MediaMaven

As Pride month ends, Fox 13 and former KOMO meteorologist Abby Acone has a proclamation at the FB link.  She co-anchors the weekend mornings on Fox 13+. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bq2JnXqcH/  

Amber Eikel, the GM at Fox 13 Seattle, announced today she will  be timmediately taking on duties of running the Fox O&O in Los Angeles, KTTV.  It comes just as her Seattle station is expanding streaming, significantly adjusting its production of daily news to include major replayed sections, not to mention the upcoming changes in the morning news format, going to a full 5 hours straight before the summer is over.  Seems like an odd time to split duties. In her memo to staff she writes: "The only reason FOX leadership believes this is possible is because Seattle is in such great shape."   I would argue that it is more a major money saver for FOX at the GM level, which is happening in all of the top markets.  More with less, right?   Let's not try to fool the folks.  Nothing is Forever, Amber (movie inside joke)!   The Assistant News Director was just let go, as was one major talk talent, so ND Jake Wiederich will have extra on h...

  June 30, 2024, a year ago, I started the Seattle Media Blog (MEDIA MAVEN) because I thought the television news landscape in the market finally needed some attention as well as some strong criticism.  The Seattle Times gave up because TV news didn't draw readers.  Although I have been harsh at times, in total, I believe it has brought important attention to issues that should be noticed, in numerous cases.  It also pointed out how shallow the tv news business continues to be, with my experience offering a experienced eye. Thanks to you loyal readers, the blog has garnered 133,000 views and almost 1,000 comments along the way.   I appreciate you reading and I want your feedback.   Don't hesitate to write.     I know the summer of news nuggets may be slow, but as fall approaches, we will see how the Fox 13 morning expansion and streaming changes evolve; if KIRO will hire more help to stop the erosion of staff and at least get a thir...

KIRO TV reporter Madeline Ottilie back on weekend weather duty, joining Brandon Thompson and Ranji Sinha as newsies pushed into presenting the forecast.  KIRO keeps limping along with short staffing.    I wonder if they will actually hire a third weather person when they can keep playing mix and match to cover shifts. So they have, by my count, five people filling in on weekends, adding in Scott Haveson and Ed Muir, who be back for a stint in July.   

Checked in at 630 Sunday night to see if any of the local stations might be simulcasting live coverage of the Spokane stations working the big Coeur d'Alene story.   I know that Tegna has a direct feed line from KREM in Spokane to KING and also can connect to KTVB in Boise, although Boise is a long distance away from the shooting scene and would likely not be in immediate play.   But, no dice, KING had its own studio reporter but nothing from KREM.   KOMO did not refresh the story at all on the half hour, which surprised me.  At 6, they used video from KXLY, but nothing more.   I hit KIRO about 6:32 and they were doing Pride coverage (it sponsors Pride).   Fox 13 had a syndicated program of sorts so they were not interrupting for an breaking news update.  Soccer ran over at 6.    The Spokane stations may have even begged off helping Seattle because of they were themselves dealing with the incident.  Or they weren...

 Check this out:   You're looking live at pics of back to back medical reports on KOMO with two, count 'em two 'medical reporters' followed by Steals and Deals, all of it fed from Sinclair.  Add in weather taped Saturday night by Waldenberger, and then seeing lonesome Theron alone on the set, and you realize it's all being mailed in.    Yes, I know it's vacation time but it's a bad look made possible by filler content on any newscast.  Even on Sunday morning.

Well now we know what the King 5 newsroom does planning for newscasts at 10 and 11 on Saturday night.  LOL. https://x.com/ChrisEgan5/status/1939155757909582264?t=Yq84oAXr0jWuTvDggELsSA&s=19

  With no freelancers apparently available, Ranji Sinah does weather honors on the amazing shrinking station, KIRO.  Ed Muir will return in mid July.  No word on Scott Haveson.  The usual mess.  It's apparent that during the summer, lots of fill in will be happening without a new hire, but 7 is the only station using news reporters to do weather.

Saw a promo on Fox 13 calling Seattle News Tonight the "REGION'S PREMIER NEWSCAST."  Who sez?   Really?  After less than two weeks under that name?  Oh and it went on to say "LIVE EVERY NIGHT."  I guess they are not counting the huge replay component all evening.  Just pushing the first 15 minutes, I guess, to distract us, eh?  Aren't all local TV newscasts Live Every Night???   And the toothy smiles of David Rose and Rayford are sooooo genuine.  Nice work, Creative Services.   Trying to convince us or yourselves??

