CBS 2 Chicago, 22 West Washington Street

It’s been years since WBBM-Channel 2 dismantled the giant video screen outside its Loop studios overlooking Daley Plaza. But soon it will be back — bigger and better than ever.

Construction is underway on a new jumbotron monitor along the western exterior of the CBS Broadcast Center at 22 West Washington Street.

“If all goes according to plan, we look for the sign to be fully operational by mid to late August,” said Jennifer Lyons, president and general manager of the CBS-owned station. “Our 24/7 local news stream, CBS News Chicago, will be the content on the monitor.” Continue reading →

Chicago Tribune Freedom Center

Robservations on the media beat:

By this time next year the print edition of the Chicago Tribune may be coming from Wisconsin. Under Alden Global Capital ownership, the sadly diminished daily is expected to be printed on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s former presses in West Milwaukee — 90 miles from the Loop. Gannett produced 11 Wisconsin newspapers from the site before moving them last month to the Peoria Journal Star. Gannett merged with GateHouse Media, the Journal Star’s parent company, in 2019. Freedom Center, the Tribune’s printing plant (and current newsroom) at Chicago Avenue and the Chicago River, has been sold to Bally’s for development of a casino. Sources said the Tribune could begin production from the 20-year-old Milwaukee plant by mid-2023. Par Ridder, general manager of Chicago Tribune Media Group, did not respond to a request for comment. Continue reading →

Erin Kennedy and Megan Glaros

For years two of the brightest morning stars on WBBM-Channel 2 were news anchor Erin Kennedy and meteorologist Megan Glaros. But in 2020 their careers were cut short when the two were among more than a dozen staffers ousted in sweeping layoffs at the CBS-owned station.

Now Kennedy and Glaros are back in the spotlight with their own show on YouTube. While careful to abide by their nondisclosure agreements with CBS, both have plenty to say about the inner workings of the TV news business. Continue reading →

John Records Landecker

Robservations on the media beat:

Museum of Broadcast Communications

Legendary DJs John Records Landecker and Tommy Edwards will reminisce about the golden age of rock radio when they headline a fundraiser for Chicago’s Museum of Broadcast Communications August 14. “Rock Radio Revisited” will be hosted by Wendy Snyder at Ron Onesti’s Des Plaines Theater. (Here is the link for tickets.) Also appearing, according to the museum, will be Kris Erik Stevens, Bob Stroud, Connie Szerszen, Steve King, Gary Burbank, Cousin Brucie Morrow and Dyana Williams. “The heyday of rock radio in the ’60s and ’70s was centered around the booming personalities of DJs like Larry Lujack, John Records Landecker, Yvonne Daniels, Bob Sirott and Steve King,” David Plier, chairperson of the museum board, said in a statement. “Every city had their favorite local radio station and the voices behind them. This will be an incredible celebration of the personalities and music that made that era of rock and roll so memorable.” Continue reading →

Dan Bernstein and Laurence Holmes

Longtime Chicago sports talk hosts Dan Bernstein and Laurence Holmes are teaming up to co-host a new four-hour midday show on WSCR 670-AM, the Audacy sports/talk station announced Thursday.

Starting Monday, “Bernstein and Holmes” will air from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. As part of the new schedule, the morning show with Mike Mulligan and David Haugh will move into the 9 a.m. hour, airing from 5:30 to 10 a.m. Continue reading →

Steve Cochran

When Steve Cochran opens the mic on WLS 890-AM at the crack of dawn today, he’ll become the fifth morning host in 10 years at the Cumulus Media news/talk station. And he’ll have nowhere to go but up.

“It’s no secret that this morning show has a huge hole to climb out of, and I believe we will,” Cochran, 61, said Tuesday. “I’m not getting up at 3 a.m. to lose.” Continue reading →

Bob Stroud and Kevin Matthews

Chicago radio veterans Bob Stroud and Kevin Matthews are among 24 nominees for induction to the Radio Hall of Fame, the Chicago-based shrine to radio’s greatest performers and programs announced Monday.

Stroud, who’s on the ballot for the third time, disclosed last week he was stepping down as top-rated midday personality at WDRV 97.1-FM, the Hubbard Radio classic rock station where he’s spent the last 21 of his 43 years in radio.

Matthews, a first-time nominee, spent 18 years on Chicago radio, including a 12-year run as a mainstay of the former WLUP AM and FM. Since 2008, when he was diagnosed with a rare type of multiple sclerosis, Matthews has been living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Continue reading →

The Drive 97.1

Talk about going out on top.

In the run-up to his announced retirement from WDRV 97.1-FM, legendary midday personality Bob Stroud led the Hubbard Radio classic rock station to No. 1 in Chicago radio ratings released Monday.

Nielsen Audio figures for May showed The Drive in first place overall, first in middays with Stroud, and first in afternoons with Steve Seaver and Janda Lane. Continue reading →

NBC Sports Chicago/Marquee Sports Network

Twice in recent weeks Chicago’s regional sports networks have shown they cannot be trusted.

In both cases editorial standards were compromised in ways that shortchanged viewers and raised suspicions. In the end, they came off as kowtowing to teams whose owners have substantial equity interests in the networks. Continue reading →

Rick Hall

Robservations on the media beat:

SHE 100.3

Rick Hall, manager of digital audio and on-air host at Chicago-based Moody Radio, has been hired as afternoon personality and music director at WSHE 100.3-FM, the Hubbard Radio adult contemporary station. He replaces Jay Styles, who was traded in November to Hubbard’s KQMV in Seattle. Jeff England, vice president and market manager of Hubbard Radio Chicago, called Hall “a multi-talented personality/programmer who’ll bring great value to our SHE listeners, advertisers and community.” Earlier in his career Hall worked on the air country WUSN 99.5-FM and former adult contemporary WCFS 105.9-FM, both under CBS Radio ownership. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, SHE 100.3 tied for 15th in afternoons with a 2.6 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 424,700. Continue reading →