Are you or anyone in the audience experiencing trouble with the KTVU mobile app? I am using an iPhone 5. The app opens then closes out within two seconds. Very annoying.
The changes were to be incremental and not en masse --I had predicted September but mid October was being keyed. Now with Metheny's passing, look for late November or the beginning of the year at the latest.
How much does it cost to have an ad on air on KNBR at 5pm on a week day? Just to get some perspective why they have 35mins of commercials an hour... Thanks
Your first question, I have no idea, but I would guess it's pretty expensive--your second question, they run 35 minutes of ads because their owners are greedy bastards who don't give a shit about YOU, the listener--although the listeners are switching channels because of that greed.
Our carpool is one of those who listens to KNBR if Ted Robinson or Ray Ratto or Drew is talking hockey, but who switches stations when the ad-fest comes on 18 minutes after the hour and 12 minutes before the top of the hour. Bet many other 'listeners' do the same.
I'm a little curious about the real motivation for the pink "Breast Cancer Awareness" effort on the NFL games. Seems like at least one team has had something pink on in each game for a couple of weeks now. In the past wasn't it usually just a single weekend or so? Methinks that they've trying to create goodwill with "Breast Cancer Awareness" to overcome the lingering tones of team members domestic violence. Is the NFL exploiting a good cause for their own gain?
The NFL has been promoting Breast Cancer Awareness many years before the domestic violence cases were made public. I'm not defending a multi-billion dollar sports league but I think by and large the NFL's charitable pitch is a positive --it's too bad the timing here makes questions like yours inevitable.
I think Satellite radio is relatively prosperous and although its popularity has ebbed and flowed, (mostly based on the economy's condition), people who have the means are listening more and more, and less and less to terrestrial radio.
Terrestrial radio will survive only because consumers still want LOCAL news and traffic and it is there where satellite radio still lags.
Sirius/XM came with my car, it's so good and and so worth the $10 or $15 a month I'm paying. If I need local news, I just hit the FM button for KCBS. Being a news enthusiast, CNN, MSNBC, Fox and BBC are always interesting. Can't imagine how KGO will survive on AM.
I'm wondering about your blog on iPad, the news ticker has relegated the text of blog to a narrow strip on left of screen. Don't you have someone who manages (on occasion) the site? On another subject, looking forward to new FOX 2 logo change, I've never been a fan of the Zorro-like "2". Barry
Barry, to be as blunt as possible, I'm NOT a tech geek; that's not dissing you or others but if you want to tinker with the blog I'd be happy to give you the keys to the car.
Do you think Tom Leykis' Internet radio venture called " The New Normal" will be more profitable this year than Cumulus? If Leykis reaches his goal of $1 profit he will have a better margin than Cumulus.
Any idea if FOX is going to cut Julie Haener and slide Gasia Mikaelian into her place as a cheaper alternative? Why do Julie and Gasia dislike one another?
A. Probably not anytime soon. B. Julie and Gasia are highly competitive --that doesn't mean they necessarily dislike each other but they're not totally enamored either.
Does anyone, I mean anyone, listen to the KFOG morning show? Or KFOG in general? That station has become so boring that it seems to be off the radar and totally dead overall. The morning show revolving door doesn't help. Do you ever get any comments or letters about them? Ever?
Sadly, as you correctly point out, KFOG is dead, irrelevant really--the lack of cohesiveness, no morning show, no direction...wait a minute, another DESTROYED Cumulus radio station, stop the presses!
KFOG Mornings haven't been the same since Dave Morey left. Not that Dave was a paragon of excitement, but the combination of Morey, Renee Richardson, Peter Finch an Irish Greg was enjoyable. They had a nice chemistry.
After several misfires, Renee holds down the ship, solo. She is no dynamic without support. She needs someone to help boost the energy. The music format doesn't help- sleepy album-cut. b-side overly-hip alt rock. ZZZZZZZ.
Thanks Dennis Constantine. Another know-it-all programmer screws the pooch and Bay Area Radio suffers.
I used to listen to KFOG ages ago until the combination of same old classic rock, uninteresting current music, and endless commercial blocks (sound familiar?) doomed them for me. For someone who grew up with the variety of KSAN, it's sad to see music on the radio die a slow death...
Rich, what do you think of Comcast and it's continued hiring of young girls fresh out of college for on-air positions? They've had some very pretty young women on their sets, but also some truly awful or at the very best, mid-market talent. And what do you think of Amy G? Has she gotten any better? Finally, your thoughts on Mindy Bach. She seems to just quietly do her job and mixes with the guys well, perhaps because she's older and more mature than those young girls, and probably because she's also an ex-jock (college swimmer at Cal), and can relate well to athletes.
