Damon Bruce First Guest on 95.7 The Game: Gloria Steinem

 The symmetry.


Women and sports. The highs and lows. Thought-provoking and worthy of a Nooner.


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Bruce moving to Entercom's 'The Game' --Not as Bold a Move as You Think

 BRUCE--THE BACK STORY

In reality news that Damon Bruce is leaving KNBR's little sister of the poor and headed to Entercom's "The Game", (95.7 FM) from 3-7 PM is not the news here.


We'll get to that soon.


There's many angles to cover here and we will.


1. KNBR doesn't care that Bruce has expired, (there at least)
2. PD Barrett, (The Game) is probably done.
3. The Game has nothing to lose.
4. Bruce up against a bad signal, Tolbert, plus KNBR's stock portfolio...Giants, 49ers, etc.


5. This move has been on the drawing board for months--long before WomanSportsGate




Developing...










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The Day After

 Maybe this is what you want. I began this venture as a forum where the mostly superficiality of some of the local TV News outfits would be exposed. I wanted to provide a sounding board; a cyber bar where those of you newstalk consumers concerned with the systematic takeover of many legacy stations by Cumulus would have a place to vent and air your own feelings of disgust, anger and frustration. I remember a time when KGO Radio was thee most revered and respected radio stations in the nation; I remember the time when KNBR was a magnet for genius performers along the likes of Ed Bush, Pete Franklin, and Frank and Mike. I remember when KRON was the hallmark of the Bay Area TV News division and KTVU was king and didn't have to worry about continuity and consultants and competition was fierce and a positive force for the viewers. I remember people like Dennis Richmond, Rita Williams, Ben Williams, Dave McElhatton and Van Amburg. I long for an Evan White and Bob Jimenez and the talented and funny, all the while great performer like Mark Thompson. I miss the professional, talented and beautiful and magnificent TV journalist, Kate Kelly on KPIX. I miss Betty Ann Bruno and her legendary reports from the steps of city hall. Those were the days of hard-working people that were really good. Professionals. Today we have mostly posers. Spare me the yesterday lecture and new Internet age. They had computers in 1990. Matter of fact the race, the drive, the competition was greater. Yeah, we didn't have 800 outlets on cable, big deal, most of the cable stations today are extra HBO channels and infomercial cooking shows, don't make it out to be like a Masterpiece Theatre on every other channel. There's a handful of quality programs today mostly due to marginalization and an inherent lack of respect, for YOU, the viewer, and YOU TOO, the radio consumer and listener that relied on quality news, news-talk and sports content and you had quite a menu in one of the most cherished markets in the country.

TODAY, now you have this...fade to black.

Ain't it just great? Have a nice day.

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Another Rant from the SF Blogger Tired of All the Bullshit And You Meaningless Asshole Posers

 IT'S TIME WE GOT SOMETHING STRAIGHT..one of those periodic updates about what I care about, what I don't care about; the state of all of you here and you're healthy ego, what's important and what is not; some truthiness to steal a word.


*Let's begin with the fact that those of you that come here a lot and a lot of you do, be you media people, sales guys, normal people, lunatics, assholes, you know...first off you're lucky I give a damn and give you any satisfaction, let alone bloating your already insufferable egos.


Most of you, if not all are POSERS. You were lucky enough to land a job and you're getting paid peanuts today and are willing to sell what little soul you have, if any, in your quarter brain. You're zombies. You're in bed with the assholes who stomp on you collectively every day and laugh their ass off at your amazingly transparent gullibility. Assholes. Cokeheads. You think I really give a shit about your opinion? Ha ha Ha. Please, spare me the bullshit.


I don't trust any of you. You are primarily the reason why people get hemorrhoids. You inflate your importance. I write about you and am frank about you in the most honest of ways because it's too easy. Stop and gather yourself. Hey you, anchor babe? You ain't shit. You too, radio host with the nasal voice and assholes, especially at 55 Hawthorne. Screw you. Smell the roses too because all the bragging in the world about getting nickels for doing shitty radio doesn't hide your kiss-ass, your brown nose giddy, you piece of crap. You're one bad book away from being shown your ass the door and have to be like Gil Gross.




