The Latest on KGO Morning Diva Natasha Zouves; Recovering from Hair Mousse Fall and Contemplating Legal Action Against KGO/Disney; Castro MIA Probably $-Related; Deanno Talks at KPIX Still On-Going; He Wants More Dough; Darya Folsom Still Embarrassing KRON; Papa Will Make Adjustment to New Niners Gig; Rothmann/Owens Spiral Down at KGO Radio; Hot Rumor: 'Toonces, The Driving Cat' New PD? Friday Feast

Natasha Zouves

I WAS THE FIRST to tell you what went down with Natasha Zouves at KGO-TV. She's been home recovering from her hair goo slippage and planning a return to her Southern California roots. She's still on the mend and playing footsy about her status.

I e-mailed her and asked what was happening (giving her a chance to formally respond) and she said virtually nothing. I expected that. Remember, she might not be ready for primetime. Furthermore, she's no favorite in the newsroom either.

Here's another whammy: while she's essentially gone from KGO she has pondered a worker's comp suit against Circle7 and ABC; that would complicate her next gig in LA but don't rule out anything.

CASTRO MIA BUT...

Meanwhile, Jessica Castro, who's been filling in for Zouves has not been on the air since January 10 and no one at KGO seems to know why.

Jessica Castro

I have a source who speculates that Castro is pissed off at her paltry salary compensation (low six figures) and placement in the KGO morning presence. Castro can pout all she wants; she doesn't have any leverage and she knew full well that Disney (which owns ABC) doesn't pay their 4th-tier anchors any decent money. So too Zouves which might explain why she's considering suing the company.

DEANNO TALKS CONTINUE

My report about KPIX wanting to try weather guy, Paul Deanno in a hybrid news/weather gig is still in talks stage but if that venture would to emerge, Deanno wants to be paid more money. It figures that CBS would take care of Deanno if he performed both as a news anchor and weather talent. Especially if that were to include his presence in the evening.

Brian Hackney does the same job but on the weekend and doesn't get any added money. Then again, Hackney is way down the totem pole at PIX working on the cheap and has been downgraded for years. He might be viewed as bright and engaging but he's a virtual retread at 855 Battery.

Paul Deanno

Deanno is seen as an emerging presence on news; if that's the case (and I agree) then why not just 86 him from weather and make him a full-time anchor on news alone. Which seems to be what Deanno might be inferring --here's a rumor: Deanno replaces the forever bitter-beer-face-looking, Alan Martin.

*IT HAS BEEN SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN, but bears repeating every so often: Darya Folsom continues to EMBARRASS KRON. Sure, KRON has a lot to be embarrassed about but Folsom's continuing circus show in the morning is a sad ass spectacle; she has no shame; she doesn't give a damn about what almost everyone else thinks and she KILLS whatever credibility KRON has by her BS presence on its morning news.

Darya Folsom performing journalism on KRON morning

If KRON brass thinks she helps the ratings, they're sadly mistaken. She's in actuality a detriment to the operation and nobody looks at her anymore nor takes her seriously. She's a nothing; a nobody and her boobs have been a non-story for years. The only BOOB that thinks she still got it is her boyfriend/slave master/schophant, Aaron Pero, the News Director that keeps  job because he possesses state secrets and has compromising pictures in a local bank safe. I'm joking on the latter but who knows.

THIS AND THAT

*New 49ers PBP broadcaster, Greg Papa, is great on radio and I like his 95.7FM 'The Game' takes, but it's questionable he'll stay on that show once football season starts; I can't imagine The Game allowing a rival (KNBR) talent on their air but it's just a guess.

Greg Papa

An analysis on Papa doing 49ers: the professional and talented Papa will make the adjustment to broadcasting Niners' football and easy one. Over the years, I've been critical of Papa but I've never questioned his broadcast ability and football acumen. He's damn good. His pivot to the 49ers from twenty years with the Raiders will be unusual and jarring at first but eventually people will get used to his play-by-play. Probably more an adjustment for Niners' fans then Raiders' rooters.

*Speaking of the Raiders while the world awaits their home (before Vegas) next year, where will they be on radio? Hardly a word. They will NOT be on KCBS that's for sure.

