-Times
Dear Moron:
Who do YOU THINK YOU ARE when you tell us how to behave? Sure, people are cruel, and yes, unfortunately people are going to say nasty things on talk radio about someone's death. But I can't control their emotions, and neither can you. All of this means that for the first time in decades, Hawks fans actually have some hope after seeing Wirtz drive this franchise into the ground for the last forty years. Yes, the comments are cruel, but there is nothing you can do about it.
And now you have the nerve telling us how to behave, particularly after you have made a living being rude, crude, and outright distasteful?
And when was the last time you wrote anything about the Blackhawks anyway? When it's convenient for you? You paint Jerry Reinsdorf as the city's worst sports owner, but yet he has seven championships and we get to see Bulls and White Sox games on home TV, while you have barely mentioned Wirtz or the Blackawks and their struggles over the past two years.
Maybe you should have attended last week's FCC hearing here in Chicago and see why the public in general is fed up with big media. You, and well as all of Chicago's major media outlets and their cronies, regularly do a disservice to our city with your crap.
You, Skip Bayless, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Steve Harvey... it doesn't matter. As long as big media gives them a platform to say THEY are right and WE are wrong. WE the public, who reluctantly pay your salaries.
You represent big media to a lot of Chicagoans, and people don't like being told how to do this, or how to do that. Big media is the "parent" and we are their "children". It doesn't work like that. Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy was right when he said on Saturday that newspapers were garbage.
You are producing nothing but a propaganda machine with your "column" and your "blog". You and your paper are an embarrassment to Chicago. I'm certain when you drop dead, there will be far more negative comments about you after you die than for Mr. Wirtz (believe it or not.) I, and a lot of other Chicago sports fans, can't wait for that day.
T Dog
From: T Dog
To: Jay Mariotti, Chicago Sun-Times
Dear Moron:
Who do YOU THINK YOU ARE when you tell us how to behave? Sure, people are cruel, and yes, unfortunately people are going to say nasty things on talk radio about someone's death. But I can't control their emotions, and neither can you. All of this means that for the first time in decades, Hawks fans actually have some hope after seeing Wirtz drive this franchise into the ground for the last forty years. Yes, the comments are cruel, but there is nothing you can do about it.
And now you have the nerve telling us how to behave, particularly after you have made a living being rude, crude, and outright distasteful?
And when was the last time you wrote anything about the Blackhawks anyway? When it's convenient for you? You paint Jerry Reinsdorf as the city's worst sports owner, but yet he has seven championships and we get to see Bulls and White Sox games on home TV, while you have barely mentioned Wirtz or the Blackawks and their struggles over the past two years.
Maybe you should have attended last week's FCC hearing here in Chicago and see why the public in general is fed up with big media. You, and well as all of Chicago's major media outlets and their cronies, regularly do a disservice to our city with your crap.
You, Skip Bayless, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Steve Harvey... it doesn't matter. As long as big media gives them a platform to say THEY are right and WE are wrong. WE the public, who reluctantly pay your salaries.
You represent big media to a lot of Chicagoans, and people don't like being told how to do this, or how to do that. Big media is the "parent" and we are their "children". It doesn't work like that. Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy was right when he said on Saturday that newspapers were garbage.
You are producing nothing but a propaganda machine with your "column" and your "blog". You and your paper are an embarrassment to Chicago. I'm certain when you drop dead, there will be far more negative comments about you after you die than for Mr. Wirtz (believe it or not.) I, and a lot of other Chicago sports fans, can't wait for that day.
T Dog
T Dog's Think Tank: We are pissed
The FCC came to Chicago last Thursday, for public hearings on media consolidation and diversity.
The whole thing was webcast for the world to hear on the FCC's website, and yours truly hooked it up to listen for eight hours. Eight loooong hours...
The FCC was there at Operation PUSH, and if you listed to the webcast- hell, you'd think Bears QB Rex Grossman was one of the commissioners. Grossman and the FCC have a lot in common - both apparently suck at their job.
We're just about as happy with the media as we are with the CTA. Both are run by pomous windbags who don't seem to care about the public. And both are in broken-down condition.
Media consolidation over the past decade has been blamed for the rise in taseless programming in prime-time (mainly of the reality kind) to layoffs at media outlets, from less local programming to voicetracking at radio stations.
All of this and more was complained about Thursday night. With the event held at Operation PUSH, you know racial overtones were the order of the day. Of course, with Chicago being one of the most segregated cities in the nation, this came as no surprise as the issue of race (from the Grant Park Children's Museum to O.J. to McNabb to the Jena 6) dominated the headlines all week.
Many complained about how the local media treats the areas of the city's West and South Sides, both with almost predominately African-American neighborhoods.