**About Zwerling: He's an advocate. MY advocate. And he's honest too and he doesn't give a flying fuck about personal shit and believes in me, as do I, so goddamn right I'm going to print his message, at least he's up front and honest unlike you primitive POSERS who don't possess an ounce of ingenuity and originality if your life depended on it.


I asked Zwerling to pen an HONEST assessment about me. I asked that he be as genuine as possible and that I wouldn't edit unless he was crass and/or mean and cruel. I could have done without the vitamin stuff but I left it in because it's a part of his business and has become central in his success. He doesn't run me, control me , what I have to say, not a thing. And I don't mix in his business. I respect the fact that he's up front with me and I don't have to deal with back rumors and innuendo like the rest of 'yous working dickheads who are beholden to cretins and schmuck consultants who only made it because they had to swallow or kiss a lot of ass. That's never been in my M.O. I am who I am, for better or worse and those of you who know me well know that I work hard and I'm sincere and for the most part, too honest. And that's quite all right with me because I don't need the business to define me, make me whole--it's not about that. I can say that and will always say that because I already had my day in the sun and will, one day soon, tell it all like it is for those of you that resonate to and enjoy my work. And even to those of you that don't I'm all good about my place so enough with all your back-biting jabs. You don't hurt me a bit.


You're damn fucking lucky anybody in this town pays attention to you at all. I'm the only schmuck who gives you any such feedback, let alone acknowledgement, so don't flatter yourself.


RADNICH? I write a commentary about him, try to keep it straight and simple based on a few good words on the street and all of a sudden, I'm a Radnich apologist. You damn idiots. Yeah, occasionally I try to keep it objective and I get grief over a goddamned straight piece. I don't care much for Gary anymore but to try to keep this spot credible and relevant, I will try to write without any vindictive agenda. It's tough but I follow forward.


Same thing for OWENS too. I find the man professionally repugnant but even though his career is in the eight inning, I'll still listen every now and then to see if he can still interview. I'm sick of all the mattress ads but that's life. He'll have to live with that black mark on his legacy, whatever's left of it, the rest of his professional life.


ABOUT THIS BLOG and ME: It began as a hobby. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would get the amount of attention that I get writing this --everybody comes here and that's cool. But I'm tired of the constant bitching and moaning. It has to stop or I will stop and don't think for a moment what your life would be like without this real estate in your life.


And another thing: I'm hip to people who know what I'm doing here. They get it. They know what's important and what is not. They CONTRIBUTE too. And without their contributions, I'm all mush and done like where I'm at close to being without readers donation$. Selling ads is tough when you're writing items and trying to check on tips. Like I said, if KQED can have 10 pledge breaks a day, certainly I can ask that those of you that love me, hate me, love and hate me, this site, throw some donor money my way. I'm supposed to work for free? No. Sorry. That was yesterday.


Oh, but Rich, quit being so damn sensitive if you hit like you do you have to take it back, oh really? Only my hits are out there with MY NAME on it. I don't hide and cower like most of you do and you all know who you are. Some of you work behind the camera. Many of you are behind the Cumulus microphones. If I call you out, label you a phony, it's MY name there. So don't give me the being sensitive shit. Really, spare me.


THIS IS A BLOG. I'm proud of what I do. Some days are better than others. Many of you gave me shit about posting pictures of pretty women anchors as if I was being offensive, hey, get a clue! As much as being informative I have to be entertaining too--it's called basic public relations. If anything you should congratulate me and honor me with acknowledging some of the most beautiful people in the Bay Area. You want pictures of Milt Kahn, this is not the site to come to, (obscure reference.)


YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT I'm angry. I don't need all this aggravation, really I don't and it will get to the point that 415 Media fades to black and then all of you will get cranky and feel just as crummy as I do.


Because of all this blather my life has been altered. A really gross detour. I need to lose weight and I will because I'm being honed for TV and I'd like to live longer. And beyond that I'm not going to be specific but I'll alert you when it comes to fruition and it will.


Radio? For the past 6 months I've had to take personal abuse about my "alleged radio show." I was never fired--hell, I was barely even hired! Zwerling took to me and offered me a show, albeit on a small station without the slightest bit of 21st century technology, virtually no PR, no app, no website, but I managed to attract listeners, not a lot but enough to gauge further consideration on a larger platform. It's in Zwerling's lap right now and both of us hope to get the new show rolling but it takes time. Either way, I'm happy with where I'm at --again, radio doesn't make me. Health and happiness is first and foremost.


