Jason Brooks Droning at KCBS; 30 Rock Wants Raj Mathai But They'll Have to Wait; Ken Wayne KRON Experiment Not So Smooth; 415 Media Friday

Jason Brooks

HE JUST KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING...Nobody doubts the business expertise of KCBS money reporter, Jason Brooks. He's on top of it from early morning to late afternoon.

But the voice. The vanilla monotony that dulls the senses. Yes, I'm getting personal, of course I am.

Brooks' voice drones on and on almost like a robotic bot that sounds almost computer-like. Brooks doesn't have to sound hysterical; he's positively blase. But it would be wise of him to pick it up a notch and get away from the monotone buzz switch. It's downer-central. And I'm being kind.


*Speaking of KCBS, their morning cacophony of ENDLESS commercial spots has begun to cause ear aches. It's especially evident after the prolific traffic reports where four-minute clusters of continuous ads borders on obnoxious. Sure, you have to pay the bills but this form of commercial spot overkill amounts to greed personified.

*Once again the rumor mill has heated up over the status of lead NBC Bay Area anchor, Raj Mathai, as the 30 Rock News folks are hot on the trail of Mathai who seems pretty much set to remain in the Bay Area and San Jose specifically. But while his partner, Jessica Aguirre, is working without a long-term contract, Mathai not only signed a long-term extension, but one which had several zeros in it and makes Raj near the territory of Frank Somerville at KTVU and Dan Ashley at KGO.. (The latter nearing his own extension which could make him the undisputed salary king of Bay Area TV News) And well deserved.

Raj Mathai with wife and newest family member

Mathai seems to me to not want any part of NY even if it means working in Manhattan amping up his career, which it most certainly would. Mathai has a growing family and is quite settled down in the South Bay. A network gig might be prestigious now but Mathai could wait until his kids get older and then migrate to the east. Then, the money will be even better and his family situation is more ready for the move to Gotham.

Ken Wayne

*Nearing a year with KRON, Ken Wayne's migration to the albatross station hasn't produced any iota of buzz whatsoever, in fact, ratings are pretty much stagnant. Wayne left KTVU when they didn't offer him a contract extension (and took a massive pay cut). Seems his gig at KRON would be more conducive for the soft-spoken Wayne but that's not the case.

Wayne is a steadying anchor, for sure, but excitement is not his greatest virtue. He makes departed Steve Aveson look like a relative Ron Burgundy.

Major Decisions Loom at Bay Area TV News Stations; Bastida Future Murky at KPIX; Ashley Extension KGO Front Burner; Goodrich MVP Invites Intriguing Speculation; Pam Moore is Looking Around (Sort of) at KRON; KTVU Doom and Gloom; Holmes and Haener: Would Anyone Care or Notice If they Left? Overrated Nothing Yenta, Kate Scott; Cover For Bay Area Sports Horny Male Media Pugs; Thursday Rundown

BIG DECISIONS LOOM for some Bay Area TV News stations; among them...

* At KPIX, there are a myriad of issues on the plate; the uncertainty; the chaos; the lack of viewing numbers in the morning; those are just trivial in comparison to the future of longtime, Bay Area native and evening anchor, Ken Bastida.

Bastida's status at PIX remains murky at best. He has been at 855 Battery for almost three decades but time has not been gracious to the veteran news reader. Bastida is just average on most nights and when he's not average he can be painful to watch; ad-libbing was never his biggest strongpoint and now, he's almost embarrassingly inadequate. Moreover, CBS isn't in the mood for paying going rate for mid-to-high market money for a guy late in his prime and whose "it" factor long ago left the news screen. In other words, Bastida doesn't generate the buzz he used to albeit in an industry that doesn't possess the status it once held either. That said, local TV News, here and beyond, still garners significant revenue even with declining viewership.

Ken Bastida: future murky at KPIX

Bastida makes in the mid $500K range, a significant number even today and is under contract until the end of the year. Word is that he might be tempted to take a company buyout and retire. I don't think CBS would extend him such kind of money and even if they did he'd most likely have to take a significant pay cut.

We should know sooner rather then later.

