Chicago February PPM results (keep in mind this survey is based on the 6+ demo):
Winners:
WBBM-AM, WDRV-AM, WLIT-FM (The Lite), WKSC-FM (Kiss), WVIV-FM
Surprise - they're moving up!
WPWX-FM (Power 92)
Losers:
WSCR-AM (The Score), WFMT-FM
Not much to talk about in this February PPM survey, with all-news WBBM-AM holding on to the top spot, despite a drop of 11 percent. But it finished first, and that alone puts it in the winner's circle.
WLS-AM was flat in second place (was the Blago stunt today really necessary?) while WGN-AM finished third. If anyone tells you AM radio is dead, point them to Chicago where it is alive and well.
WDRV-FM was the top music station in the market in fourth place, knocking out oldies WLS-FM, which slid to sixth, behind WVAZ-FM (V103). Despite a ratings increase of 10 percent, those gains may be short-lived because of the recent axing of Tom Joyner's syndicated morning show.
Two months after its holiday music format, WLIT is still in the top 10, and inching upward. while its main competitor (WCFS-FM) continues to struggle.
Of note in this survey is a 27 percent increase in ratings for WPWX-FM (Power 92) month-to-month. What used to be a 3 or 4 point lead for rival WGCI is now down to a point and-a-half.
The biggest jump in the ratings came courtesy of Univision's WVIV-FM, who saw its ratings jump 75 percent for the Spanish adult hits station.
In the battle of sports stations, ESPN's WMVP topped WSCR-AM (The Score), with the latter station falling 18 percent month-to-month.
And classical outlet WFMT did not impress, with a 21 percent drop from January - the biggest nosedive month-to-month in the survey, meaning its off to the loser's circle.
Click here to see the February PPM results.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
Grab bag time!
- Tom Joyner, whose TJMS was disposed of from Clear Channel's WVAZ-FM (V103) yesterday, has more on the show's departure from Chicago's airwaves in an interesting blog read.
- George Lopez has signed a deal with TBS to launch a Monday-Thursday late night talk show for the cable network this fall. The program plans to target 18-34 viewers who may not be interested in watch Conan or Dave.
A syndicated late-night talk show from Lopez and Warner Bros. was branded about recently, but was turned down by station groups, perhaps still mindful of The Magic Hour, Keenan Ivory Wayans and Vibe late-night talk show failures during the 1997-98 season.
- Raycom's WUAB-TV in Cleveland signs on for This TV, the Chicago-based movie and MGM series channel to air on 43.2, filling a spot vacated by now-defunct The Tube video music channel, which ceased operations on September 30, 2007.
Raycom has also recruited Memphis' WMC-TV and Louisville's WAVE-TV as This TV digital subchannel affiliates.
- NBC has a new sitcom debuting soon with a rather odd name: Parks & Recreation. In this series, Amy Poheler (from SNL) plays the head of the Parks and Recreation department in Pawnee, Ind. while mentoring a bored college intern.
Parks & Recreation sounds more like a failed sitcom from the 1950's. What's NBC going to come up with next? A revival of the TV version of The Great Gildersleeve? I can't wait for the weekly misadventures of a water comissioner and his two nieces with Tim Allen and the Olsen twins in the lead roles. What fun!
With Ben Silverman at the helm, anything is possible - anything bad that is.
- Tom Joyner, whose TJMS was disposed of from Clear Channel's WVAZ-FM (V103) yesterday, has more on the show's departure from Chicago's airwaves in an interesting blog read.
- George Lopez has signed a deal with TBS to launch a Monday-Thursday late night talk show for the cable network this fall. The program plans to target 18-34 viewers who may not be interested in watch Conan or Dave.
A syndicated late-night talk show from Lopez and Warner Bros. was branded about recently, but was turned down by station groups, perhaps still mindful of The Magic Hour, Keenan Ivory Wayans and Vibe late-night talk show failures during the 1997-98 season.
- Raycom's WUAB-TV in Cleveland signs on for This TV, the Chicago-based movie and MGM series channel to air on 43.2, filling a spot vacated by now-defunct The Tube video music channel, which ceased operations on September 30, 2007.
Raycom has also recruited Memphis' WMC-TV and Louisville's WAVE-TV as This TV digital subchannel affiliates.
- NBC has a new sitcom debuting soon with a rather odd name: Parks & Recreation. In this series, Amy Poheler (from SNL) plays the head of the Parks and Recreation department in Pawnee, Ind. while mentoring a bored college intern.
Parks & Recreation sounds more like a failed sitcom from the 1950's. What's NBC going to come up with next? A revival of the TV version of The Great Gildersleeve? I can't wait for the weekly misadventures of a water comissioner and his two nieces with Tim Allen and the Olsen twins in the lead roles. What fun!
With Ben Silverman at the helm, anything is possible - anything bad that is.
"Teenager" whips "Gossip Girl"
Does TV Week still think Gossip Girl is a hot show?
Well, here's an even hotter show. ABC Family's Secret Diary Of An American Teenager blew Gossip Girl out of the water last night in total viewers (4.5 vs. 2.2 million), in adults 18-34 (by 50%), adults 18-49 (by 43%) and viewers 12-34 (by 123%).
It was the second half of the season finale of Teenager, which doesn't get the same kind of press as Gossip Girl - maybe because Girl is about goofy shenanigans at a Manhattan prep school while Teenager is about a girl who unexpectedly gets pregnant as her family and friends deal with the issue- one today's teen and young adult audiences certainly can relate to.
American Teenager was created by Brenda Hampton, who was behind the hit family drama 7th Heaven for eleven seasons on The WB and CW.
Surprisingly, critics haven't warmed to the show - which is kind of interesting given Gossip Girl recently landed on TV Week's list of best TV shows at No. 24.
But the only thing that matters is American Teenager has touched a nerve with America's youth - something overrated Gossip Girl hasn't done. And fans of the show will be happy to know that American Teenager has been renewed for 24 more episodes by ABC Family, which starts this summer.
The program also airs on broadcast television in Canada on CityTV's chain of stations in five markets, including Toronto and Vancouver.
One rule of thumb in scriptwriting is to always give people believable characters they can relate to. For its target audience, The Secret Life of An American Teenager more than delivers. If the broadcast networks did just that with their scripted programming (instead of a ghost on Grey's Anatomy), they would have more viewers.
Well, here's an even hotter show. ABC Family's Secret Diary Of An American Teenager blew Gossip Girl out of the water last night in total viewers (4.5 vs. 2.2 million), in adults 18-34 (by 50%), adults 18-49 (by 43%) and viewers 12-34 (by 123%).
It was the second half of the season finale of Teenager, which doesn't get the same kind of press as Gossip Girl - maybe because Girl is about goofy shenanigans at a Manhattan prep school while Teenager is about a girl who unexpectedly gets pregnant as her family and friends deal with the issue- one today's teen and young adult audiences certainly can relate to.
American Teenager was created by Brenda Hampton, who was behind the hit family drama 7th Heaven for eleven seasons on The WB and CW.
Surprisingly, critics haven't warmed to the show - which is kind of interesting given Gossip Girl recently landed on TV Week's list of best TV shows at No. 24.
But the only thing that matters is American Teenager has touched a nerve with America's youth - something overrated Gossip Girl hasn't done. And fans of the show will be happy to know that American Teenager has been renewed for 24 more episodes by ABC Family, which starts this summer.
The program also airs on broadcast television in Canada on CityTV's chain of stations in five markets, including Toronto and Vancouver.
One rule of thumb in scriptwriting is to always give people believable characters they can relate to. For its target audience, The Secret Life of An American Teenager more than delivers. If the broadcast networks did just that with their scripted programming (instead of a ghost on Grey's Anatomy), they would have more viewers.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Tom Joyner out at V103
In a move that is a huge blow to his nationally syndicated show, The Tom Joyner Morning Show (aka The TJMS) lost its biggest - and most important - affiliate.
Clear Channel-owned WVAZ-FM (V103) has canceled Joyner's show, effective immediately, and is replacing it with The Steve Harvey Morning Show, which airs on sister station WGCI-FM. No word yet on who will replace Harvey on WGCI. A name currently branded about is current afternoon personality Tony Scoulfield.
If he gets the morning gig, it would be sort of homecoming for Scoulfield, who was on in the mornings at WGCI with "Crazy" Howard McGee and Nikki Woods for several years before getting his own show. As you recall, WGCI-FM dropped McGee in July 2007 and replaced him with Harvey's syndicated show, despite the fact McGee was number one in the time period among key demos.
There were also rumors at the time of Tom Joyner's demise at WVAZ, but the station renewed the show in a "multi-year" deal with Reach Media, Joyner's syndicator which he part-owns with Radio One - a Clear Channel urban rival in a few markets, including Philadelphia and Detroit. WVAZ was TJMS' largest non-Radio One affiliate.
As for Tom Joyner, losing the second-largest African-American market in the country is a huge blow, as the show has not aired in New York City (the nation's largest African-American market) since 2003. For awhile, Joyner's show was briefly heard in Los Angeles on the now-defunct KRBV-FM, but was dropped due to low ratings (and a 3 a.m. start time.)
A few years ago, Clear Channel Urban Adult Contemporary outlets lost the rights to TJMS in Philadelphia, Detroit, and St. Louis when Radio One became part-owner of the show and moved it to their competing Urban AC outlets in those markets. Harvey replaced Joyner on those Clear Channel stations in Philadelphia and Detroit.
The Steve Harvey Show is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, which is owned by Clear Channel.
Tom Joyner is a Chicago radio veteran, working at WJPC and later WGCI-FM. He earned his nickname "the fly jock" when he simultaneously held down a morning shift at KKDA-FM in Dallas in the morning and WGCI in the afternoons for eight years, flying back and forth between the two cities. His syndicated morning show had been on WVAZ for 13 years, when it moved there to make room for... Steve Harvey, who got his radio career started at WGCI in 1996.
For those of you in the Chicago area - or anywhere the show isn't airing on terrestrial radio, you can listen to TJMS online at blackamericaweb.com.
Click here for Joyner's reaction to WVAZ's move.
Thought: Yours truly listened to the TJMS and is sad to see it go and its even more agonizing since yours truly isn't a fan of Harvey (yeah, this totally f***in' sucks. Thanks again, Cheap Channel.) Personal feelings aside, his move to WVAZ actually makes sense. Harvey's show targets a more older audience and is a perfect fit for WVAZ's 25-54 demo while his show did not fit well on younger-skewing WGCI. It would be nice if there was a local program back on WGCI in morning drive, giving competition to Crawford-owned WPWX-FM's (Power 92) inane morning show (with the dumbest name anyone could think of...)
As for TJMS, this program's future could be in jeopardy. Losing the nation's second-populated African-American market and not being able to get back on terrestrial in New York is not a good sign. The show will continue - for now - but could face make-goods down the road to make up for the shortfall of the Chicago audience. Then there's Radio One, which is not in the best financial health right now...
Let's face it - ever since Clear Channel lost Joyner to Radio One in those markets two years ago, you knew they were going to strike back somehow. Vertical integration is the keyword these days. If it weren't, Medium (produced by CBS) wouldn't be on the bubble at NBC, despite respectable ratings. Clear Channel would've been better off to put Harvey on WVAZ to begin with.
If I were Crawford Broadcasting - owner of WSRB-FM (Soul 106.3) - I'd get on the phone right now to Reach Media and Radio One. Joyner's there for the taking. This is a chance to rebuild your station. How often does a popular nationally syndicated show with a built-in audience become available? Not too often. Come on WSRB, what are you waiting for? If you pass this opportunity up, I'd say - a Regional Mexican format for your station within six months.
Clear Channel-owned WVAZ-FM (V103) has canceled Joyner's show, effective immediately, and is replacing it with The Steve Harvey Morning Show, which airs on sister station WGCI-FM. No word yet on who will replace Harvey on WGCI. A name currently branded about is current afternoon personality Tony Scoulfield.
If he gets the morning gig, it would be sort of homecoming for Scoulfield, who was on in the mornings at WGCI with "Crazy" Howard McGee and Nikki Woods for several years before getting his own show. As you recall, WGCI-FM dropped McGee in July 2007 and replaced him with Harvey's syndicated show, despite the fact McGee was number one in the time period among key demos.
There were also rumors at the time of Tom Joyner's demise at WVAZ, but the station renewed the show in a "multi-year" deal with Reach Media, Joyner's syndicator which he part-owns with Radio One - a Clear Channel urban rival in a few markets, including Philadelphia and Detroit. WVAZ was TJMS' largest non-Radio One affiliate.
As for Tom Joyner, losing the second-largest African-American market in the country is a huge blow, as the show has not aired in New York City (the nation's largest African-American market) since 2003. For awhile, Joyner's show was briefly heard in Los Angeles on the now-defunct KRBV-FM, but was dropped due to low ratings (and a 3 a.m. start time.)
A few years ago, Clear Channel Urban Adult Contemporary outlets lost the rights to TJMS in Philadelphia, Detroit, and St. Louis when Radio One became part-owner of the show and moved it to their competing Urban AC outlets in those markets. Harvey replaced Joyner on those Clear Channel stations in Philadelphia and Detroit.
The Steve Harvey Show is syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, which is owned by Clear Channel.
Tom Joyner is a Chicago radio veteran, working at WJPC and later WGCI-FM. He earned his nickname "the fly jock" when he simultaneously held down a morning shift at KKDA-FM in Dallas in the morning and WGCI in the afternoons for eight years, flying back and forth between the two cities. His syndicated morning show had been on WVAZ for 13 years, when it moved there to make room for... Steve Harvey, who got his radio career started at WGCI in 1996.
For those of you in the Chicago area - or anywhere the show isn't airing on terrestrial radio, you can listen to TJMS online at blackamericaweb.com.
Click here for Joyner's reaction to WVAZ's move.
Thought: Yours truly listened to the TJMS and is sad to see it go and its even more agonizing since yours truly isn't a fan of Harvey (yeah, this totally f***in' sucks. Thanks again, Cheap Channel.) Personal feelings aside, his move to WVAZ actually makes sense. Harvey's show targets a more older audience and is a perfect fit for WVAZ's 25-54 demo while his show did not fit well on younger-skewing WGCI. It would be nice if there was a local program back on WGCI in morning drive, giving competition to Crawford-owned WPWX-FM's (Power 92) inane morning show (with the dumbest name anyone could think of...)
As for TJMS, this program's future could be in jeopardy. Losing the nation's second-populated African-American market and not being able to get back on terrestrial in New York is not a good sign. The show will continue - for now - but could face make-goods down the road to make up for the shortfall of the Chicago audience. Then there's Radio One, which is not in the best financial health right now...
Let's face it - ever since Clear Channel lost Joyner to Radio One in those markets two years ago, you knew they were going to strike back somehow. Vertical integration is the keyword these days. If it weren't, Medium (produced by CBS) wouldn't be on the bubble at NBC, despite respectable ratings. Clear Channel would've been better off to put Harvey on WVAZ to begin with.
If I were Crawford Broadcasting - owner of WSRB-FM (Soul 106.3) - I'd get on the phone right now to Reach Media and Radio One. Joyner's there for the taking. This is a chance to rebuild your station. How often does a popular nationally syndicated show with a built-in audience become available? Not too often. Come on WSRB, what are you waiting for? If you pass this opportunity up, I'd say - a Regional Mexican format for your station within six months.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
DreX scores new five-year deal
Call it a reward for helping take down a morning show powerhouse.
