The CORE4 at KTVU: Frank Somerville (gone); Bill Martin (leaving any day; good riddance); Julie Haener (still there, barely); and an imminent departure of Mark Ibanez on the horizon.
THE LATEST on Ibanez: sources close to Ibanez say the 43-year veteran sports anchor is resigned to LEAVING KTVU. He's not retiring--in fact, he's looking to anchor from another station and he should have plenty of suitors. (More on that later)
Ibanez has been working without a contract for nearly a year. His contract was up last March and industry talk was that he'd get an extension--with Fox and him making a deal--it's been on the back-burner for a few months now and no negotiations have taken place. KTVU brass, said a source, were said to want to hold off on talks until after the football season but they also were said to wanting to deal directly after the new year. It hasn't happened and now Ibanez is resolute to exploring other options.
Ibanez could draw interest from the following:
*KPIX --with the likely uncertain status of Dennis O'Donnell, PIX could use a LEAD sports anchor.
*NBC Sports Bay Area (KNTV) --they still don't have a name over-air sports anchor and have the means to get one. Ibanez has both the name and style.
*KTVU: this should be an easy decision; Fox and KTVU could just give Ibanez a new three-year extension, it could be so easy. Instead, they're playing games.
Hard to imagine someone who lives in Napa taking a job in San Jose. It's easier to commute to Sacramento.
ReplyDeleteI was about to type that. He's not going to San Jose. Zero chance.
DeleteYou don't think he's going to work from "The Vinyl Room"?
DeleteKNTV/NBC isn't going to let him do the Vinyl Room thing. KTVU is the only scardy cats that won't let their staff work in the building. Fox would be morons in losing one of their big ratings draw. Chip away at that legacy station, channel 2 bosses.
DeleteKTVU is nuts. I really think Amber Eikel is getting a paycheck from another network to bring KTVU down. Letting Ibanez go would be very dumb. But honestly, I don't blame him if he leaves.
ReplyDeleteKnowing Fox, as long as she holds the costs down, Amber is doing fine. All they care about is cheap. That's really all that matters.
DeleteThey probably want him to take a pay cut. Ibanez, reasonably, probably doesn't want to accept a pay cut -- like anyone he'd likely prefer a raise, and likely he would settle for holding at his current salary. Why should he take a pay cut? He's at the top of his game. From Ibanez's perspective this would seem reasonable; from Fox Corporate perspective, they require a cost reduction, period. Impasse with a pretty big gulf.
ReplyDeleteOnly if the other stations are willing to match 2. Everyone might be a cost reduction
DeleteIt's KPIX, absolutely. He'll move the needle, at a time they really need that. And perhaps he can bring Ryan along on his coattails. They really need that too. Who knew that Liz would become the veteran anchor there, so soon...
ReplyDeleteGive the man credit he looks like he’s 43 years old. I’m glad Ibanez is holding firm. I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities for him if the dunces at KTVU manage to BUNGLE yet another situation.
ReplyDeleteI would be okay with Ibanez or any TV sports reporter IF they did any actual original reporting or journalism. But all they do is show highlights or give their opinions after a game. There is no storytelling, no insight, and very few interviews with current players beyond the post-game stuff that everybody gets. As it is, local TV sports can be done by anyone. Bring in a Bakersfield, fresh out of college person. Fine by me.
ReplyDeleteKTVU makes you wait 55 minutes to watch two minutes of sports coverage. I never understood that.l
ReplyDeleteAnd he gets cut off at the end of the broadcast 2-3 nights a week!
DeleteJulie Haener is STILL THERE!??! OH WELL I guess she fits the fox image. Blonde is the only prerequisite.
ReplyDelete