WGN Chicago said VP and general manager Paul Rennie will retire on August 31. The Nexstar Media Group-owned station has not yet named his successor. 

Rennie has been GM of the station since 2016. 

During his tenure, the station expanded its local news output, launching a 6 p.m. newscast and adding morning and late evening weekend newscasts. He also oversaw the debut of weekday lifestyle shows Daytime Chicago and Spotlight Chicago.

“It has truly been a great run, and I am filled with a mix of emotions as I prepare to leave this very special place,” Rennie said.

“Working at WGN-TV has been an honor and a privilege, made even more so by the talented, dedicated, and passionate individuals who work here,“ Rennie said. ”Their hard work and commitment have inspired me every day. I am proud of everything we accomplished together and confident that WGN’s legacy of unbiased local news and its long-time connection to the greater Chicago community is in good hands with Nexstar.”

Rennie will be signing off on a 40-year career in broadcasting. Before joining WGN, he served as GM of WTTV and WXIN, both Indianapolis. He also served as general sales manger at KCPQ and KZJO in Seattle.

Nexstar Media Group, which owns The CW, said the network’s affiliation will be moving to Nexstar-owned WGN Chicago.

Nexstar had previously said that two other Nexstar owned stations — WVBT Norfolk, Virginia, and KLFY Lafayette, Louisiana — will also carry CW programming starting Sept. 1. 

WVBT is a Fox affiliate. The CW will be on digital channel 43.2, replacing Cozi TV. KLFY is a CBS affiliate and The CW will be on channel 10.2.

“The addition of these Nexstar-owned stations as affiliates — two of which are among the country’s Top 50 largest markets, highlighted by Chicago at No. 3 — will bring the number of Nexstar-owned CW stations to 42, covering more than 36% of U.S. TV households,” Andrew Alford, president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, said. “Adding The CW’s programming to them will offer advertisers a variety of new linear and digital opportunities to reach millions of viewers.” 

Nexstar is able to generate additional revenue and profits in markets where it owns The CW affiliates. Since acquiring a majority stake in the network, Nexstar has changed its programming strategy and added sports programming in weekend time slots.

The CW affiliate in Chicago had been WCIU, owned by Weigel Broadcasting.

“It’s good for us and good for the network,“ Weigel vice chairman Neal Sabin said. “We wish them well.”

The CW affiliations will be shuffling in other markets as well. Affiliation agreements with stations owned by the E.W. Scripps Co. are not being renewed in seven markets including Norfolk and Lafayette.

The other markets where Scripps’s CW affiliations are ending are Detroit; Miami; Tucson, Arizona; Corpus Christi, Texas; and San Luis Obispo, California.

Mission Broadcasting, which works closely with Nexstar, agreed to buy WADL in Detroit and was expected to make that station a The CW affiliate. But the Federal Communications Commission put conditions on the sale and it is not clear if the transaction will be completed. 

WGN said it named Demetrius Ivory as chief meteorologist, succeeding legendary Chicago weatherman Tom Skilling, who is retiring at the end of February after 45 years with the station.

Ivory joined WGN in 2013 and is the weather anchor for WGN MIdday News and WGN Evening News at 4 p.m.

When he assumes his new post on February 29, he will appear on the Nexstar Media Group-owned independent station’s newscasts at 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. 

“Chicago is a ‘weather town’ and our viewers depend on us to get it right,” WGN VP and general manager Paul Rennie said. “Demetrius is the natural progression of our weather team leadership. His charisma, connection with Chicagoland and his expert weather skills make him the ideal choice. We could not be more excited to have Demetrius as our chief meteorologist.”

Also Read: Local News Close-Up: Chicago Is the City of Big Stories

Before joining WGN, Ivory was a meteorologist and weather reporter for WTAE Pittsburgh. Earlier he did weather at  WYTV Youngstown, Ohio, and WOHL Lima, Ohio.

“I’ve called Chicago home for over a decade,” Ivory said. “I’ve seen all sorts of weather — the good, the bad, the ugly and the really ugly. I’m thrilled to be leading the storied WGN-TV weather team and in helping our viewers to navigate our ever-changing weather. It’s been an honor to work closely with an icon such as Tom, and I’m grateful to him for his leadership and guidance over these many years.”

“I’m so excited for Demetrius,” Skilling said. “Through weather stormy, sunny, and everything in between, Demetrius has delivered accurate, compelling forecasts. He has a huge rapport with the audience. I’ve been honored to have him by my side during severe breaking weather coverage over this past decade. I wish him my sincerest congratulations.  He will be fantastic!”

