Two Inspiring Ladies Behind the Anchor Desk at 'PIX; Goodrich and Cook; What's Not to Like? Thursday Open

Juliette Goodrich (left) and Elizabeth Cook

KPIX has a decision looming --who becomes the face of the station? I'm going out on a limb. I like a couple of underrated anchors both highly rated --one on the week night and one weekend lady I've often thought was under-utilized and should be on the 6 and 11 paired with....well, that's another decision for another time.

I'VE always loved Juliette Goodrich, smart as a whip and quite the visible personality I think PIX should immediately move to the anchor desk, it's right there in front of them. Even if I'm dreaming and pretending I'm the wizard behind the curtain, it boggles my mind why Goodrich has not been offered the fulltime Monday thru Friday gig. Maybe because she's comfortable in the field and not reading the teleprompter during the week. Can that be it? I don't have an answer there but I know business and KPIX should know business too. If they did, they'd immediately make Goodrich switch to primetime.

My thoughts on Liz Cook are completely different than her rep in the market. I like her. Yeah, so she's a little wooden and robotic but she's pleasant, she reads well and she has a nice look and delivery. If Liz were to open up more, she'd be a solid A, but why quibble now, we're in uncharted territory these days and I'm only here offering my opinion which I now you love and admire.

PIX has made some amazingly dumb decisions in the past. They will need to revamp and retool --if push came to shove and they paired Goodrich with Cook, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world and they'd probably get the entire PTA in Danville.

Yeah, two damsels not in distress but on the desk! It's not as radical as you may think. Girl power at 855 Battery, check me in. It's hella better than this!

Enough said. Grab your coffee and bagel and chew on it.

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Year End Developments and Major Decisions Affecting Bay Area Media; 2019 Ripe With Intrigue; 2020 Could Spell Doom For TV/Radio Playors

*At KQED, both TV and radio, the party is over. The mass-spending free-for-all, is coming to an end largely because KQED is being forced to downsize as its revenue is sharply reduced. Member donations are down and corporate support, waning. KQED still makes tons of money and the goldmine is still there, but the oversight people in the finance offices are beginning to audit more religiously--put two and two together. Maybe they won't send anymore coffee mugs to subscribers--in which case, you could...never mind.

*Will KGO Radio be maintained as its latest iteration as news-talk beacon  by Cumulus? It's an election year which means healthy revenue by political ads and talk zeitgeist but significant revenue streams may not mean much. Cumulus, according to well-founded rumors, might be seriously inclined to sell its SF area 810 AM, 50K-watt, clear-channel behemoth --2020 could be another key time element in KGO's future.

*KRON has stagnated --its corporate owner, Nextstar, flailing away in economic turmoil, makes for more KRON mismanagement at the base of the new year. KRON doesn't believe in rearranging the furniture. It's been the same old story year in, year out. It's still very painful to watch the K-TEL-like news reports; the shuffling of anchors no matter how awful; the incompetence inside the alleged news director and his silly maneuvering; the god-awful news direction and presentation. At some point, KRON has to be sold and/or leveraged by an owner/corporation that will invest in a Top-10 market with a thirst for news and less amateur hour by the lawn-furniture style of KRON's present-day status.

*Will KGO and its Disney coffers sign Gary Radnich, late of LRON and KNBR? If the money is close, yes, they should and more importantly, could. Radnich isn't what he was twenty years ago but he's better than Circle7's talent now. Moreover, he would add immediate buzz to an operation owned by the Star Wars franchise. There's a connection. One BIG thing too on the KGO docket: signing veteran and staple anchor, Dan Ashley to a well-deserved extension --it's going to happen--just a matter of when, not if.

*The future of Ken Bastida at KPIX. Bastida has been rumored to be one of CBS' first major anchors to be told to take a hike, (with a significant salary cut) --the latest is Bastida wants to stay through 2020 but CBS might want to leave and retire right away. Ultimately, they make the call.

*Enjoy your core-4 KTVU "10 O'clock News" vets, Frank Somerville, Julie Haener, Bill Martin, Mark Ibanez--all 4 have existing contracts for 2020 but 2021 spells the end for the group as FOX begins its major decision to trim, severely, high-cost anchor talent. Quite simply, FOX thinks it can spend a lot less on local talent even if it involves some of its most successful O and O's and that includes the Bay Area.


