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.

Raj Mathai Commands The Screen At NBC Bay Area; Wednesday First Take

 Raj Mathai, it seems from here, is floating on cloud 9. It's been a rapid ascent for the former sports TV tonsil to chief news anchor at NBC Bay Area.

Hard to believe almost five years has passed since Mathai's move to news.

The transition has been remarkably smooth and steady for the South Bay resident who now commands the screen as if he's been doing news all along. Believe me, it's not an easy change. Viewers are notoriously picky and overly critical when it comes to their evening anchor routine.

Mathai's work on KNTV is a crisp and no-nonsense delivery. He's straightforward and simple--which sounds sort of duh, shouldn't that be the premise of all anchors? Sure, you just don't see it occurring on a regular basis. Maybe the pressure to perform is too intense --in any event, Mathai has jelled to the position and is now one of the leading Bay Area news anchors.

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After Super Bowl NBC Bay Area Rolls Out Primetime Weeknight Newscast; Mathai: 'We're On The Clock'

 This is a big day in San Jose as after the big game, NBC Bay Area, (KNTV) will roll out its primetime Monday-Friday newscast with anchors, Raj Mathai, Jessica Aguirre, and weatherman, Jeff Ranieri. Terry McSweeney will do a live shot from Arizona and Peggy Bunker will do the same from Levi's Stadium, the site for Super Bowl 50 a year from now.

With almost all eyes glued to the game and an audience surpassing 100 million people, and millions here, one need not underestimate the significance of this event from a local standpoint.

"It's a great opportunity for every NBC affiliate, but especially for us at KNTV," said Mathai to 415 Media. (KNTV is an owned and operated station by NBC). "This is a very local story considering the game is in Santa Clara in 12 months. We're on the clock."

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The Empty Roger Goodell Press Conference; NBC Bay Area's Raj Mathai Joins Me on KSCO For Reaction

 Many of you watched the Roger Goodell presser and were overwhelmingly underwhelmed like myself.

Whether or not you're a sports fan the NFL has become ingrained in most of our life, pro football, in spite of all the unsavory incidents that's taken place, still is popular.

On Friday, the commissioner took questions from the media and swung and miss. My opinion --and I'm certainly not alone.

This afternoon, on my KSCO Radio program, we will tackle all this, (and other issues of the day). Joining me at 4: 20 PM, from NBC Bay Area, lead-anchor, Raj Mathai, who got to know Goodell when he, (Mathai), worked for the San Diego Chargers.


*To listen, simply click on the link above and then click on live link on the website--those who can't listen live, a podcast will be available later in the day.

NBC Bay Area's Mathai on Mark Matthews Hire

Mark Matthews knows the way to San Jose

  Mark Matthews, an experienced political reporter who was let go by KGO-TV last October will be joining NBC Bay Area, as I indicated earlier. He begins his duties Monday.


I reached out to Raj Mathai down in San Jose, NBC BA's lead anchor for his reaction.


"We're thrilled to add another experienced and high caliber reporter. Mark's local and national connections are invaluable."








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Raj Mathai Inks New Extension with NBC Bay Area; KPIX' Vazquez, Lady's Man; KQED Exec Sexual Feeling; KSF Morning Show Makes Fun of 77 Year-Old Woman; News, Notes and Comments on Thursday Opener

  In case you were wondering, Raj Mathai has inked a new multi-year extension to remain the lead anchor down in San Jose at NBC Bay Area, (KNTV).


This is good for KNTV since my knowledgeable broadcast sources told me that Mathai, who came over from sports to do news in late 2010 and has developed into one of the Bay Area's best anchors, received multiple offers from some LA stations and the network at 30 Rock itself.


*The morning torso at KSFO and the traffic chick with the sandpaper voice were making fun of a 77 year-old senator from Maryland --complete with munchkin music underneath fart noises, volcano explosions and other assorted muses --too bad this zoo approach not only isn't funny but really sort of sad and pathetic. I think they're really trying hard to get noticed --so far only white truck drivers from Castro Valley with sideburns are listening.


*"Powlie"--the alleged personality on KNBR with the fake New Jersey accent, is taking a two-week vacation break to marry his glorious new bride. Meanwhile, every sound board in the SF Cumulus cluster is having an orgasm.


*Brian Murphy as fetus: Mommy, can you please name me Timmy?


*Ladies Man extraordinaire? KPIX' reporter Joe Vazquez. Supposedly Joe, who is a good guy, likes to explore and participate in the women wilderness. I have no issues with that. Matter of fact, I'll buy a round for Joe so as long as he checks the constant smile at the door.


*More KNBR Morning Show revelations: We're actually Sybil.


*Over at KQED, a sage in the news dept said the talk inside the lunchroom was that a key higher-up suit was openly bragging about his overnight rendezvous with a young starlet in research. I hope while they were screwing it wasn't interrupted by a pledge break.


*Stan, do me a favor: take a break. Go watch the History Channel, eat a steak, get some kung-pao, I don't know but you're beginning to give me headaches and I don't need the aggravation. You amuse me Stan, you really do, but try to limit all the weird stuff. You're starting to sound like Rupert Pupkin.


*Guys in their 40's and 50's who play golf are generally assholes. Don't get me wrong. There's good assholes and bad assholes but assholes nonetheless.


*The new news anchor on KRON the other night gave relentless scowls at Gary Radnich. Gees, that's kind of shocking.


*Let's wait a month for a Damon Bruce review, fair enough?


*So, you all like my music? No? Yes? And some of you say, screw the videos, we come here for media --got it, but I like to change the pace every now and then.


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SouthBay NBC Bay Area Dynamic Duo: Raj Mathai and Janelle Wang Anchors Away; Wednesday PM Finale

 Lead anchor, Raj Mathai and fellow NBC Bay Area anchor, Janelle Wang.


On the mark, get set, go:


They read well. They have a crisp look and have begun developing a tangible asset: on-air chemistry.
Sure, it's rather superficial, isn't that a TV News constant? It is, but here's the difference: they both like each other and appear actually pretty happy.


That's not such a given in today's atmosphere.


Give 'em credit.


And they should extend Mathai because he's a hot property down there whether you like it or not--he reads good, #1, and #2, it's not his fault he has GQ looks for which he gets a lot of flack.


And Janelle? Rapid-fire improvement in every sense of the word.


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NBC Bay Area's Raj Mathai and Warriors Radio Tonsil Tim Roye on my KSCO/KOMY Radio Show Today

On my radio show today:

1-1: 20: Raj Mathai, lead anchor at KNTV, (NBC BAY AREA)

2-2: 30: Tim Roye, radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Golden State Warriors.

**To listen LIVE: click here or catch the podcast on demand by clicking on the streaming audio link.

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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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