CHICAGO, IL — NBC 5 Chicago (WMAQ-TV) is adding a new live weeknight sports and entertainment program to its lineup, with veteran Chicago broadcaster Lou Canellis taking center stage.

“Tonight with Lou Canellis,” presented by Toyota, premieres Monday, September 14, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The half-hour program will air Monday through Friday and cover Chicago sports, entertainment, pop culture and local newsmakers.

Canellis, an NBC 5 News sports anchor whose Chicago media career spans more than 40 years, will host conversations about the day’s top stories and welcome current and former athletes, coaches, entertainers and other guests. The show also plans select live remote broadcasts from major sporting, entertainment and cultural events around Chicago.

“Chicago isn’t just my hometown, it’s the only home I’ve ever known,” Canellis said. “I was born here, raised here, went to high school and college here, and spent my entire sports broadcasting career here, so the opportunity to host a show that celebrates the people, stories and experiences that make this city so great is truly a dream come true.”

Former Chicago Bears head coach and NBC 5 Sports Sunday analyst Dave Wannstedt will be a regular contributor. Wannstedt will appear Mondays to recap the Bears’ previous game and Thursdays to preview the team’s upcoming matchup.

Veteran Chicago sports personality and 104.3 The Score host Laurence Holmes will host Friday editions of the program. Members of the NBC 5 News team will also make regular appearances.

Recurring features will include “Opening Drive,” a fast-paced rundown of leading topics; “Extra Points,” featuring Canellis answering viewer questions submitted through social media; “Who Ya Got?” with analysis of upcoming matchups; and “By the Numbers,” focusing on statistics behind the headlines.

The show will also incorporate breaking news coverage, flashbacks to memorable moments in Chicago history and viewer trivia.

“Lou has built a special connection with Chicago audiences through his authenticity, passion, and deep love for this city,” said Kevin Cross, President and General Manager of NBCUniversal Local Chicago. “Whether it’s sports, entertainment, culture, or the people who shape our community, Lou brings a perspective that resonates deeply with Chicago viewers.”

In addition to its NBC 5 broadcast, “Tonight with Lou Canellis” will stream through the NBC 5 Chicago News channel, NBCChicago.com and the NBC Chicago mobile app. The station’s streaming channel is also distributed through platforms including Peacock, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Fire TV, Xumo Play, Freevee, TCLtv+ and Local Now.

The launch comes as NBC 5 makes additional changes to its weekday schedule. Beginning September 14, “NBC 5 News at 11am” expands to one hour, airing from 11 a.m. to noon, while “Chicago Today” moves to a 30-minute format from noon to 12:30 p.m.

The premiere of “Tonight with Lou Canellis” will be followed at 7 p.m. CT by NBC’s live coverage of the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards.

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NEW YORK, NY — Television viewing bucked its usual summer slowdown in July, rising 2.2% from June as the FIFA World Cup and continued growth in streaming drove Americans to their screens, according to Nielsen’s latest Gauge and Media Distributor Gauge reports.

The increase was notable because total TV usage typically remains flat or declines between June and July. Nielsen said this year’s 2.2% jump was comparable to July 2024, when Olympics coverage helped produce a 2.3% monthly increase.

Streaming continued to gain ground, increasing 3.4% from June and accounting for 49.0% of all television viewing in July, up half a percentage point.

Several major streaming platforms benefited from the summer increase:

• YouTube viewing rose 6% month over month, pushing its share of TV to a record 14.2%. YouTube also extended its lead in Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge to five percentage points.
• Peacock viewing jumped 15% from June, increasing its share of television to 2.6%.
• Disney’s streaming properties captured 4.7% of TV, with viewing up 4% from June and 7% among viewers ages 6-17.
• The Bear and King of the Hill contributed nearly 3 billion viewing minutes combined to Disney’s July performance.

NBCUniversal and Versant combined for 9.2% of television viewing, placing second among media distributors. Peacock was helped by both World Cup coverage and the continued popularity of Love Island USA.

Love Island USA was the most-streamed title during Nielsen’s July measurement period, generating 4.9 billion viewing minutes. The series accumulated 11.7 billion viewing minutes across June and July combined.

The World Cup was an even bigger factor for FOX, which posted the largest monthly viewing increase among media distributors for the second consecutive month.

FOX’s July performance included:

• A 7% increase in total viewing compared with June.
• A 36% increase for FOX broadcast affiliates after affiliates surged 73% in June.
• A gain of 0.4 share points, bringing FOX to 7.8% of total TV viewing.
• 25 of July’s 26 most-watched telecasts, including the July 19 World Cup Final.

The tournament also helped broadcast television avoid its typical July decline. Nielsen said broadcast viewing generally falls 4% to 5% during the month, but this year it actually increased 1% from June. Broadcast finished July with a 19.5% share of television viewing.