*The Chronicle has Hearst money which means it ain't going anywhere anytime soon but its print edition, (like other print newspapers) is bleeding red ink. And the Chron isn't in NY Times status meaning it can't forever lose money and just continue to publish. Its digital operation is making dough but not enough to pay for paper. Paging a local Amazon guy like Jeff Bezos (who owns the Washington Post) but those are hard to find

*A significant moneyed player, (like a tech giant) is thought to want to buy the local Spanish TV players, (like a SF Telemundo) --the Bay Area's Hispanic language audience is large and very prosperous --but it's only a rumor.

*KNBR has its cash cow, the Giants in a lean, lean, lean, mode. Last year, the radio content (and TV/Cable too) lost significant advertising money because the home team sucked--like its sucked for the past three-plus years. Which means KNBR has been reducing its Giants' mega-bullhorn of pre, post, and actual games. Baseball used to be their bread and butter --now it's become its home for the halfway hose. KNBR is lucky to have the 49ers which essentially pays the continuing banality called the KNBR Morning Show.

Star Wars

Holmes (left) and Haener

SHE (countess Heather) CANNOT STAND HER-- (Diva Haener) --LIKEWISE, SHE HATES THE HELL OUT OF HER TOO

It's come down to this: professionally,  Julie Haener and her chief rival at KTVU, Heather Holmes are on board (why wouldn't they be, you ask, hold on) --and that's the proper etiquette.

Privately, they DESPISE one another.

Haener, who has a multitude of ego-oriented issues, (don't fall for the cutesy look and appearance) seethes at the sight and notices about Holmes, who very quietly but vociferously campaigns for her (JH) job at 10 PM on the main KTVU News (not sloppy TV36(6)

A HUGE issue (among many) at FOX/Oakland: the Holmes/Haener conflict is more than your garden-variety battle royale: Haener knows that HH has all but put her career on hold to jettison the 10 PM gig. It was not so long ago that Holmes gave the suits a virtual ultimatum --play me or trade me--KTVU balked but held her down (giving her a modest pay raise) and is now playing a sort of rope-a-dope. As they  buy time, real things happen.

 Fox execs have huddled privately about how to placate both but so far, they're failing miserably. The EGO has landed. And we haven't even touched the ring yet.

2 bada-bings.

The Pam Cook/KTVU Memo Gets Picked up By The Desk; A Quick State of 415 Media; Personal Reflection; Wednesday Wash Open; UPDATE

Matthew Keys from The Desk wrote a piece about the Pam Cook/KTVU memo that I highlighted.

You should read it.

The past few days have been sort of rough and sort of enlightening too. I'm happy, for the most part, that Keys took the time and wrote a nice and very accurate story that includes me and my site, 415 Media. It is well-written and factual and illustrates the mighty and powerful up against lesser foes. The good guys versus the bad guys. That may be stretching the point but I think you get my drift.

I don't have any axe to grind with Pam Cook in particular and KTVU in general. I find fault in some of their reporting and activity and I will call them out in response just as I will call anyone out. It's a facet of my blog that I'm mostly proud of. Because between the commentary and opinion; OK, occasionally making fun of people too; men and women journalists in our Bay Area media; there is a point and purpose here. You may or may have not noticed and I should keep you aware of what I deem important and in truth, the main reason I write this blog and ask for your support.

So much of what we consume as media purveyors is out and out decrepit and abysmal and we need to hold those responsible accountable. They have a very vast network to operate their electronic machinery; much of it they take for granted and seem to think the average viewer and listener is sheep and lemmings. I may be over-generalizing but it's true.  Some old-school journalists (and new-school too) do a good job and offer outstanding reportage and I'm there to applaud them but the vast majority, unfortunately, offer mediocre-at-best content and I will call them out too. As long as you allow me.

Which gets me back to Pam Cook and KTVU. Some of you surmised that Cook's memo, (which I obtained and published) was "great publicity" and "you couldn't have been more vindicated" by its subject matter.

Funny, because I didn't take it that way. Pam Cook has the right to rip me and insinuate that I'm deplorable, etc. And KTVU, bullies they are, has a right to go after me if they think I'm a threat to their brand, whatever that is today. At one time, it was gold standard news delivery, today, I don't know anymore, there's a lot of questions.