Nexstar Media Group’s WGN Chicago, said it hired Brhett Vickery, who will appear as a traffic reporter on the WGN Morning News starting December 11.

Vickery, a native of Chicago suburb Homer Glen, had been a reporter at WITI Milwaukee and replaces Sara Jindra, who is now co-host of WGN’s new afternoon show Spotlight Chicago.

“With her background in morning news and versatility in reporting, we’re excited to welcome Brhett to our ‘must watch’ WGN Morning News,” news director Dominick Stasi said. “Brhett has a passion for helping others and will help our morning viewers as they get out the door.”

Before joining WITI, Vickery was a multimedia journalist at WSET Lynchburg, Virginia. She started her TV career as an intern at NBC Sports Chicago.

WGN Chicago has named Sarah Jindra and Ji Suk Yi as hosts of Spotlight Chicago, a new afternoon show the station plans to launch in the fall.

Spotlight Chicago will air weekdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT. The Nexstar Media Group-owned station — which bills itself as “Chicago’s Very Own” — said the program will focus on individuals and organizations making a difference in the community and feature visits to local attractions.

Also Read: Local News Close-Up: Chicago Is the City of Big Stories

“We are very excited to launch more local programming from Chicago’s Very Own,“ WGN VP and general manager Paul Rennie said. “Spotlight Chicago reflects our ongoing commitment to serve our viewers and continue to tell stories of the good things going on in our community. Sarah and Ji will be a fantastic duo. Both are seasoned veterans who know Chicagoland inside and out.”

Jindra has been on the WGN Morning News since 2017 and has reported on traffic at the station since 2008. She joined WGN/CLTV in 2012.

Yi has been a frequent backup host on WGN’s Daytime Chicago. Recently she was with WGN radio and NewsNation. She also helmed the Chicago Sun-Times digital series “The Grid” and was with the WLS talk show Windy City Live for seven seasons. 

Of all the attributes that make an esteemed anchor or reporter, one of the most important, at least in Chicago, is having local roots. Chicago viewers have a level of trust in an anchor who speaks their language, and knows their neighborhood, that they might not have in an anchor from another market. 

“People from Chicago, people who grew up here, tell the stories that people want to hear,” said Matthew Piacente, VP and news director, WFLD-WPWR Chicago. 

General managers say there are some 77 distinct neighborhoods in Chicago, from River North to Pilsen to Bronzeville, and it helps to have reporters — not to mention producers, news directors and general managers — who know the market’s political layout, weather and customs. “We want to make sure we get those stories told correctly,” said Kevin Cross, WMAQ-WSNS president and general manager. “It’s a complicated story. Chicago is a complicated story.”

Also Read: Check Out Our Local News Close-Up Profiles on Dozens of U.S. Markets

There is never a shortage of stories, complicated or other, in DMA No. 3. NASCAR held a street race in Chicago for the first time in early July. Days before that, the air quality was just about the worst in the world due to the Canadian wildfires. Days after that, on July 2, some parts of the market got close to 9 inches of rain. 

It was a year before that seven were murdered, and dozens more wounded, when a mass shooting occurred at a July 4 parade in Highland Park. 

“News still matters in Chicago,” WLS president and general manager John Idler said. “It’s a great news town.”

As befits the No. 3 DMA, the networks own the major stations in Chicago. ABC has WLS. Fox owns WFLD-WPWR, a Fox-MyNetworkTV duopoly. NBCUniversal holds WMAQ-WSNS, an NBC-Telemundo pair. CBS has WBBM. Nexstar Media Group owns independent WGN. Weigel Broadcasting has The CW station WCIU. Univision owns WGBO and Window to the World Communications owns PBS station WTTW. 

Comcast is Chicago’s major pay TV operator. 

WLS is a Nielsen ratings powerhouse, with a stiff battle from WGN. The ABC station won a close 6 a.m. household race in June, while WGN took a narrow win in viewers 25-54. WLS won 5 and 6 p.m. in both races, and averaged a 4.86 household score at 10 p.m., ahead of WMAQ’s 2.81, WGN’s 2.08, WBBM’s 1.49, WGBO’s 1.16 and WSNS’s 0.64. (WFLD has Modern Family on at 10.)  In the 10 p.m. demo, WLS had a 1.66 and WMAQ a 0.80. WGBO had a 0.78, WGN a 0.77, WSNS a 0.47 and WBBM a 0.24, per figures supplied by one of the stations.  

