MediaMaven

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Both The Kelly Clarkson Show on KOMO and Sherri on Fox 13 are being cancelled, leaving the stations with big daytime holes to soon fill.  The erosion of daytime viewership, difficulty booking top guests and the emergence of podcast interviews are among the reasons.    I wonder if KOMO will try to expand Seattle Refined to help fill the gap or move its Arc Seattle replays from KUNS to the mother ship. Also, I wonder if Fox 13 will move its Live Desk off the duopoly channel KJZO or simulcast it on KCPQ. These would be money saving moves on the one hand but can they get decent revenue in return?   

Sources tell me that Walter Jones was not employed by KING5 for Super Bowl coverage, despite being the on-set analyst for the station's The Fifth Quarter show after Sunday Night Football all season.  Apparently, his deal with K5 ended with the final show after the NFL championship game, as I suspected, but perhaps nothing could be worked out financially with the Super Bowl budget going forward.  No Fifth Quarter show was specifically scheduled.   Surprised the Seahawks didn't weigh in with some cash to keep him front and center in some way.   Of course, with all the K5 personnel traveling to the Olympics and the Super Bowl, something or someone had to give.   I still think K5 should go after Matt Hasselbeck.  The program needs a stronger voice, even via ZOOM.

Just want to say that I think Parella Lewis has really done well since coming back to Seattle and re-joining the KING weather team.  She's comfortable, authoratative and on point with her presentation.  There were concerns about how she departed her past station internally in the Carolinas, but I see good stuff on air, at least.    Actually, I think the Seattle TVweather talent is among the best anywhere.  Her,  Rich Marriott, Shannon O'Donnell, Morgan Palmer, Nick Allard, Claire Anderson, Brian MacMillan, George Waldenberger, Stella Sun, Theron Zahn, Leah Pezzeti and more.    Lots of talent.   Oddly, although you can get local weather on your phone, these folks make it good to still check on regular TV and the stations emphasize them.

Former Fox 13 Seattle reporter Steve Kiggins, who joined Northwest Now at KBTC Tacoma after leaving 13, has passed away, per this post from show host Tom Layson "I'm sorry to report that our Northwest Now freelance reporting ace Steve Kiggins has passed away. He will be greatly missed. Steve was so funny and warm - and made a great contribution to our efforts on Northwest Now. I, and all of us at KBTC, send our best wishes to Steve's friends and family. I have the satisfaction knowing that he loved working on Northwest Now, and that according to him, he did some of the best work of his career with us. Rest in Peace Steve."

Surprised to see Jason Benetti filling in for Kevin Calabro on a Portland Trailblazers game Wednesday night on the CW.   He's in the hunt for the big upcoming NBC Sunday Night Baseball gig, has been the voice of the AL Chisox and Tigers and worked with Seattle's Brock Huard on Fox college football.  A cerebral palsy patient, he has carved out quite a rep in sportscasting.  Strong talent and versatile.