The transaction involving Damon Bruce's switch from KNBR to The Game and the firing of "The Rise Guys" misses the larger issue. Sports-talk radio, however inane and superfluous and largely superficial is big business even in the less-than passionate Bay Area. Of course the Giants and the 49ers and to a lesser degree, the Raiders and A's too have a very loyal fan base even when their teams aren't winning. And of course when they win that passion is even more pronounced and you can measure that enthusiasm by listening to the local talk shows. *By the way, I agree with Lowell Cohn on the Bruce signing by The Game, (95. 7 FM). Bruce is a desperation move at best. He will be competing against Tom Tolbert, a guy I don't always care for but overall is knowledgeable and provides much-needed laughter and levity to the radio sports dial even if there's 5000 commercial spots to trudge through.
In addition, Tolbert has 50,000 watts, an immensely more favorable dial position and oh yes, the 49ers, Giants, and Warriors to work with. The Game has a crappy signal, a figurehead PD, (maybe the worst ever in Bay Area history), who has the gig in name only and a company that might be switching formats if the sports model doesn't begin getting more than a 1 rating.
Yes, Entercom desperately wants and appreciates being in the Bay Area, as they should. And yes, although the overall "beauty contest" ratings don't ring the cash register, they do give an honest gauge of who's moving the needle and The Game hasn't moved the needle in three-plus years.
* I asked Chronicle A's beat writer, Susan Slusser, about having to, probably, eventually talk with Bruce, whose bizarre anti-women rant made national headlines. Slusser appears on The Game: "I have a contract and intend to honor it." She also mentioned how Bruce always complained about her not being able to be on his show. "Sports isn't always female friendly and that's nothing new."
*Ronn Owens's latest producer, on the job for only a few months, was reassigned to another position in the KGO zoo. Draw your own conclusion.
*Funny, check this out: you'd think with the 8 million ads they run on the Cumulus stations here that they'd be swimming in Account Execs--only they keep advertising, endlessly, for salespeople. Again, draw your own conclusion.
*KRON's bread and butter is news, even in its infomercial-central, marginalized world, therefore splitting from the China Basin fire, for thirty minutes in favor of a nauseous "ET", was a piss-poor move.
*Barely two weeks away from the magical Amy G: Larry Baer's gift to the world.
*Kate Scott: Well, she's not Amy G.
*On most noon local TV news they don't do sports yet weather is ALWAYS featured. What does that tell you about what the consultants think of you? Better yet, yes, noon news is TV News Siberia, unless of course you're KTVU and oh .....
*Follow me on Twitter
No sports coverage at noon? Makes sense since there are no new scores since the previous night. Sports junkies can get their fix thru radio or espn.
ReplyDeleteI think including updates about the goings on for singing and dancing shows, regardless of time slot, is the real insult.
If i hear that DGDG or whatever the heck it is, spot on KGO again i am going to vomit
ReplyDeleteWoman on sports radio have no leverage. Since there has never been a full time female sports host here,boycotting (boys-cotting?)isn't an option. At least they don't come across as deferential...no more then most male guests do at least with local sports hosts.
ReplyDeleteUnike with people of color..white males can fail over and over on local sports radio,and GM's just hire more..or RE HIRE them over and over. I can imagine if a sports station went 24/7 Asian,Female,or the rest ethnic sports hosts and ratings for SOME went down? "PROOF! that they can't get an audience!" say the status quo..man,the double standards is so blatant here..EOE and affirmative action are ignored.
And they get away with it..except with me.
Stan is so correct on this one! If they gave a full time show to an ethnic woman and if she got bad ratings the critics would bash her for her ethnicity and gender something that's never done to white males who co scantly fail. Brilliant analysis by Stan calling it like it is!!
DeleteHey Stan, now you're a legal genius too?
DeleteIf ".EOE and affirmative action are ignored" how come no one has brought a successful lawsuit?
Please explain your legal argument and make specific reference to the specific statutes that have been violated.
I think The Game may pick up some KNBR traffic when the Giant's have early afternoon games.
ReplyDeleteI'm a lifelong Giant's fan going back to childhood. When the Bay Area was in love with the A's and every bandwagon headed over there in the late 80's, I stuck with my Giant's. As the 2000's rolled around the Giant's started winning World Series and the bandwagon's started filling AT&T Park I have come to lose a lot of the passion I once had for the team. I can't explain why. I'm the guy that wouldn't miss a minute on radio and who would watch every single pitch on television. Yet the last 2 or so years I've found myself caring less and less. I think part of it was finally winning the World Series. It was an emotional high I'm still coming down from. The other part is Larry's selling out of the team. The ridiculous marketing and all of the products that come with it (panda and giraffe hats anyone?). The ridiculous social media garbage. The insane amount of bandwagon fans. As Rich mentioned....the pretty faces catering to certain segments of the fan base that I'm willing to bet couldn't name the starting infield of the '89 World Series team. Maybe one day I'll go back but for now I'm very disinterested. Back to the original point...when the Giant's run those early afternoon games that cut into Tolbert's show....I can't be alone....there have to be other's that are a little tired of the Giant's act and will switch over to see what Damon is talking about.