Jamee Sire is starting to get more time at ESPN and Erin Coscarelli moved on the NFL Network. Sire was a really good interviewer and Coscarelli does a pretty good job at her NFL gig. I don't think the women of Comcast are as inexperienced as you think if they're jumping to the kind of jobs they seem to be getting subsequently.
As a fan of the A's and Raiders(I believe), what is your assumption of the status with both of these Oakland teams around this time next year? Raiders in LA or have a stadium plan in place at Oakland? Would the A's have something set for a new ballpark around the coliseum parking lot, Jack London square or somewhere else?
Raiders, I have a hunch, (just that), that they'll make a deal somehow and stay in Oakland--LA really doesn't want them or need them, they have both the San Diego Chargers, JXJags to go after,--would the Raiders back in LA, eventually, shock me? No...keep in mind LA still has NO stadium.
A's aren't interested in the JLS site --I think the best bet there is the existing Coliseum site --it's centrally located, near a freeway, great access and has major public transit hub; BART/ACTransit/Amtrak.
I think Jacksonville is out of the question for L.A. The owner, who also owns Manchester United, seems to be positioning the Jaguars to be the first European-based team. See how many times the Jaguars have played at Wembley.
Hey Rich...I heard Paul Guttierez on 'the Game' the other day, talking about his wife 'Any G.' and her new book which I guess is a big hit with the kids: "Smarty Marty's got Game!" The hosts, (Lund and Papa), were singing her praises, as was her hubby. I thought it was disingenuous at best on the part of Lund and Papa, because as hard-core sports guys, they can't possibly think Amy G. has any shred of credibility or talent. Don't you kind of find that typical though on some of the talk show hosts around here? They would never criticize one of their 'co-horts' like Amy G. on the air, but you know as well as I that her reputation in the bay area among the rest of the media is pretty lousy to say the least. That annoying, teenage-sounding voice is bad enough, (didn't the woman ever take a course in public speaking!?) but her inane blatherings and dumb, breathy questions really drive many of the sports fans up the wall. Your thoughts?
I used to semi-like Papa on the radio; he's nominally talented and occasionally useful but his dumb jokes and stupid, lame and unfunny "jokes" and lines are embarrassing, which is a shame...Lund has no excuse for he is a complete moron.
Might as well ignore the AmyG mantra--she is what she is --I've moved on.
Do you have any insights as to Daffy Duck's new gig as the host of the Cal post game show on KGO? Did Kate Scott resign or was she pushed out? Daffy's voice sounds more and more like Artie Lange...
I've listened, off and on, to KCBS for years. No matter where I've lived, or on what radio I've listened, the signal has always been horrible - especially after dark. Tons of static, poor reception, etc. If this radio station is now trending towards the #1 station, ratings-wise, in this area, why don't they beef up their wattage so it sounds like a "real" radio station?
KCBS is a 50,000 watt clear-channel. If you're having a problem receiving their signal, particularly at night when they are regularly heard up and down all of California, it's because you live more than a hundred miles away from SF and/or have some kind of electrical disturbance local to you - bad wiring in your house, too many fluorescent light fixtures, too many AC motors running, a dirty overhead power line running outside your house, etc. etc.
My advice to you is find a local radio ham or AM DX hobbyist and ask them to visit your location and tell you what the deal is
@4:40 that's probably because the transmitter is almost in your backyard.
I would imagine there's some limitations on their nighttime signal strength in order to avoid conflict with a 50,000 watt "clear channel" station (and I don't mean the company).
Houses built pre 1970 all have metal tubes holding the wiring together. They went to plastic to cut costs. This metal crap fucks up wi-fi and radio reception. I had this crap in my house before we remodeled.
The only thing that worked is a 6 foot copper grounding rod in the backyard.
I still can not pick up 95.7 at night!
Considering Im 15 minutes from downtown, as the crow flies!
Do you ever see the day where the pendulum swings back and the concentration of radio, television and newspaper outlets are NOT concentrated into a handful of mega-corporations? I'm not a media insider, but it sure seems the generally shitty quality of the media these days is attributable to the FCC gutting their cross-ownership rules within the past decade.
Independent stations are rare on any platform, TV and radio, really not much of those left anymore, you can thank the FCC deregulation for this situation.
2:42, ESPN radio has the national coverage of all of the playoff games and 95.7 is now the local ESPN station. The Giants games will still be carried on KNBR with the team announcers.