I don't claim to be one-hundred percent spotless; never have. This is a blog. I know its place and acknowledge its highlights and lowlights. There is no attempt here to either glorify or deify my existence on the web. It is what is is if I can borrow a cliché. Most of you who come here want and expect the content that you get and have been very supportive. Cool. That's why I'm here.

So as long as you continue to support me and this blog I will hopefully continue to have the will; both personally and professionally and with financial resources that you have supported my work, will be here, still, and read 415 Media. Even under the most difficult and arduous of circumstances.

Because in the end that's what this is all about. It's really that simple.

*NOW more than ever, I need your contributions and donations to fight back the tyrants doing anything in their power to take this site down and compromise its existence as a watchdog for Bay Area media consumers.

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How a Benign Fake Story of 'Theft' and 'Race' Ruined Mike Shumann's Livelihood; Warriors and KGO in Cross Hairs; Lazy Sports Journalism Trumps Common Sense; 415 Media Special Report

OF ALL the most heinous things coming out of the Mike Shumann/Warriors affair involving an alleged "stolen" jacket that was never stolen in the first place involves certain sports media players quick to condemn but never making attempts to talk to the accused.

And then driving the "story"into a racial matter when race had absolutely no play and was inserted as cover for some overzealous people including some Warriors players and lazy sports media members.

Shumann was accused of stealing a jacket from a Warriors' team security guard (who has recently left the organization) the initial story was reported by The Athletic; did its reporter make an attempt to ask Shumann for comment? Get his explanation? Surely someone with 25 years at his employer deserves that but there was no attempt made by the reporter.

Crappy journalism.

Monte Poole, a veteran sports columnist and Warriors' Insider for the local NBC Sports Bay Area cable outlet who is African-American, wrote a column about some Warriors' players who injected race into the matter even though Shumann has never had any issues with Bay Area sports teams, let alone issues involving racial matters. I bring this up because Shumann went out of his way to return the jacket to its owner that night in San Antonio; unable to get it to the security guard, Shumann gave it to a prominent Warriors' PR person. This is verified.

There was no theft. There was, conspicuously, a video that showed Shumann taking the jacket and looking around for its owner. Should Shumann have left it there as is? You can say it might have been the best thing to do in retrospect but Shumann had no ill intentions and only wanted to get it the security guard as quickly as possible.

Yet the story had already developed a narrative that Shumann was a thief! and a white thief at that who in addition to his crime, received special treatment. Mind you the fact that Shumann's record of 25 years at KGO was spotless and that there's never been any incident whatsoever to indicate this type of behavior nor racial elements; of course it is far easier to let the story go viral; why ask questions now because that would require heavy lifting and actual reporting; let the facts rush forward and damn any explanation after all it's just a guy that has a quarter-century worth of time at his employer and livelihood on the line.

I don't know Shumann all that well; only occasionally we bumped into one another at various Warriors' games and other Bay Area sporting events. I have no vested interest in his travails here monetarily or otherwise. I believe Shumann at his word that he didn't steal any jacket and that the whole thing was a misunderstanding and that, with the assist by social media, developed a storm of its own with members never bothering to consider the facts. There is nothing to consider otherwise. If Shumann had any incidents in his life to suggest some investigation, OK, he loses the benefit of the doubt. There is no mark.

Shumann had a spotless record and was let go by ABC execs because their relationship with the Warriors involved significant monetary assets which trumped even an innocent employee in the cross hairs of a mostly benign matter that had no business going viral, literal, racial, or otherwise.

Shumann is a devoted family man with a wife and daughter in college; he's had to sell his house and painstakingly reinvent his livelihood and name. "It's a nightmare", he tells me.

I believe him.

NOTE:

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THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

The 1970's and KFRC; 'Dr Don' Ruled AM Radio DJ Landscape; Bay Area Pop Culture Scene; 'The Big 610' Personality Galore; 'Your Duke, Dave Sholin'; Bobby Ocean; 'Marvalous Mark McKay'; Days on Green at Coliseum; Bill Graham Influence; 415 Media Retro Sunday

THE SUMMER OF '76; Growing up in the Bay Area a ripe, wide-eyed 14 year-old listening to KFRC; AM Radio with personalities galore; Dr. Don Rose in the morning drive; 6-10 AM. It was mandatory listening and appointment radio. Who could forget, "Sacra-tomato!" and …"San-RAQUEL!" --to this day, there is NO ONE, no one, who can even come close to Donald B. Rose (real name, Donald Rosenberg)

Dr. Don was corny funny. He had great timing and great corny jokes, an AM staple. He was unique; he was original; he was hysterical. It wasn't an acquired taste because everyone loved the Doctor. In this case, sound drops worked because Rose played off them and developed a distinct cohesion between listener and host. It was, like I said, corny funny.