I have to respectfully disagree with you. I do agree with everything you have to say regarding Larry Baer and the ridiculous marketing but I would still much rather listen to any baseball game over any sports talk radio show most especially Damon Bruce.
DeletePost at 11:36am I am right with you. Though I lost interest back in 2000. The minute the fair weathered fans came out of the woodwork at ATT park, I was gone.
DeleteIf you want to listen to Tolbert during an EDT / CDT Giants baseball game, you merely turn the dial to 1050 AM…that's the whole point of having the "deuce" for KNBR….
DeleteGreat post Agree wholeheartedly.
DeleteThe ridiculous marketing and all of the products that come with it (panda and giraffe hats anyone?).
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the "Melk men/Melk maids".
Oh, so there is something wrong with marketing and promoting the local team? Marketing is a legitimate part of doing business. What is surprising about that?
DeleteThere is marketing and then there is BLATANT marketing to bandwagon fans. You sell your soul and you risk alienating your core fans who are there through thick and thin. Not the fans that rush home to catch their favorite reality show, post a ridiculous amount of selfies from the stadium (tongue always out of course), post pictures of what they're eating on Facebook, I could go on but you get the point.
DeleteYes, I do get the point @1:51. You disapprove of "bandwagon" fans and marketing to "bandwagon" fans.
DeleteNext time you run a business, be sure not to sell any of your products to people who watch reality shows on television or post pictures on Facebook.
@2:52 Next time he "runs a business" he'll be sure "not to sell" any of his products to "people who watch" reality shows on television or "post pictures" on "Facebook".
DeleteBand wagon fans always jump on to a winning team. Happens with every team. The Lakers are in the crapper in LA, and the Clippers are doing well, the LA fickle fans are now Clipper fans. They are saying, Kobe who?
ReplyDeleteGiants fans think they are in LA, only going to games to talk on their I-phones and snap selfies.
Give me the pit of a stadium and My A's and Raiders anyday. Niner fans are also in for a rude awakening when Levi Santa Clara Niner Stadium south opens. A bunch of Silicon Vally technie nurds will invade and fill the stadium
Amy G, is horrible. She never brings anything of substance besides her relying on her cuteness.
Enjoy that atmosphere at the A's games while it lasts. When they build their new stadium, the prices and ticket holder base will change (for the worse).
DeleteAmy G will be the only negative to the otherwise wonderful start to the Giants regular season telecasts. Her appearances during a Spring Training game demonstrated that there has been no improvement whatsoever in her on-air performance. She seems better suited for print journalism, or perhaps some off-air PR work.
ReplyDeleteTogether (your money, our players) we're Giants!
ReplyDeletelol !
DeleteBoy, I don't get all this negative energy about Amy G. She's OK, doing a job, adding some contrast during the broadcast, not curing cancer, not solving homelessness, just providing a break for the main guys.
DeleteNo negative chi from me. I hate that the Giants still play in a ice box. It isn't until Sept day games Amy G and like her in the stands are in their summer dresses. And if its a night game? Its Amy G in turtleneck sweaters. What a bummer, man.
DeleteThey should have built that park a little inland...like San Ramon,or heck,Modesto. Where woman can dress like woman in summers. Its not until September that you can tell Amy G. is more then just a pretty face...well,its easier then-lol.
I work at KGO radio and it's amazing, because every time you look up you see a lot of new bright young faces in business suits going to the morning or afternoon meetings for the sales department. I think they run through sales people the way most folks run through potato chips!
ReplyDeleteHere come the "no one runs through potato chips faster than Rich" comments.
DeleteWhat a new producer at KGO? Whatever became of Jared?
ReplyDeleteAmy G. sucks and the fact that she is still on the air is a testament to the stupidity of people like Larry Baer and Ted Griggs. What possible worth could they believe she has on the broadcasts? You can always tell that Krukow and Kuiper more than a little annoyed to have to break away to go down to her for some air-headed, cutesy comments. Judging from the many negative comments I have read and heard about Amy G. over the years, I'm amazed that the powers that be haven't a clue as to what Giants' fans want. I guess there are some clueless front-runners; the people who wear the panda and giraffe hats and take selfies and post them on Facebook who would probably like her. But the thing is, people who are tuned into the games for the TV broadcasts are usually the hard core fans who don't care for her vapid comments and sophomoric questions. Get a clue guys and get ride of that female dolt!
ReplyDeleteThe Giants hired Amy G to sell Giants baseball to women. Hard core fans ( i.e. Men ) don't dig her act. Lots of Giants fans love her. Not my cup of tea, but I get it
DeleteJared is now the program director of a radio station in Philly.
ReplyDeleteIronic. Because Radnich who loves to take credit for boosting careers,might be the person who first ended Dan Dibley's and now, Damon Bruce. A strong case could be made that they left KNBR because of the 900 pound canary.
ReplyDeleteif what you're saying is correct, why can't Gary work his magic disappearing act on Amy G?
Delete