*Lot's of things; a combination of the times we're presently in; consultants run amok. less viewership; poor management; KTVU isn't the only station affected, but since it's here locally, we center on it since we watch.
*It's a shame really what has happened to KTVU. It used to represent the gold standard of local TV news journalism but it's now just run so poorly and misguided heads have buried it into the ground. Notice how many reporters and anchors have left? People like Rita Williams, Randy Shandobil, Lloyd LaCuesta, people like that? Sure, many left, took retirement and decided to get out at the right time. Lee Rosenthal, the current News Director, scouts people he can control. Nobody with any pull anymore over at KTVU respects the guy. Said a station source: "Lee hires people who he knows more than others....they're young, inexperienced, and have little background in old school investigative journalism....and no interest to learn..,the fish stinks from the head down....dumb leading the dumber."
Staffers, editors, writers, anyone inside the newsroom still complain about the overly-prolific story count, the lack of direction, the newfound personnel situation where loads of people leave.
Do this: Watch 2's shows, particularly early evening: they all have a pattern. Every other minute: "In two minutes...at 6: 15, we will tell you...in 10 minutes, ..." What the hell is this? Like, that's going to keep the viewer to hang and wait? How about just doing basic reporting! You guys have more teases than a Broadway strip club. Just give us the damn news. Quit trying to reinvent the wheel. But no, KTVU's present leaders have no respect for you, the viewers; the short-attention span theatre of the absurd-syndrome is now the pervasive business model. No wonder they're losing viewers.
I should point out that there's an awful lot of good people still at KTVU. People like Somerville, Castaneda, Ken Wayne, but their work is blunted by the yahoos that run the station. The "10 'o Clock News" is but a shadow of its once-vaunted, highly-respected reputation. It looks like any other news program only with a plethora of teases, short stories, and out-of-place packages that aren't indicative of a major-market news operation. So sad, really.
FRIDAY NOTES--
**I haven't directly commented on KTVU's "special" to the Korean community in response to the Asiana Namegate affair because, frankly, I still thinks it's some kind of SNL joke. You should hear what some of the veteran people still there are saying, I'll leave it at that. No, I didn't watch it are you kidding?
**A new low at KGO Radio: "sponsored" guest interviews on the weekend. A reader advised me that some big bank threw a wad of money at the Cumulus geniuses in Atlanta; pronto!, "guests" disguised as real guests being "interviewed" by disgusted hosts who have to partake in this circus. It's yet another indication of the total farcical situation at the albatross station; nobody takes them seriously anymore and this latest gimmick is one for the ages.
**If Stephanie Miller is considered "entertaining" radio for the progressives, then we have problems. Of course, Miller's syndicated show was just removed from LA, her home market--not good.
**I don't like radio shows that are deemed "conservative" or "liberal"--I like provocative, entertaining, radio, I could care less about political content. Savage used to be entertaining but as of late, he's gone back to bash Obama every day and that's so old and boring--just like Hannity, Sussman, Levin, Beck. Political radio, for that matter, is essentially lazy radio. The public is fed up with Washington politics, (have you seen the polls? They hate BOTH parties, hello Congress!); they'll be a day soon when even Limbaugh jumps the shark if he hasn't already.
*My happy ending: A lot less Kaiser ads and the latest one having to do with "happy endings." Allison Janney, dear God, do you need the money that bad? Oy!
**Follow me on Twitter
I dunno. Allison can read me a bedtime story any night.
ReplyDelete"I should point out that there's an awful lot of good people still at KTVU. People like Somerville, Castaneda, Ken Wayne..."
ReplyDeleteAll three are consummate professionals who make KTVU worth watching, despite the plunging standards.
> Allison Janney, dear God, do you need the money that bad?
ReplyDeleteWell, ratings for her new Chuck Lorre sitcom are promising but not great, and she tends to be in very good ensemble movies that get lots of artsy awards but don't do much at the box office, so maybe--yes!