*Internal issues galore and a plethora of turmoil inside their respective newsrooms: KTVU and KGO-TV.

*If and when KGO Radio has a new/latest 2019 iteration, both John Rothmann and hanger-on, Ronn Owens will not have any role. Owens has been drifting away on the horrifically awful, "Ronn Owens Report" and Rothmann, whose stock has continued a steady spiral downward has been told he'll have no position there, only as a perpetual fill-in, if at all.

Meanwhile, a HOT RUMOR!! New KGO Radio PD? Hard to believe but word on the street is the PD will be Toonces, The Driving Cat! Wow, now that's some extraordinary depth by the fearless kitty!

Toonces the Driving Cat

Lame Duck Raiders Bad Business for Entercom; 'The Game' (95.7 FM Sports); Gruden Doesn't Do Weekly Show with Damon Bruce Who Is Pretty Pissed Off; With A's Leaving, The Game Has Little Game; Wednesday Sports 415 Media Schmooze

 SPORTS RADIO is quite lucrative to the station because sports in general is huge; big business jock radio dominates the media landscape even if you're not inclined to follow sports; that said, the revenue streams that are generated make gargantuan globs of money for local and national outlets.

The Giants are healthy money makers for KNBR and Cumulus even if the team stinks; they drive the car and butter the bread; so to, the 49ers. Relationships are vital to the cog that brings in the big dough; the GM; the star players and non-star players do frequent interviews on their respective flagship station. KNBR relies on its weekly chat with Kyle Shanahan, 49ers coach; John Lynch; its GM also does the talk circuit. Teams around the league and their home stations have similar relationships. It's called business and it benefits both.

Except for the Raiders and Entercom and its stations; KCBS (all news and carrier of Raiders' football games on Sunday) and 95.7 FM (The Game)

Jon Gruden, that coach racking up the big money (at $10M a year for 10 years) doesn't do a Monday call-in show with PM drive host, Damon Bruce even though he's contractually obligated; by extension, so too the Raiders. It's to the point now that Bruce routinely rips Gruden and the Raiders about this situation --I don't know if that's good business to air your dirty laundry but I applaud Bruce for being honest because the Raiders, even in good times, are absolutely the WORST sports franchise in the world to conduct business with; Entercom and its minions are experiencing this for the first time and are both embarrassed and royally ticked off.

Beyond the obvious discomfort is the fact that the Raiders horrific act on and off the field is bad business for their broadcast partner; try to sell Raiders' football now when the team is one foot out the door in Oakland and headed to Las Vegas probably next year (playing in a college stadium when the new one will be ready, maybe, in 2020).

Damon Bruce

Gruden doesn't do any shows. The worst part is the Raiders organization doesn't care and almost flaunts its giddiness --some things will never change.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE...

"The Game:" has a lame duck Raiders and a soon-departed Oakland A's who will leave its flagship come 2019. As Susan Slusser of the Chronicle reported the A's will be on a more franchise-friendly station --maybe KFRC if they can buy the current religious station; or snatch up some AM or FM outlet that will actually talk about the team. 95.7 FM hosts rarely talk A's baseball even when the team shined like it did this year.

Yes, frankly in good times, the A's don't generate the same traction as do the Giants but given the fact that KNBR is so embedded with the Giants that's never been surprising.

To its credit, KNBR builds its entire talk structure around the team. The A's haven't been able to garner that treatment with The Game. It's unpleasant if you're an Athletics fan but it's fact.

Then again, with the Raiders about to become extinct on their Entercom client and the A's on a different station for 2019, that leaves the Warriors as the only sports team (and a golden one) left.

Good sports-talk radio is mostly host-oriented but having teams on the domain not only brings in more money and revenue streams, but prestige too. That counts both ways. Just ask KNBR and Cumulus during the Giants' run of championships in 2010, '12, and '14.

KCBS Has Lost Its Soul

KCBS has lost its soul. It used to be a non-stop, 24-7, all-news, all day and night AM powerhouse with traffic and weather updates and sports alongside. Now, just listen to it and gradually, the brand is suffering mightily.

