Vince Young, CEO of Young Broadcasting, who resigned last week, managed to do the impossible: After vastly overpaying a record $823 million in 2000 for KRON, the station went downhill, and so did Young's empire.
Sure, it didn't help that NBC pulled its network affiliation the following year, but given the profitability and general positive revenue stream of a clear channel, strong-signal, reputable outlet like KRON in the country's #4, (at the time) market, it would be pretty difficult to screw things up. Somehow, Young found a way.
At the time, KRON was one of the most prominent local TV outlets in the Bay Area. Its news department was on par with KTVU's and it was guided by renowned talent like Pete Wilson, Bob Jimenez and Tom Sinkovitz. Belva Davis and Pam Moore too. And it possessed great street reporters like Vic Lee and Karl Sonkin. Wayne Freedman too.
Channel 4 boasted a 100-man-and-woman newsroom staff with award-winning reporters, writers, editors, run by the late, great news director, Herb Dudnick.
Soon after Young added KRON to his holdings, the station went into a freefall. Although many of the anchors and news staff stayed on, several prominent figures left. The ratings began to tumble and viewers abandoned soon after.
In retrospect, both NBC and Young hurt each other. KRON's refusal to pay NBC more dollars for its coveted network sponsorship hurt the station and marginalized its news and local content; conversely, NBC's refusal to negotiate and hardline tactic going with a Southbay outlet, (KNTV) cost it a strong station in a large market.
To this day, NBC, (and now NBC-owned KNTV) has a weaker-signaled station with an identity crisis, (Are we San Jose or SF?)
Then again, "Independent" KRON, even without NBC programming and clearance, was a massively profitable TV outlet with a big building and news operation situated on a prime piece of real estate in the heart of the city, (1001 Van Ness.)
Even as cable news proliferated and local competition grew stiffer, KRON's new owners began chipping away at successful operations. The news dept. suffered. Cheaper, out-of-market talent began replacing local stalwarts. Programming was trimmed. The captain of the ship departed.
And the topper: Young Broadcasting's February 2009 bankruptcy.
Today, KRON is a vastly different operation, (no shit, Sherlock!) It has managed to begin a relatively successful venture out of bankruptcy. It's even making a little money now, but its content and most staff is but a thimble of what it once was and represented in the local SF market.
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It's amazing how you leave gary radunich's name out of the greats rich. You should retain len tillem and sue gary for everytime he's punked you but oh yeah... attorney's cost money.
ReplyDeleteI didnt think anybody had ever made a worse deal than Peter McGowan (Zito),but Vince wins. He's the living embodiment of the old joke-how to be a millionaire at gambling/drugs/etc?,-start by being a billionaire.
ReplyDeletewhile mostly correct, you have a few facts wrong. bob jimenez, wayne freedman and herb dudnick were all long gone prior to young taking over and kron losing its nbc affiliation. it was simply a perfect storm that faced vincent. there are many strong independant stations that make money. the economic downturn teamed with the changes made it tough. KTVK in phoenix, KCAL in LA (once owned by Young), WGN in Chicago.
ReplyDeleteI thought Young was Korean. Thanks for clearing that up.
ReplyDeleteKRON is moving to the 3rd floor at KGO. All that is left is the ticket and memories. Say what you want but this is Young Broadcasting's legacy here in S.F.
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