Wednesday, November 23, 2016

CSNBA 'SportsNet' Central Soon Goner; Chicago Takes Lead; KNBR Playbook Post-Warriors ID; John Madden Year Anniversary Off KCBS; Unlikely To Return; 'Anchors Away' Format at Befuddling KTVU; KRON's Future Demise; The 1-800 Junk Fest Commercial is Disgusting; Chip Franklin Gets More Nauseating on KGO Radio; Wednesday Rush

Image result for thanksgiving in san francisco 2016 WEDNESDAY 415 MEDIA RUSH

Greetings from the medical/media underground where visiting hours have now begun.

*As I speculated last month you can expect CSNBA's "SportsNet Central" is going bye-bye soon...Chicago CSN much the same --Layoffs were inevitable too.

Comcast is recognizing the way of the world is moving more increasingly digital, i.e. social media, and local Sportscenterish content is no longer viable.

*KNBR has apparently thought out, right or wrong, that highlighting its once NBA client, GS Warriors, is to run programming before and after games. My question: wouldn't Warriors fans be listening to The Game where the W's are heard?

Knibber has apparently rolled the dice that says the typical Bay Area sports fans still prefers 680 AM over the Game's FM territory. Wait till the ratings come out next month. That'll be an early indication.

*Add KNBR: The Sports Leader is suddenly in the sports abyss with the 49ers freefall (its only winter client) and cash king, SF Giants three months away from start-up. So finally, we'll see if the Leader can make it on its sports-talk shows devoid of team association.

*For the past few days and nights while I've been doing part time nursing duty I was subjected to listening to those AWFUL, non-stop 1-800 Junk ads --a radio bedpan if there ever was.

*Yes, Greg Papa has been mysteriously absent from his radio duties the past few weeks; call it winter relief and time away from his Raiders and Comcast duties. Nothing sinister other than that but I'll ask Papa anyway.

*From all indications, (duh!) John Madden isn't coming back to KCBS to do his daily sports conversations It's been a year since Madden last appeared on the air --he's had a myriad of health issues including heart surgery and hip replacement surgery. Nothing is official but Madden's layoff during football season is especially telling.

*Once again the onslaught of Chip Franklin in the afternoon KGO Radio (4-7 PM) time slot is both nauseating and dreadful. Franklin, the human bullhorn, is like listening to a combination of Hugh Hewitt and Gil Gross. Oatmeal radio as I've described before and amateur-act, giggling female voices in the background only further muddy the situation--Franklin's voice is about as sanguine as a spam sandwich.

*Those in the know say the recent double body-blow of staffers leaving KGO-TV to join NBC Bay Area has jolted the 900 Front newsroom. And once again, KGO ND, Tracey Watkowski-Silva is at the center of the controversy --I can't believe TWS is still working; I thought this would be her swan song but the end of the year is close at hand when dreaded pink slips abound.

*KTVU: Anchors away-literally! The anchor shuffle is in full-throttle mode at Fox2 where no regular schedule of news readers are in place. If you watch Channel 2 on any given night you can see any given anchor--it's a hodgepodge of format and it's confusing at best. Who is responsible for this mess? ND Dana Hahn, beloved by most of the staff but soon to be called into the office by Generalissimmo Gregg Kelly.

*IMAGINE THE GALL of a local media blogger having the AUDACITY to solicit donations when he's taking care of his mom and away from financial solvency --Let's get this straight: yeah, it takes time and MONEY to write this blog --go figure.

*KRON as you know it: marginalized news with mass MMJ infusion and patio furniture commercials will go bye-bye come Jan. 1 Nothing is official but the handwriting is on the wall. KRON's parent company and its corporate goo-goo have come full circle. Grumpys can expect another wake after the holidays.

*The KSFO "Morning Show" has officially become a morning zoo endeavor with multiple cow moo sound effects; fart noises; host and hostess offering bizarre, makes-no-sense voice inflections ("I'll tell ya?") I've probably lost a friend over all this stupidity but so what. The show borders on cruel and racist elements with a boorish producer who thinks she's cute and irreplaceable --really? Cumulus has no such feeling, madam.

*KSFO: The Home of Lodi truckers and White Guys in Fremont with uber-sideburns. The same people who had a wake over the recent demise of Duck Dynasty.

Lee Rodgers is turning over in his grave.

*How'd you like to work at Costco today?

*Easiest prediction today: the usual banal live shots from the local TV grunts at SFO, how creative. Typical, banal set-up...Anchor throw to reporter Betsy Booboo --"Yeah, Steve, it's complete bedlam here at SFO where I just talked to Suzy from Walnut Creek" Betsy to Suzy: "Where you headed? 'We'll we're going to Grandmas in Texas and had to wait 9 hours in line!" "Well, couldn't you have gone out a day earlier to beat the rush?" Suzy: "Uh, not really." Back to the studio.


*Of course not to be outdone: the post-holiday, "Black Friday" radio/TV blitzkrieg commencing 4 AM tomorrow --when noncreative assignment editors have nothing to do and offer repetitious ad-nauseum shots of the usual idiots outside the Emeryville Best Buy standing in line to save 4 bucks on a big screen. God Bless America.

*Ben Fong Torres is about due for another Sunday Pink article about Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame Inductees, his 10,765th one to date.