Cable moved in the opposite direction as the World Cup schedule shifted away from the category. Only two World Cup telecasts aired on cable during Nielsen’s July interval, compared with 31 in June.

Cable sports viewing consequently dropped 27% month over month and represented just 6% of cable viewing. Overall cable usage declined 2%, leaving the category with an 18.7% share of total television viewing.

The July numbers show how rapidly the television landscape continues to shift. Streaming is now just one percentage point shy of representing half of all TV usage, led by YouTube’s record share, while the World Cup demonstrated that major live events can still significantly alter viewing patterns across broadcast networks and streaming services.

Nielsen’s July 2026 measurement interval covered four weeks from June 29 through July 26 and follows the broadcast calendar.

Read Nielsen’s full July Gauge and Media Distributor Gauge report: Full Report

From streaming milestones to the live events still moving massive TV audiences, the MJR Morning Brief keeps media professionals on top of the numbers shaping the industry.

ORLANDO, FL — Spectrum and UCF Athletics have entered into a multi-year partnership that will give the telecommunications brand a presence across UCF sports properties, including football, podcasts, radio, digital platforms and student-athlete name, image and likeness initiatives.

The agreement, brokered by Playfly Sports, includes Spectrum branding on UCF football coaches’ headsets and makes the company the presenting sponsor of the UCF Sports Podcast Network.

Spectrum also will be integrated across UCF Athletics’ digital and radio platforms while participating in NIL collaborations with UCF student-athletes and community initiatives throughout Central Florida.

“Fans don’t just watch the game anymore. They stream it, track it, share it and stay connected to every moment,” Spectrum Regional Vice President Geoff Banning said. “Spectrum keeps that connection moving at home and on the go, and this partnership brings that experience even closer to UCF fans across Central Florida.”

UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir said the agreement will help the university expand commercial opportunities while creating additional ways to connect with fans and support student-athletes.

“As college athletics continues to evolve, partnerships like this are more important than ever,” Mohajir said. “Spectrum is a nationally recognized brand with a strong commitment to serving Central Florida, and we're excited to welcome them to Knight Nation.”

Playfly Sports will help activate the partnership. Garrett Altier, General Manager of UCF Sports Properties, said the agreement extends Playfly’s existing relationship with Spectrum in the media business into college athletics.

The partnership adds another sports marketing platform for Spectrum parent Charter Communications, which provides broadband, mobile, television and voice services under the Spectrum brand.

UCF competes in the Big 12 Conference and markets its athletics program as “Orlando’s Hometown Team.”

From media partnerships and sports rights to broadcasting, digital and advertising deals, MJR Morning Brief keeps media professionals on top of the business moves shaping the industry. Subscribe and start your day connected to what’s happening across media.

CINCINNATI, OH — The E.W. Scripps Company is restructuring its Local Media division into 11 regions, a significant change to its local television management structure that will result in the elimination of 27 local market and sales leadership positions.

Scripps announced the new structure Wednesday as part of its broader companywide transformation aimed at adapting its operations to changing television viewing and news consumption habits.

Under the new model, each region will be overseen by a regional general manager, typically responsible for two to four markets. Local newsrooms will continue to be led by individual station news directors, keeping editorial and news decisions at the market level.

“Local television is changing, and the way we operate local stations has to change with it,” Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson said.

Symson said the company is moving away from operating models developed for an earlier era of television while seeking greater use of technology, scale and centralized support across its markets.

The restructuring follows other changes within Scripps’ local television operations, including expanded 24/7 streaming news and increased use of AI, automation and other technology to modernize production workflows for streaming and linear television.

27 Leadership Positions Eliminated

The transition will eliminate 27 positions across Scripps’ local market and sales leadership teams.

Scripps said the regional model is intended to concentrate local execution around two primary areas — journalism and revenue — while providing stations with greater regional and companywide support.

“Scripps is transforming from a collection of individual stations into a more integrated local media company, with strong news and sales leaders in our markets supported by scale, technology and regional leadership,” Symson said.

The regional general managers will report to Local Media Vice Presidents Anita Helt and Joe Poss and Senior Vice President of Local Media Lyn Plantinga.

Scripps’ New Local Media Regions

The company announced the following regional general managers and market assignments:

• Teresa Morgan — Southeast: Nashville and Tampa
• Kathleen Choal — Colorado: Colorado Springs, Denver and Grand Junction
• Whitney Grover — Midwest: Kansas City, Omaha and Tulsa
• Justin Hartley — Montana: Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena and Missoula
• Mike Murri — Great Lakes: Detroit, Grand Rapids, Green Bay and Milwaukee
• Stephen Hayes — Mid-Atlantic: Baltimore, Lexington, Norfolk and Richmond
• Merri Hanson — Mountain West: Boise, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Twin Falls
• Bill Siegel — Florida: Miami, Tallahassee and West Palm Beach
• John Cook — Southwest: Corpus Christi, Phoenix, Tucson and Waco
• Lisa Moore — California: Bakersfield, San Diego and San Luis Obispo
• Northeast: Buffalo, Cincinnati and Cleveland; a regional general manager has not yet been named.

