Monday, February 23, 2015

Ask Rich Lieberman

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50 comments:

  1. Hi Rich,

    "Mary Rose" is a person on KSFO who gives traffic updates. I have heard Mary Rose several times pronounce Alum Rock Ave in San Jose, as "Alooom Rock Ave." I have also heard her several times pronounce the city of Milpitas as "Millipitas." She is not trying to be funny, she has no idea how to correctly pronounce these. How can a "professional" radio station A - not catch this, and B - not educate her on the correct pronunciation?

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    1. Don't blame "Mary Rose", some woman sitting in Dallas who probably means well.

      Blame the company that outsources traffic --you get what you pay for.

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    2. The company doesn't "outsource" traffic. The company, CUMULUS, owns RADIATE. It's THEIR company. It is basically a person who is working in Dallas for less money doing the traffic for San Francisco stations. Cut, Cut, Cut, Cut, Cut, Cut, Cut. It's THEIR SOURCE.

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    3. Semantics --I know they own Radiate --but you're right, cheaper to hire in Texas than it is in California...makes that content sound so, so professional. (wink)

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    4. "Mary Rose" was, a short time ago, a "traffic dummy" on KGOne as well, I believe....

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    5. the hick called Bochy "Bruce BOTCY"!!!

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  2. Currently, who is the longest tenured TV reporter in the Bay Area? My guess would be Vic Lee.

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    1. I believe David Louie of KGO-TV has been reporting for Circle7 since the beginning of civilization.

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  3. Rich, is KPIX finally going to put Nightbeat out of its misery?

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    1. Uh, I believe Nightbeat is going to put Nightbeat out of its misery. Nobody is watching except extended friends and family.

      GAAAAME OFFF!

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  4. Hi Rich, What is Bay Area News Group? Who's in it? What is it's function?

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    1. BANG is a newspaper company with editors and reporters. Its function is to sell newspapers and ads on its website. That's as far as I know.

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    2. BANG owns/runs pretty much every mid-size to large paper you've heard of other than the Chronicle...mostly in the east and south bay. Plus dozens of small town weeklies in those same areas. They put together a pretty good product.

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    3. @Jason
      Perhaps you meant a "product" full of ads and very little news.

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  5. Rich, did you get a chance to watch the outdoor hockey game between the Sharks and Kings saturday night and any idea what the ratings were?

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    1. No, but it sure looked great on TV.

      The game was broadcast on NBCSN, no ratings info yet but I'd bet it had decent numbers even for hockey.

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  6. Anything new on Brian Shields?

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    1. "New" as in cause of death, no and frankly, unless it was foul play, that's nobody's business other than his family.

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  7. What's your favorite People Behaving Badly segment?

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    1. Don't have a particular favorite but when the people on bikes get nailed by SR, I like it when they bitch and moan.

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  8. Hey Rich, any word on potential candidates for the PD job at 95.7? Just hoping it will be someone that can bring a better vision for the station so it can be a great alternative to "The Sports Leader". Damon Bruce is basically the only on-air personality I listen to on there

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    1. I don't have an answer there--probably someone in-house and hopefully, someone who knows how to program.

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  9. Wasn't there a limit on the number of commercial minutes per hour back in the old days? Seems to me the NAB prescribed something like 17 minutes per hour and a station promised to adhere to this limit on their application for an FCC license or renewal.

    When did we jettison that?

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    1. After deregulation but yes, you're right...KGO, in its old king days, used to run 4 three-minute clusters and a few spots in between--a far cry from today.

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    2. IIRC that limit was 18-minutes, however the most successful broadcasters had a self-imposed limit that was 10-12 minutes. The way they operated was if the station started getting sold out, they raised the rates to pull back the demand to their limit.

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    3. So these rules are gone? Or can we formally complain to the NAB or somewhere else?

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    4. NAB is a lobbying group, who lobbies on behalf of broadcasters to the FCC. Complaining to them about the amount of commercials per hour would be like complaining to the California Teachers Association about teachers getting too much paid time off.

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    5. I noticed that you didn't actually answer the commenter's question as to where we can formally complain. I would also like to know.

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    6. The answer is the FCC. However, you'll get more traction complaining here than you will complaining to them. They really can't be bothered and will just send you a form response saying that they won't really do anything unless they get a lot of complaints about it. Then, if that were to happen, the NAB would step in and lobby for no changes. Your next best bet would be to object to the station's license renewal when it comes up.

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  10. Hello Rich who are the most versatile journalists in the Bay Area the men and women who can do it all...vs strong in one category/one dimensional?