*KGO-TV management hasn't officially begun negotiations with ace veteran news anchor and star reader, Dan Ashley, in spite of his impending contract closure next year. By all indications, a deal will get done simply because KGO needs Ashley more then Ashley needs KGO. That doesn't mean a deal is front and center on the plate of the big suits at ABC7 but it should be. KGO can't afford another Carolyn Johnson embarrassment and lose one of its most valuable anchors. The Johnson loss still haunts KGO today and losing Ashley, who has offers on the table from back east outlets, could make for another departure and leave the ABC O and O in dark waters.

Dan Ashley: new contract looming at KGO

This much is certain: Ashley, according to sources at 900 Front wants to remain in the Bay Area. He has family here and is comfortable. On some days, he works an astounding 5 shows a night (4,5,6, 9, and 11 PM) He is an extremely hard worker and the face of ABC7. He is mostly well-liked and admired by his peers. He is the highest-paid anchor in the Bay Area and deservedly so. And deservedly so, he would like to be paid in accordance with that status. Disney is not known for lavishing big bucks to even its most prized talent even someone in a larger market but Ashley might be the exception. I've heard a three-year extension somewhere north or south of $2M is destined to be offered to Ashley, probably with a few option years. That sounds just about right.

Pam Moore

*Mass confusion at KRON: what else is new? Plus, rumors are very strong about Pam Moore leaving and looking for suitors. Moore, my contacts tell me, is still quite comfortable at the lowly albatross in spite of significant departures by key personnel including EPs and anchors like Gary Radnich and Stanley Roberts. Those are not earthshaking developments and the station is not going to hemorrhage but whatever star appeal KRON possessed, it has lost two of its most popular air talents (although with Radnich, it was KRON MGT that gave Raddy an ultimatum he rejected and was summarily dismissed)

Moore could be a valuable asset for someone like a KNTV (maybe) or more prominently, KTVU, which ironically allowed Ken Wayne to trudge to KRON. Moore has a strong Bay Area identity especially with women and women of color at that. She makes in the neighborhood of $300K a-year. She's not actively working the negotiation trail with others but she's made it know through friends that she would definitely listen to offers. Stay tuned.

Juliette Goodrich: MVP of Bay Area TV News

*MVP on the loose and could be had for the right money: PIX's underrated Juliette Goodrich is quite comfortable reading news on the anchor desk during the weekend and reporting in the field during the week. That said, she is too valuable a commodity in her current role. KPIX seems to take her for granted and I wouldn't be surprised if someone out of the blue swooped in and offered Goodrich a primetime anchor weekday shift. Goodrich is not just a pretty face; she's a damned good news reader and commands the screen. She could easily be a #1 anchor in LA or NY but she has kids here and doesn't want to leave the Bay Area. That said, a Goodrich departure from PIX would not surprise me because she's simply too good to be wasted on the weekend. Watch this closely.

Holmes (l) and Haener

*KTVU staff manning the daytime computers resenting 415 Media could be better spent laying out the various 4-5 thousand grievances on display (and not on display) at Fox-owned Channel 2 which seems to have a new controversy everyday. The station with revolving anchors and out-of-place reporters somehow, to their credit, carry on in an environment that at best could be called troublesome. There is no mojo at KTVU; there is quite a bit of uncertainty and weary staffers afraid of a management that rules by intimidation and force. (Just the other day, an intern was read the riot act and screamed at in the newsroom because the person was a minute late on getting info from an email to the assignment desk) YOU WANT TO SEE GLOOM? Take a look at KTVU anchors especially at night. Frank Somerville is sullen because he has a bevy of issues off the scenes and is trying his best to squelch rumors; Bill Martin can't wait to leave the station at night and become a kid at Disneyland when he's in his car leaving. Watch him forecast, you'll see. Mark Ibanez just recently signed a three-year extension in March but is sick to death when he enters the studio and reads the sports copy. Julie Haener has now been exposed for the lightweight she is as serving as Somerville's gossip-filled caddy who couldn't ad-lib if her life depended on it. Heather Holmes continues to advance the miniskirt doctrine and shout "hey, I know I'm big here and although I'm sort of out of place, find me a home. Somewhere! Anywhere!"

