It's Official: Wayne Splits KTVU for KRON; Thursday 415 Media Reports

Ken Wayne moving to KRON

WHAT I REPORTED last week is now official: Ken Wayne, who spent nearly three decades at KTVU before abruptly leaving is headed across the bay to work the weeknight anchor desk at KRON; he begins sometime next week.

No word on which newscasts he'll anchor but underwhelming KRON could use a new face --especially in light of its recent decision to can Steve Aveson whose contract was not renewed and lasted barely a year and a half.

Wayne is not a fiery personality but his KTVU presence gives KRON a known Bay Area TV News journalist --something that can only help the independent albatross that needs a shot in the arm. Boy do they ever.

Wayne was working the last month without a contract; Fox-owned KTVU didn't want to renew Wayne for the money he was seeking (about $300K annually) --Wayne will be working for significantly less dough but he likes the Bay Area and was willing to take a pay cut to get the KRON gig. Yes, it's KRON but it's a job. That always helps to feed the family.

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415 Media Exclusive: John Fowler Leaving KTVU Fox 2; Veteran Health/Science Editor

 Longtime KTVU Health and Science Editor/Reporter, John Fowler, has quietly left the station, according to multiple sources who spoke to 415 Media.


The decision was made late last week.


Fowler, an Emmy winner in addition to other numerous industry awards supposedly left on his own volition and decided to "break away" with a healthy buyout. We don't know for sure, but we put two and two together: Fowler is in his mid 60's and that doesn't bode well long-term, most notably when your corporate owner is FOX, which took control of KTVU last October.


Fowler, many moons ago, told close associates that he wasn't retiring anytime soon and had planned on staying in Jack London Square for the immediate future. Indeed, he seemed to be just as engaged and focused as he was when he delivered his first reports for KTVU --on the other hand we all know when you reach a certain age in local TV news these days, the handwriting is on the wall that management would like to nudge you out.


Seems Fowler beat FOX and saw the tea leaves and decided to leave on his own without being kicked to the curb.


*415 Media Exclusive


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415 Media: ABC7/KGO-TV Reporter Nick Smith Abruptly Resigns; GA Correspondent Wanted Full-Time Status

 KGO-TV veteran General Assignment reporter and all-around good guy, Nick Smith resigned late last week, suddenly.

I'm told by an ABC7 source that Smith was turned down by management after requesting full-time status at the SF O and O. Smith has been a part-time contributor even though he'd been reporting at the station since 2006.

Smith is also an aspiring actor and appeared on a few notable ABC shows but his news reporting was generally first-rate and I'd be very surprised if Smith didn't turn up soon at a local or out-of-town station.

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415 Media: Karnow Out At KPIX; Veteran CBS Weatherman

 Veteran weatherman, Lawrence Karnow, has been let go from KPIX, according to my eye at CBS-SF. The reason given was budget cutting, (it usually is).

Karnow's bio on KPIX's website is missing. His linkedin account is absent an affiliation too.

I'm hearing that Roberta Gonzales will be moving to the morning slot to become Karnow's permanent replacement.

I'm also hearing more cuts involving various personnel is coming.

Happy Holidays.

*{H/T: NewsBlues}

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Flash: Bloomberg Radio Announces SF Affiliate; Sept. 29 Debut; KNEW and 103.7 FM

San Francisco Debut Sept. 29.

Joins IHeartMedia's KNEW 960 AM--plus 103.7 FM

*Greg Jarrett to do morning drive

*Other personnel decisions coming soon.

*Business-heavy net takes aim at Silicon Valley tech market.

*Developing...

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Frosty OUT at Talk 910

  ...he gone!


Told his listeners at the close of Friday's show, "bye."


My question: Does anyone care? Seriously now.


Skinny: Both Clear Channel and The Snowman reportedly departed amicably.


Like, the ratings were.not.that.good. and so, get your ass outta here.

Carolyn Johnson's Last Night at KGO-TV; Veteran Anchor Headed to LA's KNBC; Early Summer Debut; Friday Starter

 Tonight is Carolyn Johnson's last evening at KGO-TV before moving down south to become the new Noon and 6 PM news reader for KNBC in LA.


This marks a sad chapter in Bay Area TV News because clearly Johnson didn't want to leave the Bay Area but she also wasn't willing to restructure her contract and take a significant pay cut--something that was asked by cost-cutting Disney.


