Robservations: CBS Radio Chicago names new sales chief

CBS Radio Chicago

Robservations on the media beat:

Chad Feldman

Facing declining revenue at its music stations, CBS Radio Chicago is shaking up its sales leadership for the third time in 16 months. Chad Feldman was named vice president and director of sales this week in the latest realignment under Tim Pohlman, senior vice president and market manager of the seven-station group. Feldman, who joined CBS Radio Chicago in 2006, most recently headed sales for all-news WBBM AM 780/WCFS FM 105.9 and sports/talk WSCR AM 670. Insiders say Pohlman is under increasing pressure to boost revenue as CBS Radio is poised to merge with Entercom Communications. Continue reading →

Robservations: New morning show rising at The U

Weigel Broadcasting (Photo: Google Maps)

Robservations on the media beat:

David Plummer

With the hiring of Chicago television veteran David Plummer as executive producer, Weigel Broadcasting moved a step closer Wednesday to launching its new morning news and lifestyle show. The still-untitled show is slated to debut in mid-summer on WCIU-Channel 26. Plummer’s producing credits include a long run with the syndicated “At the Movies” and a number of roles with “Windy City Live” on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. A graduate of Columbia College Chicago, he began as an intern with “The Late Show with David Letterman.” “What excites me the most is the chance to put a spotlight on the everyday people who often go unnoticed, but ultimately make this city so special,” Plummer said. “Our goal is to entertain and connect with our viewers, while giving them the information they need to start their day.” Last month The U cut Jeanne Sparrow and Melissa Forman as hosts of “You & Me,” airing from 6 to 8 a.m. weekdays. Since then Jon Hansen, the show’s social media coordinator, has been hosting “You & Me” with a mix of guest co-hosts. Continue reading →

Modern Luxury buys Michigan Avenue magazine publisher

Michigan Avenue

Modern Luxury's CS (Chicago Social) and Michigan Avenue magazines, two longtime rivals for Chicago’s upscale readers and luxury advertisers, are now under one banner. But how long will they both survive?

In a deal that had been rumored for years, Modern Luxury, parent company of CS, announced the acquisition Monday of GreenGale Publishing, owner of Michigan Avenue and 16 other lifestyle publications. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Continue reading →

Robservations: Chicago’s changing channels after spectrum auction

WYCC

Robservations on the media beat:

Back in November 2015 I first urged City Colleges of Chicago to put up for bid the over-the-air license of its little-watched noncommercial television station WYCC-Channel 20. Mayor Rahm Emanuel initially nixed the proposal before the editorial board of the Chicago Tribune and others pointed out that it wasn’t such a bad idea. Last week WYCC fetched $15.9 million in the FCC spectrum auction. Among five other Chicago area stations in the auction were Fox-owned WPWR-Channel 50 ($160.7 million) and Telemundo Chicago WSNS-Channel 44 ($141.6 million). The nation’s top bid was $304.2 million for Trinity Broadcasting Network’s WWTO-Channel 35 licensed to LaSalle, Illinois. Most are expected to continue operating on other stations' frequencies or digital subchannels. Over the next 39 months, some TV stations will transition to new channel assignments. (For more on the impact in Chicago, see TDogMedia’s report here.) Continue reading →

Morning host Matt McGill quits WVON

Matt McGill (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Matt McGill has resigned as morning personality at WVON AM 1690, ending a 13-year run as one of the most prominent voices on the Midway Broadcasting urban news/talk station.

His decision to leave came days after the station installed Maze Jackson, a political consultant, strategist and former lobbyist, as McGill’s morning co-host. Jackson had been a frequent guest and weekly commentator on the show. Continue reading →

Robservations: Headline Club to honor Mary Schmich, Robert Jordan

Mary Schmich

Robservations on the media beat:

Robert Jordan

Mary Schmich, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Chicago Tribune, and Robert Jordan, retired news anchor and reporter for Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, have been named recipients of Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Chicago Headline Club. They’ll be honored May 12 at the group’s 40th annual Peter Lisagor Awards dinner at The Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Street. Named for the late Chicago Daily News Washington bureau chief, Lisagor Awards honor excellence in local journalism in more than 100 categories, encompassing print, broadcast and digital media. For ticket information and a complete list of this year’s nominees, see: headlineclub.org. Continue reading →

Robservations: Steve Dahl ‘so glad’ to be home from hospital

Steve Dahl at home Wednesday

Robservations on the media beat:

An upbeat and energetic Steve Dahl returned to his afternoon show on Cumulus Media news/talk WLS AM 890 Wednesday more than a week after he landed in the hospital for treatment of a perforated colon. Broadcasting from his home, the Chicago radio legend said he was diagnosed with diverticulitis. “I’m on some kind of weird diet right now,” Dahl, 62, told listeners. “I really honestly am just so glad to not be in the hospital and not in pain. They can take away whatever they want from me in terms of eating. I can live with it.” Continue reading →