As I told you recently the truth about Ronn Owens sudden 86ing from the Cumulus KGO Radio cluster was dictated by the Clouds' recent Chapter 11 Bankruptcy --the initial hearing is next month. Cumulus' financial situation is perilous at best even if they were to receive a generous arrangement from the court. Which is why anyone who makes six figures in the Cumulus radio stations (including outside the Bay Area) are weary of a memo to meet the boss in his or hers office. Then it's reality time.
THIS is the truth and it connects Owens' fate and will connect others sooner rather than later.
THIS is the BS that Owens tried his best to spin to a Chronicle lackey. "Host has 'new gig'." Yeah, ten minutes --the same new "gig" they offered to Don Imus who rightfully told them (privately) where they could stuff it.
A few weeks ago I was asked by a broadcast observer here about the status of others --I've used the "nobody is safe" line because truly nobody is safe. Cumulus has loads of debt and they need to trim, trim, and trim so while ratings and numbers are important to hosts who have six-figure compensation, that doesn't mean a whole lot in the chain. The Bankruptcy judge will see to that. And in the case of Cumulus it means first and foremost shedding payroll and becoming leaner (which means more real estate infomercials and less live and local (a joke) content.
So, the main air-talent at KSFO, KNBR, KFOG, and KSAN are breathing a little more harder. Those on the outside may be offered buyouts, if they're lucky. Some major "stars" in the morning or afternoon who probably think they're immune are in immense denial. I'm not going to predict who's next but I will not be surprised if it involves someone big. The Cumulus Media guillotine does not discriminate.
*Larry Beil is respected by his peers but the KGO-TV anchor is disliked by a significant amount of folks at 900 Front. "He thinks he's better then everyone else," says a staffer. Beil has zero personality and tremendous arrogance which is usually not a Disney trait. Maybe he should stop looking in the mirror after each and every news and sportscast.
*Classy Cumulus: its way of "respecting" its one-time SFO star of 42 years; a 10-min "report"; crumbs really; yes, I've been critical of Ronn for years but he deserved better: a last show of significance --would it have killed management to allow him a ceremonial program? Sadly, Owens took part in his farewell because, well, you know.
*KCBS is still very good especially when there's breaking news but its new branding of anchors talking silly talk and excessive giggling is annoying and disruptive --if we wanted comedy we'd go somewhere else. We expect and desire NEWS and INFORMATION, including traffic and weather reports, sports too. The new ND should have another meeting.
*I'm not being smug I'm just saying that I literally cannot listen anymore to the AM and FM all-sports stations because they truly are both so bad there's nothing worth listening to. Compared to other markets the Bay Area sports radio situation is a broadcast catastrophe.
Add KCBS: Holly Quan, really?
*KRON's "commitment" to news with three consecutive hours of nightly shows would be far more informative if they were actually news shows and not KTEL-like summations.
*Why doesn't KPIX just move their building to Walnut Creek and not beat around the bush? Or they could construct a water fountain outside Battery and Broadway and hire some models from the Nordstrom rack to talk to their 5000 new reporters.
*I was beginning to like some of KTRB (860 AM 'The Answer') air talent, namely Michael Medved, (who's politics I don't really care for) but he's actually a decent host and interviewer --problem is the station has a deluge of radio ads and right-wing university infomercials that is uber-annoying. Again, what else is new? Nothing.
*Dan Ashley at KGO, my personal favorite #1 anchor; I keep trying to knock the guy but I can't because he's so damn good and convincing. Yes, he really does look like an anchor only thing is there's a lot more upstairs than you think. Cronkite would be proud.
PERSONAL NOTE: This has been an incredibly tough last couple of weeks (in addition to Nov. and December) I've been deliberately vague and coy regarding why I've been absent because I don't want to open a Pandora's box of why and the particulars --it's mostly family and while I'm only human (insert line) and have a hard time dealing with emotional conflict, I didn't really want to go into detail (I'm contradicting myself, I know) Because I've been besieged with "get wells" and "are you ok's?", I thought I owed you guys a tiny explanation. One day perhaps, I'll go into specifics if you give a darn.
In the meantime, again, to all who have wrote, e-mailed, called, Thank You. And to those who have supported this site with their donations (including repeat contributions) I thank you again.
THIS is the truth and it connects Owens' fate and will connect others sooner rather than later.