I don't like what's happening at KTVU or within media in general, but what are you going to do? Veteran journalists get old and retire. You have no choice but to hire people in their 20s and 30s, kids who grew up at a time when self-esteem trumped achievement. And then there's the attention span. Young people today are slaves to their mobile devices and demand instant gratification. Unfortunately, the television news industry has to adapt to this new reality if they are to stay relevant.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect anon at 11:43....not only did you not adress anything stated, you have no clue as to the huge changes is media ownership and how it affects us.
DeleteDeregulation brought about companies that can now own several tv and radio stations, and newspapers per market. Talk about controlling the flow of info, or deciding what is news. The public loses right there. But the subterfuge goes deeper. Ktvu runs 6 stations out of their countrol room now. So that means there are five other markets that think their stations are "local". They are not. And guess what, 5 less stations worth of employees.
Your lack of critical thought and resignation to the degradation of information supplied is part of the problem. Perhaps you should read more, and not just "fifty shades of gray".
What are the 6 stations that KTVU runs? Just curious.
DeleteKICU, LATV (Latin American TV), KMS Korean TV, Chinese TV news, and soon to be stopped, but still operatiing out of there,,KRXI and KAME "in" Reno.
Delete> Perhaps you should read more, and not just "fifty
Delete> shades of gray".
Twilight was pretty good, too. ;-)
> I don't like what's happening at KTVU or within
Delete> media in general, but what are you going to do?
> Veteran journalists get old and retire.
Hire new journalists with experience. That used to be expected in a major market; you cut your teeth in Akron Ohio.
> You have no choice but to hire people in their
> 20s and 30s,
Oh so glib. Yes you do. They did in the past. You've never worked in the markets but you act like you know something.
> kids who grew up at a time when self-esteem trumped
> achievement.
You're saying it's different now?
> Unfortunately, the television news industry has to
> adapt to this new reality if they are to stay relevant.
Kids have never been the demo for news so that's no excuse. They're doing it because it's CHEAP. That's the only reason they do anything since deregulation. Same with the airlines. Reagan thought he was doing us a favor. The only favor he did us was on June 5, 2004.
Which explains the KTVU homage to the Korean community, correct?
DeleteKtvu and the people there think a long after the fact bs show will mend everything. I could hear Tom telling oscar grant supporters "some of my best friends are black"....they have no clue.
DeleteLee Rosenthal had Amber Lee (Chinese American) come along to the meeting with the Asian journalists to show he had sensitivity. What an insulting and condescending move. I guess they had no Korean American reporters he could parade.
Their most recent hire is Lisa Yokota (Japanese American), to replace rosy Chu as community affairs director. You can't blame em for trying I guess.
Raponi and the hillblies in Atlanta at corporate are kind of the like the people who own and run Ambercrombie and Fitch...and if you don't get the analogy you should probably go back to checking your twitter feed or playing candy crush.
"...The only favor he did us was on June 5, 2004...."
DeleteOh Snap!
So, are you saying there is sum ting wong at KTVU? Ho Lee Fuk!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment is Way Too Low... Where's Lloyd Lindsay-Young when you need him? Or Don Chamberlain for that matter?! Try psychedelicjukebox.com to relieve karmic konjestion. Catch the right moment and you'll hear Dave Diamond on KFWB, Tom Donahue on KPPC, B.Mitchelll Reid from KMET, and other meaningful voices from back in the day when radio was truly an adventure well-worth experiencing...
DeleteIf any commercials need to be axed, it should be the Progressive insurance spots; worse than nails on a chalkboard... .I turn the volume down or change the station EVERY time I hear them.
ReplyDeleteWhy must almost every radio show be so focused on politics? Whatever happened to shows where the host chats about current events, pop culture and interviews celebrities? And whatever happened to therapy/relationship shows like Dr. Laura, Dr. Joy Browne and Dr. Ruth? There's got to be more interesting stuff to listen to than just nonstop Obama is a communist/Ted Cruz is a fascist.
