KNBR's Ratings a Barbieri Factor?; The Game Drops Further; Thursday Quick Darts

It's not that profound to cause a major concern, but the numbers don't lie and the conclusion from a number of observers is stark: was KNBR's drop in the June book, albeit slightly, a direct result of the Ralph Barbieri firing? A little bit of yes and no.

It's been three months since the Barbieri ouster. While the Razor's Q was beginning to wane, and his detractors were orgasmic that he was booted, the fact remains he was Knibber's top dog. And his supporters have apparently soured on Tom Tolbert in the important PM drive spot, (3-7 PM).

Tolbert has been paired with the insufferable Eric Byrnes, (as an experiment), and has also done the show solo, (which is far superior), although Cumulus is looking for a permanent co-host to dance with Tolbert.

Again, this is a minor blip on the Knibber screen, but given the Giants are thick in the middle of the season, the drop in the overalls, (6+) that don't mean anything to advertisers, but do count in industry talk, is something of a concern to the Hawthorne cluster. And Barbieri's 86 may have been a good reason. After 28 years at an outlet, there has to be some impact on numbers-- I'm hardly a Barbieri fan, but this a logical conclusion.

*Another ratings pointer: Can we all just conclude once and for all for all it's fist-pumping and bravado, the Game, (95.7 FM Sports), has officially flatlined and is stuck in neutral. The personnel maneuvers simply have not registered into the Bay Area sports media domain. That's not only an opinion, but a fact.

The Game's problems, of which their are plenty, are still saddled with a weak link, (the A's are playing better, but don't have the stability nor the fan base) to be the centerpiece of the station. Combine that with a weak signal and rejection of the station's other personality shows and you have the Game's status.

Maybe it's time to draw up a new strategy.

QUICK DARTS:

*Condolences to former longtime KGO producer, Mark Silverman, who's wife passed away suddenly last week.

*The loudmouth TV exec that continues to saunter into the North Beach area and act like a schmuck has a co-pilot. Your "girlie-girl" is easy on the eyes, but the barkeeps are tiring of your act and would like you to keep it down.

*Dennis Constantine: that was one lovely PR boost by your buddy, Ben Fong-Torres, in the pinkie last Sunday. I don't know who came off worse: Constantine, who has the ego the size of Texas, or BFT, who continues his coffee-table press release act every other Sunday.

*Brian Sussman act in three words: "Libs", "great", and "ObamaCare." Genius, no wonder the suits are looking around.

*Greg Papa is on vacation and thus explains his exit from the radio/cable scene--mankind can rest.

*Those insane "Kars4Kids" jingles are backed by A LOT of $$ and provides the main reason as to why you hear them every five minutes.

*So far, Cumulus hasn't officially responded to the Barbieri lawsuit, which should get to the courtroom in about ten years or so---or roughly when the A's move into their new San Jose stadium.

*Speaking of which: the most NON-STORY of 'em all: The continued reporting of a story that ISN'T a story. The A's and MLB and San Jose. Stadium this, stadium that. Giants this , Giants that....You want a story? Here's the story: The A's are STUCK in Oakland whether you, San Jose, like it or not. And yes, the Giants don't want to give up the lucrative Silicon Valley corporate base. And baseball doesn't want to get sued as it no doubt will no matter what decision it makes. Lawsuits tend to take time and therefore, we're stuck in neutral. That's your "story." You're welcome and have a good day.

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*TIPS/Inter-Office Memos/E-Mails: Rich.Lieberman@Gmail.com (All confidentiality assured)

Why Uninteresting Cumulus Air Talent Try To make Uninteresting Cumulus Air Talent Interesting; Sinkovitz to KTVU MO2?; Lowell Cohn's Blogger Son; Thursday Darts

There's a reason why uninteresting people who babble on the Cumulus SF airwaves try to make the other uninteresting dweebleheads sound interesting. To. Get. Paid.

--Hey KGO Radio? Cume: 409,000? There was a time three times that number used to listen to Paul Harvey subs. I mean, 409K? Where's Bungleroth? Having another meeting with Lee Hammer and Paul Hosely to tell the troops that Lew Dickey is having an orgasm over his SF treasure--don't worry about the numbers. And for good measure, here's a $25 gift certificate from SweetJack, go out and buy your girlfriends some frying pans.

--Hey Ronnnnnnnnnn: did you see your numbers? Better fry-up the mattress account. Better yet, maybe you and Jan Wahl can go dutch at Le Central. She's gotta hat for every occasion.

--Tom Sinkovitz would make a great anchor for KTVU's "Mornings on 2". And KTVU agrees. Just a rumor, but one that has teeth.

--Lowell Cohn's son, Grant, managed to piss off a SF 49ers lineman. Good. Next story.

--Why did Dave Morey write to this site to give his take on KFOG?, circa 2012. Because he knows people read this site. For better or worse.

--"Blogger blather", really Ben Fong-Torres? BFT, while you continue to write coffee-table press releases in the Pinkie, I'll stick to the facts. The morning alleged sports host and the betting fools "signed contracts?" See, BFT, those "contracts" are about as valuable as green stamps to a Safeway clerk. Had you managed to call any industry wag, the only contract that counts is a personal-services contract much like Ronnnnnnnnn's.  They are guaranteed and even Ronnnnn has a buyout clause until Jan, 2013. The Radman contract has no guarantee other than his employee has him on a three-year deal with ZERO buyout, ditto the ex-scout who thinks he's Jesus Christ with a microphone.

--Mr. T and "Byrnes": Today on the show, Tommy and Mr. B will give an expose on Metallica; Brynesie will offer a new feature: "How not to touch home plate." and "How I stole $30M from the Ariz. D-Backs and got a job with the SweetJack Sports Giants Network."

--So, Tommie, no leftover Ameci's coupons?

--How's this for an anchor team: Sinkovitz, Dana King, Larry Karnow and Joe Fonzi at 5?

--Kate Scott: Nobody on the western hemisphere can figure it out either other than the fact that she's a woman, shows up on time and is willing to sell SweetJack. We have begun to investigate if she, too, has pictures.

--Mark Dannon and Darya Folsom: God's gift to mankind. Maybe they can both become ball dudes one day.

--KRON managers: People behaving Badly. Still.

--Radnich' new three-year deal with KRON: The same company he refers to as his "Buster Brown" account. Yeah, that'll pay your overhead.

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KRON Doesn't Acknowledge Shannon Death--UPDATED; '10 'Clock News' is Sullied; Mayday Occupy Oakland Coverage Hangover; Thursday Media Notes

Classy of KRON not to acknowledge the passing of one of its most noted broadcasters, commentator Wayne Shannon. Classy move again, Van Nessers, not surprising anymore, because, well, it's KRON. Nary a word on its air, nor a mention on its website. Typical.

**Speaking of Shannon, I wasn't a big fan but I admired the guy's writing. Particularly in a day and a time when the spoken word on TV and radio meant something. Hardly the case these days.

ADD Shannon: Sad too that the local press has largely ignored his passing. He wasn't a huge name, but he was a significant presence in the Bay Area in the 80's and 90's. Shannon also left his mark with political commentary at CNBC before going back to the northwest to live out the rest of his life.

It was obvious at the time Shannon had a significant weight problem. A staffer across town at KGO-TV told me he used to see Shannon scarfing down multiple double-cheeseburgers at the Van Ness Burger King.

Reportedly, at the end, with significant health issues, Shannon told friends that he would "live out the rest of my twilight life at home."  UPDATE: Shannon's death has been ruled a suicide.

**The new "10 0'Clock News" is still one of the best newscasts in the Bay Area and a hallmark franchise for KTVU, but its new format--a cacophony of more stories, headlines, multiple teases and an annoying over-reliance of 'Blair-Witch-Project'-like camera angles has sullied a near-masterpiece local news program.

**The pack mentality once again at work: After May Day coverage of the Occupy incidents in both the city and Oakland, the local TV crews couldn't help themselves giving wanton, irresponsible "live reports" and the proverbial "team coverage" badge to 50-60-odd troublemakers, ( far from the thousands of peaceful demonstrators earlier in the day), who were nothing more than hooligans trying to wreak as much havoc and vandalism on areas of Downtown Oakland. They craved the attention and you  gave it to them. Congratulations, guys and girls.

Sure, demonstrations and video of mayhem are a part of the story. It's unpleasant, but it's news. As in news, not a bunch of a-holes looking to cause problems and spray-paint local businesses. At that point, endless copter shots overhead only sensationalize a story, which in reality is NOT a story anymore. Really, a nuisance that's been given a lease on life with your aiding and abetting, newspeople and editors. It's called news judgement. Look it up every now and then.

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KGOne/KNBR confluence at 55 Hawthorne; SF AFTRA worried; KGO-TV; KSFO; Thursday dish

"The mood has been grim ever since the first round of layoffs. Now that most of the personnel have been moved to 55 Hawthorne, 900 Front feels like a ghost town."


No matter how "cheery" and gleeful the "product" comes off the airwaves, the island of dread known as Cumulitis-central, KGOne, is in the doldrums. The above quote is from a vet staffer who's just trying to trudge along and deal with it, day by day. Unlike others, this person has options, and doesn't have to use the Internet to say how everything is just peachy, (think, someone).


A frightening scenario is looming: Once KGOone leaves the Embarcadero studios and its entire staff relocates to 55 Hawthorne, (where SF Cumulus abounds--KNBR, KFOG, 107.7 FM), KGOne, still a union-run store, has a confluence with non-union, Cumulus stations. Ouch. You want awkward? You got it. About as mushy as the current crappola on the "new 810." 


**The next KGO-TV News Director?  Stephanie Adrouny, a respected, hard-working newsperson, who has mucho support in the newsroom-- still in shock and awe over the departure of Kevin Keeshan. One other potential candidate: Tracy Watkowski.


Note to some of you newbies: KGO-TV is not affiliated with KGOne radio. And they approve of that message.


*Yeah Melanie Morgan, I do listen and did hear you say about a week ago that Mirkarimi "should step down and resign"--I'm delighted both you and the MAN have now urged the Sheriff to "take a leave of absence." Making sense of morning radio, stop the presses.


*Why the hell do I listen to KSFO?, (only in the morning, sporadically), is to hear the MAN doing his strange things, (no such thing as climate change, Obama bad, blah, blah, blah, GOP, great, blah, blah, blah, and yes; trump up obscure, loud, righteous Black conservative guys that say the Democons are evil, blah, blah, blah--it's a guilty pleasure).


And Mel, in spite of your bizarro politics, I still have a feeling you have a twinkle in your eye. You can be funny and cool, and yet be damn grating at the same time. Us damn "libs" have a sense of humor too.


*49ers, rain, 49ers, rain, 49ers rain...and that's the rest of your news week. 


*Damon Bruce is the greatest thing since sliced bread and if you don't know that already, Damon will tell you. Yo, D, take a deep breath for awhile and relax. You're good, but the furniture needs to be replaced, got it? 


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