Radio fires up readers just in time for holiday grilling
Robert Feder: Another installment of cards and letters across the television/radio desk: John Hogan, chief executive officer, Clear Channel Radio: I enjoyed your piece on Darren Davis. He is a star for us, and I am thrilled we will be employing him in more places around the country.
Robert Feder: Another installment of cards and letters across the television/radio desk: John Hogan, chief executive officer, Clear Channel Radio: I enjoyed your piece on Darren Davis. He is a star for us, and I am thrilled we will be employing him in more places around the country.
Christmas comes early for Clear Channel's rising star
To some, he'll always be the guy with the sunny disposition and the Ferris Bueller grin who started Christmas too early.
Telemundo transfers Chicago news chief
Robert Feder: Esteban Creste, who guided an expansion of Spanish-language news at NBC/ Telemundo's WSNS-Channel 44, is headed for Los Angeles. After more than three years as vice president of news and news director here, he's shifting to Telemundo's KVEA-TV in L.A. as vice president of news.
Robert Feder: Esteban Creste, who guided an expansion of Spanish-language news at NBC/ Telemundo's WSNS-Channel 44, is headed for Los Angeles. After more than three years as vice president of news and news director here, he's shifting to Telemundo's KVEA-TV in L.A. as vice president of news.
Score assembles morning radio stars for roundtable
Robert Feder: Six of Chicago radio's biggest morning personalities will turn up together to show what good sports they are. Dan Bernstein, afternoon host of CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR-AM (670), will moderate the star-studded roundtable from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 11 at Smith & Wollensky, 318 N. State. The event, which will air live on the Score, has been billed as a "Chicago Radio Free-For-All."
Robert Feder: Six of Chicago radio's biggest morning personalities will turn up together to show what good sports they are. Dan Bernstein, afternoon host of CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR-AM (670), will moderate the star-studded roundtable from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 11 at Smith & Wollensky, 318 N. State. The event, which will air live on the Score, has been billed as a "Chicago Radio Free-For-All."
Anchorman Ron Hunter left lasting legacy in Chicago
Robert Feder: For an anchorman who barely lasted two years in the market, Ron Hunter left an indelible impression on Chicago television. Unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons. Mr. Hunter, who died Tuesday in Las Vegas at age 70, became a favorite punching bag for critics during his tumultuous tenure as top news anchor at WMAQ-Channel 5 from 1976 to 1978.
Robert Feder: For an anchorman who barely lasted two years in the market, Ron Hunter left an indelible impression on Chicago television. Unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons. Mr. Hunter, who died Tuesday in Las Vegas at age 70, became a favorite punching bag for critics during his tumultuous tenure as top news anchor at WMAQ-Channel 5 from 1976 to 1978.
Confident North: 'I did what I wanted'
Robert Feder: If I know Mike North, his only regret is that news of the final blowup with his bosses didn't make the front page of the papers. As a consummate showman and a shameless self-promoter, North garnered more headlines during his 16 years at sports/talk WSCR-AM (670) than every other personality at the CBS Radio station combined.
Robert Feder: If I know Mike North, his only regret is that news of the final blowup with his bosses didn't make the front page of the papers. As a consummate showman and a shameless self-promoter, North garnered more headlines during his 16 years at sports/talk WSCR-AM (670) than every other personality at the CBS Radio station combined.
Fox adds Chambers to 'Good Day Chicago' cast
Robert Feder: As WFLD-Channel 32 gears up for the expansion of "Good Day Chicago," the Fox-owned station has added a new face to its morning show. Kori Chambers, just in from WDIV-TV in Detroit, will "handle a variety of reporting and anchoring responsibilities," according to an announcement by the station.
Robert Feder: As WFLD-Channel 32 gears up for the expansion of "Good Day Chicago," the Fox-owned station has added a new face to its morning show. Kori Chambers, just in from WDIV-TV in Detroit, will "handle a variety of reporting and anchoring responsibilities," according to an announcement by the station.
Bill Kurtis 're-invents' himself in AT&T ads
Robert Feder: Broadcast legend Bill Kurtis, who spoofed his hard-boiled image in the Will Farrell comedy "Anchorman," is at it again. This time, Kurtis appears in a commercial for AT&T in which he parodies his role as host of such long-running series as "Cold Case Files" and "Investigative Reports."
Robert Feder: Broadcast legend Bill Kurtis, who spoofed his hard-boiled image in the Will Farrell comedy "Anchorman," is at it again. This time, Kurtis appears in a commercial for AT&T in which he parodies his role as host of such long-running series as "Cold Case Files" and "Investigative Reports."