WLS is expanding its news presence. Early in 2022, ABC7 added streaming newscasts at 7-8 a.m and 7-8 p.m. on weekdays. Idler mentions a “think like an insurgent” mindset, where staffers are trained to hustle to take down the top dog every day, ignoring that WLS is that dog. “We never take it for granted,” Idler said. “We are always innovating with our storytelling.”

Main anchor Alan Kreshesky retired in November, but the anchor teams, including Rob Elgas or Ravi Baichwal anchoring with Cheryl Burton and Judy Hsu, is humming along. “We’re very pleased with the growth in that area,” said Idler. 

WLS takes pride in covering the parades that make Chicago Chicago — whether it’s the Chicago Pride Parade, the Bud Billiken Parade that celebrates Black culture, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade or others. The station also does quarterly specials, such as ones tied to Asian Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and Juneteenth. They often stream on Hulu. 

“We put a lot of work into these, and it’s great to have the local team get national exposure and recognition,” Idler said. 

An independent since it split with The CW in 2016, WGN celebrated 75 years on the air in April. Two-hour special WGN TV Celebrates 75 Years, highlighting milestone stories the station has covered, and the talent that covered them over the decades, aired in prime April 5.  

“It was a really fun opportunity to share it with employees as well as sharing it with viewers,” said Paul Rennie, WGN VP and general manager.

WGN launched lifestyle show Daytime Chicago at 10 a.m. in the fall of 2021, and debuts entertainment-themed Spotlight Chicago at 3 p.m. in September. 

In terms of prime, a double run of Last Man Standing is on weekdays at 8-9 p.m., local news is on at 10 p.m. and a sports program airs at 10:30. 

About WGN’s Chicago’s Very Own branding, “every day we work to back up that brand and make sure we’re delivering,” Rennie said. 

WGN content started on YouTube TV in late June, and launches on Hulu in late July. “It’s another vehicle that we can connect with the people of Chicago on,” Rennie said. “As the world continues to change, we do as well.”

WGN has a key asset in Chicago meteorologist Tom Skilling, who joined the station back in 1978. Rennie called him “a rock star in this town.”

Dan Roan retired as WGN sports anchor after 38 years, but the morning team, Larry Potash, Robin Baumgarten and Paul Konrad, has 27 years together, Rennie said. 

Bulls and Bears

Kevin Cross became WMAQ-WSNS president/general manager two years ago. WMAQ also celebrates a 75th anniversary this year, in October, and will bring back past anchors and reporters to celebrate the event. “We’re proud of our history,” Cross said. “We want to look back, but we also want to make sure we let our audience know we’re here in the future. We have 75 years to go at the very least.”

Besides reaching Spanish-language viewers through the Telemundo station, NBCUniversal also has NBC Sports Chicago. Cross mentioned a “full-year commitment” with the sports network, including pro baseball, basketball and hockey. “We’re always in front of our audience, one way or the other,” he said. 

It also has a FAST channel, where docuseries such as The Lost Story of Emmett Till run. 

Fox is looking for a new general manager for WFLD-WPWR, with Dennis Welsh retiring at the end of June. He spent a decade at Fox’s Chicago stations, and 26 years with Fox Television Stations. “He’s had a heckuva career,” Piacente said. 

WFLD political editor Mike Flannery retired that same day, and anchor Corey McPherrin retires in August. Scott Schneider, morning anchor, will move to evenings, and take over the political beat too. 

Reupping their partnership with the Chicago Bears, the Fox stations have a full lineup of Bears programming, including Friday Night Bears Unleashed. A new sports show is in the works for prime, and Piacente said entertainment editor Jake Hamilton may host a new show down the line too. 

“We want to do more special programming,” said Piacente, who is from Highland Park. He said weather, politics and sports are common themes for the special stuff. 

Emily Wahls is Fox 32’s chief meteorologist. “Weather is always a headline for us,” said Piacente. “Weather is something we have to own.”

Jennifer Lyons took over as WBBM president/general manager two years ago in August, after 27 years at WGN, where she was news director, and a stint at NewsNation. “We’ve been working very hard to refine who we are and what we’re about,” she said, noting the CBS2 “pillars” of breaking news, weather, community and investigative. 

A streaming newscast in the 7-9 a.m. weekday slot debuted on CBS News Chicago in January, with Brad Edwards hosting. “When it goes to network, we continue to do local coverage,” said Lyons, who grew up in the Chicago suburbs. “It’s an extension of our brand and it has done well for us.”

More streaming newscasts may follow. “It’s where the growth is and where the opportunity is,” she said. 