On the local news, it is not uncommon to see it start off with stories about crime from these parts of town, which has been the case for decades. Every time you turn on the news, or log on to the city's two newspapers' websites, you see stories about who got murdered, shot, or raped. One murder reported on one of the papers' websites recently even got the location wrong. What is the point of this? To drive web traffic? For TV ratings?
You are correct, Oh great one!
And the media bias even extends into the South Suburbs,which are being portrayed as "economically struggling", even though Flossmoor, Olympia Fields, Richton Park, Country Club Hills, and Matteson are among Chicago suburbs with the highest incomes, with many of those high-income earners African-Americans. Is racism at work here? Well, duh?
Then there was the issue of minority hiring at these outlets and the way minorities are treated there. One lady who spoke at the hearing claimed that she is being racially harassed at a TV station she works and had to file a complaint with the EEOC.
Another issue was minority ownership. Chicago is the largest major market with the fewest minority owners in the country. The only black radio station owner in town is Melody Spann-Cooper, who owns Talk outlet WVON-AM, and broadcasts on 1690-AM through a sub-leasing deal with Clear Channel. The historic Chicago Defender is on life support and now run from Detroit. The new media incentives on the paper's website heralded by publisher Roland Martin (such as video and podcasts) were disassembled after he left. Many are calling for the restoration of the minority tax certificate, which was abolished in 1995.
There were a host of other issues as well. There were complaints about radio, particularly with many local independent artists and labels, slamming local stations for refusing them airplay. One even charged the industry with payola, with an artist claiming that a local mixer at a station was charging them $25,000 for one play. Others complained about the same songs being played repeatedly and too many commercials. Even old-school rapper KRS-One called out WGCI.
And to top it off, radio is giving talentless hack Britney Spears a shot to return to her former glory. You know you smell a rat when her single Gimme More has been declared a "success" by a dying medium. You don't know which one is more desperate. Even in her decrepit condition, she can get on the radio while more deserving independent artists can't. That rat must be paying for Spears' freight.
And yes, there were complaints about cable TV, from lack of a la carte to how minorities are portrayed on BET and VH1.
Hispanic broadcasters didn't go unscathed, either. One Hispanic individual complained about the domination Univision had over the Spanish-speaking market; others complained about NBC Universal's ownership of Telemundo, and layoffs at its WSNS-TV in Chicago.
And there was the subject of the Iraq War. Many complained about how news have become nothing but propaganda machines - not allowing contradicting views of the war. Many want the Fairness Doctrine restored.
And there were more complaints, from the lightning to how many minutes people got to speak.
But there were defenders of the media there as well. Many TV and radio stations trotted out their employees and charitable organizations that works with these companies. Former WGCI boss Marv Dyson blamed radio's problems not on consolidation, but on the "me too" attitude that plagues the medium. He supports consolidation, but not until a significant amount of minority ownership has been achieved.
But one thing that irked yours truly were the number of those praising the corporations that owned these media outlets - people who are truly hacks. The lone exception was WGN-AM host John Williams, who made a good point about the radio station losing its localism if it was forced to be sold off .
As you know, The Tribune Co. is in the process of being sold to billionaire Sam Zell, and he needs FCC approval to keep his properties - WGN-AM, WGN-TV, and the Chicago Tribune - intact. While the cross-ownership rules bar one company from owning a radio, TV and a newspaper in one market, Tribune's combo was grandfathered in - they owned the properties before 1975 when the rule took effect.
Zell got support from many prominent Illinois politicians, including Democratic senator Dick Durbin, and chances that the Tribune will be busted up is unlikely.
The interesting thing about the meetings Thursday is what wasn't brought up. The XM/Sirius merger for one - how is this going to effect customers of satellite radio? What about the shoddy reporting of the Sun-Times- who like the rest of the media- don't give a damn about Chicago. Who else could give Jay Mariotti a prominent position at the paper so he can use it for personal attacks?
Or WGCI's firing of morning personality Howard McGee for syndicated lout Steve Harvey? A clear example of getting rid of a local voice for one from New York and one who doesn't know much about Chicago, despite having a local show here in the mid 1990's. McGee's firing came despite the fact he was number one in adults 18-34 demo for his morning show.
And of course, what about former WMAQ-TV reporter Amy Jacobson appearing at the Stebic house last July wearing a bikini, caught on tape by rival WBBM-TV, which was there in the neighbor's yard only to embarrass her. WMAQ didn't do itself no favors, by firing Jacobson.
XM/Sirius aside, all of this demonstrates that Chicago is sick of big media, their antics, and the way they treat our communities. We are tired, mad as hell, and we are not going to take it anymore!