THIS is the BS that Owens tried his best to spin to a Chronicle lackey. "Host has 'new gig'." Yeah, ten minutes --the same new "gig" they offered to Don Imus who rightfully told them (privately) where they could stuff it.
A few weeks ago I was asked by a broadcast observer here about the status of others --I've used the "nobody is safe" line because truly nobody is safe. Cumulus has loads of debt and they need to trim, trim, and trim so while ratings and numbers are important to hosts who have six-figure compensation, that doesn't mean a whole lot in the chain. The Bankruptcy judge will see to that. And in the case of Cumulus it means first and foremost shedding payroll and becoming leaner (which means more real estate infomercials and less live and local (a joke) content.
So, the main air-talent at KSFO, KNBR, KFOG, and KSAN are breathing a little more harder. Those on the outside may be offered buyouts, if they're lucky. Some major "stars" in the morning or afternoon who probably think they're immune are in immense denial. I'm not going to predict who's next but I will not be surprised if it involves someone big. The Cumulus Media guillotine does not discriminate.
*Larry Beil is respected by his peers but the KGO-TV anchor is disliked by a significant amount of folks at 900 Front. "He thinks he's better then everyone else," says a staffer. Beil has zero personality and tremendous arrogance which is usually not a Disney trait. Maybe he should stop looking in the mirror after each and every news and sportscast.*Classy Cumulus: its way of "respecting" its one-time SFO star of 42 years; a 10-min "report"; crumbs really; yes, I've been critical of Ronn for years but he deserved better: a last show of significance --would it have killed management to allow him a ceremonial program? Sadly, Owens took part in his farewell because, well, you know.
*KCBS is still very good especially when there's breaking news but its new branding of anchors talking silly talk and excessive giggling is annoying and disruptive --if we wanted comedy we'd go somewhere else. We expect and desire NEWS and INFORMATION, including traffic and weather reports, sports too. The new ND should have another meeting.*I'm not being smug I'm just saying that I literally cannot listen anymore to the AM and FM all-sports stations because they truly are both so bad there's nothing worth listening to. Compared to other markets the Bay Area sports radio situation is a broadcast catastrophe.
Add KCBS: Holly Quan, really?
*KRON's "commitment" to news with three consecutive hours of nightly shows would be far more informative if they were actually news shows and not KTEL-like summations.
*Why doesn't KPIX just move their building to Walnut Creek and not beat around the bush? Or they could construct a water fountain outside Battery and Broadway and hire some models from the Nordstrom rack to talk to their 5000 new reporters.
*I was beginning to like some of KTRB (860 AM 'The Answer') air talent, namely Michael Medved, (who's politics I don't really care for) but he's actually a decent host and interviewer --problem is the station has a deluge of radio ads and right-wing university infomercials that is uber-annoying. Again, what else is new? Nothing.*Dan Ashley at KGO, my personal favorite #1 anchor; I keep trying to knock the guy but I can't because he's so damn good and convincing. Yes, he really does look like an anchor only thing is there's a lot more upstairs than you think. Cronkite would be proud.PERSONAL NOTE: This has been an incredibly tough last couple of weeks (in addition to Nov. and December) I've been deliberately vague and coy regarding why I've been absent because I don't want to open a Pandora's box of why and the particulars --it's mostly family and while I'm only human (insert line) and have a hard time dealing with emotional conflict, I didn't really want to go into detail (I'm contradicting myself, I know) Because I've been besieged with "get wells" and "are you ok's?", I thought I owed you guys a tiny explanation. One day perhaps, I'll go into specifics if you give a darn.
In the meantime, again, to all who have wrote, e-mailed, called, Thank You. And to those who have supported this site with their donations (including repeat contributions) I thank you again.
I’m still mad they got rid of Copey. He was way better than Bearman. I tuned in for a few minutes yesterday and heard his daughter on the air. At least she’s better than Ethan’s other sidekick. I feel bad for her though. Went from working with her father to working on a fluff show
ReplyDeleteI heard a laughing sidekick woman on Bearman's show referred to as Carolyn.
DeleteIs that Copie's daughter Carolyn? He mentioned that his daughter still works at KGO.
