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Thursday, July 12, 2007

This means war - Gloves are off in fight between old television rivals at NBC5, CBS2

This means war - Gloves are off in fight between old television rivals at NBC5, CBS2
BY ROBERT FEDER
Copyright by The Chicago Sun-Times
July 12, 2007


A six-minute piece of videotape shot over a backyard fence not only torpedoed the career of WMAQ-Channel 5 reporter Amy Jacobson.

It also was the opening shot in what could become all-out war between two television titans.

In choosing to air selected parts of a tape showing a swimsuit-clad Jacobson and her two kids around Craig Stebic's pool, WBBM-Channel 2 broke a longstanding tradition in Chicago.

With rare exception, stations have adhered to a gentleman's (and gentlewoman's) agreement not to report on the foibles and failings of one another.

So when a Diann Burns charges the builder of her multimillion-dollar manse with racism or a Marion Brooks is forced to testify in court about her affair with the former mayor of Atlanta, other TV newsrooms take a pass.

Not so on Monday when Joe Ahern, president and general manager of CBS-owned Channel 2, approved airing a misleading and innuendo-filled version of the tape that led to Jacobson's firing.

It was an unmistakable shot across the bow at NBC-owned Channel 5 and its president and general manager, Larry Wert.

Wert and Ahern have a personal history that goes back to their early careers together in the sales department of ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. They've always been friendly rivals.

But after what was described as a contentious shouting match between them on the phone Tuesday, the "friendly" part could be inoperative for a while.

Now before you jump to the conclusion that this really is all about ratings, consider this: On Tuesday night, when Channel 2 led its newscast with an almost giddy report on Jacobson's ouster, the station still finished dead last with a paltry 2.2 rating.

DIALING:
SUSPENDED IN AIR
• Dan McNeil's latest suspension for making "inappropriate comments" on his WMVP-AM (1000) afternoon show has been extended to July 25. He's been off the ESPN Radio sports/talk station since June 27.

The four-week time-out was punishment for McNeil calling Comcast SportsNet executive producer Lissa Druss Christman a "bitch" after she wouldn't answer a question he asked her.

"The suspension is not based solely on an inappropriate comment made on the air, but an inappropriate comment made by a person with a history of disciplinary problems," said Jim Pastor, president and general manager.

• Also on the ESPN beat, Dan Patrick, who's leaving the network after 18 years as one of its biggest stars, soon will announce his new deal: He'll continue in radio and launch a new nationally syndicated program via Chicago-based Content Factory.

Jimmy deCastro, the former radio czar who ran Evergreen Media, Chancellor Media, AMFM Inc. and America Online, heads the independent media venture.

TRACKING:
BURTON FOR CERTAIN
• You can disregard rumors about Channel 2 making a run at Cheryl Burton.

Six months before the end of her contract at Channel 7, Burton has signed a long-term renewal with the ABC-owned station. She will continue to anchor the 5 p.m. newscast alongside Ron Magers and serve as contributing anchor to the 10 p.m. newscast with Magers and Kathy Brock.

Burton, a South Side native who graduated from Lindblom High School and the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, joined Channel 7 in 1992.

• Rob Stafford, former Chicago-based correspondent for NBC's "Dateline," will be filling in for Rob Elgas as Saturday and Sunday morning news anchor at Channel 5.

Stafford will turn up alongside Zoraida Sambolin this weekend and next weekend.

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