Tuesday, June 23, 2015

It Must Be Time To Ask Rich Lieberman

YOU have so many questions and I have all the answers on Bay Area TV/Radio/Internet --so it must be time to Ask Rich Lieberman.


You may also ask me a question on Twitter

73 comments:

  1. What is KPIX's policy on maternity leave? When may the ladies go and how long can they stay?

    One of their anchorettes appears ready.

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    1. CBS (which owns KPIX) has the standard family leave policy just like most big companies --no difference here.

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    2. Two of them are just about ready. I think it goes back to the Clinton era law. 3 months! I know there is also applies to take care of a sick parent etc.

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  2. Any stories about the late great Pete Franklin?

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    1. Well, when he was alive, yes. Now, not so much. I will say this: Franklin was a showman and entertaining too. About the last good KNBR Talk Show since Tom Tolbert.

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  3. So what really happened to Hal Ramey? Is he on a contract? What was the reason? What? What? What?

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    1. Hal Ramey was nearing retirement and not long although Hal may think otherwise. I think he had two more years left, (he had no contract) and would retire after that. Jack Swanson let him go--reason? He had a younger voice in the stable, a voice he's familiar with: Kevin Radich. It' all about timing and that can work good and bad.

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  4. what's your take on Jack Swanson at KCBS? Up, down, minimal change

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    1. If you're asking me "change" in the sense as will Swanson make change? Yes, he already replaced Hal Ramey with Kevin The Rat. Down the road I don't have a clue although some KCBS air talent are getting older.

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  5. This is an oldie but whatever happened to Enid Goldstein? I loved her because she wasn't afraid to speak the truth in a way that pissed people off. She also came up with the best name for Rush Limbaugh - El Porko Grande.

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    1. The best of my knowledge is she's back in Michigan teaching at a university and occasionally fills in on local talk radio. I heard her on KGO about a year ago too. When she was at the old KGO I found her subject a little too esoteric for my taste but she had a large fan base.

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  6. Is it me or is Duane Kuiper one of the only MLB announcers who consistently notes when the game gets started, and if it's early, late, or right on time?

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    1. I've heard what you hear and being that I too like to know things like that (including giving the score too many times) I'm not bummed about it.

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    2. Oh, I love it, I've just never heard anyone do it before. I like the tone in his voice when it runs a bit late on occasion, just like if an infielder makes a bonehead move...

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    3. "you really have to make that play". :-)

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    4. "and that's how this game gets started."

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    5. Jon and Flem always tell the time of the first pitch, and usually the temperature, too. If you listen closely, you can hear the press box announcer in the background announcing it and then they repeat it on-air.

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  7. Caught (Fox2 KTVU) 4 PM broadcast yesterday... The camera (reporting) work and the news storylines seemed like something out of a Fox Bakersfield newscast (or Sacramento). Miss Keba is sho nuff purty and I appreciate seeing a sista in a high profile news role but that's just not our news style around here. Think it will last ?

    ALSO, I watch the 5 o'clock and 6 o'clock KPIX news shows (but NBC Nightly News) Anyway... the KPIX desk crew seems as if they want to kill each other. I MEAN none of them get along. I suspect tension between Bastida, VdC, Martin and the weather dude ? I REALLY only watch because I like the Matier dispatches, but it's painful to watch sometimes.

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    1. I put off watching KTVU 4 PM--let 'em get their feet wet so I'' wait a few days. KTVU/Fox has enough money in the bank to experiment long term at 4 but that time slot is too murky for me.

      Your comments about PIX I've already extensively about so we agree. Great minds think alike. (Oh, they pretty much do hate each other)

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    2. Question...Why do White folks think when it comes to speaking about, or to an African American Woman they feel they have the right to call them Girlfriend, or Sista??? Its demeaning, disgusting, stereotypical, and "not" appreciated...."Trust"

      Btw, Pam Moore is a Bay Area Anchor, who has a high profile job, and is Black also!...Anyone else remember Dana King,of KPIX????

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  8. Almost a year and they have not killed off Nightbeat. Are they just going to let it twist in the wind?

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    1. Sometimes, ego is bigger than simple judgment --PIX would rather drag this mess further on even though the flies have mangled the body.

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  9. What's the story with Ken Korach? Miss listening to him. Bernstein is solid, but Korach was plenty fine. Beats listening to the cheerleaders on KNBR.