There are now annoying contests. There are noticeable extra giggles and news anchors talking gibberish for the sake of talking gibberish. And my question now is why? Is it because the new ND has decided to tinker with what has always been something that need not be tinkered with? Good god, cannot one just leave the damn thing alone! Apparently, Madame Seelig, has never heard of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Maybe she should look it up in the dictionary and back off. I'm not gonna hold my breath for that.

KCBS has a virtual monopoly on news here. It has perennial good ratings and has loyal listeners who frequently tune in especially during morning and evening commute for its traffic reports and breaking news salvos. Now, that platform is being deluged with gimmick contests and trivial banality up the ying-yang --no wonder the place is supposedly in a siege mentality with Seelig in the cross hairs. I understand changing times and reaching out for new, younger listeners but at what cost? It defies logic.

Entercom has taken over the CBS News station's mantle and is beginning to show how to screw up something so vital and prestige-laden as KCBS was but now is slowing turning into mush. They just can't help themselves.

Does Anyone Care that Raiders Are Moving to KCBS for '19 Season?

 

DO YOU CARE...that Raiders games are moving to KCBS? I don't but, hey it's news.

102 year-old Brent Musburger is just thrilled.

How Does Jason Barrett, PD, at 95.7 FM The Game Keep His Job? All-Sports Station Continues To Swing And Miss; Advantage, KNBR

 Any alternative to the painstakingly bad KNBR has my vote. Seriously, sports-talk radio should be entertaining, funny, provocative and interesting, and yes informative too.

Which is all the more frustrating that 95.7 FM, ('The Game'), continues to flail away aimlessly, seemingly rudderless without a leader, without any sort of vision and programming run by a clueless radio retread.

The August ratings are out and once again, The Game has bottomed out. At this stage of the year that shouldn't be happening, not when you have a major league baseball team fighting for the playoffs, although sure, the A's are the second team in the market. And yes, the Raiders are mediocre at best, but still an NFL team.

95.7 relies on its sports-talk shows. Too bad PD, Jason Barrett, has no clue what the hell he's doing. Barrett somehow keep his job even though The Game's talkers keep being moved from one place to the other; shows have come and gone, other shows are in the wrong time slot. The best show on the station, Greg Papa and John Lund's, "The Wheelhouse" is lost from 12-3 PM --Damon Bruce should have that slot where he wouldn't be preempted by A's baseball.

And then there's this pure foolishness. An infomercial would be more compelling.

Then there's the morning show: a complete and useless failure. It would be nice that two of the three hosts knew something about sports, but why be so picky. Aubrey Huff, the ex-Giants jock has essentially quit the program and has now been moved to part-time status. Ric Bucher is on his way out. Chris Townsend remains but the show's future is in doubt.

All the while, again, despite its amateurish programming direction, The Game could and should beat KNBR in various parts of the day. The Game is smarter, more cogent and doesn't lob 140 thousand hours of commercials at its listeners like its AM competitor --greedy KNBR.

But The Game needs a better programmer. It wouldn't hurt to have a stronger and better signal too, but that's sort of uncontrollable. Too bad too. With some innovative thinking, 95.7 FM could be a vital sports-station listening device but as long as Barrett is running it, it has no hope.

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OK, 95.7 The Game If You Really Want To Move The Needle: A Gary Radnich-Tony Bruno Dream Team In The Morning; Play Ball

 It would require a HEFTY BAG full of money.


It would have to involve the buyout of Gary Radnich's contract which is doubtful but not impossible. He's got a lot of overhead, after all.


It would pair Bruno and Radnich from 6-10 AM and IN AN INSTANT blow KNBR off the map, but if you're talkin' move-the-needle material, it would work.


The money involved: probably a million or so, (Radnich: $500K, Bruno, $300K and the rest for staff.
Just estimates.


Most of all, it would IMMEDIATELY catapult 95.7 The Game into a real threat, at least in the AM drive time, and blow off KNBR.


Sure, Knibber still has the Giants, 49ers, and Warriors but The Game would have, arguably, the BIGGEST Morning Show in the Bay Area. Maybe the nation.


*Can it be done?

Sure.


The biggest obstacle would be getting Radnich, who has labored on the Leader for 23 years and is loyal to the core. But Gary likes money and security. Not to mention the fact he's nearing his mid-60's and his next big contract is probably is last big contract.


