All Entries Tagged With: "Ed Sherman"
Latest on Webio saga
Plenty of stuff out there on the Chicago Sports Webio saga. Mike North paid some of the staff that had their checks bounce, “Monsters in the Morning” aired without their main sponsor, and the feds are after David Hernandez and NextStep.
The Sun-Times has some North quotes:
“I’m going to be on the air,” North said.
On Friday, Hernandez fired North from his job as Webio senior vice president.
The TV show’s top sponsor has been a Hernandez company, NextStep Medical Staffing. Another Hernandez firm had a key stake in ChicagoSportsWebio.com, which North helped found.
But the FBI has subpoenaed records of NextStep. And checks to Webio staffers have bounced, according to North and a source close to Hernandez’s businesses.
Hernandez “was bouncing check after check for employees,” North said Sunday. “The only feud I have with him is he didn’t pay my people. After that he fired me because I stood up to him.”
“Self-promotion’s my game, but not like this,” said North, who also writes for the Sun-Times.
Ed Sherman has three posts devoted to the situation today:
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North out at Webio as exec, still on air?
It was a strange day at Chicagosportswebio.com.
The latest report has David Hernandez CEO and co-founder of the site, firing Mike North as an executive, but continuing on as a host. Hernandez also fired North’s wife, Bebe, as chief operating officer and Jeff Schwartz as general sales manager Friday. Just days ago, Hernandez told Ed Sherman that he was eyeing a move to radio and the site was already making a profit. A statement that was doubted by many in the industry. That statement is under heavier doubt now that North claims many of the payroll checks were bouncing.
Amid allegations that Chicago Sports Webio has been bouncing checks in recent days, Spectrum Entertainment Chief Executive David Hernandez on Friday fired host Mike North as senior vice president of the sports talk Web site he helped found last year.
CSN Chicago’s Web site, for a time Friday, did not list “Monsters” on its schedule for next week. But the program later returned to the listings, and a spokesman had no explanation for the temporary absence but said the show would run as scheduled.
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Webio moving to radio?
Ed Sherman reports that Chicagosportswebio.com is looking to make the move to AM and possibly FM. David Hernandez, CEO of Spectrum Entertainment Group, said he is talking with three representatives accounting for 10 AM and FM stations about placing programming on a Chicago-area radio outlet.
“I can next to guarantee, within one month, we will be on an AM station,” Mr. Hernandez said. “We could be announcing programming (this week). The foundation is there.”
Mr. Hernandez said local radio stations recently have contacted him about picking up a portion or all of the outlet’s programming schedule. Webio, which made its debut in April, currently broadcasts from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Buffone and O.B. to Webio, McNeil close to WSCR
Ed Sherman’s latest has long time WSCR guys Doug Buffone and Ed O’ Bradovich moving to Chicago Sports Webio, and another update on Danny Mac’s imminent return to the Score. Buffone and Webio founder Mike North were partners at WSCR, and their reunion should come as no surprise. Sherman also wonders how the WSCR line-up will look with the addition of McNeil.
Mr. Buffone recently parted ways with WSCR-AM (670) after a long run at the station. He will be a nice pickup for Webio. I’ve always enjoyed his old-school passion and intensity. He and “OB” had the best Bears post-game show in town, especially after a loss. You almost could feel the veins bursting in their heads because they were so angry. It made for great radio.
As for WSCR, you have to think a few of the on-air personalities are looking over their shoulders with the expected addition of Dan McNeil. Talks continue, and it would be a major surprise if it doesn’t get done soon. Both sides want this reunion to happen.
When it does occur, there will be a shake-up in the lineup. Will SCR reunite Mr. McNeil with Terry Boers in the afternoon? If so, then where would Dan Bernstein land?
Does Mr. McNeil go to mornings, middays? Wherever he winds up, it is going to cause some dominos to fall.
Popularity: 100% [?]
Stone: Hendry hurting Ricketts
Steve Stone was candid as usual, in his Q and A session with Ed Sherman. Stone is critical of the Tribune’s ownership and GM Jim Hendry, and has been highly critical of Hendry ever since the long time Cubs anaylst left (after a public rift with then Manager Dusty Baker).
At the time Hendry had no choice but to back his manager, and one has to wonder how objective Stone is when it comes to analyzing the Cubs GM?
Here are some of Stone’s comments.
“From 2003, Jim Hendry has the Cubs paying close to a billion dollars in salary or deferred salary. There are some big backloaded contracts. Alfonso Soriano is owed $106 million in the next six years. I thought the Milton Bradley contract (three years, $30 million) was excessive. That will make it tough on the new ownership.”
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Sherman: WSCR needs Mac
Ed Sherman’s latest has WSCR in need of Dan McNeil. We have felt all along McNeil back to WSCR was inevitable;
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NBC 5 to outsource sports reports? Cowley joins WSCR, Couch out at Sun Times
Ed Sherman brings all kinds of news on the Chicago sports media front, including a report that NBC5 is considering using CSN as it’s sports source. What would become of Paula Faris?
Popularity: 5% [?]
New sports talk station in Chicago?
Ed Sherman reports Mike North’s ChicagoSportsWebio.com is launching a new sports talk station. Jesse Rogers who recently left WSCR670am, will be program director. There will be 24 hour programming featuring a web-simulcast of “Monsters in the Morning”. Other hosts include Tribune’s Teddy Greenstein and WMVPam1000’s Chet Coppock.
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WSCR execs thrilled, Jurco could join Mac at Score?
Ed Sherman gives some reasoning behind Dan McNeil’s release, and says John Jurkovic could reunite with Mac at WSCR after his contract is up this summer…what would be a major blow to ESPN am 1000’s drive- time show.
Popularity: 6% [?]