Thursday, August 14, 2014

Ask Rich Lieberman 415 Media; Thursday First Take

I'm sure you have a lot to ask.

Fire away.












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87 comments:

  1. My take on scribes going to Comcast: They have basically disappeared. Speaking specifically of ... Giants' insider Bags. Dude doesn't travel with team, then basically offers an opinion when hosting with Bip (or whomever) that the average fan can see. Retweets news broken by national media. I thought he had far more exposure at the Merc and doing radio bits. Feel same way about Maiocco, Stiglich ... Thoughts? Maybe the money is there, but I imagine there's as much instability in TV as there is in print media these days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Insiders are nothing more than glorified, overpaid correspondents who are no more "inside" than the average shmoe...they very rarely break anything significant, it's just that simple.

      You can be an Insider--read the paper, go online...you're now an INSIDER! Congratulations.

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    2. "Insider" is just a new name for beat writer to make them sound more important than they are.

      Delete
  2. Hey, Rich--
    GREAT job w/this blog. It keeps me connected to the business I left ten years ago (after having worked in it for 24-years)

    WHen I left, there was much talk (and fear) about what KRON was doing w/the whole "Backpack Journalist" (read: "One-Man Bands") concept. There was a lot of grumbling and fear about all of us veteran reporters having to learn to shoot & edit...and photogs needing to be able to write).

    The talk was that it (onr-man-band concept) was coming to the other big shops (KPIX, KGO, KTVU).

    Ten years later, I'm wondering: What is the status/progress report on this? Are the other stations still intending to convert to it--or has the whole one-man-band thing faded away??

    Keep up the great work!

    What is the state of the

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More and more reporters are shooting their own video--a sign of the times and stations are looking to save money...we're in a different era, thanks for the comments.

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  3. When was the last time you got laid (and money didn't exchange hands)?

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    Replies
    1. Last night actually and she was great...worth the 145 bucks and then some. Dinner was great too.

      By the way, next time you buy your honey flowers and "money is exchanged", think back to this moment.

      Have a nice day.

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  4. Who in the hell is Chip Franklin, and WHY is he filling in for Ronnnn Owens - two days in a row?? He's doing his "opening" right now, and he's a blithering idiot - making absolutely no sense. Where are the "regular" fill-ins? (Christine, Brian, Pat T.). Un-freaking-believable.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. If you work cheap, are a blithering idiot, and could be had off the street, or maybe are a 6th-rate "comedian" in New Jersey, apply at KGO Radio--Cumulus will hire you in an instant.

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    2. I think a lot of you overly critical. I don't think the hosts are great at KGO, but not all of the new ones are as bad as people make them out to be. With that said, this guy Chip Franklin is so generic and uninteresting it's almost strange. Considering the personalities KGO has had, and I mean PERSONALITIES (even a Monty or a Karel), this person is so bland. Normally i will listen to whatever is on (there are some I don't love), but I shut this off rather quickly on 2 occasions, and turned on 910 which I have literally never done before.

      Where did they find this guy? And is that his real name, or is a big fan of Leave it to Beaver?

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    3. At 10:00 I switched to KKSF. I like Leslie Marshall and she is on again today.

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    4. No, No, No, No...Chip just said he'd be on tomorrow and on Saturday - 10: to 1.... No, No, No, No... he's worse than Matt Rey... different but just as bad as Montemanure ...what is wrong with this radio station... ? I thought Pig Vomit, Virus, whatever was supposed to be cleaning house...? If he is he's doing it with dirty rags....

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    5. Chip Franklin is the final straw. Perhaps he is the first of the "big changes" rumored to come?? Whatever the case - I am not listening to ANY time slots on KGOne from here on out. Hopefully, someone with some authority (??) at Cumulus/KGOne is reading these posts, and "gets it" - this guy is a J-O-K-E, and we, uh, don't like him.......

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    6. The last gig Franklin had was morning drive at KOGO San Diego. He was replaced a few years ago.

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    7. They bring in a fill in to replace Owens? IF THAT'S NOT SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE OTHER HOSTS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS!

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    8. I would, certainly, prefer to hear Brian or Pat sitting in for Ronn. But, this Chip Franklin is light years ahead of "Monty," or (somebody) Bartholomew.

      There's a certain quality of personality that long time KGO listeners are used to hearing. Evidently, Jack Swanson knew how to pick them out of a crowd. Chip Franklin doesn't have that quality ... too hysterical in his bid to sound "hip." But, if he can calm down, a bit, I think he might be OK.

