Monday, October 27, 2014

Owens and Bakos KGO Radio Power Play; Frank Somerville's $400K Salary At KTVU To Be Cut By Fox Slashers; KPIX Dysfunction; KRON Nears Moving To 900 Front; Monday Morning After

 MONDAY MORNING ROUND-UP

It's not so much that the wee-hours guy, David Weintraub, was shown the door at albatross KGO Radio, it's the way it went down.

Weintraub, who wasn't a major player in KGO's decaying talk set-up but was clearly better than average, was the victim of a professional hit with Ronn Owens and Rene Bakos the backstabbers.

According to sources close to the situation, Owens wanted Weintraub out. Weintraub used to be Owen's producer and had both personal and professional clashes with the gadget man.

This, despite the fact that Weintraub was well-liked by most KGO staffers and considered an up-and-comer in the talk department. In fact, as I reported last week, Weintraub was ready to take Karel's spot on the weekend until the departure of top suit Ron Escarsega, who despised Karel.

Owens won't admit any of this of course --he's too busy schmoozing and kissing up to KGO's current crumb, Randall Bloomquist, who is essentially running the carnival show right now until the next clown is hired.

*KGO, along with the other Cumulus-SF stations like KNBR, KFOG, KSFO, etc, is moving out of its 55 Hawthorne headquarters and across town to the 300 Broadway building--one of the most heavily-congested areas of the city where parking is a rumor and navigating the traffic is virtually impossible--even with a garage this January move will be brutal.

I'm in touch with the development company based in Emeryville on why Cumulus was booted from Hawthorne and if what I'm hearing can be confirmed, this will be a doozy to report. Stay tuned.

*Frank Somerville's $400K or so salary at KTVU is almost certain to be cut as FOX begins to slash and trash the station's big money earners. The days of high-paid anchors even in big-city markets is a thing of the past. Somerville, like other veteran news readers has little leverage come contract renewal time as other stations in the market, owned by NBC and Disney, also plan to cut salaries.

*To say there's dysfunction at KPIX over a variety of things is like saying there's fog every now and then at the Golden Gate Bridge. For one thing, the cavalcade of managers continues to befuddle the rank and file and create fiction between the GM, ND and news staffers. You'd be surprised too about the very prominent anchors at PIX who are part-timers. It surprised the hell out of me.

*KRON had a tour of its new address, (900 Front; a Nov. 16 date they move in), complete with high-def monitors, news set and new equipment. ND, Aaron Pero, directed the tour with a few station people. Nobody heard or saw any screaming and yelling from Pero but I'm betting he's just getting warmed up.

*If you were listening to the end of the Stanford-Oregon St. radio broadcast on Saturday afternoon on KNBR 1050, it was a good 10 minutes before PBP broadcaster, Scott Reiss, managed to give the score. Not only professionally irresponsible but major annoyance too considering Reiss kept referring to this "Stanford blowout"--really?, then how about a score, moron! Just once.

*If Heather Holmes is considered female anchor royalty then I'm George Clooney.

*Funny: The Rob Lowe DirecTV commercials.

*GAAAAMEONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
I can't get that crap out of my head.


**Follow me on Twitter



37 comments:

  1. You clearly don't drive into the City often enough. Parking/driving South of Market is a major clusterf*%#k with all the construction etc. Media Gulch (Broadway/Battery) is much easier access all around. And yes, cheaper for the Cloud people too.

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    1. 55 Hawthorne has an indoor parking lot.

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  2. Ahh,Monday a good start of the Raddy Reports. First,I wrote that Raddy rubbing Hennans back live on air a couple of weeks ago reminded me of the "creepy Rob Lowe" commercials...then lo and behold,out of the blue Kreuger last week tells Radnich "You remind me of the creepy Rob Lowe". And I know Radnich..if you REALLY zing him..and he cant think fast enough? He pretends he didn't hear it. That's what he did. Went on like it was never said.
    One more: Today Raddy bragged that he was in St Louis back in 80something when the Giants played them. Sure,Raddy,but you cant drive across town to report from ATT at either Giants WS home games in 2014?. That has to be a KRON embarrassment. He loves sports?..or just spending that free money from KRON for doing virtually no work. And Pero must be nuts to be the only local channel ND sending the also ran reporters to ATT,not the SD...ACROSS TOWN,WORLD SERIES!..not a Bentley sighted!

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    1. who cares that he doesn't go to the games? He watches them on TV like the rest of the world.

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    2. Here's the link to the Panda head story:http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Over-the-top-Panda-fans-are-heading-to-Kansas-City-5849387.php

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    3. 1158 Doesn't even care if he gives the right score.

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    4. oh Stan, how do you do it? You're just one special guy...