The sad part about all this is the FCC (at least the commissioners not named Adlestein or Copps), looked like they were hardly interested. They acted like we were a bunch of whiny individuals who need to get a life.
Bullshit. Chicago's residents - from all walks of life - all colors, all religions - want better from the companies who serve us through the public airwaves - the airwaves WE OWN. The FCC mission is to make decisions regarding telecommunications that serve the public interest, not major corporations.
While the FCC is hell bent on answering for right-wing groups like the Parents Television Council on indecency, it won't do a damn thing for anyone else, particularly minorities, who clearly lack representation in media and is a more pressing issue. You guys are not doing your job.
Let me cut to the point: either do your job to serve the public interest, or we'll elect politicians in 2008 who will no doubt replace you.
To listen to some of the testimony from the hearing (and KRS-One calling out WGCI), click here (thanks to StopBigMedia.com)
The whole thing was webcast for the world to hear on the FCC's website, and yours truly hooked it up to listen for eight hours. Eight loooong hours...
The FCC was there at Operation PUSH, and if you listed to the webcast- hell, you'd think Bears QB Rex Grossman was one of the commissioners. Grossman and the FCC have a lot in common - both apparently suck at their job.
We're just about as happy with the media as we are with the CTA. Both are run by pomous windbags who don't seem to care about the public. And both are in broken-down condition.
Media consolidation over the past decade has been blamed for the rise in taseless programming in prime-time (mainly of the reality kind) to layoffs at media outlets, from less local programming to voicetracking at radio stations.
All of this and more was complained about Thursday night. With the event held at Operation PUSH, you know racial overtones were the order of the day. Of course, with Chicago being one of the most segregated cities in the nation, this came as no surprise as the issue of race (from the Grant Park Children's Museum to O.J. to McNabb to the Jena 6) dominated the headlines all week.
Many complained about how the local media treats the areas of the city's West and South Sides, both with almost predominately African-American neighborhoods.
On the local news, it is not uncommon to see it start off with stories about crime from these parts of town, which has been the case for decades. Every time you turn on the news, or log on to the city's two newspapers' websites, you see stories about who got murdered, shot, or raped. One murder reported on one of the papers' websites recently even got the location wrong. What is the point of this? To drive web traffic? For TV ratings?
You are correct, Oh great one!
And the media bias even extends into the South Suburbs,which are being portrayed as "economically struggling", even though Flossmoor, Olympia Fields, Richton Park, Country Club Hills, and Matteson are among Chicago suburbs with the highest incomes, with many of those high-income earners African-Americans. Is racism at work here? Well, duh?
Then there was the issue of minority hiring at these outlets and the way minorities are treated there. One lady who spoke at the hearing claimed that she is being racially harassed at a TV station she works and had to file a complaint with the EEOC.
Another issue was minority ownership. Chicago is the largest major market with the fewest minority owners in the country. The only black radio station owner in town is Melody Spann-Cooper, who owns Talk outlet WVON-AM, and broadcasts on 1690-AM through a sub-leasing deal with Clear Channel. The historic Chicago Defender is on life support and now run from Detroit. The new media incentives on the paper's website heralded by publisher Roland Martin (such as video and podcasts) were disassembled after he left. Many are calling for the restoration of the minority tax certificate, which was abolished in 1995.
There were a host of other issues as well. There were complaints about radio, particularly with many local independent artists and labels, slamming local stations for refusing them airplay. One even charged the industry with payola, with an artist claiming that a local mixer at a station was charging them $25,000 for one play. Others complained about the same songs being played repeatedly and too many commercials. Even old-school rapper KRS-One called out WGCI.
And to top it off, radio is giving talentless hack Britney Spears a shot to return to her former glory. You know you smell a rat when her single Gimme More has been declared a "success" by a dying medium. You don't know which one is more desperate. Even in her decrepit condition, she can get on the radio while more deserving independent artists can't. That rat must be paying for Spears' freight.
And yes, there were complaints about cable TV, from lack of a la carte to how minorities are portrayed on BET and VH1.
Hispanic broadcasters didn't go unscathed, either. One Hispanic individual complained about the domination Univision had over the Spanish-speaking market; others complained about NBC Universal's ownership of Telemundo, and layoffs at its WSNS-TV in Chicago.
And there was the subject of the Iraq War. Many complained about how news have become nothing but propaganda machines - not allowing contradicting views of the war. Many want the Fairness Doctrine restored.
And there were more complaints, from the lightning to how many minutes people got to speak.