Clear Channel-owned WKSC-FM has renewed morning man Drex's contract for five more years. The move assures his fans that he will be waking them up every morning through 2013 on the Top 40 outlet.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Drex's morning show was instrumental in taking down former powerhouse Eddie & JoBo, on arch-rival WBBM-FM. The duo were dropped from the station last November after 18 non-consecutive years.
According to the latest PPM reports, Drex finished first among women 18-34 (a key demo for WKSC) and third among adults in the same age bracket. Last fall, it decisively beat Eddie & JoBo in those same demos.
This is the second signing this week, given the tough economy and turmoil in the radio industry. On Monday, WLUP-FM signed their morning personality (Jonathan Brandmeier) to a new deal, but it is only for one year.
Drex arrived to Chicago from San Antonio in 2003, which coincidentally is Clear Channel's home base.
Clear Channel-owned WKSC-FM has renewed morning man Drex's contract for five more years. The move assures his fans that he will be waking them up every morning through 2013 on the Top 40 outlet.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Drex's morning show was instrumental in taking down former powerhouse Eddie & JoBo, on arch-rival WBBM-FM. The duo were dropped from the station last November after 18 non-consecutive years.
According to the latest PPM reports, Drex finished first among women 18-34 (a key demo for WKSC) and third among adults in the same age bracket. Last fall, it decisively beat Eddie & JoBo in those same demos.
This is the second signing this week, given the tough economy and turmoil in the radio industry. On Monday, WLUP-FM signed their morning personality (Jonathan Brandmeier) to a new deal, but it is only for one year.
Drex arrived to Chicago from San Antonio in 2003, which coincidentally is Clear Channel's home base.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
- CBS has re-upped Warner Bros.-produced Two and a Half Men for three more seasons and The Big Bang Theory for two. CBS and Warner Bros. also settled a pending lawsuit (so I guess CBS can go ahead and cancel Cold Case and Without A Trace...)
- Is it a good sign when a network shaves twenty minutes off your premiere episode? In an unusual move, Fox announced the premiere of Osbournes: Reloaded on March 31 has been trimmed to 40 minutes, with American Idol expanded to 80 minutes.
Osbournes: Reloaded is an attempt to bring back the variety show and the program features the wild reality-TV family in comedy sketches and man-on-the-street interviews, with audience-participation games and musical acts (and we all know how well it worked for Rosie...)
Fox plans to air the series as specials. Translation: When the show premieres on March 31, it's likely we'll never see it again. This show was a good idea... in 2003. Maybe Fox should trim some more minutes off Osbournes:Reloaded... like the remaining 40.
- Weigel Broadcasting has cut loose production manager Randy King, who was hired a year ago to oversee development of local programming at the company's television outlets. The move is not related to the economic slowdown, which has claimed a lot of jobs in the media industry over the last few months.
-
- Is it a good sign when a network shaves twenty minutes off your premiere episode? In an unusual move, Fox announced the premiere of Osbournes: Reloaded on March 31 has been trimmed to 40 minutes, with American Idol expanded to 80 minutes.
Osbournes: Reloaded is an attempt to bring back the variety show and the program features the wild reality-TV family in comedy sketches and man-on-the-street interviews, with audience-participation games and musical acts (and we all know how well it worked for Rosie...)
Fox plans to air the series as specials. Translation: When the show premieres on March 31, it's likely we'll never see it again. This show was a good idea... in 2003. Maybe Fox should trim some more minutes off Osbournes:Reloaded... like the remaining 40.
- Weigel Broadcasting has cut loose production manager Randy King, who was hired a year ago to oversee development of local programming at the company's television outlets. The move is not related to the economic slowdown, which has claimed a lot of jobs in the media industry over the last few months.
-
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
T Dog's Four Pack - 3/17/09
Haven't done it in awhile, so let's see what's working this week - and what's not:
Four you should grab off the shelf
- Garry Meier on WGN-AM. After rave reviews for his recent four-day stint at the news/talk outlet, the station should just give him the vacant 1-4 afternoon slot right now. There's no contest.
- Jon Stewart takes down Jim Cramer. He slapped down Crossfire's Tucker Carslon and James Carville, now does the same to CNBC loudmouth Jim Cramer. Like the rest of those firms who put a lot of people out of work, he might actually join them. Thank you, Jon Stewart, you are a God!
- Life On Mars getting to wrap up its storylines. It's sad this series is going off the air, but props to ABC for letting the producers and writers pen a script for a final episode for closure. As for ABC's owner - well...
- South Park slaps down Mickey. Another Comedy Central slapdown, this time courtesy of South Park. Funniest season opener ever. Matt and Trey, can you please do a episode lampooning ESPN? I would like to see Chris Berman get his fat ass served.
Four you should leave on the shelf:
- ABC's Lost bait and switch. Instead of an all new episode of Lost, viewers got an "enhanced repeat" instead, this breaking a promise from the Mouse House regarding sixteen straight new episodes, with NO RERUNS. Mickey is about as honest as an Illinois politician. Man, that South Park episode was dead on.
- The PTC. Another gripe about Family Guy. Really, does anybody care about what this idiot organization says anymore?
- NBC. Has network television reached the ultimate point in absurdity? NBC is bringing back I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, a reality dud that flopped on ABC in 2003. The program debuts on June 1, and is being stripped four nights a week. Is a revival of Pink Lady and Jeff and Sheriff Lobo also waiting in the wings? It seems NBC has gone back to 1979 and stayed there.
- American Idol's "Judge Save". This should have been invented instead: The Judges Boot, where they have a right to kick off a contestant who wasn't voted out. If this was initiated three years ago, it would have spared us anymore of Taylor Hicks.
Four you should grab off the shelf
- Garry Meier on WGN-AM. After rave reviews for his recent four-day stint at the news/talk outlet, the station should just give him the vacant 1-4 afternoon slot right now. There's no contest.
- Jon Stewart takes down Jim Cramer. He slapped down Crossfire's Tucker Carslon and James Carville, now does the same to CNBC loudmouth Jim Cramer. Like the rest of those firms who put a lot of people out of work, he might actually join them. Thank you, Jon Stewart, you are a God!
- Life On Mars getting to wrap up its storylines. It's sad this series is going off the air, but props to ABC for letting the producers and writers pen a script for a final episode for closure. As for ABC's owner - well...
- South Park slaps down Mickey. Another Comedy Central slapdown, this time courtesy of South Park. Funniest season opener ever. Matt and Trey, can you please do a episode lampooning ESPN? I would like to see Chris Berman get his fat ass served.
Four you should leave on the shelf:
- ABC's Lost bait and switch. Instead of an all new episode of Lost, viewers got an "enhanced repeat" instead, this breaking a promise from the Mouse House regarding sixteen straight new episodes, with NO RERUNS. Mickey is about as honest as an Illinois politician. Man, that South Park episode was dead on.
- The PTC. Another gripe about Family Guy. Really, does anybody care about what this idiot organization says anymore?
- NBC. Has network television reached the ultimate point in absurdity? NBC is bringing back I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, a reality dud that flopped on ABC in 2003. The program debuts on June 1, and is being stripped four nights a week. Is a revival of Pink Lady and Jeff and Sheriff Lobo also waiting in the wings? It seems NBC has gone back to 1979 and stayed there.
- American Idol's "Judge Save". This should have been invented instead: The Judges Boot, where they have a right to kick off a contestant who wasn't voted out. If this was initiated three years ago, it would have spared us anymore of Taylor Hicks.
CBC slammed for airing American shows. Again.
Stop me if you've heard this before...
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is being criticized by governmental leaders and actor unions for airing too much American programming on the public network - a practice it has been doing for decades.
The controversy comes as CBC dropped two Canadian-produced newsmagazine/lifestyle shows: Fashion File and Steven & Chris, due to low ratings and current economic conditions, but kept CBS Television Distribution's higher-rated Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, the latter featuring Canadian native Alex Trebek.
CBC acquired the game shows from CBS Television Distribution International after a lengthy run on private broadcaster CTV. Wheel airs in early fringe at 5:30 p.m. and Jeopardy! in prime access at 7:30 p.m. Here in the states, many stations pair the two game shows in access to run together, including WABC-TV in New York and KABC-TV in Los Angeles.
Heritage Minister James Moore slammed the move of canceling the home-grown product, quoted as saying:"Frankly, I can tell you I don't like it when I see the CBC canceling Canadian content, and we see Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune." The pol made the comment Sunday night on a Radio-Canada (SRC) talk show in Quebec.
The move comes as the cash-strapped public broadcaster (isn't it always?) is struggling to produce ad revenue while financial help from Ottawa has been cut.
CBC has taken heat before for airing U.S. fare, which special interest groups have complained about for decades. In the mid-1990's, CBC took American programming off from 8 to 11 p.m. and aired only Canadian programming and other foreign shows. Popular shows included This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Royal Canadian Air Farce (which recently ended its long run), and DaVinci's Inquest, which currently airs in sydicated reruns in the U.S. The most popular export was Friday night staple The Kids in the Hall, which found a home in the states on CBS, HBO, and Comedy Central.
Past programming that has aired in prime-time on CBC included Dallas, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Golden Girls, Happy Days, The Nanny, and Welcome Back Kotter.
CBC currently strips The Simpsons weekdays at 5 p.m. and has done so since 1994 under a long-term syndication deal. Other American programming currently airing in daytime hours includes Fraiser and Martha (Martha Stewart's talk show.) Past programs stripped in afternoon time periods included The Addams Family, Fresh Prince, The Golden Girls, Star Trek: The Original Series, WKRP in Cincinnati, and The Wonder Years.
Thought: The arguments being made here in this day and age are quite pointless. In an era of the Internet, Cable TV, and DVDs, these guys seem to be stuck in the 1970's. The targeting of American programming - but not other foreign programming (Coronation Street, from the UK) is quite hypocritical and makes politicians and these groups look like total fools. Maybe the reason why Fashion File and Steven & Chris flopped with Canadian viewers because... the shows weren't good? Wow, a novel concept! Kids, Cold Squad, Da Vinci's, Night Heat, 22 Minutes, Air Farce and any Degrassi series are textbook examples of Canadian programs with good writing and good production values. It can be done, you know. Maybe the whiners should take take that into consideration before opening their mouths.
I agree the CBC should air more Canadian programming - but you have to get people in the tent somehow. The only way to do it is to air established programming - no matter where it comes from. Nobody said competing with better funded private broadcasters CTV and Global was easy.
This argument isn't new - yours truly has followed Canadian TV programming since the early 1990's and the same whiners are still - well, whining. After all, the United States doesn't have a monopoly when it comes to clueless politicians and idiot special-interest groups.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is being criticized by governmental leaders and actor unions for airing too much American programming on the public network - a practice it has been doing for decades.
The controversy comes as CBC dropped two Canadian-produced newsmagazine/lifestyle shows: Fashion File and Steven & Chris, due to low ratings and current economic conditions, but kept CBS Television Distribution's higher-rated Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, the latter featuring Canadian native Alex Trebek.
CBC acquired the game shows from CBS Television Distribution International after a lengthy run on private broadcaster CTV. Wheel airs in early fringe at 5:30 p.m. and Jeopardy! in prime access at 7:30 p.m. Here in the states, many stations pair the two game shows in access to run together, including WABC-TV in New York and KABC-TV in Los Angeles.
Heritage Minister James Moore slammed the move of canceling the home-grown product, quoted as saying:"Frankly, I can tell you I don't like it when I see the CBC canceling Canadian content, and we see Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune." The pol made the comment Sunday night on a Radio-Canada (SRC) talk show in Quebec.
The move comes as the cash-strapped public broadcaster (isn't it always?) is struggling to produce ad revenue while financial help from Ottawa has been cut.
CBC has taken heat before for airing U.S. fare, which special interest groups have complained about for decades. In the mid-1990's, CBC took American programming off from 8 to 11 p.m. and aired only Canadian programming and other foreign shows. Popular shows included This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Royal Canadian Air Farce (which recently ended its long run), and DaVinci's Inquest, which currently airs in sydicated reruns in the U.S. The most popular export was Friday night staple The Kids in the Hall, which found a home in the states on CBS, HBO, and Comedy Central.
Past programming that has aired in prime-time on CBC included Dallas, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Golden Girls, Happy Days, The Nanny, and Welcome Back Kotter.
CBC currently strips The Simpsons weekdays at 5 p.m. and has done so since 1994 under a long-term syndication deal. Other American programming currently airing in daytime hours includes Fraiser and Martha (Martha Stewart's talk show.) Past programs stripped in afternoon time periods included The Addams Family, Fresh Prince, The Golden Girls, Star Trek: The Original Series, WKRP in Cincinnati, and The Wonder Years.
Thought: The arguments being made here in this day and age are quite pointless. In an era of the Internet, Cable TV, and DVDs, these guys seem to be stuck in the 1970's. The targeting of American programming - but not other foreign programming (Coronation Street, from the UK) is quite hypocritical and makes politicians and these groups look like total fools. Maybe the reason why Fashion File and Steven & Chris flopped with Canadian viewers because... the shows weren't good? Wow, a novel concept! Kids, Cold Squad, Da Vinci's, Night Heat, 22 Minutes, Air Farce and any Degrassi series are textbook examples of Canadian programs with good writing and good production values. It can be done, you know. Maybe the whiners should take take that into consideration before opening their mouths.
I agree the CBC should air more Canadian programming - but you have to get people in the tent somehow. The only way to do it is to air established programming - no matter where it comes from. Nobody said competing with better funded private broadcasters CTV and Global was easy.
This argument isn't new - yours truly has followed Canadian TV programming since the early 1990's and the same whiners are still - well, whining. After all, the United States doesn't have a monopoly when it comes to clueless politicians and idiot special-interest groups.
Monday, March 16, 2009
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
Ah, it's good to be back... because of several scheduling snafus (eliminating any free time I had), The T Dog Media Blog was unexpectedly put on hiatus last week. But we're back -and better - and snarkier - than ever before. Let's celebrate by reaching into the Grab Bag...
- A word about this article in TV Week regarding reality's dominance - um, I hate to break it to you, but reality TV has always been with us. Gasp! Really? Yes, it's been around since Candid Camera debuted all the way back in 1947. Before American Idol, there was Star Search. And before Dancing with the Stars, there was Dance Fever. Before The Bachelor, there was Love Connection, The Dating Game, and Studs (remember the uproar over that show?)
And don't forget, the term Reality TV was used to describe late '80's fare such as Cops, America's Most Wanted, Inside Edition, and salacious daytime talk shows like Geraldo.
So anyone who thinks this is a hot new phenomenon - please... you haven't been here long enough.
- Jimmy Fallon's new late-night talk show got to a good start in the ratings two weeks ago, but the reviews have been meh-like. Fallon's been criticized for unfunny monologues and lackluster interviewing skills.
Yours truly watched the first episode and ... wow. A PSA for Blonde Moms. Lick stuff for $10. That's A-list roll-out-of chair funny stuff. Yeah.
Fallon seems likable and someone you'd want to root for, but he's trying too hard. He needs to loosen up more on camera and take some risks. How's this for an idea as an opening sketch? Have sex with Meg Griffin and later get pummeled by her father, Peter Griffin. The audience would eat that up! Hey, wait a minute...