Calls waiting
Robert Feder: In a real blast from the past, the fabled call letters of WLS-FM are about to ride the Chicago airwaves again. Citadel Broadcasting plans to ask the Federal Communications Commission next week to turn WZZN-FM (94.7), the "True Oldies" station, into WLS-FM. If approved, the change is expected to take effect June 26.
Robert Feder: In a real blast from the past, the fabled call letters of WLS-FM are about to ride the Chicago airwaves again. Citadel Broadcasting plans to ask the Federal Communications Commission next week to turn WZZN-FM (94.7), the "True Oldies" station, into WLS-FM. If approved, the change is expected to take effect June 26.
Radio veterans sign off as Loyola regains control
With two weeks left on the format at community-based WLUW-FM (88.7), the exodus is on.
Variety's Chicago bureau chief coined 'happy talk'
Robert Feder: Back in the pre-Internet era, the trade publication Variety truly was the bible of show business. And when it came to declaring who was boffo and who was bombing in Chicago, few held more sway than Morry Roth. For nearly three decades as Chicago bureau chief of Variety, Mr. Roth chronicled the city's nightlife and entertainment scene to a worldwide readership of movers and shakers.
Robert Feder: Back in the pre-Internet era, the trade publication Variety truly was the bible of show business. And when it came to declaring who was boffo and who was bombing in Chicago, few held more sway than Morry Roth. For nearly three decades as Chicago bureau chief of Variety, Mr. Roth chronicled the city's nightlife and entertainment scene to a worldwide readership of movers and shakers.
Chicago radio could be losing a few millionaires
Robert Feder: It's hard to imagine walking away from a job that pays more than $1 million a year for talking into a microphone a few hours a day. But it's happened before -- and it could happen again. At the moment, there are nine Chicago radio personalities who are pulling down seven-figure salaries.
Robert Feder: It's hard to imagine walking away from a job that pays more than $1 million a year for talking into a microphone a few hours a day. But it's happened before -- and it could happen again. At the moment, there are nine Chicago radio personalities who are pulling down seven-figure salaries.
CBS 2 postpones move to new studios
Katie Couric and a galaxy of other CBS stars and top executives can cancel their plans to come here in July.
ABC 7's Shaw ready to call it quits
Andy Shaw, who has been covering politics for ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 for 25 years, is getting ready to call it quits.
Suppelsa buzz doesn't take away from Sanders
Robert Feder: Now that the cat's out of the bag about WGN-Channel 9's intentions to hire Mark Suppelsa, there's a sense of excitement in the air at the Tribune Co.-owned station. While the bosses tried to downplay Tuesday's report here as mere speculation, the troops were practically giddy at the prospect of Suppelsa dropping anchor at 2501 W. Bradley Place. On reading the headline in the Sun-Times, one staffer described "frenzied jumping up and down" in the newsroom. I'm not sure, but I think he was serious.
Robert Feder: Now that the cat's out of the bag about WGN-Channel 9's intentions to hire Mark Suppelsa, there's a sense of excitement in the air at the Tribune Co.-owned station. While the bosses tried to downplay Tuesday's report here as mere speculation, the troops were practically giddy at the prospect of Suppelsa dropping anchor at 2501 W. Bradley Place. On reading the headline in the Sun-Times, one staffer described "frenzied jumping up and down" in the newsroom. I'm not sure, but I think he was serious.
WGN to hire sidelined anchorman Suppelsa
Robert Feder: As Mark Suppelsa remains in local television limbo for one more week, WGN-Channel 9 is getting ready to hire him as a top news anchor. By late next week, according to insiders at the Tribune Co.-owned station, Suppelsa should receive the formal offer he's been waiting for since March 10 when he resigned from Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32.
Robert Feder: As Mark Suppelsa remains in local television limbo for one more week, WGN-Channel 9 is getting ready to hire him as a top news anchor. By late next week, according to insiders at the Tribune Co.-owned station, Suppelsa should receive the formal offer he's been waiting for since March 10 when he resigned from Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32.
Fox elicits strong viewer reactions
Robert Feder: The expansion of WFLD-Channel 32's "Good Day Chicago" and commercials touting the Fox station's weather forecasts as "most accurate" elicited strong reactions.
Robert Feder: The expansion of WFLD-Channel 32's "Good Day Chicago" and commercials touting the Fox station's weather forecasts as "most accurate" elicited strong reactions.