Johnson won't be the last to leave ABC/SF --others simply won't have their contracts renewed, it's as simple as that and all the more confusing and controversial when you consider Disney is raking in record profits.


Too bad the Mickey Mouse people have begun a chop-chop policy at some of their big O and O's, (Owned and Operated), stations and at the heart of their chopping is those who make the biggest money. And those who make too much money deemed unnecessary will be either bought out, asked to take a huge pay cut or simply non-tendered.


Johnson has family roots in the LA area so her career and family issues will not be adversely affected. In fact, she's making a lot more money and should help out a legendary LA station in dire need of a name and experienced newswoman like Johnson. Sometimes things happen for a reason.


Meanwhile at KGO, the search for Johnson's replacement appears to be in-house at this point with weekend anchor, Ama Daetz, according to insiders, as the leading candidate to replace Johnson. Nothing is set in stone yet but we should know soon.


This is a major loss for 900 Front. Johnson is not only a hard-working, smooth and engaging news anchor but her reporting on medical and science issues added a lot of substance to KGO's news products. In addition, Johnson and fellow primary anchor, Dan Ashley, were a winning team and developed solid years of being one of the best 1-2 teams in the market.


Expect a lot of surprises and emotion taking place on Channel 7's newscasts tonight.


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Thursday Blast: Cheryl Jennings and Spencer Christian Out at KGO-TV

 Cheryl Jennings and Spencer Christian --both longtime KGO-TV, (ABC7), air talent, will not have their contracts renewed come December and are OUT at the SF O and O, according to multiple station and broadcast sources.


Jennings has seen a thirty-year stint at 900 Front, including anchoring and reporting and has landed numerous industry awards but in her mid-to-late 60's and making the money she makes, ABC simply has decided it's time for her to leave.


Christian came to the Bay Area on the coattails of his work at "Good Morning America" and a desire to get out of New York.


He's been at KGO for 15 years and, according to one of the sources, "simply makes way too much money" and was deemed disposable.


*Rich Lieberman 415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE

Carolyn Johnson KNBC Journey Begins in June

 Carolyn Johnson is headed down south to KNBC --where we had here, first.

Of course now the mainstream trades have joined in to report the transaction involving the longtime Bay Area KGO-TV news anchor. She will be missed at 900 Front. She's also being forced to worked the last days of her contract.


I reported that Johnson was not keen on accepting a 20% pay cut affecting the majority of air-talent at KGO. Once Johnson's dissatisfaction was known in broadcast circles she was immediately on the radar to help sagging KNBC, a once-legacy station in Southern California and in the need of a big-name talent like Johnson.


Make no mistake: Carolyn Johnson is a MAJOR loss for KGO-TV here. She leaves behind a nearly 20-year run at ABC-SF and all in the name of budgetary slashes by the O and O Disney division --KGO makes lots of money and is neck and neck with KPIX in the ratings in the early evening but this departure is a significant setback.


The Dan Ashley -Johnson duo is one of the best pairs in Bay Area TV News and a great source of cohesion for ABC's Bay Area presence. Of course they'll survive--they all eventually do, only this will hurt a whole lot more.


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Dwyer Leaving NBC Bay Area All About Schedule

 Unlike most of the decisions involving big-market talent in today's environment, Diane Dwyer's decision to leave NBC Bay Area, (KNTV) was not about the money. Dwyer, who will still do some occasional "special projects" work for the Southbay O and O, will work her last weekend newscast June 8.

Reached by phone, Diane was philosophical: "I'm disappointed that we couldn't work out a deal to maintain my current schedule, but I'm also pleased that we found a compromise that keeps me here, albeit in a much smaller role."




Broadcast sources close to KNTV told me that management wanted Dwyer to work a full time schedule, (anchoring Saturday/Sunday newscasts plus three days of reporting), but Dwyer, who teaches at Haas Business School at UC Berkeley and has a similar role at Stanford, was unable to accommodate that request. Dwyer also has two teenage kids.


It was only a few years ago that Dwyer took a big pay cut to maintain her schedule --this time, both sides could not reach agreement on the request.


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KSJO is Sold; Monday Transaction

SOLD...but to whom, nobody knows for sure but has the Southbay broadcast brokers abuzz with who, what, where and why.










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Carolyn Johnson Leaving KGO-TV News After 20+ Years

Leaving ABC7 --KGO-TV ...Carolyn Johnson...veteran anchor leaving SF ... mostly because of inter-office cutback memo...later news to come.








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