The latter is no because by doing so they'd have to spend a lot of money and that won't happen
In answer to your first question, they might not have to do much firings as normal attrition takes over--Tori Campbell's contract is up in a few years and she's gone when that happens unless they buy her out early.
I wouldn't be surprised if some reporters were shown the door. Lot going on there, stay tuned.
National syndicated radio personality retires after his wife is killed. Moves to KHTK a few years ago on his own with new wife. Briefly PD of station...New mgmt comes in..his time slot moved around....taken off air to briefly appear on WJFK ...contract not picked up by CBS...starts a pay to listen podcast with former coworker....has continue technical issues and burns 20+ relationship with coworker, blaming him for technical issues...restarts show on his own with "better" equipment. Has same technical issues streaming live content. KHTK won't let him advertise his podcast at Kings games. Earlier this week, the one remaining member of show that started a few months ago quit. (4member show) . Hasn't had a week of product since striking out on his own. Rumors are the new wife can be difficult.
I don't think Janet ("new wife") has a lot to do with it...but I don't know for sure. I think Don's bigger problem is that his skills have expired (not bashing, just saying...I'm inching toward expired skills in my current career). I don't think he's ever had to run any part of his own board. On the Don & Mike Show I bet he had a board op doing everything, including putting calls on the air...even though he often played a sound effect to "suggest" he was pushing the buttons. Radio has changed dramatically in the last couple of years and, as much as I enjoyed what he used to do, I fear Don may not be able to change with it.
Do you think a program like Fox's "The Five" or ABC's "The View" would work well on radio? I mean, what would it be like to have a panel of 4 or 5 hosts with differing views commenting on various subjects on one radio program?
No, there are things than work great on radio, but bad on TV and vice-versa.
On radio, too many voices is a distraction --that's why in most cases shows at most use 3 voices...TV is the opposite where a show like "The View" works, but would NOT work on radio for sure, but a good question.
Thank you for the belly laugh, 12:52! 'Any G'! HA HA HA HA! As I've stated before, even the Giants fans among my family and friends have no use for Amy G; unfortunately, of course, Mr. Baer does. Of the two KTVU anchorwomen, yes both are competitive, but Gasia definitely makes it more obvious. Still, Haener continues to have tons of cred among peers. I am curious as to when or if KTVU does change its 2 logo for the first time in 40 years. If so, yes, I agree it will look like all other FOX affiliates. Still, good luck to FOX in trying to "convert" its viewers. The network may still have strong support on the East side of the Oakland hills and may even add a few down I-880 toward Fremont & Newark, even Hayward, but they'll never ever win over Berkeley, Richmond, and the rest of Oakland, even from Jack London Square. I hope Rich is right about the Raiders & A's future (latest rumors seem to suggest otherwise). There are plenty of pro-Coliseum Facebook pages, including one from one prominent Oakland school leader, in case 415 Media followers need positives. Finally, I am wonder if or when the format change ax will fall on an aforementioned Cumulus station whose folks are boring said 415 Media followers. As always, appreciate every bit of info Rich can provide involving our TV and radio stations. (Note that because of each national network's respective level of success, many of the local stations' news personas probably won't be affected too much thanks to national ratings before each newscast.)
Rich, do you know Dan "Daffy Duck" Dibley was a contestant on Wheel of Fortune last night? He came in 3rd Place with $4,000.00 in winnings. He identified himself as a "out-of-work" sports announcer from Oakland. Haven't seen KRON's Jeanine Waldman past 2 months. Is she out of maternity leave? What do you think of KTVU's David Stevenson, Christian Kafton and Paul Chambers as News Reporters? Keep Up the Great work Rich!!
Any word on Dominic Debrassio, a former on air staffer for Armstrong and Getty? I know Rich, it's not on your Top Ten Favorite Show Formats, but people like me, from the Baloney Sandwich Districts of Michigan do like them most the time. Dominic was quick, witty, profane, quixotic. What may have hastened his departure was Dominic's habit of asking the hosts personal, and perhaps embarrassing questions on the air out of the blue. I sort of understand why he is gone in that Dom has some qualities very similar to Vic the 'program director' and motor-mouth de jour. Both were hyper sensitive and hyper critical of other people. Sometimes it's difficult to be around someone when they are too much like you are. Vic has seniority and perhaps a bigger fan base than Dom. Dom seems to portray how Vic will be 25 years from now. Has he Dominic found work in the Bay Area?
From my understanding he was let go and hasn't reemerged either in Sacto or in the Bay Area. Ironically, he was the only reason I listened to that show the few times I did.
