WTTW-Channel 11's flagship weeknight news program will expand toone hour this fall and bring on Bob Sirott to share hosting dutieswith current "Chicago Tonight" front man Phil Ponce.
That's the latest word at the public television station, whereRandy King is starting to make some big moves in his new role asexecutive vice president for television. Until he joined Channel 11last month, King headed operations at WFLD-Channel 32.
Sirott, who previously worked with King on "Fox Thing in theMorning" at Channel 32, has been developing free-lance projects atChannel 11 for the past year.
Nothing is official yet, but in meetings with staffers, King hasoutlined an ambitious plan to broaden the scope of "Chicago Tonight"beyond its current single-topic discussion format. With a second half-hour, the show would delve more deeply into such areas as arts,entertainment, politics, health, business and finance.
In addition to Sirott and Ponce, prominent roles would continuefor "Chicago Tonight" correspondents Elizabeth Brackett and RichSamuels, "The Week in Review" host Joel Weisman and "Chicago Stories"host John Callaway.
Channel 11 also is expected to unveil a new set for the show.
In another matter, King and Dan Schmidt, president and chiefexecutive of Channel 11's parent company, Window to the WorldCommunications, were en route to Washington to be honored at a WhiteHouse ceremony today.
Channel 11 and eight other public television stations are beingcited for innovative educational outreach efforts in conjunction withPBS' "Ready to Learn" childhood literacy program.
Dialing: Talk of a program shakeup at WLS
* The Doctor is out: WLS-AM (890) appears ready to drop thesyndicated advice talk show hosted by Dr. Laura Schlessinger when hercontract with the ABC-owned talk station expires later this month.Her show currently airs here in two parts--from 9 to 11 a.m. and from11 p.m. to midnight.
In a program realignment expected to be announced today, WLS willadd the syndicated talk show hosted by Sean Hannity, who's also co-host of Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes." Hannity's radio show,which originates from WABC-AM in New York, will air here on a tape-delay basis from 9 p.m. to midnight.
To accommodate the changes, evening hosts Jay Marvin and EileenByrne are expected to team up from 9 to 11 a.m. Marvin also willcontinue to host "Chicago PM" with Jim Johnson and Bill Cameron from6 to 7 p.m.
* Another deadline has come and gone with still no improvement inthe signal of WDCB-FM (90.9). The College of DuPage's public radiostation has been broadcasting at reduced power since Dec. 22, whenhigh winds knocked down its transmitter tower and antenna in westsuburban Glen Ellyn.
March 25 had been the station's latest target for completion ofits new antenna, but officials now say their signal won't be back upto full power until the end of April. They attributed the delay tosoil testing at the site of the new tower.
In the meantime, fans of WDCB's programming--including jazz showsand Chuck Schaden's "Those Were the Days"--can access the stationonline at: www.wdcb.org.
* It might have seemed like a ridiculously obvious April Fools'Day stunt, but more than a few folks were taken in by WXRT-FM (93.1)and its "Do It Yourself Radio" format Monday.
Gullible listeners were urged to call and "take over" the stationby introducing songs, reading news and weather updates and evensinging along karaoke-style. Hundreds of them took the bait.
* "MIXclusives Volume Two," a CD compilation of performances byartists on WTMX-FM (101.9), is on sale at retail outlets throughoutthe Chicago area. A portion of the proceeds benefits Gilda's ClubChicago, which provides social and emotional support for cancerpatients and their families.
* Cris Ohr, vice president and general manager of WLUP-FM (97.9),and Ric Federighi, program director of Metro Networks/ShadowBroadcast Services, have been named co-chairs for Chicago's 2002Achievement in Radio Awards. They're joining Beth Russell, vicepresident/regional executive of Interep Midwest, who returns for asecond year as co-chair.
AIR Awards, which benefit the March of Dimes, honor excellence inlocal radio. The seventh annual awards luncheon will be Nov. 7 at theHyatt Regency Chicago.
E-mail: feder@suntimes.com
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