ReplyDeleteLike Dr. Joy Browne, the other 2 not so much, use to listen to Dr. Laura, but that got old after awhile. I love politics so I don't mind it being the topic most often discussed, what I don't like is a lot of hosts seem to just follow their parties talking points. Can't they think for themselves. This is why Gene Burns is missed so much by many here in the Bay Area, he always had a different take, and he did discusss religion, local stories, life events, I forgot the circumstances, but I believe he once an unusual show about chocolate truffles, and another one about a messy bathroom, he could make any subject interesting, and always had interesting callers and debates. Ronn Owens still does a show with a lot of variety like him or not. When Gil was on KGO he would do different shows, one about what old music treasure do you have in your collection (Phil Ochs ect.) he got some very interesting callers. Now he conducts a show that is very robotic, talk to an expert, tell a feel good stories, some dumb criminal stories, repeat a couple of stories that has been in the news earlier in the day, and at least 2-3 times a week, a story from his past about some producer or news person he worked with or knew, yawn yawn.
DeleteI only listen for a short time a few times a week, but that seems to be his format, nothing creative or new, again yawn yawn
I have always been irritated by repeated teases in "newscasts". It is especially archaic in this era. Technology has saved me. If I hear a tease now that I am interested in, I look it up on my phone and then go watch the Food Channel. The very thing they are using to try and keep me drives me away. I think I speak for many.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest tease is Bill Martin on the 10pm KTVU newscast. It is comical how he teases the weather forecast for 45 minutes as if he and only he holds the sacred weather forecast.
DeleteAnon@8:58..you are one of the many who post on this blog who have no idea how tv stations and news departments are run. What a Podunk market.Martin has no control over the teases....he is told to do that. Much like the phrase "weather in The area where you live" is a line some consultant who could never get a job in tv told the bean counters at cox/ktvu would help hold onto viewers is why you hear the ktvu weather people say it so often.
DeleteRich writes:
ReplyDelete**I don't like radio shows that are deemed "conservative" or "liberal"--I like provocative, entertaining, radio, I could care less about political content**.
Dear Rich, Don't you realize what our American RightWing is attempting to do?
They absolutely dominate our airwaves! Republicans have their own dedicated Cable TV Channel 24/7-365-days a year! 90% of all Political Radio now is Conservative...while, what do Liberals have? 20% of the Radio market...with a concerted effort to take down more Liberal outlets every single year!
Once the Fairness Doctrine was destroyed by Ronald Reagan, Republicans have gone hog-wild is their effort to deceive the people all for the betterment and enrichment of the already wealthy. Just look at the the now outrageous Inequity of America since the 1980's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QPKKQnijnsM
This new Ayn Rand-GOP Propaganda is very tricky...their new Tactic:
"Social Security is Generational Theft"! "Obamacare is Generational Theft"! Turning your back on your fellowman...it's a good-thing...only the strong should survive!
And you Rich, don't find this provocative?
Take a look at this...
The UK prints more articles regarding our American politics than we do.
David Simon: 'There are now two Americas. My country is a horror show'
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/08/david-simon-capitalism-marx-two-americas-wire?commentpage=5
Take a look at our Tax Rate Chart History:
Notice the years when we could afford new Highways, New Bridges and Schools. If we only had the rate when Reagan arrived we'd be sitting pretty.
http://s158.photobucket.com/user/OnlyObvious/media/Tax_Rates/TopTaxBracket_TaxRate.jpg.html
Ever wonder where the 'Created & Well Funded' Tea Party Extremists are getting their dough? From even bigger bullies – a handful of hugely wealthy Americans who are sinking hundreds of millions of dollars into this extortion racket. They include David and Charles Koch (and their front group, “Americans for Prosperity’); Peter Thiel, leverage-buyout specialist John Childs, investor Howie Rich, Stephen Jackson of the Stevens Group, and executives of JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, (all behind the “Club for Growth”); and Crow Holdings’ Harlan Crow, shipping magnate Richard Uihlein, and investment banker Foster Friess; executives of MetLife and Philip Morris, and foundations controlled by the Scaife family (all bankrolling “FreedomWorks.”)Their game plan is to NOT JUST to take over the Republican Party. It’s to take over America! PLUTOCRACY ANYONE?