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    5. Ok Rich howz this truth that relates to what you've said on this blog?: I followed your readers link to SF Gate- another time on what I thought of that- but I also see a bold header that said " One of the big four Giant announcer says he will retire after this year ends" I - like many- thought it had to be Krukow..and kind of sad since hes' hard core loyal and what the illness has done.
      I actually read I dont know- close to a paragraph before the article says "Krukow says he will miss HANK GREENWALD"...LOL, It was an 18 year old story posted and headlined like new!..and every comment below the story wanted to know what nutty reason this story was placed in today's SF Gate?
      How strange..nothing about "A classic oldie"..nah- like it just happened-lol
      Al or whoever does the managing of SF Gate sports must have been drunk.

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  3. I PREDICTED IT MONTHS AGO! Do you not remember when Weintraub took shots on Owens on the air? I was writing that he would be fired immediately! I'm surprised it took this long! I give him credit for having the guts to do it but there's a reason a guy like Lowenstein is on the air for 100 years even if he has no ratings to back it up. He's a company guy through and through, and company guys are always going to get their way. I actually liked Weintraub's show the few times I heard it. Sometimes he would get bored on the air and start doing all kinds of stories without giving people a chance to weigh in but when he did the stuff the hard hitting stuff he was great! He needed to know Owens would get him in the end because he always does what the company wants. Self preservation kind of guy. They say there were certain Jews that helped the Nazis like George Soros well Lowenstein would have been right next to him!

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    1. Pretty harsh and unfair shots at Ronn. I doubt KGO would fire Weintraub for taking shots at Ronn. Gene Burns disagreed with Ronn many times and called in to Ronn's show to defend his positions. They had lively discussions. Perhaps if Weintraub felt so strongly he should have called in and argued it out with Ronn.

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  4. Does anyone else find it amusing that the word "power play" would be used to explain the dismissal of a very part time, weekend overnight, rookie? If it takes a "POWER PLAY" these days to improve OVERNIGHT WEEKEND radio the industry is in much worst shape than many feared!

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    1. Agreed. Before the Dickies decimated the old KGO, the only way a guy like David Weintraub would've been allowed in the building would've been to deliver dinner to Mr. Burns, shine shoes or unplug the toilet.

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  5. ***Correction*** David Weintraub was NEVER Ronn's producer. He may have filled in from time to time for whoever was his producer at the time, but he was never given that job on a full time basis. Also, 55 Hawthorne by far is more of a nightmare to navigate and park than the Broadway area. You ever been over by Moscone during any number of conventions or conferences? Media gulch is a dream compared to that.

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  6. DISCOVERED!....I finally found a radio commercial that is (almost) more annoying that that TrueCar.Lady who yells about insuring your "core". The winner is a spot about Wix.com. Wix is a service that helps you to create a full functioning website. Their radio spot begins with a caller saying 'Hello?", This is quickly echoed in a very loud, Faux Parrot-falsetto voice. Soon both voices are pointlessly yelling at each other, and no, it's not funny, it's just annoying. I turn the sound down or off..... Who is she Rich? Who is that TrueCar woman someone has subjected us to for the last 12 months? I'll bet her facebook has a lot of comments on it, and not all of them complementary!

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    1. My vote for the worst commercials has to go to the screaming lady spots for true car. I have heard at least three equally annoying versions on 910 (run many times per day). I did hear a pleasant sounding lady doing true car on 810 the other day so the screaming lady must work for or is related to someone at 910. I can't believe the sponsor would want that as their voice for the company.. yikes.

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    2. The commercial with the couple talking with repeating words; Home Hone. Ugh. And, the creaky voiced "foster child" that could make the nicest person in the world hate "even a foster child."

      I have noticed C Crane doing commercials again. He sounds sad. I wonder if it is because radio is just about dead. Commercial radio, that is. There are still (some) great college stations out there.

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  7. Weintraub was well liked? You should check your sources Rich. From the day he was hired as a part time producer, he did nothing but tell everyone who would listen all about his rich radio career. He was also condescending to everyone, especially the promotions department who more than once had to go to HR and his boss Paul Hosley and complain. As someone who is around 55 Hawthorne I speak for many people around here and say good riddance you arrogant, insignificant little gnat. Go hang out in that disgusting city of Philadwlphia with your buddy Jarrett

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  8. Karel was positively disgusting on Sunday nite (more so than usual). I only listened (fortunately) to a portion of the "Karel-Kast", but it was when Mel Baker was doing the segment he does with Karel (don't know what they call it)....I've heard Mel Baker many times, but didn't know much about him - until last nite - when Karel completely "outed" him on two points: 1) he said to him that "your face looks slimmed down on my camera....you must have lost a few pounds" (not a direct quote) - so, Mel must (like Karel) have a weight problem (and then Karel proceeded to bully him about not knowing how to take a compliment). Then Karel outed him as being gay, when Karel made reference to his husband. Neither of those revelations means a THING to me - but what a reflection of Karel's complete lack of anything approaching professionalism. I have no idea what's REALLY going on with KGO - but PLEASE dump this poor excuse for a radio host. Please.

