KNTV (NBC Bay Area) is heavily pursuing former KGO (and now KNBC) -anchor, Carolyn Johnson, 415 Media has learned.Johnson abruptly left KGO in April of 2014 when the station asked her to take a 20% pay cut and she refused.
Johnson has so far rebuffed the Southbay NBC O and O's offer but hasn't officially ruled it out either. She has family in Southern California and is leading a comfortable lifestyle but coming back to the Bay Area, especially if NBC made it worthwhile both financially and otherwise, wouldn't be out of the question.
Said a source to me: "Comcast/NBC has deep pockets; money wouldn't be an issue." Meaning if they really want Johnson, they could probably sweeten their offer and make for a smooth transition.
Johnson has apparently beaten a cancer scare so health issues aside, a Bay Area reunion would be a coup for KNTV; probably not so much to KGO where Johnson spent the bulk of her career.
Where would Johnson be anchoring?
Veteran Bay Area anchor, Jessica Aguirre, a current KNTV weeknight anchor (with Raj Mathai) and former KGO news reader herself, has a contract that is up in early 2018, a contract that has not been renewed and according to my sources, has her (Aguirre, who's 55) "sort of unnerved."
As they say, "stay tuned."
#415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE
I'd hit it.
ReplyDeleteI grabbed it.
DeleteAnyone have a cigar?
DeleteThere's nothing in the Bay Area for heterosexual singles. Gayville. She'd be crazy to come back to this hell hole.
ReplyDelete6:32
DeleteI'm a 32-year old single blonde/blue female...and don't have any trouble finding single/straight/good looking guys.
If you are having trouble, perhaps it's time for you to review your "playbook."
I don't see an improvement over Aguirre. Johnson is no spring chicken herself.
ReplyDeleteIf Johnson is having success in the no.2 market and its 85f in December..why return to SF? Miami? Maybe...
Would KNTV see overpaying getting better results? Nah.
I know this isn't question time Rich, but what was behind that 20% cut? She's GREAT at her job, why force her out. Where others asked to take a pay cut too? What type of money would she be looking at if she was to return?
ReplyDelete20% cut, because they can, dumb ass.
DeleteGood lord KGO got rid of her, she was sick and usually a station tries to get rid of these staffs
ReplyDeleteI miss Carolyn Johnson since she worked well with Dan Ashley, and Ama Daetz is okay, but does not have the same presence as Johnson. That said, I also like Jessica Aguirre and it would disappointing to see her pushed due to her age.
ReplyDeleteSince KNTV and KNBC are O&O by Comcast/Universal, would the salary be similar since the network owns the stations?
BTW, I could see Carolyn and Jessica co-anchoring.
What happened to one of the best in Bay Area news, Michelle Roberts?
ReplyDeleteStacy Owen, GM, just came to KNTV from KNBC. Maybe they'll want to work together.
ReplyDeleteMove back into a postage stamp house to work in a forever lost station. Streets full of obnoxious drivers and full of trash?
ReplyDeleteand a million more "homeless" parolees and sex offenders...
Hurry back!
jessica could sue on age discrim. so could roberta etcetc. the one who needs to go is the ugly dresses on all the wx women. ugleee
ReplyDeleteJessica is one of the nicest, hardest-working people I've met in the business. Any station would be lucky to have her.
DeleteKNTV is loaded with Disney/KGO castoffs in upper and middle management. Can they outsmart the Mouse & Fox? Not with the ratings ball and chain known as We Investigate. Its a sinking ship, pass Leo a life preserver.
ReplyDeleteTHE most beautiful woman on the air.
ReplyDeleteKNTV's becoming "KGO San Jose." They've got good people down there. And many of them come from KGO.
ReplyDeleteI hope Jessica's departure has nothing to do with age. Instead, it should have everything to do with appearance and poor, barely discernible, rapid-fire delivery. It's like she's wearing her mic under multiple layers. Can't stand her and won't be sorry to see her go to a smaller market. I'm betting that even KSBW would want nothing to do with her.
ReplyDeleteSaw Carolyn anchor midday coverage of the SoCal wildfires on KNBC. Such polish and class. Stay in LA. Screw the Bay Area where the good talent is few and far between.
ReplyDelete