But insatiably original.

It's a good thing I was too young to drive back then because I may have driven off the road laughing my ass off. Rose had that aura with me and everyone else. It was a constant.

Dr. Don Rose

I remember something distinct back in the time. Rose was broadcasting from his home in Danville; actually from his bed. He was battling issues with his leg. He was so important to KFRC and listeners loved the Doctor so much that KFRC built a makeshift studio in his bedroom that allowed him to broadcast his show; try doing that today; would never happen; maybe for a Howard Stern but nobody else. It spoke volumes to the popularity and power that was one Dr. Don Rose.

I thought he would live forever but he battled several health issues and hard to believe Rose passed away over a decade ago.

How BIG was Dr. Don? He was one of the most highly-paid DJs in the country making over $400,000. That's big today but even bigger back in the 1970's. Only "Aku" (Hal Lewis) earned in the vicinity what Rose was making.

KFRC, like the old KGO, was a gigantic part of the Bay Area culture scene. It was the pop music equivalent of the old KGO; more than just a radio station and purveyor of bubblegum music, 70's hits--KFRC had a distinct line-up of individual personalities and was constantly on the social Bay Area radar, particularly music and teen culture. In association with Bill Graham, KFRC produced many "Days on the Green" at the Oakland Coliseum Stadium; its contests gave away tickets to lucky listeners trying to score freebies to see the Grateful Dead and Beach Boys (what a combo, eh?)

Friday nights in Summer; listening to Bill Lee on KFRC. Don't forget, "Marvelous" Mark McKay and the always hilarious, Bobby Ocean. Your "Duke", Dave Sholin, was too good to be true. A funny, thought-provoking AM DJ with a gigantic personality and vibe to boot. Sholin would later in life be an editor of the influential industry newsletter, "Gavin Report."

They were all great.

And as crazy as this sounds, the whole 70's/KFRC experience defined an era in Bay Area pop culture. It was distinct and brilliant. Cozy and authentic. It was emblematic of the times and chicken soup for those of us wanting an escape away from some not so cool things taking place in the 1970's miles from the music and culture scene.

We needed it. I needed it. And I loved it too.

It's a special part of Bay Area radio history that made for entertaining, nostalgic days and nights. It broke up boredom and created magical moments. Those of you that were fans of that era and like myself had an affinity for KFRC can relate to my enthusiasm.

Peter Frampton at a "Day on the Green" at Oakland Coliseum, 1976

It's an enthusiasm that is lacking today in the vanilla mainstream abyss known as millennial culture, whatever that is.




*At 415 Media, I am passionate about vintage radio and TV and will occasionally venture back into a time when the appreciation of the electronic media meant something.

If you like coming here and enjoy reading about current and past TV/Radio culture, then please CONTRIBUTE to this independent, edgy (sometimes) media blog that relies solely on reader contributions and donations; to donate, go to the "donate" button on the right side of the blog --just click on the "Pay Pal" button and make your contribution. It takes only a minute and will help keep 415 Media sustainable and at your service, 24/7.

#This column is dedicated to the life and memory of my mom, Anne Landau: 1922-2018.

The '7-F' BS That Failed KGO's PD Mike Anthony; Cumulus CEO Berner To SF MM Harvill: 'Make Changes'; Lee Hammer Says 'Yes' But What Now? Bearman on Short Leash; Copeland Might Be Back; Rothmann/Thurston Probable Keepers; Franklin Iffy; 415 Media Inside Story Monday

OUT at KGO and KSFO: Mike Anthony

NO MORE "7F" BS; hallelujah --maybe there is a god.

When Mike Anthony took over KGO Radio two and a half years ago, the station was in its latest doldrums; thinking forward, Anthony did one better: his first major move was to, a ha, change the format (again) back to talk from news; not the old KGO form of news-talk, but his version which amounted to lifestyle crap that never caught on and was the forefront of KGO's latest downfall. Yes, it was already in a tailspin with marginal ratings and severe reduction in advertising revenue, only Anthony seem destined to burn the corpse.

That he did. And now, finally, he's gone.

