The Moment Of Reckoning At KPIX; 415 Media Tells It Like It Is; Blunt Force Analysis Of 855 Battery; The Real Thing You Won't Read Anywhere Else

 KPIX is at a pivotal point of time--its own moment of reckoning --and I say this matter of fact: The station has LOST ITS IDENTITY --wait a minute, KPIX HAS NO IDENTITY!

To be relevant to viewers, people have to care about the news anchors they are watching.  Nobody cares about KPIX --haven't cared for years. This is the point at PIX that has eluded its executives and is one of the main reasons why the CBS SF station has lost its mojo --if it ever had it to begin with you have to go back to the days of Dave McElhatton and Wendy Tokuda. That's a long time ago.


Today, PIX (Channel 5) is loaded with a bunch of bitter, no-talent, sub-prime news and sports anchors with a tremendous dose of blasé. There is NO there there. Nobody commands respect. The best talent, Ken Bastida, has been put out to pasture. Lost in the late-night abyss. Bastida should be on in primetime --everywhere. Allen Martin is a TOTAL failure. He doesn't warm the senses. He hardly smiles. Seriously, Martin sometimes gives the appearance he's having a colonoscopy on the air. That won't work to attract viewers, but Martin, unfortunately for PIX, is not alone.


Let's face it: The Veronica De La Cruz experiment is a bust! That's right, I said it. If De La Cruz put as much work into her news reading as she does with her hair and internet browsing, she'd be an extraordinary success. But she HAS NOT--(TRENDING!) De La Cruz looks completely LOST in space and often times sounds like a tortured canary. Please, GM Bruno Cohen and ND, Dan Rosenheim, something needs to be done here--trim the roster, cut your losses.


And what the hell is going on with Brian Hackney? Hey Brian, your pompousness has reached epic proportions! Hell, if you want to go audition for "60 Minutes", do us all a favor and get on the next red eye for JFK! You stink, Brian, that's right, I said it, you stink. Your air of superiority wreaks of cockiness run amuck --and get this? WHY? In order to pull off that bullshit you have to be someone, generate respect. Hackney, you come off as some dimwitted New Jersey public school teacher and I'm being kind. Go take a day off and try to reinvent yourself.


Then there's Ms. Prima Donna herself, Julie Watts--where do we begin? Honey, if your a consumer advocate I'm a stripper. It's not a pretty picture either way. Watts has all the warmth and gumption of an Oxnard Walmart clerk. "But she really works hard", I'm told by station staffers. So do humming birds in heat. Seriously, Watts is a complete tool and nobody takes her seriously --she ought to bunch up with Hackney and do Sunday community shows that no one watches--she's certainly not helping Monday through Friday.


And PLEASE, someone tell Dennis O'Donnell and Vern Glenn that this is NOT KRON in the 80's. Time passes, dudes. Just what the heck is going on in the sports dept? Dennis, we know you're a cute guy, we get it. But please, quit MUGGING the camera night in an night out--you're not Donny Osmond for heaven's sake. And Vern? Oh my god. Have you lost it, buddy? The copy shifting, the wink of the eye, the irritating-as-all-get-go frequent pregnant pauses --this is not good, Vern. You're beginning to act like some latent, Art Linkletter guy only this is 2015, Vern. Wake up and smell the teleprompter.


KPIX, you are a mess. I said what nobody will say. Management doesn't give a rat's ass, obviously, they're too busy drinking beers at Kokkari and staring at women's tits. Hey guys, the only reason you're in game is because New York only cares about the bottom line and, big deal, if I ran PIX, I too could maintain its profitability --better yet, I alone could make this chicken shit into chicken salad. You want proof? Ask the main man at Black Rock. Yeah, that guy!

The anchor who could not smile, Allen Martin

Seriously, now, PIX, your Moment of Reckoning has arrived only I'm not so sure many of you know it.






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Notarangelo Leaving KPIX; Last Show Sunday; Veteran Anchor Says 'It's Time To Go'; Source: Goodrich To Handle Weekends For May Book

Ann Notarangelo/CBS

 Been a rough few days for Bay Area women TV anchors and reporters.

First, KTVU's Melanie Woodrow is sent packing and now comes word that Ann Notarangelo is leaving KPIX. Her last show is Sunday per her Facebook goodbye.

Notarangelo has been anchoring weekend duty on PIX for the past 14 years. She's occasionally anchored during the week but her mainstay has been Saturday and Sunday Night.

