Robin Rock
The New Year is bringing a happy homecoming for Chicago radio pro Robin Rock, who returns Wednesday to WLIT FM 93.9 as midday personality — a job she held for more than 15 years at the iHeartMedia adult-contemporary station.
Starting today, her live, local show will air from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Continue reading
Tom Shaer at The Score
Twenty-five years ago today, Chicago awoke to The Score — a new kind of radio station airing hosts, guests and callers talking about nothing but sports.
WSCR debuted on 820 AM, a daytime-only frequency that had been acquired two years earlier for $650,000 by Diamond Broadcasting, parent company of album rock WXRT FM 93.1. Seth Mason doubled as general manager of both stations.
“It was so innocent back then,” veteran sportscaster Tom Shaer, The Score’s original morning host, recalled the other day. “There were very few all-sports radio stations in the country. Seth told me: ‘We don't have to hit a homerun; we're just looking to hit a clean single and combine the audience with WXRT for a strong combo entity.’ In less than a year, it was clear The Score would be just fine as a standalone.” Continue reading
Mark Giangreco and Janet Davies
Mark Giangreco and Janet Davies regained their throne as Chicago’s king and queen of New Year’s Eve on Saturday — with perhaps an assist from Cheryl Scott in a sensational red dress.
Straight up at midnight, “Countdown Chicago 2017” on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 had a 12.3 rating and 31 share, while “Chi-Town Rising” on NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 had a 9.7 rating and 25 share, according to Nielsen overnight ratings. Continue reading
The Hindenburg (1937)
Eight things to look for on the Chicago media beat in the coming year: