Sunday, June 29, 2014
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Air It Out Saturday
It's Air It Out Saturday...your chance to be a Radio Program Director, a TV News Director and institute your own ideas and schedule.
What would you like to do? What's your ideal news team? Who's the best sports anchor and weather forecaster?
Go for it.
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Friday, June 27, 2014
The Five Highest-Paid Sports Broadcasters In The San Francisco Bay Area; Jon Miller, SFGiants PBP, Numero Uno
1. Jon Miller: SF Giants-- $625,000
2. Mike Krukow/Duane Kuiper: SF Giants: SF Giants--$575,000 a piece.*
3. Greg Papa: Comcast, Entercom, Oakland Raiders: $529, 000
4. Gary Radnich: KNBR/KRON: $500,000
5. Ted Robinson: SF 49ers, assorted clients: $500,000
*Excluding Endorsements
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Days Numbered for KTVU News Director, Rosenthal; Update: East Bay Home Put Up For Sale
The TV News Management business is a lot like pro sports. When a new GM comes to town he usually hires his own coach, not always mind you, but definitely more likely then not.The same would apply to what's going on at KTVU and what bodes for the future.
With Fox's acquisition of 2 and the subsequent move by Tom Raponi to leave Oakland and take a new job in Boston does not bode well for certain players.
Gregg Kelly is headed to Oakland as GM and will run both KTVU and KICU. He's probably going to want his own News Director.
Combine that with Lee Rosenthal, currently the ND in Oakland, and who was largely a Raponi hire and his lame-duck status at 2 Jack London Square. A prominent station source tells me Rosenthal is "polishing up the resume".
I asked the source on a scale of 1-10 the likelihood of Rosenthal leaving, with 10 being the highest and 1 the lowest. 8 was the answer. Rosenthal is all but gone.
Rosenthal never warmed up to staff at KTVU. His post-Asiana press release was the beginning of the end. The ensuing fake-name imbroglio and its aftermath has never been erased nor will be. The string of continuing embarrassments regarding misplaced graphics, out and out mistakes, internal bickering and a slew of personnel turnover is squarely on Rosenthal.
Cox Media, a company sensitive to its brand and run by an old-school Atlanta family, was never forgiving on the Asiana matter and seriously wanted to 86 Rosenthal. Only Raponi stepping in and firing the four newsroom staffers saved Rosenthal's job, I'm told.
Rosenthal, with a new ownership and GM hovering will not have that cushion of protection when Fox comes on board.
I don't have a timetable on when Rosenthal will take off but it's imminent.
Meanwhile at KTVU, I'm told, "people are apprehensive." Not entirely shocking.
UPDATE 3: 27 PM: Rosenthal's East Bay home is for sale, just posted on a real estate site as of today.
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Thursday, June 26, 2014
KTVU Will Not Become 'Fox News West'; Relax Liberal Bay Area
The Fox Network acquisition of KTVU will have zero influence on the look and editorial style of Channel 2. As I told Chuck Barney of the San Jose Mercury News, viewers thinking a Fox News conservative mode will blanket Channel 2 are mistaken.
Fox News is not the over-the-air Fox TV Network, nor does it have anything to do with the overall business model. It is all a part of News Corporation, the parent company of Rupert Murdock's vast media empire that includes a wide array of TV, Newspaper and digital holdings.
Like I told Barney, "You're not going to see Bill O' Reilly popping up on Channel 2 any time soon."
In addition, KTVU News will look and sound very much the same and the average viewer will notice no difference whatsoever. At least for the coming months it'll be business as usual at KTVU while down the road the FCC approves the transaction which it is expected to do so.
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Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Mike Krukow Makes Fun of Padres Pitcher Using Safety Cap on KNBR Morning Show
See this guy? He was the subject of a dumbass comment from Giants and KNBR house commentator, Mike Krukow.Listen to this dumbass Krukow on Wednesday's "Murph and Mac" show beginning at 08: 30 after. Mind-boggling.
Alex Torres, who pitches for the San Diego Padres, saw his teammate take a line drive off the head a year ago in Tampa. It scared the bejesus out of him. He decided to wear the MLB-approved safety hat. It may look goofy but it could also save a life.
Too bad Krukow didn't get the memo:
"I don't care if I had 6 or 7 concussions, I wouldn't wear it," said Krukow. (cackling in background).
Dumbass.