But there were defenders of the media there as well. Many TV and radio stations trotted out their employees and charitable organizations that works with these companies. Former WGCI boss Marv Dyson blamed radio's problems not on consolidation, but on the "me too" attitude that plagues the medium. He supports consolidation, but not until a significant amount of minority ownership has been achieved.
But one thing that irked yours truly were the number of those praising the corporations that owned these media outlets - people who are truly hacks. The lone exception was WGN-AM host John Williams, who made a good point about the radio station losing its localism if it was forced to be sold off .
As you know, The Tribune Co. is in the process of being sold to billionaire Sam Zell, and he needs FCC approval to keep his properties - WGN-AM, WGN-TV, and the Chicago Tribune - intact. While the cross-ownership rules bar one company from owning a radio, TV and a newspaper in one market, Tribune's combo was grandfathered in - they owned the properties before 1975 when the rule took effect.
Zell got support from many prominent Illinois politicians, including Democratic senator Dick Durbin, and chances that the Tribune will be busted up is unlikely.
The interesting thing about the meetings Thursday is what wasn't brought up. The XM/Sirius merger for one - how is this going to effect customers of satellite radio? What about the shoddy reporting of the Sun-Times- who like the rest of the media- don't give a damn about Chicago. Who else could give Jay Mariotti a prominent position at the paper so he can use it for personal attacks?
Or WGCI's firing of morning personality Howard McGee for syndicated lout Steve Harvey? A clear example of getting rid of a local voice for one from New York and one who doesn't know much about Chicago, despite having a local show here in the mid 1990's. McGee's firing came despite the fact he was number one in adults 18-34 demo for his morning show.
And of course, what about former WMAQ-TV reporter Amy Jacobson appearing at the Stebic house last July wearing a bikini, caught on tape by rival WBBM-TV, which was there in the neighbor's yard only to embarrass her. WMAQ didn't do itself no favors, by firing Jacobson.
XM/Sirius aside, all of this demonstrates that Chicago is sick of big media, their antics, and the way they treat our communities. We are tired, mad as hell, and we are not going to take it anymore!
The sad part about all this is the FCC (at least the commissioners not named Adlestein or Copps), looked like they were hardly interested. They acted like we were a bunch of whiny individuals who need to get a life.
Bullshit. Chicago's residents - from all walks of life - all colors, all religions - want better from the companies who serve us through the public airwaves - the airwaves WE OWN. The FCC mission is to make decisions regarding telecommunications that serve the public interest, not major corporations.
While the FCC is hell bent on answering for right-wing groups like the Parents Television Council on indecency, it won't do a damn thing for anyone else, particularly minorities, who clearly lack representation in media and is a more pressing issue. You guys are not doing your job.
Let me cut to the point: either do your job to serve the public interest, or we'll elect politicians in 2008 who will no doubt replace you.
To listen to some of the testimony from the hearing (and KRS-One calling out WGCI), click here (thanks to StopBigMedia.com)
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
FCC to challenge profanity decision in U.S. Supreme Court
Our country's freedom of speech and the First Amendment hinges on this.
Dumber and Dumber
Which one of these assholes deserve the Worst Person Of The Week award for making racist comments this week? Bill O'Reilly or former Top Model winner and Joilet's own Adrianne Curry? (It looks like a tie. And personally, I'm glad Ms. Curry left here. How about you getting over getting screwed by Tyra?)
Go Bionic
Tonight's picks to click (you at home select yours):
Check out the most buzzed about show of the season - Bionic Woman. It's a remake of the 1970's TV show that aired on ABC and NBC. (I would put this as the pick to skip, because remakes of shows usually suck. But I give this show the benefit of the doubt. But it better deliver in the ratings.) Also check out Dirty Sexy Money on ABC at 9 p.m. (CT).
Picks to skip: Private Practice, the Grey's Anatomy spinoff with Kate Walsh, and Life, whose life will likely be short. Mikey's a detective? He hates everything. He likes it! He likes it! You can put those two on the board, no!
Check out the most buzzed about show of the season - Bionic Woman. It's a remake of the 1970's TV show that aired on ABC and NBC. (I would put this as the pick to skip, because remakes of shows usually suck. But I give this show the benefit of the doubt. But it better deliver in the ratings.) Also check out Dirty Sexy Money on ABC at 9 p.m. (CT).
Picks to skip: Private Practice, the Grey's Anatomy spinoff with Kate Walsh, and Life, whose life will likely be short. Mikey's a detective? He hates everything. He likes it! He likes it! You can put those two on the board, no!
Fox pulls "Nashville"
If you had Nashville in the dead TV show pool, you win. Was it even on the air? Fox barely promoted this show. Repeats of K-Ville takes the Friday night 7 p.m. slot for now.
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