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
~Fake Chef Fools Midwest Morning Shows
This isn't technically Chicago media, but close enough. Got a kick out of this story in Deadspin. These morning anchors actually ate the "food" this chef made. As a former producer, I feel for the poor saps who booked this guy...
Over the holidays, Keith Guerke appeared on five morning shows in Wisconsin and Illinois to promote his new cookbook and prepare some meals made from leftovers. One little problem: Chef Keith doesn't know how to cook. A ham, pie, and gravy smoothie. A mashed-potato ice cream cone with corn sprinkles.
~Cheryl Scott's Future
Robert Feder assesses the contract situation and potential future opportunities of Channel 5 meteorologist Cheryl Scott. It seems the very attractive Ms. Scott is garnering quite the fan base here in Chicago.
The Moguls
~As the Rupert Turns
There really is a new story in this continuing soap opera every single day. Today's story: Rupert's Ex-Wife gets to keep their mansion in Beijing.
~Comcast Tries Spinning Merger Benefits
They claim that this merger will help expand broadband because of a plan to offer low cost broadband to needy families. The rest of us, of course, will be screwed...but then again everyone knows that...which is why NOBODY is in favor of this merger (except the five guys who will make billions). Even Variety is calling out the ludicrousness of this argument. Here's what they wrote...
Effectively, the cable giant is spinning the expanded low-cost Internet Essentials program as one of the key benefits of the proposed $45.2 billion deal for TW Cable — despite the fact that post-deal Comcast would control nearly one-third of U.S. broadband market.
The Pundits
~Ronan Farrow Fails To Attract Young Viewers
The National Review reports this news with cackling glee. Their headline is actually: "Ronan Farrow: The Young Man Only Old People Like". The subheadline is: "Young Blue Eyes fails to bring young viewers to MSNBC." Good to see that conservatives can be funny too.
Showbiz
~"Frozen" Tops the Billion Dollar Mark at the Box Office
My kids are finally old enough to have lost interest in these kids movies, but I'm thinking I should still check out "Frozen".
The Radio Biz
~Don't Look Now, But Radio Stocks Are Doing Well
Tom Taylor reports this news in his NOW newsletter today...
If you held Saga stock, you watched it jump more than 7%, or $3.62, to close at an all-time record of $54.43. (At one point it grazed $55.) Entercom was also up 7%, gaining 72 cents to $10.50. (It soared to $10.91 before lunchtime.) Emmis gained 5%, up 16 cents to $3.34. There was news during the day that Emmis got a favorable ruling from a federal judge regarding a suit by preferred shareholders, but other companies didn’t get that kind of news, and they’re up, too. Then there was Salem Communications – up close to 5% on the day
NOTE: MEDIA SPOTLIGHT WILL BE TAKING THE REST OF THE WEEK OFF. IT WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