According to my PIX spy, word has it that Juliette Goodrich, the station's "Go-to fill-in" for all shifts will be called in to handle weekends for the May book.

By all indications from inside 855 Battery, the decision to split was Notarangelo's alone but another source told me she (Notarangelo) wanted more presence during the week and that wasn't imminent. Plus, with the hiring of Veronica De La Cruz, Notarangelo saw the handwriting on the wall and was tired of weekend anchoring. In other words, yes, it was the right time to go.

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Juliette Goodrich/CBS

 

KRON Will Continue To Suck For The Foreseeable Future

This is what KRON has going for itself now: an 8 PM newscast and "more news than any other local news station." Those last words are from KRON itself and they're right. Too bad the station is mired in less-than-mediocre status otherwise more people would watch it and the current albatross state would be erased but that isn't the case. Whenever I mention KRON to people in and out of the business they shake their heads and giggle.

Just the other day I was talking to a veteran KGO cameraman about the union situation at KTVU (another topic for another day) and he couldn't believe what's going on at KRON.

Not that he knows directly just what he's heard. And like everyone else he's heard a lot.

I can't imagine what it's like to run KRON now. An apparently powerless GM who is supposed to be in way over her head and can't or won't do the necessary chores to make KRON relevant. Maybe she needs to go to corporate but Media General doesn't seem too interested in what's going on in the Bay Area.

In the newsroom, Aaron Pero continues to somehow stay on as News Director. It's come to the point where people openly think Pero must have something of importance in his possession to keep his gig. I've tried to reach out to Pero and let him speak here on the record as to his management ways but he's been forever mum. Pero either is OK with the knowledge of his rep and doesn't give a rat's ass or is completely tone deaf about the major disconnect between him and most of the staff. That's a good way to run a news operation.

So, what's the future at KRON? In its current state, nothing. The station will continue to carry on and do so as some of its very own air talent belittle the operation as its currently constituted. No wonder the guy who drives the famed black Bentley refers to his gig as "my Buster Brown bit." I'm sure that does wonders for morale. Whatever.

My gut tells me that something is brewing. Someone with a smidgen of influence (which is nothing to ride home at KRON) will step forward (finally) and complain loud enough that something/someone needs to go. I can't be specific (yet) because I believe this whole process is in its initial evolution. The problem now, and this is indicative of the vibe that's been in place far too long at KRON, is that nobody seems to care. Almost everyone is resigned to KRON's status as the laughingstock of Bay Area TV and that's a shame. Because even in its schlock mode, if run with a basic, reliable dose of ,leadership, KRON could be a viable news source. And a Bay Area viewers who have a thirst for "more local news than any other TV station" would be well served.

Just not now. Which makes it fairly obvious: KRON will continue to suck for the foreseeable future.

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5 Quick Thursday Coffee TV Bullet Points

 Morning Coffee TV/Radio Bullet Points


1. KTVU: Reporter a day...Managing Editor still tweeting American Idol dumb stuff, not to mention geographically-challenged Bay-to-Breakers history...behind the scenes, senior reporters future up in area and oh yes, a News Director, the boy wonder, that has zero cred with rank and file. (Psst, hire Sinkovitz!)


2. KRON: They go to work --get in and out and do their best. Still a gargantuan amount of uncertainty --new spread at 900 Front has better coffee over 1001 Van Ness, but no Tommy's Joynt...Looks like interim GM has the job if he wants it. Darya is happy and Pero is Pero.


3. KNTV: Everybody seems to be happy although new personnel moves have people a bit nervous...The Bunker lady, according to some of the toes, is in over her head...Hey John Mitchell, lighten up and buy the troops lunch. They're working hard and you don't smile enough...Some sandwiches at Togo's does wonders. And screw potato chips, extra diet coke and cookies.


4. KGO-TV: Carolyn Johnson's last day is Friday so the mood is bittersweet --expect a lot of emotions on the 6 and 11 casts --Tracey, like John Mitchell, SMILE! Have a chat. Tell staff you appreciate the hard work, even Wayne--buys a lot of good will and holds off impending Disney purge at the end of the year, see Spence and Cheryl.