In other words, get up to speed Fallon, or you might get replaced by... Byron Allen.
- Litton Entertainment has cleared WCIU-TV for R&B star Brian McKnight's new one-hour syndicated variety series for next fall. Litton have been getting inquiries from several My Network TV affiliates, since the network - I'm sorry, I mean "programming service" - is giving Saturday prime-time back to them.
Litton hopes this effort is better than The Tom Joyner Show, a similar program featuring the legendary radio personality which the syndicator had success in launching (as in getting the project on the air), but flopped with viewers in 2005.
Litton has also cleared WPIX-TV in New York and the CW Plus group for McKnight. In a related note, NBC Universal will handle ad sales for all Litton first-run syndicated programming, including McKnight's show and Storm Stories.
- Good Grief, a Star Wars TV series? Casting began this week for a new Star Wars TV series, which focuses on minor characters and whose timeline takes place between Revenge of the Sith and the original Star Wars.
Let's hope this turns out better than the joke that's The Clone Wars.
- The Parents Television Council is after Family Guy again... this time over the episode titled "Family Gay". Does anybody care what this group say anymore? (Check out yours truly's take in the comments section in the linked article - if you can manage to read it. One word of advice - don't format on their forum.)
Oh man. Just talking about the PTC riles my blood up. I sure could use a distraction right now... Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Conway Twitty.
- A word about this article in TV Week regarding reality's dominance - um, I hate to break it to you, but reality TV has always been with us. Gasp! Really? Yes, it's been around since Candid Camera debuted all the way back in 1947. Before American Idol, there was Star Search. And before Dancing with the Stars, there was Dance Fever. Before The Bachelor, there was Love Connection, The Dating Game, and Studs (remember the uproar over that show?)
And don't forget, the term Reality TV was used to describe late '80's fare such as Cops, America's Most Wanted, Inside Edition, and salacious daytime talk shows like Geraldo.
So anyone who thinks this is a hot new phenomenon - please... you haven't been here long enough.
- Jimmy Fallon's new late-night talk show got to a good start in the ratings two weeks ago, but the reviews have been meh-like. Fallon's been criticized for unfunny monologues and lackluster interviewing skills.
Yours truly watched the first episode and ... wow. A PSA for Blonde Moms. Lick stuff for $10. That's A-list roll-out-of chair funny stuff. Yeah.
Fallon seems likable and someone you'd want to root for, but he's trying too hard. He needs to loosen up more on camera and take some risks. How's this for an idea as an opening sketch? Have sex with Meg Griffin and later get pummeled by her father, Peter Griffin. The audience would eat that up! Hey, wait a minute...
In other words, get up to speed Fallon, or you might get replaced by... Byron Allen.
- Litton Entertainment has cleared WCIU-TV for R&B star Brian McKnight's new one-hour syndicated variety series for next fall. Litton have been getting inquiries from several My Network TV affiliates, since the network - I'm sorry, I mean "programming service" - is giving Saturday prime-time back to them.
Litton hopes this effort is better than The Tom Joyner Show, a similar program featuring the legendary radio personality which the syndicator had success in launching (as in getting the project on the air), but flopped with viewers in 2005.
Litton has also cleared WPIX-TV in New York and the CW Plus group for McKnight. In a related note, NBC Universal will handle ad sales for all Litton first-run syndicated programming, including McKnight's show and Storm Stories.
- Good Grief, a Star Wars TV series? Casting began this week for a new Star Wars TV series, which focuses on minor characters and whose timeline takes place between Revenge of the Sith and the original Star Wars.
Let's hope this turns out better than the joke that's The Clone Wars.
- The Parents Television Council is after Family Guy again... this time over the episode titled "Family Gay". Does anybody care what this group say anymore? (Check out yours truly's take in the comments section in the linked article - if you can manage to read it. One word of advice - don't format on their forum.)
Oh man. Just talking about the PTC riles my blood up. I sure could use a distraction right now... Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Conway Twitty.
Johnny B. stays with The Loop
After long negotiations, WLUP-FM morning man Jonathan Brandmeier signed a one-year contract to stay with the classic rock outlet.
Brandmeier, a young-adult audience sensation in the 1980's and early 1990's on WLUP, returned to "The Loop" four years ago from the now-defunct KLSX-FM in Los Angeles, and has enjoyed resecptable ratings success among key adult demos (though not as big in his earlier heyday.)
The move comes as morning radio stars have been cut over the past two years, with Steve Dahl, Eddie Volkman and Joe Bohannon, and Howard McGee all losing their radio gigs partly due to their expensive contracts.
Brandmeier's signing is also bold - but realistic, given the economic conditions today. No word yet on terms of the deal.
Recently, The Loop's owner (Emmis) cut 7 percent of its workforce, including staff and on-air personnel at the station and WKQX-FM (Q101).
Brandmeier, a young-adult audience sensation in the 1980's and early 1990's on WLUP, returned to "The Loop" four years ago from the now-defunct KLSX-FM in Los Angeles, and has enjoyed resecptable ratings success among key adult demos (though not as big in his earlier heyday.)
The move comes as morning radio stars have been cut over the past two years, with Steve Dahl, Eddie Volkman and Joe Bohannon, and Howard McGee all losing their radio gigs partly due to their expensive contracts.
Brandmeier's signing is also bold - but realistic, given the economic conditions today. No word yet on terms of the deal.
Recently, The Loop's owner (Emmis) cut 7 percent of its workforce, including staff and on-air personnel at the station and WKQX-FM (Q101).
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 09, 2009
WEEK, WHOI merge operations
Playing in Peoria is hard these days...
The owners of NBC affiliate WEEK-TV and ABC affiliate WHOI-TV in Peoria have decided to merge their operations, effective immediately.
WEEK's owner (Granite Broadcasting) took over the operations of Barrington Broadcasting-owned WHOI in a local marketing agreement, leaving just Nextstar's CBS affiliate (WMBD-TV) as their sole local competitor.
A similar scenario has played out in Syracuse, where Granite's WTVH (CBS) had its operations taken over by Barrington's WSTM-TV (NBC).
The moves mean the news operations at WHOI and WTVH have practically shut down, with employees thrown out of work. 40 employees were dismissed at WTVH; 30 were canned at WHOI.
WHOI had dropped to last place in the ratings race in Peoria, as did WTVH in Syracuse.
Both Barrington and Granite have struggled financially over the years, with Granite filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy just a few years ago.
Despite the merging of operations, both stations are expected to keep their on-air personas and newscasts separate. However, behind the scenes work and camera crews have merged, and the newscasts are being produced out of one facility, instead of two.
The news comes as another station here in the Midwest (Fox affiliate WITI-TV in Milwaukee) announced they were "suspending" their early-fringe weekend news broadcasts because of weak economic conditions.
The Peoria-Bloomington market has been hit hard in particular: In October 2008, two radio stations owned by local businessman Bob Kelly went dark, and in January 2008, the market's local public TV station had their facilities foreclosed on.
How did it come to this? In the linked Milwaukee story regarding WITI ending its early-fringe weekend newscasts for now, Tim Cuprisin notes NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV has started running infomercials in prime access and primetime on Saturdays. No surprise here: CBS-owned WBBM-TV and NBC-owned WMAQ-TV in Chicago have done the same thing (in prime access) on alternative Saturdays for years now, and Buffalo's network affiliates have ran paid programming off-and-on in Saturday prime access for nearly fifteen years. Gives new meaning to the phrase "Saturday night TV is dead."
Also: Interesting to note in the WTVH story at Syracuse.com, 55 percent of Syracuse households tune in to late news - higher than Chicago's four-share tune in for its 10 p.m. newscasts.
The owners of NBC affiliate WEEK-TV and ABC affiliate WHOI-TV in Peoria have decided to merge their operations, effective immediately.
WEEK's owner (Granite Broadcasting) took over the operations of Barrington Broadcasting-owned WHOI in a local marketing agreement, leaving just Nextstar's CBS affiliate (WMBD-TV) as their sole local competitor.
A similar scenario has played out in Syracuse, where Granite's WTVH (CBS) had its operations taken over by Barrington's WSTM-TV (NBC).
The moves mean the news operations at WHOI and WTVH have practically shut down, with employees thrown out of work. 40 employees were dismissed at WTVH; 30 were canned at WHOI.
WHOI had dropped to last place in the ratings race in Peoria, as did WTVH in Syracuse.
Both Barrington and Granite have struggled financially over the years, with Granite filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy just a few years ago.
Despite the merging of operations, both stations are expected to keep their on-air personas and newscasts separate. However, behind the scenes work and camera crews have merged, and the newscasts are being produced out of one facility, instead of two.
The news comes as another station here in the Midwest (Fox affiliate WITI-TV in Milwaukee) announced they were "suspending" their early-fringe weekend news broadcasts because of weak economic conditions.
The Peoria-Bloomington market has been hit hard in particular: In October 2008, two radio stations owned by local businessman Bob Kelly went dark, and in January 2008, the market's local public TV station had their facilities foreclosed on.
How did it come to this? In the linked Milwaukee story regarding WITI ending its early-fringe weekend newscasts for now, Tim Cuprisin notes NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV has started running infomercials in prime access and primetime on Saturdays. No surprise here: CBS-owned WBBM-TV and NBC-owned WMAQ-TV in Chicago have done the same thing (in prime access) on alternative Saturdays for years now, and Buffalo's network affiliates have ran paid programming off-and-on in Saturday prime access for nearly fifteen years. Gives new meaning to the phrase "Saturday night TV is dead."
Also: Interesting to note in the WTVH story at Syracuse.com, 55 percent of Syracuse households tune in to late news - higher than Chicago's four-share tune in for its 10 p.m. newscasts.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
"Springer', "Wilkos" likely heading to Connecticut
I know this story is over a week old, but it is significant.
Has Chicago's media and political freak shows become too much for even the king of dysfunctional TV, Jerry Springer?
According to news that became public a week and a half ago, NBC Universal - the syndicator behind raunchy talkers Maury, Jerry Springer, and The Steve Wilkos Show, plan to move the three talk shows to a television production facility in Stamford, CT.
Stamford is home to the World Wrestling Federation, but (surprisingly) has no plan to be involved in the production of all three shows.
The three NBC Universal shows are apparently taking advantage of tax credits being offered to the shows by Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell.
Currently, Springer and Wilkos tape at the NBC Tower here in Chicago while Maury tapes at Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City (another talk show syndicated by NBC Universal - Martha - is not part of the deal and will continue to tape in New York.) This is the second television production to flee the Big Apple in many weeks due to the collapse of the tax credit program which was supposed to lure programs to the city. Earlier, Warner Bros. announced Fringe would move production from New York to Vancouver if the freshman drama is renewed next year.
As you recall, Jerry Springer's show was under intense scrutiny from Chicago's City Council in 1998 for fights breaking out on stage and the overall raunchy tone of the show. A year earlier, WMAQ-TV (which aired Springer at the time) hired him as commentator for their 10 p.m. newscast, which forced anchors Ron Magers and Carol Marin to resign (Marin however, has since returned as an investigate reporter.)
Springer has been targeted by Rev. Michael Pflager of St. Sabina's Church and conservative groups Parents Television Council, The American Family Association, and the Illinois Family Institute for the show's raunchy tone and violent content. The ratings were sky high at one point, beating The Oprah Winfrey Show in early 1998. Springer pledged to clean up the show and did, but the fights returned, although more constrained (there have also been acquisitions that the violence and fights on the show are staged.)
Today, Springer resides near the bottom of the pack of syndicated talk shows, but does well enough to continue.
If the move goes through, Chicago would be left with only Warner Bros.' Judge Mathis and Judge Jeanne Pirro and of course, The Oprah Winfrey Show as the only nationally syndicated programs taped and/or filmed here.
This isn't the first time a talk show left the Windy City. In 1985, Phil Donahue moved his talk show from Chicago to New York to tape at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
For the record, the last time a nationally syndicated talk show was taped regularly in Connecticut was Sally Jessy Raphael's talk show, which was produced at the studios of ABC affiliate WTNH-TV in New Haven (in the Hartford DMA) from 1986-89, when afterward she moved production of her show to New York. Before moving to New Haven, Raphael taped her show at NBC affiliate KSDK-TV in St. Louis.
Donahue, Sally Jessy Raphael, and Jerry Springer were all developed and syndicated by Multimedia Entertainment, which was sold to Universal in 1997.
Thought: While yours truly is more than happy to see Springer's show leave Chicago, what I'm not happy about is the loss of jobs resulting from the move of two programs moving out of town. Even worse, special interest groups and longtime critics of the show - from Rev. Michael Pflager on the left to David Edward Smith of the Illinois Family Institute on the right - will claim victory for forcing Springer out of town, when in reality, they haven't done anything but shout and scream and run their mouths.
Don't forget - when Springer is gone, Chicago politicians - who are about as dysfunctional as the show's guests - and had the audacity to question him over his program's antics when these alderjerks engaged in this same type of behavior during the racially divisive Council Wars in the 1980's - are still here. In fact, the Council still behaves this way today.
T Dog's Think Tank Archive: Ten Years later...
Has Chicago's media and political freak shows become too much for even the king of dysfunctional TV, Jerry Springer?
According to news that became public a week and a half ago, NBC Universal - the syndicator behind raunchy talkers Maury, Jerry Springer, and The Steve Wilkos Show, plan to move the three talk shows to a television production facility in Stamford, CT.
Stamford is home to the World Wrestling Federation, but (surprisingly) has no plan to be involved in the production of all three shows.
The three NBC Universal shows are apparently taking advantage of tax credits being offered to the shows by Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell.
Currently, Springer and Wilkos tape at the NBC Tower here in Chicago while Maury tapes at Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City (another talk show syndicated by NBC Universal - Martha - is not part of the deal and will continue to tape in New York.) This is the second television production to flee the Big Apple in many weeks due to the collapse of the tax credit program which was supposed to lure programs to the city. Earlier, Warner Bros. announced Fringe would move production from New York to Vancouver if the freshman drama is renewed next year.
As you recall, Jerry Springer's show was under intense scrutiny from Chicago's City Council in 1998 for fights breaking out on stage and the overall raunchy tone of the show. A year earlier, WMAQ-TV (which aired Springer at the time) hired him as commentator for their 10 p.m. newscast, which forced anchors Ron Magers and Carol Marin to resign (Marin however, has since returned as an investigate reporter.)
Springer has been targeted by Rev. Michael Pflager of St. Sabina's Church and conservative groups Parents Television Council, The American Family Association, and the Illinois Family Institute for the show's raunchy tone and violent content. The ratings were sky high at one point, beating The Oprah Winfrey Show in early 1998. Springer pledged to clean up the show and did, but the fights returned, although more constrained (there have also been acquisitions that the violence and fights on the show are staged.)
Today, Springer resides near the bottom of the pack of syndicated talk shows, but does well enough to continue.
If the move goes through, Chicago would be left with only Warner Bros.' Judge Mathis and Judge Jeanne Pirro and of course, The Oprah Winfrey Show as the only nationally syndicated programs taped and/or filmed here.
