The broadcasting people down in Los Angels are fuming over a screw-up by Nielsen in the May Radio ratings, reports the LA Times
I've heard a few rumblings that LA is not alone and that other markets, like SF, (#4) may have received false data, only SF numbers were released.
Probably not a swell time to be in the Nielsen research department conference room.
*Let me set the record straight. I don't take pleasure in writing about anchors whose contracts won't be renewed. It's not my decision, its decisions made by management and the corporations who run the vast majority of local TV News operations. I don't just wantonly throw on the wall that such and such are goners. Most of my info comes from sources and they're usually accurate, like here for example. Or here too.
*Why did I write so extensively about new KPIX anchor, Veronica De La Cruz? Some of you thought I went overboard. And that KPIX hadn't really made a "splashy hire." Really, then I guess this wasn't splashy?
Or this?
The fact is when significant personnel moves involving major market players, then it's a legitimately big story, at least in the TV News business. Moreover, when De La Cruz mysteriously was absent for over a month and her status unclear, yes, I gravitated to the story. It became a lot more intriguing and mysterious when there was no reason(s) given as to why she was MIA. Fortunately we got that squared away and she seems to have ironed out her problems, at least for now.
But the point remains the same: when a big time hire comes to SF, yes, it's big news. And it's not just VDLC. Recall the buzz when Sylvia Chase, she of ABC News and "20-20" fame departed NY to come out here to KRON.
*Until the all-sports FM outlet, 95.7 FM 'The Game' gets a stronger signal, alters its doomed new morning program, (and a few other shows), it will have zero chance as a relevant radio player in this market. Add to that dominant AM power, KNBR and its first-tier franchise affiliates like the Giants and 49ers, Warriors too and you don't need to be a heart surgeon to make that observation.
*Add 'The Game" nugget: A prominent radio source told me The Game's PD, Jason Barrett wanted to have a powwow with one of the station's newest personalities, its best, by the way, and the personality told Barrett he could essentially go do something virtually impossible.
*The difference between Giants games on Comcast and A's games on Comcast, in a nutshell: Giants telecasts concentrate on crowd shots while A's telecasts rely on the GAME. Excuse me, I thought the team with the BEST record in baseball was first and foremost the attraction.
*If you've been noticing the very real toned-down voice from the person who hosts the 9-Noon show on the 810 AM dial, yes, you're not the only one.
*PIX mystery 2: Nothing against Ryan Takeo, who seems like a decent reporter, but PIX has been highlighting this rather innocuous tonsil. There's nothing special about him and he's a good guy, but why? Takeo? Just curious.
*PIX mystery 3: Simon Perez is back-I guess TV News pays better than teaching.
*World Cup required TV entity: beer.
*BREAKING NEWS***BREAKING NEWS***BREAKING NEWS: KTVU has not hired any new reporters within the past 24 hours.
*Brodie Brazil was just winning me over with his network-quality work when, according to a few co-workers who asked for anonymity, suddenly began acting like a complete jerk. Memo to Brodes: Before you begin pulling the prima donna card, get the NY gig first.
*OK, you're officially cool department: KPIX weather guru, Paul Deanno: at first, skeptical, now the guy is a real bona-fide good man who knows his stuff and comes off cool as hell.
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