5. KPIX: What's with the new guy that looks like he just got out of high-school? Leave it to Beaver invades 855 Battery!...I want more Betty Yu, Juliette Goodrich ---Roby too. Hey, this "mobile weather" gimmick had a shelf life of 2 weeks--enough of the cutesy, viewers know it's simply a live shot with a weather stick...Oh, Veronica? I want to see you, I really do. So whatever the heck is going on, I hope you and the family work it out. The fact that anyone is talking about you should indicate we all care. We like you, we really, really like you...Dan, let's have a hoist at Old Ship and bury the hatchet. Bring Roberta--oh, wait a minute...


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KTVU's New GA Reporter Cristina Rendon: Work Well and Be Prosperous

 We welcome Cristina Rendon to the Bay Area.

KTVU's new General Assignment reporter knows how to rock the boat. I especially liked her work on the BART derailment story. Relentlessly tough and fierce we hope her presence on KTVU is long and prosperous.


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KTVU Did 5 Weather Teases On The 10 O'Clock News Last Night

 Seriously, I counted. Five times. 5! And that doesn't count the weather report itself at 10: 45. Mind you, this isn't because of the drought conditions--apparently KTVU has a weather fetish and figures by teasing it multiple times people will be glued.

I was annoyed. And I like Bill Martin but it makes Bill look foolish.

""BREAKING NEWS!!"

KTVU has a weather fetish.

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Brian Greif, KRON GM Resigns; Heath Issue

Greif Out at KRON...

Brian Greif, 53, GM of KRON, has decided to resign from the station, following weeks of consulting with doctors.

I knew he recently had back surgery and was suffering with, according to a station source, "significant pain."

I don't believe there's any more to this story other than a medical issue.

*Developing...

(HatTip: TVNewsCheck)

KGO-TV's Michael Finney; 7 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Walks The Walk; Helps Out People From Getting Screwed By Scammers

 Michael Finney has grown on me.

The KGO-TV Consumer Reporter and "7 On Your Side" host has been a Bay Area TV staple for years with a distinctive voice and presence. Some people had issues with "the voice", others not so much but as I've watched and listened, (Finney has a show on KGO Radio from 1-4 PM weekends), Finney, A. knows his stuff, B. has helped a whole bunch of people who've been screwed by companies, scams and made for suckers, and C. seems like a nice person according to several Channel 7 staffers.

Finney is genuine and sincere unlike some his counterparts. Just the other evening he was holding court with anchor, Dan Ashley, It was a segment on "free things" and the backdrop was a puppy-dog doll with a bow tie. Cute. Funny too although I've seen my share of puppy dolls. (I get nostalgic this time of the year); in any event the bit worked well and showcased why Finney has developed a following in over a decade's work here in the Bay Area.

I think most people trust him and appreciate his sincere attempts at righting a wrong or making sure the older folks don't get scammed by some intuitive con artists. Finney, I've been told, is quite an adept worker at 900 Front. He's also got a decent staff to handle the hundreds of complaints he gets every week by consumers who have been screwed one way or another.

We look forward to seeing and listening to Finney in the coming days.

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Changes Coming to KPIX

  CHANGES at PIX


There's some changes on the front burner at KPIX; nothing extraordinary mind you but enough to make noise and rearrange the furniture at 855 Battery in the heart of the media gulch.

Among the moves:

As reported here, first, Roberta Gonzales is switching from weekends to weekday mornings--working alongside/with, Lawrence Karnow.

How exactly that will go down and the specifics are not known now but a few pixies told me Karnow isn't thrilled about the new setup.

Gonzales debut is or around the beginning of December --management types and ND, Dan Rosenheim have been meeting.

*A source close to the CBS-owned station told me several more changes "are on the way." Expect some new anchors. Maybe some in-house people moving to another time slot. Perhaps a few new hires.

I asked the source what prompted the impending moves. "They have been slightly underwhelmed with the current brand and product--they think it's stale." Stale? Humn.

They're also going to push a hard dose of weather too with their celebrated "mobile weather lab." Frankly, I have no idea why PIX does this but the big suits obviously regard weather as serious business in the Bay Area. We'll see.


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KTVU Orders Gaffe Videos Pulled From YouTube; More Dumb Thinking at Jack London Square

We're not ganging up on KTVU but its post-gaffe behavior following one of the most embarrassing and humiliating acts in TV News history continues to boggle the mind. Instead of moving forward with acts of transparency and level-headedness, the station has, instead, reverted to sticking its head in the sand. In addition to this site, others are aghast too.