This isn't the first time a talk show left the Windy City. In 1985, Phil Donahue moved his talk show from Chicago to New York to tape at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
For the record, the last time a nationally syndicated talk show was taped regularly in Connecticut was Sally Jessy Raphael's talk show, which was produced at the studios of ABC affiliate WTNH-TV in New Haven (in the Hartford DMA) from 1986-89, when afterward she moved production of her show to New York. Before moving to New Haven, Raphael taped her show at NBC affiliate KSDK-TV in St. Louis.
Donahue, Sally Jessy Raphael, and Jerry Springer were all developed and syndicated by Multimedia Entertainment, which was sold to Universal in 1997.
Thought: While yours truly is more than happy to see Springer's show leave Chicago, what I'm not happy about is the loss of jobs resulting from the move of two programs moving out of town. Even worse, special interest groups and longtime critics of the show - from Rev. Michael Pflager on the left to David Edward Smith of the Illinois Family Institute on the right - will claim victory for forcing Springer out of town, when in reality, they haven't done anything but shout and scream and run their mouths.
Don't forget - when Springer is gone, Chicago politicians - who are about as dysfunctional as the show's guests - and had the audacity to question him over his program's antics when these alderjerks engaged in this same type of behavior during the racially divisive Council Wars in the 1980's - are still here. In fact, the Council still behaves this way today.
T Dog's Think Tank Archive: Ten Years later...
Thursday, March 05, 2009
"Simpsons", "Survivor" renewed
Enough doom and gloom! Time for some happy news (if you can call it that...)
Two of television's most durable franchises received pacts ensuring their future for some time to come.
While this news actually became "official" when they started work on next season's episodes last July, Fox announced Wednesday the renewal of The Simpsons for seasons 21 and 22, making it the longest-running prime-time scripted show in television history surpassing CBS' "Gunsmoke", which ran from 1955 to 1975. The Simpsons debuted as a Christmas special on December 17, 1989.
The first HD episode handily won its Sunday night timeslot among adults 18-49, the program's main demo. The program is still a powerhouse in key male demos.
While The Simpsons has has now passed the historic threshold for prime-time, many other current programs has been longer - NBC's Meet the Press has been on the air since 1947, 60 Minutes since 1967, and numerous soap operas on the networks' current daytime lineup have been on the air since the 1950's and 1960's.
Don't forget some syndicated product have long runs as well - Wheel of Fortune is currently in its 26th season in syndication (34 years if you count its NBC daytime run, which began in 1975); Jeopardy! is in its 25th; The Oprah Winfrey Show is in its 23rd; and Inside Edition is in its 21st.
Soul Train is currently the longest-running first-run syndication series in history, but the program stopped producing episodes in 2006, its 35th season, while American Bandstand had 32 seasons under its belt with 30 of those seasons on ABC (1957-87), one season in first-run (1987-88), and another on cable's USA network (1989). Not counting toward the total is the series' first five seasons airing exclusively on WFIL-TV (now WPVI) in Philadelphia.
Survivor gets picked up as well
Meanwhile, CBS has renewed its reality franchise Survivor for its 19th and 20th editions. Survivor premiered on May 31, 2000 and the August 23, 2000 finale drew more than 50 million viewers, the most of any show in August (a traditional low homes-using-television month) since the series finale of The Fugitive aired in 1967. Survivor moved to Thursday nights in February 2001 and has thrived there ever since, bringing down young adult demo powerhouse Friends in the process.
Survivor brought younger viewers (especially those in the adults 18-49 demo) to CBS, shredding its image as a network exclusively for older viewers. The most recent episode drew more than 13 million viewers, and dominated its time slot among the 18-49 demo.
Two of television's most durable franchises received pacts ensuring their future for some time to come.
While this news actually became "official" when they started work on next season's episodes last July, Fox announced Wednesday the renewal of The Simpsons for seasons 21 and 22, making it the longest-running prime-time scripted show in television history surpassing CBS' "Gunsmoke", which ran from 1955 to 1975. The Simpsons debuted as a Christmas special on December 17, 1989.
The first HD episode handily won its Sunday night timeslot among adults 18-49, the program's main demo. The program is still a powerhouse in key male demos.
While The Simpsons has has now passed the historic threshold for prime-time, many other current programs has been longer - NBC's Meet the Press has been on the air since 1947, 60 Minutes since 1967, and numerous soap operas on the networks' current daytime lineup have been on the air since the 1950's and 1960's.
Don't forget some syndicated product have long runs as well - Wheel of Fortune is currently in its 26th season in syndication (34 years if you count its NBC daytime run, which began in 1975); Jeopardy! is in its 25th; The Oprah Winfrey Show is in its 23rd; and Inside Edition is in its 21st.
Soul Train is currently the longest-running first-run syndication series in history, but the program stopped producing episodes in 2006, its 35th season, while American Bandstand had 32 seasons under its belt with 30 of those seasons on ABC (1957-87), one season in first-run (1987-88), and another on cable's USA network (1989). Not counting toward the total is the series' first five seasons airing exclusively on WFIL-TV (now WPVI) in Philadelphia.
Survivor gets picked up as well
Meanwhile, CBS has renewed its reality franchise Survivor for its 19th and 20th editions. Survivor premiered on May 31, 2000 and the August 23, 2000 finale drew more than 50 million viewers, the most of any show in August (a traditional low homes-using-television month) since the series finale of The Fugitive aired in 1967. Survivor moved to Thursday nights in February 2001 and has thrived there ever since, bringing down young adult demo powerhouse Friends in the process.
Survivor brought younger viewers (especially those in the adults 18-49 demo) to CBS, shredding its image as a network exclusively for older viewers. The most recent episode drew more than 13 million viewers, and dominated its time slot among the 18-49 demo.
Emmis cuts staffers
From the world of deaths, we go into... layoffs.
Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications cut staffers nationwide today, reducing 7.5 percent of its workforce, including seven employees at its two Chicago outlets: alternative WKQX-FM (Q101) and classic rocker The Loop (WLUP-FM).
The layoffs were due to the deteriorating economy and the soft ad market, according to company officials.
Emmis is also merging its Chicago and St. Louis stations' branding, imaging, and programming with management shuffling back and forth between the two markets.
Among those who got the ax were: brand manager Tisa LaSorte, Q101 PD Marc Young, and imaging director Mark Tammany.
On-air personalities who were dumped were WLUP midday jock Erin Carmen and sportscaster Bruce Wolf.
Pete McMurray takes over middays at The Loop tomorrow, but John Kempf takes over the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. time slot beginning on Monday, with McMurray relocating to Kempf's old evening slot, at least for the time being.
At Q101, Alex Quigley and Ryan and Kevin Manno exchanging time slots, with Quigley going over to evenings and the duo heading to afternoon drive.
Meanwhile, there is increasing speculation that Jonathan Brandmeier might not be back once his contract at The Loop is up. Brandmeier has yet to sign a new deal at the station, with the terrible economy one of the main sticking points. With today's layoffs at Emmis, Brandmeier's chances at staying put with a pay increase don't look very good.
Sad as all of this may seem, look at it this way: at least nobody died. We've had enough of those this past week.
Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications cut staffers nationwide today, reducing 7.5 percent of its workforce, including seven employees at its two Chicago outlets: alternative WKQX-FM (Q101) and classic rocker The Loop (WLUP-FM).
The layoffs were due to the deteriorating economy and the soft ad market, according to company officials.
Emmis is also merging its Chicago and St. Louis stations' branding, imaging, and programming with management shuffling back and forth between the two markets.
Among those who got the ax were: brand manager Tisa LaSorte, Q101 PD Marc Young, and imaging director Mark Tammany.
On-air personalities who were dumped were WLUP midday jock Erin Carmen and sportscaster Bruce Wolf.
Pete McMurray takes over middays at The Loop tomorrow, but John Kempf takes over the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. time slot beginning on Monday, with McMurray relocating to Kempf's old evening slot, at least for the time being.
At Q101, Alex Quigley and Ryan and Kevin Manno exchanging time slots, with Quigley going over to evenings and the duo heading to afternoon drive.
Meanwhile, there is increasing speculation that Jonathan Brandmeier might not be back once his contract at The Loop is up. Brandmeier has yet to sign a new deal at the station, with the terrible economy one of the main sticking points. With today's layoffs at Emmis, Brandmeier's chances at staying put with a pay increase don't look very good.
Sad as all of this may seem, look at it this way: at least nobody died. We've had enough of those this past week.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Richard Pegue passes away
As I said earlier, The T Dog Media Blog is turning into the T Dog Media Obituary Blog...
Yet another Chicago media personality has left us. This time it's former DJ Richard Pegue, whose resume included stints at WGCI, WVON, WJPC, WOPA, and until last weekend, Kennedy-King College's WKKC-FM. Pegue was 64.
A Hirsch high school student (where he formed a doo-wop group), Pegue was music director at WVON-AM for seven years during "The Good Guys" era (1968-75) and during his time at WKKC, he was known as "Doctor Dusty" - spinning tunes from back in the day on late Saturday nights into Sunday mornings.
Pegue was also a jingle writer, creating themes for Moo & Oink supermarket chain and Funtown Amusement Park (formerly on 95th and Stony Island.)
Pegue received a honorary street designation in the Grand Crossing neighborhood at the corner of 76th Street and Ingleside Avenue.
Updated at 11:49 p.m. on 2008-03-04
Yet another Chicago media personality has left us. This time it's former DJ Richard Pegue, whose resume included stints at WGCI, WVON, WJPC, WOPA, and until last weekend, Kennedy-King College's WKKC-FM. Pegue was 64.
A Hirsch high school student (where he formed a doo-wop group), Pegue was music director at WVON-AM for seven years during "The Good Guys" era (1968-75) and during his time at WKKC, he was known as "Doctor Dusty" - spinning tunes from back in the day on late Saturday nights into Sunday mornings.
Pegue was also a jingle writer, creating themes for Moo & Oink supermarket chain and Funtown Amusement Park (formerly on 95th and Stony Island.)
Pegue received a honorary street designation in the Grand Crossing neighborhood at the corner of 76th Street and Ingleside Avenue.
Updated at 11:49 p.m. on 2008-03-04
Monday, March 02, 2009
Paul Harvey dies
Just days after losing Norm Van Lier, Johnny Kerr, and James Ward, Chicago loses yet another longtime media personality - and this one was as big as they come. This person didn't just work in radio- he was radio.
Paul Harvey died Saturday in a Phoenix hospital (near his winter home) at the age of 90.
Harvey began his long radio career in his birthplace of Tulsa, Okla., getting his start at KVOO as a staff announcer. He worked at several radio stations before coming to Chicago in 1944, where he became a newscaster for WENR and had based his nationally syndicated radio show here since 1951 and went on everyday at noon.
His popular News and Comment radio show - and a popular spinoff (The Rest of the Story) were heard on over 600 radio stations in the United States and distributed by ABC Radio Networks. In his home base of Chicago, he was heard locally on WGN-AM.
A proud member of The Radio Hall Of Fame, Harvey received The Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2005.
Harvey's wife Lynne was a producer for his show. She died last May at the age of 92 from complications due to Leukemia.
His format was simple: new headlines, commentary, a celebrity item, and a weird or absurd story - and it was a format durable for over sixty years. It was his down home sensibilities and gentle manner that made him a favorite in middle America.
Another quirk of Harvey's show was his "dramatic pauses". And his ability to segue from telling a story to a sponsored message was second to none.
It would be difficult to replace a man who some thought would not fit in today's media landscape. Certainly, he was the last of his kind in radio. Though he has left us, there's comfort in knowing he is now reunited in peace with Lynne in heaven. And to him - it's a "good day."
More: Aaron Barnhart of TV Barn and the Kansas City Star has a more detailed profile of Paul Harvey.
Paul Harvey died Saturday in a Phoenix hospital (near his winter home) at the age of 90.
Harvey began his long radio career in his birthplace of Tulsa, Okla., getting his start at KVOO as a staff announcer. He worked at several radio stations before coming to Chicago in 1944, where he became a newscaster for WENR and had based his nationally syndicated radio show here since 1951 and went on everyday at noon.
His popular News and Comment radio show - and a popular spinoff (The Rest of the Story) were heard on over 600 radio stations in the United States and distributed by ABC Radio Networks. In his home base of Chicago, he was heard locally on WGN-AM.
A proud member of The Radio Hall Of Fame, Harvey received The Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2005.
Harvey's wife Lynne was a producer for his show. She died last May at the age of 92 from complications due to Leukemia.
His format was simple: new headlines, commentary, a celebrity item, and a weird or absurd story - and it was a format durable for over sixty years. It was his down home sensibilities and gentle manner that made him a favorite in middle America.
Another quirk of Harvey's show was his "dramatic pauses". And his ability to segue from telling a story to a sponsored message was second to none.
It would be difficult to replace a man who some thought would not fit in today's media landscape. Certainly, he was the last of his kind in radio. Though he has left us, there's comfort in knowing he is now reunited in peace with Lynne in heaven. And to him - it's a "good day."
More: Aaron Barnhart of TV Barn and the Kansas City Star has a more detailed profile of Paul Harvey.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
James Ward dies
Thursday was a tough day in Chicago media, as it was announced another well-known personality had died.
Retired WLS-TV restaurant critic James Ward died on Thursday afternoon after a long battle with cancer. He was 76 - the same age as Johnny "Red" Kerr, who died the same day.
Also passing on Thursday was Chicago Bull legend Norm Van Lier, who was 61.
Ward was the station's long-time restaurant critic, joining the station in 1985 and appearing on the ABC-owned station's Friday night newscasts where he scored the dining establishments using a system of "breads" and "circuses".
Ward also was a food critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Daily News, and also wrote for numerous lifestyle magazines.
After twenty years at WLS-TV, Ward retired in December 2005.
Thanks for the fun Mr. Ward, and as you would always say - Chow Chow for now.
Retired WLS-TV restaurant critic James Ward died on Thursday afternoon after a long battle with cancer. He was 76 - the same age as Johnny "Red" Kerr, who died the same day.
Also passing on Thursday was Chicago Bull legend Norm Van Lier, who was 61.
Ward was the station's long-time restaurant critic, joining the station in 1985 and appearing on the ABC-owned station's Friday night newscasts where he scored the dining establishments using a system of "breads" and "circuses".
Ward also was a food critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Daily News, and also wrote for numerous lifestyle magazines.
After twenty years at WLS-TV, Ward retired in December 2005.
Thanks for the fun Mr. Ward, and as you would always say - Chow Chow for now.
Johnny "Red" Kerr dies
Former Bulls broadcaster John G. "Red" Kerr passed away at his home Thursday due to a long time battle with prostate cancer at the age of 76. Kerr died just hours after former Bulls player and analyst Norm Van Lier was found dead in his Chicago home.
Kerr was the first Chicago Bulls coach (1966-68) and later had a 33-year run as the team's television and radio analyst. Until this season (when declining health forced him to scale back his workload), he was paired with Tom Dore for Comcast SportsNet telecasts and Wayne Larrivee on WGN-TV.
Kerr's NBA career began with the Syracuse Nationals in 1954, which moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers in 1963. He stayed with the franchise until 1965, when he was traded to the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards). In 1966, he retired as a player from pro basketball and took the Bulls' coaching job.
In the Bulls' first season (which home games were played at the International Amphitheatre at 43rd and Halsted), the expansion Bulls made the playoffs despite a 33-48 record - a first for any team in North America's four major sports - and was named NBA coach of the year.
Kerr left the Bulls in 1968 for a coaching gig with the expansion Phoenix Suns and subsequently worked for an ABA team before returning to the Bulls as a business manager in 1973. Two years later, Kerr became the team's color analyst, being teamed with broadcaster Jim Durham at first.
Kerr also emceed the Bulls' championship celebrations at Grant Park during the Michael Jordan era, and did a lot of them - six to be exact.
Even though younger fans aren't familiar with his days as a Bulls coach or his dabbling behind-the-scenes of the team, Kerr will be remembered for his enthusiastic style as a color commentator (especially when Michael Jordan sunk a game winning shot) and the team's unofficial ambassador. Watching Johnny "Red" Kerr and Norm Van Lier during Bulls' broadcasts were always fun, and won't be the same without them.
Kerr was the first Chicago Bulls coach (1966-68) and later had a 33-year run as the team's television and radio analyst. Until this season (when declining health forced him to scale back his workload), he was paired with Tom Dore for Comcast SportsNet telecasts and Wayne Larrivee on WGN-TV.
Kerr's NBA career began with the Syracuse Nationals in 1954, which moved to Philadelphia and became the 76ers in 1963. He stayed with the franchise until 1965, when he was traded to the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards). In 1966, he retired as a player from pro basketball and took the Bulls' coaching job.
In the Bulls' first season (which home games were played at the International Amphitheatre at 43rd and Halsted), the expansion Bulls made the playoffs despite a 33-48 record - a first for any team in North America's four major sports - and was named NBA coach of the year.
Kerr left the Bulls in 1968 for a coaching gig with the expansion Phoenix Suns and subsequently worked for an ABA team before returning to the Bulls as a business manager in 1973. Two years later, Kerr became the team's color analyst, being teamed with broadcaster Jim Durham at first.
Kerr also emceed the Bulls' championship celebrations at Grant Park during the Michael Jordan era, and did a lot of them - six to be exact.
Even though younger fans aren't familiar with his days as a Bulls coach or his dabbling behind-the-scenes of the team, Kerr will be remembered for his enthusiastic style as a color commentator (especially when Michael Jordan sunk a game winning shot) and the team's unofficial ambassador. Watching Johnny "Red" Kerr and Norm Van Lier during Bulls' broadcasts were always fun, and won't be the same without them.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Norman Van Lier dies
Shocking news: Former Chicago Bull and broadcast personality Norm Van Lier died in his Chicago home today at the age of 61. He was found unresponsive at 1 p.m. in his South Loop home. The cause of death is not known at this time.
Van Lier has been a long time in-studio analyst for Chicago Bulls broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet as well as now-defunct Fox Sports Net Chicago and SportsChannel Chicago. In addition, Van Lier also hosted sports talk radio shows for WMVP-AM.
Van Lier became a Chicago Bull in 1971, two years after he broke into the league with the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings.) He was one of the more popular Bull players in the 1970's, helping his team to five straight playoff appearences, including the 1975 Western Conference Finals series with the Golden State Warriors. Van Lier departed the Bulls in 1978 and retired a year later. He was nicknamed "Stormin' Norman" and was a three-time NBA All-Star.
Van Lier has been a long time in-studio analyst for Chicago Bulls broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet as well as now-defunct Fox Sports Net Chicago and SportsChannel Chicago. In addition, Van Lier also hosted sports talk radio shows for WMVP-AM.
Van Lier became a Chicago Bull in 1971, two years after he broke into the league with the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings.) He was one of the more popular Bull players in the 1970's, helping his team to five straight playoff appearences, including the 1975 Western Conference Finals series with the Golden State Warriors. Van Lier departed the Bulls in 1978 and retired a year later. He was nicknamed "Stormin' Norman" and was a three-time NBA All-Star.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Garry Meier heads to WGN-AM - for one week only
Chicago radio personality and frequent house husband Garry Meier will be getting out of the crib more in the next week - and hoping it leads to a full-time radio job.
Meier has signed on to do the 1 to 4 p.m. shift on WGN-AM next week, in a "test drive". If the stint is successful, Meier could land the slot permanently - the shift has been vacant since last December since John Williams moved to mornings to replace retiring host Spike O'Dell.
Meier filled in for WIND-AM host Cisco Cotto today.
Chicago radio fans know Meier from his association with former on-air partner Steve Dahl, whom he worked with at various stints at WLUP and WLS in the 1980's and 1990's. The duo broke up in 1993 when the relationship decidedly soured. Meier was later paired up with WLS-AM's Roe Conn, until he exited the station in 2004.
After a few years off, Meier resurfaced at WCKG-FM for a few months in 2007 until the station dumped its talk format.
Meier has signed on to do the 1 to 4 p.m. shift on WGN-AM next week, in a "test drive". If the stint is successful, Meier could land the slot permanently - the shift has been vacant since last December since John Williams moved to mornings to replace retiring host Spike O'Dell.
Meier filled in for WIND-AM host Cisco Cotto today.
Chicago radio fans know Meier from his association with former on-air partner Steve Dahl, whom he worked with at various stints at WLUP and WLS in the 1980's and 1990's. The duo broke up in 1993 when the relationship decidedly soured. Meier was later paired up with WLS-AM's Roe Conn, until he exited the station in 2004.
After a few years off, Meier resurfaced at WCKG-FM for a few months in 2007 until the station dumped its talk format.
Chicago's January PPM results
WBBM-AM big winner
These are based on Persons 6+ numbers.
Winners:
WBBM-AM, WLS-AM and FM, Love FM (WILV-FM), WGRB-AM, The Drive (WDRV-FM), US99 (WUSN-FM)
Honorable Mention:
The Mix (WTMX-FM), WOJO-FM, The Loop (WLUP-FM), JACK FM (WJMK-FM)
Down, but potent:
Lite FM (WLIT-FM), V103 (WVAZ-FM)
Losers:
B96 (WBBM-FM), WGCI-FM, Q101 (WKQX-FM), Fresh (WCFS-FM)
Analysis: All news WBBM-AM - with its coverage of Inaguration of President Obama and other hot-button issues, rose to first in the January PPM report. Citadel had a good survey with both of its stations on the upswing. WGN-AM continued its swing upward to third place, and should be back in the top spot once Cubs baseball returns in the spring. WUSN-FM also went up, as did WDRV, WOJO, and WTMX.
On the downside, both WLIT-FM and WVAZ-FM were down, but not out as both stations remained in the Top 10, despite big drops from December. Fresh and Q101 continue to struggle finding an audience, while the tech-savvy young fans of pop and urban formats and their downloading of music aren't helping B96, WGCI, or Power 92 (WPWX-FM). Kiss (WKSC-FM) beats them all, but it ranked outside the Top 10. A slight drop from the last survey keeps Kiss off the winner's list.
On a positive note, Clear Channel's Gospel music station (WGRB-AM) outperformed Power 92 and WSRB-FM (Soul 106.3), WCFS, both sports stations, and Q101. And this is a music station - on an AM stick. Chicago sure loves its gospel!
These are based on Persons 6+ numbers.
Winners:
WBBM-AM, WLS-AM and FM, Love FM (WILV-FM), WGRB-AM, The Drive (WDRV-FM), US99 (WUSN-FM)
Honorable Mention:
The Mix (WTMX-FM), WOJO-FM, The Loop (WLUP-FM), JACK FM (WJMK-FM)
Down, but potent:
Lite FM (WLIT-FM), V103 (WVAZ-FM)
Losers:
B96 (WBBM-FM), WGCI-FM, Q101 (WKQX-FM), Fresh (WCFS-FM)
Analysis: All news WBBM-AM - with its coverage of Inaguration of President Obama and other hot-button issues, rose to first in the January PPM report. Citadel had a good survey with both of its stations on the upswing. WGN-AM continued its swing upward to third place, and should be back in the top spot once Cubs baseball returns in the spring. WUSN-FM also went up, as did WDRV, WOJO, and WTMX.
On the downside, both WLIT-FM and WVAZ-FM were down, but not out as both stations remained in the Top 10, despite big drops from December. Fresh and Q101 continue to struggle finding an audience, while the tech-savvy young fans of pop and urban formats and their downloading of music aren't helping B96, WGCI, or Power 92 (WPWX-FM). Kiss (WKSC-FM) beats them all, but it ranked outside the Top 10. A slight drop from the last survey keeps Kiss off the winner's list.
On a positive note, Clear Channel's Gospel music station (WGRB-AM) outperformed Power 92 and WSRB-FM (Soul 106.3), WCFS, both sports stations, and Q101. And this is a music station - on an AM stick. Chicago sure loves its gospel!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
News on Heroes, WGN, and The CW.
- Stick a fork in them, they're done: NBC's Heroes hit a series low Monday night, finishing fourth in total viewers (7 million) and a weak third in adults 18-49 behind sitcom repeats on CBS and The Bachelor on ABC - not to mention landing in the loser's circle in Marc Berman's Programming Insider.
Here in Chicago (if anyone cares), Heroes earned a 3.5 household rating and 5 share, placing fourth in the time period.
- WGN-TV has promoted Sandy Pudar to executive producer of its morning newscast, succeeding Jennifer Lyons, who was promoted to assistant news director.
- The CW has renewed six of its programs for next season: Gossip Girl, 90210, Smallville, Supernatural, America's Next Top Model, and One Tree Hill. The CW also picked up a drama from Ashton Kutcher about models living in New York City, and a Melrose Place revival.
Thought: I keep wondering why The Church of Tisch and Time Warner keep throwing their money away on this waste of a network. Aside from Smallville and Supernatural, there isn't one show here that deserves to be renewed, period. A revival of Melrose Place? A rip-off of mid-90's dud Models, Inc.? Innovative ideas are bankrupt at The CW, where a 0.0 rating is considered a success. But hey, it's good news for The T Dog Media Blog, as The CW will no doubt continue to be its' whipping boy right on through 2010 (somebody has to, given Nine-FM - another low-rated waste - doesn't exist anymore...)
- Stick a fork in them, they're done: NBC's Heroes hit a series low Monday night, finishing fourth in total viewers (7 million) and a weak third in adults 18-49 behind sitcom repeats on CBS and The Bachelor on ABC - not to mention landing in the loser's circle in Marc Berman's Programming Insider.
Here in Chicago (if anyone cares), Heroes earned a 3.5 household rating and 5 share, placing fourth in the time period.
- WGN-TV has promoted Sandy Pudar to executive producer of its morning newscast, succeeding Jennifer Lyons, who was promoted to assistant news director.
- The CW has renewed six of its programs for next season: Gossip Girl, 90210, Smallville, Supernatural, America's Next Top Model, and One Tree Hill. The CW also picked up a drama from Ashton Kutcher about models living in New York City, and a Melrose Place revival.
Thought: I keep wondering why The Church of Tisch and Time Warner keep throwing their money away on this waste of a network. Aside from Smallville and Supernatural, there isn't one show here that deserves to be renewed, period. A revival of Melrose Place? A rip-off of mid-90's dud Models, Inc.? Innovative ideas are bankrupt at The CW, where a 0.0 rating is considered a success. But hey, it's good news for The T Dog Media Blog, as The CW will no doubt continue to be its' whipping boy right on through 2010 (somebody has to, given Nine-FM - another low-rated waste - doesn't exist anymore...)
Chicago Journalism: The future and you
Sunday at the Allegro, a group of journalists, reporters, and media personalities gathered together for a tailgate on the future of Journalism in Chicago. It was basically a clash between old media (newspapers, television, radio) and new media (The Internet, iPhone, iPods.)
Representing the "old school" were John Calloway, Carol Marin, Robert Feder, and Eric Zorn, among others, and repping the "new school" (of Internet journalism) included Ben Goldberger of The Huffington Post (Chicago edition), Geoff Dougherty from ChiTown Daily News, and Andrew Huff from Gaper's Block.
A lot of issues were discussed from the viability of newspapers to online advertising, from theft of intellectual property to the cost of running a newsroom ($2 million to 4 million!)
The most startling statement at the tailgate came from John Calloway, who declared newspapers "dead", given the financial troubles media companies are having with them (Philadelphia's newspapers were the latest to file for Chapter 11 on Sunday.)
Also discussed was the lack of preparation of the upcoming digital TV transition, with an estimated 230,000 in Chicago proper not ready for the changeover from analog to digital television, and the lack of Internet access in some of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods.
Yours truly listened to this conference via podcast and it is a very interesting, entertaining, and educational listen. It provided a rare glimpse into what Chicago's media personalities are thinking in this era of unprecedented change in the industry.
The town hall meeting has its own blog page - there, you can view video highlights, find a link to download the podcasts, and links to the panelists' blogs on the event.
Chicago Public Radio also has a blog on Sunday's meeting, with a twitter feed on the front page. The podcast pages to download and/or listen to the meeting are here and here.
Representing the "old school" were John Calloway, Carol Marin, Robert Feder, and Eric Zorn, among others, and repping the "new school" (of Internet journalism) included Ben Goldberger of The Huffington Post (Chicago edition), Geoff Dougherty from ChiTown Daily News, and Andrew Huff from Gaper's Block.
A lot of issues were discussed from the viability of newspapers to online advertising, from theft of intellectual property to the cost of running a newsroom ($2 million to 4 million!)
The most startling statement at the tailgate came from John Calloway, who declared newspapers "dead", given the financial troubles media companies are having with them (Philadelphia's newspapers were the latest to file for Chapter 11 on Sunday.)
Also discussed was the lack of preparation of the upcoming digital TV transition, with an estimated 230,000 in Chicago proper not ready for the changeover from analog to digital television, and the lack of Internet access in some of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods.
Yours truly listened to this conference via podcast and it is a very interesting, entertaining, and educational listen. It provided a rare glimpse into what Chicago's media personalities are thinking in this era of unprecedented change in the industry.
The town hall meeting has its own blog page - there, you can view video highlights, find a link to download the podcasts, and links to the panelists' blogs on the event.
Chicago Public Radio also has a blog on Sunday's meeting, with a twitter feed on the front page. The podcast pages to download and/or listen to the meeting are here and here.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Oscar ratings up from last year - thanks to a Slumdog?
Dark Knight who?
Or is that your Final Answer?
The 81st Annual Academy Awards were up in household overnight ratings, total viewers, and 18-49 demo from last year. The increases come despite the lack of a big name in the Best Picture category, which Slumdog Millionaire won - as well as seven other Academy Awards.
The movie of course, revolves around a plot featuring the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, a real-life game show import from Britain which took off here in the States a decade ago, making host Regis Phillbin a household name and made the phrase Is that your Final Answer? into pop-culture lore.
Millionaire faded from ABC's prime-time lineup in 2002 (after the network ran it as many as four nights per week), but has since resurrected itself as a successful first-run syndicated strip hosted by Meredith Vierra.
Here's how the Oscars fared Sunday night:
- The Oscars drew 36.3 million viewers for ABC, up from 32 million last year.
- Here is a listing of the Oscar household ratings in the ten largest markets, courtesy of Mediaweek and Douglas of PIFeedback.com. (you'll find ratings for the Barbara Walters special, Jimmy Kimmel, and even NASCAR.) In Chicago, the Oscars earned a 31.6 household rating, up from last year's 28.5. Chicago's rating was second only to New York (34.0/51).
