IF the workers are correct, the Chronicle is about to unleash some nasty layoffs come Jan. 4. All sorts of cuts and buyout offers to tenured reporters and editors. The problem here is not so much Chronicle-related as it is Hearst, the Chron owner, whose other media businesses aren't doing so well of late.I'm told the golden diva, EIC, Audrey Cooper will have to inform staff herself come next Monday.
*No, escorting one outside the building after they are let go isn't that unusual in corporate America; what is unusual and quite tacky and boorish is removing someone who happens to be literally on their traffic reporting shift --like, say, Robin Winston, who had the gall to give notice to Cumulus' KGO Radio. Imagine that, what nerve!
*Cumulus, the penny-stock company that Ronn Owens said is great! The same company that the leftover talk hosts who have no conscience work at because they're so desperate to get back on the air they'll work for anybody.
*If you sense I'm overly picking on Gasia Mikaelian because of her on-air, on-web shenanigans you might be right. I think I've been equal-opportunity critic. The news institution that was once KTVU? I have respect and appreciation of the brand. I don't like to see morsels like Gasia (who should know better) make a mockery of the place.
*The veteran KTVU people who still have passion, I feel your pain.
*Ted Robinson filling in on KNBR this (Monday Morning from 9-Noon) Imagine: interesting, edgy, concise and articulate sports talk and conversation devoid of verbal oatmeal --entertaining too. Imagine that.
*Sure, KRON is a dead end for a lot of weather and traffic anchors lately but it's still TV. In the #6 market too. So, Robin knows what she's doing, for now. Until the News Director gets in her face. So too, the human Golden Globes.
*KGO Radio staffers are still without a contract but getting closer to a new one, I'm told.
*The Warriors are the #1 game in town --duh!--only treated like third-class citizens as they are on their flagship radio station.
*KTVU "10 o'clock News": six weather teases a night. Pathetic.
*Wonderful terrestrial radio moment this Monday Moring drive: the redneck who didn't know Nigerians have accents. And worse yet, mispronounced the name of the primary character that Will Smith is portraying in Concussion movie. Maybe he had too much in the Saloon.
*Has Ronnnnnnnnn taken a picture with himself and the new PD yet? He loves doing that.
*One certain KGO host plugged the "informational programing" on Sunday. Clever.
Let's see...Ted Robinson makes KNBR seem intelligent. Gasia looks great but her happy crap is a big distraction ( still, Rich, you gotta stop picking on her). The Warriors should consider moving to 95.7 ( and drop the idiotic idea of leaving Oracle...hell, Lacob, buy into the A's and take over the Coliseum). And, Rich, pick on some male anchors for a change. BTW, what the hell happened to Carolyn Tyler?
ReplyDeleteCarolyn Tyler anchors the very early weekend TV news. 6-7am on Sat/Sun.
DeleteNo way the warriors go to 95.7, no signal at night and then there goes the Ad Revenue
Delete"The Warriors should consider moving to 95.7"
DeleteI don't think the Warriors would be better served being on a station that has a transmitter that's slightly more powerful than a Radio Shack CB. Plus what happens when those spring months when the A's and W's playing concurrently? Being a 2nd banana on the top ranked sports talker is much better than being the big fish in an intellectually-challenged puddle.
Not what meant, 10:28. I saw her last night. I meant, what the hell HAPPENED to her???. Did KGO send their anchors to some weird school? I mean, look at Ashley, with the hair weave. Ouch
DeleteAgreed Rich. If Robinson took over the show and the two comedians were never heard from again, no one would lose any sleep.
ReplyDeleteI've TRIED to listen to the morning shows on KNBR but after 45 mins of chuckling/poo poo/tee hee/ha ha stuff and NO REAL SPORTS Talk *click*.
DeleteThank goodness for internet so I can listen to real local sports talk shows. Even Pittsburgh, PA sports talk shows on 970 ESPN and 93.7 The Fan are heads/heals more talented than local Knibbers.
I thought Will Smith played Brian Copeland on The Fresh Prince of Compton with special cameo appearance by Karel as The Neighbor With Poo On His Driveway.
ReplyDelete" Imagine: interesting, edgy, concise and articulate sports talk and conversation devoid of verbal oatmeal --entertaining too."
ReplyDeleteEspecially contrasted with PeaCon and Kate T. Scott in the slot right before it.
