Chances Are If You Were Watching KTVU Years Ago You Ran Into These Guys

{Charley & Humphrey}


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KPIX 'Girls Rule, Boys Drool'; Rudderless KGO Radio; Newsroom 'Siege Mentality'; Larry Mendte Ratings Double Ronn Owens; A's/Raiders Want Out Of 'The Game' But Lack Of Available Alternative Hurts; Thursday Rundown

 'GIRL POWER' at PIX: A couple of name ladies at KPIX who appreciate their territory and want it marked have quietly established a 'guy-free' zone. Nothing official mind you because the women are cool--they're just hopeful the 'boys' respect their place. You'll know more sooner or later.

--CUMULUS had their 'holiday party' a month late on Wednesday at the Public House--the vegetable tray, I'm told, was loaded.

Who holds holiday parties in late January? Cloud company, that's who.

--KGO Radio is rudderless. The newsroom is a virtual edifice of siege mentality --yes, again, inmates running the asylum and nobody seems to know, (or frankly care), just who's in charge. Therefore you have an operation that is testing the nerves of some of the more veteran people who man the floor. It's mitigated by some management suck-ups who will do anything to keep their gigs--like the 'gruesome twosome' who didn't possess any shame in sitting in the 7-10 PM news slot once held my Lisa Campbell and Peter Finch...Good News/Bad News: Finch was liked by a majority of the staff but 'Finch Files', not so much...Campbell: A woman, Black, and fiercely independent: I smell a lawyer beckoning --by the way, as much as the voice is irritating, Campbell at least provided a presence on the air and always showed up on time. Her 'individuality' may have cost her a few friends but her '86 surprised many...so much so, that the best rumor going around is the 'death' of the 7-10 PM News--and a talk host on the horizon: sure, Angie Coiro, would be great, but don't hold your breath.

--As an astute reader pointed out: Larry Mendte, a WABC talker out of Philly, who filled in for Ronn Owens for two weeks had considerably BETTER ratings than Ronn --bad news for Ronn and the manicure shop on Union Street.

--The Raiders and A's want OUT at Entercom's way-under-performing 95.7 FM, 'The Game'--that's not huge news--the problem is that there's virtually no radio outlets that can take on both franchises--advantage, The Game. For now.

--TWO IN A BUBBLE: Ronn and his clueless producer--he recently told an aide: "I just come here and do my show." As if to say, screw the 'others. Seriously, that's his state of mind. Meanwhile, his producer has the blinders on.

--Mike Amitori and Ronn: Fire and ice.

--Add Ronn factoid: The loyah, Len Tillem, had considerably BETTER ratings than Ronn too--which might explain why Ronno was brown-toilet-papering Randall Bloomquist.

--Debs Munroe running a newsroom: sort of the equivalent of Mel Gibson emceeing a bar-mitzvah.

--KTVU air talent pimping 'American Idol' on Twitter -- straight out of the FOX Corp. handbook. Hey, they own the place, is anyone that surprised?

--Metered-out: KGO weatherguy, Mike Nicco: Fine, you win. If that's winning, that is.

--I can do the weather: Bay Area forecast: morning fog, sunny later. See 'ya all in February. Simple enough?

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Breaking: KGO Radio/Cumulus Layoffs; OUT: Peter Finch and Lisa Campbell; Source: "7-10 PM News All But a Goner Any Day'

 OUT:

Peter Finch and Lisa Campbell --both evening news anchors/reporters.

A KGO source told me that the idea that both are gone is a "strong indication" that the 7-10 PM "Evening News" is all but gone and that, as I've reported, a talk-show will replace that time.

Don't be surprised if it's a syndicated show, out of Cumulus, which would further make "live and local" a joke that it's become.

BELOW:

The official e-mail that was sent out by big suit, Jim Mahanay--

Good afternoon,

This note is to inform you that Lisa Campbell and Peter Finch are no longer with the station.

We thank them for their service and wish them well in their future endeavors.

Jim

Jim Mahanay

Corporate Programming Sports
Cumulus Media, Inc.
3280 Peachtree Rd NW
Suite 2300
Atlanta, Ga. 30305
Office:  404 260-6720
Cell:  404
e-Fax 404 260-

Operations Manager
Dickey Media, Inc.
Atlanta Braves Radio Network

KCBS Radio The Model Of All-News Consistency In San Francisco Under ND, Ed Cavagnaro; Veteran Exec Retiring In April; 'Remarkable Run'

 A "remarkable run"--that's what a SF-area radio consultant told me about the stewardship of KCBS News Director, Ed Cavagnaro, who will be retiring in April.

Cavagnaro has been at KCBS since 1977--as ND, 26 years, which is remarkable given the state of radio today.

Under Cavagnaro, KCBS has been the undisputed 24/7 all-news radio outlet with a brand that other stations would kill for.

The most remarkable aspect of Cavagnaro's run is the stability of staff at the CBS radio station. Nobody leaves KCBS and if they do, it's because of retirement usually. You hardly hear of KCBS personnel moving in and out because it simply doesn't happen. Look at the extraordinary list of people who have worked at the station: Stan Bunger, Steve Bitker, Barbara Taylor, Doug Sovern, Bob Butler, Kim Wonderly, Susan Leigh Taylor--almost all of these remarkable reporters and anchors have been at the station for multiple decades, quite a list.  And all under Cavagnaro's reign which best explains why KCBS has risen to the top of the SF Bay Area radio rankings which is a testament to their brand here.

 

Cavagnaro and his boss, VP, Doug Harvill, have largely let KCBS be KCBS--in other words, if it ain't broke don't fix it--and the end result is a very successful news operation that continues to be at the top of the Bay Area broadcast domain.

KCBS' success is largely due to the fact that it's consistent. It's not very splashy or excited and that's its main successful entity--you know when a major news event happens, you turn to 740 AM. I wish KCBS didn't repeat so much its news stories and I've complained about it but in a PPM world in which radio is a player today, I understand the business model. It's a small price to pay to enjoy the consistency that KCBS brings to the table.

The future of KCBS, minus Cavagnaro, seems to be destined for a smooth transition which is good news for a Bay Area audience that is lucky to have at its disposal a quality staff still churning out great content.

We wish Ed Cavagnaro all the best in the next phase of his personal life every 15 and 45 years.

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Don Lemon Is The Black Geraldo

 Uh, whatever ...

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Everybody Have Fun Tonight

{Wang Chung}


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Right-Wing Radio Echo Machine Embraces American Sniper

 SAVAGE: Devoted multiple segments; says "libs" are afraid to embrace. (Yeah, that's why it's grossed over $100M). $200M!

LIMBAUGH: Much as he did with Forest Gump, has made this film his companion hobby. Repeated pieces every day.

RONN OWENS: Back from vacation, devoted entire first hour saying how wonderful it was.

HANNITY: Has had the director, star and behind-scenes people on both his TV and radio show. "A great 'American" film." As if it was a Canadian production. Thanks Sean.

GLENN BECK: Only thing missing from the whack job is tears. Wait a minute: he'll be on that one shortly.

*Everything I've heard is that, indeed, American Sniper very good movie. I haven't seen it yet but I'll get around to it sooner or later but the mass orgasm over this cinematic enterprise by the right-wing radio echo machine makes me a little guarded.

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