Nexstar WGN9 News slimming down and Weigel Broadcasting ready to consume those calories?
Posted by WYTZZ95FM on February 26, 2026, 7:35 am
Rumor, there is no proof to this, so enjoy the discussion. Weigel is supposedly exploring setting up news on one of their outlets to soak up the fall out of this travesty. If Nexstar keeps this up, it will not be a hard feat as they are letting go their best talent that can stand up shop overnight, effectively putting WGN9 News and the outlet itself out of business. Weigel is good super serving local audiences in Chicago, this could be a smart move.
Nexstar served round #1 of cuts. Chirping among industry says there will be more cuts, to push off the massive debt coming up with the acquisition. The plan is to cut costs, nationalize their local outlets using a lot of corporate content, less local content (needing less local people) and profit from the sheer size of the company outlets after the proposed merger completes (which will most likely be approved by this Administration). The network will also require more of a right lean than Chicago is used to from WGN9 and they really are not that far left leaning to begin with, as they will be pushing a national narrative.
Regardless of Weigel, if Nexstar thinks people will simply keep tuning in and the cash cow will keep mooing, they have a rude awakening. Let me guide you toward the AM radio band being neglected and chopped down of resources and funding to grow let alone keep it going as it once was. Let's inspect the receipts for billing, demo breakdowns and recent sales of AM stations. Oh Nexstar, "Podcasts". Watering it down is not an answer to compete with that either.
Z
Re: Nexstar WGN9 News slimming down and Weigel Broadcasting ready to consume those calories?
My 2 cents. Whether I'm right or wrong.... Who has to "wait" for the news. In 2018, in Houghton-Hancock Michigan, there was "the Father's Day flood." https://www.weather.gov/mqt/fathersday2018weekendflooding Drove to the area, and talked to people: asked where they got their news. "Facebook" was the only thing I'd heard. One cluster had some reporting, while another ran the usual satellite stuff. House, roads, bridges washed out. I could not believe my eyes. Too, "weather"...why must you wait until the local newscast when you can look on your phone, NOW? (On music stations, haven't heard weather in decades, much less a current temperature.) Weigel doesn't have the cash that WGN has. Possibly runs on the cheap as they have to. In my own case, haven't watched news in years. The cackling, inside jokes, guffawing got to be too much, separated by 4-5 minutes of ads over & over & over & over....
My take. Know I'm an outsider, but there were start ups in Milwaukee years ago: Channels 18, 55. All are gone, while 18 runs a national feed nights, mornings.
In Marquette, "Local 3" began Saturday & Sunday newscasts with hype, only to have them fold within six months.
My guess is if there is a new start up, station A B C or D will do whatever for market share.
Re: Nexstar WGN9 News slimming down and Weigel Broadcasting ready to consume those calories?
Weigel does news in Milwaukee on WDJT. They actually got a lot of backlash last year after they fired their meteorologist for calling out Elon Musk. That was a big controversy. I don't see them as that much better as Nexstar as far as things like politics and caving to certain political sides in management. However, I never saw them as a politically biased organization before that. Their news always seemed mostly local and neutral.
Their local news in Milwaukee is low budget as far as production quality, always has been but otherwise it's not too bad. The stories are more local, less national.
I figure WCIU would have the newscasts if they do end up with news in Chicago
Re: Nexstar WGN9 News slimming down and Weigel Broadcasting ready to consume those calories?
I thought 26 The U had a partnership many years ago with ABC 7 to produce & broadcast a prime time newscast at 7P Monday-Friday. I'm not so sure that WCIU will be doing a weeknight newscast again anytime soon.
Not that long ago either, WCIU and Block Club Chicago had a weekly newsmagazine called "On The Block Powered by Block Club Chicago" hosted by Brandon Pope. The show ceased production in early 2025.
All that being said, I'm not sure U'z getting back into the local news business in the wake of WGN 9/Nexstar layoffs.
on February 26, 2026, 7:35 am