I'm about done for now.


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Monday 415 Media Questions and Answers

 Back from a weekend. Hate this stupid time change which always screws up everybody's ritual. Back to the storm desk and ready for your questions and answers.


Anything goes as long as it doesn't get personal.


Be nice and show a little edge.


We'll begin answering your queries a little after 9 AM PT but you can begin firing away immediately.


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A Personal Message from Michael Zwerling; Owner of KSCO/KOMY Radio and CEO ZBS Inc



Michael Zwerling

 

You could have knocked me over with a feather when Rich Lieberman invited me to pen a guest column for his ever-growing 415 Media blog.

 

"Wow, what an honor", I thought to myself.  Now I have a chance to talk directly with his audience, however large -- or small-- it is.  But what do I want to say to his audience? 

 

Shucks, I don't know; maybe I should just relate my thoughts about why I think Rich is a diamond-in-the-rough, brilliant talent poised to blast off to true celebrity status if only someone could find his fuse and light it...

 

I've been trying to do just that for the more than two years since I become acquainted with Rich, but have yet to succeed.  Could my premise be wrong?  Most of my staff at KSCO/KOMY/ZBS think so.  For the life of them, they cannot understand what I see in Rich.

 

Well, for starters, he is very intelligent, very eloquent, very well-read, very dynamic, very commanding, very affable, very articulate, very well-rounded, very clever, very funny, very rude, very crude, very low class, very self-deprecating, very introspective, very confident and very insecure (huh?-how is THAT possible??) and very many other, often conflicting things.

 

Rich is the ULTIMATE enig-man; and there MUST BE a way for him to cash in on that prominence!

 

I've been yammering at him almost since day one to do what I do to successfully fund my media operation; KSCO/KOMY/ZBS.  I leverage my audience, not by "renting it to advertisers" although we certainly do that; but rather to educate the audience about the importance of nutrition over prescription drugs to achieve and maintain optimal health and longevity -- and hopefully influence them to get on the high quality supplement program we support and promote-- thereby generating a compounding monthly residual revenue stream that enables us to "support our independent media habit."

 

But maybe I have put the cart before the horse.  Rich is fat and not very healthy.  We have to make him a believer first by getting him on our program and for him to experience firsthand the success of weight loss and increase in his overall health and well-being.  He recently told me he's ready to get serious about losing weight and getting healthy.

We'll see...

 

I believe that if Rich keeps growing his 415 Media blog, and adds the dimension of interactive audio (ideally VIDEO) it's possible that he can become a modern day Herb Caen (the beloved "Mr. San Francisco" columnist of the San Francisco Chronicle for nearly six decades -- people would KILL to be mentioned in his column)

 

We at KSCO/KOMY/ZBS hope to assist Rich in broadening his media presence by integrating an on-demand talk-radio component to his existing blog -- that way he will be able to do his radio program on HIS schedule, when he wants, just as he has always done his blog posts, while his listeners will be able to hear him at the same convenient place they now read him: also on THEIR schedule!

To those of you in the media industry who read and use this blog, please join me in saluting, supporting, and celebrating Rich Lieberman, this unique character who loves to read, loves to opine, and TRULY loves his mom (you have to love HIM for that alone! :-), who works tirelessly to bring it to us daily, and who has single-handily created his own unique medium to fill a niche void when no other outlet could or would.  Oh yeah -- and donate to the 415 Media Blog.  You'll feel good you did!

To those Anonymous cowards out there who take bizarre pleasure in trying to tear Rich down by throwing the rock and hiding the hand:  seriously now, get a life or at least grow the balls to own up to your toxic negative comments by identifying yourself.  Or better yet, go out and create something of value to others, as Rich has done!  Oh yeah -- and donate to the 415 Media Blog.  You ESPECIALLY will feel good you did!

Here’s to you, Rich Lieberman.  Keep up the GREAT work!

