Management, and it goes right to the top at News Director, Amber Eikel, has told staff that they will continue to use a rotating-anchor policy at 10 PM and that no official replacement will be chosen until summer, according to multiple sources.
I REPORTED here that veteran anchor, Mike Mibach, was given the job but that Mibach and Fox2 execs were involved in a salary dispute and that has delayed a formal announcement. Whether that development dictated the decision to continue to rotate anchors at 10 O'Clock isn't known but it may have influenced the decision. Either way, the policy has further enraged a staff at KTVU where the working environment is downright toxic and disgusted.
This won't help matters.
*The about face has Mibach both angry and confused. Mibach, I'm told, is still interested in the job and is willing to work at a reduced salary but he's also exploring other options. What that entails, nobody knows, but a KTVU source said the veteran anchor is not pleased. Who could blame him.
*The future of longtime sports anchor Mark Ibanez, a 43-year veteran, is all but determined; Ibanez, barring a last-minute miracle, will LEAVE the desk come late March as Ibanez has been working without a contract and has been rebuffed in an extension request. Ibanez was told by Fox2 brass his situation would be addressed after the NFL (football) season; instead, he's been ignored and has told friends he's ready to walk away and leave KTVU. That would leave two major faces off the 10 PM News and gone from the storied newscast.
*Eikel's fragile, at best, newsroom control is thought to be safe and her futute at KTVU stabile but the continued cloud inside the building isn't helping matters. Sure, KTVU's ratings continue to remain strong and relatively un-changed, but its not because of Eikel-- says a source, "in spite of her."
The Firm's Bay Area O and O is about the worst working shop in local TV News history and isn't getting better anytime soon.
*415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE
The Fox Television Stations bosses don't give a rat's ass about troop morale at KTVU. Ratings and ad revenue rule. As for the staff, buck it up, shut up or look for work elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteHi David. This is cute. Clearly you have never worked in media. But don't worry you'll get your wish. One departure after another has been announced and more will follow and you'll get the half ass replacements from Fresno you so richly deserve. Enjoy. It will be fun to watch the ratings tank though, that's for sure.
DeleteWTF "Rotating Anchor" must be the new norm KTVU, KCBS and how many other stations play "Musical Chairs"
ReplyDeleteAmber Eikel needs to go. She can't even lock down a main anchor? Literally news director 101. CBS and KRON got rid of their bad leaders. Let KTVU be next before it sinks into the Oakland Estuary.
ReplyDeleteHere Here!! AGREE.
DeleteAnyone looking for a job. RUN FROM KTVU. It is a disaster run by utter morons. You'd be better off in Bakersfield. What an embarrassment Eikel has turned KTVU into. Shame on you KTVU Karen.
ReplyDeleteAnd what did I say about having someone in the rear view mirror getting closer and working cheaper?
ReplyDeleteHey, MLB Players. You listening? Yes! You can be replaced! LOL!
That scream I heard must have been Mibach in his car again.
ReplyDeleteTuesday 3/1/22, J. Haener seems to be off another few days or a week after last being seen on the Chinese New Year Parade special on Saturday 2/26/22. A. Senior and H. Holmes are doing fine. Just let Mibach stay where he is or let him leave. If he's not going to be happy with a lower amount and he may still not get that amount when the next contract is due to be negotiated (I don't know contract lengths, perhaps it's a year or two), let him go. (I'd actually rather see Mibach doing the weather instead of R. Gonzales, not that that's even a thing.)
ReplyDeleteI just noticed another weather anchor is gone out here in Reno, now! (Chelsea Aaron). What a business, with so much turnover.
I forgot about Alex Savidge. He does great too. KTVU even has a few others to fill in when somebody is out on leave: that Asian guy, that Asian gal, Allie Rasmus, Cristina Rendon (on the weekend shift (although KTVU just seems to be scheduling people all over the clock), I haven't seen the weekday morning crew on much, but yes, Frank Mallicoat, too.
DeleteI probably wouldn't watch ktvu with Mibach at the helm, watching the other night Andre Senior seemed off and out of place so while I once thought he would be alright I don't think I'd watch if he was in the big seat either . Give it to frank malicoat just don't let him on air when blood is running out of his eyes
ReplyDeleteI usually agree with you but Frank “red eye” Malicoat is horrendous—he looks like a character from Family Guy. No gravitas looks like he’s having a hard time reading the teleprompter with his constant grimace.