Tony Bruno loves San Francisco and is looking for a job. He has a history of short stays at radio stations and is known to be a pain in the ass to GMs but this alliance with Radnich, probably his last rodeo, could mellow him.


Entercom has the financial wherewithal to pull this off and The Game's PD, Jason Barrett, would have to woo like hell to bring Bruno and Radnich together, it starts with money and money is the greatest equalizer.


For three+ years The Game has tried everything under the sun to dent KNBR, to make themselves worthy, anything and everything to become a genuine player in the sports-radio war. Only KNBR hasn't lost an inch and although its pesky FM counterpart tries and tries, KNBR is King.


A Radnich-Bruno morning pairing would SIGNIFICANTLY stack the deck against the KNBR dynamic.


Furthermore it would allow two of the more engaging, funny, energetic and enlightening personalities in radio work TOGETHER, a DREAM TEAM of a radio show. Would it work? Yes. Could it really happen? Sure. Like I said, there's nothing more basic than money. That wouldn't necessarily alone work because there needs to be negotiating and non-compete clauses and some details ironed out but it's infinitely doable.







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Exclusive: The Game Wanted KNBR's Larry Krueger to Team with Damon Bruce; Inside Story

 During their negotiations to bring Damon Bruce over to  3-7 PM, Entercom's 95.7 The Game courted KNBR personality, Larry Krueger to work as a two-man team with Bruce, according to several broadcast sources close to the story.


Kruger was interested enough to weigh the offer seriously and Bruce, who normally doesn't like being a part of a "team set-up" was OK with the arrangement.




But Krueger balked, according to a source, over the specifics of the contract, and continues on as the co-host of the popular "Gary, (Radnich) and Larry Show" on KNBR from 9-Noon.


At that point, The Game finalized their deal with Bruce who, according to my sources, got a four-year contract worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $200-250K a year. Only the first year is guaranteed.


Bruce begins at The Game from 3-7 PM beginning March 31st.


*Rich Lieberman 415 Media Exclusive


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The Damon Bruce/Game Change And Why KNBR Isn't Worried, (For Now); Back Story and Analysis

 Contrary to what many think there is no wake taking place at KNBR, suddenly bereft of its only 1050 AM content provider, Damon Bruce--you know, he of the one who thinks he's the second coming of Pete Franklin, circa 2014.

Bruce has landed the prime-time drive home at FM sports vagabond 95.7 FM The Game and good for him.

He works hard. He provides a necessary alternative to the primitive and highly provincial Knibber whose sole existence is based on the Giants standings and 49ers supremacy, and now, the Warriors uprising too.

But make no mistake--Damon Bruce was more suitor material from Entercom, (which owns 95.7) and its SF outpost. The Game. This has been an under performer from day one and even with arrangements with the A's and the Raiders, The Game's ratings are still abysmal and in the tank. They lack a strong personality unless you count Greg Papa and John Lund and they performed miserable in the important morning drive with "The Rise Guys" who may feel a little limp right now since they were shown the door only to be replaced by Ric Bucher and Chris Townsend. I'm not a huge fan of the latter but their show is markedly better than the morning dreck boys on KNBR. Anything short of cryonics would be an improvement over the smug and smarmy Brian Murphy and his partner with the fake New Jersey accent and a voice that is flatter than Ellen DeGeneres bust.

Bruce is essentially a "nothing-to-lose" move by 95.7. His hiring is not sudden nirvana. Sure, he'll be making a lot more money, has a chance to shine in a more lucrative time slot and a fresh start and new beginning in a new crib down the street from the building of KNBR where he was never really appreciated to begin with ---for good reason.

His most indelible mark--the famously infamous rant on women in sports was his most signature moment. He didn't get along with anybody and had constant beefs with producers, interns, salespeople and yes, some guy named Gary Radnich. Their brief virtuoso lasted about two weeks and coincidentally landed DB in KNBR's little sister of the poor, 1050 AM, or the Death Valley of the dial position. That worked fine for Lee Hammer and company and even for Bruce himself--his little playpen and no threat to Radnich, no threat to the station itself which could hold onto a rising air presence and not mess with the nice furniture in the living room.