The latest case of concealment was reported by Matthew Keys of The Desk; is KTVU kidding? Do they really think this type of action is pro-active? In the Internet age, it's impossible to remove the evidence. That may or may not be such great news but it's the reality of the times.

KTVU has been the gold-standard in news presentation in the Bay Area. Its "10 O'clock News", once the envy of local shops and TV newsrooms across the country, is still top-notch, but in recent years has lost a lot of its luster. That's not an indictment on the fine people at the station, just indicative of the changing business. It's a shame, then, that such a treasured brand would taint its meat and potatoes with actions like trying to conceal something that ain't ever going away.

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Exclusive: Was KTVU Victim of Sabotage Over Asiana Airline 'Namegate?' SF TV Competition Or Rogue KTVU Staffer; Cox Media Investigation

The KTVU Namegate affair has taken a dramatic turn.

Several insiders in the know have told me that the Asiana Airliner pilot-name brouhaha might very well have been perpetrated by individuals from the local SF-TV competition. Or from a rogue KTVU staffer bent on revenge!

Even with the disclosure that an NTSB intern has been identified and relieved of his duties, the embarrassing incident still made it past KTVU news personnel on duty at the time of the Noon News newscast last Friday.

*Bullet Points:

1) The internal investigation is being run by Cox Atlanta. The Cox family does NOT like controversy, or to be embarrassed. This is a family owned company; there are NO stockholders. The family holds its pride close. Their internal security team usually consists of retired FBI and Secret Service. As one of America's richest families, they protect their own interests.

 

2) NO ONE at KTVU is safe. If COX feels management is lax, the GM or ND could be gone.

 

3) Probably 4 or 5 employees in the newsroom "touched" the story before air. They include the assignment desk; a writer; a producer; a graphic artist; and the anchor. It's possible the executive producer and/or news director saw it, too. That's a LOT of eyes missing the real story! All could be fired.

 

4) A leading candidate for the prank...other TV stations in the market. KTVU made LOTS of enemies with its over-the-top, self-serving promo touting its coverage of the plane crash (which WAS very good). But in doing so, they rubbed noses in the dirt at KGO, KPIX, KRON and KNTV. Any p-o'd person at one of those stations could have pulled the prank.

 

5) Whoever did this has insider knowledge of the "flow" of the KTVU newsroom (which is typical of any TV newsroom). The fact that the information came in as breaking news, so close to news time, tells you that the perpetrator knew the story might be rushed to air, with only a cursory review of the "facts!". The person who did this leveraged their knowledge of how a newsroom works on deadline. Well played.

 

**Developing...

 

*Exclusive

 

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Thursday Bullet Point: KRON Sold; Update: Confirmed: Media General Merger Deal with KRON

KRON sold? Yes.

UPDATE 10: 33 PT: The deal has been confirmed. KRON has been sold. Really, a merger. (See below).

Thursday item making the 415 Media lounge.

KRON has been bought by Media General. The staff has been invited to attend meetings for a presentation about what is being called a merger. It is.



**Developing...

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Cluadine Wong can and does indeed SMILE on KTVU's Weekend MO2

Claudine Wong has a legion of fans. I'm one of them.

I have marveled at her straight-forward news delivery but often chided her for her lack of emotion, lack of a simple laugh every now and then. Smile, Claudine, smile!

WE INTERUPT THIS POST TO BRING YOU 'BREAKING NEWS'

As I watched KTVU's weekend 'Mornings on 2', not only was Wong smiling A LOT more, but downright almost laughing and chirping. It was a nice detour away from the usual placid-looking woman anchor who at times appeared to act as if she was auditioning for a CSPAN morning gig.

Two things we can deduce from this:

1. The power of 415 Media, (it's OK, I'll gladly accept a MO2 coffee cup and you all at KTVU just saved another dime from the consultants.)

2. Smiling and showing some genuine emotion will not rock the boat and lose viewership. Viewers want to see news, sure, but it also helps to see a popular anchor develop a personality too. We appreciate Claudine Wong's new vibe and hope she keeps it.

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Bay Area Coverage of the Boston Marathon Bombings; KRON, KNTV and KTVU Steady; KGO, PIX, Meh; Radio Too

As news of the awful events in Boston began circulating on the net, TV, and cable, coverage started in earnest, especially on cable and most notably, over-the-air network outlets, with Fox, CBS, NBC, and ABC even interrupting daytime programming to broadcast the on-going developments from the Marathon.

