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| News & Notes: WFLD-TV; Tim Weigel; Me-TV; Chicago Sun-Times; 'Chicago Live!'; WGN-AM; Radio DePaul; CHIRP; Brooke & Jill; Much More |
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| Written by Larz | |||
| Monday, 23 January 2012 15:35 | |||
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With today's News & Notes, there are 14 new local media stories, including: WFLD-TV gets its new Assistant News Director; Tim Weigel gets an honor from his high school; Me-TV gets a new Vice President, as well as some new cartoons; the Chicago Sun-Times to stay neutral in the upcoming elections; "Chicago Live!" gets ready to kick off its new season; WGN-AM to go "All Star" on Sunday; Marv Nyren gets a new job; Tommy Lisack gets a new promotion; Radio DePaul gets a new streaming source; CHIRP has a birthday; Brooke & Jill continue to entertain; and the sad deaths of Yuri Rasovsky and Danny Brown. All of the details can be found below.
* * After a long search which has been going on since early last Summer, WFLD-TV has finally found its new Assistant News Director. Effective today, Christopher Myers now fills that position. Not only does this hire reunite Myers with Chicago, where he previously worked for seven years, but it also reunites him with Phyllis Schwartz, WLFD-TV's new Vice President and News Director. Myers was previously an Executive Producer with WMAQ-TV and a News Producer at WLS-TV, both working for Schwartz while there. In addition to his years in Chicago TV news, Myers also has experience as an Assistant News Director at KNBC-TV and a News Producer at WRTV-TV, WHBQ-TV and WPSD-TV. He has been a News Producer for CBS Television's "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider." Myers was a Vice President and creator of CelebTV.com and most recently worked as a senior consultant at RumorFix.com. Christopher Myers is a graduate of Southern Illinois University with a degree in Radio/Television Journalism.  * * Lake Forest High School plans on honoring one of its favorite alumni, the late Tim Weigel. The school will be naming the press box, being constructed as part of the new athletic complex planned at the school's East Campus, after the beloved Chicago sports and news anchor. Though short in stature, Tim Weigel was a star athlete at Lake Forest High School, playing both football and basketball. He also was a star student, finishing third in his 1963 graduating class. Many years later, he returned to the school as a part-time teacher. Weigel passed away in June 2001 from a brain tumor.  * * Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting Co. (the company founded by the aforementioned Tim Weigel's grandfather) has named Maura McDonough Cope as its Vice President of the classic television network Me-TV, effective immediately. The new position was created just for her. Before this week, Cope was the General Sales Manager for the Milwaukee, WI Weigel television stations since April 2010. Cope previously had worked as the Local Sales Manager for WSOC-TV and WCCO-TV, as well as being a Vice President/Regional Manager for Paramount Television.  * * Speaking of Me-TV, the Chicago-based network, which is now seen in over 73% of the country, announced today that is has reached an agreement with Broadcast Partners LLC. Me-TV will now have access to that company's library of classic programs, including many children's shows and family programming. Thanks to this new deal, Me-TV will be adding a Saturday morning animation block beginning this Spring, which will feature favorites such as "Gumby," "Mr. Magoo," "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe," and "She-Ra." Additionally, affiliates will have the option of carrying other animated family favorites such as "The Archies," "The Real Ghostbusters," "Casper and Friends," and "Bravestarr," as well as non-animated programming such as "The Lone Ranger" and "The Timmy and Lassie Hour." Me-TV is seen locally on WCIU-TV's sub-channel 26.3.  * * The Chicago Sun-Times has announced that for the first time in its history, the newspaper and its editorial staff will not be making any political endorsements. This will include a lack of endorsements for all upcoming local, county, state and national elections. Instead, the newspaper will stay neutral and provide as much information as possible to give readers a clear understanding of just where each candidate stands on issues, allowing the reader to make up their own decisions on who to vote for.  * * The Chicago Tribune's live stage show (which is later broadcast on WGN-AM), "Chicago Live!", has announced its guests for the first show of its new season on February 2nd. Guests will include WGN-AM new morning show host Jonathon Brandmeier, comedian & co-host of WTTW-TV's "Chicago Stand-Up Project" Pat McGann, trying out a stand-up comedy routine will be Old St. Pat's Father Tom Hurley, and Chicago-based novel author Sara Paretsky. More details can be found HERE.  * * Those looking to hear the 2012 NHL All-Star Game on the radio on Sunday need not turn to any of the sports stations. WGN-AM will be carrying the radio broadcast of the game. Pregame shows begin at 2:30pm, with the game broadcast beginning at 3:00pm with broadcasters Dean Brown and Gord Wilson. Chicago Blackhawks players Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, and Patrick Kane will be taking part in the contest.  * * Marv Nyren, the former Vice President and General Manager of WKQX-FM and WLUP-FM, who has been working in an unspecified executive role for Emmis Digital since Emmis Communications sold the two Chicago radio stations to Merlin Media, has found new work. Clear Channel has hired Nyren as the Total Traffic Network's new Midwest Regional Director of Affiliate Development. Nyren will be based out of Chicago, but responsible for creating and maintaining new radio station relationships for Total Traffic Network over twelve mid-American states. Despite many years of questionable results for the company, Marv Nyren had previously worked for Emmis Communications since 1993.  * * CBS Interactive Music group has announced the promotion of Tom Lisack to Vice President for Editorial Content and Worldwide Talent/Artist Relations. He previously held the title of Executive Director of Music Content and had been a key part of relaunching CBS station websites. He also help produce the "Live on Letterman" online concerts. Though he has been based in Los Angeles for well over three years, Tommy (as he was known) was previously a member of the Chicago radio community. From 2001-2008, he was the Director of New Media & Station Marketing (among other titles & jobs) for WXRT-FM. Additionally, from 1997-2001, he was the Promotions Director for WKQX-FM.  * * Beginning next week, DePaul University's online radio station, Radio DePaul, will join Clear Channel's iHeartRadio streaming service. In addition to its own website, the station will be able to be heard via the iHeartRadio app.  * * Congratulations to CHIRP - the Chicago Independent Radio Project. Last week, the Internet radio station, which hopes to become a LPFM station in the future, celebrated its second anniversary.  * * As a reminder, fans of Brooke Hunter and Jill Egan can catch the duo's newest program, "The Brooke and Jill Show," right here on the Chicagoland Radio & Media podcast section. In less than a four weeks, they have already turned out four great shows, including the newest one earlier today. All of the podcasts can be downloaded or streamed RIGHT HERE.  * * Condolences to the friends and family of Yuri Rasovsky, who passed away from cancer at the age of 67. The Chicago native had worked professionally in local theater and broadcasting as an actor, writer, director, and producer. In 1972, he founded the National Radio Theatre of Chicago, which lasted until 1986, creating hundreds of radio productions heard on commercial and public radio stations worldwide. In 1993, he formed the Hollywood Theatre of the Ear, which also created a multitude of audio theater productions. In his long career, he had won two Peabody Awards, nine Audie Awards, a Bradbury Award, a lifetime achievement award from the National Audio Theatre Festivals, and a Grammy Award, although that number could increase, as he is nominated for yet another Grammy Award at next month's Grammy ceremony.  * * Condolences to the friends and family of Daniel Eli Brown. A cameraman with WBBM-TV and CBS for over 40 years, "Downtown Danny" Brown was known for his ever-present smile. He passed away last week at the age of 84. 
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