Channel 2's veteran Sports anchor and its sports director, MARK IBANEZ, is working under an industry term, "at-will" basis. He was ready to sign an extesion back in March; at the time, what was thought to be a routine manuver...until it WASN'T. A series of, until now, undisclosed events took place.
Ibanez, according to a well-placed KTVU source, was LOW-BALLED. What seemed like a mere formailty turned into a charade. Ibanez was steamed and angry. Here's why: Ibanez, knowing that he probabaly wasn't going to get any huge raise, instead, was prepared and willing just to maintain his current deal: at around $330K a-year. Here's the DAMNING part. Ibanez wanted only TWO years and an option. FOX/KTVU wanted a LONGER deal but Ibanez preferred the shorter extension. It wasn't a deal breaker, at least on Ibanez's end.
FOX, however, threw a curve ball. And now, TODAY, while Ibanez is day-to-day, Fox/KTVU sits and waits--Ibanez and his employer are nowhere CLOSE TO A DEAL. Furthermore, The Firm risks LOSING one of their most popular and energetic personalities; a 43-year dedicated air talent and RESPECTED vet in the biz and BAY AREA NATIVE TO BOOT. He's a big GIANTS and 49ers fan having been raised in Petaluma. Ibanez, whose son is autistic, is an ardent fundraiser for the autism affliction and has a charity event in Napa every year.
Ibanez, according to an industry contact, might be willing to work elsewhere. I thought he could end up at KRON a few months back but no formal offer was made. Ibanez would add instantaneous buzz for a station that seeked a new sports anchor and personality. He's 65 but looks younger and is still at the top of his game. Which should push KTVU and Fox to get a new deal done but that's not the case now.
It's always so complicated.
It's really not that complicated. The news director has no vision, no power and no ability to retain talent because there is NO LEADERSHIP. Amber thinks all talent is replaceable and that the audience will never stop watching. The recent numbers say otherwise and the staff is hoping Amber Eikel is replaceable before it's too late and the decades long ratings giant tumbles for good.
ReplyDeleteThey are still #1 in the market
DeleteDid Mark ever date Christine?
Delete"Amber thinks all talent is replaceable and that the audience will never stop watching."
DeleteYou have no idea what Amber thinks and neither do I. Amber thinks what the suits at Fox Central tell her to think, publicly at least. She's a puppet. Fox is calling the shots and they are known to be cheap.
12:04
DeleteCan't argue with you there.
He's fantastic. What a stupid move on the part of Fox and KTVU.
ReplyDeleteMark Ibanez has mailed it in as long as that lazy Gary Radnich, maybe longer. He has the easiest job in the world!
ReplyDeleteWhat constitutes "mailing it in" in your opinion? He still sounds energetic and looks nowhere near his mid 60's. For what his job entails, relaying sports info, I'd say he does a fine job. Radi on the other hand, the final years he was just collecting a check to pay for the 10k brake jobs on the flying B.
DeleteSure, Jan.
DeleteHe gets another face-lift (his 3rd) and he can work until he's 70.
DeleteAnd I guess management refused to give him a TICKET TO RIDE!
DeleteBut the question still persists...where is Dennis O'Donnell?
DeleteJoe Fonzi was the best sports guy KTVU ever had.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened with Joe Fonzi?
DeleteHe jumped the shark. And then he wiped out into Arnold's food stand. What a mess!
DeleteProof that people are NOT watching KTVU anymore - Joe Fonzi is still currently on air there LOL
DeleteThe industry has changed. There's literally no place anymore for highly-paid talking heads when they can get a kid from Fresno State to do the same thing and the ratings won't drop. Almost everybody gets their sports (and the rest of their news) from their phones anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe age of the Big Ticket Anchor has ended. Too bad so many of the fossils still in the trenches today don't recognize that fact.
How long until we have a bunch of women showing off their tits and cleavage with their bodies on full display in tight fitting dresses like the Spanish channels do?
DeleteArriba! Andale Ándale!
The station should offer him half of his current inflated salary. Otherwise, hasta la vista. He and the others are completely replaceable.
ReplyDeleteMark is a nice guy, but I bet he talks about sports all the time and would do this for free to anyone who would listen. I have already changed the station during the weather.
ReplyDeleteI change the station at weather if it's Bill "Babble" Martin. If it's Kyla I stay. She's the only one there doing weather who's worth a damn. Easy on the eyes, too.
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ReplyDeleteBut what’s he doing having lunch with all the hot Iranian interns!!!!
ReplyDeleteIf he's 65, then when did he start there I heard him say he got hired right out of college and they made a big deal of him being there over 40 years.
ReplyDeleteHoly lord how am I going to be able to sleep tonight knowing he doesn't have a contract!
ReplyDeleteHe is replaceable. I highly doubt anyone reading this website specifically watches KTVU for Mark Ibanez. He reads and reports sports highlights. There is nothing special about what he does, does not have any gimmick or special 'must-see' item. Nothing too grand about him. Oh, and he'll host some pre or post game show. Again, nothing special. Joe Six Pack is not saying he has to watch Ibanez to see what the A's are doing. Ibanez is part of old TV. The only thing relevant on TV is live sports and that is fading fast with individualized streaming services and games on YouTube or direct from the sports organization. The news service local news provides is pathetic. The stories are often done so fast they are fraught with errors and of little substance. The stories offer no relevance to most who see it. TV news, like TV itself, has become background noise and part of a habit of having on while doing other things. Goodbye Ibanez and all the other high paid, ego-filled, local TV personalities.
ReplyDeleteBefore the advent of the internet, media folks had leverage. Now that you can get whatever you need from apps and websites as soon as the media does, it's not important to hear from the Mark Ibanez types anymore. He had a good run, time to retire!
DeleteThe stink of testosterone is everywhere. All you grown men who still parade around in jerseys obsessing about "your teams", quoting stats about how well some guy dribbles a ball or scores a run. And then you obsess as much about some dumb guys who talk about it all day and night? Jesus H. Christ on a Cracker, grow the fuck up. You're all a bunch of little boys.
ReplyDeleteYou're rather sexist. Quite a few women are sports fans too, in fact 40 percent of NFL fans are women. So there!
DeleteIbanez is a brilliant broadcaster who knows his stuff, doesn't read from a teleprompter and genuinely cares about the bay area. All of you deserve the 22 year old garbage from Bakersfield that Amber Eikel will replace him with just like she's done to KTVUs reporting staff. Damn shame. Elevator ride to the basement.
ReplyDeleteMark Ibanez has a red tomato face and chuckles everytime he makes a comment. Anytime a Bay Area team loses he lets out a sigh of relief like he jut blew a load, calm down Markie Mark. He literally just sees what's trending on twitter and makes that part of his 5 minute clip. No preparation, no analsysis. I can't believe he gets paid more than 100k.
ReplyDeleteArmchair Critic = Guy who could never get paid to talk about sports
DeleteSo sorry Bitter Barney. Better luck in your next life!.
Both of you are Sportz Clowns. Grow up, little boys.
DeleteHe and Dennis O'Donnell will swap spots.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait 55 minutes just to watch Check This Out from Ibanez's rec room.
ReplyDeleteIt is not appointment television.
I've watched and liked Ibanez and most everyone at channel 2 for 5 decades. Heads above the other local news stations. Ibanez is passionate and knowledgeable, and has a great delivery. I wish him well.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've never been and never will be a San Scumcisco 49ers fan and am not a fan of the Giants, Warriors or Sharks, neither, I have to say that Mark Ibanez always brought a good energy to the broadcast and that's to be respected. I can't think of a Bay Area sportscaster who is or was better at their job than Mark was at his. I wish him well.
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