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    1. Ken has been battling tremendous pain in both his knees and it's so painful it affects his daily life --including traveling. He's made some periodic visits back to the ballpark but the pain and issues haven't subsided. We'll have to wait and see on this one.

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  10. Rich: How is Heather Ishimaru doing? Thank you!

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    1. About the same I'm told --just hope she's not suffering any pain.

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  11. I talked with Ken Korach and he is eager to return but as you said, his knee is really bothering him. It's a shame, because he's so much better than Vince Cotronio and whoever else they have filling in. Korach has been the true 'voice of the A's' now since Bill King passed away in 2005. Good guy, fine broadcaster. The A's are lucky to have him.

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    1. I actually like Roxy and Guy Haberman when he fills in. But, yeah, I miss Ken.

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  12. Rich,

    Don't know if this has been asked but how/by whom are broadcasters paid when working across multiple formats?

    For example:

    Greg Papa: the Game(radio) and CSN(tv), play by play for Raiders

    B. Fitz: KNBR(radio), play by play for Warriors

    Ratto: KNBR(radio), CSN(tv)

    Also remember Starky did the Niners on KNBR and CAL games on KGO; were there checks coming from all four said entities there or just 1 or 2?

    Whatever happened to Lori Thompson form live 105?

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    1. Most broadcasters today get paid by the team--You mentioned Papa: Gets paid by The Game to do his talk show, the Raiders to do their PBP and Comcast to host their content.

      With regards to Starkey, he was paid by CAL to do their broadcast and by KGO to do the 49ers --but that may have changed later in the years.

      Lori Thompson I believe moved back to the Midwest.

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  13. Chances of KGO going Spanish in the next 2 Years? Ok real question what would save KGO?

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    1. Uh, NO chance of KGO going Spanish simply because of dial position--what would "save" KGO? probably new owners.

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  14. Regarding the awful 910 AM, has Spencer Hughes filled the 10-1 slot left open by Ed Baxter's departure , or is he temporary while they find talent?

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    1. Temporarily there --they haven't said anything official yet.

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    2. Rumored Spencer is taking a salary of under 40k and that a number of local employees wanted the chance as a team, but that was the budget. Hughes will work for anything. It is strange when your last stop is San Francisco. If that doesn't tell you radio is dead in the Bay then what does?

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    3. I made that 15 years ago in my first radio job. I sincerely doubt that's the pay for a midday host.

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  15. Why would dial position keep KGO from going spanish?

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    1. It wouldn't necessarily ..but generally speaking, a great signal middle-dial 50K-watt station like KGO wouldn't be primed for ethnic programming --too expensive --not saying it couldn't happen, but highly unlikely.

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    2. The increase in the amount of Spanish language radio programming in Southern California has been astounding over the last 20 years. The Spanish dollar really talks loudly there. Up here, not so much (yet).

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    3. Wouldn't that be peso?

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    4. Would Cumulus truly sell KGO? Is it possible they're holding onto it hoping someone would offer big bucks for it? (Kind of like Sears staying in business only because they're waiting for the value of their real estate to go up) And who would be a buyer?

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  16. Rich, Unlike KTVU who have recently let go of talented veteran reporters John Fowler & David Stevenson and have, as you said, Tom Vacar & Rob Roth on their radar on next to go, KGO still have long-timers Cheryl Jennings, Vic Lee, Spencer Christian & Wayne Freedman. Is KGO more appreciative & benevolent towards their older talent than KTVU? What's your take? Keep up the great work Rich!

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  17. Maybe luck more than anything else.

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  18. I'm still looking for the Gary Radnich / CSN CA simulcast to return. You once said it was off the air due to moving to new studios. Is there any update on this or is it gone for good?

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    1. Looks as if its gone for good...There are several theories one of which makes the most sense: the cost of making and updating a background in KNBR's studio isn't worth the cost. Furthermore the ratings weren't that great to warrant such a move --that all could change however but don't hold your breath.

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    2. I used to have the simulcast on each morning at the office, not really watching but as background, loved it....since I do not have an old fashion radio in the office, my listen time has probably dropped 90% other than when I am in the car, albeit I have tried the I Tune site, some reason just not the same, BTW I Like Radnich similar to when the Lee Peete show went off the air in Vegas on KDWN 720, had a real strong signal at night

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  19. Rich,

    It seems like Tori Campbell just faded away...

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  20. Why did CSN get rid of the Laskey/Vida tandem for pre- and post-game Giants broadcasts? Seems like there's a revolving door now with Aurillia, Winn, Estes, Flannery, whoever, but Laskey and Vida are nowhere to be seen.

