D-Day For Ronn; 'Special Announcement For The Listeners'; Updated: Owens Has His Doctor On; Announces He'll Have Procedure

 1. Retirement (never)


2. Quits KGO --lands sales gig at Sleeptrain


3. Taking temporary leave and considering part-time offer from KPOO


4. Uh, become chief of staff for Gavin Newsom --2018 Gubernatorial Run


5. Buy KGO Radio
6. Asks the listeners if he should buy another Mercedes for the dog
7. "Should I add another 'n' to 'Ronnn?"
8. Says he has a man crush on "Rama."
9. Officially changes name to "Mr. Softie"
10. Tells audience his Clark Kent is Copie.


See you at 11


UPDATE:

Owens has his doctor on; announces he'll have procedure done to slow down advanced Parkinson's --asks listeners to ask questions.  Are we supposed to state sympathy?

KCBS Radio The Model Of All-News Consistency In San Francisco Under ND, Ed Cavagnaro; Veteran Exec Retiring In April; 'Remarkable Run'

 A "remarkable run"--that's what a SF-area radio consultant told me about the stewardship of KCBS News Director, Ed Cavagnaro, who will be retiring in April.

Cavagnaro has been at KCBS since 1977--as ND, 26 years, which is remarkable given the state of radio today.

Under Cavagnaro, KCBS has been the undisputed 24/7 all-news radio outlet with a brand that other stations would kill for.

The most remarkable aspect of Cavagnaro's run is the stability of staff at the CBS radio station. Nobody leaves KCBS and if they do, it's because of retirement usually. You hardly hear of KCBS personnel moving in and out because it simply doesn't happen. Look at the extraordinary list of people who have worked at the station: Stan Bunger, Steve Bitker, Barbara Taylor, Doug Sovern, Bob Butler, Kim Wonderly, Susan Leigh Taylor--almost all of these remarkable reporters and anchors have been at the station for multiple decades, quite a list.  And all under Cavagnaro's reign which best explains why KCBS has risen to the top of the SF Bay Area radio rankings which is a testament to their brand here.

 

Cavagnaro and his boss, VP, Doug Harvill, have largely let KCBS be KCBS--in other words, if it ain't broke don't fix it--and the end result is a very successful news operation that continues to be at the top of the Bay Area broadcast domain.

KCBS' success is largely due to the fact that it's consistent. It's not very splashy or excited and that's its main successful entity--you know when a major news event happens, you turn to 740 AM. I wish KCBS didn't repeat so much its news stories and I've complained about it but in a PPM world in which radio is a player today, I understand the business model. It's a small price to pay to enjoy the consistency that KCBS brings to the table.

The future of KCBS, minus Cavagnaro, seems to be destined for a smooth transition which is good news for a Bay Area audience that is lucky to have at its disposal a quality staff still churning out great content.

We wish Ed Cavagnaro all the best in the next phase of his personal life every 15 and 45 years.

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KGO-TV Contacts KTVU's Mark Ibanez About Possible Sports Anchor Gig; Breaking: Inglis Set To Retire in August

 KGO-TV has contacted veteran KTVU weeknight sports anchor, Mark Ibanez, about possibly joining the SF ABC O and O, (owned/operated), according to a reliable station source who asked for anonymity.


Ibanez has been a KTVU stalwart since 1979 and recently signed a three-year extension, but it's up in March, 2015 and given the uncertainty at Channel 2 since Fox acquired them, Ibanez might be tempted.


Ibanez was unable to comment.


At KGO, Channel 7, the sports anchor situation is very much up in the air.


Larry Beil has been doing much more news anchoring but through a variety of sources, has told people he'd prefer to go back to his native Hawaii and "be a big fish in a little pond."


Mike Schumann is KGO's weekend anchor and prime backup but isn't considered a "long-term" option should an opening occur if Beil splits.


Ibanez has indicated in the past that he'd prefer to end his career at KTVU, but with Fox taking over and perhaps wanting to chop highly-paid on-air talent, Ibanez may have to at least listen to offers.


**Meanwhile, I have heard from KTVU sources that longtime weekend sports anchor, Fred Inglis will retire from Channel 2 in August.


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CBS Secret Plan and Letterman's Replacement

  CBS does the ultimate:

Hires Leno who takes over "Late Show" and subsequently knees Jimmy Fallon into oblivion.


Kills both Fallon and Kimmel.


Dear Les: If this transpires you owe me a quarter of Black Rock.


And Mr. Letterman? I can't even imagine...


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So long, Rita Williams: KTVU Veteran Ace Reporter officially retires from Channel 2

.

I've talked a lot about Rita Williams, KTVU's tough-as-nails reporter, who retired, officially, from the Oakland Fox affiliate last week, after her announcement last June.
 
Here's a link to her interview with Mike MiBach.

Williams speaks, in her typical unassuming way, about the pratfalls of the business when a broadcast wag asked what she planned on doing "after you turn 40." Williams will turn 66 later this week.

She managed to shine in a business, in her heyday, dominated by white men. She was dogged and persistent, but fair. She was hard on politicians but managed to earn their respect by being firm and tenacious, but polite. Her tireless reporting and pursuit of the story, any story for that matter, was both admired and respected in an industry that has turned away from such passionate style.

Rita didn't have to have the label of "Investigative reporter"--she'd already earned her brand. It's going to be tough to watch the KTVU News without Williams' work on their airwaves.

We wish her a spirited retirement.

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