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It's Official: Former KTVU GM Raponi to Boston Fox 25; Gregg Kelly Comes to Oakland; Fox Impetus Was NFC Football; Cox Less Than Thrilled with KTVU; Asiana Gaffe Influence
Raponi to Boston's WFXT--, (Fox)--Gregg Kelly to Oakland to run KTVU and KICUBULLETT POINTS**
*The big fish in all of this was the desire to acquire King programming NFL Football--It all appeals to Fox because IT has the rights to the National Football Conference and SF is home to the 49ers.
*Conservative, family-run, Cox Media has been less than thrilled with its Bay Area cash cow, KTVU and don't think for a moment, the Asiana Fake-Name gaffe wasn't a major part of it. It WAS. Sure, it wasn't the impetus for this deal but it sure accelerated it--and as I reported HERE, FIRST, Raponi was feeling the heat and off back east he is headed.
I wouldn't be shocked if News Director, Lee, (Wonder Boy), Rosenthal is the next to BOLT KTVU. Rosenthal isn't liked by many in the newsroom and his Asiana Press Release only a few days after the crash, boasting of ratings success, was the beginning of his undoing among staff.
*Early on, Fox thought KRON would be the more attractive purchase--thinking Cox would never pull the trigger on KTVU, but price was too good. Add to that the lengthy amount of FCC obstacles it would have presented combined with financials. Fox ultimately snatched its own Bay Area affiliate. How convenient.
*KTVU repercussions: No immediate difference for viewers. Everything remains the same until FCC approval which should be no issue. The unions are worried. As they should be. There's fear of an unusually large amount of personnel reduction. Read into that what you will.
*KTVU is the biggest biller in the Bay Area TV department. It has a estimated value of about $900 to a BILLION dollars.
*Developing...
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Tuesday, June 24, 2014
415 Media Exclusive: GM Raponi To Leave KTVU; Headed to Boston Fox TV Statiom
BREAKING: RAPONI TO LEAVE KTVU --GOING TO FOX BOSTON STATION!*Two independent sources tell me that Tom Raponi, the GM at KTVU, is headed to the Boston Fox affiliate, (for now).
*KTVU ND, Lee Rosenthal might be the next.
*Whirlwind of activity at Channel 2's Jack London Square Studios --staffers in state of shock and disbelief.
*Rich Lieberman 415 Media Exclusive
*Developing...
BREAKING ALERT: KTVU Acquired By Fox; UPDATED: Exclusive Memo From Cox Media President, Bill Hoffman; KTVU Staffers in Oakland 'Boiling Angry'
BREAKING!
KTVU ACQUIRED BY FOX!
**Source: Cox gets Fox Boston station in the deal.
*KTVU Oakland staffers: 'Boiling Angry'
*Rich Lieberman 415 Media Exclusive
*Developing...
UPDATE: 3: 17 PM PT --MEMO--
I wanted to let you all know that an important strategic opportunity has presented itself and Cox Media Group will acquire FOX affiliates WFXT-TV Channel 25 in Boston and WHBQ-TV Channel 13 in Memphis as part of a mutual agreement to exchange stations with FOX Television Stations. In exchange, FOX will acquire KTVU and KICU in the San Francisco Bay area from CMG.
CMG thanks the leaders and employees at KTVU and KICU for the outstanding work they have done in the San Francisco Bay market over the decades to superserve their community with award-winning broadcasting and sales solutions for their advertisers. We’re also glad that KTVU and FOX will continue to serve the market together.
Following the completion of this exchange with FOX, which is expected later this year, CMG will own and operate four FOX affiliates, including:
· WFXT-TV in Boston
· WHBQ-TV in Memphis
· WAWS-TV in Jacksonville
· KOKI-TV in Tulsa
This will be the first time we will have had a media presence in Boston and Memphis, and CMG is excited about the prospects that WFXT-TV and WHBQ-TV bring to our TV portfolio. These new stations fit nicely into CMG’s broadcast portfolio, and we look forward to having a great news presence in these two markets and competing hard with the fine local broadcasters who already reside there. Once complete, CMG will operate 14 broadcast stations and one cable channel in 10 TV markets, including:
· Atlanta (WSB-TV ABC)
· Boston (WFXT-TV FOX)
· Charlotte (WSOC-TV ABC & WAXN-TV Independent)
· Dayton (WHIO-TV CBS)
· Jacksonville (WAWS-TV FOX & WTEV-TV CBS)
· Memphis (WHBQ-TV FOX)
· Orlando (WFTV ABC & WRDQ-TV Independent)
· Pittsburgh (WPXI-TV NBC & PCNC independent cable channel)
· Seattle (KIRO-TV CBS)
· Tulsa (KOKI-TV FOX & KMYT-TV MyNetwork)
Until this exchange is complete, it is business as usual in San Francisco. Our colleagues at KTVU and KICU can continue to expect the same level of service from everyone at Cox and CMG for any business or employment issue. We are confident that they will continue to serve their audiences, advertisers and community with timely, valuable and trustworthy entertainment, news and information.