WCIU does not do news, but covers Chicago with the weekly newsmag On the Block, a year-old partnership with non-profit Block Club Chicago that airs at 6:30 p.m. Sundays. The station also has high school football and basketball, with broadcasts syndicated across the state. 

The pandemic saw WCIU launch Chicago Food to Go. “It was an effort for us to support the restaurant industry,” said Steve Farber, Weigel Broadcasting senior VP of operations. “We all root for the restaurant industry in Chicago to stay strong.”

Weigel is, of course, a diginet powerhouse, so WCIU enjoys the likes of MeTV, Heroes & Icons, Catchy Comedy and Story Television, among others, under the station banner. 

Second City, Third DMA

The general managers say the Chicago economy is running hot and cold, still finding its footing after the pandemic. Crime in Chicago is notorious, and continues to challenge lawmakers, residents and newsrooms. 

Newsroom insiders said working in Chicago offers perks that larger markets don’t have. New York and Los Angeles are bigger, but both have an abundance of movie and TV stars and other pop culture icons. Chicago has some of that, but standout anchors are stars too. “Viewers look at anchors, at people on screen, as important people in their lives,” said Lyons. “They take their news seriously, and it’s good to serve an audience that cares.”

And those Chicago roots always play well in the region. WMAQ-WSNS GM Kevin Cross, for one, comes from the South Side. “It’s more than just a job for me,” he said. “My mom lives here and she holds me accountable.”

Chicago stations are, of course, all over the mass shooting at a July 4 parade in suburban Highland Park. WLS, part of the ABC group, reports that suspect Robert Crimo had planned the assault for weeks, and had legally purchased his gun. Reporter Diane Pathieu reported how Crimo, after the shooting, climbed down from the roof on a ladder, mixed in with the crowd and walked to his mother’s home. 

“Still don’t know a motive yet,” she added, “and still don’t know if he’s cooperating with authorities or if authorities are trying to piece [a motive] together themselves.”

WGN reported that the 21-year-old suspect blended in with the crowd after donning a dress and a wig, perhaps in part to hide tattoos on his face and neck. WFLD, known as Fox 32, reported that Crimo had the dress and wig on when he conducted the massacre. 

"During the attack, Crimo was dressed in women's clothing," Lake County Major Crime Task Force spokesman Christopher Covelli said, according to WFLD. "Investigators do believe he did this to conceal his facial tattoos and his identity and help him during the escape with the other people who were fleeing the chaos."

Crimo is a suspect in the murder of seven people and the wounding of more than 30. NBCU-owned WMAQ noted that none of the murder victims are children. The station added that no motive has emerged for Crimo: "[The] shooting appears to be completely random," Covelli said, adding that "we have no information to suggest at this point it was racially-motivated, motivated by religion or any other protected status."

The horrific story represented an opportunity for CBS News and owned station WBBM to work together, as CBS News and Stations spoke of last week. Charges are likely to be filed late Tuesday (July 5), according to Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, per a WBBM report.

WBBM’s Megan Hickey called Crimo “a prolific rapper” with lots of music videos. “They are graphic,” she said. “Some are violent and some depict gun violence.”

Crimo has “an extensive digital footprint,” she added, though much has been taken down following the massacre.  

Crimo was arrested around 6:30 p.m. on July 4. Univision-aligned WGBO said an officer chased the suspect, and arrested him around five miles north of the scene of the shooting. 

WBBM reports that 39 people were treated at hospitals following the Highland Park shooting, and 28 have been discharged.

WGN also reported three fatal shootings at a block party in Gary, Indiana, about 30 miles from Chicago, and three people shot, with one fatality, at a party on Chicago’s South Side. ■

Craig Harrison has been named director of technology at WGN-TV, Nexstar Media’s station in Chicago.

Harrison had been head of operations and engineering at KYW-TV/WPSG, the CBS stations in Philadelphia. Harrison will be overseeing the day-to-day operations of the engineering department and WGN’s Bradley Place facility. He is responsible for all technology for WGN-TV, national multicast networks AntennaTV & RewindTV, and national cable news network NewsNation.

He succeeds David Harpe, who left last year and is now VP engineering and chief engineer at KTTV/KCOP, Los Angeles.

From 1996-2000, Harrison was director of operations for CLTV, WGN former owner Tribune Media’s local cable news channel in Chicago. He also worked for Fox Sports, Entertainment Tonight, Ion Media Networks, CBS and KCBS-TV, Los Angeles. ■

WGN-TV, Nexstar’s TV station in Chicago, has launched WGN News Now, digital-only newscasts appearing on the station’s website and on its WGN News mobile app.

