With lovely little journalistic ditties like this, KGO Radio thinks I'm the enemy?
Dick Sparrer of the SJ Merc , (via the Los Gatos Weekly-Times), writes a piece about KGO's Friday night, "All-Star" "debate" that took place last week in Redwood City. I hear good tickets were still available, (at $8.10 a pop--cute, KGO, very original) and that a lot of seats were papered. ("Papered" is a term that refers to tickets being given away).
In any event, Sparrer writes of taking his 80 year-old mom to the show so she can bag on the various talk hosts, Ronn Owens, Pat Thurston, John Rothmann, even Ray Taliaferro, (who wasn't there--shit, what a crying shame!)
I don't know if the Merc's Sparrer was intentionally trying to punk KGO, but it sure sounded that way. KGO keeps trying, desperately, I may add, to try to get the young demo; you know, like catering to the IPod, Facebook/Twitter yaps, but that's like inviting Mark Zuckerberg to an AARP convention.
This is not to suggest that all KGO's listeners eat prunes and watch "All in the Family" reruns. I listen a lot, probably too much because although I can stomach Ronn Owens even though he's slowed down a bit, the thought of three hours of Brian, "Copie", Copeland makes me want to induce vomiting.
KGO is what it is. The idea that suddenly, it can attract significantly younger demos is a colossal joke in the industry. KGO at its peak was a more vibrant Owens, a Secretariat of a newsman like Jim Dunbar, a guy whose politics I thought stunk, but made me listen: Jim Eason.
But that was then and this is now.
John Rothmann is first-rate--maybe a tad too much on Middle East issues and topic shifting, but pretty interesting. Gene Burns has suffered a myriad of health issues and is probably headed for retirement soon, but he commands the mike.
After that, slim pickings. I mean, Gil Gross? Seriously. And Karel? The talk-show host who complains that he's always depicted as the "openly-gay talk-show host", yet makes it an hourly reminder that he's gay. The fact that he's a shitty radio host is never mentioned. Perhaps "hack" and "sham" would fly too for Karel, gay, straight, green, yellow, or brown, who gives a shit.
KGO used to be the market leader and had winning Arbitron books for well past thirty years. They didn't have to resort to gimmicky shit like over-embracing Facebook or giving away tickets to U2 concerts. That's just utter nonsense.
Here's the facts: This is a radio station that is in severe decline; a sinking ship led by a rookie GM who doesn't have a clue; an over-the-hill opps mgr who's got one foot out the door, along with the news director, and about to be overtaken by a broadcasting company that makes Clear Channel look like Levi Strauss.
Wonder why resumes are all over town? And, oh, by the way, Jack Swanson, even bloggers can't make this shit up.
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While I am not in the "younger" demographics that KGO may be hoping for (I am in the 40-60 age group), I've enjoyed listening to KGO for most of the past 20 years. Everybody can't love everybody - I can't stand Ray T, for example - but, why diss the entire radio station? Who cares what demo they are trying for? I get the news, and I'm up on current events, much more so than most people I know. I can't speak about management or those behind the scenes, but those on the mic are a big part of my day.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't each show or host attract a different demo?
ReplyDeleteTaliafero-insomniacs
Wattenburg-crusty old white guys
Copeland-people happy that the God-Talk show is over
Burns and Rothmann-the informed and those looking to get informed
Owens-listeners with a lot of patience
Stacy Taylor on Sat. afternoons is worth a listen...a breath of fresh air.
ReplyDeleteI personally like Owens, Wattenburg, and Gil Gross.
ReplyDeleteRonn Owens and Jane Fonda the Queen of Narcissism were too much. Unbelievable hour of hubris. Who cares?
ReplyDeleteYou should have went!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think you had the nuts to post my comment. You are a pussy
ReplyDelete@3:56 "he's a pussy" from the guy calling him a pussy anonymously. Grow a set and use your real name bitch. What a dumbass.
ReplyDeleteHenry Tenenbaum
Lew Dickey will go through that place with an axe.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Ronn/Jane interview this morning. They were both very relaxed. She is not a diva, is very easy to talk to and Ronn revealed some stunning personal information in that chat.
