I was asked recently why Ken Bastida, the co-anchor of CBS 5/KPIX, has been absent from the station's 5 and 6PM newscasts in favor of Allen Martin, a remarkably unspectacular news reader. Don't get me wrong, Martin is OK, but he doesn't knock your socks off.
Full disclosure: I'm a little biased here. I have known Bastida for many years since his radio days at KFRC in the mid 80's. I like Ken quite a bit--solid newsman, solid pro-- so I called one of my PIX insiders.
Apparently, news director Dan Rosenheim is at the heart of this matter. According to the insider, Rosenheim told Bastida that "I can't get anything out of Alan Martin (as a reporter on the 10p) and I've get to get more from him. So, I'm moving him on and you off the six. You'll report & do Good Question."
More from the KPIX insider: "I've worked with AM, (Martin) before and that's his MO. He initially presents well, but doesn't distinguish himself as a reporter and doesn't hustle, so he falls into an anchor slot. It's his game and I've seen it work before. He's very much a political animal. Bastida , of course, has a great track record as a reporter."
Again, this isn't a knock on Martin. He's more than competent and delivers an average performance. You'd figure that Bastida, with his longtime Bay Area ties and tenure at KPIX would get the early PM nod, but that's simply not the case.
And while the ratings are decent at 6 PM, the numbers aren't off the chart. Martin makes about 40% of what Bastida makes, so in that department, he's clearly got the nod. I'd like to see Bastida on the 5 and/or 6, but apparently Rosenheim doesn't agree with me.
Oh well.
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Ken need to bring back the 'stache.
ReplyDeleteWell that stinks. And doesnt make a lick of sense. If he's a lazy reporter,and isn't getting the ratings of Bastita...then you cut him and apply his wages to Ken.
ReplyDeleteMaybe there is a ulterior reason..he might come across as ethnic and with Dana,that's too much color for the GM.
This might work well, just because Bastida is a mensch AND he's a great reporter who knows the Bay Area. He will be a good soldier and right now news directors have the upper hand as no one's got the budget to have a bidding war for his services. Bastida is an excellent, straightforward, credible guy who cut his teeth here and knows everything and everybody. This is a guy you build your 6 and 11 around.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with having a good meat puppet reading the news is when there's a major crisis like the natural gas explosion the meat puppet will do a competent job with Journalism 101 chops but a local guy like Bastida shines. You spend your life in a market and you build more than credibility and knowledge, you fill your Rolodex with phone numbers. He knows and loves us. We're not his latest stop on carefully crafted career path to New York or LA.
Take a pile of DVD screeners, play 'em and I'll turn my back. I can pick out Ken Bastida's voice. I heard it just now, when I typed his name. He's one of us.
If we're lucky and someone's smart enough to use him correctly, twenty or so years from now, he'll get the Dennis Richmond treatment when he retires. (No, I'm not his agent or brother-in-law.)
Bastida has emerged as one of the Bay's top anchors during the past few years. One of the best. Anything that gives us less Ken Bastida is NOT a good move.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense to me. Match employees with their strengths. Having Bastida as a "news reader" as you say, is a waste of his talents.
ReplyDeleteBasically, Allen is being used by management to soften the blow when Ken is eventually let go. You know Rosenheim is looking for ways to save money and that's an easy way to do it.
ReplyDeleteWe have been waiting for KPIX to return Ken Bastida to the evening news. Alan Martin just doesn't cut it. It feels as if he is the substitute waiting for the real guy to return. Stopped watching the KPIX evening news because of it. Why is KPIX not putting the premier station anchor in the evening? The Bay Area audience misses and deserves Ken. Cut Martin and hire someone else to do "The Good Question". I am a Bay Area native and have watched KPIX news my entire life. The Martin experiment has failed.
ReplyDeletei think allen martin is great great voice and seems compassionate and damn cute too
ReplyDeleteNice try allen Martin. He is so far from cute or even attractive it's not even funny. Without Dana king there any more Allen really needs to go.
ReplyDeleteI'm now watching KPIX because Allen Martin is delivering the news. Those of you who criticize him are way off target.
ReplyDeleteLOVE KEN BASTIDA!!
ReplyDeleteI think Allen is doing a good job..I also like Ken as well...they both are good looking
ReplyDelete