KNBR And SAG-AFTRA Union Issues; 'We're Frustrated'

KNBR staff recently voted to organize a union at the all-sports station. Negotiations haven't been all that fluid but they continue nonetheless, albeit in no such of a frenetic pace. That's not surprising.

One of the many people behind the scenes that has been outspoken about the need of an AFTRA-SAG association has been Ted Ramey. Ramey hosts his own show on KNBR's little sister, 1050 AM.


Ramey used to do a lot of the fill-in updates on the "Gary and Larry Show"--since the union move was publicized, Ramey has been conspicuously absent from that show. More pointedly, Ramey has all but disappeared from KNBR's notable Monday-Friday programming. Coincidence? Perhaps, you be the judge.


A KNBR staffer, who asked for anonymity, said that the "union situation" has been met with a great deal of anxiety inside the building. Even those staffers who voted for representation are "concerned" and quite sullen about the ongoing negotiations for a contract. Those negotiations have progressed but not to a point, not nearly at all, to where a contract is anywhere near serious let alone completion.


"It's frustrating," said the staffer.


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Oakland Raiders have New Radio Partner; 95.7 FM 'The Game' new Flagship Station for Silver and Black

The Raiders have left the Death Valley of Radio and signed on with 'The Game', (95.7 FM), Entercom's All-Sports FM outlet. That's good news, although ironically the station, (which is also the flagship outlet of the A's), also has a poor signal that is hard to hear in many parts of the Bay Area.

Nevertheless, it's good that the Raiders have at least signed onto a station that has a sports brand; more importantly, local talk shows that can be utilized to talk pro football and the Raiders, in particular.

Greg Papa and Tom Flores will continue on as the broadcast team--Papa returning to do the play-by-play and Flores providing analysis.


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'The Game' has to Get in the Game; 95.7 FM All-Sports Needs Identity More than Gimmicks

"The Game", (95.7 FM), Entercom's answer to FM sports in the Bay Area needs to redefine its theme.

It also has to quit pretending that it's going to beat KNBR. It isn't.

It also has to stop shouting at us. As an alternative to the Knibber foibles, The Game is decidedly more creative and entertaining.

But it has to stop gimmicks. One thing, for starters, is to concentrate on its core asset: flagship station for the Oakland A's. The problem with The Game is instead of going wall-to-wall with A's programming built around its talk shows, the station routinely dominates programming with Giants talk. KNBR is the Giant's flagship and most Giants fans don't listen to the Game. That sort of programming strategy probably helps KNBR more than 95.7. Sure, the A's don't have the largess nor cachet of the Giants followers, but their fan base is loyal.

And another thing: When you shout and scream, as the Game does a lot, all you're doing is essentially copying KNBR. The Game is far more edgier and more intelligent than Knibber. But they need to form their own identity and quit trying to compete with the other guys. When you consistently can't break a 1 share you have to re-think the business model. Try to be what you are as opposed to what you clearly aren't.

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