ReplyDeleteYou did not post my comment either. You have no balls Mr. Media.
ReplyDeleteRich, have you forgotten that the arbitron ratings were a sham and that when the new electronic ratings system went into effect, KGO was revealed to be far from the most popular station? KGO always was terrible.
ReplyDeleteWho DO you like, Rich?
How come you never rip Taliferro, easily the worst host I have ever heard anywhere. Even Karel is less-worse than Raytal.
@ 9:37 PM, What did Ronn revealed about himself?
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of newsradio,If you want a Pulitzer or something Rich,find out how much APPLE pays off KCBS to do a story on them EVERY single friggin morning!..Its nothing but APPLE and IPAD all morning everyday. Nothing else happens in the world,the world revolves around APPLE according to KCBS.
ReplyDeleteMust be a reason, huh?
Both Ronn and Jane shared a tragic human experience. Both of their mothers committed suicide. This had its effect on both of them throughout their adult lives, as you might imagine.
ReplyDeleteI hope Lou "the Dickhead" Dickey doesn't take an axe to KGO, but I fear this reckless, egomaniacal baffoon probably will make some severe cuts, all in the name of saving money and upping his yearly bonus.
ReplyDeleteThat said, the public will suffer as KGO still supplies solid daily reporting, informed, entertaining talk shows, and excellent public service, unlike many of the other local stations.
And their morning sports guy, Rich Walcoff, is the best in the business. Rich is funny, uses the language well, and has a great voice. KGO is lucky to have him, and it's a shame that for years he had to play second fiddle to that god-awful Joe Starkey who must have had pictures to have kept his job for so long.
But Walcoff and others like solid morning anchor John Briscoe, and some of the capable in the field reporters like Jenna Lane will hopefully be spared the turk's blade.
It's a shame that the Lou Dickey's of the world have replaced the Mickey Luckoffs, who for their own sanity got out of the business when sleazy companies like Cumulus Media entered the scene. It's kind of like losing Sinatra, and having him replaced by Tiny Tim. But at least Tiny Tim had a modicum of talent. When you look at what Cumulus did to KNBR, turning a once respectable and powerful sports station into a small market joke that allows fools and nerds who are not properly trained on the air, it makes you want to wretch in disgust. In previous years such nerds and nit-wits as "P-Con," the mid-day gigglers, the morning frat boys, and "Dibs" would never have been allowed within miles of a mike in a major market station such as KNBR!
I heartily disagree. P-on is funny, smart, hip, cool and irreverant. Yes, he's certainly not a trained broadcaster, but there are so few of those around anymore anyway. I love Brynie's style when he does the "jim Rome Thang" and how about those morning guys with their great jokes and
ReplyDeleteterrific witticisms? Hammer certainly showed his genius when he chose Paulie Mack, easily KNBR's most unappreciated talent to team up with the great Brian Murphy in the morning. But the best are certainly Gary (who hasn't lost a beat) and Ralph Barbieri, who has so much energy and is such a great interviewer, especially the manner in which he answers hard hitting and penatrating questions, Again, kudos to the great Lee Hammer who r has put together a sterling cast, from Paulie in the morning, to Kate Scott doing updates, to the great Ray Woodson doing his traffic reports. Its called "appointment radio" folks, and it works!
The numbers bear it out. You may not like what Lou Dickey did, but KNBR is actually a much better place than it ever was. And they also still very much the sports leader, as they are constantly breaking stories that the other stations miss. Long live Cumulus ...Hail Lee Hammer,,Hail the great Lou Dickey...a broadcasting visionary of the highest degree! Dickey!
What have you been smoking lately! I think the above comment was tongue in cheek. If not, then the person who wrote it is completely delusional!
ReplyDeleteGiving kudos to non-entities and no-talents like P-Con, Scott, Pauley and others is so absurd, I guess it's funny. The person who wrote the above must have been making a good joke because that's what KNBR is!
How about that Amy G over on Comcast sportsnet Giants broadcasts! Has there ever been a woman as talented and incisive with her comments and sidebar interviews than the amazing Amy G? Great hire Chris Olivere!
ReplyDeleteAnd she's also a first rate hottie!