Pea Con and Kate are better than Polly Mac
DeleteI disagree on P-Con. I thought he was excellent this morning. He may be a little un PC, no pun intended, but he knows sports and at least has a point of view. Kate Scott in the prime seat is unlistenable.
DeletePCon is great, Kate Scott is the opposite.
DeleteYou and I pick on Gasia because she represents everything that is wrong with Fox news management. She is merely a scapegoat.
ReplyDelete> I don't like to see morsels like Gasia (who should know better)
ReplyDelete> make a mockery of the place.
Do you honestly think *she* decides these things? They tell her what to do and she does them. If she doesn't, they'll replace her with another warm ethnic body that does. There are literally hundreds of thousands in the Bay Area.
Ted can be very intelligent - as long as he's not talking about the Niners. I've always liked Ted, but I hope he realizes he is throwing away all of his credibility this season - just like Fitz did years ago with the Warriors. Ironically, Ted probably has no choice, because he has Fitz waiting in the wings, eagerly willing to spout Jed's company line if Ted doesn't. Fitz will be forgotten the day he is no longer on air and it feels bad to see Ted headed down the same path.
ReplyDeleteFitz did the Niners preseason play-by-play and I'd put good money that he was transparently sucking up to Jed York every chance he could get. He also has that Notre Dame connection with Jed, same as Robinson.
DeleteFitz never criticizes the Warriors, and Robinson never criticizes the 49ers. They know who butters their bread.
DeleteFitz is the biggest suck up. When Ted was suspended last year, Fitz jumped in and never said a bad thing and supported JED through the firing of Harbaugh. He is trying to do to him that he did to PAPA
DeleteIt's a bit harsh to fault people who have to work for a living.
ReplyDeleteI've stopped filling in on the AM talk stations because I respect my skills more than they do, and I won't compromise my product like that.
Here's the deal, though: I can afford to say no, and that simply isn't true for everyone. If my rent, food, etc. were due and unaccounted for, and someone called me with a gig, should I turn it down?
Look at the crap Michael Caine has appeared in over the decades of his career, and he's always been frank about it: ya gotta pay the bills.
Take it easy on people having to work miserable gigs. They don't need you to tell them it's suboptimal. Unless you want to write them a check to stay home.
Perhaps Kay-GO can bring back Dr. Bill and Uncle Bernie!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Warriors get treated like shit because they're not partially owned by KNBR (see Giants) or pay a lot of money for broadcasting rights (49ers). The Sharks rarely see the time of day on KNBR because of $$ conflicts. So much for being a sports leader.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Comical layoffs, perhaps the idiots who produce sfgate.com will be shown the door. Wonder if Audrey will be asked to drop her pants, slide on the ice and out the door. Doubtful on both counts, especially the latter. She'll cover her ass in any way, shape or form.
No offense to Robinson, but even a dead skunk could do a better job than the asswipe who has the 9-Noon slot on the sports bleeder. At least the skunk would be honest and not condescending.
"perhaps the idiots who produce sfgate.com will be shown the door."
DeleteUnlikely. When I worked for SFGate, we were the only part of the paper that actually made money.
Me thinks with the coming Chron cuts SF Gate will be affected in some manner. There is not much left there to affect though...
Delete@12:54, "Warriors get treated like shit" ??? REALLY? By whom?
DeleteWhat universe are you living in? Local media loves the Warriors, deservedly so.
I agree with @12:54 to a point. KNBR is treating the Dubs better because they are ratings gold these days. Their Comcast ratings are through the roof, as are their national ratings numbers. Last year before the playoffs and years before, they didn't get much love - KNBR wouldn't even broadcast their games sometimes - they's slide 'em over to 1050.
Delete415 Media seems determined to make a mountain out of a molehill re: Robin Winston being escorted out of the building.
ReplyDeleteRobin is great. I'm a fan. BUT that's just the way things are done these days. The world has changed. It's not just a particular station or a particular industry.
Heather Holmes is doing the 4pm and the 5pm tonight on KTVU. It looks like an improvement to me in broadcasting and in looks.
ReplyDeletePeacon is from the south bay so the redneck part is a bit of an act. A few years south of the mason dixon isn't like being born and raised there.
ReplyDeleteI assume you're speaking of John Rothmann, when you reference on-air personalities who don't care who they work for.
ReplyDeleteYou should consider the listeners, who had/have no say in how the station is run, who DO care about what they HEAR on the air.