As our democracy slips away...sadly, far too many Americans just don't find these political facts to be provocative!
"The Great American Class War: Plutocracy Versus Democracy"
http://billmoyers.com/2013/12/13/the-great-american-class-war-plutocracy-versus-democracy/
All very true. Also, if you want to know what's really going on in the U.S., you have to read other countries' media. Here you just learn what the cool new toys are for this holiday season, or what Kanye and Kim are doing. I travel to Europe a lot and your average cab driver there knows about things going on in America I have to go scurrying home to research. The media here just does not report it. They still have a free press.
DeleteYou're bashing your buddy Michael Wiener? What has the world come to? Plant Doctor Wiener is always telling us that "Cumulus is the best partner he's ever worked with." I'm assuming he has changed his definition of "partner." Either that, or he never met the right man back in the 60s and 70s.
ReplyDeleteCumulus is the clown car of radio owners. Probably history's worse. They were too willing to take the private money even though Clear Channel was showing us every day how that money destroys the business.
The internet didn't destroy the radio business. These people did.
Local TV in general is garbage. I gave up and 2 and 7, the world isn't ending and I came away feeling dumber than I already am. I tried 11 for a bit but who let the high school kid produce the 11 PM news last night? Everything was just in, continuing, breaking or new. REALLY? That was the biggest piece of garbage I have watched in a while. Next stop 4 and 5. Maybe I will actually get the news without the moronic cliches that everyone uses these days. Just give me the god damn story without all the bs graphics because your idiot East Coast consultant says that's what works.
ReplyDeleteYou kinda had me...
Delete> Just give me the god damn story without all the bs graphics because your idiot
Till you tipped your hand...
I wouldn't call it a tip. Here is a tip. Those in the business know the most prolific consultant got its start in Iowa
DeleteWe watch local news in the morning before school, so I can see what the weather is doing and my ten year old daughter can keep informed. You know it's got to be bad out there when even a kid says 'Turn off KRON, there are too many infomercials in the broadcast'. We've started watching KTVU, and every morning my daughter will chime: 'right now we'd be seeing a Windows by Anderson ad on KRON'
DeleteRe: The on ad nauseam "tease/promos," on KTVU's evening broadcasts.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that is the favorite "play thing," of your highly esteemed Frank Somerville. Blame him.
That annoyance wasn't in place when Dennis Richmond was at the evening helm. And, it was one of the reasons that I stopped watching/listening to "Mornings on 2," until Somerville left that time slot.
Hey, dummy, teases aren't something the anchor controls. They're executive decisions.
DeleteStop pretending you know how a newsroom is run. You don't. Somerville has no control over that, any more than he can control what commercials they play on the break.
Hey You ^^, why use logic and fact? This is a blog!!!!
DeleteIs there some reason there is never a comment, good or bad, regarding Julie Hayner (sp) or Gasia Mikialian (again, sp)?
ReplyDeleteMy ears will be happy when Kaiser replaces Janney.
ReplyDeleteI like Janney, she's smooth. Would you prefer the System Pavers guy? Now there's an annoyance.
DeleteTV news, radio news, newspapers all SUCK. Period. Lack of bodies, lack of experience, lack of money, lack of passion, lack of responsibility and a lack of respect for the viewers, listeners and readers now exists. It's all driven by money. Consultants are really people who can't get a real job and think they know it all. PR people and marketing morons can control the news -- it's their job and they get very little push back from the media people. Get used to it. You want news? Get a Twitter account and see what's posted as breaking news from sources like AP and CNN. Investigative reporting? You stand a better chance of seeing God. It's sad how media outlets have little regard for the audience. It's time we said "F&&& you" to them.
