Radio-TV News Partnership In Chicago
Weigel Broadcasting’s MeTV FM in Chicago, the increasingly popular soft-rock oldies station at WRME 87.7 FM, has teamed up with CBS-owned WBBM on news and weather updates.
Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting Co., which owns and operates stations in nine markets in addition to MeTV and other digital multicast networks, is using Cobalt Digital’s software-defined 9922-FS-DSP platform for openGear frames to provide microservices for Emergency Alert System local insertion and CALM compliance for its terrestrial stations. Most recently, the company purchased five cards in March for KTLN, […]
Weigel Brings The CW To WCIU
Twenty-five years after WCIU Chicago shed its affiliation with the Univision Spanish-language network and became fully independent as “The U,” the Weigel Broadcasting station is about to take on a new identity. On Sunday it will become an affiliate of The CW.
Beginning in the third quarter, Weigel Broadcasting’s Decades multicast network will be carried on Fox-owned stations in 12 major markets as part of a multiyear agreement with Fox Television Stations, LLC. The deal ups the network’s U.S. coverage to 60% with 65 TV affiliates nationwide. Decades will launch on Fox stations in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Tampa, Phoenix, Detroit, Minneapolis, Austin and Gainesville, Fla.
Weigel’s WCIU Chicago Adds CW Affiliation
With the addition, the station will move its current programming branded as The U to a subchannel.
WCIU Slots Tamron Hall Talker In Primetime
Hall’s new syndicated talk show, which was being pitched as a daytime offering, will air instead from 8 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday on Weigel Broadcasting’s independent WCIU Chicago. It’s a huge coup for Hall and an exceedingly shrewd move by the Weigel bosses.
Exclusives
Decades Diginet To Toast ‘The Twilight Zone’
The Weigel Broadcasting Co. multicast TV network Start TV is adding The Good Wife, Crossing Jordan, Unforgettable and Strong Medicine to its daily programming lineup of procedural dramas. They debut on New Year’s Day, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. The four join the Start TV series The Closer, Medium, Cold Case, Profiler and The Division as […]
Weigel Testing ATSC 3.0 In Chicago
Weigel Broadcasting, Chicago-based parent company of WCIU and a host of other stations and digital networks, just switched on the future of television. On Sunday, Weigel launched “Chicago 3.0,” an experimental next-generation full-power station broadcasting from Willis Tower.
Carly Henderson Joins ‘The Jam’ As Third Co-Host
The new multicast network will debut on Sept. 3 featuring procedural dramas focusing on strong women. At launch, it will reach 42% of U.S. TV households anchored by the CBS Television Stations.
WCIU Reunites High School Basketball Rivalry
WCIU Celebrates Black History Month With Special
Weigel Broadcasting’s independent WCIU Chicago (DMA 3) and Chicago hip-hop artist Che “Rhymefest” Smith are again collaborating for Black History Month with a special broadcast, Black History: The Movement. The half-hour special premieres Sunday, Feb. 4, at 12:30 p.m. Its focus broadens the conversation of being Black in America, and works to answer the question: […]
Weigel Broadcasting, Chicago-based parent company of the popular Me-TV Network, is suing Los Angeles-based Pervasive TV for using the name ReachMe.TV. In a lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District Court, Weigel is claiming trademark infringement, unfair competition and deceptive trade practices by Pervasive, which shows its ReachMe.TV mobile entertainment network online and on screens at airports and hotels across the country.
Tonight at 8, Walter Cronkite’s Evening News
The Chicago-based broadcaster is paying spectrum aggregator OTA Broadcasting $23.2 million for KFFV and KVOS, both Seattle, and KTLN and low-power KAXT, both San Francisco.
The Chicago-based group will pay $9 million for the KAZA Los Angeles. The station is licensed to Avalon, Calif., but broadcasts from Mount Wilson. At the same time, Weigel has agreed to pay $3.75 for KNLC St. Louis from New Life Evangelistic Center.
