Thursday, February 12, 2015

Ask Rich Lieberman 415 Media

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56 comments:

  1. Rich, you are hyper-critical of KGO. Let's say they made you PD tomorrow. Give your game plan and be specific. What would you do to turn things around? Include a talent lineup that you believe would work. Thanks.

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    1. I'm not interested in PD...and certainly there, but one thing I would do is not hire dog-doo like the moron on 7-10 and go from there.

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  2. Curious if you know what Bernie Ward has been up to since he was sprung. Halfway expect for him to pop up (???) on KGOne again.....anything's possible these days on that station...

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    1. He's never going to be back on KGO either as a host or guest. I don't necessarily agree or disagree with that I'm just giving you the gospel... His best bet is an Internet Show where he could broadcast and be his own one-man show I don't know what kind of audience he'd have but there seems to be fans of his that, in spite of his past, want to hear him.

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    2. i'd surely listen...and if gene could do a broadcast i'd listen to that too!

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    3. I'd be surprised if Gene pulled off a broadcast considering Houdini tried to contact us from the great beyond and was unsuccessful.

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    4. I would tune in to either Gene or Bernie. Rich what is the reason Bernie can not have another radio talk show. He has paid for whatever he did wrong.

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    5. I don't hire, I'm just a media blogger--giving you the truth.

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  3. Hi Rich,

    Do you have any thoughts about Bob Simon?

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    1. Just another example of how life can be cruel.

      I watched his dispatches from the Middle East and loved his work both on CBS News and 60 Minutes. He could write and produce and tell a great story.

      How sad and ironic that he survived reporting from some of the most dangerous places in the world only to lose his life in a car accident.

      An incredible loss.

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  4. Who is in charge now at KGO? Lee Hammer? Or is corporate running it from afar?

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    1. Hammer is temporarily helping out at KNBR...some guy named Wittmayer and Mahaney in charge --and good old Debs Monroe running news.

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    2. Is KGO still on the air? I haven't listened to it in several years since they dropped their successful format. What was the frequency? 820 or 910?

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  5. Rich, is it common for news people to use fake or made up names? I thought it was fishy or hoaky this guy who applied to rent for us, used a fake name on air?

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    1. It's more common nationally but fairly rare, (Geraldo: real name: Jerry Rivers) etc...more common for actors in show biz to use fake names...news, not so much.

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    2. There are some fake (often funny) traffic reporter names. I've heard a few over a long time but can only remember a couple, Lane Divider and LA has a Tori Signal.

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    3. "Well, ain't that swell." Sincerely, Frank Fenderbender.

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    4. Elaine Change, Dusty Rhoads, Holly Hillsdale (local)

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  6. Bob T " the happy gardener "needs the find a new radio home any suggestions?I think he should add his daughter to the show and Syndicate

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  7. I saw something somewhere about using extra digital channels (on TV and/or radio) for paid/subscription services, either commercial or consumer. Do any Bay Area broadcasters do this and what do they provide?

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    1. Only KRON that I know of ...might be one other. Most people don't watch these channels because they have very little of interest to viewers.

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  8. Did Andrew Baggarly leave CSN of his own accord, or did the Giants force a change?

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    1. More the latter.

      I think the Giants were OK with him in either capacity but remember, Comcast owns a piece of the Giants--put two and two together.

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    2. We heard CSN cut back his road trips and he was covering the Giants from his couch.

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  9. With Barrett leaving 95.7 around the summer, you think the station will survive for another year even if the new the PD makes some great changes(ie the lineup, finds a AM station as a alternative for a longer reach of listeners. etc..)?

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    1. Whoever is the new PD is a lot better than the outgoing wiz who thought it was revolutionary to use contest winners as radio talent and has reshuffled the morning show about 8 million times...

      It's not that an AM station would necessarily make The Game better, it's better talent that makes any radio station better...although FM sports radio is a challenge here, better signal would help too.

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  10. Is Geraldo really Jerry Rivers? I remember this "urban legend" from the 70s and heard him debunk it a few times on TV.

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    1. In 2001, during the War in Afghanistan, Rivera was derided for a report in which he claimed to be at the scene of a friendly fire incident; it was later revealed he was actually 300 miles away. Rivera blamed a "minor misunderstanding" for the discrepancy.

      Controversy arose in early 2003, while Rivera was traveling with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. During a Fox News broadcast, Rivera began to disclose an upcoming operation, even going so far as to draw a map in the sand for his audience. The military immediately issued a firm denunciation of his actions, saying it put the operation at risk; Rivera was nearly expelled from Iraq. Two days later, he announced that he would be reporting on the Iraq conflict from Kuwait.
      Fox didn't suspend or fire him.

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    2. Are you kidding? Lying at Fox News gets you promoted!

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    3. Just showing up at the DNC news channel MSLSD gets you on the air.

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  11. A week from today, February 19, marks the 5th anniversary of BS's takeover of the "KSFO Morning Show" from the late Lee Rodgers. Does this milestone also signify contract renewal for a millstone?

    Any on-air observance of the date is a blatant opportunity, of course, for myriad ego-centric and self-serving reflections. Already heard is the repeated audio hype of supposed callers telling how much they love the hosts and their daily show. Doubtless this promotional invention is a response, at least in part, to 415 Media's blistering post of January 14, 2015.

    What is the status of "talent" contracts? Is there any hope on the horizon for the demolition of this disaster . . . finally?

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    1. I've said all I can say about Brian's show. I think he's much better than what he puts out and I'm not talking politics--as I said numerous times, I didn't agree with much of Lee Rodgers politics, but he was great to listen to because his show was entertaining and thought-provoking. It had a certain style, not for everyone but I mostly enjoyed it.

