Frank Somerville Defends New KTVU 4PM Newscast; Tells 415 Media Criticism Of Mibach And Arnold Not Fair; 'They're Not In The Business Just To See Themselves On TV'; Friday Opener

 Frank Somerville shot back at my report involving the lackadaisical numbers involving KTVU's new 4 PM newscast that debuted a little more than a month ago.


In the report, I quoted anonymous station sources who attributed much of the blame (early on) to anchors Mike Mibach and recent Fox2 hire, Keba Arnold.


The sources ripped both Mibach and Arnold:

       (Arnold) a Sacramento 'lightweight." In other words? "She doesn't know the market here." Just 30days in? Rough.

 

 

Same source on Mibach: "He's just coasting in here--This isn't Mornings on Two--you really have to work here --it's a newscast."

Somerville reacted to the quotes direct to 415 Media:

"I sit right next to Mike and Keba. And I really like both of them. I can tell you for a fact that they work very hard. I see it every day. I can also tell you that they care about the stories their covering. They care about the people they’re interviewing. They care about getting it right. And they’re not in this business just to see themselves on TV. Those are all qualities that I value and look for in coworkers."

I pointed out to Somerville that the sources never said anything about Arnold and Mibach not "getting it right"--just that they're obviously critical of the new duo's performance so far.


To which Somerville countered:

"Look, they called Keba a lightweight... and they implied that Mike was coasting and wasn't working hard... I'm saying I respect both of them.. and I like their work... and I listed the reasons why."

I pointed out so far, early on, I too have not had a favorable opinion of KTVU's 4 PM presentation --granted, it's way too early to gauge what's to become of its fate but results so far (by station internals) are not promising. The newscast has a very ordinary look and offers nothing of substance which, who knows, may be KTVU's intention given its FOX-owned infusion.


We'll wait and see. With AUTHORITY.




































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It's Official: Mike Mibach To Co-Anchor New KTVU Weekday 4 PM News; Station Plans New Platform And Experiments On NewsCast

 I told you the other day that Mike Mibach would co-anchor KTVU Channel 2's new newscast at 4 PM with Keba Arnold and it's now official.


Mibach will leave Weekend "Mornings on Two" and begin his new broadcast duties next Monday. June 22.


Traditionally, 4 PM on TV News schedules is commonly referred to as the "Death Valley" of time slots but my Insiders at KTVU tell me that the Fox O and O is going to experiment with many new ideas; perhaps many more longer packages; more live interviews and "unusual" projects that viewers wouldn't normally see on the more traditional 5, 6, and 10/11 PM news.


Moreover, local TV news is still infinitely profitable no matter the time of day and KTVU adding a 4 PM news program (which will compete against KGO-TV) isn't all that surprising. Additionally, the idea of longer interviews, more live shots, and more emphasis to local stories is a welcome addition to the Bay Area TV market.


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Mike Mibach New KTVU 4 PM Co-Anchor

 WORD on The Street has it that Mike Mibach, will co-anchor the new 4 PM KTVU News beginning next month with recent hire, Keba Arnold. Nothing is 100% certain but I'm told a formal announcement is coming soon.


Mibach is the current co-anchor on Mornings On Two Weekend with Claudine Wong. It's not known now if Fox2 has a replacement in mind for Mibach's gig, assuming he'll be leaving MO2.


















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Wong and Mibach on KTVU "MO2" Can't Stop Chatting; Fox Infusion Underway; Station Re-Brand Can be Seen and Heard

 FIRST YOU NEVER HEARD 'EM UTTER a slight ad lib, hardly ever; now, they won't SHUT UP.

Nothing wrong with that either --it's nice to see that Claudine Wong and Mike Mibach are human and that KTVU's Weekend "Mornings on Two" isn't some local TV News zombie zone.

The suddenly chatty-on-the-couch twosome, along with slightly, less-chatty weatherwoman, Rosemary Orozco, have delved into a very noticeable format alter --call it the official FOX version of what the program has become--the first major tweak from the Murdock media people. It is, after all, their Bay Area baby now, but the difference is startling and different, to say the least. Some of that is good and perfectly acceptable--but it also can be grating and artificial. Not contrived and forced, mind you, but potentially awkward. We're so used to watching KTVU News devoid of chatter; at least inane chit-chat--the banal back-and-forth offered by others.

It's a very subtle sign of the changing style at KTVU, which FOX took over in October. It's not only the very overt chit-chat between the anchors; you can also see it by the more cheery stories, the relentless live shots, the ubiquitous sensational "pieces." Matter of fact, KTVU is being altered by the day. This wasn't part of the early master plan as the basic tenet of KTVU's very successful "Keep it simple" approach to their news brand was and still is a ratings winner. Nevertheless, one need only take a glance at the product and see for themselves the early major twist.

It's first significant test is taking place on the morning show--and now, it's more a show than it is a newscast. I like the fact the growing-powerful Wong has a personality and it's engaging and quite refreshing at times--same too with Mibach, although there's times where Mibach seems a bit wooden and forced. It's not that big a deal but if this is the beginning of the new KTVU brand re-image, then it should be candid and convincing --after all, they have couches now. Party on.

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