I think Larry Baer likes Amy G. because she does those 'lite and bright' features that bring in the casual Giants' fans, especially women. They don't want her to be a serious reporter, so she does things like interview some fan in the upper stands who is wearing a panda hat and screaming: "GO GIANTS!" Amy G. is annoying enough with her ridiculously childish voice and inane questions, but what is really amazing is that CSN GM Ted Griggs has gone along with this travesty for over 6 years now. It's an insult to hard core Giants' baseball fans, and frankly, it brings the whole production down a notch. I know for a fact that the Giants' broadcasters really grit their teeth when they have to go practically every inning "down to Amy G." in the stands or the dugout for the latest drivel from this overgrown teenager. Why TV and radio stations continue to give these rank amateurs jobs is one of the many reasons why the industry has gone into the muck and mire over the last decade. Unfortunately, the phenomena of someone like an Amy G. isn't unique to the bay area. There are plenty of other air-headed bimbos doing 'sidelight' and 'in the dugout reports.' Much of this is done to satisfy the home teams, who want the public to know that they have hired a woman to help out and give the 'feminine prospective' on the games. I guess the research done by these brilliant consultants who help dim witting programmers and GMs put together their lineups, shows that there are enough empty headed idiots out there in TV and radio land who could care less about quality, and just want to hear about panda hats, and other giveaways that 'reporters' such as Amy G. are pandering. Pathetic!
Amy G's role is expanding, and it seems that she will be around next season and beyond. Sorry to say, I don't think she is going away. Some of us have found coping mechanisms, like habitual use of the mute button.
I too find Amy G to be grating, but, come on. Do you really know "for a fact" that Giants broadcasters are weary of throwing it to her? Unless you have heard that from a broadcaster, you are guessing, and that's not fair.
I wonder why you didn't want to post some comments I wrote on the death of Kevin Metheny, I paraphrased what I heard Gil say about Kevin, I tried twice, but you did not post them. I'm thinking it is because Gil's comments was mostly complimentary, not totally I felt they were very honest. Seems like you have decided that Kevin was a horrible person, and any opinion to the contrary, would challenge your made up mind. I did not know Kevin, have no dog in this fight, I just wanted to bring a little balance to the debate.
Are you or anyone in the audience experiencing trouble with the KTVU mobile app? I am using an iPhone 5. The app opens then closes out within two seconds. Very annoying.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's not such a bad thing considering it's KTVU.
DeleteI'm sure someone will answer your question because I have no clue.
Any idea how close Kevin Metheny was to implementing changes at KGO before his untimely death last week?
ReplyDeleteThe changes were to be incremental and not en masse --I had predicted September but mid October was being keyed. Now with Metheny's passing, look for late November or the beginning of the year at the latest.
DeleteHow much does it cost to have an ad on air on KNBR at 5pm on a week day?
ReplyDeleteJust to get some perspective why they have 35mins of commercials an hour...
Thanks
Your first question, I have no idea, but I would guess it's pretty expensive--your second question, they run 35 minutes of ads because their owners are greedy bastards who don't give a shit about YOU, the listener--although the listeners are switching channels because of that greed.
DeleteLarry Baer owns KNBR?
DeleteOur carpool is one of those who listens to KNBR if Ted Robinson or Ray Ratto or Drew is talking hockey, but who switches stations when the ad-fest comes on 18 minutes after the hour and 12 minutes before the top of the hour. Bet many other 'listeners' do the same.
DeleteI'm a little curious about the real motivation for the pink "Breast Cancer Awareness" effort on the NFL games. Seems like at least one team has had something pink on in each game for a couple of weeks now. In the past wasn't it usually just a single weekend or so? Methinks that they've trying to create goodwill with "Breast Cancer Awareness" to overcome the lingering tones of team members domestic violence. Is the NFL exploiting a good cause for their own gain?
ReplyDeleteThe NFL has been promoting Breast Cancer Awareness many years before the domestic violence cases were made public. I'm not defending a multi-billion dollar sports league but I think by and large the NFL's charitable pitch is a positive --it's too bad the timing here makes questions like yours inevitable.
DeleteOctober is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Key word being month.
DeleteIts genius. They generate income from special jerseys and tax right offs from the expenses.
DeleteWhat is the state of satellite radio today? Did it revolutionize the medium, or has it failed to launch like many predicted?
ReplyDeleteI think Satellite radio is relatively prosperous and although its popularity has ebbed and flowed, (mostly based on the economy's condition), people who have the means are listening more and more, and less and less to terrestrial radio.