Both Ronn and Brian Copeland got a bad rap on this blog. Since Ronn's departure I have tried to listen to Ethan, since at the time not much else worth listening to is on. He might interview a political reporter, and that is okay, but the other day, when I tuned in for a few minutes they were talking about Irish Coffee, really. I love Irish Coffee, (Kahlua coffee or Amoretto Coffee even more so) and had my share over the years, but as a talk show topic, it is pretty lame, especially when it just disintegrate into a discussing between the host and producer if they ever had Irish Coffee and/or where, frankly I couldn't pay close attention, found the conversation too boring, and fluff. At least Ronn and Brian talked about REAL subject, and took calls.
DeleteKTRB radio ads...not to mention one for "Relief Factor" every 15 minutes...or so it seems. And the host pretends as though it's part of the subject under discussion. I jump to turn off the radio when that happens.
ReplyDeleteThe Chronicle writer was fooled by Ronn Owens.
ReplyDeleteThat character at the Chronicle did not realize he was being given a con job by Owens.
Especially the story about the Burt Reynolds interview (a complete misrepresentation of the real interview was reported).
When you need a fawning media, simply call the Chronicle.
Liberal media you dare say!
DeleteAt my local coffee shop they used to have free copies of the Chronicle lying around for people to read. No one ever read them. So they stopped subscribing a couple years ago. The manager tells me no one has ever asked why or requested that they start again.
DeleteThe Chronicle is handy if you have a birdcage that needs lining. That's about it.
Hey Rich,
ReplyDeleteWelcome back...
I hope the hard times you are going through soften up some soon. I see more ad space being taking on your site, I hope more local businesses take more ad space.
Thanks again for your great blog.
Do the LL Bean logo'ed jackets of the KRON News fieldreporters bother anyone other than me? I keep wondering if LL Bean gave KRON a break in the price for all the free advertising. Also, Steve Averson has been 'on assignment' the past couple nights at 6 p.m. - does that mean he is a SF Giants announcer?
ReplyDeleteSame as North Face on the KPIX Jackets
DeleteI'm reasonably sure the LL Bean logo jackets are a trade-out. As far as Steve Averson, he needs to be on assignment forever. He's a joke.
DeleteI was wondering where I could get one of those KRON jackets. I would totally sport one courtside at the Warriors game.
DeleteSo is this NFL-like branding now?!? KRON has LL Bean, KPIX has The North Face...does KTVU use Columbia? KGO with Patagonia? KNTV with Eddie Bauer? KQED with REI?!? The possibilities are endless...
DeleteWelcome back Rich. Great post today.
ReplyDeleteEveryone who works for cumulus should be ashamed of themselves. They were part of the Dickey cabal and helped those 2 run laughing into the sunset while creditors are left holding the empty money bags. Who pays for the sins committed by that pathetic "company"?
I hope the judge orders them to sell off every station.
Even KFOG??????
DeleteRich - you can't be pissed at everyone working in Bay Area radio and television, and you can't wish for what was to be here again. The world has changed. Seek out and find alternatives, have something positive in the blog.
ReplyDeleteHope everything works out for you. You do a great job here.
ReplyDeleteLOL to 2:54. There are still many people who won't spend many on Sirius or Pandora or the like; Rich is one of them, as am I (my Kindle can give me music whenever I want). I purposely left Rich alone and not posted, because I remember him mentioning family matters, specifically of the immediate variety. Whenever you can post, Rich, I'll be reading.
ReplyDeleteI hear that LaMont and Tonelli are untouchable at KSAN (1077 The Bone)
ReplyDeleteGood lord are they still around? Who sponsored this trip back to 20 years ago? Do they still have that immigrant fella that basically put them on the map?
DeleteOh! They're touchable if you don't mind a rash.
DeleteI was in LA recently, and in terms of sports radio, I have to disagree about the grass being greener elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteAs bad as most of KNBR can be, it was no better in LA, and in some respects, even worse, based on what I heard on 570 and 710.
Silliness and stupid sound effects might be ok in the morning, but 570 had that during drive time, and Petros, who is ok as a Pac-12 color guy, is awful as a host.
710, which is an ESPN station, was better, but not by much, despite having former players on air.
Both did a lot of talking about anything but the topic at hand.
There may be others I didn't hear, but those two seemed to be the most prevalent, at least in terms of signal.
Speaking of Los Angeles, Jade Hernandez, formerly in the Bay Area, is with ABC7 in LA now and she delivers a wonderfully professional and inciteful on-site report. It was great to see her. again.
DeleteAre 570 and 710 in LA scumulus stations? Probably! Teenaged sounding boys are the only ones allowed on the air with these scumbag owned stations.