Here comes new MM, Doug Harvill, making his first significant move but the move was really made a few weeks back when I reported Cumulus CEO, Mary Berner said changes were coming to the once-powerhouse 810 AM.

Doug Harvill

Anthony, who had little PD experience and came from a small-budget San Jose station was never able to make KGO relevant. His managerial style was to try old has-been ideas only none of them worked and the few remaining people at the station weren't excited; his revamped morning slew of talkers were essentially old, tired, retreads who never registered with listeners. Rumors of Anthony's demise began percolating; once Harville was hired and got a directive to make changes from Berner, Anthony was gone.

So now KGO again is about to undergo another iteration under Lee Hammer, the veteran programmer who ran KNBR and will now run KGO and KSFO, although KSFO is actually a profitable operation despite its impish local morning show run by clowns who cherish the ultra-right. Its temporary fixture as a Bay Area conservative outpost keeps it going so Hammer will leave it alone until he doesn't.

KGO? Cumulus, and by extension, Harville, have to decide if its middle-dial station is worth the effort in dwindling terrestrial AM radio. The Bay Area has always been a news-talk bastion and even with KGO muddled in programming abyss, there is a market, still, for news and talk. Like, say, "newstalk radio." Anthony slaughtered that idea with his foolish lifestyle brand that sounded positively ridiculous especially when major news broke and a host would be talking about his favorite breakfast cereal. Seriously now, how does a programming director get away with that...especially in these uncharted times when there's a new story almost every hour with a Trump in the White House.

The real embarrassment en fuego took place at night, where, unbelievably, Anthony ran a taped, earlier-in-the-day catastrophe called the Ethan Bearman Show --mind you if a big news event broke out, how lovely to turn on KGO and listen to a guy talking about lasagna recipes. DISASTER. Anthony was trying to score points for tight-fisted Cumulus by this moronic move (to save money) but it only hastened his demise.

Mary Berner

Thank God.

I don't know what the immediate KGO plan is; I don't think they do either but probably new and fresher voices. A weekend ensemble probably mixed with the dreaded taped financial crap but maybe something bold too. We'll have to wait and see. (I know, I'm dreaming.)

Bearman, who has zero ratings and no following is probably on a short leash. There is no way he keeps the 10-12 PM timeslot unless Hammer is completely brain dead because Hammer knows Bearman has no chance.

I'm not a Brian Copeland fan but if the rumor mill has it he might be coming back, he's better than Bearman (which is not saying much)

Chip Franklin has a contract but he could be bought out because his show is "7F" nirvana and that's not in play.

Lee Hammer

Hammer likes John Rothmann, a lot. I would love to see Rothmann have a gig, say 7-10 PM weeknights or at least his own show on the weekend. With politics and Trump in the forefront this would seem to be an easy call for Hammer.

Pat Thurston figures to be a keeper. Michael Finney's consumer show is a ratings draw and will stay aboard.

I'm sure there's a lot on the plate and changes are coming but if you read me you already know that.

#doublebasta
#415Media

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.

*415 Media Exclu

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

415 Media Exclu: Jenna Susko Leaving NBC Bay Area For LA's KNBC

 NBC Bay Area has lost another reporter--my South Bay spy informs me that Jenna Susko is headed to LA to work for O and O, KNBC.

Susko was a part of the "Investigate Unit" team at the station and won numerous industry awards to boot. The move down to LA was nothing negative about KNTV; I'm told Susko liked the idea of going to the #2 market and ratings-challenged KNBC is supposedly building a bigger "I-Team."

For NBC Bay Area, it marks the sixth recent staffer to go to KNBC which is now being called "KNTV South."

*415 Media Exclu

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The 415 Media Correspondent Ventures Out Into Familiar Territory; 2015 Valentine's Day Solo Performance; You're Still A Young Man, Baby

 IT ALL BEGAN QUITE INNOCENTLY ENOUGH...I was planning a quiet weekend alone, (naturally) perfectly resolute in another Valentine's Day solo performance meaning home alone. Don't pity me, I hate Valentine's Day, as do most miserable people and sane ones. The restaurants are a ripoff with over-inflated prices for mediocre food and 40-dollar wine that could be had at Costco for 10 bucks. SOP for the SF restaurant experience which treats VDay as their preeminent mark-up orgasm; anyway, I avoided--or at least tried to-- the holiday altogether which this year fell on a Saturday night--which means, more hipsters from Marin and the Eastbay, less parking and more aggravation --BUT WAIT--fate caught the best of me and after a frantic text from good friend, Sal Genolenardo,  I ventured out into the streets to see all the blood and gore. Hello BART.

