The Demise of Daytime Talk...And The Rise of More Local News?!
Posted by ABRockNJock on February 12, 2026, 1:27 pm
Turn on your TV and what do you see? "Daytime Chicago"?! "Chicago NOW"?! "Spotlight Chicago"?! "WGN Take Two"?!
For the record, WGN 9 airs "Daytime Chicago" at 10A (CT), "Spotlight Chicago" at 1P (CT) & "WGN Take Two" at 2P (CT) weekdays, while FOX 32 airs "Chicago NOW" at 10A (CT) Monday-Friday.
If you're wondering why you're seeing more live, local news-related programming and fewer daytime talk shows, you're not alone. It's part of a growing trend in daytime television.
Apparently, it's no longer cheap to produce a daytime talk show anymore, thanks in large part to the business of television and the changing economics.
It comes on the heels of 2 syndicated talk shows announcing that they're ceasing production at the end of the current TV season.
"The Kelly Clarkson Show", which has been on the air for 7 seasons, will end production for personal reasons. The NBC Universal-distributed show currently airs at 3P (CT) weekdays on NBC 5.
The changing economic landscape forced Debmar-Mercury to cancel Sherri Shepherd's syndicated talk show after 4 seasons. It currently airs locally at 1P (CT) weekdays on FOX 32.
So what will replace these shows? Could more live, local news end up filling these scheduling voids? Could video versions of popular podcasts be the next big thing?
Comments from longtime broadcast syndicator Ed Wilson as well as Frank Cicha, Head of Programming for FOX Television Stations, regarding what appears to be the demise of daytime talk TV can be found here:
Z, I've already seen a little proof of the video version of podcasting...Albeit not quite what I referenced when I started this thread.
CHSN has something called "Podcasts Come Alive!", which is a rotating lineup of just that. TV versions of "The White Sox Podcast with Chuck Garfien", "Road to the Rate" with Connor McKnight breaking down Sox minor league prospects, "By The Horns" about the Bulls, "Stacey King's Gimme the Hot Sauce Podcast", "Blackhawks Breakaway", plus "The Charter" focusing on the Bears with Ruthie Polinsky & Clay Harbor.
Plus, "Sidelined with Brooke Fletcher & Dani Klupenger" features the 2 female sportscasters talking to various personalities and sharing their own unique stories.
I also know that ACC Network, one of ESPN's many outlets on DIRECTV 612, has podcasts of their own relating to football & basketball every week.
In the original link I posted, Telepictures is reportedly planning a new show with former MTV personality Jenny McCarthy that appears to be a podcast and marketed as a daytime talk show.
It's also a far cry from a show I used to watch in the '90s called "Talk Soup", an E! original series hosted by Greg Kinnear, John Henson, Hal Sparks & Aisha Tyler that featured highlights of various talk shows when the genre was even bigger than it is now.
Re: The Demise of Daytime Talk...And The Rise of More Local News?!
The hot trend is podcasts for the younger generation, from people that are not popular and not part of the older generation of media. Edgy, not sold out and not popular = cool. 🤷🏻♂️
Z
Re: The Demise of Daytime Talk...And The Rise of More Local News?!
on February 12, 2026, 1:27 pm