See, KNBR is fine so as long as the Giants, 49ers and Warriors, to a lesser degree, are fine themselves and all three are prime tenants of the meat dept. They help supplant KNBR, (and Cumulus, by extension) and move the cash around the sales dept. where Tolbert and Ratto, Radnich and Krueger, and the Morning Show midgets can perform without messing with the cabinet that holds the keys to the kingdom.

Think of it this way: If The Game had 50K watts, prime AM dial position with a great listening signal and KNBR was stuck in the FM desert, the dynamics would change and it would be Knibber trying to snatch, say a Tom Tolbert. That wouldn't necessarily make for better ratings but it couldn't hurt. It's the proverbial if you throw enough shit against the wall some of it might stick. Not to impugn Bruce, but that's the central line of fire in The Game's limited strategy--they are stuck. They have the A's and the Raiders. The A's are exciting and possess a loyal fan base but not enough to sustain an entire time block around daytime programming. (Is it any wonder that Eastbay critics of The Game complain they talk too much SF sports teams?)

So be happy for Mr. Bruce and allow this essentially one-day shelf-life of a story take shape. It's not earth-shattering and it isn't the type of move that trends on Twitter; not that that matters but the bottom line is its more a proactive move by The Game rather than an omission by the big boys at 55 Hawthorne. Noon-3 on 1050 is not their breadwinner. Never has been. More like the last aisle at Toys R Us.

Moreover after a day or so in the newness of 3-7 on FM, Bruce will have to grapple with the likes of Tom Tolbert and Ray Ratto, not extraordinarily special especially with the abundance of commercial spots and countless "updates". No easy competition for DB but anything competitive against the 680 machine is OK with me.

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How 95.7 FM The Game Screwed Up Taking on The KNBR Big Boys; Product Is Still The Missing Equation; Plus Friday Media Notes

 When Entercom's 95.7 FM-The Game debuted in April, 2011, I was intrigued. I always thought sports radio on FM was a clever device and that in this market, it could work. It works in sports-heavy Boston, why not the Bay Area. Moreover, it seemed to me KNBR had worn out its welcome and was largely living on its Giants, 49ers and Warriors affiliations --their talk-radio, for the most part, was mostly meh.




As the latest dynamic duo hits the street, a few things need to be aired, so to speak.




*The Game has never been known to be bold and take a chance. I suggested something fairly radical, but it can't be any worse then their current presentation.




*It continues to mystify me that their, PD, Jason Barrett, is still employed. Barrett's programming menu has been nothing short of a disaster, with experiment after experiment going nowhere.



Barrett's tenure has been largely defined by a knack for bringing in out-of-town unknown loud-mouths who don't know the Bay Area market--this is not exactly rocket science, but SF is not NY. That's not in any way denigrating NY nor the city but the point is what goes in the 212 and 718 doesn't naturally resonate in the 415 and 408/510. Pretty much common sense unless your Barrett and it's still mind-boggling that his boss doesn't see that. I don't know Barrett, never met him, but you can learn a lot from a guy who does contests to get hired hosts literally off the street. That's a wise business model.




It goes on. Hiring human junkets like Brandon Tierney--(boy, that worked well, didn't it?), was a foolish move from the get-go. There's been other puzzling moves too. The concept of originality, I guess, is something that's not on the sticky pad in Barrett's office. And spending globs of money on radio-TV ads making fun and belittling the competition was a ludicrous move at best. What was that all about? "You suck, we don't---you have old, stodgy listeners, we're fresh and new--listen to us, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!" KNBR was nervous enough to tweak their schedule and pass out a few memos but the bottom line is KNBR still has the dial position and the dominant teams, advantage Cumulus.




Truth be told, I welcome an alternative to the sports leader. But if you're going up against the big boys you have to have a firm, legitimate game plan, (no pun intended); you have to have original ideas and a long-term commitment and business model to implement. A Brandon Tierney, (who lives from radio suitcase to suitcase), is not a well-thought-out hire. Tierney lasted about as long as expected and never registered an ounce of traction on the local sports radar. His blustery was far more pronounced than his results.



