Monday, December 22, 2014

Ask Rich Lieberman

 A lot on the plate---fire away as I answer your Bay Area TV/Radio questions.

You can also ask me a question on Twitter

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64 comments:

  1. So how are the KRONvicts getting along in KGO land? Are they resented or tolerated? Is there any routine interaction between the two stations or are they totally segregated by design (i.e. First Class and steerage)?

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    1. Much ado about nothing. They share office space and a helicopter, (KGO's) and some parking garage real estate--that's it.
      Any attempt to make it seem otherwise is simply incorrect or misguided.

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    2. That parking garage was small already so I can't imagine how they're sharing it. It's like sharing a saltine.

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  2. Replies
    1. Yes.
      Everything is always on the block. If the price is right...

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    2. Let's all chip in together and buy it. Rich can have a slot. So can Christine. We can even give Stan a "gossip minute" twice a day on the hour.

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  3. Any word on what Bernie Ward will be doing now that he has been released?

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    1. Probably looking for work...in what capacity, I'm not sure. Maybe an Internet radio show.

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    2. I would listen to Bernie online...don't think I'd pay, but if it was a free show/podcast with advertisers, probably. But can he do the tech himself or, like almost all current/former KGO hosts, is he helpless without a union engineer? If you can run your own board and edit audio on your computer you can produce passable show on a very lean budget.

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    3. The last part of your answer is correct...I don't think tech awareness will be an issue.

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    4. Bernie ran his own board.

      There are a lot of us who would love to hear him back on the air.

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    5. Bernie Ward is not allowed to own or touch a computer he is not allowed to surf the internet. He is on lifetime probation and life time sex offender registry. It'll be hard for him to do a podcast or run a board.

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    6. Good!! and he has to register with the local PD, as in Police Dept and report in on a regular basis.

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    7. "Ick" factor . . . .

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    8. He has served his sentence. Don't think Bernie is banned from using the internet or owning a PC. Practically impossible for anyone to live without a PC these days.

      Maybe Christine can confirm...


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    9. He's been blogging from prison, so that kinda blows a hole in the "not allowed to touch a computer" bit.

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    10. Bernie Ward has not been "blogging" from prison he's been dictating to a third party who in turn posts it. Bernie Ward dose not own the lion of the left blog and it states it clearly on the first page because Ward is not allowed on the internet or computers. Some of you seem to think he's been away at fat camp. Ward was convicted of having THOUSANDS of child porn images not to mention people in prison don't have acess to the internet because they're you know in PRISON. Oh and Christine went to a law scool that's not fully accredited she can't practice outside of California or in federal court she's hardly the person to ask legal questions.

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    11. Sure, no computers while he's in prison.

      But once he's out, he's not allowed to own a PC or use the internet?

      Seems extreme.

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    12. No it doesn't. He would probably do more "research" on the computer.

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    13. McGeorge School of Law at University of the Pacific is not "fully accredited"? It's approved by the American Bar Association and the California State Bar Association. Who else's accreditation do you need?
      Nobody can practice outside of California unless they're admitted to the bar in that state/territory, and the same goes for federal courts (you have to be admitted to practice in federal courts, separately from state bar membership). You had better get on the horn and let former California Attorney General (and current Treasurer) Bill Lockyer and US 9th Circuit Appeals Court Judge Consuelo Maria Callahan that their education at UoP isn't good enough, because they may need to change careers.

      Looking at Ward's sentence, I don't see anything prohibiting computers for the rest of his life. Given how dependent society is on computers, I think that would violate the 8th Amendment.

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  4. Status of dim-bulb Brian Copeland? He had a fill-in yesterday. Please tell me he's done at KGO.

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    1. I don't know his status.
      I don't think he's part of the overall blueprint--then again, who cares?

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    2. From what I've heard, Copeland has been in LA filming for a new NBC talk show. That's why he wasn't on the air this week.

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    3. I like the fellow who filled in for Brian Copeland on Sunday. I dont know his name, He had a tenor voice. Sounded young. Good conversationalist, and good objective thinker. Hope he is allowed to come back. Otherwise, I'm caught in a Radio Desert with nothing but pre-recorded finance and real estate infommercials.

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    4. This is the second time recently that someone has filled in for Copeland. Did anyone miss him? I sure didn't miss his last hour of the show when he brings in all his buddies.