Holmes and Haener could just as soon be senior saleswomen at the Macys cosmetics counter where they would be more valuable. Shocking? Harsh? You want the truth and you got it. Feel otherwise? Ask yourself this question: if BOTH Holmes and Haener were to vacate KTVU would anyone notice? Would anyone care? I rest my case.

*That angry KCBS sports anchor at night went berserk when he failed to get his copy ready for the 8: 15 sports update. Good news: less of him means peace in the neighborhood hell he SCREAMS every time he reports.

Karma is a bitch: if the guy stopped talking behind people's back (including yours truly) these things may not take place.

*KGO Radio: talk about uncertainty. There is no formal plan evident yet. Same old tired format --basically, they've punted any concrete new idea and haven't a clue as to what they wanna do which is par for the course.

Still trying to find out the ID of the lame brain ditz that turned down a Bob Woodward phone interview.

*Someone at night at KNBR supposedly got the heave-ho which is good news for Uber --more drivers. Maybe had he cut the "what-up" shit he'd be getting his $15 an hour.

*Kristen Sze: so much potential; so much looming large; a mini, bigger-than-market woman; KGO royalty. Sad now because so much is lost. Practice what you preach. Don't offer the world and produce Melba toast. Without any butter no less.

*"I'm Julie Chen-Moonves." Yeah, I'm sure money has not an iota to do with that.

The GAAS! (l) and Alyana Gomez

*Alyana Gomez and GAASian Mikaelian: birds of a feather...

*There's a rumor at KTVU that Gasia would host the new morning quiz show, "Chirping for dollars." I'm kidding of course but these days, why the hell not?

*Tough night on the street for Amber Lee who actually did her report without looking at notes. Praise the Lord!

*Melanie Woodrow Update: she hasn't stalked any man as of this writing.

*Dennis O'Donnell: Akron is waiting.

*A famous PR woman (she requested anonymity via email) went to KTVU to drop off a packet to one of the station's more higher profile female reporters: PR woman tells me she was flabbergasted when said woman blurted out, "you don't know my name?" Take a wild guess who. Think ex-KGO temptress. Bingo.

*Roberta Gonzales: hey, I'm not the one who posted a picture of myself on social media! And besides, there was nothing wrong with that photo, just all your ass' warped sense of humor so don't give me shit, take a cold shower too.

*Randy Hahn: priceless.

*Duane Kuiper: massively overrated.

*Ray Fosse: too much homer stuff beginning to sound like Monte Moore's ghost. More Dallas Braden, less 'Foss.

Randy Hahn

*Chris Townsend: lucky to have family money as a back-up.

*Brent Musburger: horndog with a microphone; perfect for Vegas. Just keep him away from the cheerleaders.

*Ted Robinson: I like and appreciate steady over fake theatrics.

*Larry Krueger: the guy is such a poser plus talks out of both sides of his mouth.

Kate Scott: just why?

*Kate Scott: a nothing-burger with mayo and butter on the seedless bun. What a complete waste of time; she gets points though for exploiting the horny sports guys who she gives cover to: "Gees, she's hot!, she's blond!, she's even gay!" Let's kiss her ass because, well, we have to.

Scott would be better served being the day waitress at a Ruth's Chris, I'll say it again: she adds NOTHING to a broadcast. She is vanilla pudding. She is Wonder Bread with a capital W and she exudes about as much interest as week-old toe fungus.

She's lucky to have enablers like Bruce Jenkins wax poetically about her "greatness", whatever the hell that is and is proof positive of a PC world run amok.

She'd be barely passable in Bakersfield. Wait a minute!

You want the truth, you got the truth.

Now put on a happy face.

KGO-TV And KTVU: Anchor Cohesion Leads To Viewer Bond; Ashley/Daetz; Somerville/Haener Lead The Way; How Did KGO's Barnard Scoop The Locals With Jailhouse Interview; Sunday Media Nuggets

 FACE OF THE STATION--or faces of the station. The TEAM. At KGO-TV, it's Dan Ashley and Ama Daetz. The two have been working along side one another for over a year now and it's no coincidence that KGO dominates the evening news ratings and even more so at 11 PM.


I've grown to really like Ashley and Daetz, more to the point I like their all-important chemistry. The two look so natural and well-paired together you'd think they'd been working together for years.