DeleteTerrestrial radio will survive only because consumers still want LOCAL news and traffic and it is there where satellite radio still lags.
Sirius/XM came with my car, it's so good and and so worth the $10 or $15 a month I'm paying. If I need local news, I just hit the FM button for KCBS. Being a news enthusiast, CNN, MSNBC, Fox and BBC are always interesting. Can't imagine how KGO will survive on AM.
DeleteI'm wondering about your blog on iPad, the news ticker has relegated the text of blog to a narrow strip on left of screen. Don't you have someone who manages (on occasion) the site? On another subject, looking forward to new FOX 2 logo change, I've never been a fan of the Zorro-like "2".
ReplyDeleteBarry
Barry, to be as blunt as possible, I'm NOT a tech geek; that's not dissing you or others but if you want to tinker with the blog I'd be happy to give you the keys to the car.
DeleteI'm having the same problem with my iPad 2 for over 2 months. Looks fine on my android phone.
DeleteDo you think Tom Leykis' Internet radio venture called " The New Normal" will be more profitable this year than Cumulus? If Leykis reaches his goal of $1 profit he will have a better margin than Cumulus.
ReplyDeleteUh, yeah, although I think Tom Leykis is yesterday's news.
DeleteTomorrows News (12/19/14) to make that Dollar profit.
DeleteAny idea if FOX is going to cut Julie Haener and slide Gasia Mikaelian into her place as a cheaper alternative? Why do Julie and Gasia dislike one another?
ReplyDeleteA. Probably not anytime soon.
DeleteB. Julie and Gasia are highly competitive --that doesn't mean they necessarily dislike each other but they're not totally enamored either.
Gasia has "short person syndrome"
DeleteThere I said it
Does anyone, I mean anyone, listen to the KFOG morning show? Or KFOG in general? That station has become so boring that it seems to be off the radar and totally dead overall. The morning show revolving door doesn't help. Do you ever get any comments or letters about them? Ever?
ReplyDeleteSadly, as you correctly point out, KFOG is dead, irrelevant really--the lack of cohesiveness, no morning show, no direction...wait a minute, another DESTROYED Cumulus radio station, stop the presses!
DeleteKFOG Mornings haven't been the same since Dave Morey left. Not that Dave was a paragon of excitement, but the combination of Morey, Renee Richardson, Peter Finch an Irish Greg was enjoyable. They had a nice chemistry.
DeleteAfter several misfires, Renee holds down the ship, solo. She is no dynamic without support. She needs someone to help boost the energy. The music format doesn't help- sleepy album-cut. b-side overly-hip alt rock. ZZZZZZZ.
Thanks Dennis Constantine. Another know-it-all programmer screws the pooch and Bay Area Radio suffers.
I used to listen to KFOG ages ago until the combination of same old classic rock, uninteresting current music, and endless commercial blocks (sound familiar?) doomed them for me. For someone who grew up with the variety of KSAN, it's sad to see music on the radio die a slow death...
DeleteRich, what do you think of Comcast and it's continued hiring of young girls fresh out of college for on-air positions? They've had some very pretty young women on their sets, but also some truly awful or at the very best, mid-market talent. And what do you think of Amy G? Has she gotten any better? Finally, your thoughts on Mindy Bach. She seems to just quietly do her job and mixes with the guys well, perhaps because she's older and more mature than those young girls, and probably because she's also an ex-jock (college swimmer at Cal), and can relate well to athletes.
ReplyDeleteComcast hires untalented, dumb, moronic women, (and men too), because they do.
DeleteAmy G? Please, don't get me started.
I used to be a Mindy Bach fan but frankly, she bores me. She's like beige wallpaper but that's a commodity of Comcast.
Jamee Sire is starting to get more time at ESPN and Erin Coscarelli moved on the NFL Network. Sire was a really good interviewer and Coscarelli does a pretty good job at her NFL gig. I don't think the women of Comcast are as inexperienced as you think if they're jumping to the kind of jobs they seem to be getting subsequently.
DeleteBecause not everyone at Comcast works as a CSR or Field tech.
DeleteThat is one fucked up company!!
As a fan of the A's and Raiders(I believe), what is your assumption of the status with both of these Oakland teams around this time next year? Raiders in LA or have a stadium plan in place at Oakland? Would the A's have something set for a new ballpark around the coliseum parking lot, Jack London square or somewhere else?
ReplyDeleteRaiders, I have a hunch, (just that), that they'll make a deal somehow and stay in Oakland--LA really doesn't want them or need them, they have both the San Diego Chargers, JXJags to go after,--would the Raiders back in LA, eventually, shock me? No...keep in mind LA still has NO stadium.