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    1. Phil Matier writes three columns a week for the Chronicle, does 2 morning and afternoon radio reports for KCBS and is a daily news reporter for KPIX, not to mention Sunday morning news anchor. That's pretty versatile in my book.

      I also like Lyanne Melendez of KGO, Carolyn Tyler as both an anchor/reporter ...Ken Wayne over at KTVU is top of the list versatile ---One dimensional? Heather Holmes is not my cup of tea but I'm alone in that category.

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    2. But Heather Holmes is the primo party girl. Lotsa times she goes on the air wearing an outfit like she's just gone out to dinner or that she's heading out to the bars and clubs after the broadcast. At least once I'm sure I saw her wear exactly the same outfit on consecutive nights, I figure she was just partying too hard to stop by home and change. Heather Holmes just rocks on, my favorite disco queen. I bet she does a mean karaoke as well!

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    3. I'd say Phil Matier is probably the most solid news person in the Bay Area. Though he's been at it awhile I haven't been able to figure out the career motive for his Sunday morning anchor gig. Is he just practicing for a larger TV role? Sure he's great but I think he's probably seen as too old for a larger TV presence. Interesting that 2 of your mentions, Matier and Tyler, are consistently present in the Sunday morning TV pasture.

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    4. Hear, hear. Not only does Phil Matier report the "what". He reports the "why"--the hidden motives behind the news stories.

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  11. any update on Allen Martin and Liz Cook? she does not seem to be getting better.

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    1. They work together and are paid to read the news. He still can't stand her, from what I've been told but being professionals, they work. As for Liz Cook, I think she's actually getting better. Just my opinion.

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    2. I think she and Allen have settled down, but Paul has absolutely NO use for her. Watch the 5pm end-of-show chatter, just after weather. She'll ask Paul a question and he'll answer Allen - only giving Liz a sour glance.
      Re her getting better? I don't see it, and I watch every night - gritting my teeth while she does her act.

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    3. The robotic nodding to anything that is being said. You can just tell she knows nothing about anything. A few years in Bakersfield would have done her some good.

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    4. Same here with Liz Cookie. She's smoother since her start. Relaxed.
      I say it over and over- but,the bay area doesn't like its anchorwoman to be intense.
      They also would NEVER support the Cleveland anchor who said she doesn't like Lady Gaga's "Jigaboo" music. She said later she didn't know what "Jigaboo" meant. Her co -anchor? an older black man.
      Oh,and she worked for a FOX station.
      KTVU? just a matter of time.

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    5. This just in: Paul couldn't take his eyes off Elizabeth tonight. Obviously, 1) he reads your blog or 2) Mgmt took him to the woodshed or 3) he's realized what a fantastic newsreader liz iz.

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  12. Rich - KRON has been in limbo for way too long now. With the latest sale rumors you had posted about, how long do you think KRON has to live before a decision on its future is made?

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    1. Good question, I have no idea.

      There's a mountain of issues; FCC broadcast rules for one. They're in the #6 market and they have a clear signal. New location too on 900 Front.

      If I were betting, I would say Media General is trying to sell --question is who would lay out the mega-cash needed to buy --there IS a market. Time will tell.

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  13. So where is the Cumulus gang moving to, Rich? Sounds like they're bugging out of 55 Hawthorne

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    1. You mean thrown out?

      The latest address is Broadway and Battery near the Embarcadero --Sales Dept. is already there. Broadcast stations within the month.

      The Gold Club is mourning --Centerfolds is on high alert.

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  14. Speaking of KPIX, have you noticed Da Lin's new confidence? It appears he's been taking speech lessons - he no longer drops his voice to inaudibility at the end of every sentence.

    You go, Da!

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    1. And as always, we need to remember that earlier reports of Da being a vampire remain unverified...

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  15. Why do broadcast TV stations even bother with the digital multi-casts? There's no way cable or satellite is ever going to have room for many of those stations and the OTA market is probably getting smaller and smaller due to media access via the internet.

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    1. Most digital sub-channels are carried on cable systems. In some cases, they run paid programming (or are leased outright). In other cases, they carry ad-based programming. Yes, it may just be a fraction of the viewers on the main channels. However, it's still extra income with minimal extra cost. There are plenty of organizations (commercial and religious) willing to pay for such carriage.

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  16. Dreck has a sidekick now that is as annoying as he is. Morning wacky-nutty show in the evening. What will they think of next?

    Also, Ronn Owens was talking about Biden's habit of touching ladies. He was sort of defending him while also said it was wrong. Ronn needs to take a look at the candid pics of himself with his arms around ladies as he poses behind them in the studio. Seems pretty touchy-feely, himself. But that's just Ronn being Ronn, right? Right....

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  17. Rich, how do you think the matter with Thomas and Sze plays out?

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