Especially impressive is the fact that after the sudden departure of Carolyn Johnson to LA, many industry types predicted KGO would tank after losing one of its most popular and respected news anchors.


In fact, the transition has been smooth and orderly and the two have developed a genuine bond; something viewers have grown accustomed to and come to appreciate. The numbers don't lie.


If nothing else, Ashley, (who recently re-upped) and Daetz are recognizable as KGO's face. There's no revolving door of different people other than the off-hour newscasts. That's an important asset in local TV News.


The same situation exists at KTVU with Frank Somerville and Julie Haener on the still-vaunted "10 O'clock News," KTVU's most valued franchise and the heart and soul of its nighttime content. Certainly when you think Channel 2 (excuse me, FOX2) you think Somerville and Haener. They've been at it multiple years. And while early on, the new, Fox-infused happy talk has been front and center, KTVU continues to shine at 10 PM and a good reason why is Somerville and Haener guiding the ship. Smooth sailing.


Familiarity and identity make up key ingredients to viewer loyalty. While other stations tweak this and that; have revolving-door anchors; create confusion and offer up mixed personnel, KTVU and KGO stay the course. That seems to work well for the long term.


*That exclusive jailhouse interview scooped up by KGO's Cornell Barnard has been the talk of the town among news execs and industry people in the city. Most common question: How'd he get it? The answer is remarkably simple, according to one of my KGO spies: "He simply went to the HOJ (Hall of Justice) press office and asked if he could interview the inmate and the inmate said, "OK." Imagine that, good, hard-working journalism in action. Or like in sales, if you never ask for the sale you won't get the business.


*Most overrated anchor ever, hands down: Wendy Tokuda.


*Most underrated anchor ever, hands down: Anna Chavez.


*OK, I'm taking off the gloves: I know FOX2 has a brand to sell, I get it, but the ridiculous "WeatherAUTHORITY" logo looks stupid and reeks of gimmick-central. The FOX people should know that the Bay Area market doesn't exactly warm to visual misfits like that, get rid of it immediately.


*Yeah, it's not just you: Rosemary Orozco has been getting a lot of face time at 10 PM and it's not only because Bill Martin takes days off and vacation. Pretty simple: Orozco is prettier than Martin.


*Dear Gregg Kelley, GM, KTVU: You got a real bad union issue with your photographers. Fix it. And, oh, by the way, notice the excess amount of glitches on newscasts lately? Coincidence? Perhaps, you be the judge.


*Lyanne Melendez: A little too smart. That's from a few of your co-workers. Frankly, I don't give a damn.


*The new weather chick at KRON has begun to receive the nightly wrath of Raddy and isn't exactly warming up to the shit which partly explains why KRON goes through weather women like I go through the lamb shanks at Tommy's Joynt.


*Speaking of STUPID: "GAAAAAAME ONNNN!"--Oh please, shut the hell up.


*And to the main sports guy at PIX: if you're going to take her (not your wife) for a drink it might be best to go to a place off the beaten path --your wife aside, how dumb can you be. GAAAAAME OFFF!


*Dear VLDC: Please, enough with the hair! Find a constant, girl, and stick with it. TRENDING!!


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415 Media Exclu: Dan Ashley Re-Ups At KGO-TV 'For Many Years To Come'

 Veteran KGO-TV (ABC7) lead weeknight anchor, Dan Ashley, has signed a "long-term" contract extension that will keep the twenty-year veteran at the ABC O and O for "many years to come", according to a reliable SF broadcast source.

Ashley has been a stalwart for KGO's pm news blocks anchoring the 5, 6, 9 (on KOFY) and 11 PM newscasts.

Reached by phone, Ashley refused comment but his re-up was, according to the source, finalized last week and an official announcement from KGO should be coming any day now.

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KGO-TV, Channel 7, Circle 7, SF Anchors

'What Really Matters' Provides Welcome Respite From Usual TV News Minutiae; ABC7's Ashley Sets Right Tone In Commentaries

 ABC7 chief news anchor, Dan Ashley, is doing something fairly noble these days--a little old-fashioned commentary at the end of various newscasts.