Thanks for all you do every day to help us be the most essential local media source in our markets, delivering great products that connect with the needs of our customers.
Bill
Bill Hoffman | President
Cox Media Group | 6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. | Atlanta, GA 30328
Ask Rich Lieberman
Lots on the front and back burner.ASK AWAY.
You have questions about Bay Area TV/Radio and such--I will try to answer your inquiries.
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Monday, June 23, 2014
KTVU News Graphically-Challenged: Viewer Discretion Advised-- May Cause Mental Disorder
Graphically, speaking. The complete tour.
Then this...
Anybody feel like Chinses food?
I didn't know this guy was Ken Wayne.
And the All-Time Leader in the clubhouse.
Fake TV News Anchor USA World Cup Dejection; KTVU Graphics Dept. Drunk Mode; John Dickey on Pig Vomit; KPIX Muzzles The Bloggers; Hell No, I'm Not Dating Veronica De La Cruz; Monday Media Monster Mash
Add to the major irritation department: the faux-dejection look from news anchors after the US draw with Portugal in the World Cup.First off, like most Americans, the news anchors don't know anything about soccer. That's OK, neither do I.
But please, spare us the sad faces, really, all of you. And sports tonsils? Are you really not gonna sleep because some futbol, (see, I'm hip!), players blew a game in the Amazon rain forest?
Just once, I'd love to see a anchor just toss to the sports guy, offer a simple, "tough luck" and move on. That will happen when hell freezes over.
*KTVU Graphics Dept: Maybe it's time to see who's fucking around. This is getting ridiculous.
*Cumulus Co-COO John Dickey on new KGO/KSFO Opps MGR, Kevin Metheny: "His reputation and accomplishments are unparalleled. His deep understanding of spoken-word radio and ability to work with bigger-than-life talents make him the ideal candidate to lead legendary KGO and KSFO."
Excuse me while I (pig) vomit.
*Metheny should work well in SF. He most recently destroyed his radio stations in Detroit and Chicago, SOP for being a Cumulus operative.
We got a sneak preview of his talk/news hybrid plans and we can't wait for the excitement.
*The NTSB will release its report on the Asiana SFO crash on Tuesday. At KTVU, they hired security for the graphics department. Somerville and Haener threatened anyone thinking of joking around with a date with Tori Campbell.
*Ama Daetz will probably become the permanent KGO-TV anchor with Dan Ashley replacing Carolyn Johnson unless she doesn't want to.
*At KPIX, the muzzle-the-bloggers operation is in full throttle mode.
*Speaking of KTVU, the Rob Roth MIA mystery is, I believe, a vacation, but don't sleep on that.
*Two bad words at Channel 2: Starbucks and Asiana.
*Wonder if Korean TV News anchors will mention KTVU News on Tuesday. (Ho-Lee-Fook).
*I ran into former KGO Radio News anchor, Rosie Allen the other day at an Oakland supermarket. Allen took a generous buyout, (negotiated by Mickey Luckoff), five years ago when Citadel owned KGO: "Boy did you leave at the right time!," I proclaimed to Rosie. She smiled.
*Possible KRON slogan: "At least we're not KTVU."
*Possible Mike Sugerman KCBS "Travels About the Bay": Mike goes to East Palo Alto and asks crack dealers if they ever heard of Mick Jagger.
*I'm not dating Veronica De La Cruz--she couldn't afford me.
*PIX's 10 PM youngey new newscast has been put on hold and will now debut 2042 just in time for the SF Olympics.
*Another Steve Bitker KCBS moment: Good Morning Stan, Good Morning Susan, Good Morning Holly, Good Morning John, Good Morning Kim, Good Morning Barbara, Good Morning Joe, Good Morning Jason, Good Morning Mister President
*BREAKING NEWS: In a story you'll only see on KTVU, Dave Clark has an exclusive interview with OJ Simpson --"Hey, 'Juice, after 20 years, how's the golf game going?"