      Brian, I think, is being forced to do a show that fits a particular make-up for Cumulus talk formats--so some of it is not his doing. I'm just not a fan and IMO Brian is a better broadcaster than the content and style he's putting forth.

      I don't know his contract status.

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  12. RE: Geraldo Rivera. He was born in Manhattan as Gerald Michael Riviera. Parents were Lillian and Allen Riviera. Look it up on Google or Wikipedia.

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    1. i heard once that his mother is Jewish-is that true?

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  13. Speaking of contracts isn't Torrie Campbell's up this year? Any word on where she is off to? When is Dave Clark going to be out ...I mean when does his contract expire? Fox's happy talk format isn't working with those two.

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    1. I'm pretty sure at the end of the year but there's an option...don't know at this point if Fox were to pick it up but should know soon...as far as where she goes, given that she's got family and kids here I doubt she'd go to another market and frankly, I don't think there'd be massive interest anyway.

      Dave Clark is safe...for now.

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  14. Are newspaper writers who leave for CSNBayArea jobs doing so because it's more lucrative or are they trying to jump off of the ship before it's fully submerged?

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    1. Cold hard cash. That's the only thing that matters--unfortunately, newspapers don't any more.

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    2. 12:32,

      As Rich answered, cold hard cash. But in Ratto's case, it's the cold and hot food.

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    3. On his KNBR show a week or so ago, Ratto explained why most of the local sportswriters have to be on TV, blog and tweet. As he explained, nowadays it's all about the clicks (which isn't really new news), but explained that the editors in charge are more business people than journalists. Also, clicks are measurable and can be translated into revenue-making conversions for advertisers. You couldn't really do that with newspapers, unless as an advertiser, you set up a separate phone number for an ad or put some kind of coupon or code people had to give when they called or stopped in.

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  15. What do all or most of KRON's female weather predictors have in common? Why is that? Is Darya Folsom trying to keep up when she's next to George Rask or Erica Kato and she's puffing her chest out?

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    1. It's very titillating --that's all I know, I'm such a boob, but if I get the details, I'll keep you abreast of the situation.

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  16. 1) Why does Gil Gross do a drive time show?
    2) Why does Ed Baxter have a show?
    3) Why are Cory and Joel on the radio?
    4) Why are Armstrong and Getty played in San Francisco?

    You always beat up on KGO but you never talk about KKSF. The programming is just so bad.

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  17. 1. Because massive crowds in Lodi demand that of him.
    2. Because massive crowds in Antioch demand that of him.
    3. Because they can be.
    4. Because we don't get enough of that great Midwest humor.


    **You never talk about KKSF**: who are they?

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    1. KKSF could've been a contender. Instead, they're bums. They could've picked up other great hosts after mr. Burns' untimely passing, yet they chose doctor monologue and his yenta wife and they fired da loyah yet retained the horrible Joel "trade out" Riddell!? They barely register a 1 on the ratings and were never any good. KGO was a legendary station. It is obvious why KGO gets more ink than KKSF...

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  18. Rich, why don't you do real. vital, meaningful media criticism? Instead of bottom dwelling and going for the common denominator? Why don't you exercise your intellectual gifts? You're a smart and astute guy with a big audience ... a little more depth will take you in a totally different direction.

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    1. I'm delivering content for a selected audience. That's it. Thanks for your career advice, really I'm not being sarcastic --if you want more substance there's plenty of outlets to choose from.

      But thanks for the compliment.

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    2. "really I'm not being sarcastic"

      It speaks volumes that you have to actually tell people when you're not being sarcastic.

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  19. Rich- I have to give you your props. I work in the 'biz' and virtually everyone at the station where I work has some comment from time to time about what you've recently posted. Most hate it when you criticize their buddies, but they also sound diappointed when their names aren't mentioned. Do you ever have local bay area media personalities calling you up to complain or to plead for you to cover them differently? How many of them help you get inside info? I'm not fishing here...just curious. I really like most of your posts and enjoy the reaction. About half the time the folks who respond do so thoughtfully and in a reasonably intelligent and well behaved manner. I think you've really found a good niche here. No one else is doing this so keep it going please. Most of the media folks I know read what you have to say. Don't get me wrong; you have plenty of detractors at different stations who revile you, but it's usually because you've said something the really touches a nerve.

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    1. Thanks for your kind words and acknowledgment --yes, people read me for better or worse.

      I'm not going to go deeply into who talks to me and who doesn't because I don't want to compromise contacts and sources in any way, but yes, suffice to say I get a lot of feedback --which is good, whether it's positive or not is besides the point. Obviously I want my posts to be compelling and worthy enough for people to react to so again, thanks for the thumbs up and keep on reading.

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  20. Ama Daetz just said that Bradley Manning "...has been approved for homo-- hormone therapy." Totally pro LGBT here but I may never stop laughing."

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  21. The reason that talk between Dave Clark and Tori Campbell doesn't work is that Dave Clark is unable to ad lib. He's strictly a teleprompter reader for everything and completely awkward when he has to do anything else.

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  22. Hey Rich, a couple of questions about KCBS. Why does sports anchor Hal Ramey always yell during his reports? Is it necessary for old sports reporters to scream their reports? And why doesn't KCBS hire a translator for Liam Mayclem so that his reports can be heard in American English? I don't know what language he speaks, but I can't understand him.

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    1. Hal Ramey has an old-fashioned style; I wouldn't call it screaming, more pronounced announcing, but I get your point--a matter of taste.

      Liam Mayclam --I turn the dial immediately.

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