Every weekday in 2014, I'll be keeping an eye on what's happening in the media. My focus will be on some of my favorite subjects...the moguls, the pundits, the broadcast news biz, show business, and the publishing business. (Read "$everance" if you want a crystallization of my positions on those subjects.) And, of course, I'll also keep tabs on Chicago's media.
Chicago Media
~Jimmy deCastro Talks About Changes at WGN Radio & The Game
Jimmy de Castro was on with Steve Cochran to talk about all the changes he has made, and the new sports station. (Audio at the link) They also talk about the future of the Cubs on WGN. It sure sounds like the Cubs are a goner.
~Staffer at Suburban Station (The Fox) Becomes Media Darling
You may have missed this story over the weekend. (Photos are here. Nice spelling on the sign, kid.) The RAMP Newsletter has the gist of the story:
When it was announced that the 50-year-old Des Plaines Oasis truck stop/food court that straddles the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway was going to be torn down to widen the I-90 freeway, Kevin Walters, a part-time promotions drone who had been toiling away in relative obscurity at suburban Chicago Classic Rock station WFXF (103.9 The Fox)/Crystal Lakes, IL, instantly transformed himself from an unknown part-timer to a bonafide "media celebrity" overnight, thanks to what Otter from Animal House would call "a really futile and stupid gesture" that was done on his part -- Walters handcuffed himself to one of the doors at the Oasis, loudly claiming that the dingy rest area was the site of his conception 21 years ago... "It's a weird story, I must admit," Walters told CBS Chicago. "About 21 years ago, my parents were at a Phil Collins concert here in Chicago, and one thing led to another. They ended up at the Oasis... and I was conceived there."I'm guessing that Phil didn't perform "Take Me Home Tonight" or "You Can't Hurry Love" that night.
~Chicago Radio Ratings
Robert Feder has the top ten morning ratings, and Tom Taylor's NOW Column has the overall top five:
Old Man Winter’s very good to CBS Radio’s all-news WBBM (780 plus its FM companion at 105.9). It repeats at #1, 5.6-6.2-6.6, and that’s its best number since October 2011...Urban AC “V103,” Clear Channel’s WVAZ, is second, 6.4-6.0-6.5. Then comes Hubbard’s hot AC “Mix” WTMX, 4.0-4.9-5.0, and a strengthening Clear Channel CHR “Kiss” WKSC, 3.8-4.2-4.5 (its best since August 2012). Tribune’s talk WGN is holding on, 3.6-4.0-3.7. Four stations are tied at 3.1 – Cumulus classic hits WLS-FM (2.4.-3.2-3.1), Cumulus-LMA’d/Merlin-owned classic rock “Loop” WLUP, 2.4-2.7-3.1, Univision’s regional Mexican WOJO (2.7-2.3-3.1), and CBS Radio’s adult alternative WXRT (2.8-3.2-3.1).
The Moguls
~Viacom and Google Finally Settle YouTube Lawsuit
No money traded hands, and it's a good guess that Google was the big winner here. Maybe we can start seeing Daily Show clips on YouTube again. This is the statement:
“Google and Viacom today jointly announced the resolution of the Viacom vs. YouTube copyright litigation. This settlement reflects the growing collaborative dialogue between our two companies on important opportunities, and we look forward to working more closely together.”
~As The Rupert Turns
On today's episode, Rupert tweets about "gay bullies" ruining the St. Patrick's Parade by coercing Guinness to stop sponsoring it. Rupert urged a Guinness boycott. Let me repeat that. He wanted the Irish to boycott Guinness.
The Pundits
~Jay Carney to Resign...and Become a Pundit Again
According to this piece in mediaite, it could happen soon. Let's face it, the pundit gig is a much easier gig. Criticizing is so much easier than explaining and defending government. And it pays more too.
~Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains How To Stop War on Science on CNN
The Blogs
~Nate Silver is Back!
Bloomberg Businessweek reviews the site at the link above. The actual site is right here. I bookmarked it immediately.