      I appealed to the Wiki Gods, just after I heard him introduce himself on Wednesday's program. He's had a talk show on KOGO, in San Diego, has broadcast in Washington, D.C., has done some work with/for Jay Leno, and so forth. "Wiki" shows a video segment that is very much like the "Jay Walking," man-on-the-street from the Leno version of THE TONIGHT SHOW. He asks people if they know who Chip Franklin is ... of course, all answers are "No."

      Again, I WOULD MUCH RATHER HEAR BRIAN OR PAT. However, if (hated) Cumulus is going to go fishing for talk hosts to re-build some local talk into the format, he's not the worst choice that they could make. I do hope that he recognizes that he should gear it down, a little.

      (Usual disclaimer: I left KGO Radio in the mid 90's, under Disney. I hate Cumulus. )

      (New disclaimer: Before yesterday morning, I never heard of Chip Franklin. I've never met Chip Franklin. If I never hear him again, I'll survive nicely.)



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    9. I haven't heard Chip Franklin enough yet to have an opinion. But it seems to me that KGO started using him as a fill-in host at the same time they stopped using Casey Bartholomew. Now, I am thrilled that we no longer have to hear Casey. I really didn't like him; he was rude. I certainly don't want him to return, do you? Maybe we just need to get used to Chip, and maybe Chip just needs to get used to his Bay Area audience.

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    10. New rule of thumb at KGO: fail every place else? Never had ratings?

      WELCOME TO KGO!!!

      Delete
  5. Rich Lieberman posted August 4, 2014 at 9:41 AM

    > *Ben Fong-Torres: Think of visiting your grandma's house
    > and she has the plastic draped over the couch with the old
    > National Geographic magazines from 1974.

    What is backstory to above Bay Area writer's account that Barbara Simpson, now age 77, contacted him (rather than 415 Media, for example) to review her KSFO dismissal?

    In the "nice report on my situation," as The Babe described on Facebook of the July 6 SF CHRONICLE "Radio Waves" column, Fong-Torres noted:

    "After reading speculation online . . . she called to say that the cancellation had nothing to do with money or ratings."

    The then station manager is quoted second hand: " 'The agenda has changed; we're not satisfied with the direction of the station.' "

    Why did she convey this superficial information, though questionably a "scoop" given the two-month lapse since May termination, to an apparent competitor?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. BFT is not a "competitor" ...I have a BIGGER readership. Much bigger.

      Perhaps Barbara thinks Ben still writes for Rolling Stone and it is 1974.

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    2. Barbara is 77? I'd still hit it.

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    3. Barbara Simpson born in 1946. Get out your calculator

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  6. Do you think your radio show, Lieberman Live, is high quality, entertaining radio?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, hell no.

      You're better off watching Duck Dynasty.

      Delete
  7. Hey Rich,
    Your thoughts on Fred Inglis from KTVU?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fred lasted 20 years at KTVU so he did something right and I congratulate him on his stay and wish him a nice retirement.

      While his style wasn't at the top of my personal favorite list, he wrote well and did some nice features.

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  8. How do they derive radio station ratings each month?? There are many car and home radios....how do they know what we are listening to??

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    Replies
    1. It's a complicated system dealing with people and meters and thus, I'm going to just say I'd bore you to hell if I got more specific, trust me.

      Delete
  9. Brian Hackney seems to be doing it all at PIX, news, weather, and doing it well. He could fit in in any major market. Why is Roberta Gonzales being utilized so sparingly? They actually had her reporting from a donut shop recently.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maybe she likes donuts.

      Roberta has been marginalized by the News Director, Dan Rosenheim, who still doesn't care for Roberta's popularity --maybe he thinks isolating her to mornings will lessen her Q rating.

      Delete
  10. Rich, I see that Dan Dibley has reached new heights so to speak, for the past two mornings he has been one of the air traffic reporters for KCBS.

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  11. What is the aftermath of the BRUNO visit?

    Is it more or less likely that a move to Bruno is in the offing?

    Or was that ever really a possibility?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. By inviting him on I assume they wanted to see what he was made of and Bruno did quite well.

      The problem with Bruno is not his radio work, it's Bruno the person and Bruno tends to bounce from market to market which doesn't bode well.

      That said, if the current morning show tanks, they'll have to hire a new team, advantage Bruno...maybe.

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    2. Rich, IF the current morning show tanks? That show is abysmal. It's already tanked.

      Delete
  12. Wondering why Ronn Owens isn't on air. They are making no mention of a reason. It's just "Chip Franklin filling in for Ronn".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ronnnn posted on his FB page that he is out having cataract surgery - he'll be back Monday. Meanwhile, we suffer with this clown.

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    2. Seems Ronn is having some medical procedure done--I don't listen to Cumulus fill-ins otherwise I'll have a mental breakdown and need assistance.