WGN News Now provides news and weather updates each weekday in English at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. CT, and at 2 p.m. in Spanish. 

The newscasts have been airing for a few weeks as a soft launch and the station has started promoting them this week.

The newscasts will also provide investigative, sports and feature reporting, including Chicago Scene, a WGN original digital series highlighting things to do and places to see in the area.

Also Read: Andrew Alford To Head Nexstar Broadcasting

WGN News Now is hosted by Chip Brewster and Christine Flores. 

Billed as “Chicago’s Very Own,” WGN said it programs more local news than any other station in the market.

Also Read: The CW, Nexstar Ink Affiliation Agreement

WGN-TV, Nexstar Broadcasting’s station in Chicago, named Ray Cortopassi as co-anchor of its evening and late newscasts.

Cortopassi, who had been a morning anchor at Nexstar’s station in Indianapolis, will co anchor with Micah Materre, starting Sept. 28.

He replaces Joe Donlon, who will be an anchor of News Nation, the new national newscast Nexstar’s WGN America plans to launch on Sept.1 

“We’re excited to welcome Ray back home to Chicago,” said Dominick Stasi, WGN-TV news director. “Ray has a passion for this city and knows the stories that shape it. He is an accomplished and talented journalist and will be a great addition to our team.”

Cortopassi grew up in the Chicago suburbs watching WGN. He went to Chicago’s Columbia College and he started his career in Chicago as a reporter for City News Bureau.

“I am honored to join Micah and the WGN family,” Ray said. “It’s been my dream and our family’s wish to come back since leaving my hometown in the mid-1990s. I’m humbled and thrilled by the chance to work in the best newsroom in America and grateful to join a team of journalists who know the value of telling Chicago’s story.” 

It’s not easy staffing a new newscast during a pandemic.

And yet, Nexstar Media Group’s WGN America has hired the anchors and correspondents for News Nation, the national primetime newscast expected to launch Sept. 1.

News Nation will feature weekday anchors Joe Donlon from Nexstar’s WGN-TV, Chicago, and Marni Hughes, from WCPQ-TV, Seattle, along with breaking news anchor Rob Nelson, most recently with WABC-TV, New York. They’ll be joined by meteorologist Albert Ramon, from WVUE-TV, Austin, Texas

The weekend anchors are Rudabeh Shahbazi of WFOR-TV, Miami, and Nichole Berlie from WCVB-TV, Boston, with breaking news anchor Aaron Nolan from KARK-TV, LIttle Rock, Ark., and meteorologist Gerard Jebaily from KSHB-TV.

The newscast also hired regional correspondents Tom Negovan. who will be in New York after 15 years with WGN in Chicago; Nancy Loo, Los Angeles Bureau, also from WGN; Markie Martin, Dallas Bureau from KOCO-TV, Oklahoma City; and Brian Entin in the Miami Bureau from WSVN-TV Miami.

John Potratz, who has been with WABC-TV, New York; Fox News and WFLD-TV, Chicago, will be the executive producer.

While several of the newscasters are from WGN and other Nexstar stations, “we cast our net far and wide,” said Jennifer Lyons, who spent many years at WGN before being named VP of News for WGN America.

“From the very beginning we decided that we wanted good, solid, local journalists who are well respected in their markets who would be able to go to the national level,” Lyons said.

Assembling the team during a pandemic was a bit of a challenge. Hughes was hired before the coronavirus kept people apart. For the rest, it was a bit like speed dating, Lyons said.

“Usually you bring the anchor in, you take them to dinner, you put them on the set with the person you’re going to seat them with. We could’t do any of that,” she said.

On the other hand in some ways, with Zoom calls you got to see a bit of the candidates’ personalities and priorities by watching them from their homes. “You did get a window into people's lives,” Lyons said. “It was a unique way of hiring people, but in the end we got so comfortable with the way we were doing it and we developed a good feel for people over video calls.”

Lyons had plenty of people to pick from. She reviewed between 200 and 300 reels from on-air talent and had more than a thousand candidates for behind the scenes jobs. The work was helped by the fact that so many stations stream their local newscasts, enabling Lyons to see their body of work, not just edited highlights.

“I’m pretty impressed with the team that we have pulled together. Until this week they’ve never been to the stations and they are coming to work on their project that they all believe deeply in,” Lyons said.

News Nation will air daily from 8 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET. It plans to draw on Nexstar’s 5,400 journalists in 110 local newsrooms. WGN America, the cable network Nexstar got when it bought Tribune Media, reaches 75 million TV households. 

