KCBS Meh-Central; Marty Gonzalez Escapes KRON; Jobina Fortson Has LA Offer Outside Circle7; Wednesday PM Wash

IT's FORTUNATE KCBS is basically a monopoly. Because if they had real competition, they would be more vulnerable than they already are.

KCBS can brag about a few insignificant industry awards and run shameless promos on its coverage of the San Jose/VTA shooting massacre. But that doesn't erase the current state of all-news (740 AM/106.9 FM) 855 Battery. It is battling life without some of its morning kingpins (like Stan Bunger) --I think Bunger did an OK job holding down AM drive; I wasn't such a huge fan but having listened to most of Jim Taylor and Marghie Shafer this week, I appreciate Bunger's role. He truly knew how to drive the car. Taylor is merely OK (way over the top) and I'm immensely disappointed in Shafer. While both are simply trying out this week they both sounded overwhelmingly less than average and I'm being diplomatic.

KCBS all of a sudden is kvetching in the morning with diminishing news value and way too many commercials. The vibe from the troops inside the station is suddenly profoundly dour and dim. Mood swings are abundant. Maybe it's time for Jen Seelig to call a meeting and rally the comrades but I'm not going to hold my breath.

*Looks like Marty Gonzalez is about to call it quits at KRON after multi decades of anchoring and reporting. Gonzalez was the ONLY reason I paid attention to the albatross in the weekend morning and looks like Marty is leaving at the right time.

*Hey, yeah, it's hot outside, a Bay Area heat wave and another chance for retiring and holding-on (because they're begging him to) KTVU weatherman, Bill Martin, to mumble and stumble on the air and guess what the high will be in Livermore tomorrow.

*Jobina Fortson has a decent OFFER at KTLA down south if she wants it but I'm predicting Circle7 is odds-on to retain her but who the heck knows these days? I do.