It's called 'KRAKEN HOME ICE" and it debuts next Saturday night on KONG at 10:30 p.m.   Hosted by Paul Silvi, KING5 Sports boss.   

OK, stay with with me now]: Just weeks after KOMO hired a full time morning weatherman from Orlando, freeing Theron Zahn to return to weekend mornings, they now add another weather anchor, this one from Phoenix named Stella Sun.  So how does it all line up?  Waldenberger is weekday a.m., Shannon O'Donnell is weekday p.m., Rebecca Stevenson is weekend p.m., Zahn or Sun (both of whom double as news reporters) weekend mornings?   Could personnel or shift changes be in the wind?  Does the station wants to beef up their ARC Seattle/CW offering?  We will keep an eye on staffing, but we can say the new hire gives KOMO five weather anchors, tying KING5 quintet (Marriott, Everett, Claibon, Pezzetti, Ruiz) with both stations a nose ahead of Fox 13 (MacMillan, Anderson, Acone, McCauley and Nikki Torres (listed on web site as 'occasional' weather).  But remember that Erin Mayofsky can do weather as well though now she news co-anchoring Good Day Seattle weekdays....

The Seattle Times reports that the Mariners DID NOT PLAY Macklemore's traditional 7th inning stretch tune as a result of his profane reference to America at a protest concert.    The backlash continues.   Will be interesting to see what happens at Krken's home opener next month.  The rapper is a minority investor. https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-dont-play-macklemore-song-after-rappers-controversial-remarks/

 I refused to buy Root Sports for $18.50 a month this season to watch the Mariners.  Never saw a single game.  Missed nothing. And now they fail again to make the playoffs. Good money saver.   Will the team go to direct to consumer next year?  Sims want to go to New York. Blowers has been ill. His backups are mediocre at best.  Mariners need a new solution. Cancellations will now begin, if they have not already. So, is it free broadcast like Kraken and Blazers?  Only station left is Indy KSTW and it's a CBS owned station and that company is cutting wayback.  It's a crossroads for the team.  No one is signing up for Root next season after another disappointment.  It's in the teams court for frustrated fans.  On the other hand, who cares?

Jim Moore, the ultimate Coug lover and Husky hater, worked for the Seattle P-I for years and had a successful sports radio talk career at 710 ESPN before continuing to write colums in Tacoma.  The sports site PUCK has published a column by Moore about how he wishes the Mariners post season press conference should go.  He uses a great writing device and even puts the fork in a dying Root Sports (owned by the Mariners).   It is brilliant and great.  Enjoy. https://www.pucksports.com/blog/mariners-season-ending-press-conference-by-jim-moore

You heard it here first: "I have a career update.  KIRO 7 has made the decision to close its consumer unit. My last day is October 23rd.   It has been an amazing ten years. I would like to express my gratitude to all the viewers who have watched and supported us.   I also want to give high praise to the fantastic producers and photographers who have done outstanding work over the past decade.  We have made an impact on consumers, both locally and nationally. Elected officials reacted to our reports by writing legislation, and some of those bills became laws.  We helped viewers reduce or eliminate their medical debt, held bad contractors to account, got answers and action from stubborn businesses and facilitated the return of cash, and lots of it, to consumers. Professionally, I have no idea what’s next. Once again, thank you.   It has been an honor and a blessing to serve as your consumer wingman.

 

Jesse Jones, in a brief message to friends and former colleagues, revealed today that he has been let go by Seattle's KIRO TV.  The longtime consumer advocate reporter/anchor previously worked at KING5 here under the 'Get Jesse' franchise.. No word on what's next, but it is a huge loss for, not only the station, but countless viewers who have received help from him for years now.    He is a Tacoma native and graduate of Montana State U.  He also was an investigative reporter in Baltimore and Cincinnati before come back to the PNW.  He actually started in 1989 as a prompter op and receptionist at KSTW.  We are thus giving Jesse a full Trifecta in Seattle TV!!  