"What Really Matters"--it's about two minutes --usually an anecdote about something in the daily news; an observation; analysis; god forbid, and I mean this in a good way, an opinion or two.

It's a human touch you don't see much in today's world of homogenized local TV News which tends to skew formulaic and without passion most of the time. I don't care for that and I'd bet most of you would tend to agree with me.

Ashley's commentaries remind me a lot of the late Jerry Jensen, also a KGO anchor, who ended each newscast with a similar type of presentation. Like Ashley, most stories weren't sappy nor righteous, set a proper tone and provided much-needed laughter and levity. When a subject matter was serious the issue was presented in the right context. Of course, they weren't all good but what is?

Here's hoping Ashley continues to do more of these--they are welcome and most appreciated.

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What KGO-TV's Dan Ashley Told Me He's Having for Dinner Tonight

 I just asked KGO-TV lead anchor Dan Ashley what he's having for dinner tonight:


We can't get enough leafy greens in our diet you know so I'm going with a big salad, that's it. My father has always been disappointed that I'm not out at some fancy restaurant at dinner but with my schedule there's just no time!




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Bay Area TV Power Anchor Selfie: KGO's Ashley and Daetz

 One of the more underrated dynamic duos in Bay Area TV worth all your time and attention: KGO's Dan Ashley and Ama Daetz.


Power selfie.




















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I Bet You Didn't Know that Dan Ashley was really Tom Petty

 What, you didn't know? Seriously, this is the place for real Insider knowledge.


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KRON GM and ND Turmoil; KGO's Ashley and Johnson Top of the Heap; Saturday Media Notes

Quick Saturday Media Notes...

The recent dust-up over at KRON only reinforces the obvious: GM, Brian Greif and News Director, Aaron Pero, don't see eye-to-eye.

One thing's for sure: Pero and his open temper tantrums and yelling and screaming at some staffers may have taken its toll. Very few of the newsroom people like him and questioned his peculiar outbursts. One of those outbursts left one popular KRON personality coming outside his office in tears.

Greif has his own set of allies and enemies but he's at least lent some sanity and stability to a TV station that desperately needs it. KRON still has its issues; always will, given its plunge from NBC days and now semi-albatross status. But it has a vastly-improved news product and it routinely beats KTVU's newscasts in the early evening.

Expect Greif and Pero to patch things up, at least covertly; but let it be known that they don't like each other, that much is true.

*Best news anchor team in Bay Area, hands down: KGO-TV's Dan Ashley and Carolyn Johnson.

Ashley and Johnson, it's clear, have developed a superb chemistry and it's evident. Both have been at the ABC o and o for over two decades and trust one another. It shows. There is a bond there that allows for a smooth delivery by both, no-nonsense approach, and just enough off-story give-and-take that provides for a quality newscast.

KGO-TV's Ashley gets White House 'Exclu' with Obama, (Sort of)

Dan Ashley, lead anchor at KGO-TV, (ABC7), was in Washington last week and got an exclu with the President.

Sort of.

The White House made Mr. Obama available for five minutes with an assortment of local TV stations across the nation. One of those that made the cut was KGO-TV, presumably because the White House wanted to give some love to a big station on the West Coast, (among others).

With barely five or so minutes, you can't ask a lot of questions. Even tough questions.

My friend, Mike James, editor of Newsblues, (paywall), gave a little ribbing to Ashley's interview:

"Ashley asked Obama about playing golf with Tiger Woods last weekend. "He plays a different game than I do. He's on another planet," said the president.
 
Proof positive that local news anchors CAN ask the tough questions."

To be fair, these local stations that make the WH cut, are in a mostly controlled environment. In that respect, it's difficult to imagine that Ashley had any chance to offer something more substantive. He did ask Obama about Prop 8, (the same-sex marriage act that the Supreme Court will rule on in June) and the possibility of a sequester budget.

And keep in mind that had Ashley tried to go Mike Wallace on the POTUS, I'm sure he and KGO probably would have been on the future WH cut list.

It's a local TV-news catch-22 deluxe: you get a coveted interview with the President and sure, you'd like to be able to ask a few pointed questions that don't appear to be too cushy; in that respect, I think Ashley did about as well as could be expected.

In any event, KGO got the gig.

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