Readers pin the tail on CBS 2 birthday boy Joe Ahern
Robert Feder: Readers' reactions to Thursday's report about Joe Ahern, boss of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2, forcing staffers to pay for his birthday party: Amy Maynard: With Joe Ahern's $5,000 lunch and birthday bash fiasco, can we safely assume that this is finally the beginning of the end of Mr. Ahern in Chicago?
Robert Feder: Readers' reactions to Thursday's report about Joe Ahern, boss of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2, forcing staffers to pay for his birthday party: Amy Maynard: With Joe Ahern's $5,000 lunch and birthday bash fiasco, can we safely assume that this is finally the beginning of the end of Mr. Ahern in Chicago?
CBS 2 boss makes staff pay for his birthday bash
Robert Feder: Remember the little item here Wednesday about Joe Ahern and the $5,000 lunch? Well, it gets even better. It turns out the event June 9 at Alex Dana's trendy Rosebud Prime in the Loop was a party to honor the president and general manager of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 on his 63rd birthday.
Robert Feder: Remember the little item here Wednesday about Joe Ahern and the $5,000 lunch? Well, it gets even better. It turns out the event June 9 at Alex Dana's trendy Rosebud Prime in the Loop was a party to honor the president and general manager of CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 on his 63rd birthday.
Morning success keeps eluding Q101.1
Robert Feder: It's probably not a good sign when a radio station trots out its fourth morning show in little more than two years. But that will be the case Monday when Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle shift from afternoons to mornings on alternative rock WKQX-FM (101.1). No word yet on who will replace them in afternoons.
Robert Feder: It's probably not a good sign when a radio station trots out its fourth morning show in little more than two years. But that will be the case Monday when Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle shift from afternoons to mornings on alternative rock WKQX-FM (101.1). No word yet on who will replace them in afternoons.
Clark Weber celebrates radio's last golden era in new memoir
Robert Feder: I'd be willing to bet that no one has enjoyed a more splendid radio career in Chicago over the last five decades than Clark Weber. From his arrival as a star disc jockey and program director of powerhouse WLS-AM (890) at the dawn of Top 40 through his various incarnations as a first-rate talk show host, broadcast marketing/advertising executive and industry elder statesman, Weber has done it all with style, class and professionalism.
Robert Feder: I'd be willing to bet that no one has enjoyed a more splendid radio career in Chicago over the last five decades than Clark Weber. From his arrival as a star disc jockey and program director of powerhouse WLS-AM (890) at the dawn of Top 40 through his various incarnations as a first-rate talk show host, broadcast marketing/advertising executive and industry elder statesman, Weber has done it all with style, class and professionalism.
'Hampton & Holmes' tapped for Score's new midday show
Robert Feder: It didn't take long for former Bear-turned-radio host Dan Hampton to get picked up by another team. Starting Sept. 2, the former defensive tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer will join Laurence Holmes from 10 a.m. to noon weekdays on CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR-AM (670).
Robert Feder: It didn't take long for former Bear-turned-radio host Dan Hampton to get picked up by another team. Starting Sept. 2, the former defensive tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer will join Laurence Holmes from 10 a.m. to noon weekdays on CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR-AM (670).
Q101 dumps the 'Morning Fix'
Somewhere, Mancow Muller is laughing his head off. For the third time since they dumped "Mancow's Morning Madhouse" in July 2006, the bosses of Emmis Communications' alternative rock WKQX-FM (101.1) are trying to replace him.
Somewhere, Mancow Muller is laughing his head off. For the third time since they dumped "Mancow's Morning Madhouse" in July 2006, the bosses of Emmis Communications' alternative rock WKQX-FM (101.1) are trying to replace him.
Why Pat Cassidy left Newsradio for WLS
Robert Feder: After more than three decades as one of Chicago radio's most respected and popular news anchors, it's a whole new day for Pat Cassidy. The broadcast veteran signed off Wednesday from CBS Radio all-news WBBM-AM (780), where he's hosted mornings with Felicia Middlebrooks since 2000. He'd spent 25 years before that at the former WMAQ.
Robert Feder: After more than three decades as one of Chicago radio's most respected and popular news anchors, it's a whole new day for Pat Cassidy. The broadcast veteran signed off Wednesday from CBS Radio all-news WBBM-AM (780), where he's hosted mornings with Felicia Middlebrooks since 2000. He'd spent 25 years before that at the former WMAQ.