      The fill in host is Dan Mandis and he is good. Maybe some day he will get a show on KGO. But, for now he has a daily show in Nashville.

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    5. Hopefully Copeland goes to L.A. and we wont have to hear his lame unfunny "Hey, I'm a black guy!"crap here...

      And I wonder how many more women need to come forward before he stops kissing Cosby's ass... LMAO

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    6. Copeland did throw Cosby under the bus a couple of weeks ago. He said he was wrong and never wants to see the guy again.

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    7. Copeland is filling in tomorrow for Ronn so he isn't gone yet. Too bad.

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  5. Rich, is this blog not going 2 b free anymore?l love but i sure would not want 2 lose it:(

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    1. It IS free--always will be.
      But I'm starting a subscription program with paid subscribers who will receive the blog in their mailbox and get some extra...and I can earn some much-needed $ to keep this site going.
      That simple.

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  6. How much is the average TV reporter (non-anchor) making a year in the Bay Area? Used to be being in TV was ahead of the curve in the Bay Area, thinking that's not the case anymore.

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    1. You're correct.

      Used to be that even average reporters in this market made $200K--no more. It's a sign of the times.

      I know a very good, veteran, KPIX reporter who makes in the low $100K a-year salary --simply a case of the current biz model.

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  7. As near as I can tell, Cumulus quietly disbanded their tradition of having a holiday party for each cluster. I didn't see anything official by way of an invite or a statement that there will be no party, but nor do I see any evidence that any staff-oriented holiday events are happening for any Cumulus stations, anywhere, this year.

    It is notable in general -- and because the "holiday party" is literally the ONE exception in the employee handbook where employees are allowed to imbibe alcohol; the rest of the time, we're supposed to be puritan.

    Apparently, they figured if they cheaped on the holiday party, nobody would notice -- and it seems like this is largely true!

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    1. Yeah, I guess there was no room at the SOMA McDonalds this year?

      They generally have a party. I haven't heard otherwise but assuming you are correct, it's no surprise. They are NOT a people company --never have been. And to be fair, many companies are that way...only so many Levi's in the world.

      That said, I'm not surprised by anything they do --or don't do anymore.

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  8. Do you do this topic every time you run out of ideas? Your topics seem to be lacking real insight lately. Are you saving it for the $5.99 service?

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    1. No, I do this once a week; it's the most popular thing on here--in fact, most people tell me they want to see more of the "ASK" but I try to limit it because I don't want to override ...my topics are dictated by what's going on and what's out there--traditionally, this being the holiday season, it's more quiet --even so, there's plenty of issues on the horizon and we'll delve into them as they arrive.

      As for your last snide "Am I saving it for the $5.99 'service?" No, maybe my "insight" is not worthy enough to satisfy your pedigree and so, maybe this is not for you, but Merry Christmas.

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    2. I enjoy the "Ask Lieberman" weekly seg. Please keep it up, Rich.

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  9. Why do TV stations break the bank to hire and keep ethnic (read: Asian and Latina) reporters and anchors (read: Veronica De La Cruz, Claudine Wong, Gasia I'mnotevengoingtotrytospellit) while dumping the real people who do the work (writers, photos, editors, desk people) when the various community colleges around the Bay Area have dozens of young women who are studying "communications" who'd fit the bill for 1/5th of the salary?

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    1. "Real people?" Lost me there--there's plenty of non-white nincompoops out there too.

      TV stations are not "breaking the bank" to hire minority talent; some are more expensive than others but nothing extraordinary --it's a different world. I've said that repeatedly --but the inference in your question; yes, there is significantly more diverse on-air performers in local TV/radio news is a reflection of the Bay Area and its audience --there's nothing terribly wrong with that --it's straight down corporate PC and the broadcasting world is a part of it for better or worse.

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    2. Anon at 10:26am...you assume the "real people" who do the work are "non-ethnic".....really? Clear you have never been in a TV station anytime in your life.....
      Look at who is anchoring during the week and on the weekends......add up the numbers .....things still roll your way

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  10. Rich, re: Mt. Rushmore of sports; Gary Park over Barry Tompkins?

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    1. Barry Tompkins is good--there' s many people out there that are good, very good. But I think in this case, Gary Park over body of work was a lot more compelling --no knock on Tompkins ...or anybody else for that matter.