- The Oscars recorded across-the-board increases in most demos, including 18-49 (+13%) and men 18-34 (+22%).
Or is that your Final Answer?
The 81st Annual Academy Awards were up in household overnight ratings, total viewers, and 18-49 demo from last year. The increases come despite the lack of a big name in the Best Picture category, which Slumdog Millionaire won - as well as seven other Academy Awards.
The movie of course, revolves around a plot featuring the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, a real-life game show import from Britain which took off here in the States a decade ago, making host Regis Phillbin a household name and made the phrase Is that your Final Answer? into pop-culture lore.
Millionaire faded from ABC's prime-time lineup in 2002 (after the network ran it as many as four nights per week), but has since resurrected itself as a successful first-run syndicated strip hosted by Meredith Vierra.
Here's how the Oscars fared Sunday night:
- The Oscars drew 36.3 million viewers for ABC, up from 32 million last year.
- Here is a listing of the Oscar household ratings in the ten largest markets, courtesy of Mediaweek and Douglas of PIFeedback.com. (you'll find ratings for the Barbara Walters special, Jimmy Kimmel, and even NASCAR.) In Chicago, the Oscars earned a 31.6 household rating, up from last year's 28.5. Chicago's rating was second only to New York (34.0/51).
- The Oscars recorded across-the-board increases in most demos, including 18-49 (+13%) and men 18-34 (+22%).
Saturday, February 21, 2009
T Dog's Four Pack - Liars, losers, and Joaquin Phoenix
Didn't do one last week, so this is for the last two weeks: The winners and losers...
Fab Four
- Survivor. Another winning edition of Survivor, both in the ratings and in quality. And it drew more viewers in the 18-49 demo than its' lead-out, CSI Thursday night - a first.
- The Simpsons in HD. Had the look and feel of The Simpsons Movie. And the episode wasn't bad, either.
- Conan O' Brien. Yours truly thought Late Night with Conan O' Brien wouldn't last past 1994 (and so did a lot of people.) But persistence paid off for O'Brien, who leaves the post-Tonight Show slot after sixteen years this week to take over The Tonight Show itself June 1. (A side note: Conan O'Brien used to write for The Simpsons way back when.)
- David Letterman slams Joaquin Phoenix. Nice to have the old Dave back. (Click link to read comments and look at interview.)
Flop Four
- Roland Burris. Did you really lie? Not cool.
- Alex Rodriguez. And the same goes for you.
- Bud Selig. You say the steroid allegations annoys the you-know-what-out-of-you? You destroyed the game of baseball, so I say the feeling is more than mutual if we continued to accuse you of turning a blind eye to what was going on all these years, you sniveling jackass. You, Alex Rodriguez, and Roland Burris all should get a room.
- My Network TV. The "network" has decided to cut back on original programming by acquiring repeats of Law and Order: Criminal Intent and now are calling themselves a "programming service" instead of a "network". I call it "throwing in the towel".
Fab Four
- Survivor. Another winning edition of Survivor, both in the ratings and in quality. And it drew more viewers in the 18-49 demo than its' lead-out, CSI Thursday night - a first.
- The Simpsons in HD. Had the look and feel of The Simpsons Movie. And the episode wasn't bad, either.
- Conan O' Brien. Yours truly thought Late Night with Conan O' Brien wouldn't last past 1994 (and so did a lot of people.) But persistence paid off for O'Brien, who leaves the post-Tonight Show slot after sixteen years this week to take over The Tonight Show itself June 1. (A side note: Conan O'Brien used to write for The Simpsons way back when.)
- David Letterman slams Joaquin Phoenix. Nice to have the old Dave back. (Click link to read comments and look at interview.)
Flop Four
- Roland Burris. Did you really lie? Not cool.
- Alex Rodriguez. And the same goes for you.
- Bud Selig. You say the steroid allegations annoys the you-know-what-out-of-you? You destroyed the game of baseball, so I say the feeling is more than mutual if we continued to accuse you of turning a blind eye to what was going on all these years, you sniveling jackass. You, Alex Rodriguez, and Roland Burris all should get a room.
- My Network TV. The "network" has decided to cut back on original programming by acquiring repeats of Law and Order: Criminal Intent and now are calling themselves a "programming service" instead of a "network". I call it "throwing in the towel".
Thursday, February 19, 2009
ESPN launches new Chicago website
The Worldwide Leader in Sports is going local.
ESPN announced it will plan to launch a new Chicago-themed sports site in April named ESPNChicago.com. It will feature local breaking sports news and original content, including three-to-five minute local SportsCenter video segments. Also, ESPN Chicago plans to add social networking to the site as well.
Already, MillerCoors is on board as a prominent advertiser.
Contributors include ESPN writers with Chicago ties: Former Tribune sportswriter Gene Wojciechowski and Chicago native Scoop Jackson, plus WMVP-AM personalities Tom Waddle and Bruce Levine.
Thought: So, the Worldwide Leader in B.S. is getting into the Chicago sports game. Judging from the look of the screenshots I've looked at, this site has a very good chance of drawing Chicago sports fans in, even if many of them hate ESPN (look at the comments section of the linked story. You'd think the site would prominently feature Roland Burris...) The screenshot looks clean, neat and well-organized. I also like the fact it will feature breaking news, and emphanize syngeries between the site, WMVP-AM (ESPN 1000), and WLS-TV. All three are owned by The Walt Disney Company.
The site also plan to staff some Chicago writers, which is a good thing. ESPN Chicago also does not plan to hire Jay Mariotti, which is even a better thing.
If this works, ESPN could launch local websites in other sports-crazed cities including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, Dallas, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.
ESPN announced it will plan to launch a new Chicago-themed sports site in April named ESPNChicago.com. It will feature local breaking sports news and original content, including three-to-five minute local SportsCenter video segments. Also, ESPN Chicago plans to add social networking to the site as well.
Already, MillerCoors is on board as a prominent advertiser.
Contributors include ESPN writers with Chicago ties: Former Tribune sportswriter Gene Wojciechowski and Chicago native Scoop Jackson, plus WMVP-AM personalities Tom Waddle and Bruce Levine.
Thought: So, the Worldwide Leader in B.S. is getting into the Chicago sports game. Judging from the look of the screenshots I've looked at, this site has a very good chance of drawing Chicago sports fans in, even if many of them hate ESPN (look at the comments section of the linked story. You'd think the site would prominently feature Roland Burris...) The screenshot looks clean, neat and well-organized. I also like the fact it will feature breaking news, and emphanize syngeries between the site, WMVP-AM (ESPN 1000), and WLS-TV. All three are owned by The Walt Disney Company.
The site also plan to staff some Chicago writers, which is a good thing. ESPN Chicago also does not plan to hire Jay Mariotti, which is even a better thing.
If this works, ESPN could launch local websites in other sports-crazed cities including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, Dallas, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sirius-XM saved by Liberty Media
It looks like Sirius-XM received a bailout plan of its own: and it's not from the government....
Liberty Media (headed by John Malone) has come to the rescue of the beleaguered satellite radio operator, with a $530 million dollar investment. The money will come in two phases - both in the form of loans. One of the phases is being used to pay debt owed to investor Echostar at $171.6 million, due today.
Echostar owns Dish Network; Liberty owns arch-rival Direct TV.
As a result of today's deal, Liberty gains several seats on Sirius-XM's board.
Liberty Media (headed by John Malone) has come to the rescue of the beleaguered satellite radio operator, with a $530 million dollar investment. The money will come in two phases - both in the form of loans. One of the phases is being used to pay debt owed to investor Echostar at $171.6 million, due today.
Echostar owns Dish Network; Liberty owns arch-rival Direct TV.
As a result of today's deal, Liberty gains several seats on Sirius-XM's board.
Amy Jacobson vs. CBS: Round one goes to Amy
A Cook County judge is allowing a lawsuit filed by former WMAQ-TV reporter Amy Jacobson against CBS and its O&O here (WBBM-TV) to go forward after the station videotaped her at Craig Stebic's house in July 2007. The tape aired on the station and cost Ms. Jacobson her job. Stebic is a suspect in the disappearence of his wife, who still hasn't been found.
Four of the eight counts in the lawsuit are going forward, including "Intentional inflection of Emotional Distress" and "False Light".
Thought: Not about this case (I've said a lot on that already), but to the linked article and the haphazard way this story was written: Come on Eric Zorn, can you do a better job in writing this? The second paragraph of your story looks like it was written by someone in the sixth grade. You can do better than that!
Four of the eight counts in the lawsuit are going forward, including "Intentional inflection of Emotional Distress" and "False Light".
Thought: Not about this case (I've said a lot on that already), but to the linked article and the haphazard way this story was written: Come on Eric Zorn, can you do a better job in writing this? The second paragraph of your story looks like it was written by someone in the sixth grade. You can do better than that!
Monday, February 16, 2009
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag
Syndication switcheroo; Universal Sports add more clearances; Young files Chapter 11.
- With another ratings period ahead, two Chicago stations have made some major changes to their syndicated lineups:
* Beginning today, WCIU-TV is swapping time periods with Warner Bros.' The People's Court and Sony's now-canceled Judge Karen. With Karen now out of production, WCIU has moved the show to 10 a.m. with The People's Court moving to 2 p.m. (in addition to another run at 4 p.m.)
* Next Monday, CBS Television Distribution's Dr. Phil and Judge Judy exchanges time periods on WBBM-TV, with Dr. Phil moving to 3 p.m. and Judge Judy to 4 p.m. The move is being made to give WBBM's 5 p.m. newscast a better lead-in. Judy leads into local news in many major markets, including New York and Washington, D.C.
If you recall, WBBM aired the original version of The People's Court at 4 p.m. from 1987-93, leading into a 4:30 p.m. newscast, which usually placed a solid second behind WLS-TV.
- Universal Sports recently added 19 million homes to bring its total distribution to 45 million. The digital subchannel network was known as World Championship Sports Network until last August, when NBC Universal bought it. Here in Chicago, Universal Sports is carried on WMAQ-DT 5.3, Comcast channel 251, and RCN channel 51.
Before you get too excited, the sports channel mainly features sporting events usually seen in the Olympics. So if you're into downhill skiing, track and field, and equestrian, this network's for you.
- The latest broadcasting company to land on the Bankrupt space of the Wheel of Financial Misfourtune is Young Broadcasting, which filed for Chapter 11 over the weekend. Young owns KRON-TV in San Francisco, a one-time NBC powerhouse now a lagging independent station.
Young also owns ABC affiliates WBAY-TV in Green Bay/Appelton, Wis. and WKRN-TV in Nashville.
- With another ratings period ahead, two Chicago stations have made some major changes to their syndicated lineups:
* Beginning today, WCIU-TV is swapping time periods with Warner Bros.' The People's Court and Sony's now-canceled Judge Karen. With Karen now out of production, WCIU has moved the show to 10 a.m. with The People's Court moving to 2 p.m. (in addition to another run at 4 p.m.)
* Next Monday, CBS Television Distribution's Dr. Phil and Judge Judy exchanges time periods on WBBM-TV, with Dr. Phil moving to 3 p.m. and Judge Judy to 4 p.m. The move is being made to give WBBM's 5 p.m. newscast a better lead-in. Judy leads into local news in many major markets, including New York and Washington, D.C.
If you recall, WBBM aired the original version of The People's Court at 4 p.m. from 1987-93, leading into a 4:30 p.m. newscast, which usually placed a solid second behind WLS-TV.
- Universal Sports recently added 19 million homes to bring its total distribution to 45 million. The digital subchannel network was known as World Championship Sports Network until last August, when NBC Universal bought it. Here in Chicago, Universal Sports is carried on WMAQ-DT 5.3, Comcast channel 251, and RCN channel 51.
Before you get too excited, the sports channel mainly features sporting events usually seen in the Olympics. So if you're into downhill skiing, track and field, and equestrian, this network's for you.
- The latest broadcasting company to land on the Bankrupt space of the Wheel of Financial Misfourtune is Young Broadcasting, which filed for Chapter 11 over the weekend. Young owns KRON-TV in San Francisco, a one-time NBC powerhouse now a lagging independent station.
Young also owns ABC affiliates WBAY-TV in Green Bay/Appelton, Wis. and WKRN-TV in Nashville.
T Dog's Think Tank: The state of syndication, Part 2
Second of two parts.
A new morning show which debuted on Comcast SportsNet last month pairing up former WSCR-AM (Score) partners Mike North and Dan Jiggetts titled Monsters in the Morning.
While the three-hour program offers up sports news and weather every morning from 6 to 9 a.m., the deal on how the show got on the air - is something producers - especially syndicators - should be taking a look at.
It's a groundbreaking business model (for local TV at least) where the host of the show - in this case, Mike North - has a stake in the program's financial future and burdening some of the risk.
The program is not owned by CSN - it's actually part-owned by North himself - and he actually is one of the show's sales reps.
CSN isn't paying North a salary - his production company (Licorice Ltd.) is producing the show and paying the talent - including Mr. Jiggetts and other behind-the-scenes staff. Comcast SportsNet is paying a license fee to air the show.
CSN and Licorice are splitting the commercial time to sell (similar to a traditional barter syndication arrangement where the syndicator gets time to sell to national advertisers and the station carrying the show gets some to sell locally.) Any profits will be split equally between CSN and Licorice.
And North's company is doing a good job in selling the show so far, closing in on $1 million in ad revenue - with $300,000 coming from a medical staffing firm for the title sponsorship.
With North shouldering some of the risk, the program could become profitable even without a big rating. On its first day on the air, Monsters averaged a meager 0.31 household rating - but did better in its targeted male demos, where it passed competing fare on two network-owned outlets.
This business model may be something other producers in the television business - especially syndicators - need to take a look at.
With more and more projects getting shelved and existing first-run programming being canceled, or on the verge of being canceled, sharing the risk - especially in this economy - is a good idea. Already, several syndicated programs - from Trivial Pursuit: America Plays to Judge Karen have been axed, due to low ratings and poor national advertising sales.
With ratings fragmentation the norm in daytime programming, there has to be a better way of producing - and keeping programs on the air.
Instead of hiring just the talent to host the show, why not involve the person in the risk? (While you say Oprah Winfrey is an example, keep in mind she did not have any financial stake in her talk show when she started.)
The business needs more than just hosts - it needs entrepreneurs - with talent (and for better or worse, Mike North does qualify.) The failure of first-run syndicated product will continue to be high unless the studios find a more innovative way of making their product profitable. They need to look at new alternatives instead of paying such and such millions of dollars to host a talk show and watch it fail within six months.
So far this season, only one show (CBS Television Distribution's The Doctors) you can qualify as a hit with its medical news in a talk show-discussion format, which continues to grow in the ratings every week (now that's what I'm talking about - finding an original, innovative concept - and letting it work for itself. Unfortunately, this does not happen too often in syndication. )
Comcast SportsNet knows they're not going to find the next Matt Lauer and Meredith Vierra. Apparently, syndicators are still trying to find the next Oprah - a strategy that hasn't worked for the last 23 years. It's time for a strategy that does work - and who here would have thought Comcast SportsNet may have come up with it?
A new morning show which debuted on Comcast SportsNet last month pairing up former WSCR-AM (Score) partners Mike North and Dan Jiggetts titled Monsters in the Morning.