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    1. I have heard Mel Baker mention it before, so it was not like Karel outed him on Sunday. As for "the most" they basically made a segment based on Karel's annoying habit of interrupting the news with his idiotic and vitriolic comments.

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    2. What will that repulsive fool, Karel, do after he loses this final radio gig? He has no talent. You would think he would try to do an intelligent show for a change. I think he must be surrounded by a-kisser friends who do not try to help him. He is so hated now in the Bay Area.

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  9. Wasnt his name Jared? Someone around 55 Hawthorne would know this I would think.

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  10. >GAAAAMEONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

    Hey, I just made that song my ring tone, I love it so much!

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  11. What is wrong with this Cumulus Broadcasting? I don't understand why they can't just run a radio station the way ABC Radio did back in the day.

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  12. Trust me, 300 Broadway is FAR easier in terms of traffic than 55 Hawthorne, especially on Giants' home game days (and big conventions at Moscone). NIghtmarish!

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  13. > What is wrong with this Cumulus Broadcasting? I don't understand why they
    > can't just run a radio station the way ABC Radio did back in the day.

    They listen to consultants who tell them to do the stupid things they do. So often these consultants--and I used to work with a lot of them--are former employees who washed out and rather than take the hint that they are incompetent, founded or joined "consultancies." And now they're giving other people advice. It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

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  14. If Fox cuts anyone from KTVU make it Dave Clark. His woelcome wore out two years ago

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    1. Is Clark still commuting up from LA?

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  15. The confusion comes from whether, or not KPIX is going to be a SF/Oakland/SJ Media Outlet, imvho.

    Example: When the foreground comes on announcing KPIX news, I have heard covering the news from Santa Clara, and San Francisco?! Seriously?! I remember when nobody in the Bay Area Media knew that Santa Clara existed....LOL And now to say cover SC, over SJ, & SF???

    Btw, isn't KPIX big boss from the South Bay??? Cause KPIX needs to relocate to the South Bay...

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    1. Could it be because KPIX and the 49ers (of Santa Clara) have a broadcast agreement, so they are pushing "the SC"?

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  16. Interesting post about the power play by Ronn Owens and Rene Bakos.
    But on the other hand Dave Weintraub probably had it coming.
    He always came across as someone who had a chip on his shoulders.

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  17. For Pete's sake, Karelus Interruptus Let you callers and guests talk AND finish. So tired of the lack of common courtesy. Do you even listen to your self and hear what your spewing?
    And yes, people wanted to hear about baseball and interrupt your show. That's just how it is..

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    1. While reading this I could not help but hear in my head, Karel interrupting everything you said.

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  18. Professional hit? Power play? A bit dramatic even for you Rich. A mediocre, inexperienced talent. A midnight shift once a week. NO RATING. From many comments on your own site a very angry, perhaps a bit unbalanced or at least delusional person (not uncommon in broadcasting) is let go....and you call this a "hit" and a power play? Come in Rich, lets save that sort of paranoid rhetoric for something more relevant. If this information and description was fed to you by someone inside KGO one might suggest your source suffers from some of the same paranoid/delusional characteristics of Mr. Weintraub. In this case, as they say, "just the facts" tell the story rather clearly.

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  19. "Pretty harsh and unfair shots at Ronn..."

    Oh, please. As many, many longtime readers of this blog know, Ronn's certainly no victim.

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    1. The Nazi comment is beyond harsh.
      I discovered Rich's blog about a year ago (from BFT's column) and as a long time listener of way too much AM radio I enjoy the blog and many of the comments. I got the drift of why the Ronn criticism (sell out etc), but a refresher with facts would be much appreciated.

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  20. Based on the overall description, even from some fans of this Weintraub guy, it was just plan common sense to get rid of him....based on what I read I wouldn't want this guy around any business until he grows up .... like a ROTC officer in combat...these ego manics with no experience can get EVERYONE killed.

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  21. "Weintraub was well-liked by most KGO staffers"

    Only in his mind! He is/was an annoying pain in the butt who thought too much of himself. Neither Renee or Ronn wasted any time thinking about him.

    Could the lack of construction permits for the KGO/KSFO move have anything to do with Cumulus getting booted? Yup!

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