Destination: Downtown San Francisco. North Beach.

As usual, Tosca was packed. Who needs stinkin' Valentine's Day? The joint was jumpin' with enough booze and boobs to satisfy vintage Carol Doda. The bar was packed; Fat Tony Giovanni was sipping his sixth scotch-over which I do believe is a world record but I don't keep tab anymore. He offered me a drink but I politely declined and instead opted to retreat to a lesser-human existence--I'm not a fan of crowds anymore so I took off for the next oasis.

It was unusually warm for a February night with just a smidgen of a breeze. Good walking weather. I know this is sacrilegious to say but I love this climate. We need the rain, sure, but this is heaven --this is Florida without the smell, this is great--think of the misery they're experiencing back east so I like this, it beats the cold. I hate cold.

Billy Emory and his gal pal, Victoria Delebrenze, were having dinner at the counter at Tadich as I walked in; another packed place on this warm SF night. I was planning on leaving early to catch the train back to Oakland but Billy insisted I join them for dinner. Billy is a big shot at Bof A, the big-ass ex-SF bank with the building that used to house the classy Carnelian Room--remember that place? High atop 55 floors up with average food and $300 tabs, (no booze) --I was a victim many times of taking women to the place to impress and dream a little. It didn't work, as usual, but at least the view was good and Ms. Anastasia, who worked the front of the house, would always plant me with a great XO stogie on my way out. She had friends in high places and if you didn't know, she would tell you. BACK to Tadich: Billy, his friend and I ate dinner at the counter. God, this place is so good. Especially when the big shot is buying! I was mulling the scallops but instead opted for the old-standby swordfish with the usual side dishes. We all noshed and noshed supreme until the last loaf of sourdough bread was gone. At Tadich, the secret word is "bread." If you've been there you know what I mean--there is NO bread like the bread at Tadich which I need like Brian Williams needs helicopters in Iraq...Billy and Vick were ready to go as was I but it was still early enough to venture on so as they departed I headed over to the Embarcadero --a full stomach and a little bounce in my step. Hello Boulevard.

BOULEVARD --the little-big engine that is still the marquee place near the water; Jimmy Beal making cocktails like Burt Nolan at PJ Clarke's in NY--every seat in the joint was filled with guys impressing their sweethearts --I counted about 88 blonds and 3 brunettes --in the front room alone! Boulevard doesn't need a Valentine's Day to get the biz --they make bank on a routine basis but the techies and geeks were free-spending so what the hell. I was done with my second soda water --suddenly, hell occurred: the intense odor of vapid Old Spice cologne permeated the bar. Sure enough, some mutt from Fremont walked in with his date --trying to impress her, he smelled like he just left a French whore house. I moved on.

Proceeded over to Battery and a last call at the old hangout. I had the misfortune of running into Teresa Tulips and her band of miscreants --they had just finished dinner at Kokkari. Stop the presses: me, the only guy in the place with about 10 really, really, really, good-looking broads --a single man's personal buffet. Teresa was her usual jovial self and even bought a drink for me; we always liked each other but she was too young for me and was planning on going back to Montreal to work for the Canadian embassy. Which was just as well given my state of anxiety and neurosis --it suddenly dawned on me: What the hell?, why are you out--for god's sake, it's Valentine's Day night! You imbecile you! Very reasonable thought but you know what? It's weird. Other than the schmuck at Boulevard with the Old Spice fetish things were OK, everything sorta jelled and was smooth. Herb Caen would have been proud. All in all a mellow evening. I even saw Willie Brown and his latest blond squeeze looking adroit coming out of the hotel Vitale across the street. I was tempted to yell something at Da Mayor but I held back --Willie still has considerable clout in this town and even a mock insult might have jolted him and me, a placement in Matier and Ross...I walked past the St. Regis on my way over to the BART station where I waited for the next train BACK TO OAKLAND. Tower of Power would be proud. Cue the horn section. Lenny Williams, take it away. You're Still a Young Man, baby.

The night was over.

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The Rich Lieberman 415 Media Monday Questionaire

 Many of you come here to check in on Bay Area TV/Radio. Some of you are regulars and some are new.