DeleteA's aren't interested in the JLS site --I think the best bet there is the existing Coliseum site --it's centrally located, near a freeway, great access and has major public transit hub; BART/ACTransit/Amtrak.
I think Jacksonville is out of the question for L.A. The owner, who also owns Manchester United, seems to be positioning the Jaguars to be the first European-based team. See how many times the Jaguars have played at Wembley.
DeleteYou got the wrong owner...The owner of Manchester United, is the Glazier family --they also own the Tampa Bay Bucs, NOT JaxJags.
DeleteOops, you're right. The Jacksonville owner owns Fulham of the Premier League. But my view still holds.
DeleteI think the Raiders and A's are holding out till after the elections. The Mayor in Oakland is below the level of legal moron!
DeleteHey Rich...I heard Paul Guttierez on 'the Game' the other day, talking about his wife 'Any G.' and her new book which I guess is a big hit with the kids: "Smarty Marty's got Game!" The hosts, (Lund and Papa), were singing her praises, as was her hubby. I thought it was disingenuous at best on the part of Lund and Papa, because as hard-core sports guys, they can't possibly think Amy G. has any shred of credibility or talent. Don't you kind of find that typical though on some of the talk show hosts around here? They would never criticize one of their 'co-horts' like Amy G. on the air, but you know as well as I that her reputation in the bay area among the rest of the media is pretty lousy to say the least. That annoying, teenage-sounding voice is bad enough, (didn't the woman ever take a course in public speaking!?) but her inane blatherings and dumb, breathy questions really drive many of the sports fans up the wall. Your thoughts?
ReplyDeleteI used to semi-like Papa on the radio; he's nominally talented and occasionally useful but his dumb jokes and stupid, lame and unfunny "jokes" and lines are embarrassing, which is a shame...Lund has no excuse for he is a complete moron.
DeleteMight as well ignore the AmyG mantra--she is what she is --I've moved on.
I love this guy. I laugh every time he talks about the way Amy G talks. Not kidding, he's good and so right! lol
DeleteI only listen to Papa for Raider games. Turn the game on the radio flip on the TV and mute the sound. He sounds like a juvenile delinquent.
DeleteSeriously Papa your my age time to grow the fuck up!
Do you have any insights as to Daffy Duck's new gig as the host of the Cal post game show on KGO? Did Kate Scott resign or was she pushed out? Daffy's voice sounds more and more like Artie Lange...
ReplyDeleteHe begged. They obliged. They DO need a body for that job.
DeleteScott, I guess, was busy doing whatever it is she does, let me know when you find out.
Is Karel still looking for a husband?
ReplyDeleteAnd would he be considered "a catch"?
Yeah, a real catch all right.
DeleteI better stop there.
Any idea who will replace Kevin Metheny at KGO/KSFO?
ReplyDeleteEither Randall Bloomquist or Renee Bakos,--or, as O'Reilly would say, "Two pinheads."
DeleteI've listened, off and on, to KCBS for years. No matter where I've lived, or on what radio I've listened, the signal has always been horrible - especially after dark. Tons of static, poor reception, etc. If this radio station is now trending towards the #1 station, ratings-wise, in this area, why don't they beef up their wattage so it sounds like a "real" radio station?
ReplyDeleteCBS would have to make that call but with impending cuts coming from corporate, specifically radio, don't hold your breath.
Delete2:24, where do you live? I grew up in SF and have lived in Petaluma now for many years. I have never had a problem with reception on KCBS.
DeleteTo 2:24 -
DeleteKCBS is a 50,000 watt clear-channel. If you're having a problem receiving their signal, particularly at night when they are regularly heard up and down all of California, it's because you live more than a hundred miles away from SF and/or have some kind of electrical disturbance local to you - bad wiring in your house, too many fluorescent light fixtures, too many AC motors running, a dirty overhead power line running outside your house, etc. etc.
My advice to you is find a local radio ham or AM DX hobbyist and ask them to visit your location and tell you what the deal is
Or contact someone on KCBS' engineering staff.
- Greg from SF
4:40 - for most of the past many years, I have lived in the San Jose / Santa Clara area. Others I know have had the same problem with KCBS. Strange.
Delete@4:40 that's probably because the transmitter is almost in your backyard.
DeleteI would imagine there's some limitations on their nighttime signal strength in order to avoid conflict with a 50,000 watt "clear channel" station (and I don't mean the company).