  Looks like the Seattle Mayor's budget proposal has the Seattle Channel on a major chopping block.  Here's in a post from former KIRO reporter Essex Porter.   Original programming in jeopardy? https://x.com/EssexJP_TV/status/1839043463725330630 ***UPDATE  Seattle's alt newspaper The Stranger maes the case fo keeping the Seattle Channel on the air amid proposed budget cuts.   Not sure I agree with calling the channel or some of its programming 'beloved.'  Have never seen any information about viewership.   https://www.thestranger.com/news/2024/09/27/79714573/hands-off-the-seattle-channel

Ava Wainhouse goes back to the location of her first TV story and now her last as she leaves KHQ Spokane and heads to anchor work in Tri-Cities.  Nice Pullman pics. https://x.com/KHQAvaWainhouse/status/1839002739583615485?t=jEmwQNc3E-fQhG5nUM1G6g&s=19 

Fox 13 Seattle sports boss Aaron Levine got into a social media difference of opinion with 710 morning sports talk host Mike Salk about why another Mariners baseball season hit the skids yet again.  Here is what he posted. Aaron Levine: “It’s not the #Mariners , it’s baseball.” This is the most absurd thing @TheMikeSalk has ever said. It IS the Mariners, Mike. It’s ownership. Their unwillingness to fully financially commit. It’s Dipoto’s hubris thinking he can do it w a limited budget. Don’t give them a pass! Here is the link to Salk speaking to KING's Jake Whittenberg that set Levine off. https://x.com/AaronLevine_/status/1838977617334255795

  Well, looks like the moribund ARC Seattle on the equally moribund CW network is teaming with Kelly Clarkson to try to attract attention.   Clarkson airs on KOMO at 2 pm weekdays, so this is a probably a co-op promo deal.  Desperation is a lonely hunter. Tyrah Majors @tyrahmajors · 9h Hi everyone! @komonews and the Pike Place @MktFoundation are teaming up to be on the @KellyClarksonTV show! Tune in Oct 4 to find out why!

Check out KING5's Leah Pezzetti's picture and the lady in these videos.  Not the same person, but so close. https://x.com/JuniperNetworks/status/1837023897335779747?t=NYiQiZHfibl4DzBCepSRqw&s=19

Brock Huard gets a new CFB partner this week on FOX. Jason Benetti is headed for the AL baseball playoffs as the PXP man for the Detroit Tigers, so Fox is creating a new team for this weekend.  From Rudy Martzke NFL broadcaster Kevin Kugler will replace Benetti on the call joining Brock Huard and Allison Williams.

Eric Sandoval worked at the old NWCN in the mid-late 2000s and perhaps you caught his anchor work.   He is now in Orlando at WKMG and announced today that he just learned he is battling prostate cancer.   He pioneered two segments that were ahead of their time, the Quickcast (which later became a staple of 1:00 news on smart phones) and Digital Extra (which led viewers to links on important stories).   He also anchored briefly on KING5.  A link to his story: https://www.clickorlando.com/news/investigators/2024/09/13/i-just-found-out-i-have-prostate-cancer-news-6-reporter-shares-unexpected-journey/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFgN6lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSPTGrbYV5cwEX9G7Qv32SuO4LWfvWgP8_GPyYjcc-nC4V5vziTuR2YDqg_aem_zRFfeFMj35DRbwAk9Ao3-w

Seattle radio talker Ari Hoffman (KVI) calls out local news media for ignoring the singer's "F__K America" comment at a protest concert.  Only KOMO has covered it (confirmed) and, checking the other news web sites, I don't see any coverage either. Hmmm.   Interesting that KING has a new partnership with the Kraken and Macklemore is an investor in that team and the Sounders, which is connected to Fox 13.    I know of no excuse for KIRO or the Times.  Hometown discount?? Ari Hoffman: "A celebrity saying "F*ck America" at a terror fundraiser is national news & was picked up nationally, but only KOMO has covered it locally Why is that @fox13seattle @KING5Seattle @KIRO7Seattle @seattletimes?" Reportedly Macklemore has been dropped from a Vegas Festival because of his remarks. ***Update mid afternoon:  The Times weighs in with a story based on the building backlash. https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/after-macklemore-directs-expletive-at-u-...

