Weigel Broadcasting

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 […]

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, […]

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.

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 […]

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; […]

MeTV FM’s mix of music that has been on the air in Chicago since 2015, will be syndicated to stations beginning next month.

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. […]

Sky Drone 58 made its debut on Weigel Broadcasting’s CBS affiliate during its 4 p.m. newscast yesterday.

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.

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, […]

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, […]

With the addition of Graham Media’s NBC affiliate, the Weigel Broadcasting diginet will be available in 98 of the top 100 DMAs.

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.

Chicago-based media corporation Weigel Broadcasting Co. has named Steve Farber the company’s new senior vice president of operations, effective April 20. Farber comes to Weigel from Tribune Broadcasting, where he has worked in numerous roles for 20 years.

Weigel Broadcasting is launching an oldies FM radio service in Chicago as a companion to its classic TV channel, MeTV, that now airs across the country on digital subchannels of […]

Bob Ramsey, Weigel Broadcasting’s EVP of local media, announced to his staff last week that he plans on retiring later this year. A search is now on for his replacement. Sometime this summer, he will step away from his day-to-day duties and work as a consultant for the company, helping with the transition of new leadership.

Decades will feature originals and more than 100 television series, plus theatrical and made-for-TV movies. Original programming to include Decades Retrospectical, a daily topical show. It is expected to debut during the second quarter of 2015, with the 16 CBS-owned stations that are part of the CBS Television Network serving as the new service’s launch group.

The new network is called H&I, which stands for Heroes and Icons. It went live in Chicago Monday, and also hit the air in Milwaukee, with plans to add a South Bend, Ind., TV station and Chicago cable systems soon, according to Neal Sabin, vice chairman of Weigel Broadcasting. H&I features iconic police shows such as Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue.

Will Givens joins from KSWB San Diego to oversee marketing for the two Weigel Broadcasting diginets.

After two and half years as vice president and general manager of WCIU Chicato, Bob Ramsey has been promoted to executive vice president of local media for parent company Weigel Broadcasting. The move puts Ramsey in charge of Weigel’s local broadcast operations in Chicago, Milwaukee and South Bend, Ind.

When some stations started multicasting digital subchannels there were a number of engineering issues that made the process cumbersome. Today, although there are different methods to launch a diginet — from using network-configured equipment to running second channels through a station’s main master control — most broadcasters say the task is neither tough nor expensive.

After years of experimentation, broadcasting specialty networks on subchannels is starting to draw viewers and revenue in amounts that really matter. Some peg the take at more than $200 million. While classic TV shows and movies are popular formats, others see the future in original programming.

The 24-hour movie network will debut on the subchannels of 17 Fox O&Os this spring.

The top-rated sitcoms to debut off-net in fall 2014 and 2015 on the CBS Television Stations and Weigel Stations in Chicago and Milwaukee. The series have been cleared in 35% of the country.

His television career began in 1964 and culminated in a group of 10 stations and two networks.