Houses built pre 1970 all have metal tubes holding the wiring together. They went to plastic to cut costs. This metal crap fucks up wi-fi and radio reception. I had this crap in my house before we remodeled.
DeleteThe only thing that worked is a 6 foot copper grounding rod in the backyard.
I still can not pick up 95.7 at night!
Considering Im 15 minutes from downtown, as the crow flies!
Do you ever see the day where the pendulum swings back and the concentration of radio, television and newspaper outlets are NOT concentrated into a handful of mega-corporations? I'm not a media insider, but it sure seems the generally shitty quality of the media these days is attributable to the FCC gutting their cross-ownership rules within the past decade.
ReplyDeleteIndependent stations are rare on any platform, TV and radio, really not much of those left anymore, you can thank the FCC deregulation for this situation.
DeleteWhat happened to Chad from Portland on 957?
ReplyDeleteDoes Entercom really believe that Giants fans would listen to the NLCS on 957 rather than KNBR?
Who's "Chad?" Did he win their latest listener contest? I'm just kidding but frankly, 975 The Game has become irrelevant listening.
DeleteEntercom hasn't a clue, sort of a Cumulus-lite.
2:42, ESPN radio has the national coverage of all of the playoff games and 95.7 is now the local ESPN station. The Giants games will still be carried on KNBR with the team announcers.
DeleteWhich anchor do you think will be fired from KTVU and will Fox make an effort to make Mornings on 2 interesting again?
ReplyDeleteThe latter is no because by doing so they'd have to spend a lot of money and that won't happen
DeleteIn answer to your first question, they might not have to do much firings as normal attrition takes over--Tori Campbell's contract is up in a few years and she's gone when that happens unless they buy her out early.
I wouldn't be surprised if some reporters were shown the door. Lot going on there, stay tuned.
From Sacramento - so a bit out of the area.....Have you been following the drama of Don Geronimo?
ReplyDeleteNo, do tell.
DeleteNational syndicated radio personality retires after his wife is killed. Moves to KHTK a few years ago on his own with new wife. Briefly PD of station...New mgmt comes in..his time slot moved around....taken off air to briefly appear on WJFK ...contract not picked up by CBS...starts a pay to listen podcast with former coworker....has continue technical issues and burns 20+ relationship with coworker, blaming him for technical issues...restarts show on his own with "better" equipment. Has same technical issues streaming live content. KHTK won't let him advertise his podcast at Kings games. Earlier this week, the one remaining member of show that started a few months ago quit. (4member show) . Hasn't had a week of product since striking out on his own. Rumors are the new wife can be difficult.
DeleteI don't think Janet ("new wife") has a lot to do with it...but I don't know for sure. I think Don's bigger problem is that his skills have expired (not bashing, just saying...I'm inching toward expired skills in my current career). I don't think he's ever had to run any part of his own board. On the Don & Mike Show I bet he had a board op doing everything, including putting calls on the air...even though he often played a sound effect to "suggest" he was pushing the buttons. Radio has changed dramatically in the last couple of years and, as much as I enjoyed what he used to do, I fear Don may not be able to change with it.
DeleteDo you think a program like Fox's "The Five" or ABC's "The View" would work well on radio? I mean, what would it be like to have a panel of 4 or 5 hosts with differing views commenting on various subjects on one radio program?
ReplyDeleteNo, there are things than work great on radio, but bad on TV and vice-versa.
DeleteOn radio, too many voices is a distraction --that's why in most cases shows at most use 3 voices...TV is the opposite where a show like "The View" works, but would NOT work on radio for sure, but a good question.
Thank you for the belly laugh, 12:52! 'Any G'! HA HA HA HA! As I've stated before, even the Giants fans among my family and friends have no use for Amy G; unfortunately, of course, Mr. Baer does.
ReplyDeleteOf the two KTVU anchorwomen, yes both are competitive, but Gasia definitely makes it more obvious. Still, Haener continues to have tons of cred among peers.
I am curious as to when or if KTVU does change its 2 logo for the first time in 40 years. If so, yes, I agree it will look like all other FOX affiliates. Still, good luck to FOX in trying to "convert" its viewers. The network may still have strong support on the East side of the Oakland hills and may even add a few down I-880 toward Fremont & Newark, even Hayward, but they'll never ever win over Berkeley, Richmond, and the rest of Oakland, even from Jack London Square.
I hope Rich is right about the Raiders & A's future (latest rumors seem to suggest otherwise). There are plenty of pro-Coliseum Facebook pages, including one from one prominent Oakland school leader, in case 415 Media followers need positives.