CBS All Access’ Star Trek: Picard and Comedy Central’s Awkwafina is Nora from Queens highlight the new shows premiering on cable and streaming services this week.

Star Trek: Picard, which debuts Jan. 23, returns Patrick Stewart to the Star Trek universe as the series begins several decades after the Star Trek: The Next Generation series and films, according to the streaming service.

Awkwafina is Nora From Queens premieres Jan 22 and stars Nora “Awkwafina” Lum in an autobiographical scripted series of her life growing up in Queens.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting this week on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

Jan. 20 -- Carter (drama) -- WGN

Jan. 21 -- Project Blue Book (returning series) -- History

Jan. 23 -- The Bold Type (returning series) -- Freeform

Jan. 23 -- October Faction (drama) -- Netflix

Jan. 24 -- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (returning series) -- Netflix

Jan. 24 -- Shrill (returning series) -- Hulu

Jan. 26 -- Our Cartoon President (animation) -- Showtime

CBS All Access’ Star Trek: Picard and Comedy Central’s Awkwafina is Nora from Queens highlight the new shows premiering on cable and streaming services this week.

Star Trek: Picard, which debuts Jan. 23, returns Patrick Stewart to the Star Trek universe as the series takes place several decades after the Star Trek: The Next Generation series and films, according to the streaming service.

Awkwafina is Nora From Queens premieres Jan 22 and stars Nora “Awkwafina” Lum in an autobiographical scripted series of her life growing up in Queens, said the network.

Below are video trailers and premiere dates for several shows debuting this week on cable networks and streaming services (for some videos, viewer discretion is advised):

Jan. 20 -- Carter (drama) -- WGN

Jan. 21 -- Project Blue Book (returning series) -- History

Jan. 23 -- The Bold Type (returning series) -- Freeform

Jan. 23 -- October Faction (drama) -- Netflix

Jan. 24 -- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (returning series) -- Netflix

Jan. 24 -- Shrill (returning series) -- Hulu

Jan. 26 -- Our Cartoon President (animation) -- Showtime

Sinclair Broadcast Group has formed a joint venture with the Chicago Cubs that will own and operate Marquee Sports Network, a regional sports channel that will be the exclusive home of Cubs baseball games beginning with the 2020 season.

Cubs games have been broadcast by WGN in Chicago for 72 years. WGN’s owner, Tribune Broadcasting, owned the Cubs until the team was sold to the Ricketts family in 2009.

The Cubs had been partners with Comcast in NBC Sports Chicago, which televises Cubs games on cable. NBC Sports Chicago recently announced a deal that extends its partnerships with the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks.

The new Marquee Sports Network will have to negotiate a carriage deal with Comcast, the dominant cable provider in the Chicago TV market.

“This partnership brings together one of the most iconic sports franchises in the country with one of the largest television broadcasting companies,” said Chris Ripley, president and CEO of Sinclair. “It is hard to imagine any content that is more unique and valuable than the live sports entertainment the Cubs have been delivering to their fans for more than a century. Sinclair’s strength in production, distribution and local sales will support bringing more content to more viewers, all while leveraging the latest technology.”

Sinclair has also reportedly been bidding on some of the Fox regional sports networks, which are being acquired, then divested by The Walt Disney Co. Disney is selling the networks in order for its acquisition of 21st Century Fox to gain regulatory approval.

“Providing an enhanced experience for our fans is at the heart of everything we do. We are excited to better serve our fans with expanded and exclusive programming showcasing our remarkable players, beloved ballpark and storied past,” said Crane Kenney, president of business operations for the Cubs. “Our dedicated ‘Cubs-centric’ network will carry all available Cubs games and feature uncompromising, in-depth and behind-the-scenes coverage.”

Owning their own TV networks appeared to be a gold mine for baseball teams, whose 162-regular season games represents a large volume of high-demand programming. Sports networks commanded high sub fees and were carried on basic tiers, which generates a lot of revenue.

Among the first teams to start their own network was the New York Yankees, which launched YES in 2002. It is now among the Fox-owned RSNs on the block because of the Disney Deal.

In 2014, Time Warner Cable agreed to pay 2013 $8.35 billion over 25 years to the Dodegers to start a regional sports network featuring the team. The network has been a big money loser because it has been unable to secure carriage to more than 50% of L.A. area pay-TV subscribers. The network is now owned by Charter.

