TUESDAY TUNA SANDWICHKQED is one fine mess. Its workforce minus the insanely paid middle and high-up-top managers are once again major PISSED-OFF because management promised the rank and file bonus checks (depending on seniority) if the company reaped extra ad revenue and found new money. It didn't happen in spite of KQED's record revenue in both TV and radio and its digital content. So while KQED has a boatload of money and whose high tops got uber-bonuses, the little people got what amounts to a few coffee mugs and day-old doughnuts. How's that for the perceived good people at KQED and how they take care of the rank and file which is contrary to the bullshit spewed forth by NPR and its slumlord policies toward the people who actually do the heavy lifting at KQED. But most of it is smoke and mirrors.
For such a behemoth and KQED is certainly that (worth south of $500 million and 2018 pre-tax revenue of $54M) it once again shows how big a fraud KQED is in this Bay Area. With all that revenue you would think KQED would explore and produce more LOCAL programming but it does not. And how is that so? Because KQED has no accountability. There's no incentive to create content when the money stream dips into corporate junkets and massive bonuses. Mind you, I have no access to KQED's books (obviously) I'm getting this info from sources and contacts who work at the building. I can only imagine what is in the goody bag and how many people are getting screwed. A lot.
*KNBR is testing the boundaries of what is "broadcast rights" and what is not.
The Bleeder has been ramping up its Warriors' talk on all its talk-show platforms almost to a point where if you listen that much you would think 680 AM is the flagship station.
It's not.
Which then creates the tension between FM All_Sports 95.7 'The Game' which carries the Warriors and is the "flagship station" -whatever that means today. Not a lot. KNBR has a "Steve Kerr" show (on PM drive with Tom Tolbert) every week. It also carries actualities from game broadcast off NBC Bay Area Sports (Comcast) and does a "Fitz Files" segment every morning after games.
KNBR cannot air actualities from the radio broadcast but has pretty much carte-blanche everything else and used it to its advantage. There's a lot of upside to that reasoning but at what cost? Entercom's "The Game" is seriously thinking of filing a grievance saying KNBR is ripping off Warriors-related content. KNBR and its youthful PD, Jeramiah Crowe counter it is merely talking about the team and hasn't committed any wrong doing.
YOU WANT IRONY? By ramping up the Warriors' chatter (and frankly, who wouldn't?) KNBR is drawing away fans from its cash money-maker, the SF Giants. Don't think the Giants aren't pissed even without kingpin Larry Baer in the office. Last night during the Giants-Atlanta game at Oracle Park, both the radio and cable broadcast guys had to pretend to not listen to the cheers in the park; cheers having nothing to do with the stale baseball game. Fans in the stands were watching the Warriors' clinching Game 4 sweep of Portland --it had to seriously annoy Kruk and Kuip; Dave Flemming on KNBR had to sneak in the Warriors were playing an Overtime thriller not dare mentioning the game was on ESPN. After the game was over KNBR host, Mark Willard devoted almost ALL the show to Warriors; again, the obvious choice but by going ga-ga Warriors, Giants' fans listening had to be royally pissed.
*KTVU: No Sea of Tranquility. The newsroom continues to be a siege mentality with famous anchors having personal issues flood the gossip chatter in the breakroom. Which is funny because now everyone splits the station and heads to a few Jack London Square bars and coffee shops in fear of HR boss, the infamous Chris Nohr she of the 54-camera CEO, who watches and listens to everone, Countess Darth Vader, with blessings from The Firm, aka, Fox.
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| Julie Haener (l) and Bill Martin |
QUICKIES...
Damon Bruce thinks he's God which is sad because he's not even a Martian fart...Larry Krueger on KNBR tweeting he "got a new 4-year contract extension", forgetting the contract has NO guarantee --meaning if they wanted to, Cumulus could send him packing in a day. Larry has apparently never heard of "personal-services" contract which guarantees ALL years and money/ Ronnnnnnnnnnn Owens had one back in 2000 at the old KGO...
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KNBR actually ran a promo for Sharks/Blues Game 6 tonight. Shocking that they interrupted their wall-to-wall Warriors coverage to mention another Bay Area team. They're so butthurt over losing the Warriors they hope to woo them back, while neglecting other teams in the process. KNBR The All Warriors All The Time Until They Come Back Leader.
ReplyDeleteChannel 9 could show their prime shows more often; they also seem to enjoy British tv shows. If they want to show television from other countries, it would be nice to see some other nations as well. English and other speaking.
ReplyDeleteKerr's been doing that show for years and I believe it was a condition upon the move to 95.7.
ReplyDeletethe awkward part is when Damon and Tom get Steve within an hour of each other.