While the three-hour program offers up sports news and weather every morning from 6 to 9 a.m., the deal on how the show got on the air - is something producers - especially syndicators - should be taking a look at.
It's a groundbreaking business model (for local TV at least) where the host of the show - in this case, Mike North - has a stake in the program's financial future and burdening some of the risk.
The program is not owned by CSN - it's actually part-owned by North himself - and he actually is one of the show's sales reps.
CSN isn't paying North a salary - his production company (Licorice Ltd.) is producing the show and paying the talent - including Mr. Jiggetts and other behind-the-scenes staff. Comcast SportsNet is paying a license fee to air the show.
CSN and Licorice are splitting the commercial time to sell (similar to a traditional barter syndication arrangement where the syndicator gets time to sell to national advertisers and the station carrying the show gets some to sell locally.) Any profits will be split equally between CSN and Licorice.
And North's company is doing a good job in selling the show so far, closing in on $1 million in ad revenue - with $300,000 coming from a medical staffing firm for the title sponsorship.
With North shouldering some of the risk, the program could become profitable even without a big rating. On its first day on the air, Monsters averaged a meager 0.31 household rating - but did better in its targeted male demos, where it passed competing fare on two network-owned outlets.
This business model may be something other producers in the television business - especially syndicators - need to take a look at.
With more and more projects getting shelved and existing first-run programming being canceled, or on the verge of being canceled, sharing the risk - especially in this economy - is a good idea. Already, several syndicated programs - from Trivial Pursuit: America Plays to Judge Karen have been axed, due to low ratings and poor national advertising sales.
With ratings fragmentation the norm in daytime programming, there has to be a better way of producing - and keeping programs on the air.
Instead of hiring just the talent to host the show, why not involve the person in the risk? (While you say Oprah Winfrey is an example, keep in mind she did not have any financial stake in her talk show when she started.)
The business needs more than just hosts - it needs entrepreneurs - with talent (and for better or worse, Mike North does qualify.) The failure of first-run syndicated product will continue to be high unless the studios find a more innovative way of making their product profitable. They need to look at new alternatives instead of paying such and such millions of dollars to host a talk show and watch it fail within six months.
So far this season, only one show (CBS Television Distribution's The Doctors) you can qualify as a hit with its medical news in a talk show-discussion format, which continues to grow in the ratings every week (now that's what I'm talking about - finding an original, innovative concept - and letting it work for itself. Unfortunately, this does not happen too often in syndication. )
Comcast SportsNet knows they're not going to find the next Matt Lauer and Meredith Vierra. Apparently, syndicators are still trying to find the next Oprah - a strategy that hasn't worked for the last 23 years. It's time for a strategy that does work - and who here would have thought Comcast SportsNet may have come up with it?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
"Simpsons" debuts in HD
The Simpsons finally went HD starting with tonight's episode, which also included an all-new revamp of the opening credit sequence, which has been used in various forms since the series debuted in 1990.
Last Sunday (Feb. 8) King of the Hill went HD, as does Comedy Central's South Park when it returns for its season premiere on March 11.
Tonight's episode of The Simpsons was titled Take My Life, Please - a journey in which Homer Simpson wonders what would his life be like if he was elected high-school president back in 1974 (and thankfully not 1984, if this episode was any indication...)
The episode looked great in high definition, having the same feel as The Simpsons Movie, which aired in HD last year on HBO. And the new opening was pretty good.
And better yet, That '90's Show episode is now considered non-canon, so yours truly can finally stop bitching about it... so, this is the last time this blog will mention the episode and the Think Tank I wrote about it (alright, stop your cheering...)
Last Sunday (Feb. 8) King of the Hill went HD, as does Comedy Central's South Park when it returns for its season premiere on March 11.
Tonight's episode of The Simpsons was titled Take My Life, Please - a journey in which Homer Simpson wonders what would his life be like if he was elected high-school president back in 1974 (and thankfully not 1984, if this episode was any indication...)
The episode looked great in high definition, having the same feel as The Simpsons Movie, which aired in HD last year on HBO. And the new opening was pretty good.
And better yet, That '90's Show episode is now considered non-canon, so yours truly can finally stop bitching about it... so, this is the last time this blog will mention the episode and the Think Tank I wrote about it (alright, stop your cheering...)
Friday, February 13, 2009
News & Notes
The alternative title is being used to describe today's News & Notes, as there is sad news to report:
- Chicago Defender sports journalist Larry Gross passed away Wednesday at the age of 59 due to complications from lung cancer. Gross covered mostly local sports for the paper, including Chicago Public School Prep action.
The wake will be held Feb. 18 from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Gatlings Chapel, 10133 South Halsted (Illinois Route 1), Chicago, IL 60628-1814.
- Fisher Broadcasting, owners of ABC affiliates KATU in Portland, Ore. and KOMO in Seattle, have became the latest outlets to add This TV to their digital subchannels. The deal also includes Fisher's three other Oregon stations. This TV is a joint venture between Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting and MGM.
- Fox O&O WFLD-TV is adding a new Sunday morning show from the Chicago Urban League titled next TV, which debuts on Feb. 22 at 8 a.m. The program features the stories of African-American entrepreneurs in Chicago. WFLD is getting a fee from the Urban League to air the show and split the ad inventory. WPWR is also airing a same-day rerun of next TV.
The move means Fox Chicago Sunday (a public-affairs program), is being cut to a half-hour and moves to Sundays at 8:30 a.m.
- Disney-ABC has renewed action hour Legend of the Seeker for a second season in 70 percent of the country, including WGN-TV in Chicago.
- Chicago Defender sports journalist Larry Gross passed away Wednesday at the age of 59 due to complications from lung cancer. Gross covered mostly local sports for the paper, including Chicago Public School Prep action.
The wake will be held Feb. 18 from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Gatlings Chapel, 10133 South Halsted (Illinois Route 1), Chicago, IL 60628-1814.
- Fisher Broadcasting, owners of ABC affiliates KATU in Portland, Ore. and KOMO in Seattle, have became the latest outlets to add This TV to their digital subchannels. The deal also includes Fisher's three other Oregon stations. This TV is a joint venture between Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting and MGM.
- Fox O&O WFLD-TV is adding a new Sunday morning show from the Chicago Urban League titled next TV, which debuts on Feb. 22 at 8 a.m. The program features the stories of African-American entrepreneurs in Chicago. WFLD is getting a fee from the Urban League to air the show and split the ad inventory. WPWR is also airing a same-day rerun of next TV.
The move means Fox Chicago Sunday (a public-affairs program), is being cut to a half-hour and moves to Sundays at 8:30 a.m.
- Disney-ABC has renewed action hour Legend of the Seeker for a second season in 70 percent of the country, including WGN-TV in Chicago.
The FCC says no to Rockford (or yes?)
Updated story
The FCC has rejected an application for all of the stations in the Rockford-Freeport area (northwest of Chicago) to switch to all-digital broadcasting.
The stations: CBS affiliate WIFR, NBC affiliate WREX, ABC affiliate WTVO, and Fox affiliate WQRF were among four of 123 stations whose applications to change over on the original switchover date (Feb. 17.) Those stations will have to wait until June 12.
Meanwhile, 368 other stations' applications were accepted, and they can turn off their analog signals on Tuesday.
But here's the rub... Turns out the FCC let Rockford's TV stations switch to digital after all on Tuesday, according to the Rockford Register Star. The story regarding Rockford's analog status in TV Week was wrong (nice job, TV Week. Is Philadelphia still a small market?)
Local station managers in Rockford say the switcher went over quite well, with few complaints.
The T Dog Media Blog apologizes for the error.
Updated at 9:43 p.m. on 2009-02-17.
The FCC has rejected an application for all of the stations in the Rockford-Freeport area (northwest of Chicago) to switch to all-digital broadcasting.
The stations: CBS affiliate WIFR, NBC affiliate WREX, ABC affiliate WTVO, and Fox affiliate WQRF were among four of 123 stations whose applications to change over on the original switchover date (Feb. 17.) Those stations will have to wait until June 12.
Meanwhile, 368 other stations' applications were accepted, and they can turn off their analog signals on Tuesday.
But here's the rub... Turns out the FCC let Rockford's TV stations switch to digital after all on Tuesday, according to the Rockford Register Star. The story regarding Rockford's analog status in TV Week was wrong (nice job, TV Week. Is Philadelphia still a small market?)
Local station managers in Rockford say the switcher went over quite well, with few complaints.
The T Dog Media Blog apologizes for the error.
Updated at 9:43 p.m. on 2009-02-17.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Chicago stations to stick with analog until June 12
Don't look for Chicago TV stations to dump their analog signals until June 12.
Chicago, along with a lot of other large markets, are keeping their analog signals on the air to avoid confusion from viewers (and perhaps protests from community groups.)
President Obama signed a bill today that would keep analog signals on the air until June 12 instead of February 17, the date those signals were supposed to be shut off.
Stations do have the option to shut off their analogs on February 17, but must have approval from the FCC to do so. Yesterday, the agency released a 49-page document on who would be switching off their analog signals and who would keep theirs on. Many of the 491 stations who are planning to shut their analogs off on the original shut-off date are from smaller markets.
In Illinois, the following are shutting down their full-power analogs on Tuesday, if all go to plan:
- In Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, all stations, except for CBS affiliate WCIA-TV and My Network TV station WCFN-TV
- In Carbondale, Southern Illinois University's WSIU-TV plans to stop analog broadcasts.
- In Peoria-Bloomington, all stations except for ABC affiliate WHOI-TV.
- All stations in the Rockford-Freeport DMA.
- All stations in the Quincy, IL-Hannibal, MO-Keokuk, IA DMA.
- Just two stations in the Paducah, Ky-Cape Giredeau, Mo.-Harrisburg, IL market: Fox affilate KBSI-TV and My Net affiliate WDKA-TV.
- Three stations in St. Louis: My Network TV affiliate WRBU-TV, Independent KNLC-TV, and ABC affiliate KDNL-TV.
- Outside of the state to Milwaukee, Sinclair's duopoly of WVTV and WCGV also plan to shutter their analogs. Sinclair also owns KDNL. In fact, most Sinclair stations plan to end analog broadcasts on Tuesday.
No stations in the Rock Island-Moline-Davenport DMA plan to shut off their analog signals until June 12.
Chicago, along with a lot of other large markets, are keeping their analog signals on the air to avoid confusion from viewers (and perhaps protests from community groups.)
President Obama signed a bill today that would keep analog signals on the air until June 12 instead of February 17, the date those signals were supposed to be shut off.
Stations do have the option to shut off their analogs on February 17, but must have approval from the FCC to do so. Yesterday, the agency released a 49-page document on who would be switching off their analog signals and who would keep theirs on. Many of the 491 stations who are planning to shut their analogs off on the original shut-off date are from smaller markets.
In Illinois, the following are shutting down their full-power analogs on Tuesday, if all go to plan:
- In Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, all stations, except for CBS affiliate WCIA-TV and My Network TV station WCFN-TV
- In Carbondale, Southern Illinois University's WSIU-TV plans to stop analog broadcasts.
- In Peoria-Bloomington, all stations except for ABC affiliate WHOI-TV.
- All stations in the Rockford-Freeport DMA.
- All stations in the Quincy, IL-Hannibal, MO-Keokuk, IA DMA.
- Just two stations in the Paducah, Ky-Cape Giredeau, Mo.-Harrisburg, IL market: Fox affilate KBSI-TV and My Net affiliate WDKA-TV.
- Three stations in St. Louis: My Network TV affiliate WRBU-TV, Independent KNLC-TV, and ABC affiliate KDNL-TV.
- Outside of the state to Milwaukee, Sinclair's duopoly of WVTV and WCGV also plan to shutter their analogs. Sinclair also owns KDNL. In fact, most Sinclair stations plan to end analog broadcasts on Tuesday.
No stations in the Rock Island-Moline-Davenport DMA plan to shut off their analog signals until June 12.
Sirius-XM continues to sink like a rock
So much so, a rock is actually worth more than their stock.
Sirius-XM's shares tumbled to an all-time low of 5 cents per share on reports the satcaster is headed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Sirius-XM is in talks with Echostar, the owner of Dish Network about a buyout, since the company assumed some of Sirius-XM's debt. It is also in talks with Liberty Media, who owns properties such as DirectTV, the Atlanta Braves and WFRV-TV in Green Bay, Wis.
If it files for Chapter 11, Sirius-XM may beforced to terminate some contracts of high-priced talent, including those of Howard Stern and Martha Stewart.
Thought: Turned out CEO Mel Karmazin turned down an offer from Echostar CEO Charle Ergen to buy the company. Another brillant business move by Mr. Karmazin. Sorry Sirius-XM, but the axe is waiting to swing. And a shame, too.
Sirius-XM's shares tumbled to an all-time low of 5 cents per share on reports the satcaster is headed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Sirius-XM is in talks with Echostar, the owner of Dish Network about a buyout, since the company assumed some of Sirius-XM's debt. It is also in talks with Liberty Media, who owns properties such as DirectTV, the Atlanta Braves and WFRV-TV in Green Bay, Wis.
If it files for Chapter 11, Sirius-XM may beforced to terminate some contracts of high-priced talent, including those of Howard Stern and Martha Stewart.
Thought: Turned out CEO Mel Karmazin turned down an offer from Echostar CEO Charle Ergen to buy the company. Another brillant business move by Mr. Karmazin. Sorry Sirius-XM, but the axe is waiting to swing. And a shame, too.
Monday, February 09, 2009
T Dog's Groovy Grab Bag - The Cable Edition
An all-cable edition of the Grab Bag, with the NBA taking center stage:
- The rematch of the last year's NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics was a ratings blockbuster for TNT Thursday night, with the cable network drawing its highest ratings in 13 years (a Feb. 2 1996 between the Chicago Bulls and Lakers - a season where the Bulls went 72-10), and the highest-rated NBA cable game in five years, since the December 2004 matchup between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers (a month after the infamous brawl that took place between the two teams at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich.)
The Lakers' 110-109 victory over the Celtics drew 4.31 million viewers, and topped the charts among all key male demos.
TNT is having a great year with NBA coverage, with ratings up across the board in total viewers and key male demos from a year ago. TNT hopes to continue the momentum with All-Star Weekend coming up from Phoenix this Saturday and Sunday.
- Cartoon Network has renewed Star Wars: The Clone Wars for a second season. Panned by critics (and most other adults), the series does well in its targeted demo of males 2-11 and 6-11.
- TLC has canceled Trading Spaces after eight seasons. Spaces was one of TLC's longtime signature shows. But don't feel bad for host Paige Davis: she's out shopping a Life for Dummies show in syndication.
- The rematch of the last year's NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics was a ratings blockbuster for TNT Thursday night, with the cable network drawing its highest ratings in 13 years (a Feb. 2 1996 between the Chicago Bulls and Lakers - a season where the Bulls went 72-10), and the highest-rated NBA cable game in five years, since the December 2004 matchup between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers (a month after the infamous brawl that took place between the two teams at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich.)
The Lakers' 110-109 victory over the Celtics drew 4.31 million viewers, and topped the charts among all key male demos.
TNT is having a great year with NBA coverage, with ratings up across the board in total viewers and key male demos from a year ago. TNT hopes to continue the momentum with All-Star Weekend coming up from Phoenix this Saturday and Sunday.