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    3. Chip is filling in because Copie is unable to do so because he's working on multiple new projects. Has been in and out of LA. Not sure why Christina didn't fill in though.

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  13. Essentially, you keep saying that 95.7 the Game is on borrowed time, yet they've just had their best quarter so far. Do you actually have any info on this or are you just throwing shit at the wall and hoping something sticks?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We'll since you seem to belittle my opinion why ask?

      I never said they're on borrowed time, I said as long as they hover near the 1+ rating that won't be good enough to sustain themselves although Entercom has deep pockets, they just don't like to pay their talent.

      I know the A's are looking around and the Raiders too.

      The Game had their best quarter largely due to the A's and Damon Bruce --I wouldn't gloat over that--the only way was up. They still have a huge hill to climb, so let's wait and see.

      Delete
  14. Do you think there will be a day when news stations use camera mounted drones for many of their shots?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure, why not?
      Plus you don't have to pay a drone.

      Delete
  15. What's the word on Kevin Metheny? Is he liked? Hated? Know what he's doing?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, do I have to?
      Metheny has a track record that speaks for itself. He'll probably be just fine as soon as he fires his first batch of humans --does he know what he's doing? No, but that's a commodity at Cumulus. They sure as well don't know what THEY are doing so he'll fit right in.

      Delete
  16. Whats taking you so long to do your "Ice bucket Challenge" list?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stan, people are berating me because I let you back into the club, please, just be Stan and make me laugh --don't obliterate the honor of being here...as for the Ice Bucket deal, I'll pass.

      Delete
    2. You got that much out of that?-lol.
      Hey,every media in town blocks me. Not because I'm wrong,but because i'm just too right.

      Delete
  17. how much does the alice crew make? uzette, bryn, vanessa, sarah, vinnie, hooman?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sarah makes the most, probably high six-figure area, hubby considerably less.
      The others are bare-bones but they get great box lunches.

      Delete
  18. zero coverage of the Mendocino fires. Not one station thought it was news. 11,500 acres burnt so far, hundreds of fire trucks, and nothing from any bay area station.
    Started 7/30 by lightning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fires on TV News are sorta non-sexy unless it's live and local, telling you the truth which might be harsh but reality.

      If, God forbid, we get another Oakland Hills fire, I'm sure you'll get coverage.

      Delete
  19. May have missed on-air announcement (do not find online either), so what was outcome of "Win Lunch With Brian Sussman of KSFO"? Katie Green (plus Producer Sherri Yee?) belatedly joined the auction package.

    According to SleepTrainFosterKids.org, 24% or $1,175 of $5,000 goal was raised. Subsequent to the August 10th bidding conclusion, when/how was "lunch date" winner revealed?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have no idea.

      Based on his ratings I'm thinking people might have paid money NOT to have lunch with the "staff meteorologist" and his gravel-voiced female sidekick.

      Delete
    2. Who thought this was a good idea? That quickly became yet another exercise in on the air humiliation. If they really want to raise money and if you have to use ksfo to do it, they should call the meal The Last Supper.

      Delete
  20. Were you aware of the format-switch at 102.1 (the former K-FOX SF simulcast)? It happened 2 weeks ago and has to be the least-publicized switch in living memory. Entercom has made them a "rhythmic hot AC" (K-FOX continues as Classic Rock in SJ). Good news for Cumulus, I guess.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. **Has to be the least-publicized switch in living memory**

      Yep, you got it.

      Delete
  21. Why does Comcast have so many commercials for Comcast when you are already watching TV on Comcast? Is it that they don't sell enough ads and have to fill the blank space with something?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They have deep pockets and need to flatter themselves so they do this I guess.

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    2. Probably "house ads". If they had paying advertisers in those slots you wouldn't see Comcast ads.

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    3. To steal AT&T Uverse customers and reinforce the "smart decision" of Comcast customers to keep them from defecting.

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    4. I switched to AT&T U-Verse awhile back and have never been sorry. Comcast has plenty to worry about.

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  22. Rich, when will KGO fire Karel? He's horrendous.

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  23. What do you think Disney's announcement that they are selling off all of their terrestrial Radio Disney stations (because the vast majority of their listeners are satellite or digital) says about radio generally?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Simply the fact that young people DO NOT listen to terrestrial radio, and if they do at all, they do so on their smart phones.

      Disney is a business last I heard.

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    2. That's why Disney as part of ABC sold KGO 810 in the first place. lol

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    3. AM radio is for sports, news, talk and telling you why you are going to hell.