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    1. They (CSN) didn't get rid of Vida/Laskey--as you point out in the last graph, CSN uses them on a rotation with the others you also mentioned. That said, I like Blue/Laskey the best: they say something.

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    2. Listen to them on KNBR weekends

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  21. Did CSN/BA drop Andrew Baggerly off the Giants broadcasts because he was frozen by the players or did the team boot him? Say what you will but he had the Melky C story spot on and was forced into a retraction-just before the Gigantes confirmed it was all true.

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    1. CSNBA booted him because many of the Giants players despise him for his various "stories", one of which, as you mentioned, was true, another which was not. He was probably let go b/c Comcast has a partnership with the Giants too and we all know how Larry Baer is in control. I'll leave it at that.

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  22. Any info on George Rask, KRON 4? Haven't seen him in about a month

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    1. I think he was eaten alive by a KRON weather girl. No seriously, I believe due to the 187th new KRON weather guesser that is female, George has been sent to solitary confinement or Berkeley, something like that.

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  23. Re; Your photo for today's spot. Who's the brunette coed with a graceful neck, and a"very knowing" expression? Somebody's niece?

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    1. Oh yeah, that's my fourth wife, Sheila Cornacopia, met her at the Fremont Dennys.

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  24. I've heard lots about Kevin the Rat going to CBS but what happened to Rob A @KGO? Haven't heard him in forever. I don't listen all the time, but he was there for a long time.

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  25. In regards to George Rask, He was hurt in a auto accident. He's home healing from the accident. Hope to be back soon.

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    1. "Hope to be back soon"??

      Hi George!

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  26. I watch the noon news on KPIX because I like Michelle Griego. The birth of her child must be imminent because she was not on today. The downside of watching KPIX at that time is that Roberta Gonzalez is present. Today, she gave the weather for the Giants' game tonight and mentioned that they were playing the Padres (correct). She then mentioned how easy it was for the Pads to travel across the Bay Bridge to play the Giants since they played the A's over the weekend in Oakland (incorrect). This self-promoting, know-it-all is wrong more often than right. Unless the Bay Bridge reaches to Phoenix, Arizona, San Diego took a plane to San Francisco

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    1. I like the morning anchors on KPIX too - that's why I watch. Griego has been out all week and the traffic reporter is also out on maternity leave. Gonzalez is terrible and I turn the channel when she comes on - I switch to KGO or ESPN's Mike and Mike before turning it back. I can't stand her for the post above cites.

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  27. How long before Jack Swanson hires his wife at KCBS? Should Susan Leigh Taylor be worried?

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    1. I hope that Swanson does just that. I miss hearing Melanie Morgan, don't you?.

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    2. MM can be heard every morning on 1350 KSRO reading the news mixed in with her version of jingoism. Not as bad as she was on KSFO but still hard to listen to.

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    3. Excellent idea at 6:19.
      Melanie Morgan would be far superior than Susan Taylor.
      Melanie has a personality.

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  28. Is Jason Applebaum, KRON 4 heading to KTVU 2? Catherine Heenan posted something regarding this on Twitter on June 19

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  29. Any info on Christina Loren being hired somewhere else?
    On Ron Owens, someone named Rama seems to be a regular person of opinion-is he paid or is this another freebe to the cheap KGO?

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  30. He is a regular caller, they don't get paid, KGO use to have a lot of them. Billy from Santa Cruz (still calls once in awhile) as does HB, we never hear from Gary in Oakland anymore. Gene Burns use to get call almost every night from a black guy named Stan, they kind of became friends, and when Stan was dying of cancer I believe Gene went to visit him, he (Stan) had a lot of street smarts. Anyway miss the old KGO with regular callers, although there are still some regular callers, to Ronn's show.

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  31. Hey Rich, Late question:

    Tara, from KTVU hasn't been wearing her wedding ring lately? Any news?

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  32. What is going on with Christina Loren? Will she stay in the Bay Area?
    I like the new lady and I miss Christina at the same time

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  33. Are the ratings from KSFO 560 am crashing like KGO 810 am? The paid programming broadcast on both stations at the same time on the weekends is just pathetic. Please tell me that is changing soon. Also, any chance of Brian Sussman getting the boot? That show is nothing but sarcasm, hate, and never-ending bashing. No intelligent discussion of issues.

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