Pat Cassidy quits Newsradio 780 for WLS
Robert Feder exclusive: Pat Cassidy, who’s been a morning star on Chicago radio for more than
30 years, resigned Wednesday as one of the top anchors at all-news
WBBM-AM (780). He is expected to jump to Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890),
where he presumably would re-invent himself as a talk show host in a
time slot to be determined.
Robert Feder exclusive: Pat Cassidy, who’s been a morning star on Chicago radio for more than
30 years, resigned Wednesday as one of the top anchors at all-news
WBBM-AM (780). He is expected to jump to Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890),
where he presumably would re-invent himself as a talk show host in a
time slot to be determined.
Tribune Co. loses WGN boss, CLTV news chief
Robert Feder: On the heels of layoffs and cutbacks by Tribune Co., Tom Ehlmann announced his resignation Tuesday as vice president and general manager of WGN-Channel 9. After more than four years at the Tribune television flagship here, Ehlmann is returning to Texas to become president and general manager of NBC-owned KXAS-TV in Dallas.
Robert Feder: On the heels of layoffs and cutbacks by Tribune Co., Tom Ehlmann announced his resignation Tuesday as vice president and general manager of WGN-Channel 9. After more than four years at the Tribune television flagship here, Ehlmann is returning to Texas to become president and general manager of NBC-owned KXAS-TV in Dallas.
Trib layoffs hit WGN
Robert Feder: How tough is it at Tribune Co. these days? Even the boss of WGN-Channel 9 has lost his secretary. Helen Hoffmann, the longtime executive assistant to the vice president and general manager, was one of at least eight staffers at Channel 9 whose positions were eliminated in recent weeks.
Robert Feder: How tough is it at Tribune Co. these days? Even the boss of WGN-Channel 9 has lost his secretary. Helen Hoffmann, the longtime executive assistant to the vice president and general manager, was one of at least eight staffers at Channel 9 whose positions were eliminated in recent weeks.
Tom Ehlmann resigns from Tribune Co.
After more than four years at the Tribune television flagship here, Ehlmann is returning to Texas to become president and general manager of NBC-owned KXAS-TV in Dallas.
Weigel, MGM launch 'This' network
And now . . . "This." Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting and Hollywood's fabled MGM Studios are teaming up on a new national television network geared to the expanding digital market.
And now . . . "This." Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting and Hollywood's fabled MGM Studios are teaming up on a new national television network geared to the expanding digital market.
Readers react to news about Ebert & Roeper
Robert Feder: Another installment of cards and letters across the television/radio desk: Bill Harding: It is truly a tragedy to learn that Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper will not be part of "At the Movies" in the future. Thanks, Disney, for ruining another institution. Oh, how I wish Disney had stuck with their cartoons and theme parks!
Robert Feder: Another installment of cards and letters across the television/radio desk: Bill Harding: It is truly a tragedy to learn that Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper will not be part of "At the Movies" in the future. Thanks, Disney, for ruining another institution. Oh, how I wish Disney had stuck with their cartoons and theme parks!
Don & Roma in no hurry to leave WLS
Robert Feder: If Don and Roma Wade are leaving their morning show at news/talk WLS-AM (890), it's news to them. Widespread speculation to the contrary, the husband-and-wife team say they have no desire to step down when their contract expires in early November with the Citadel Broadcasting station.
Robert Feder: If Don and Roma Wade are leaving their morning show at news/talk WLS-AM (890), it's news to them. Widespread speculation to the contrary, the husband-and-wife team say they have no desire to step down when their contract expires in early November with the Citadel Broadcasting station.
Arbitron's last old-fashioned radio ratings
Arbitron's ratings book for spring landed with a thud Tuesday. That's because it was the last time quarterly ratings would be based on the paper diary method of measuring listenership in Chicago. With the advent of the new electronic Portable People Meter system, the final diary data was dismissed as dead on arrival by many who questioned its reliability.
Arbitron's ratings book for spring landed with a thud Tuesday. That's because it was the last time quarterly ratings would be based on the paper diary method of measuring listenership in Chicago. With the advent of the new electronic Portable People Meter system, the final diary data was dismissed as dead on arrival by many who questioned its reliability.
Disney taps two Bens to host new 'At the Movies'
Robert Feder: One day after Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper signed off as hosts of "At the Movies," Disney ABC Domestic Television announced their replacements along with a new format for the Chicago-based syndicated movie-review show. Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz were named Tuesday as co-hosts of show when its new season begins Sept. 6.
Robert Feder: One day after Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper signed off as hosts of "At the Movies," Disney ABC Domestic Television announced their replacements along with a new format for the Chicago-based syndicated movie-review show. Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz were named Tuesday as co-hosts of show when its new season begins Sept. 6.