ReplyDeleteDue to DMA Boundaries, & the FCC in Tracy, CA., we have now been relegated to watching the Sacramento FOX Affiliate (KTXL CH.8) for our local news, which is logistically idiotic....If you'd compare Sacramento's FOX Affiliate to KTVU....You would immediately "know" that KTVU deserves a Peabody Award! In other words, don't knock what you have, until you see what the other guys are offering. :D
ReplyDeleteThe tradeoff if your an NFL fan you get to see all the games fox/cbs black out in the bay area because of the local teams.
DeleteThe Kaiser ads are ridiculous. The sound of Big Brother. In this case, Big Sister. THRIVE! Really, Kaiser? I may have been born at one of Kaiser's hospitals, but Kaiser is the last place I'd go to thrive.
ReplyDeleteI wondered why, Rich, you didn't mention Savage the other day. I stopped listening to him because off three main reasons, after listening to him for more than 14 years:
1) he talks too much about himself.
2) I'm also tired of President Obama-bashing, whether it is justified or not.
3) his nationalistic drivel of "language, borders, culture," or whatever the hell I've heard for years.
Hey, Michael, we're not living in the 1950s or Bismarck's Germany. The days of nationalism are fading, Michael, just as city states evolved into nation states. The world will be a federated union, eventually, Michael. I know, that will make you turn over in your grave.
Although English is our unofficial national language, we thankfully remain a nation of immigrants who speak a wonderful mix of languages. Borders? Really. And you really think that Mexico's and other countries' south of the border mass migration will end because of a border fence? What, you want the Berlin Wall? Lethal force, Michael? Because that's the ONLY way you are going to stop it, since America's drug-infested culture has created much of what is causing the mass migration. Culture? Really, Michael? Ever been to the South? The Northeast? Middle America? Seattle? Alaska? Hawaii? The North Coast of California as opposed to your home county of Marin, Michael?
Savage's success has gone to his head.
At least there is John Batchelor. He's logical, reasoned, doesn't brag, etc.
No, Michael, I'm not a "liberal" and I don't like labels. I like good talk shows. I like content, not the political pinstripes of the host.
As for Miller, she is about as compelling as that woman on KNBR.
Anyone who gets that ripped over the Kaiser ads has no life. The Graton Casino T V ads that run 2-3 times in a half hour with that John Legend song I used to like is torture "...like the ceiling can't hold us." Enough already!
DeleteSome of the crap that is heard on KNBR these days is beyond bad. Kate Scott who is constantly trying to sound like some sort of 'radio announcer,' but sounds forced and phony, 'Pee-con' who is one of the most imbecelic and dysfunctional people on the radio, 'Pauley Mac,' is a mediocre disc jockey who was hired cheap to work alongside the 'frat boy' who hosts the morning show. Fitz and Brooks are two smug, self serving egotists and a total waste of three hours of air time. And of course, Radnich and his tired, Las Vegas Lounge Act has run way too long. On the plus side: Ray Woodson, not very colorful but steady and professional. Marty Lurie, who knows baseball as well as anyone. Larry Krueger, who has made a nice comeback. And Tom Tolbert, KNBR's best asset.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, I use to listen more to John Batchelor, and although I'm liberal I often found his shows interesting and very informative. He is kind of a conservative John Rothmann, Tom Sullivan is another conservative that I can listen to. Savage has always been full of himself and has only gotten more so over the years. He doesn't like anybody, hardly. I know someone who know someone who knew him personally years ago, apparently, social grace is not his forte. He always complains he got shot out academia because he is a white male, could it be he is too difficult??
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the scene from Tootsie when Sidney Pollock (I think that was the director/actors name) tells Dustin Hoffman " No one wants to work with you, Michael, not just on East Coast, no one will work with you period, you are just too difficult.
Don't blame wiener.
ReplyDeleteMeryl says he had a tiny schlong.
Meryl who???
