Huge payday awaits Tribune Media execs after Sinclair merger

Tribune Tower

The corporate bosses of Sinclair Broadcast Group are claiming their acquisition of Chicago-based Tribune Media — creating a television juggernaut with 233 stations in 108 markets — isn’t just good for their company and their shareholders. They say it also will serve the public interest.

But the people who’ll benefit most from the deal may be executives of Tribune Media. Continue reading

Robservations: Whoa! Univision didn’t win 10 p.m. ratings after all

Univision Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

On second thought, cancel the fiesta: Univision Chicago acknowledged Thursday that WGBO-Channel 66’s Noticias Univision Chicago was not the top-rated 10 p.m. newscast in June, contrary to the station’s declaration of victory reported here Wednesday. The actual winner, according to final Nielsen figures, was ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. The numbers cited by Univision Chicago changed after Nielsen recalculated the monthlong averages to account for nights when the NBA Finals delayed the start of ABC 7’s news. In the end, ABC 7 was No. 1 by a margin of 0.6 among viewers between 18 and 49. ABC 7 maintained it was No. 1 all along. Continue reading

Robservations: Univision scores a 10 p.m. news victory

Noticias Univision Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

Doug Levy

It’s fiesta time at Univision Chicago where WGBO-Channel 66 scored an historic ratings victory in June. For the first time the Spanish-language station’s 10 p.m. newscast was No. 1 among all viewers between 18 and 49. Simulcast with UniMás sister station WFXT-Channel 60, Noticias Univision Chicago tied ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 with a 1.4 rating in the young adult demo, but narrowly edged out ABC 7 in the late-news audience stats, according to Nielsen. Calling it “incredibly gratifying to reach this milestone,” Doug Levy, senior vice president and general manager of Univision Chicago, said the achievement was “a testament not only to the vibrancy and relevancy of local Spanish-language media, but to the unparalleled relationship we have with our audience and our mission to continue to serve Hispanic America.” Added Teri Arvesu, vice president of content for Univision Chicago: “I see this as not only a win for Univision Chicago, but more importantly, for the community we serve.” The coup for Hispanic media came days after Chicago Tribune Media Group cut back on publication of its Spanish newspaper Hoy. Continue reading