Posted by chicagomedia.org on August 21, 2008 at 10:21:01:
In Reply to: Bob & Tom join WGN posted by chicagomedia.org on August 21, 2008 at 08:59:25:
WGN America to bring radio's 'Bob and Tom' to TV
With so many radio executives having joined Tribune Co.'s ranks of late, perhaps this was inevitable: The company's national cable channel, WGN America, is bringing "The Bob & Tom Show" from radio to TV.
An edited, same-day one-hour version of the popular syndicated Indianapolis-based weekday morning program, hosted by Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold and carried on more than 150 radio stations, will make its TV debut Nov. 3 on the channel.
Though WGN America can be seen in Chicago only through DirectTV, Tribune Co. has the rights to carry the 11 p.m. program locally on CLTV or WGN-Ch.9, though no decision on that has been made.
"The addition of 'The Bob & Tom Show' to WGN America's fall schedule is in-line with our strategy of providing our viewers quality entertainment that they can't get anywhere else," Sean Compton, a former Clear Channel radio executive who is Tribune Broadcasting's senior vice president of programming and development, said in a statement.
The addition of "Bob & Tom" is also emblematic of Tribune Co. efforts to develop a new identity for the national cable channel known as Superstation WGN until it was rebranded in late May.
Calling Kevoian and Griswold "the best comedians in America," Comption said the "timely best-of show will appeal to their extensive fan base and further expand their nationwide audience."
"The Bob & Tom Show" is syndicated on radio by Premiere Radio Networks, a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications.
(Phil Rosenthal)