DeleteThere is no point in listening to radio or tv news on the weekends - unless there is some tragedy somewhere, they repeat, repeat, repeat - is there really no news on the weekends other than the trivial stories they put on about shopping malls, festivals, and the like - why is ABC7 on for an hour at 11:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe there are people here who think John Batchelor is interesting. Are you kidding me? I honestly believe that guy goes way out of his way to be boring. There are so many compelling topics in the news, and he chooses to talk about migratory birds, the invention of the phonograph and the election of 1896. Zzzzzz....
ReplyDeleteyou obviously are not a regular listener, or you wouldn't live such an idiotic comment. And, on the chance you are a regular listener, then John Batchelor is far over your IQ. He continually features coverage of Iran, Egypt, Israel, The Russian Federation, science, the private space race, etc. Occasionally, some topics are boring to me, too, but that's when you can choose something else, like reading. Or is that a foreign concept, too?
DeleteA. Well 2:51, What Happened in the Election of 1896?? Don't keep it a secret!!
DeleteB. I so miss Dr. Laura,she was fun confident and helpful, but I don't want to spend $ on a satellite radio just for one show.
C. John Batchelor is an acquired taste. I like hearing him once in a while. It took me sometime to learn to overlook his very feminine voice. I'm not homophobic, (I don't care about their personal business) but that voice pattern is so striking, its almost like a parody without meaning to be. I'm used to him now, and his overloud orchestra with it's cascading cresendos. John brings a lot of very well informed parties together.
Batchelor comes cheap. Always has. Show is a joke. Cross between Art Bell and Matt Drudge. I just laugh when it's on, but it's preferable to Levin, Hannity, and so many others.
DeleteThat silly station 95.7 has all their hosts teasing in the same manner. In 10 minutes we'll talk about this...like you said, consultants run amok. Journalism will be jism if it's not already.
ReplyDeleterich, dont know where you have been, but both clear channel and cumulus have been doing the pay for play stuff with real hosts for a while now in other markets, including los angeles
ReplyDeletekabc and ktlk have had these shows on weekends, and most weeknights....on kabc, they have been integrated into some of the hosts regular shifts
as for miller, it isnt just she, clear has been playing with ktlk for almost 2 years and went out of its way to make sure the channel would not garner ratings...not that they actually care about ratings...kabc gets nada
ktlk is going all rightwing syndicated...lay odds the numbers do not significantly climb as the signal does not reach the areas of socal that are actually right wing
Only one person (above) responds to the pay for play on KGO. This is a bridge too far and I feel badly for Pat Thurston whose credibility is sorely damaged by doing this kind of sponsored interview with a Wells Fargo spokesperson (who, by the way repeated and repeated talking points as if the audience is idiotic). Well, maybe we are idiotic if we keep listening.
ReplyDeleteKGO has jumped the shark. I am writing to the FCC about their license. I can only imagine it was dumped on Pat last minute. I will also write Wells Fargo to tell them what I think of them for their bribe, em, I mean sponsoring. Please do the same.
Anon at 5:06..so true...the pay for play on radio is a tad subtler than the obvious infomercials, or the sorry poorly produced local "shows" that shill for restaurants, cabinet companies or solar panels.
ReplyDeleteThis is what media looks and sounds like without any regulation or thought for the end user consumer.
The FCC was bought and paid for by lobbyists years ago. A fox guarding the hen house like so many other industries in this country.
Yes, I too listened to a few minutes of that KGO advertisement-disguised-as-a-show, the one that was really an advertisement for the bank. While I listened to that KGO host prior, I won't be listening to that sell-out host any more.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to agree that Stephanie Miller -- while often providing interesting political content and interviews -- her show, especially the sideline gang she has bursting in with bizarre comments and sounds --well, I won't be missing her show at all on the new Sieg Heil Radio 960 AM. Well the truth is I won't be listening to any of the shows on 960 AM starting in 2014, which includes the now absent Stephanie Miller show and her gang of back-room yappers. (I will miss Norman Goldman's prior 960 AM show as an over the air treat, but I'll catch it on podcast. It presumably will re-appear on the AM band somewhere due to the great ratings it has consistently posted.)