With the number of pay-TV subscribers falling and sports starting to move to on-demand and streaming platforms, the value of RSNs appears to be falling, based on the low price the Fox RSNs are expected to fetch.

In Chicago, there were concerns about Sinclair last year when it tried to acquire Tribune Broadcasting last year. The conservative news commentaries that Sinclair compels its stations to air appeared to clash with the philosophy of local management at the Tribune stations.

The deal also comes at a time when racist emails surfaced from Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts and the father of of Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts. Team president of baseball operations Theo Epstein condemned those emails earlier this week.

“The emails were upsetting to read and especially upsetting that some of our fans were put into a position where they had to consider a connection of their favorite team and some of those views,” Epstein said according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Game of Thrones fans were somewhat disappointed recently to hear that their beloved show won’t return for its final season until 2019.

The good news is that a lot of quality, scripted cable shows are premiering between now and the return of the Emmy Award-winning series to help ease the withdrawal period for Thrones aficionados.

January alone is loaded with solid, binge-worthy series debuts that will help viewers get through the cold, wintery months.

Freeform earlier this week premiered the much-ballyhooed Black-ish spinoff Grown-ish, which reportedly drew more than 1.5 million viewers in its Jan. 3 premiere, the network’s best comedy series debut in nearly six years. Freeform comes back Wednesday (Jan. 10) with another comedy series, Alone Together.

Showtime this past Sunday (Jan. 7) debuted its drama The Chi from Emmy award-winning writer Lena Waithe to 1.67 million combined same-day and early sampling viewers – its best debut numbers for a series since Billions in 2016.

Later in the month, Golden Globes show-stopper Oprah Winfrey’s OWN will serve up a reboot of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne series with new show The Paynes, while Comedy Central will debut an edgy workplace comedy dubbed Corporate, and POP will exercise viewers’ funny bones with its new comedy Let’s Get Physical.

On the drama side, FX will look to follow up on the success of The People v. O.J Simpson with the true crime drama The Assassination of Ginni Versace: American Crime Story. Also, Starz’s spy thriller Counterpart, TNT’s The Alienist, HBO’s Mosiac, WGN’s Bellevue, and Paramount Network’s Waco are on tap to premiere this month.

This week, cable networks will unveil several more new scripted series set to air later this year. Already at TCA, FX announced a Sons of Anarchy spinoff — Mayans MC -- which will premiere in 2018.

Read More: Complete Coverage of #TCA18

Overall, the number of new and returning scripted series on cable, broadcast and streaming services are expected to increase beyond the 487 that were offered in 2017, according to FX.

Game of Thrones fans should be able to find at least a few shows to fill the void until the dragons fly once again in 2019.

Get more #TCA16 news.

Pasadena, Calif. -- WGN America's two new drama series, Outsiders and Underground, will premiere commercial free, the network said Friday at its Television Critics Association press tour event.

Outsiders, which follows a tight knit family defending their land atop a mountain, debuts Jan. 26, while Underground – which tells the story of revolutionaries of the Underground Railroad – bows March 9, according to network officials.

“We will air the series premieres of each show commercial free in order to give viewers a pure and uninterrupted introduction to these two very different words,” said WGN president and general manager Matt Cherniss.

Cherniss added that WGN America will stream the first three episodes of Outsiders and Underground on OTT service Crackle, Facebook as well as WGN America and Sony Youtube channels after their respecitve premieres on the network.

WGN America also announced it will launch on Cablevision on Jan 16, extending its distribution to 80 million homes.

WGN America will launch its freshman drama series Underground  on March 9, the network said Monday.

The series, which follows the lives of slaves as they plot their escape to freedom, Jurnee Smollett-Bell (True Blood), Aldis Hodge (Straight Outta Compton), Christopher Meloni (Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), Alano Miller (Jane The Virgin), Jessica de Gouw (Arrow), Marc Blucas (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Adina Porter (The 100), Mykelti Williamson (Justified), Amirah Vann (Girls), Johnny Ray Gill (Rectify), Chris Chalk (Gotham), Reed Diamond (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Theodus Crane (The Walking Dead), Renwick Scott (Treme) and Jussie Smollett (Empire).

Underground is executively produced by John Legend as well as series creator Misha Green (Sons Of Anarchy), Joe Pokaski (Daredevil), Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind), Joby Harold (King Arthur) and Tory Tunnell (King Arthur).  

WGN America will debut its original scripted drama Outsiders on Jan. 26, the network said Friday.

The series, which  follows the battle between a tight-knit family of renegades living atop a rugged mountain and the town below as well as anyone who would dare to challenge them, stars David Morse (Treme), Thomas M. Wright (The Bridge), and Ryan Hurst (Sons Of Anarchy).