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  11. Rich, as a broadcaster from the late 1960s and early 70s, it bothers me how technically unreliable today's major radio stations are during emergencies. Power to transmitter or studio goes out? They are off the air for an extended time. Winds blow hard? They are off the air again.

    This reminds me of a time just a few years ago that I was in Astoria, Oregon, during a very strong storm. The storm knocked out power for days, cut the internet and phone connections, and generally left the area in the dark. The local EANS station (I think it was KAST AM) was off the air during the whole week because their diesel generator would not start. All the other stations were also off the air, too, with the exception of the local PBS FM station (KMUN). For a whole week, the community relied on KMUN to keep us advised of news. Their great service to the community was hailed in the local paper later. However, I never heard of any sanctions by the FCC against KAST, the "official" EANS station.

    Don't you think it is time for the FCC to crack down on Cumulus, or whoever owns the big stations, for failure to be prepared for emergency broadcasts?

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    Replies
    1. Quite frankly, the FCC doesn't have the juice it once had thanks largely to deregulation and therefore, basic emergency response protocol action from radio stations is largely ignored. In this area where we are prone to having earthquakes and the so-called "big one" any day now, it's a big deal and needs to be dealt with.

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  12. Is there ever going 2 b any changes at Knbr the dud leader:-( and what is Ralph Barbieri doing these days? Never thought i would say it but i miss him on the Radio.

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    1. KNBR, probably not for the interim period as long as they still have the Giants/49ers/Warriors--why should they? They're making money --lots...On Ralph, he's enjoying life in Marin with his son and taking it easy.

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    2. Ralph is gone. Get over him already!

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  13. Rich, If you were drafting a current day Mount Rushmore using the pool of today's Bay Area News, Sports, Weather, personalities who would be on the list?

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    Replies
    1. Dan Ashley, Catherine Heenan, Paul Deanno, Larry Beil.

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  14. I saw Veronica De La Cruz filling in for Elizabeth Cook last week and she was far better, in my opinion, and the newscast was far less annoying. Any chance she takes over as the main anchor at 11pm?

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    1. No, none.
      Maybe in a year, down the road, but not now.

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    2. Probably never if Night Beat's raitings never go up. Kind of hard to tackle another slot and anchor when your bread and butter show pull less then a point.

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  15. Which Bay Area morning local news program has the current highest ratings and which one do you enjoy watching the most?

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    1. KTVU's "MO2" --I don't watch the local morning shows, seriously, --every now and then, a glance maybe.

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  16. Oh Rich. I was so impressed with your state of mind on this one. UNTIL I saw your last comment!

    Nothing wrong with your comment per se--but if you don't WATCH morning news, except for "a glance every now and then," why all the dumping on Dave Clark here? I don't get it.
    .
    I like the guy and I suspect many others do as well

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    1. Dave Clark get real watching him is like watching paint dry. Let us not 4get he came here 2 take over 4 Dennis Richmond how is that working 4him:-(

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    2. Why would you think "many others do as well"? Because you think of yourself as a wonderful person and your many admirers are like minded?

      I'll willingly concede that I embrace my flaws and refuse to watch the romper room shows staring Clark or Gonzales.

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    3. I don't even tune in to try and catch weather and traffic on MO2 anymore because that Clark guy with his singsong delivery is too painful to watch/listen to.

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  17. I tuned in briefly to KGO radio last night (in between listening to Serial Podcast, which I highly recommend) and heard Karel give your blog plenty of free press! It's unfortunate that he doesn't just go ahead and mention you by name. Do you think we should come up with a Baba Booey style catch phrase for you and holler it over the air waves?

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  18. I might have stated this already, but I clearly need a refresher: At the end of Van Amburg's tenure at KGO, since those last 2-4 years at Circle 7, he never got over the loss of anchor partner Jerry Jensen, who succumbed to cancer in either 1982 or 84. One archive video of Van Amburg I'd like to look at is when Geraldo Rivera - pre-buttface lift and Fox At Large - stopped by in late 1971 or early 1972 while he was working for WABC, because he was following John & Yoko around as they actually considered moving to San Francisco before settling on New York (and we all know the rest there). I enjoyed seeing that footage on YouTube a couple of Decembers ago - when it first aired on all Circle 7s then (SF, NY, LA, Chicago).
    Alright, here's my question: Who is on the shakiest ground, if anyone, among our Bay TV stations' news directors? Seems like most of them have committed boneheaded missteps but are extremely lucky that their parent companies dig them.

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