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Published on Monday, 22 October 2012 15:55
Today's giant-sized News & Notes, features 16 local media items, including: Mancow on the boob tube; Jay Foot finds a new job; Rupert Murdoch looking to expand his media empire; the Chicago Sun-Times tears down that wall; WGCI-FM adds Usher; WRHS-FM goes spooky; Roe & Roeper go to Frankfort; Philip Bodinet goes to NYC; Brad Robinson joins WLS-AM; Pugs salutes our veterans in need; Marlene Wells gets saluted; Luis Segura hits L.A.; Bonnie Sporn & Guy Bauer get married (not to each other); Dave Wischnowsky is planning his own wedding; and sad news for Katherine Kelly. All of the details can be read just below...
* * "MANCOW!," the
television simulcast of Mancow Muller's little-heard syndicated radio show finally made its debut this morning on WPWR-TV/My50. As part of the payment to Mancow for this show, FOX Chicago agreed to create a brand new radio studio for his show at the WPWR-TV offices at 205 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago, complete with a cartoon image of Mancow Muller's face in the carpet in the center of the studio (on the slightly elevated section, created to make Mancow look taller on camera). The TV show now airs weekdays from 6:00am-8:00am.
* * Former WFLD-TV Planning Manager Jay Foot, who exited FOX Chicago
earlier this year, has joined public relations firm GolinHarris as its Media Bridge Chief Director.
* * According to a
detailed report in the Los Angeles Times, controversial international media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his corporation has been in the early stages of talks to purchase both the L.A. Times and the Chicago Tribune. If it were to happen, this would take place after the creditors take over full ownership of the company upon exiting bankruptcy. The actual chances of it taking place are slim, due largely to government restrictions on one company owning both a newspaper and television stations in the same market. Other potential purchasers, mainly for the L.A. Times, are named in the article, as well. Murdoch previously owned the Chicago Sun-Times for over two years (1984-1986). It is widely regarded as the biggest disaster the newspaper ever experienced in modern years. He sold the newspaper in 1986 in order to purchase WFLD-TV & WPWR-TV in Chicago.
* * With the Chicago Tribune's
recent announcement that it would be placing much of its online content behind a metered pay wall, its chief rival, the Chicago Sun-Times has quietly gone the opposite route. The Sun-Times Media websites recently took down their website's metered pay walls. No word if this is a temporary retooling of the Sun-Times' $6.95 per month online subscription plan or a long-term plan to give free access to its web content, in sharp contrast to most other Chicagoland newspapers.
* * WGCI-FM has greatly boosted the line-up for its 13th annual Big Jam concert with the newly-announced addition of Usher. Other artists previously announced include: Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Keyshia Cole, Kelly Rowland, and Future. the 2012 Big Jam will take place on Friday, November 16th at 7:00pm at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Tickets are on sale to the general public now via Ticketmaster at this link
HERE. Prices for each ticket, including the hefty Ticketmaster fees, range from $68.65 to $166.00.
* * WRHS-FM, the Ridgewood High School-owned and operated radio station, which has been the anything-goes format of "Jack-FM," is now known as "Jack O'Lantern." For the rest of this month, the only music played on the radio station will be Halloween-themed songs. The low-powered WRHS-FM can be heard on 89.7 FM in Norridge, Harwood Heights and other surrounding areas near the school. The station also streams online at this link
HERE. Despite the creepy tunes, WRHS-FM will continue to offer its hourly local weather, local news and national news. It will also still air its regular school sports broadcasts and specialty shows. Look for the "Jack O'Lantern" format to become their annual "Jack Frost" format after Halloween ends.
* * This coming Friday, WLS-AM's Roe & Roeper show will once again be broadcasting their "A Roe & Roeper Halloween" show live from the banquet hall CD & Me in Frankfort, IL (23320 South LaGrange Road). This is the second year in a row for this location. Roe, Rich, Jim, Christina, and the Canarble Wagon will be part of the broadcast, along with special guests. There are no public seats left available for this live remote, as all tickets were previously passed out.
* * Last Friday was the final day at WLS-AM for Roe & Roeper Executive Producer Philip Bodinet. He had been EP for the show for the last year and has been with WLS-AM producing other programs since 2007. Bodinet is now preparing for a move to New York City to produce on Neil Cavuto's FOX News Channel show.
* * Joining WLS-AM this month in a producing role is Brad Robinson, the former news & sports writer/reporter/anchor for WIQI-FM. Robinson was among the many out of a job from the implosion of the FM News 101.1 format earlier this year. Prior to WIQI-FM, Robinson had been a sports & news producer for such outlets as WBBM-AM, the Illinois Radio Network, and Sporting News Radio.
* * John "Pugs" Myron, who first became a radio star here in his hometown of Chicago, has a new job that is slightly outside of radio, but still connected. "Pugs" is the new National Director of Communications for the Armed Forces Support Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps assist America's military personnel return back and adapt to civilian life. In this new role, he will do his part to raise awareness of the plight of the returning veteran. One Chicago radio station (WSCR-AM) has already offered up airtime to run PSAs for the organization. "Pugs" is on the lookout for even more stations to help out the cause of the returning military veteran, who has to go from dodging roadside bombs to finding work in a tough economy.
* * Congratulations to WGN-AM's Sales Promotion & Merchandising Coordinator Marlene Wells, who this month celebrated her 45th year at the radio station. WGN Radio threw an in-house party last week to acknowledge the longevity & loyalty of their beloved "Marly."
* * Congratulations to longtime (almost 14 years) CBS Radio Chicago producer Luis Segura. A few weeks ago, he left his home in Chicago to move to sunny Los Angeles to be with his girlfriend who had already relocated there. He was quickly grabbed up by CBS Radio L.A. soon after arriving in CA. Segura is now a producer for KCBS-FM there.
* * Congratulations to former longtime CBS Radio Chicago producer Bonnie Sporn, who was married this past weekend to her boyfriend Ben, after an over ten-month engagement. Best wishes to the happy couple!
* * Congratulations to Guy Bauer, who also heard wedding bells this past weekend. The star of the online "Guy Bauer Half Hour," former WIQI-FM contributor and former producer for WLUP-FM's Jonathon Brandmeier/WKQX-FM's Sherman & Tingle, married his girlfriend Jen after a full year-long engagement.
* * Congratulations to WSCR-AM/CBSChicago.com blogger and former Chicago Tribune reporter Dave Wischnowsky. He and his girlfriend Debbie are now engaged.
* * Sincere condolences to Katherine Kelly, the current Virtual News Center morning news anchor, and former WIQI-FM/WUSN-FM news anchor and Oprah Radio Operations Manager. Katherine Kelly lost her mother Donna over the weekend. Thoughts go out to her and her family.