Outsiders is created and written by Peter Mattei and executively produced by Peter Tolan (Rescue Me), Paul Giamatti (John Adams) and Dan Carey (All Is Bright).

Musical artist John Legend will executively produce WGN’s new drama series Underground, the network announced Wednesday during its Television Critics Tour session.

The series, which will follow plantation slaves that band together to fight for their freedom, will debut next year. Legend’s Get Lifted company will also oversee the score, soundtrack and all music aspects of the series.

“We are thrilled that John Legend will lend his impressive talents to Underground, a story that chronicles the compelling journey of brave individuals whose fight for freedom still inspires us today,” said Matt Cherniss, President and General Manager, WGN America and Tribune Studios Cherniss.  “We look forward to John, Mike and Ty’s creative imprint on this series that we believe will be both provocative and captivating.”

Cherniss said that network will offer four scripted series in 2016 including freshman series Underground and The Outsiders, as well as sophomore series Manhattan and Salem. 

WGN will bring back its horror-themed series Salem for a third season, the network announced Saturday at the Comic Con International convention in San Diego.

The series, which reimagines the infamous 17th century witch trials in Massachusetts, averaged over 1.1 million viewers and 545,000 adults 18-49 on a live +7 basis, according to Nielsen.

Salem, which stars Janet Montgomery (Human Target), Shane West (Nikita) Seth Gabel (Arrow) and Ashley Madekwe, is executive produced by Brannon Braga, Adam Simon, Josh Barry and Jeff Kwatinez for Prospect Park, Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson, said network officials.

WGN’s horror-themed series Salem doubled its season two premiere audience in Live +3 ratings to more than 1 million viewers, the network said Friday.

The series generated 510,000 viewers for its April 5 season-two premiere, but saw a 99% lift in viewership when three-day on demand and DVR viewership was factored in, bringing the total to more than 1 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

  The show also experienced a 112% lift in adult 18-49 viewers with live+3 numbers compared with live+same day figures.

WGN will venture into the original unscripted series arena with the 2015 debut of two shows, Outlaw Country and Wrestling With Death.

Outlaw Country, which debuts Feb. 24 with seven original episodes, will follow the crime fighting exploits of Missouri law enforcement brothers Steve and Mike Cook, said network officials. The one-hour docudrama is executively produced by Erik Bischoff and Jason Hervey for Bischoff Hervey Entertainment, said network officials.

Wrestling With Death follows the Arkansas-based Latham family who serve as morticians by day and professional wrestlers by night. The 12-episode series will premiere Jan. 13 and is executively-produced by Leftfield Pictures’ Brent Montgomery and David George (Pawn Stars). 

The unscripted series join WGN America’s scripted series Salem, Manhattan and Ten Commandments.

WGN America has renewed its drama series Manhattan on the heels of the show’s season one finale Sunday.

The series, which chronicles events leading up to the development of the first atomic bomb, is averaging 1.2 million viewers in its freshman season  (Live +7). The series finale is set for Oct. 19 at 10 p.m.

The second season will debut in 2015.

Manhattan is created and written by Sam Shaw, directed by Thomas Schlamme and produced by Lionsgate Television, Skydance Television and Tribune Studios.

 “Manhattan represents the kind of high-quality original series we aim to deliver at WGN America, and we couldn't be more thrilled with the show’s widespread critical acclaim and its loyal audience," said Matt Cherniss, President and General Manager, WGN America. "Sam, Tommy and the talented cast and creative team have so brilliantly brought to life the world of the Manhattan Project and we can’t wait to see what secrets and surprises await us in season two.”

WGN will add as many as two more original series to its programming slate in 2015, network officials said Wednesday.

The network has greenlit a straight-to-series order for its newest scripted drama Titans, which follows a family of outsiders who will protect their world and defend their way of life by any means necessary, said network officials.

In addition, the network has started pre-production on a second series, Underground, which chronicles the movement of Southern slaves who travelled through the underground railroad, said network officials. Both series will be produced by Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Tribune Studios for an expected 2015 premiere.

The series would join Salem and Manhattan on the network’s scripted series roster.

 “These projects, each exploring a world we find to be unique and fascinating, continue our aggressive expansion into original scripted programming,” said Matt Cherniss, president and general manager, WGN America and Tribune Studios in a statement. “Everyone at WGN America is pleased to enter this next phase of our growth with Sony Pictures Television as an important partner on these projects, along with such talented creators and producers.”