      Delete
  24. What, if anything, do you know about the Loveline show hosted by Dr. Drew and carried on Live 105? It's been on the air for decades, but are its ratings really that good especially without Adam Carolla?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I listened throughout the years and thought the show was mildly interesting...the ratings are still respectable enough that the program remains on the air.

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  25. Do you think there is one single person in the history of the world that has gone to Aamco because of those ads?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Why does Michael Savage at times replay the 1st hour on the last hour of the show?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have no idea but I don't like it and wish he'd do a live third hour.
      To Savage's defense, many markets only carry the first two hours of the program.

      Delete
  27. Savage does not do a third hour because he's lazy. Besides, after one hour do you really need the next 2? The longer he's on the air the harder it is to sell spots. Check his numbers for they are terrible. I noticed Levin has a promo calling himself the highest selling author on the radio. So now these two morons are running promos against each other? Guess that? You both have TERRIBLE RATINGS.

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  28. Way to go concert promoters for fucking up the Paul McCartney concert. Plenty of traffic cops outside the parking lot, NO private traffic personnel inside the lots. It was a NIGHTMARE. At least 2 hours to get to 101 for most everyone who paid $40 for that shitty lot. I finally called KCBS at 2AM to complain. Candlestick is the worst stadium in any league, anywhere. I fully subscribe to the notion the Dodgers and the O'Malley family paid off the Mayor in 1958 to screw the Giants and build a stadium in a shit-hole. Your thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 8:41,

      The place is soon going to be a pile of rubble. Your nightmares will be over.

      Delete
    2. Few took public transportation to the concert unlike 49er games.
      Parking staff at the gates told me that there was an accident at Gilman and 3rd and that is why none of us were moving. Not sure if that was true or not.

      "Why don't you guys go out there and stop some traffic so some folks can exit the parking lot?"
      Attendant: "We tried but everyone yelled at us, so we stopped. You guys are on your own to work it out"
      Amazing.

      //btw- I didn't get home to Santa Rosa until 4 a.m., a full hour before my alarm clock goes off.

      Delete
  29. Who is this asshole on KKSF today? Him and his buddy really suck and I hope we never hear from them again.

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  30. It's John London I see. KKSF has some of the worst hosts on radio, but they really had to look to find someone this bad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They would be better off giving Lloyd Lindsey Young his own program! These HACKS like Corey and Joel and London are the bottom of the barrel! Where is John Rothman? Please hire him.

      Delete
    2. I heard a little of their show, John and some guy named Art, never heard either of them before. This guy Art just talked about himself, and then he went into this whole thing about him and Officer Vic had a feud from ages ago, and he was willing to forget it, and hoped Officer Vic would also. Couldn't tell if he was serious or pulling our leg, in any case 1:25 and 7:37 are right, these guys were the worst, earlier in the week Ed Baxter was on, he is pretty good, especially compared to who else is on.
      I feel like repeating the line from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid " Who are those guys"? I don't listen much to Corey and Joel, however the little I listened this week it seemed the always were talking about demolishing the old Bay Bridge, how much steel there was and etc. Very interesting stuff that really affect our lives, and we are just dying to hear about. NOT. "Who are those guys"?

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  31. What are the ratings like for Kron news and overall.

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  32. I've noticed that KKSF is the only station where I hear those obnoxious late-night truecar.com ads that are voiced by a loud-mouthed, low-IQ female moron. You know, the one who's "sooooo afraid.... that I'd be paying too much!" I'd be shocked to discover that there are enough idiots in the biz that she could make enough $$$ to buy a new bicycle, let alone a new car.

    Other stations seem to have their own voice talents reading the spots. Is the fact that her spots only appear on KKSF caused by the fact that this female non-talent is actually a KKSF employee?

    I'd love to know who I can email complaints about her to, in the hopes of silencing both her rotten ad-copy writing "skills" and her voice "skills" forever.

    Inquiring minds want to know!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, she's not. That's called "remnant advertising" and is a national "brokered PI ad". KKSF and Clear Channel is so desperate for income that they sell to whomever as a "bulk network deal" to buy all of their stations and utilize discount inventory. Multiply this ad by 600 stations or more and you will see why it's a bargain to truecar.com to advertise and why Clear Channel can make a ton. Cumulus is doing the same with it's "NASH" format 24/7. It's a network buying proposition, not KKSF. The money doesn't go to KKSF. It goes to Clear Channel corporate which in turn distributes it for operating expense to its radio stations ... the one's it owns.

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    2. Contact sales manager at KKSF and see what he says. Then, report back.

      Delete
  33. If you ran a campaign to get Limbaugh off the air, what would you do? How would you get an MZ to can Limbaugh on 'SCO? How would you get the show off of a Clear Channel station?

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