Scripps operates about 60 television stations across 40 markets and also owns national brands including Scripps News, ION, Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery, ION Plus and Laff.

The restructuring represents another step in the broadcaster’s effort to create a more centralized operating model while maintaining local newsroom leadership in individual markets.

Scripps’ restructuring is another sign of how rapidly the local television management model is changing. Get the media moves, leadership changes and job news shaping the industry each morning with the MJR Morning Brief.

LOS ANGELES, CA — Paramount Skydance says its proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery is ready to close, with two pending lawsuits now standing as the only remaining obstacles to completing the transaction.

Paramount Skydance Corporation filed reply briefs Tuesday seeking to require the State Attorneys General and the Writers Guild of America to post a bond in connection with lawsuits attempting to block the Warner Bros. Discovery merger.

According to Paramount, all closing conditions under the merger agreement have been satisfied and the transaction has received regulatory clearances covering 69 jurisdictions.

The company says the remaining litigation is delaying a transaction that otherwise could close and could expose Paramount to as much as $1.88 billion in financial harm through additional financing expenses and other costs associated with the delay.

Paramount is not currently asking the district court to lift the no-close order. Instead, it wants the court to require the plaintiffs to post a bond that could compensate the company for losses if the challenges ultimately fail.

“If plaintiffs insist that this transaction is paused during the pendency of their lawsuit, they must accept the financial consequences if their challenge ultimately fails,” a Paramount spokesperson said.

The company argues that provisions of the Clayton Act and Rule 65 require bond protection against losses resulting from an injunction that is later determined to have been unwarranted.

Paramount said it agreed to delay closing the merger to allow for a prompt resolution of the litigation but maintains that agreement did not waive its right to seek financial protection during the delay.

In its filings, Paramount argues that the lawsuits are now the direct cause of ongoing “ticking” and financing costs. The company also says plaintiffs have not disputed its evidence estimating potential damages of up to $1.88 billion.

Paramount further pointed to previous arguments from the Writers Guild of America concerning bond requirements under the Clayton Act, saying the WGA previously maintained that a substantial bond should be required when an injunction could cause significant financial harm.

The company characterized the legal challenges as meritless and said it remains confident the transaction ultimately will proceed.

The proposed combination would bring Warner Bros. Discovery together with Paramount Skydance, whose portfolio currently includes CBS, CBS News, CBS Sports, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime, Paramount+, Pluto TV and Skydance properties.

For now, however, the closing remains on hold while the court challenges continue.

Big media deals can reshape companies, careers and the competitive landscape. Get the industry developments that matter delivered in the Media Jobs Report Morning Brief.

NASHVILLE, TN — Gigi Butler, the entrepreneur behind Gigi’s Cupcakes, has launched a new faith-based television series that combines cooking, conversation and Christian music personalities around the kitchen table.

In the Kitchen with Gigi premiered September 5 on Christian Television Network (CTN), with episodes featuring Christian artists including Danny Gokey, Tasha Layton and Zach Williams, along with other guests.

Hosted by Butler, the series uses cooking as the backdrop for conversations about faith, life, struggles, successes and personal turning points. Rather than operating strictly as a traditional cooking program, In the Kitchen with Gigi is built around the idea that sharing food can create an environment for more personal conversations.

“We’re making great food, but we’re also making room for stories — stories about faith, struggles, victories, crossroads, and the moments when people chose to trust God,” Butler said.

Butler is an entrepreneur, author and speaker best known as the founder of Gigi’s Cupcakes. Her experience building a food business helped shape the concept behind the series, which centers on the kitchen and dining table as places for hospitality and connection.

“I believe something special happens when people sit down together at the table,” Butler said.

The guest lineup also gives Christian music fans an opportunity to see artists outside their usual performance and interview settings. Gokey, Layton and Williams are among the performers appearing in the kitchen to prepare food while discussing their lives and faith with Butler.

The program draws on the role meals and hospitality play throughout Christian teaching, positioning the table as a gathering place where people from different backgrounds can share their experiences.

In the Kitchen with Gigi airs Saturdays at 11 a.m. CT on CTN and is also available on demand through the network’s streaming platforms.

The series is the latest addition to CTN's faith-based television programming, expanding the network's lifestyle offerings with a format that blends food, entertainment and personal storytelling.