“Ladies and gentlemen, The Beatles!” That simple introduction changed America and TV forever, as 73 million people gathered in front of their televisions to see The Beatles’ first live performance on U.S. soil. The Fab Four had launched The British Invasion — and theirs was one of many history-making performances to grace Ed Sullivan’s stage. […]
WCIU’s ‘The Jam’ Adds DJ Mike Pryor
Weigel Broadcasting’s independent WCIU Chicago (DMA 3) has added Michael “DJ Mike P” Pryor, to its morning show The Jam. He joins hosts Jordan Cornette, Felicia Lawrence and Danielle Robay, bringing morning mixes from his on-set DJ booth, weekdays from 6 to 8 a.m. “My approach to spinning for The Jam is to take a […]
‘The Jam’, New Morning News Choice In Chicago
Optimistic Outlook On Multicast’s Prospects
While diginets still have some hurdles to face — such as rising program license fees — they have captured the attention of general-market advertisers and they are looking forward to the rollout of the upcoming ATSC 3.0 broadcast standard with its expanded capacity. What’s more, the multicast networks are relieved that the FCC’s incentive auction and ongoing repack of the TV band isn’t affecting their station carriage deals to any significant extent.
‘Chicago’s One Night Stand-Up’ Tonight On WCIU
WCIU To Launch New Morning Show, ‘The Jam’
Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU Chicago rolled out a whole new look and feel today. The rebrand of the independent station marks the beginning of a transition in both style and attitude for both its on-air and online content. The rebranding includes a new logo and on-air promotion elements, and will appear in a similar rebranding on sister […]
2016 Spot Revenue: $97.2 million Stations: 11 in 4 markets Coverage: 3.8% Ownership: Private Key Executives: Norman Shapiro, chairman; Neal Sabin, vice chairman; Steven Farber, SVP of broadcast operations; Jim Hall, VP of business development; Kyle Walker, VP of technology; Molly Kelly, corporate director of media strategy. What’s up: In the FCC’s incentive auction, Weigel received $69.7 million for the […]
MeTV FM’s mix of music that has been on the air in Chicago since 2015, will be syndicated to stations beginning next month.
WBBZ Drops This TV For Heroes And Icons
The former GM of WPGA Macon, Ga., comes on board as Marquee Broadcasting’s Atlanta outlet adds MeTV as its primary affiliation.
Decades Network, the multicast TV network from Weigel Broadcasting and CBS Television Stations, remembers the comedic talent and the cultural influence of actress Mary Tyler Moore. Moore died Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the age of 80. This special Decades multi-day tribute of programming celebrating her career begins on Friday, Feb. 3, from 8 a.m. to 1 […]
Sky Drone 58 made its debut on Weigel Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate during its 4 p.m. newscast yesterday.
Bailey To Head Local Programming At WCIU
Steve Bailey joins Weigel’s WCIU Chicago from Media General, where he most recently was director, programming and affiliate marketing. He’s tapped with developing programming on multiple platforms.
Diginets Keep Growing, Despite Auction Cloud
While the spectrum auction and repack could raise challenges, most multicast network players say they’re bullish on the business, especially with the likely adoption of ATSC 3.0. Diginets keep adding affiliates and expanding coverage and the top ones have begun attracting general market advertising. This is Part 1 of a four-part special report on multicasting. Parts 2 and 3 also appear today. Part 4, running Thursday morning, will focus on the technology of compression and channel sharing. You can read the other stories here.
24. WEIGEL BROADCASTING, Chicago 2015 Spot Revenue: $83 million Stations: 11 in 4 markets Coverage: 3.8% Ownership: Private Key Executives: Norman Shapiro, chairman; Neal Sabin, vice chairman; Steven Farber, SVP of broadcast operations; Jim Hall, VP of business development; Kyle Walker, VP of technology; Molly Kelly, corporate director of media strategy.
Weigel Broadcasting’s Heroes & Icons multicast network will present a pair of TV heroes with the network premiere of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess, beginning on Monday, Feb. 8. Hercules: The Legendary Journeys will air weeknights at 6 p.m. ET and Saturdays at 3 p.m. Xena: Warrior Princess will follow weeknights at […]
With the addition of Graham Media’s NBC affiliate, the Weigel Broadcasting diginet will be available in 98 of the top 100 DMAs.
Narrowing Focus Marks Newest Diginets
As the market for subchannel options matures, there’s a new wave of multicast networks with significant distribution, tightly focused brands and programming and, in some cases, a smattering of distinguishing original programming. This is Part Two of a four-part special report on multicasting running this week. Read the other stories here.