I put a stopwatch on the tease KOMO does in the break right before WNT signed off Friday night.  I wanted to see if their promo was in play.  It was 5:56 when they have an anchor say MINUTES AWAY and SECONDS AWAY.  After I posted about this baloney the other day, tonight, instead of saying MINUTES AWAY, SECONDS AWAY, they just had Preston aay MINUTES AWAY twice.  Truth in avertising.   I declare victory.    So, KOMO is trying to hold your through the end of WNT and the break to their 6pm lead.  At least they dropped SECONDS away, because that was 4:00 AKA 240 seconds.  What a mess that station has become.  Gimmicks, anchors in boxes with every VO and hyped crime every chance they get to lead with the hype king Jeremy Harris.

Joseph Suttner gets a big promotion at KING 5's programming dept.   He's been at K5 for a long haul.  Here's his post: "I often joke there is no such thing as “breaking lifestyle news”… but I think this qualifies… After a decade at New Day Northwest… today it was announced I am the new senior executive producer of KING 5 Evening! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead this iconic show as it approaches the start of its 40th season! And the best news for me is I’m not leaving New Day… I will now EP both shows to further unify KING 5’s local programming department!" His first move will likely be to find a new talent to replace Jim Dever at Evening.

I have watched now for a couple of nights of Washington News Wrap and Sabirah Rayford comes across as inconsolably wooden.  No energy, no urgnecy, just transfixed to the prompter.    She needs coaching very badly...badly.   Ross carries her when they co-anchor, but solo, she is just mailing it in.  The newscast is weak, not even an alternative to the competition.    Unwatchable.   

Gotta note the mandated baloney of the KOMO News Director for an on-camera tease before the end of ABC World News Tonight that says 'MINUTES AWAY,' followed by KOMO anchor Preston Philips finishing with "SECONDS AWAY."   Just total BS.   Did the minutes turn to mere seconds??? Trying to hold my breath with faux excitement.   Does news boss Mark Neerman think we are that gullible?  It's obviously desperation to hold on to the lead-in from David Muir.

I surrendered.  I won't watch him anymore on ABC/ESPN or anywhere else.  He has worn out his act and his shtick of screaming rants and yelling in general.   Awful Announcing even reports that fewer people are reading newsletter stories about him   He ruined the NBA draft show which should have had Jay Bilas (an expert on college BB personnel) and Brian Windhorst (knows the NBA inside out) as the analysts, but no, they pay SAS so much, they have to use him.  They think he's a draw.  Now he is becoming a major liability.   Too much of a bad thing is worse than too much of a good thing.   I suppose the TV universe is hopelessly stuck with him but the best way to object is not watch First Take or the ESPN clips of his show and/or his web clips or simply turn the sound down when you see him.    The People rest their case. https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/america-needs-a-vacation-from-stephen-a-smith.html

Michael Easton, longtime Canadian and PNW radio pioneer and founder/blogger of Puget Sound Radio, has passed away.   More at the link. https://www.pugetsoundradio.com/2025/06/25/remembering-michael-easton/ And also, from a loyal reader, Jeff O'Day, son of Seattle radio legend Pat, has passed away.  Condolences to families and RIP to both.   

Thanks to a couple of tips from loyal readers, I can report that KING 5 Meteorologist Leah Pezzetti has started a new monthly show this month, apparently on the KING 5 app, called The Sky Above, reporting on celestial happenings   Just what we all need.  I can get it in the Cloud, I guess.   I guess if it's monthly, it's acceptable, but who does it impact?   Just brand building.

We reported a while back that Meg Coyle, longtime anchor at NWCN and later KING, had been laid off at Amazon after almost 10 years.   Reportedly, she is back at the Zon in a contract position.  No word on whether or not it will go back to fulltime or if she has been invited to Jeff Bezos wedding in Venice.  

  Yes, it is rearranging the deck chairs to fool the folks...literally.  Comfy chairs at 5 replaced by cheap studio chairs at 630 and background graphic changed of course. Same set used for first segment of new 5pm news.  Yikes.  Refer to 'cheesy set' post if you want to compare.

It's the new show on Fox 13 at 6 pm anchored by Sabrina Rayford, who knows very little about our state, but pretends to after joining less than two years ago. Yes, it had stories from Pasco, Bellingham, Hanford, Olympia, but it all looked like wire stuff with lots of graphic points and some wallpaper video.  They also quoted the Bellingham Herald and the Tri Cities Herald.  In other words, no original state news, just reycled.  Regional weather as usual.   Just a gimmick alternative.  I found Rayford mediocre as an anchor, just telepromtered like it was all strange to her with minimal inflection, tone and urgency.  Didn't sell the copy at all.   The entire show mailed it in, IMHO.   

Saw Seattle News Tonight (new title) for the first time at 5 on the same set the station uses for everything else.  Sports Wrap, Studio 13 Live all done from there from what I can tell.  And look at the cute flower arrangement on the cheap table.  Very newsy prop.   And tomorrow the morning show goes live to Poulsbo, can't wait....I suppose they will stop off at the RV sales lot.  Junk News  New graphics, new titles and set tricks mean zip for viewership. David Ross looked uncomfortable.  It was only for the first segment to separate it from the replay that started about 515.  They were back on main set for that. That tips that it's a replay Not smart.   Dumb    Then while in the replay at 53O, no 2-alarm fire update from the marina across the street from the station. 

We posted first Fox 13's Aaron Levine putting the fork in the OKC Thunder winning the NBA title by giving the story five seconds with no video or game story to avenge the Sonics franchise being moved there.  Well, now he is getting national headlines on a variety of platforms linked below.    We asked if it was 'sour grapes,' and Yahoo sports calls it bitter!  Read on: https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/breaking-news/article/bitter-seattle-sports-broadcast-makes-no-mention-of-thunders-nba-championship-000133455.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALhgqvISeY3JEUu5v-7ijb1Yob4J86jnpvwaz5FY4Ro398toazFqvagQEVAu7zoZD4u8zZEW9aHXnNUrRoAgfVFjOjvE5_Cr9FZNbMOADN32s-LqvI51tyo7g1oMb-IDV0HkqQFNvqs91GgVymImer3JRhvYm7-Eu90X8Z2gf9AS Here's Barstool Sports: https://www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3547756/respect-the-grudge-seattle-tv-station-sports-show-refuses-to-say-the-name-thunder-or-announce-that-they-won-the-nba-finals?utm_content=...

The hype surrounding Caitlan Clark's visit to Seattle tonight against the Storm with dual KOMO live shots at 6 falls flat on the CW broadcast as the Indiana Fever star has a bad night, just 6 points on 3 for 13 on FGs and 0 for 5 on threes (16%), second worst of her career, but she did have 9 assists.  I think viewers and a packed house wanted a whole lot more.  It happens.

Interesting aside on the day after the OKC Thunder win the NBA Finals, which brought the wrath of many Seattle Sonics fans still seething over the 2008 betrayal by Starbucks magnate Howard Schultz.  Now, his son, Hunter, who grew up loving his dad's team, has parted ways with Fox Sports, mostly because his bosses wanted him out and so did the NFL.  He is a controversial NFL insider who has apparently rankled the ranks. Here's a link to the story on Awful Announcing: https://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/insider-jordan-schultz-left-fox-sports.html

Weekend morning reporter and weathercasters Daisy Caballero is leaving the station.  No word on what's next except a break. https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2025/06/kgw-weather-forecaster-and-reporter-leaves-dream-job-to-take-a-little-break.html

Aaron Levine reported on the final NBA game of the season in five whiney seconds.  Still lamenting the Sonics move to OKC, I guess.  Let's move on.   It's business, just like it will be if and when they get an expansion team here.    https://x.com/AaronLevine_/status/1937029620924330150?t=J_ekWniifYVHLV7Fu2FQGg&s=19

KING news director Julie Wolfe gets promoted, per TVNewsCheck "Tegna Inc. today announced the appointment of Carol Fowler, Julie Wolfe and Chris Peña as vice presidents of content, effective June 30. These appointments follow the company’s recent  announcement  that its stations will be adding more than 100 hours of new daily streaming programming across 51 markets. In these new roles, “each of the three leaders will oversee local stations in a dedicated geographic region, focusing on the quality, depth and relevance of coverage, and emphasizing the local impact and the daily practical value of the information,” Tegna said. Each will also oversee a content priority, such as weather coverage, big stories and events, morning news strategy, sales and sponsorships, storytelling and investigative and solutions-based journalism." I assume she will be working with KGW in PDX, KREM in Spokane and KTVB Boise. Update: Her stations will be in San Diego, Sacramento and Denv...

Denise Whitaker and Brian Calvert take over mornings at KNWN 97.7/1000.   She left KOMO last week after a long run.  She will be getting up early!!

Looks like Seattle Refined in KOMO will be filing shows at Disney.  From my experience, Disney usually foots the bill for this kind of coverage. Pay expenses for coverage???  

Retired KOMO Anchor Eric Johnson takes time off from doing commercials for Davis Law Group to become 'knighted' for Seattle's Seafair kickoff.  His former EP at KOMO is the Seafair President and CEO.  Ah, I get it now!!  Cronies.   And to think, this guy who did two Sinclair-slanted hour specials "Seattle Is Dying" and "Fighting for the Soul of Seattle' here stands as living proof that none of that was true.   Some of the worst reporting I've ever seen as a longtime newsman.

  Reporter Tyler Cunningham is joining KOMO from KRDO in Colorado Springs.  He moves from market 87 to 12.  He says he had a vision about it.  Ok, Tyler.  You'll get even more of them from Sinclair.   "I am so thrilled & honored to announce I’ll be joining @komonews — Seattle’s #1 News station — as a General Assignment Reporter next month. I had a vision 1 year ago, and it feels surreal to see it come to fruition. Time to grab a raincoat & get to work!"