It was TV at its best and worst. The visual images were, of course, disturbing. The sight of the older man collapsing past the finish line, (he was later interviewed and is OK), was one of those images that will linger forever. The sight of a woman bleeding profusely from one of her legs was hard to watch. It numbs the mind the more you watch it. Some of the footage was shown raw and without any warning from people that should know better.

In a fluid situation like what had transpired in Boston, the rush not to publish or air unsubstantiated information was a positive for the networks. Nobody cared to dare speculate about who, what, or why anyone would do such a terrible thing. More importantly, from the very start, when there was a question as to the cause of the explosions, most made a point of stating, (like, for example, Wolf Blitzer of CNN), that all of this could have been caused by a transformer explosion underground or natural gas). In the end, we now know that wasn't the case. But in this day and age of getting it first, it was the proper MO and it was right.

The inevitable comparisons to 9-11 began to percolate, slowly but surely. And while this horrible scene was indeed, horrible, it was, and is, apparently, nowhere near the scope, both literally and figuratively, of the events of Sept, 11, 2001 although, eerily, that it lacked both the death toll and sheer awfulness of 9-11, it still conjured up disturbing images of then and now.

LOCAL COVERAGE--TV and Radio

*KRON--Props again to the Channel 4 people for staying with the story almost from its inception, which given KRON's reliance on news since it's pretty much out of the loop on anything else, it was a nice touch not having to go somewhere else in case somebody else cut and split.

*KTVU--Steady and solid performance by Frank Somerville and Gasia Michalien. While the jist of their, (and mostly everyone else's), coverage was mostly network-driven, it was good that KTVU stayed with its coverage and nixed regular daytime programming. (And the right thing to do).

*KGO-TV: This is one of the few times I have an issue with KGO. While opening its 4 PM newscast with the Boston tragedy, (as of course, it should have), it then morphed into local news stories and that was a bad call. It also looked positively awkward when all the other outlets were concentrating on Boston.

Beyond the story from the Southbay where the parents of the young teen girl who had  killed herself after an alleged sexual assault, there really wasn't any big news emanating from the Bay Area. Sure, KGO might have felt the need to keep viewers aware of stories here, but it wasn't necessary and besides, obviously, the Boston events was topic-A everywhere.

*KNTV, (NBC Bay Area), stayed mostly with the story drawing a lot from the network and relying on its own team of reporters and anchors. In addition, the station sent Terry McSweeney to Boston to provide local coverage.

*KPIX5: Mixed reaction. While PIX was more than adequate with its coverage, the decision to send Ken Bastida to Boston began with a big-time thud. Bastida, somehow, some way, managed to get to the Boston scene, (in spite of the shutdown of Logan Airport most of the day) unfortunately, Bastida's first live-shot on the 11 PM news was both awkward and non-newsworthy. He was alone on a city street near the scene of the explosions but had nothing to report and only repeated "news" we all knew. It was sort of like: "we're Channel 5, we have a reporter THERE, and let's just get him on the air!" Great concept, only Bastida, a solid news pro had NO news to report--certainly nothing we all had already gathered.

RADIO--

KCBS: Nice work from the station with detailed news updates; comprehensive coverage and a number of local and national interviews interspersed with their own and CBS Radio coverage. It was nuts and bolts basic; nothing riveting nor out of the ordinary, but that's OK--listeners prefer reliability and know they get that from the all-news dominant station.

KGO: The coverage was adequate enough with some requisite interviews and network coverage back-up; nothing more to say other than this type of tragedy in Boston was the old-KGO's staple where listeners could vent and express feelings with the talk hosts later on. We now know that is not an option. And another reason to go to KCBS too.

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KRON is suddenly very watchable; Jersey Boys on KSCO/KOMY; Friday Media

I enjoy KRON lately. You read right.

Why? Because I had an epiphany. I believe KRON has made a lot of strides of late and they deserve some recognition.

KRON is doing what it can do best: become a sort of local newsy operation devoid of gimmicks and unnecessary chit-chat. Is it perfect? No, of course not, not even close, but what it does do well, and that is to present the news in almost an avalanche of time, it has done so and should get its props.

Over the years I have kicked KRON, (as have others--viewers too), but they seem to have taken on a missive of knowing what they are, what they aren't, and are growing leaps and bounds with a new look, meaner and leaner graphics, and a healthy dose of good, cogent reporting and relatively solid, if not spectacular anchors.

