Scott Miller (left) and Pete McMurray
You gotta love Pete McMurray. And starting Monday, there’ll be an hour more to love him each night on WGN AM 720.
The veteran Chicago radio personality, who’s been hosting from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. weeknights since September, will now hit the air at 10 p.m. — trimming one hour from David Kaplan’s sports show on the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station. Continue reading
Dave Savini
CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 was keeping mum Saturday on the arrest of veteran investigative reporter Dave Savini, who faces charges of hit-and-run, driving under the influence, battery and endangering the life of a child.
The Daily Herald reported that police in west suburban Naperville arrested Savini shortly after midnight Saturday after he was reported to have been involved in a traffic accident in the parking lot of a Taco Bell. The driver of the other vehicle said Savini pushed him when he took a photograph of Savini’s license plate, according to police. Continue reading
Randy Michaels (standing, right)
“The end may be nearer than you think for Merlin Media. GTCR, the private equity firm that partnered with CEO Randy Michaels to form the company in July 2011, is actively seeking buyers for all of Merlin Media’s properties, including adult hits WIQI FM 101.1 and classic rock WLUP FM 97.9 here.” — Robert Feder, Time Out Chicago, Sept. 25, 2012
“Merlin is not for sale.” — Randy Michaels, Radio Business Report, Sept. 26, 2012 Continue reading
Cumulus Media, owner of news/talk WLS AM 890 and classic hits WLS FM 94.7, is about to double its presence in Chicago with the addition of classic rock WLUP FM 97.9 and WIQI FM 101.1 (which will revert to modern rock WKQX).
“The addition of WKQX and WLUP will add two legendary radio brands to the two legendary radio brands Cumulus already owns in Chicago,” John Dickey, executive vice president and co-chief operating officer of Cumulus, told Inside Radio. “We are excited to be growing our presence in one of the best media markets in the world.”
Terms of the agreement with Merlin Media announced Friday were not yet known. Continue reading
Big John Howell
WIND AM 560, the Salem Communications news/talk station, kicked off the New Year by unveiling a new lineup that adds two syndicated talkers (Sean Hannity and Bill Bennett) and drops two others (Glenn Beck and Mike Gallagher).
But the big surprise is the expansion of the station’s local morning show to five hours, with Big John Howell and Amy Jacobson starting one hour later and holding forth from 6 to 11 a.m. five days a week. The new schedule begins Monday. Continue reading
Ten things to look for on the media beat in the coming year: