MediaMaven

Another Seattle sports team is coming back to broadcast TV, just like the Kraken has.   The Seattle Storm and KOMO/KUNS have joined forces.  It offers lots of opportunities for pre and post game shows and talent, like KHN.   More at this link: https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/seattle-storm-sets-komo-kuns-as-exclusive-broadcast-tv-partners/

From RickGevers.com Laura Freeman, who was a news producer at Fox 13 Seattle is now an ND at Sinclair's NBC Montana, covering multiple markets.

Congrats to PJ Randhawa, who worked as a reporter at KING5 for about a year-and-a half in the early 2022's before moving on to bigger and better things at NBC Chicago and now flying the flag. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pj-randhawa_20-years-in-the-making-so-proud-to-activity-7311144605238861824-0E8l?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAACYTiVoBux5VVDpzxlIsqvi_X6eCMmdQSBE  

  Chris Warren, whom some of you may remember as a main meteorologist at the old Northwest Cable News, says he is leaving his longtime job at The Weather Channel in Atlanta.  No word yet on his next stop. 

Good to see Root Sports has at long last finally updated its outdated talent page to remove Sims, Blowers and Krueger.  But there is nothing about Jay Buhner, who was announced as joining the broadcast lineup.   Seems odd?   Has there been a change?    If so, I missed it. https://northwest.rootsports.com/for-fans-only/meet-the-talent/

  Christian Balderas is moving from KSBW in Salinas/Monterey on California's Central Coast  to KING 5.  That's the 128th merket, BTW.    Helluva jump.    This image is courtesy FTVLIVE.com

  Gotta love KOMO Seattle for great live shot of the closed roof of TMobile on opening night. That is so clever and creative.  No, it's lazy MGMT and producing.  You couldn't feed back a field shot??  Sell it, Preston.

Sing it, Frank, after Dave's first Yankees win behind the mike. If you can make it there you'll make it anywhere. https://x.com/davesims_/status/1905389065349796225?t=R6ODkP8n-S_UCZh-l79gqw&s=19

The new News Boss keeps up the hype with a 'Minutes Away' tease for possible bad weather. Actually the weather is likely hours away, but let's panic early.  Nice try, KOMO, but I will use my phone for weather.

  Fox 13 Seattle's Aaron Levine started his career here 18 years ago today (3-26).  He offers honest, straightforward and Emmy-winning coverage of all the teams and players.  Congrats.   https://x.com/AaronLevine_/status/1904910485281268201?t=58cxdmSZHe6SwOW3TQTH1A&s=19

Let's see, KOMO's Chris Daniels is Senior News Reporter covering daily stories, now assigned to the new investigative segment WASTE WATCH, posting sports news on social media instead of ceding to the station's sports director with whom he shares a weekly sports podcast.  I'm out of breath already.

Have to laugh at a new franchise started by Sinclair sycophant new News Boss called Waste Watch.  Good timing, don't you think?  I feel sorry for Chris Daniels and Michelle Esteban fronting this farce. Start with the funny money that Trump spent or received.   Gimmick.  

KUOW holds on to first place in the last monthly summary, with musical KZOK again in the runner-up spot.  But classical with KING-FM jumped into third!   Who knew.   Roll over, Beethoven!   It was another down book for sports radio at both KIRO-AM and KJR-FM.     Here is the rundown, and you got it here first! https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb039 An update on radio demos: https://researchdirectorinc.com/2025/03/radio-ratings-roundup-february-2025-part-iii/?utm_source=Hot+Topics&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=202503+Radio+Ratings+Roundup+Day+3

From: rickgevers.com Jon Brady, who was the news boss at KCPQ for three years and an EP for 2+ at KING thereafter, moves from a Sinclair station in Florida (WPEC in West Palm) to WJLA, where he replaces a former KING ND, Cheryl Carson, whom he worked for at K5.  Connections!!!!

Sinclair, which owns KOMO in Seattle and the ARC Seattle CW network as its duopoly, has added a new hire to run its National News Desk Content, which airs on the moribund ARC.  Check her credentials and run for cover. Sinclair tabbed  VALERIA RICCIOLI  to be  Director of Content  for its National News Desk. She's also worked at Newsmax and Fox News Media. Newsmax and Fox, the Trump networks.  Be wary.

From Essex Porter, Apollo may want to get out of the TVbiz. https://x.com/EssexJP_TV/status/1903598786032935168?t=pOdSCkS4HfpKyX1I4gTH1w&s=19 

KING's morning man Jake Whittenberg brings new meaning to the 'news cycle.' https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHWzz_YynOu/?igsh=aHk1cGN6OG83bXVr  

  Stephanie Villiers Stephanie Villiers • 2nd • 2nd Executive Producer at KING 5 Media Group Executive Producer at KING 5 Media Group 4d • 4 days ago Follow I'm excited to announce that I've started a new position as Nightside Executive Producer at KING 5 Media Group ! I'm so happy to continue working with the awesome nightside team at this station.

Houston BBall coach Kelvin Sampson teaches lessons at an NCAA tourney presser.  Courtesy: Aaron Levine at Fox 13 Seattle https://x.com/AaronLevine_/status/1903179265123946855?t=20rNkVOp4zPE8aeJKu5pVQ&s=09

FINALLY: The team announces that fans will be able to stream games for 20 bucks a month in conjunction with Root Sport Northwest.  Great, now Root can finally update its ridiculously outdated "Meet the Talent' page, which still include Dave Sims and Mike Blowers bios.  I mean it's only a few days before the season opener, right?  Lazy squared.  Who's the marketing director there???   Here's more on streaming: https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-launch-root-sports-stream-app-for-watching-games/ The Root talent page: https://northwest.rootsports.com/for-fans-only/meet-the-talent/

Thanks to Kraken Hockey Network co-host Ian Furness for sharing this incredible story about his KHN colleague.  As he said, worth your time.   I think she would be a great addition next year on the studio show, providing energy and knowledge. https://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/piper-shaw-ft  

This is why Komo News is so bad and desperate. They show a live shot of empty Lumen to lead to Niko taking about Cooper Kupp presser.  Brilliant decision making. Journalism at its best.   Lazy producing.

Looks like Manda Factor is moving from KNWN to join Charlie Harger on the morning show at 97.3 KIRO.   Charlie told me he wanted to go it alone on the show but I guess March has come and he needed a partner.   When and if it's announced, tt's a reunion because Charlie worked with her for years when it was KOMO and then KNWN and, of course, the new ND at 97.3 is Frank Lenzi, formerly the news boss at that station (97.7).   BTW, Ms. Factor came to Seattle from Portland (KEX) in summer 2002.

Our friends at ftvlive.com say Dave Detling has been escorted out of Fox 13 Seattle.  Detling doesn't seem to last very long no matter where he works.    Here's the post: Sources in Seattle tell FTVLive that Reporter Dave Detling has been exited from the Fox station after less than two years. Detling was at KCPQ for just over a year and a half. Before that he was at KTVU (Oakland) for 5 months. He lasted about two years at WMAR in Baltimore, where he had some issues. Before that he had another 2 year stint at the Nexstar station in Memphis. Sources in Seattle said that he came in to work Friday, went to the editorial meeting and then was gone from the station. His bio is gone from the station’s website.

Chris Daniels posted on X the schedule for NCAA regional tournament games in Seattle later this week.  Why?  It's not news, it's sports, and again, he undercuts the KOMO Sports Director, Niko Tamurian.   I understand he can post what he wants, but what is his motive that benefits KOMO?  Is he promoting his podcast?   Maybe he will do his usual economic impact story about the games coming here?   Or maybe interview the Mayor about it?   I'll hang up and wait for your answers.

Saturday, Hannah Knowles handled the entirety of KOMO's morning news, including voicing over weather graphics, with Theron Zahn absent.  Sunday, Knowles was gone and Theron did the morning show solo.   It was like a trade-off.   I would have thought the new guy, George Waldenberger, might have helped for at least one day.   Is is spring break or something?  Just musing. And, Oh, Chief Fox13 Met Brian Macmillan was on weather Sunday morning instead of Abby Acone.    Schedules must be tough these days.

Gonna be interesting to see KING's next move for its long-running Evening program with the departure of Jim Dever.  Dever's follows Kim Holcomb, who left last summer for a position with Amazon.  Maybe they will rotate folks in like Leah Pezzetti (weekend weather) or Shante Sumpter (a.m. traffic) or Madison Wade (weekend anchor),   With Tegna making cuts, it is hard to say if the program will continue or be replaced by a syndicated show.   Evening has a long-standing tradition (remember John Curley was the main host for years) and is key local commnity programming for K5.   We will keep an eye on it.

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I’ve spent most of my life working on this remarkable show called "Evening,” “Evening Magazine,” or if you’re really confused, “Evening News?” It’s been 34 creatively fulfilling years of making little movies with my best friends and sharing them with all of you. But I've made the difficult decision to move on to whatever else might be waiting out there, while I’m still healthy, sharp-witted, surprisingly youthful, and undeniably sexy. (I am also delusional, which helps.) I’m thankful to have been part of the last remaining show of its kind in the country. Television professionals have studied it and just can’t figure out what makes it thrive. But I know. It’s the sheer artistry of the people who put it on the air every single day. Despite some massive downsizing over the last few years, the “little show that could” still looks great, scores strong ratings and turns a profit. I know my friends will continue to put their heart and soul into it, and I hope you’ll keep watching. ...