Stay connected to the people, programming and trends shaping television and Christian media with the MJR Morning Brief from Media Jobs Report.

FORT WORTH, TX — NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth/KXAS has expanded its weekday local news lineup, adding 1.5 hours of live programming and bringing the NBC-owned station to seven hours of local news each weekday.

The expansion includes the launch of the hour-long NBC 5 NOW at 3, anchored by Wayne Carter, along with an additional half-hour of NBC 5 News at 6pm, which is now a full hour anchored by Brian Curtis and Meredith Land.

NBC 5 NOW at 3 airs weekdays from 3 to 4 p.m. and takes a more conversational, in-depth approach to local news. The station describes the format as being inspired by the style and pacing of a podcast.

Carter also serves as NBC 5's education reporter and is known for the Carter in the Classroom franchise, which highlights schools and education initiatives across North Texas.

The expanded NBC 5 News at 6pm retains the station's traditional newscast format, with Curtis and Land providing coverage of the day's top local stories, breaking news and weather from 6 to 7 p.m.

"We're committed to serving North Texas communities and keeping audiences updated and informed on the news, issues and storylines that most matter to them by expanding our live local news to new dayparts," NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth and Telemundo 39 Dallas President and General Manager Tony Canales said in announcing the expansion.

NBC 5 Vice President of News John Stone said the additional programming gives viewers more ways to engage with the station's journalism while allowing its newsroom to provide greater depth.

NBC 5 Weekday Local News Schedule

• 5–7 a.m. — NBC 5 Today
• 11–11:30 a.m. — NBC 5 Today at 11 a.m.
• 11:30 a.m.–noon — Texas Today
• 3–4 p.m. — NBC 5 NOW at 3
• 4–5 p.m. — NBC 5 First at Four
• 5–5:30 p.m. — NBC 5 News at 5pm
• 6–7 p.m. — NBC 5 News at 6pm
• 10–10:33 p.m. — NBC 5 News at 10pm

The expansion increases NBC 5's weekday local news output by 7.5 hours per week and adds to the amount of locally produced news programming available to viewers across North Texas.

Get more television industry moves and newsroom updates each weekday in the MJR Morning Brief.

NEW YORK, NY — CBS will build toward the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards with two primetime retrospective specials highlighting memorable performances and moments from the awards show's history.

Donnie Wahlberg will host “Best of VMAs: Iconic Vanguard Performances,” airing Sunday, Sept. 13 at 9:30 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT on CBS. The special will also stream on Paramount+ Premium.

The program will look back at more than four decades of performances by recipients of MTV's Video Vanguard honor, focusing on artists whose music videos, performances and visual styles helped shape popular culture.

A week later, former MTV VJ Vanessa Lachey will host “Best of VMAs: Unforgettable Moments,” airing Sunday, Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ Premium.

That special will revisit some of the VMAs' most talked-about moments, including memorable fashion, unexpected collaborations and performances that helped propel emerging artists into major stars.

The two programs lead into the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, which will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. ET/4:30-6:30 p.m. PT on CBS. The ceremony will be simulcast on MTV and stream live for Paramount+ Premium subscribers in the U.S. It will become available globally the following day on Paramount+ and MTV.

The “VMA Countdown” specials are produced by Gunpowder & Sky. Van Toffler serves as producer, with Alex Castino, Barry Barclay and Floris Bauer serving as executive producers. Rebecca Terán is senior producer.

From primetime programming moves to streaming strategy, MJR Morning Brief keeps media professionals ahead of what’s changing across television.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Sinclair has rebranded WTTO as The 205, giving the Birmingham television station a new identity tied directly to the community it serves as it transitions to independent programming.

The name is inspired by Birmingham’s 205 area code and is intended to emphasize the station’s local focus. WTTO, formerly affiliated with The CW, is now operating as an independent station.

As The 205, the station plans to expand its emphasis on local news, sports and other programming designed for viewers throughout Birmingham and the surrounding region. Additional news content and local sports programming are expected to be added in the coming months.

The station will also carry the Ingles SoCon Football Game of the Week, expanding local broadcast television access to Southern Conference football. Sinclair said the addition reflects its strategy of providing live sports programming with strong ties to local audiences.

“Birmingham has a strong sense of identity and community, and The 205 reflects that,” said Jennifer Hansen, Vice President and General Manager. “This rebrand and expansion gives us an opportunity to strengthen our connection with viewers and continue building a station that feels distinctly local to Birmingham.”

The change gives Sinclair another independent station positioned around locally relevant programming at a time when broadcasters are increasingly using news and live sports to differentiate their local television offerings.

Sinclair owns, operates or provides services to 178 television stations in 79 markets and also owns Tennis Channel and several multicast networks.

Get more station changes, programming moves and broadcast industry news each morning with the MJR Morning Brief.