WTTW chief Dan Schmidt’s “Network Chicago” is looking like anything but a network these days.
Saying that it couldn’t generate the advertising revenue needed, Windows To The World Communications, owner of public broadcasting station WTTW-Ch. 11, said Monday that it was closing down its 2-year-old CityTalk entertainment publication.
The company also said it is cutting 23 jobs, including seven at CityTalk and the four people who cleaned the operation’s 150,000-square-foot facility. That maintenance work will be outsourced.
A spokeswoman said the net cost of production of CityTalk was roughly $750,000 a year, or the equivalent of the cost of producing Eleven magazine and the WFMT Guide.
CityTalk was launched with much fanfare, mainly as a new source of revenue for the non-profit entity, and its demise is another blow to Schmidt’s grand Network Chicago vision, which has been scaled back substantially since it was started in 2000 to include TV, radio, print and online content.
At that time, Schmidt pronounced that Network Chicago was the future of public broadcasting.
If that’s the future, then look out.
Shows like “The Cheap Show” were shuttered after only a few months.
Slumping ratings for its marquee “Chicago Tonight” prompted a major format change, and there was a restructuring of positions and other programs.
And now come the underwriting problems.
“These steps were taken due to the current economic climate; a reduction in production underwriting, sales and donated income,” said a spokeswoman for WTTW. “The decision has also been made to streamline the organization’s biweekly publication, CityTalk, into Network Chicago Guide, which will be published beginning in March. These actions were necessary to maintain the financial stability needed to broadcast, develop and acquire quality content for our 4.4 million monthly viewers and listeners.”
Monday’s cuts were the third in the last year in at WTTW. Last January it cut six positions, and last spring it cut another 15 jobs.
Cramer-Krasselt in ServiceMaster tent: Cramer-Krasselt has nabbed a division of home-service giant ServiceMaster’s business, winning the $10 million American Residential Service/Rescue Rooter division advertising account. The assignment is the first marketing change under ServiceMaster’s new chief marketing officer, Mitch Engel.
More Top Picks Presto 06301 Dehydro
“Overall, ServiceMaster is looking to elevate its marketing commitment and to partner with `best of class’ resources for our marketing programs,” Engel said. “Our relationship with Cramer-Krasselt is an important and indicative step.”
With C-K in, it is unclear what role DDB Chicago, which had begun working with ServiceMaster on a project basis last year, will have with the firm.
Marketing boss search at ConAgra? Omaha-based ConAgra appears to be the latest company to make a high-level search for a chief marketing officer, its first. The food giant has tapped Coca-Cola’s former chief marketing officer, Sergio Zyman, as its marketing consultant in the interim. ConAgra is looking for someone to oversee the multiple marketing strategies throughout its system.
Joyner in new venture: ABC Radio Networks’ Tom Joyner and network executive David Kantor have partnered to form Reach Media–a multimedia company that will target African-Americans through radio, television, event production and the Internet. ABC Radio Networks has purchased 10 percent ownership in the new company and has entered into a sales representation agreement with Reach Media ventures.
On the move: Former Time Inc. executive Patricia A. Keating, who has been the director of advertising and sales for a number of publications, most recently EWonline.com, was named director of advertising and sales, Americas, for OAG, a publisher of flight guides and travel resources. … Brian Lefkowitz, project manager at AMP Inc., joined Intersport as director of sports education. … At Hewitt Associates, Don Minner was named lead global marketing/public relations, and Kelly Zitlow was promoted to lead corporate communications/public relations in the U.S. … Catherine Gale, formerly managing director, DraftWorldwide Southeast Asia, has been promoted to managing director, Asia Pacific.
———-
Contact Jim at [email protected]