I'm not a fan of basketball and am sick to death of Warriors talk. But KNBR is doing what any sport station would do in this situation. TheGame thinking of taking any action is pure silliness - they have a contract to carry the games, sure, but they have no power to stop anyone else from talking about the Warriors 24/7 if they so choose. What KNBR is doing is neither surprising nor anything new. TheGame had weekly shows with Giants players during the World Series years. If the Warriors wind up elsewhere next year, TheGame will do the same thing KNBR is doing now.
ReplyDeleteGood point on many Giants' players being on 95.7 during the World Series runs. I had forgotten about that.
DeleteWhy don't you take a peek at KQED's Forms 990? They should be easily accessible online and give you a decent peek into the books.
ReplyDeleteI don't get why a station that nickels and dimes Vacar and the ex-employee John Fowler keeps pricy Bill Martin around. He's just...weird, like your eccentric uncle who comes around at Christmas time and tries to be cute and funny but makes everyone uncomfortable.
ReplyDelete"What we pay Bill Martin we could get 3 Rosemary Orozcos"
ReplyDeleteBill Martin should use the extra cash he earns on some dental work.
Those buck teeth. Yikes!
Martin fix those teeth.
Rich,Rich,Rich. So now KNBR is talking about something other than the Giants and you try to make a big fuss. When they only talk about the Giants you rip them and go into one of your rants about their personnel. What is it?
ReplyDeleteDo you really expect a sports station to ignore the biggest sports story of the year?
People who care about the Giants are on assignment until there's something to care about.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I was thinking about this just the other d -- oh, sorry Rich. I'll finish this later. Gotta turn on Channel 9 -- they're running that Victor Borge extravaganza at 8 pm. I have to see it for the thirtieth time. Or is it three-hundredth?
ReplyDeleteI actually have to give Damon Bruce props, has any one noticed that with Bruce and Ratto , it has become a very good show and Ratto disagrees with most things that Bruce says and Bruce has stayed calm and just rolls with it.
ReplyDeleteI can't make up my mind on who's more annoying.
Deleteboth of the sport stations here talk about the warriors, giants, 49ers year round, thats it.. you could argue they both serve as "flagship" stations, they both ignore everything else and have for years even when the fm station carried the A's
ReplyDeleteThe Warriors are literally the talk of the town. So what if KNBR and 95.7 The Game are wall-to-wall Warriors. Give the people what they want to hear. I doubt that anyone wants to hear about the Sharks after tonight.
ReplyDeleteGiants fans aren't royally pissed, they're well aware their team is mediocre.
ReplyDelete"mediocre" means average, which they aren't...
DeleteThe definition of mediocre is low quality and not very good which they are.
DeleteHas anyone noticed all the empty seats at Pac Bell park, or whatever they call it now? Larry Baer is rolling over in his grave.
ReplyDeleteBad weather + bad team = empty seats
DeleteThis is a town of front runners. Always has been.
DeleteI think KQED radio offers up good programming: national (eg All Things Considered), international (eg BBC), and local (eg Forum). Other than perhaps re-establishing "Talk of the Nation" and "Car Talk", I see little need for changes there. If there are unhappy employees at KQED Radio, it isn't showing up in the programing. And their ratings speak for themselves.
ReplyDeleteKQED Television on the other hand does need some freshening up. A focus on more "How To" shows in the M-F 7 pm - 1 am time slot would work wonders. This Old House, Ask This Old House, Victory Garden, Roy Underhill's Woodworking, Learn to Paint Watercolors and Acrylics, stuff like that. Combine those with educational programming like Nova, and some good BBC mysteries (Endeavour, Sherlock), and a little less antiques, celebrities learn their family roots, and cooking shows, KQED television would be good to go in my humble opinion.
Even the great Ratto can't salvage the nauseating Bruce. Ray must really need the money to put up with the blowhard that is Bruce.
ReplyDeleteTolbert annihilates him in the ratings.
Tolbert is a big blowhole too, can't ask a question under a 1000 words. I actually like the Ratto and Bruce combo. have not listen to the Bleeder in a few years.
DeleteKQED is a shithole where those at the top milk those at the bottom who do all the work. The rank-and-file are exhausted and treated like shit. Tina Salter, who produces what little programming they do there, is frequently pushed to tears and has been ready to resign more than once. They don't care. The one percent is the one percent, whether they're conservatives or liberals. And frankly, most people at the high echelons in media are uber-conservatives. I know most people on the outside don't believe this, but it's true. Don't confuse the programming with the owners of the programming. They play to their audiences, in other words.
ReplyDelete