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Sunday, June 22, 2014
A Message, Sort of, To KGO/KSFO Employees From Pig Virus
This is PIG Virus
Surely you know me by now. Ha hah ha...
Guess who's coming to town July 14? I bet you can't wait.
KAYYYYY--GEEEEE-OHHHHHH!
KSSSSSFFFOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. We got a lot, and I do mean A LOT of HOUSE-CLEANING to do --so please, don't be too comfortable. Some of 'yous are in for a rude awakening, you know what I mean? Of course you don't! --Ha Hah Ha!
This is going to be so much fun.
*Developing...
Saturday, June 21, 2014
KTVU Posts Fake Starbucks Logo on 10 0'Clock News
I can't make this up.Maybe KTVU needs to look over their resume checker.
Talking Shop with A's Ace Play-By-Play Broadcaster Ken Korach; Writes The Definitive Book on Bill King; Saturday Schmooze
Friday night I went over the Coliseum and met with the great Oakland A's play-by-play broadcaster, Ken Korach.We talked shop, we schmoozed --those of you that come here know of my fond appreciation of Korach and his partner, Vince Cotroneo, --probably one of the most talented and underrated broadcast crews in Major League Baseball.
The A's are my hometown team. Love the Green and Gold. I go back to the days of Reggie Jackson, Gene Tenace, Campy Campaneris, Captain Sal Bando and Joe Rudi. Rickey Henderson too. A's and Raiders. Warriors too. It's a Tower of Power of Back to Oakland Superstars, some Hall-of-Famers.
Let's not forget the greatest broadcaster ever; the guy that described the action from the Coliseum; the place that Curt Gowdy referred to as "The House of Thrills"; Bill King, Holy Toledo!
Korach has been with the A's for almost 20 years and recently wrote a book about Bill King. Finally got it and couldn't put it down. Riveting stuff. Poignant, happy, what a ton of memories and then some.
I knew Korach could do great play-by-play. I didn't know he was a great writer. This is a terrific book, a must read not only for those of you that appreciated Bill King, but also like good stories.
There's a ton of stories in "Holy Toledo--Lessions from Bill King: Renaissance Man of The Mic"
Read the book.
The Foreword was written by Jon Miller.
It's one of those books that brings back great memories from the beginning of King's career; I began listening to Bill in the early 70's when he was doing the Raiders. Of course he would soon broadcast the A's, Raiders and Warriors. A three-sport broadcast superstar.
In the book, Korach describes his first introduction to Bill King--as a kid growing up in West LA:
It was a magical experience, having a game four hundred miles away come out of the little box next to my bed, and Bill King made me feel like I was sitting courtside with him.
The book is entertaining and perfect reading if you appreciate great broadcasters. Korach worked with King for 10 years and took over for Bill when he died in 2005. There's stories about that and more. Like I said it's nostalgic, it's funny and there's quite a bit of interesting things to read, some good inside dope too, hilarious and things even I didn't know about Bill King.
It's Summer. Reading time.
This is worth it.
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*KenKoarch
*Bill King book
Friday, June 20, 2014
KPIX 10 PM NewsCast on CW Station Is In a Holding Pattern; De La Cruz: 'Still Work-in-Progress'
I asked Veronica De La Cruz what was up with the "new" 10 PM KPIX- Newscast on the CW; no Veronica and still no new program."It's still taking us a second to launch--work in progress", said VDLC, hardly sounding as if this much-ballyhooed was close to debuting.
Bad news for KPIX, because it's been on the drawing boards for months and it was the major impetus to bring De La Cruz out to the city to begin with.
The new 10 PM cast--geared to a significantly younger demo-- was to have unofficially started last Monday. But PIX personnel are still mulling the details and going over last-minute strategy --there's now no official launch date which is a both a bummer to viewers and KPIX management, I'm sure.
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Pig Vomit: The Real Honest-to-God Inside Story; No Wonder KGO/KSFO Worker Bees Anxious; Friday PM Noter
OK, gather round. All you professionals at KGO and KSFO. Interns, gather up! News writers. Suck ups, producers (including Brian), executive producers (Hi, Renee Bakos) and you board ops including Susan Whynot and others.
You phone-it-in auditioners like Weintraub, Bartholomew and yes, even Chef Ryan Scott. Most of all-- dysfunctional, malcontents misfits, like the "entertainer" Karel - get your red carpet cape out and paint a big red target on the back when you wear it to your next job in Tulare, Redding or Bakersfield. You are about to be more done than a July 4th steak.