415 Media has grown quite considerably to a point where I wouldn't have imagined such thought a few years ago.

I want to start off Monday by probably opening up a hornet's nest, possibly, but why change now.

What do you look for when you come here? What are some of the things you like and dislike? (hornet's nest reference)

Of course we'll delve more into this later on. I appreciate your feedback.

*You can also inquire on 415 Media by following and asking me questions on Twitter

*Rich Lieberman and 415 Media are not responsible for comments made by others on this website.

Breaking: Ama Daetz Officially Named KGO-TV Permanent Weeknight PM Anchor Alongside Dan Ashley

It's official:

Reported here first:  Bay Area news personality Ama Daetz was officially named the permanent co-anchor for the 6 and 11 PM News for KGO-TV, alongside longtime circle7 anchor, Dan Ashley.


The move, formally announced to Channel 7 staff late Friday, was Daetz' to lose. According to my KGO sources, no one else was seriously considered; it also helped that Ashley and Daetz seemed to possess instant chemistry on the set.


Daetz moves from the weekend and will also continue to occasionally report from the field.




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Flash: SF Cumulus Market Manager Is Gone; Steve Sklenar Shown The Door; 'Resignation' Not Really More Termination

SKLENAR OUT as Cumulus SF Market Manager!


Steve Sklenar, the Cumulus MM for San Francisco and responsible for all its stations, including troubled and ratings-challenged KGO was let go on Tuesday, according to a reliable broadcast source and was confirmed late into the evening.


The official wording was Sklenar "resigned"--in fact, he was shown the door over a variety of issues not the least of which involved KGO's deep retreat into ratings hell, the continued dysfunction of KSFO and the complete "cluster-uck" known as KFOG, barely relevant and almost in as deep a funk as once-legacy status KGO.


KGO is eventually going back to a hybrid news and talk, live and local re-branding --broken on 415 Media and when I confronted Sklenar about commenting on that development, he simply offered a "no comment." Twice. Never denied, but the mere fact he spoke on the record to me was not appreciated the very least by the Cumulus high tops in Atlanta.


There's no word on a replacement for Sklenar.




We will add further info as the situation is still fluid and developing...


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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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Damon Bruce/Gary Radnich Secret War at KNBR; 'They Both Couldn't Stand Each Other'; Nearly Came to Blows inside Cumulus Building

 Gary Radnich is a quietly giddy man this Wednesday as the leading protagonist with Damon Bruce, his now ex-adversary at KNBR, where Bruce has now left and about to work the afternoon drive at 95.7 FM The Game.


Both Radnich and Bruce couldn't stand one another and at one point nearly came to blows in the Cumulus elevator one day after Radnich ripped into the younger Indiana Hoosier in a newspaper article.


Bruce's departure to rival The Game was not centrally directly to his wrath with Radnich but set in motion and may have accelerated his move out of the KNBR 1050 Siberia into The Game.


Bruce openly ripped Radnich on the air on several occasions and mocked his frequent non-sports interest. In short, the two couldn't stand each other. The war was most evident during and immediately after both men were paired into a team in August of 2011 on 680. The show suffered from the start with no chemistry whatsoever and turned into a disaster when it was abruptly cancelled. Radnich took an immediate two-week "vacation" and according to several station sources, offered a mild ultimatum to management: It's either me or Bruce.


At that point, Larry Krueger was reunited with KNBR; re-hired to work with Radnich from 9-Noon and Bruce was given his own show to KNBR's secondary outlet, "KNBR 1050 AM", in the middle of the dial with a considerably weaker signal and virtually no promotion from the station. In other words, radio Death Valley. Although Bruce's show picked up a loyal listener base and delivered respectable ratings he was never able to gain any traction into the 680 fortress and Radnich's presence played a part in that dynamic and was chief among Bruce's desire to seek work elsewhere.


Radnich was not the only individual figure Bruce didn't get along with; in fact, I was told by a current KNBR staffer who once worked with Bruce that he had virtually no friends at KNBR. "Nobody liked working with him; producers, interns, staff people, salespeople--he was very difficult. Everybody hated him." This matter probably probably was in the forefront.


When news of the Bruce move to The Game broke late Tuesday morning both Radnich and Krueger didn't mention the transaction, (naturally), but I'm told, privately, Radnich was elated. And to be fair, I'm guessing Bruce was feeling much the same.


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