DANA KING LEAVING KPIX
The story behind the story.
**Made too much money
**Changing environment
**News Director that holds power key
**CBS O and O division axing big-money talent in big markets
**King's dissatisfaction with upper CBS5 brass
Developing...
UPDATE:
There's a lot more to this as there usually is when a big name talent is in the mix.
*King was not only one of the highest-paid anchors in the Bay Area, (at about $800K), she was also the union shop steward at KPIX. There's been growing tension between her and the news director.
More news developing.
*Follow me on Twitter
Too bad... First Roberta now Dana (whom my wife and I AFFECTIONATELY call Moe Szyslak from the Simpsons due to her gray hair). I like the PIX product (reporting)and as much as we liked Roberta and Dana, Channel 5 will probably still be our spot for the six o'clock news.
ReplyDeleteI had a feeling that Dana's decision to go all gray would have repercussions. I am in shock nonetheless...
ReplyDeleteWe all walked into the meeting think the managers were being fired. I haven't seen optimism in people eyes like I did today for almost 6 years, right up until it was announced Dana was leaving. Then the crush of dissapointment.
ReplyDeleteWhile Dana leaving is very dissapointing, the letdown of nothing happening to the wast numbers of disfunctional managers was almost too much to bare...
Things can't continue like this. We are so desperate for change. Please Bruno... Do something....
Do you really think they will call all of you into a meeting when managers are fired? They do that privately. When high priced anchors are fired, they let them go gracefully.
DeleteNo, but you notice that they're gone. There just seem to be more and more of them, and they do nothing except get in the way of reporting the news.
DeleteInteresting news to say the least. She's had a great run at KPIX. Wonder where she'll land next.
ReplyDeleteShe's leaving because she's been told- leave or be fired. She's not walking away from 800 thou worth of 15 minutes twice a day work. Nobody does.
ReplyDeleteToo bad,I liked her...seems like the day before yesterday we heard that some hotshot LA anchor was coming in to replace Tokuda. And then we liked her after all.
American businessman wont allow a 60 year old local female anchor. Any day now even Leslie Stahl gets kicked in the toocas by Laura Logan in stiletto heels off the big girl bar stool.
s
The anchor of the most watched television newscast in broadcast television is 65 and female.
Deletebut then you think you know how to spell "toocas"
I don't see 60 minutes changing a thing. The folks you see are "actual" journalists that put a perspective on a topic. A bright, shiny object can't replace a talented journalist. News hour on PBS appeals to a similar audience.
DeleteLocal TV anchors, for the most part, just read the news, static, with little thought and don't stimulate much thought. Don't annoy me to the point that my short attention span lures me away to a less annoying news program.
Ch5 is my local news source at 5, I bail at 6pm due to King and migrate to the PBS news hour. Fridays are usually the best due to Brooks & Shields.
Uhuh Christine. I do know whats important. And I didn't see you post that Dana didn't "leave" -she was pushed. I DID. So,before you take me on..learn the real world.
DeleteS
King is gone? Christmas came early!
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I never liked her, and never understood why other people did.
DeleteGood post at 6:16pm.
DeleteSo much sadness at this website you would think the world ended.
can't we all just get along??
DeleteNot to mention the nasal delivery.
ReplyDeleteAnd while we're talking about anchorettes: KTVU's Julie Haener. Has anybody seen her in profile? She's got to have massive buttocks. Her 'device', unfortunately, seems to be flexing her lower cheeks.
Very unattractive, Julie.
Yes but just think if TV was a two-way experience and she would have to then look at all these guys with their guts hanging over their already small penises. She'd probably think to herself, "Damn! Why work on the gluts for that guy in the wife beater going bald?"
DeleteVery unattractive indeed!
My hairline is the same as it was in grade school!
DeleteInteresting.
ReplyDeleteHowever in this day (recession) who can blame KPIX.
Apparently she was earning too much for current market conditions.
Kessler. King! These suits have lost it. KNTV is going to beat them in the rating!
ReplyDeleteI hope the new anchorchick has a nice rack.
ReplyDeleteThat and other torture devices in her basement dungeon.
DeleteBut next time, remember the safe word!
Wait!! What??????
:)
Over paid and under whelming. Needed to go as do most of kpix "talent".
ReplyDeleteYou must be kidding, she was the show along with Roberta. kpix must be owned by the same idiots that fucked up kgo radio. I am glad she dropped the hint about "really white", very clever.
DeleteI wish her the best. I love you Dana.
Wow...Can't believe she was making that much $$$$ I've heard the higher the market, the higher the anchor's salary....but $800,000...OMG. She should be set for life. And btw, if she is making that much, then how much do production people make.....Just saying.
ReplyDeleteProduction people make much less, between $45-75K, depending on what you're doing in "production" and how long you've been doing it.
DeleteMost production people are day-hires. They make very little. And they do all the work. You don't think the anchors really do the writing, the question-asking, the reporting, the decision-making, do you? They are hired because they're pretty/personable. Most of them come from beauty pageants or are ex-models. Dana came from a gossip show...Extra, I think.
DeleteWhile all other bay area aging female anchors attempt to hide their age with fake blond hair and botox injected face, Dana looks stunning and natural all gray. A shame we lost her. Yet good to know that she will thrive as a talented artist.
ReplyDeleteWho is the EP at PIX these days? Is it still Mike Weir?
ReplyDelete"As long as the cuffs and collars match ..." James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Elizabeth Cook doesn't get the position.....
ReplyDeleteOr as a certain Sesame street character would say.. Elizabeth COOKIE!
DeleteI agree. I noticed she didn't record a farewell message to Dana. I assume that means the young witch is her replacement.
DeleteLoved Dana. Wonder who's next. There seems to be a purge going on on that station. Will have to look for my news and sports elsewhere.
Good riddance. She's dumb as a rock, so was Gonzales so they made a good team. Was incapable of doing more than emoting--"How *terrible!*"--after every sad story. Same with Bastida. They need to hire some people with brains. They have Hackney, the brightest light at KPIX if not in all the Bay Area. But he doesn't kowtow to management and they are afraid of anyone smarter than them, which is anybody with an IQ higher than 85. KPIX is the station for the stupid, and that's saying a lot.
ReplyDeleteJulie Haener should get a job there then.
DeleteJohn, how mean can you get as these people you're mentioning are only local news journalists, not national news icons. You're putting too much into your unwarranted judgements, as Ms. King has won numerous awards and honors over the years while working for KPIX 5 news since 1997 and has worked as a journalist for nearly 25 years, so give credit where it's due. How dare you make such hateful comments about someone you don't even know, I guess you're some sort of genius yourself? Also are you racist, as you seem to be putting down journalists whom happen to be people of color only. There are many famous journalists I don't like, whom speak worse than Ms. King, Mr. Bastida and Ms. Gonzales, but I don't go on blogs putting them down, because I know it's truly mean and hateful. By the way what does "kowtow" mean.
DeleteI am bummed . .I like Dana King. An attractive sexy natural woman. Love her gray hair!
ReplyDeleteI liked her very much--But worth $800,000, don't think so. Something had to give----And for managment,
ReplyDeletethat needs to be cleaned up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!