KING's Kelly Hanson hosts New Day Northwest Tuesday morning in the afternmath of Amity Addrisi departing for corporate PR.    She's been a solid fill-in and may have the inside track for the permanent gig.   She was also on Monday's show but unsure if it was live or replay of a previous program.    More to come?

  Good update here.... from KOMO news and reproter Michelle Esteban SEATTLE —  Rapper and Grammy winner  Macklemore is facing backlash after a video captured him saying, "F**k America" on stage  during a pro-Palestine festival in Seattle on Saturday. The Seattle Kraken and Seattle Sounders FC issued a joint statement saying they are aware of his "increasingly divisive comments" and that they do not reflect their values. Their statement reads: We believe that sports bring people together and unite us. We are aware of Macklemore’s increasingly divisive comments, and they do not reflect the values of our respective ownership groups, leagues, or organizations. We are currently evaluating our collective options on this matter. The response came early Monday evening after the 41-year-old used the language during a "Palestine Will Live Forever Fest" in Seattle's Seward Park over the weekend. In a  video  provided to KOMO News from Cam Higby with "Today i...

Just like the Seattle Kraken dumped Root to go with KING/Tegna, the NBA Trailblazers have found a new broacast TV home.  Sinclair got this deal.  And games will be on the CW in Seattle and its other WA stations.  Here's more plus the press release from KATU. Games can be seen outside the Portland-metro area, as well. In Seattle, catch the Blazers on KUNS/TBD.TV Network; in Medford, KTVL/TBD.TV Network; in Eugene, KVAL, KCBY and KPIC/TBD. TV Network. In Yakima/Pasco Washington, watch Blazer games on KEPR and KIMA/TBD.TV Network. https://www.katu.com/sports/trail-blazers/katu-and-sinclair-affiliates-rip-city-television-network-be-home-of-portland-trail-blazers-broadcasts Gonna be interesting to see the ratings differences (if they are ever made public) of Kraken network games airing the same days at Blazers network games across the states on the same nights.  Kraken games will be on KGW in PDX via Tegna.    

Looks like the popular Seattle rapper let loose an "F__k America" at a protest concert.    Aaron Levine wonders if the Mariners will take action.   One Sunday home game left on the 29th, BTW.  Full link below. Aaron Levine @AaronLevine_ It is a very relevant question to ask the @Mariners how they feel about playing a song from an artist that said “F—k America” just minutes after playing “God Bless America” in the 7th inning of Sunday home games. Or playing that artist’s music at all. https://x.com/AaronLevine_/status/1838284868737995035

The newly created Kraken Hockey Network debuted tonight on KONG, with the upper right bug KHN over all of the action.  Team clearly owns the product. Piper Shaw jumped from Root Sports to handle initermission interviews here.  No Ian Furness tonight at least after the first period.   My guess, they will have a studio ready for regular season with him and, on KING, Linda Cohn.

ICYMI Reds fired David Bell as manager today after missing playoff for fifth time in six years.  Predict that Scott Servais, ex Mariners boss will be a serious contender.  We shall see.  Good choice for a young team in the NL/

Trying to figure out why the so called Senior NEWS Reporter at KOMO feels the need to obsessively post Seattle sports news.  Like Sunday's Seahawks game score which anyone can see on their phone or watching it.  Lazy junk from a supposed super newsman.  He interviews only officials for his TV stories and does no digging, anyway.   Everything is handed to him.   He's desperate for attention.  Undercutting Nico Tamurian the sports anchor.  If I were Nico I would be upset, but Chris was smart, he brought Nico on to do a podcast.  Are your own weather posts, next? https://x.com/ChrisDaniels_TV/status/1837993457929064888?t=XqutQLDugqfDlnwfBEP5ww&s=19

Elise Woodward, who handles sideline broadcast duty for UW radio, snapped this one at the Saturday home game  https://x.com/EliseMWoodward/status/1837626796042605001?t=D7evCWIK3QGyNIkblxQtjA&s=19

The event was 425 Magazine Women to Watch.  She is a contender to replace Amity Addrisi on New Day NW. https://x.com/kellyihanson/status/1837606185174028560?t=Np5u4vH_lUagk6mpYK6toQ&s=19