MY REPORT about Gary Radnich schmoozing with a KGO suit (its GM, really) was more social than business --that said, it was a chance for the ABC folks here to engage with Raddy and explore if both parties are interested in a potential deal. There's a lot more to negotiate if KGO (Disney) shows a strong interest --and by extension, if Radnich is serious about some sort of deal, a comeback, if you will but we're no close to any deal now because all the variables have to be discussed, but there's a bigger point to be made here and it doesn't involve Radnich.
Yet.
The fact KGO is having talks (albeit, nothing official) speaks volumes about its feelings about current weeknight anchor, Larry Beil, who hybrids both news and sports. Beil, if he doesn't already know, is not the flavor of choice at 900 Front. His arrogance is beyond reproach. He is not liked by many of the KGO staff. But as bad as that is, at least that's off the air. Here's the issue(s) with Beil on the air: he is perceived (with good reason) as an asshole by many viewers, many of them women, a key demo in local TV news, especially the 25-54 women who watch. Beil comes across as a loudmouth and total wise guy (he is so there's no denying that) plus he has ZERO traction on the comfort meter (an industry term) therefore KGO has a problem; Beil is hardly a warm and fuzzy guy which is a Disney attraction, (no shit) --it's not an official trademark but it counts in the numbers and it's an advertising platform that the salespeople love to mention to the brick and mortar businesses. Beil is not the face of the station but he's on enough newscasts to form an identity and he's not exactly a benchmark guy. If you watch, you know that. I do.
So a Raddy fascination by the Circle7 gang is more than smoke and mirrors. If Gary lacks for substance he certainly doesn't lack for style. He still has an "IT" factor whether you like him or not and he may just join the local Mickey Mouse club if there's a ways and means. We'll see.
As they always say, stay tuned.
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| Radnich with wife, Alecia, and the family dog |
I don't get all this alleged ego with Beil. He's not that good, not that knowledgeable, nothing special. Shu was great but they threw him under the bus. Don't really get management at the mouse station but then again, that's why I left. As did half the staff when Trixie's Anschluss took place who now work at KNTV.
ReplyDelete"With authority!" -- never has been the highlight call I like. Beil generally gets the information across, but he's not an attractive personality ... Beil makes us all appreciate Vern Glenn all the more. "Mr. Involvement" is a relatable character for all we couch potatoes.
ReplyDeleteWho is shorter? Little Larry Beil or Vernon Glenn?
ReplyDeleteIf Disney wants more warm & fuzzy, it isn't just Beil that must go (despite his ESPN history), but so should Trixie also be removed. Warm & fuzzy counts just as much off the air as much as on, in Disney's view. Seems as if SF's Circle 7 has forgotten that for a long time. We shall dare Disney to stand up to Tom & Trixie and remove one if not both of them. Too many bargaining obstacles for them to hand The Bentley new keys. Both Disney/ABC HQ and KGO-TV have more to prove than they realize. Too late?
ReplyDeleteMy sources tell me the conversation centered around whether there would be a parking space for the Bentley.
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