Stan Bunger and Celeste Perry are going off!

23 comments:

  1. And when you ask Papa that- ask him why he thinks-and 95.7- Animal abuse is funny? Its a constant stream of it.I would ask him if I could. Right to his face. A promise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I missed you for the last week Stan...until you chimed in last night that is...

      You'd tell him right to his face huh? Right to HIS face but you won't do a phone interview with our little Richie.

      Delete
    2. What's important is what matters. You know I'm serious. One joke? Its now a weird sick unethical stream of "And he wrestled that goat"..hahaha says the Trump crowd."It was sent to a vet". Whats funny there? Its ANIMAL ABUSE.
      KNBR manages to not do hurting animals as humor. Greg Papa insists 95.7 does.
      Also- If saying Moms are great bothered you..go listen to 96.7 Mr. He- Man.

      Delete
  2. Nope. Warriors fans watch the game on television or attend. Some will tune to 95.7, some will tune to KNBR. KNBR has the Comcast highlights as well as interviews.
    Those who listen to the game on radio will most likely not change the station.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Welcome back Rich.

    Couldn't agree with you more about the KTVU anchor shuffle. I try and watch it once and awhile but end up changing channels as soon a I see the lousy anchors. I have a feeling it will never get better.

    Happy Thanksgiving...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too. ...I only watch if Ken, Ted, Frank, and Heather are on. Sorry, but I haven't warmed to Julie yet.

      Delete
  4. I can't wait till Fatnich is at Grumpy's looking for a free drink

    ReplyDelete
  5. Papa is hosting a show with a KNBR intern I'm told. That should be great.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Don't you mean Hillary and Obama voters outside Best Buy?

    You love to generalize white men as much as Stan, let's be real and call the black friday campers what they really are when they're not triggered, alt left radicals looking for deals.

    ReplyDelete
  7. nice to see your time off hasnt changed you - you are still a dick!

    ReplyDelete
  8. In KSFO's case, you mean "breitfart noises".

    Welcome Back, Rich. Hope all health is better, and that your closest donors deliver big time.

    Happy Thanksgiving and looking forward to a Steely Dan clip the day after (the only Black Friday I'm interested in, anyway).

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anytime I see Ben Fong-Torres, I keep thinking he must be dying his hair.

    ReplyDelete
  10. RE: the KTVU anchors....I want to see Dave Clark anchoring the 6pm even the 5pm news...I wonder how long that fiasco would last...hilarious...Love to see Gasia M. anchor the 5-6 pm so I easily could switch to Dan and Ama...How does anyone trust KTVU these days?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nothing more SF than white guys bashing white guys.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Radio Waves with Ben Fong-Torres used to be fun but I have to admit, you're right. It is all about who is next for Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame and to be quite honest, a very boring read now.

    ReplyDelete
  13. @5:06pm - What do you have against plastic, insincere, goofball-ish, incomprehensible, small market reject Dave Clark on KTVU Fox 2?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey 11:13...this is 5:06...thanks for your reply..it made me LOL..Happy Thanksgiving

      Delete
  14. If you want to hear John Madden talk about football and his health listen to the podcast he just did with Cam Inman. As for Greg Papa, he's certainly not taking time off from his Raiders and CSN duties. He's only absent from 95.7.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I would listen to the Warriors pre-game show on KNBR, mainly because of Tolbert, but not after. Who cares what KNBR thinks if they're not broadcasting the game - they kinda go together. The Game's analysts aren't great, but at least their pre-game, post-game and the game itself provides some kind of continuity. KNBR's angling to get the Warriors back, but they sure screwed the pooch when they lost arguably the most popular basketball teeam in America (and Worldwide) when they chose a Giants spring training game over the Dubs.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Couldn't agree with you more about KSFO, Brian is more annoying than ever, he keeps repeating sentences, and often talk over Katie, although that is not much of a loss, still annoying. Also agree with you about Chip Franklin, can't listen to him for long. If I listen to the radio late afternoon I usually choose Dave Ramsey on 650 a.m. Sacramento, at least I get some sound financial advice, although his religious and right wing bend doesn't quite jell with my taste, but basically I like his show. Don't care for Ethan Bearman, so at noon I choose either Tom Sullivan, or Michael Medved (who is a very reasonable conservative) might tune in to Michael Savage, until he starts ranting and yelling, but usually can't listen to him for long, just too negative, he is already complaining about Trump, is he ever happy or positive about anything?? So what is left Ronn, yes I know he is kind of loosing it, but compared to who else is on at least for the most part he is listenable, like Copeland for the most part, same with Pat love John Rothmann, and am disappointed that this week, instead of having him on filing in for Pat (who is filing in for Ethan)Maureen is filing in. She is better than she use to be, but I don't care for her that much, usually her subjects are too light, a little juvenile and simple, she seems afraid of getting really serious for long, too bad. Miss hearing Christine once in awhile, never a big fan, but she is intelligent and usual have a different take on things, which is a good mix.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Another view on Coach Madden

    http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/11/23/john-madden-talks-thanksgiving-his-health-raiders-rise-49ers-fall-nfl-tv-ratings/

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would bet a year's worth of dinners at The House of Prime Rib that KRON is still on the air January 2nd.

    ReplyDelete