Finally, I am wonder if or when the format change ax will fall on an aforementioned Cumulus station whose folks are boring said 415 Media followers.
As always, appreciate every bit of info Rich can provide involving our TV and radio stations. (Note that because of each national network's respective level of success, many of the local stations' news personas probably won't be affected too much thanks to national ratings before each newscast.)
Rich, do you know Dan "Daffy Duck" Dibley was a contestant on Wheel of Fortune last night? He came in 3rd Place with $4,000.00 in winnings. He identified himself as a "out-of-work" sports announcer from Oakland. Haven't seen KRON's Jeanine Waldman past 2 months. Is she out of maternity leave? What do you think of KTVU's David Stevenson, Christian Kafton and Paul Chambers as News Reporters? Keep Up the Great work Rich!!
ReplyDeleteI'm just thrilled!
DeleteAny word on Dominic Debrassio, a former on air staffer for Armstrong and Getty?
ReplyDeleteI know Rich, it's not on your Top Ten Favorite Show Formats, but people like me, from the Baloney Sandwich Districts of Michigan do like them most the time. Dominic was quick, witty, profane, quixotic. What may have hastened his departure was Dominic's habit of asking the hosts personal, and perhaps embarrassing questions on the air out of the blue. I sort of understand why he is gone in that Dom has some qualities very similar to Vic the 'program director' and motor-mouth de jour. Both were hyper sensitive and hyper critical of other people. Sometimes it's difficult to be around someone when they are too much like you are. Vic has seniority and perhaps a bigger fan base than Dom. Dom seems to portray how Vic will be 25 years from now. Has he Dominic found work in the Bay Area?
From my understanding he was let go and hasn't reemerged either in Sacto or in the Bay Area.
DeleteIronically, he was the only reason I listened to that show the few times I did.
Google Dominick Brascia and you'll see his tweets and links to his podcasts.
DeleteI think Larry Baer likes Amy G. because she does those 'lite and bright' features that bring in the casual Giants' fans, especially women. They don't want her to be a serious reporter, so she does things like interview some fan in the upper stands who is wearing a panda hat and screaming: "GO GIANTS!" Amy G. is annoying enough with her ridiculously childish voice and inane questions, but what is really amazing is that CSN GM Ted Griggs has gone along with this travesty for over 6 years now. It's an insult to hard core Giants' baseball fans, and frankly, it brings the whole production down a notch. I know for a fact that the Giants' broadcasters really grit their teeth when they have to go practically every inning "down to Amy G." in the stands or the dugout for the latest drivel from this overgrown teenager. Why TV and radio stations continue to give these rank amateurs jobs is one of the many reasons why the industry has gone into the muck and mire over the last decade. Unfortunately, the phenomena of someone like an Amy G. isn't unique to the bay area. There are plenty of other air-headed bimbos doing 'sidelight' and 'in the dugout reports.' Much of this is done to satisfy the home teams, who want the public to know that they have hired a woman to help out and give the 'feminine prospective' on the games. I guess the research done by these brilliant consultants who help dim witting programmers and GMs put together their lineups, shows that there are enough empty headed idiots out there in TV and radio land who could care less about quality, and just want to hear about panda hats, and other giveaways that 'reporters' such as Amy G. are pandering. Pathetic!
ReplyDeleteAmy G's role is expanding, and it seems that she will be around next season and beyond. Sorry to say, I don't think she is going away. Some of us have found coping mechanisms, like habitual use of the mute button.
DeleteI too find Amy G to be grating, but, come on. Do you really know "for a fact" that Giants broadcasters are weary of throwing it to her? Unless you have heard that from a broadcaster, you are guessing, and that's not fair.
Deletewhat happens when your Andro-400 gets mistaken for your pets dynovite?
ReplyDeleteI wonder why you didn't want to post some comments I wrote on the death of Kevin Metheny, I paraphrased what I heard Gil say about Kevin, I tried twice, but you did not post them. I'm thinking it is because Gil's comments was mostly complimentary, not totally I felt they were very honest. Seems like you have decided that Kevin was a horrible person, and any opinion to the contrary, would challenge your made up mind. I did not know Kevin, have no dog in this fight, I just wanted to bring a little balance to the debate.
ReplyDeleteI thought 'Daffy Duck' got the job as the Cal pre and post game talk show host on their radio broadcasts.
ReplyDeleteThe Giants-Cardinals series! You ain't seen nothin' yet!!!
ReplyDeleteIrish Greg is back at KFOG morning show with Renee.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kfog.com/common/page.php?pt=New+Show+For+The+New+Year&id=10992&is_corp=0