Robservations: Dish Network outage of Nexstar stations exploits viewers

Observations on the media pace:

As Dish Network and Nexstar Media Group continue to play hard on a broadcast deal, viewers of “Chicago’s Very Own” WGN-Channel 9 and cable network WGN America were plunged into obscurity on Wednesday night by the television provider. by satellite. WGN and 163 other Nexstar stations in 115 markets nationwide have been affected by the distribution fee dispute. “This record-breaking power outage is not only an exploitation, but also a threat to the health and safety of countless Americans who rely on their local news for up-to-date information on coronaviruses,” a spokesperson said. word of the American Television Alliance, a coalition of interested groups. Noting a similar move on Tuesday involving AT&T and Tegna stations outside Chicago, ATVA added, “We believed the ongoing global pandemic could have prevented major shows from leveraging consumer access during negotiations over the retrans. Sadly, two separate major blackouts this week proved us wrong. “

It was delicious to see our old friend Larry Yellen featured prominently in a Wednesday night video on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert ” on CBS. The former Chicago TV news anchor and investigative reporter, who retired from Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 last year, made a long appearance in a hip-hop-style song “Hamilton” on the Economist Janet Yellen, the candidate for Secretary of the US Treasury. (Here’s the link.) For the record, no, it do not Janet Yellen’s brother.

Find a weekend host Dave plier to spend the New Year in Nexstar Media Group WGN 720-AM News / Discussions. Starting January 8, Plier’s weekly late-night show will air from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays (with a replay most Saturday afternoon). Radio Hall of Fame John Records Landecker will continue to host from 7 pm to 10 pm Monday through Thursday (unless preceded by the Bears show “Hamp, O’B and Koz” on Tuesday evening). “I love three-day weekends!” Landecker said. Plier also hosts “The Sinatra Hours” from 6.30 am to 9 am on Sundays. WGN’s weekly showcase for music from Frank Sinatra marks his first birthday this weekend.

As he prepares to retire at the end of the month after 60 years at the WGN, Radio Hall of Famer Orion samuelson continues his well-deserved victory lap in the Chicago media. Earlier this week, Window to the World Communications WTTW-Channel 11 reposted an excellent half-hour interview Bob sirott recorded with Samuelson for “The Friday Night Show” in 2003. (Here is the link.) (Proving all roads lead to the WGN, Sirott now hosts mornings there.) And on Sundays, Samuelson and longtime partner of the agro industry Max Armstrong talk about their years together and what awaits them both with Fred weintraub and Hannah Stanley. “The Hannah and Fred Show” airs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays on Evanston Broadcasting news / talk WCGO 1590-AM / 95.9-FM.

Lance Houston, last seen and heard as the program director and evening personality at the old Chicago Big 95.5, just arrived in Atlanta as the afternoon host on WUBL. Previously, he spent six years there as Deputy Program Director, Music Director and Afternoon Host. Houston has also been given assignments on the iHeartMedia National Programming team. It has been inactive since iHeartMedia unplugged Big 95.5 country in September and switched to mainstream rock WCHI 95.5-FM.

Recommended reading: Dave Hoekstra, the prized Chicago journalist, on Wednesday published a deeply moving tribute to Wyonella Smith, widow of the pioneering Chicago newspaper columnist and WGN sports presenter Wendell Smith. “Wendell and Wyonella – poetry in motion – had a relationship defined by love,” Hoekstra wrote. (Here’s the link.) Until her death on Thanksgiving Day at age 99, she lived in the same Hyde Park retreat center as her dear friend. Mary Frances Veeck, baseball hall of fame widow Bill Veeck. She was also the aunt of Biff Henderson, long-time manager for David Letterman.

You won’t see Sam panayotovich more as a sports betting analyst for Rotoworld, NBC Sports Digital’s fantasy sports website. The former sports presenter and WGN reporter is moving to Boston where he signed a multi-year contract to be a sports betting analyst for the New England Sports Network. Panayotovich has returned home to Chicago since his stint as a host for VSiN, the Las Vegas-based sports gambling network. At NESN, he will be reunited with his former boss VSiN Rick Jaffe, who ran the sports department at the Sun-Times in the 90s.

Commentary for Wednesday: Hal Ross: Let’s do this Eddie style: “OK, Bub, just donate to the anti-hunger organization of your choice!”