- Cartoon Network has renewed Star Wars: The Clone Wars for a second season. Panned by critics (and most other adults), the series does well in its targeted demo of males 2-11 and 6-11.
- TLC has canceled Trading Spaces after eight seasons. Spaces was one of TLC's longtime signature shows. But don't feel bad for host Paige Davis: she's out shopping a Life for Dummies show in syndication.
Judge Jeanne Pirro sold to Fox O&Os
Warner Bros' move of Judge Jeanne Pirro from The CW to syndication is now complete, with a group deal with the Fox Television Group.
The all-barter deal, which includes Fox's duopoly of WFLD and WPWR, gives Pirro a clearance rate of 75 percent of the United States. Pirro may have benefited from the cancellation of Cristina's Court on Friday, which was carried on those very same stations.
Pirro has also cleared 27 Sinclair markets, as well as stations owned by CBS, Tribune, Raycom, and Belo, among others. In Milwaukee, the series will air on Sinclair's WVTV and WCGV (but not in Sinclair's home market of Baltimore, where Fox-owned My Net affiliate WUTB gets Pirro.)
Pirro currently airs at 3 p.m. on The CW, but is being dropped to make room for Tyra Banks' talk show, which is moving there in September. Pirro is produced here in Chicago at WMAQ-TV.
The all-barter deal, which includes Fox's duopoly of WFLD and WPWR, gives Pirro a clearance rate of 75 percent of the United States. Pirro may have benefited from the cancellation of Cristina's Court on Friday, which was carried on those very same stations.
Pirro has also cleared 27 Sinclair markets, as well as stations owned by CBS, Tribune, Raycom, and Belo, among others. In Milwaukee, the series will air on Sinclair's WVTV and WCGV (but not in Sinclair's home market of Baltimore, where Fox-owned My Net affiliate WUTB gets Pirro.)
Pirro currently airs at 3 p.m. on The CW, but is being dropped to make room for Tyra Banks' talk show, which is moving there in September. Pirro is produced here in Chicago at WMAQ-TV.
"Wilkos" moving to WCIU?
NBC Universal's The Steve Wilkos Show has been renewed for a third season according to officials at the syndicator, with 70 percent of the country on board.
According to this article in TV Week, Wilkos has cleared Tribune stations in New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia - but in Chicago, the article cites a renewal for the "Weigel's station in Chicago", which is identified as WCIU-TV.
The program is still currently airing on Tribune's WGN-TV at 2 p.m. , where it has aired for the last two seasons.
WGN may have dropped the show to make room for Bishop T.D. Jakes' new talk show, which all Tribune stations acquired. However, its' debut has been pushed back to September 2010 due to current economic conditions. There is no word on what will take Wilkos' time slot on WGN in the meantime.
As for WCIU, this is the second syndicated talk show pickup it has made in recent weeks - it recently - or was close to - acquiring Marie from Program Partners, which features Marie Osmond. The last time WCIU had aired a daytime talk show on its schedule was The Montel Williams Show in 2006.
Meanwhile, Sinclair has renewed Wilkos on its stations in Pittsburgh, Columbus (Ohio), and Baltimore, with WLVI-TV in Boston and WESH-TV in Orlando on board.
Wilkos' pickup coincides with the renewal of two other NBC Universal talk shows - Maury and Jerry Springer, all on board until 2010, including Tribune stations (with WGN the notable exception on Springer and Wilkos.)
Wilkos is only two daytime talk show showing year-to-year increases in household ratings, with the program recently hitting a series-high 1.2 rating. (Ellen is the other show showing year-to-year growth.)
Thought: Interesting NBC Universal renewed its trio of talk shows - Maury, Jerry Springer, and Wilkos - but has yet to renew its higher-rated rookie strip Deal or No Deal. Is there something going on behind the scenes with NBC Universal, Endemol, and stations carrying the show we don't know about?
According to this article in TV Week, Wilkos has cleared Tribune stations in New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia - but in Chicago, the article cites a renewal for the "Weigel's station in Chicago", which is identified as WCIU-TV.
The program is still currently airing on Tribune's WGN-TV at 2 p.m. , where it has aired for the last two seasons.
WGN may have dropped the show to make room for Bishop T.D. Jakes' new talk show, which all Tribune stations acquired. However, its' debut has been pushed back to September 2010 due to current economic conditions. There is no word on what will take Wilkos' time slot on WGN in the meantime.
As for WCIU, this is the second syndicated talk show pickup it has made in recent weeks - it recently - or was close to - acquiring Marie from Program Partners, which features Marie Osmond. The last time WCIU had aired a daytime talk show on its schedule was The Montel Williams Show in 2006.
Meanwhile, Sinclair has renewed Wilkos on its stations in Pittsburgh, Columbus (Ohio), and Baltimore, with WLVI-TV in Boston and WESH-TV in Orlando on board.
Wilkos' pickup coincides with the renewal of two other NBC Universal talk shows - Maury and Jerry Springer, all on board until 2010, including Tribune stations (with WGN the notable exception on Springer and Wilkos.)
Wilkos is only two daytime talk show showing year-to-year increases in household ratings, with the program recently hitting a series-high 1.2 rating. (Ellen is the other show showing year-to-year growth.)
Thought: Interesting NBC Universal renewed its trio of talk shows - Maury, Jerry Springer, and Wilkos - but has yet to renew its higher-rated rookie strip Deal or No Deal. Is there something going on behind the scenes with NBC Universal, Endemol, and stations carrying the show we don't know about?
My Network TV no longer a network (updated)
Instead, call it a "programming service."
My Network TV is revamping its programming model, with the service airing ten hours of material a week instead of twelve this fall with Saturday nights handed back to affiliates.
My Net is also cutting back on original programming, adding a movie night, and instead airing a two-hour block of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and keeping WWE's Friday Night Smackdown on the schedule.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent had been running as a syndicated strip for the last two years. It is unclear whether or not the program will continue in this form this fall with the My Net prime-time clearance. NBC Universal has cleared Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as an off-network strip to debut this September in syndication.
In a strange twist, NBC Universal will keep half of the advertising time to sell itself, while My Network TV's local stations get the other half. Those terms are similar to what is usually offered in syndication.
My Network TV's ad sales staff is also being folded into the sales staff of Twentieth Television, The syndicator is now going to act as the national advertising representative for all My Network TV programming, except for Criminal Intent.
The moves comes as My Network TV posted the most growth of any broadcast network this fall in household ratings and key demos, driven by WWE Smackdown. The network began on September 5, 2006 by stripping English telenovelas, but broadened its programming menu months later by adding more reality fare and movies.
Updated 11:30 p.m. (added Rosenthal link)
Friday, February 06, 2009
Breaking News: Matt Millen, you still suck
Remember a few days ago when I said Chicago media is one big freak show? Well, I think Detroit may have us beat...
WDIV in Detroit ran a crawl during NBC's Super Bowl pre-game coverage when former Detroit Lions GM Matt Millen appeared on-screen and the station ran a crawl ripping into him stating: “Matt Millen was president of the Lions for the worst eight-year run in the history of the NFL. Knowing his history with the team, is there a credibility issue as he now serves as an analyst for NBC Sports? ... " You can view the video here (for now.)
The Lions went 0-16 this past season, a record for NFL futility. Millen tenture as Lions GM netted the team a 31-84 mark. Millen was fired after Detroit lost the first three games of the season in 2008. Last December, he was hired as an analyst for NBC's pro football coverage.
Tony Kornhiser and Michael Wilbon of Pardon the Interruption weren't amused, ripping WDIV for the stunt (it helps to note the parent company of the paper both Wilbon and Kornhiser write for - The Washington Post - also owns WDIV. For more on the PTI boys, see the post below.)
While reaction from Lions fans were mostly positive, WDIV's newscasts aren't usually known for its quality; the station is often critizied for its tabloid approach to journalism. Reaction to the Millen crawl on Michigan Buzzboard were decidely mixed.
It isn't likely the station will face any sanctions from the NFL or NBC. But wouldn't be cool if some local station in Dallas would rip on Tony Romo every time he was on-screen with a crawl reading "Overrated" and "No Super Bowl rings"?
WDIV in Detroit ran a crawl during NBC's Super Bowl pre-game coverage when former Detroit Lions GM Matt Millen appeared on-screen and the station ran a crawl ripping into him stating: “Matt Millen was president of the Lions for the worst eight-year run in the history of the NFL. Knowing his history with the team, is there a credibility issue as he now serves as an analyst for NBC Sports? ... " You can view the video here (for now.)
The Lions went 0-16 this past season, a record for NFL futility. Millen tenture as Lions GM netted the team a 31-84 mark. Millen was fired after Detroit lost the first three games of the season in 2008. Last December, he was hired as an analyst for NBC's pro football coverage.
Tony Kornhiser and Michael Wilbon of Pardon the Interruption weren't amused, ripping WDIV for the stunt (it helps to note the parent company of the paper both Wilbon and Kornhiser write for - The Washington Post - also owns WDIV. For more on the PTI boys, see the post below.)
While reaction from Lions fans were mostly positive, WDIV's newscasts aren't usually known for its quality; the station is often critizied for its tabloid approach to journalism. Reaction to the Millen crawl on Michigan Buzzboard were decidely mixed.
It isn't likely the station will face any sanctions from the NFL or NBC. But wouldn't be cool if some local station in Dallas would rip on Tony Romo every time he was on-screen with a crawl reading "Overrated" and "No Super Bowl rings"?
T Dog's Four Pack
It is sad I could barely scrape up four positive items to put in this week's four pack. It just goes to show you how bad this business has really become.
T Dog's Fab Four:
- Bones. The procedural's move to Thursday nights finally puts Fox on the map with a 3.2 A18-49 rating, defeating ABC's Ugly Betty.
- NCIS. How can a repeat of this program draw more than 10 million viewers on Tuesday night?
- The FCC. No, you're not reading a misprint. The FCC decided not to investigate how 30 seconds of porn wound up on a Comcast cable feed last Sunday in Tuscon, Ariz. (3rd item), interrupting the Super Bowl because it doesn't have jurisdiction. I guess common sense has returned to the agency since Kevin Martin left.
- Super Bowl XLIII. What a game! And what about those numbers? 98.7 million viewers, the most watched Super Bowl ever (I think.) And how about Santonio Holmes and that touchdown catch? Congratulations, Pittsburgh - Six Super Bowl titles!
T Dog's Flop Four
- Michael Phelps. What was he thinking?
- Warner Saunders. Seriously, what was he thinking ?
- DTV transition pushed back to June 12. This means Chicago viewers of CBS-owned WBBM-TV - which nobody can get on an over-the-air digital TV - won't be able to switch to digital Channel 12 from Channel 3 until June 12, meaning no Big Bang Theory or Survivor or other WBBM programming in OTA HD for anyone in the Windy City until then. - Michael Wilbon. Okay, So you didn't like the Coke Zero Super Bowl ad - or the Super Bowl commercials, or popular culture, or anything fun. This, from someone who thinks Jim Belushi has talent. What do you know about talent?
Instead of calling for those behind the Coke Zero ad to be fired, how about YOU being fired? You can hang out with your BFF Warner Saunders after his retirement, reminiscing about the days the both of you were constantly screwed over by the press, and I hope it's soon, you arrogant prick. And that goes for your equally dumb-as-shit co-host Tony Kornhiser as well.
For a person who claims he had a Catholic high school education here in Chicago (like I did), you sure aren't showing any. And by the way, tuck in your shirt.
T Dog's Fab Four:
- Bones. The procedural's move to Thursday nights finally puts Fox on the map with a 3.2 A18-49 rating, defeating ABC's Ugly Betty.
- NCIS. How can a repeat of this program draw more than 10 million viewers on Tuesday night?
- The FCC. No, you're not reading a misprint. The FCC decided not to investigate how 30 seconds of porn wound up on a Comcast cable feed last Sunday in Tuscon, Ariz. (3rd item), interrupting the Super Bowl because it doesn't have jurisdiction. I guess common sense has returned to the agency since Kevin Martin left.
- Super Bowl XLIII. What a game! And what about those numbers? 98.7 million viewers, the most watched Super Bowl ever (I think.) And how about Santonio Holmes and that touchdown catch? Congratulations, Pittsburgh - Six Super Bowl titles!
T Dog's Flop Four
- Michael Phelps. What was he thinking?
- Warner Saunders. Seriously, what was he thinking ?
- DTV transition pushed back to June 12. This means Chicago viewers of CBS-owned WBBM-TV - which nobody can get on an over-the-air digital TV - won't be able to switch to digital Channel 12 from Channel 3 until June 12, meaning no Big Bang Theory or Survivor or other WBBM programming in OTA HD for anyone in the Windy City until then. - Michael Wilbon. Okay, So you didn't like the Coke Zero Super Bowl ad - or the Super Bowl commercials, or popular culture, or anything fun. This, from someone who thinks Jim Belushi has talent. What do you know about talent?
Instead of calling for those behind the Coke Zero ad to be fired, how about YOU being fired? You can hang out with your BFF Warner Saunders after his retirement, reminiscing about the days the both of you were constantly screwed over by the press, and I hope it's soon, you arrogant prick. And that goes for your equally dumb-as-shit co-host Tony Kornhiser as well.
For a person who claims he had a Catholic high school education here in Chicago (like I did), you sure aren't showing any. And by the way, tuck in your shirt.
Twentieth drops "Cristina's Court"
Another courtroom show has bit the dust.
Cristina's Court became the third courtroom to get the ax this season, following the cancellations of Judge David Young and Judge Karen, both from Sony Pictures Television.
The economic climate is partially to blame, but the third-season show wasn't doing itself any favors by averaging around an 1.1 Nielsen rating overall.
Twentieth plans to continue producing Divorce Court and Judge Alex.
In Chicago, Cristina's Court airs weekdays at 10 a.m. on WPWR-TV.
Cristina's Court became the third courtroom to get the ax this season, following the cancellations of Judge David Young and Judge Karen, both from Sony Pictures Television.
The economic climate is partially to blame, but the third-season show wasn't doing itself any favors by averaging around an 1.1 Nielsen rating overall.
Twentieth plans to continue producing Divorce Court and Judge Alex.
In Chicago, Cristina's Court airs weekdays at 10 a.m. on WPWR-TV.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
WGN-TV, CLTV to intergrate operations
I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner....
The Tribune Co. announced it was streamlining its two local news operations in Chicago - those of WGN-TV and cable channel CLTV.
Beginning soon, CLTV's news operations (currently based in west suburban Oak Brook) will move to WGN's Bradley Place headquarters in Chicago.
CLTV is Chicago's first and only around-the-clock local news channel (aside from infomercials running from 1 to 4 a.m.) CLTV signed on in 1993, and is only available on Comcast cable (not available to RCN, WOW, or satellite TV subscribers.)
The Tribune Co. announced it was streamlining its two local news operations in Chicago - those of WGN-TV and cable channel CLTV.
Beginning soon, CLTV's news operations (currently based in west suburban Oak Brook) will move to WGN's Bradley Place headquarters in Chicago.
CLTV is Chicago's first and only around-the-clock local news channel (aside from infomercials running from 1 to 4 a.m.) CLTV signed on in 1993, and is only available on Comcast cable (not available to RCN, WOW, or satellite TV subscribers.)
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And this delay is supposed to help whom again?