DeleteMibach's unexplained absence on the 8 AM Mornings On 2 broadcast this morning was quickly filled by Sal who jumped over from his traffic desk like a jackrabbit. Unfortunately, Sal's reporting on the Ukraine situation and other headlines had all the energy and interest of a traffic jam on 880.
ReplyDeleteSenior and Holmes are doing just fine. They seem to gel pretty good, and if they are happy doing what they are doing let them stay. They are not going to move the needle very much but maybe more men will tune in to see what outfit Heather is wearing.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I like the team of Senior and Holmes. Savidge and Mibach, whom I can barely tell apart, both always come off as very grim.
DeleteYea, one thing about Holmes is that she is mostly upbeat and engaged. She reads well and is professional, so all in all she is an asset to KTVU.
DeleteHeather is a vapid wannabe who sounds like she belongs back in Waco, TX. Her conservative slant shows every time she does an interview. But then again, this is Rupert Murdoch and Sean Hannity's company so. I guess that makes sense. Haener is another conservative. Without Frank Somerville there to pull them back to center KTVU will live up to their FOX name now. No doubt.
DeleteI don't think any local TV station comes across as liberal or conservative. But they all toe the local Bay Area line of constant harping about global warming and everyone get the vaccine. Where have you ever seen Holmes or Haener support conservative ideas? I have never see that for either one. If anything, they downplay their views. I like both of them and wish KTVU would do the 10 o'clock with the Holmes/Haener hour. I would watch that, or tape it as I am sleeping by 10 every night.
DeleteThe muffled screaming I hear from upper Rockridge must be Mibach aka Mr Constipation in his car letting it all out. I’ve enjoyed the musical chairs. I think Savidge is good as is Senior. Heather Holmes has been solid and I’ve appreciated that she’s moved away from the animal print. I think her and Christina Rendon could be a great pair. Yum!
ReplyDeleteYea, I am not a fan of the animal print. Too many colors going round and if you watch the big boys at national FOX or CNN the women always wear solid colors that often match the graphics and their partners. It just makes a cleaner look. Haener wears those Seinfeld pirate outfits that don't do her justice. All in all a bad look at KTVU so sit the women down, make some new dress rules and clean up the visuals. It ain't that hard, if I see it why don't they? I would do a lot of things different there if I were the ND.
DeleteYou are right about FOX. The anchors wear outfits with one primary color. FOX also has amazing graphics (red, white, blue) that move in the background. People apparently toe the line dress wise except sloppy sweater boy Greg Gutfeld. I guess if you are killing everyone in the ratings you can wear whatever. Or tell poop jokes every night if you want.
DeleteGutfeld is a local boy. Serra High School and UC Berkeley for English. I think is is the smartest guy on the 5. Watters is an arrogant blowhard, but Greg is not scared of anyone, even Rivera. I like his 8 PM show, especially when he has Joe Machi on. Or that regular blond chick, Kat Timpf or Tyrus, the TV heavyweight champion of the world. As you can see, I like Greg, to me he is the best thing on Fox.
DeleteAgree about Gutfeld. He is smart, funny, and cuts through the BS. Joe DeVito, Jimmy Failla, and Jamie Lissow are great regular guests and Tom Shillue has Joe Biden down cold.
DeleteYes, I like all of the ones you mention. I even like that giggly girl lawyer that is on every so often, she is a bundle of energy. One thing about Gutfeld, he knows funny.
DeleteYou said that Tom Shilue is great as Biden, if he were on SNL it would be water cooler material on Monday but the main-stream media can't give national FOX any credit. I am not a big FOX fan but they do so somethings OK.
Much of FOX is the same thing over and over and over repeated every hour but Greg breaks that cycle on the 5 and on his own show.
His mother-in-law is in Ukraine and FOX reporters there have been working to get her to Poland, that is why Greg has been off for 2 weeks.
Just another reason NOT to watch KTVU. I stopped before the holidays. Don't miss it.
ReplyDeleteSo strange to see a company weaken the position of a would be main anchor by allowing all of the speculation. Seems counterintuitive to building an audience. Guess that's why I stopped watching KTVU.
ReplyDeleteLooks like poor Mike is stuck with Gasia.
ReplyDeleteKTVU's motto ought to be:
ReplyDeleteThe involuntary separations will continue until morale improves.
yes 415 tolbert copes already adjusting their ''um -hum'' techniques.trying to find out who'sboss.wel see.
ReplyDelete