Chicago Media Scene Sees Anchor Changes, Legal Battles
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Chicago Media Scene Sees Anchor Changes, Legal Battles
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Jennifer Keiper has joined NBC News Radio as a national news anchor following the shutdown of CBS News Radio in May.
Meanwhile, ABC and its parent company Disney filed a lawsuit against the FCC on August 18, 2026, over challenges to their broadcast licenses.
Jennifer Keiper, a veteran of Chicago radio, has taken on a new role as a national news anchor for NBC News Radio, which is part of iHeartMedia’s 24/7 News Network. This move comes after CBS News Radio, where Keiper had worked for six years, ceased its operations in May. Before her time at CBS, Keiper established a significant presence in both local Chicago and national radio, with previous roles at WLS-AM 890, WBBM Newsradio, and Westwood One. While her specific responsibilities and official start date at NBC News Radio have not yet been detailed, her arrival is expected to bring an experienced voice with deep knowledge of the Chicago market to the expanding national news operation.
In other media news, ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Company, have initiated legal action against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The lawsuit, filed on August 18, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that the FCC’s demand for an early review of eight ABC-owned broadcast licenses constitutes an “existential threat” and a violation of First Amendment rights. The FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr, had ordered this rare early review in April, citing the network’s diversity practices. However, the lawsuit contends that these actions are retaliatory, stemming from the Trump administration’s disapproval of ABC’s coverage and programming, including a satirical sketch by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. ABC is seeking a court order to halt the early license renewal proceedings. Broadcast licenses are typically issued for eight-year periods, and the licenses in question were not set to expire until between December 2028 and August 2031.
In Chicago radio rankings for July 2026, WTMX-FM (“The Mix”) held the top spot in the Hot AC format. WBBM-AM, a news station, secured the second position.