Local, fresh, and engaging personalities make for successful radio. By and large, it's not a science but it goes a long way to reaching out to listeners begging for something different, something edgy, something, well, that's not the half-eaten omelet called "Murph and Mac". The Game's "Rise Guys" mostly do it right but the hodgepodge of manufactured shtick and reliance on a curious brand of humor isn't working. I like Dan Dibley, to a degree, but he's not a dominant personality. Of course, sad for the Game, neither are his partners.




The fundamental problem with 95.7 is a lack of original programming, a very lousy signal and extremely poor guidance. You can always help yourself as the flagship of MLB and the NFL because, like KNBR, you build your talk shows around your clients, (although Knibber does it better)--but franchises alone don't automatically lead to ratings nirvana particularly when one of your teams doesn't win a lot of its games. That's where the PD earns his living and in the case of Barrett, he's done nothing to earn any sort of respect let alone job longevity.




FRIDAY MEDIA NOTES...




*That hot microphone that Michael Savage didn't know was hot the other day on his KSFO, (and syndicated), show created quite a storm. Savage was heard ripping another local host, (who frankly deserved it), and lecturing a producer rather, uh, pointedly. It wasn't especially juicy but it was enough to spring a rumor that a head might roll.




*I'll be filling in next Tuesday on KSCO from Noon-2 PM, (following Rush Limbaugh); we'll do some media material and a few surprises. Management is also talking about a weekend show that will concentrate on radio, TV, the Net, sort of a "Reliable Sources", stay tuned and be sure to listen on Tuesday.




*Changes, I'm told by a mole, are coming to KRON faster than you can say Van Ness Ave.


*Speaking of KSFO, have you noticed the frequent amounts of dead air lately? Maybe someone should wake up the engineer dept. On the other hand, the dead air is far more superior to the actual content at times.




*I figured it out: Maybe Raponi over there at KTVU doesn't have a computer.




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KPIX Moves; Stan Bunger and John Madden; Matier and Willie Brown; Have you heard this before? 95.7 FM is in Trouble; KGO-TV's Carolyn Johnson is the First Guest on Lieberman Radio Show Monday; Friday Buzz

New KPIX GM, Bruno Cohen, hasn't made any significant moves since he took over at the local SF O and O, but if a few sources are correct, expect something down the pike. The password is "sports." And keep in mind that the corporate people in NY in charge of the money have been doing a lot of cutting to people who make too much money.

By the way, there are those who insist to me that the current news boss should keep his resume updated.

*KCBS' Stan Bunger: just when you think he's slipping a bit, you get a dose of Bunger at his best, like on Friday morning...lobbing some good openers for John Madden and making the most of Matier and Willie Brown interesting when time interferes. Speaking of which, when it's obvious that there's really little, if any traffic this week, (which is the case), do we always needs a traffic update every 10 minutes? More Madden, less traffic. Every now and then it makes sense.

*An industry wag with about 30+ years in the biz tells me 95.7 FM The Game is in trouble. We've been down this road before haven't we? The wag offers this: "Listen to their ads--mostly all are national spots. Very little local box retail." He went further: "The A's, (the all-sports flagship station carries them), have begun looking for another station after next year." Plus this: "when you can never get a '1-rating and you have a weak signal it's a problem."

*No, I'm not going to suddenly tame down the critique on this site just because I'm about to do a daily talk show. If you'll notice, naysayers, trolls, the guests have been A-rate, some of whom I've been more critical than others, (see: Dan Ashley and Ralph Barbieri). There's a reason why they do the show: Because, like it or not, I'm a damn good interviewer and my show has staying power and will only get better. That's not chest-bumping, just the facts. Deal with it.

*Speaking of the radio show, the first guest to lead us off on Monday is KGO-TV's Carolyn Johnson, straight up at 1 PM PT. If you can't listen live, podcasts will be up the next day.

*Dear KRON: A source close to veteran newsman, Tom Sinkovitz, tells me he would be willing to come back and work with Pam Moore and/or Catherine Heenan and Gary Radnich. And money probably wouldn't be an issue. Food for thought.

*Raj Mathai and Janelle Wang on KNTV, (NBC Bay Area): an acquired taste that is getting much better with time.

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