Here's some 'partly sunny; news, I think.   Hearing that a couple of former Seattle TV Meteorologists might be in the running to replace Mike Everett at KING, whose last day is today.    Stay tuned.    

Good story to link on to from KOIN's Jeff Gianola about he battle with severe hearing loss.   I have worn hearing aids myself for years and it does change your life for the better, forever.  His issue was far more serious and hopefully his story will help others. https://www.koin.com/news/health/koin-6-anchor-jeff-gianola-my-journey-out-of-silence/

Mary Nam grinding out sports on Thursday's KOMO 4 PM. Guess Niko and, even Chris Daniels were unavailable.  Hey the Fox station in Houston just closed down it sports dept.  KIRO did it here.  Lavan and Sloss doing sports there off the news desk.  It's a trend, right.   I believe weather may be next down the road.   Just need mornings live...AI for the rest or hubbed from out of market.  

Does anybody approve this content??? How's this for a story from KOMO about a human trafficker shown on a lower third chyron for young people to see?  Hey Mom, what's a pimp? How about trafficker? Sinclair stuff, folks.   

Last roundup at KOMO before Denise Whitaker moves to KNWN Radio 97.7 in Seattle.  Going from TV to radio is an odd landing spot in this media environment but good luck.  Was it contractual or did she just want to escape Sinclair on her terms?      Btw, the radio station dropped a bit in the May book but is still in the top 15, though a full share point behind KIRO FM, and it's lowest number since Feb.  

After several days of protests in downtown Seattle at the Henry Jackson Federal Building, Preston Phillips called it the HOWARD JACKSON federal building   It's only happened there every night.   How bout understanding facts about where you live and not just blindly read whatever's on the prompter.

NPR - KUOW did it again in May, leading the radio pack for the fourth straight month, though down a touch, as was KZOK which finished runner up.  KIRO AM & FM had good PPMs finishing 8th and 9th with the hot Mariners helping beat out the talker by a tenth of a point.  WOLF reigned in the country category.    Meanwhile, public radio and TV face the congressional battle for funding. https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb039

  Sheila Oliver, who ran Fox 13 Seattle before the network sent her to its Chicago O&O, is leaving at the end of June.   She had been there for two years, so maybe pushed by a contract issue?   Chicago is basically a two station market, with WLS and WMAQ far outdistancing WBBM and her station,WFLD, both of which have been ratings challenged for years.   Also, don't know if this is at all related to a reorg at her station, like Fox 13 here.   Here's the full story from tvnewscheck. https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/sheila-oliver-gm-of-wfld-wpwr-chicago-to-retire/

  Here's the story from our friends at FTVLive.  Another job elimination related to the news expasnsion at Fox 13. 

After Mike Everett announced he was leaving King 5 as chief meteorologist, I looked up Leah Pezzetti's information to see if she might have the experience and chops to be new chief after a reader suggested that. Well, I found this incredibly massive bio takeout, and it is lonnnnng.  I don't know Leah, she seems to do a nice job overall but I can't get over this.  Not sure if it was a collabortive effort, an interview or what.  Get ready to scroll and scroll and scroll.  It even has a table of contents.   TMI?? https://glowtechy.com/leah-pezzetti/     (never heard of this site before)

It's the new Washington News Wrap show (June 16 debut) from 6pm on the linear channel.   The live streaming battle has begun with Tegna's announcement today of upgraded streaming.  Washington Sports Wrap is at its new 630 time, streaming the live show.  What's your pleasure?  

Tegna has announced that its stations will be “significantly expanding their already substantial local news programming.”  I t is launching live and on-demand, daily local newscasts from 7 to 9 a.m. in 50 plus markets through streaming, connected TV apps, and its station’s websites.  Will launch this summer and into the fall.  Portland's KGW already on board.  We will see when it hits on KING and KREM in the PNW.  KING pushes its app for breaking news.  There is also a definite possibility that KONG will air the live stream.  This looks like the first move by the big wig Tegna hired away from CBS

Meteorologist Mike Everett is calling it quits at KING 5.  He's chief met there with Rich Marriott the Senior Met.   It will be interesting to see if they replace him with a full time hire, or go back to using freelancer Stephen Kilbreath.    Story at the link. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AosvVLyGp/  

 The Seattle Orcas...  Watching cricket on Fox 13+, desperate for any kind of programming.  Show me the ratings.

He comes from Nebraska and apparently joined in May.   Alex Mcloon is the name, reporting is his game and he worked the 'NO KINGS' protest in Seattle on Saturday.  According to linkedin.com he worked for all three stations in Omaha, NE (a trifecta), as well as a stint before those in Fresno.