DeleteHey EX—The Bay Area sports radio approach is just not working for the market anymore. I wouldn’t go as far as bringing up LA-area stations for comparison. Clearly, it works for that marketplace. When I travel, I think other stations don’t compare to what’s at home but they work. Too bad for the Bay, an embarrassment of riches of content but inadequate hosts.
Deletela sports talk is "man talk" and its boring
DeleteDan had the black suit,the silver shirt and big red handkerchief yesterday. He looked "El Mariachi" about to sing Cielito Lindo,or blast the bad guys. No sombrero but with his silver striped on black hair,it would have been so cool.
ReplyDeleteHappened upon Ronn's 10 minute gig earlier today. I thought 2 things: where is the self respect?? 10 minutes? and what a pleasure not hearing loads of spots.
ReplyDeleteSomeone made Heather Holmes (KTVU) look very blonde the other night. On a report about the CHP officer who had been hit by a DUI driver on Highway 4 recently, she described the hand gesture he was giving in the photo as a "hang loose" sign. It was not. It's the \m/ sign with the index finger and the pinkie finger raised and the thumb holding the two middle fingers in the palm of the hand. It is the hand sign signifying the horns of the devil, and can be interpreted as a rock and roll attitude, particularly heavy metal, first performed by Ronnie James Dio a heavy metal performer. Someone either told her wrong on purpose to make her look dense, or she really is a dumb blonde. I suspect the latter.
ReplyDeleteRich, you just couldn't help but take on last, nasty shot at Ronn Owens, could you?
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with someone putting the most positive "spin" on what has to be a difficult, emotional change -- after 40-some years?
You might take a lesson from Ronn, and carry on, through YOUR woes, with a little grace.
I hope that things improve, for you.
Where was Ronnn in showing grace as he guffawed in delight as his fellow hosts were being marched out the building six years ago? He has not shown grace or humility ever in his professional career.
DeleteExactly, Anon 2:55am. That's when I turned off KGO, for good.
DeleteAgreed 8:38. Rich seems to take pleasure from the misery of others. Its a very toxic way to live life.
Deletewho likes the screaming wx girl on 4?? she screams to show WHAT SHUFFUP WILL YA
ReplyDeleteGreg Papa takes off for weeks at a time, its kinda odd i dont know if he is having some personal problems, they never say, just he is "out".. the alternative is Chris Townsend with Bontay who are both gawd awful, especially Chris who seems to enjoy telling some of the same boring stories he as told before Papa's son is on too and he is annoying playing sound effects and lame music as the producer.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Rich!!! Bravo to guy that posted that LA sports talk as lame as SF. Bravo to you for saying you're done listening to local sports talk. Please start reviewing all the sports talk on Sirius. "Mad Dog" Russo's channel is good but still deseving of your critique and insights. And, there are 7 or 8 other 24/7 sports talk stations.
ReplyDeleteits hilarious that the msm is reporting imus as "retiring". he was canned and i really wish they would stop labeling him a "shock jock"
ReplyDeleteearly in his career, imus was actually talented and creative...you can find his air checks from when he was a top 40 dj all over the net. then he got into drugs and booze and lost it. when stern came over to wnbc, imus was doing canned bits which he would run into the ground and spinning records...he only started talking because of howard.
not sure why you are promoting the answer. as far as i can tell, that station has no ratings. do they ever play local spots? its all reich wing talk by a bunch of hypocrites, the worst being larry elder who is a pay to play republican. this is fact...he registered republican so he could get a syndicated show because he was fired not once, but twice from kabc
larry started off as a big l libertarian, who had no problem attacking people on both sides of the aisle. he now is forced to have on guests who spew the worst conspiracy theories and goes out of his way to cowtow to trump in order to placate his tiny, white racist audience.
Geoff, quit drinking the liberal kool-aid.
Deletegreat retort.
Deletewhere exactly do the bay area trumpists hide?
Take all the time you need, Rich.
ReplyDeleteIt appears there's no more The World According to Gary...yet, I've seen him do regular (for him anyway) sports anchoring, but not in the mornings. Hmmm. Is he heart-broken over Shipp's departure?
Take Care
I concur Stuntman; Townsend and the nasal sounding son of Papa are wretched. The program director must be deaf employing the likes of Bruce, Urban, Philly boy, etc.
ReplyDeleteI like Dan Ashley too. I'm just glad he's finally found a natural looking hair color.
ReplyDelete