855 Battery: Scene of Misery and Mayhem; KPIX Staff Carnage; Yamamoto/Donchey Yuck; KCBS Mired in Internal Chaos As Electronic Glitches/Personnel Confusion Persist

MISERY at 855 BATTERY

At KPIX, they come to work and vent--away from the studio and offices--they do, quite a lot of them. Most of the rank and file in fact. They gather at the Grumpy's across the street near Front and schmooze and vent about how bad it is at their shop on Battery. And they have quite a bit to talk about, the KPIX gang who, according to my dependable spies, have nothing good to say and celebrate.

One of their key gripes--and it's not just this doozy, there's plenty to go around--is the latest high-profile FAILURE of the latest hires (by the previous regime) of new anchors, Sara Donchey and Ryan Yamamoto--she from the CBS LA O and O; he, from Seattle.

Both newbies, particularly Yamamoto, are seen as "double mistakes" (a two-word label uttered by an Insider at PIX)--CBS internals show a remarkable indifference on the duo's performance thus far. Translated, double disasters.

Yamamoto is perceived as a "lightweight" and can't escape his low-level ID. "He's a real nice guy," says a station source, "but he's a 'weak anchor.'"

Which is why PIX has put him on its 5 PM newscast and tried to blend him in and hope for viewer identity only Yamamoto hasn't achieved any following, mostly derision by KPIX staff --viewers have tuned out, as if that's possible by KPIX's dismal ratings.

Donchey hasn't fared much better. She gets rippd by the PIXers (and viewers) as "plastic and artificial." Her LA resume doesn't help matters. The feeling among the PIX staff is Donchey's physical characteristics and facial embellishments is a major "distraction" and takes the emphasis off her anchor work. It would be hard to disagree.

KPIX has a new GM --Scott Warren--he's supposed to be a nice guy with experience and local roots--but we've heard that before. Warren may be a nice guy but can he turn around a station that is befuddled at best and hopelessly incompetent at worst.

Warren should blow everything up and start over. But he won't.

He inherits a shop rife with terrible morale and rudderless. So much so the majority of staff are now reduced to gossiping (like KTVU folks) at an adjacent cafe away from the sinking ship.

*Meanwhile, inside the same building, you have the other disaster known as KCBS Radio, a certifiable wreck with MAJOR internal problems and a veteran staff DISGUSTED with the current status of the news operation and in spite of good ratings, lousy morale and deep discontent.

Several sources both there and away from the all-news outlet, tell me there's tremendous rancor at KCBS. Senior staff, including editors and newsroom personnel know just how much KCBS is "fucked up"--from rotating anchors to the ongoing, daily electronic mayham, glitches that plague the station and seem to occur every day without any action.

KCBS still hasn't replaced the retired Stan Bunger. It's been almost a year.

I've been told Audacy (KCBS' owner) is going on the cheap and doesn't plan on hiring a new replacement as long as the numbers remain good.

Additions to news, KCBS hasn't hired a permanent sports anchor in the morning (replacing the retired Steve Bitker)--instead, continues to use boring and cheao fill-ins, Ted Ramey (yawn) and Joe Hughes (double yawn).

KCBS gets by largely because it's a virtual monopoly. KGO isn't competition and KQED operates as an NPR affiliate and whose listeners aren't a threat to KCBS and its audience and sponsorships. So KCBS can go about its business and operate solo even with glaring electronic malfunctions and on-air mildew.

No wonder everyone under the sun is SPLITING from KCBS and why there's so many new reporters --it's NOT a pretty picture.