Kevin Metheny is coming back to town. The new sheriff of the dysfunctional family known as Cumulus Media is awaiting his replacement at Detroit's sixth-ranked 50,000 watt Class A cumulus blowtorch, 760 WJR. The soon-to-be former home of the legend known as "Pig Vomit."
You remember him from Howard Stern's book and classic cult favorite flick, "Private Parts." Yep, the same "Pig Vomit" that killed off 66 'W EEEEENNNNN BEE CEE" back in the day. Then, there were clusters like KFRC ("Magic 61") and former Top 40 AMer, the FM side of KFRC which was sold to CBS. KFRC-AM to the depths of Family Radio, complete with a call letter change.
Clusters like those in Cleveland that included once proud stations like WGAR-FM, WTAM (news / talk), the legendary and heritage rocker, WMMS-FM and others. The group GM said then at that time "working with Kevin Metheny was like working with a daily root canal." Honest. Ouch.
After a myriad of stations that makes Metheny's resume about 8 pages long that includes VH-1, MTV and other stints from Jacksonville to Minneapolis, Seattle and beyond the cosmos, lightning struck in many other places. Places that once served their communities with decent radio - quickly destroyed by the infamous Pig Vomit who arrived anyplace after 1980 with a copy of Stern's DVD "Private Parts" in hand.
From the debacle in Philly known as WZZD 99 ("The Wizzard") that Metheny derived after he took apart the legend known as "WIBG", Kevin Metheny.
Lightning later struck, and as recently as four years ago in 2010, when Metheny was finally and thankfully fired from Chicago's WGN 720 blowtorch, the home of the lowly Chicago Cubs (which leaves WGN after this season after a 80 year run.)
As noted newspaper scribe and media blogger Roger Fedor was quoted: "The worst program director in the history of Chicago radio, Kevin Metheny, has been quarantined and fired from WGN. Finally."
Picture this scenario. Two hands full of Chicago radio greats, were ruthlessly, cruelly and unmercifully fired by Metheny, including morning man Steve Cochran who was told on air, by Metheny, "You know, Steve, I like you. I just don't like your show." Cochran was fired and replaced by KGO 26-year-vet Greg Jarrett who languished under Metheny's rule for two years in a dysfunctional, fish-out-of-water way before he, too, was gone, now, to Chicago. Word is that Jarrett would like to come back to the Bay Area. KGO-- KSFO? Not sure, but a whole lot of bridge repair would need to be done between Metheny and Jarrett for sure.
Metheny has mixed it up with his then boss, Randy Michaels, who saw lightning in a bottle, an explosive shard of a a glass bottle, by putting Metheny in charge of WGN. Michaels was axed by Tribune Media and by the following Tuesday, Metheny was out with him.
415 Media Flashback: The heritage continues. There is a most famous memo to staff at WGN and, no doubt, Metheny's current home (Thanks to Cumulus "VP of News / Talk Programming ("Spoken Word formatting" as it's termed by Cumulus Media brother honcho, John Dickey,) Randall Bloomquist, himself a lightweight in the Atlanta captain's chair.
That memo will, not doubt, be sent to each air talent and remaining news person (if there are any left after this,) that says, and I quote: "Build audience ... or you're out."
No foolin'. "Build audience, or you're out."
Never one to play the role of "scapegoat" eloquently, the debacle ahead will be the fault of KGO / KSFO non-syndicated employees.
Metheny is a big fan of syndication. There isn't enough flying around right now, however, to satisfy him. He won't have Limbaugh or Levin, here, like in Detroit, where he only had three "live and local" talents. He will have Bachelor and "Red Eye Radio", still, here, like he has in Detroit.
A simulcast possibility? Maybe. Metheny is not so hot running two radio stations at once. Maybe a "tandem pair" would be good for him to get his head around.
WJR is 6th in a 30 station market. Another news station, CBS' WWJ beats WJR, which has a current PPM overall "beauty contest" ranking of a 5.2 rating, in the market of 2.8 million. Here, he has a 6 million plus population to deal with and a 2.1 share and flat lining. It's not working here and with two-thirds a more robust population it likely won't be exploding in success very soon.
Don't forget, there's a returned market manager in Gary Pizzati, too. This should be a battle of titans...
There is so much here, one could write a book. A large, scare-filled book into the abyss.
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