Pam Moore continues to provide very capable anchoring; Catherine Heenan is like a rock--a classy rock of news Gibraltar who is the station's EverReady battery. Mark Danon has earned his stripes in the morning and deserves props for his steady and no-nonsense delivery. And while i have derided Darya Folsom numerous times for her, sometimes, over-the-top, gushy, gee-whiz, disposition, she too seems to have improved and provides a welcome dose of morning content.

KRON still has issues but like everyone else in this ever-changing TV news media landscape, is doing its best under the circumstances. I'd like to see less infomercials but I understand the dictum. I like Stanley Robert's "People behaving Badly" and even though I'm uber-critical, at times, of Mr. Radnich on radio, there's no denying he can still churn out a healthy five or so minutes a night doing his sports report and other duties.

Even weather reports have become surprisingly solid and worthy of paying attention to. Jacqueline Bennett is quite adept of giving viewers accurate forecasts without drawing attention to herself, but forgive me, it's always pleasant to watch Ms. Bennett. (OK, so I'm human, sue me.)

All in all, KRON has become a go-to venue for all the latest breaking news in the Bay Area. It isn't the old KRON by any stretch but then again it's not 1999 anymore either. And so long as Vicki Liviakis continues to read the news and grace the airwaves, I'll continue to watch KRON. Some individual loyalty is un-yielding.

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KTVU's Richmond would have stayed on if asked; Ken Wayne negotiations carry on; Tuesday Mix

KTVU News has lost one of its more prized assets, Rita Williams, who retired last week.

One of its other major air talents, Dennis Richmond, called it quits almost five years ago.

With an asterisk.

Contrary to local industry buzz, Richmond--who retired in May, 2008, after 40 illustrious years would have gladly stayed on a few more but was never asked to do so. How do I know? Because a KTVU veteran talent, (on-air), told me directly. "Had they asked, he would have gladly stuck around--no doubt," said the staffer, who worked with Richmond and knew him well.

Sure, Richmond had some lingering health issues, (he fought and beat cancer), and was ready to hit the golf course but at 65 and in pretty good physical shape, would have gladly stayed on a year or so but management, (which is different now), didn't approach Richmond. Maybe that was on purpose.

Calls to both Richmond and then, KTVU GM, Tim McVay were not returned. And a call into current GM, Tom Raponi, for comment, was not returned.

Not that Richmond's exit, nor Williams, in the long run, will have any real punitive effect on KTVU, nor Cox Broadcasting, its corporate owner, but a station known for its quality news programs and relative stability has lost two of its biggest hitters and might portend for more transactions down the road.

Ken Wayne, veteran weekend anchor/reporter, is in the midst of contract negotiations, (his original deal is nearing completion), and although Wayne wants to stay put, it's not known if management has the same idea. Although an industry observer told me recently that he thinks Wayne will stay on.

We shall see.

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KGO-TV's Ashley gets White House 'Exclu' with Obama, (Sort of)

Dan Ashley, lead anchor at KGO-TV, (ABC7), was in Washington last week and got an exclu with the President.

Sort of.

The White House made Mr. Obama available for five minutes with an assortment of local TV stations across the nation. One of those that made the cut was KGO-TV, presumably because the White House wanted to give some love to a big station on the West Coast, (among others).

With barely five or so minutes, you can't ask a lot of questions. Even tough questions.

My friend, Mike James, editor of Newsblues, (paywall), gave a little ribbing to Ashley's interview:

"Ashley asked Obama about playing golf with Tiger Woods last weekend. "He plays a different game than I do. He's on another planet," said the president.
 
Proof positive that local news anchors CAN ask the tough questions."

To be fair, these local stations that make the WH cut, are in a mostly controlled environment. In that respect, it's difficult to imagine that Ashley had any chance to offer something more substantive. He did ask Obama about Prop 8, (the same-sex marriage act that the Supreme Court will rule on in June) and the possibility of a sequester budget.

And keep in mind that had Ashley tried to go Mike Wallace on the POTUS, I'm sure he and KGO probably would have been on the future WH cut list.

It's a local TV-news catch-22 deluxe: you get a coveted interview with the President and sure, you'd like to be able to ask a few pointed questions that don't appear to be too cushy; in that respect, I think Ashley did about as well as could be expected.

In any event, KGO got the gig.

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