Michael L. Zwerling
Owner, KSCO NewsTalk AM 1080
Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz-San Jose

Exclusive: KGO-TV/ABC Might Make Pitch for Gary Radnich; KNBR/KRON Personality Courted; Beil's Hawaiian TV Adventure Contingency

  He is undoubtedly the most popular media personality in the Bay Area--TV and Radio--nobody comes close. Even his detractors would agree with that assessment and given today's stale environment locally, that's not necessarily a rocking assertion, nevertheless, in the #6 market, it's big enough.

Gary Radnich --the all-knowing, funny, not-so-funny occasionally, Don Ricklesesque , all aboard the USS KNBR and KRON for over three decades on TV and approaching a quarter century on sports-talk radio. He's not at the top of his game but he still has enough cachet through social, political and media people to live a very comfortable life and enjoy the luxuries befitting a top banana in a big market.

He's set in the radio end with a popular program on KNBR and a decent six-figure salary enjoying life from 9-Noon before spending time with family and doing the domestic things some of us are all acquainted with; in fact, he's got it pretty good, all in all even at the place, (KRON), he refers to, with a smidgen of great sarcasm, his buster-brown gig. The good news: Radnich can pretty much do what he wants to do, read his sports notes, do his thing and vacate the premises at his leisure, it's KRON you know, or as Radnich would say, get in and get out.

But he's clearly got radio at the top of the totem pole. TV is in his back saddle and just by watching his performance you know that, it's solidly indelible for better or worse. He signed his last big contract many moons ago when KRON was affiliated with NBC and Young/Media General-less. A move both NBC and KRON's owner at the time knew would be a big mistake; a move that would hurt both parties; most notably the network which has never really found its niche in San Francisco or San Jose. But that's another story.

Rumors continue to make the rounds that KGO-TV's top sports/news guy, Larry Beil is looking to go back to Hawaii. He loves it there. A KGO source told me recently that Beil would just as soon be "a big fish in a little pond" and that he covets both the weather and conditions of his Hawaiian roots.

If Beil was serious about going Hawaii 5-0, that would potentially free up a sports position at ABC O and O KGO. It's no secret that a station like KGO would love to shake up the market and make a splashy hire: oh, and who would be available if Beil departed? Yeah, you got it, The great Radu.

ABC and its O and O honchos would no doubt have to make the call here for a big-time hire along the lines of a Radnich switch. And of course there exists quite a few notable sidebars like, for example, money, availability, time, the usual suspects but this much is certain: the dynamics are already in play, provided Radnich is interested and Beil is longing for Honolulu TV News. The answer to both questions are sure, yes indeedy.

Beil has a contract but there's buyout provisions in it. Radnich is working on a special "at-will" arrangement at KRON receiving more than adequate compensation above scale. His monetary meat and potatoes exist at KNBR where he's hovering in and around the $400K salary range. He could receive the same, (or more, conceivably), at KGO, but a hire of that sort of significance would definitely shake up the scene and place Channel 7 and its news blocks at the top of the heap.

As mentioned, yes, there remains a plethora of things and details to be worked out and arranged. Would KGO allot extra time and deviate from their own news style template needed to accommodate Radnich's style? Probably not, more both sides would have to implement a hybrid system where Gary could do his thing and the Dan Ashleys and Carolyn Johnsons do their own. It sounds far-fetched but it really isn't. Given the high-stakes involving such a bold move both sides would have to adapt and make no mistake this would be a bold move.

But this much is certain. Such a move makes sense for both parties. Radnich is still in his prime and could use a change of scenery. ABC and its O and O division, (owned and operated stations), has the financial wherewithal to pull off such a tactical fire and there's no better opportunity than in the Bay Area market where Disney would love to once again conquer. Getting someone like Radnich would accomplish that missive and by the way, KGO's GM, Bill Berton, is a big fan of Radnich. What a coincidence.

Furthermore it's just a matter of time where Radnich is young enough to pull in his last big payday and opportunity and of course to do that he would need a seeker and some availability --KTVU is set with Mark Ibanez who recently was re-upped and is set; KPIX and Dennis O'Donnell are happy with one another , (O'Donnell is signed too), and KNTV is embedded with Comcast and its pickings, (both owned by the same mega-media company). Which brings us to KGO and the Mickey Mouse club.

How convenient.

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*Rich Lieberman 415 Media Exclusive