MediaMaven

As we first reported on Aug 7 - thanks to some loyal readers - Robert Van Winkle, who last worked at WBBH TV Fort Myers FL until retiring in th late 20-teens, has made a cross-country journey to become KIRO 's new addition to the weather team. He debuted pretty smoothly Saturday night after CBS football.  Chief Morgan Palmer came to 7 from the same station.   The weekend freelance weather talent can rest easy. They did more than yeoman work.    If you don't like him, please do not rip Van Winkle. Thank you.

  Natalie Fahmy has joined Theron Zahn at the weekend morning desk, replacing Hannah Knowles.  Zahn is co- anchoring news as well as doing weather.    They had some early banter when Ms. Fahmy remarked how flat Ohio is (she worked last in Columbus) compared to Seattle's hills. I don't remember Zahn doing this much hard news anchoring with Knowles, but it competes against the FOX 13+ duopoly duo on weekend mornings (Winkel and Acone).  On the other hand, Zahn has a lot more field experience than Abby and has been soloing the weekend news since Knowles left.   Seems to make sense to upgrade the show.  KING still going with solo news (Farah Jadran- Niko Tamurian's spouse) and weather talent (Ashley Ruiz).  Of course, KIRO is MIA as usual.

Parella Lewis posts her first pic from Seattle, returning to do evening weather at KING 5.     https://www.linkedin.com/posts/parella-lewis-73b14510_first-day-back-at-king5-tv-today-and-it-was-activity-7363395018625024000-I7ia?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAFWTKaUBTwc4NGLVz4TARZHYT8qQaNhaM2E

  Here are some some specifics of the big deal which still needs FCC approval. Transaction Details TEGNA purchase price of $22.00 per share, reflects a 31% premium to TEGNA’s unaffected 30-day average stock price ending August 8, 2025. Transaction has been unanimously approved by TEGNA’s Board of Directors. TEGNA debt will be refinanced and/or assumed at close. Committed financing in place from BofA Securities, P. Morgan Chase N.A., and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC to finance the transaction. Transaction Highlights Combines two best-in-class television broadcast companies which share an unwavering commitment to localism, innovation, and superior, trustworthy programming. Increases operational and geographic diversity and scale. Upon closing, Nexstar, together with its partners, will have 265 full-power television stations in 44 states and the District of Columbia and 132 of the country’s 210 television DMAs. The combined company will have stations in 9 of the top 10 DMAs, 41 of the ...

Yes, it appears KIRO-FM radio host (and my former employee in DC) John Curley, interviewed former Duke and HOF basketball coach Mke Krzyzewsk to talk Sue Bird.  Check it out here: https://x.com/KIRONewsradio/status/1957606969478402275?t=xD0RhKKtcxR-Al2QjSJ00g&s=19

According to a poll conducted by the web site awfulannouncing.com, the Mariners TV broadcast team of Aaron Goldsmith and Angie Mentink took 14th place in the annual poll.    I don't subscribe to the channel and don't care to watch baseball until the playoffs.  It's also the post Dave Sims/MikeBlowers era.   Here's the detail on all the teams...so scroll to page 2 and down from there to #14.   Too many analysts in my book.   If you watch, let me know you opinions on the crew. https://awfulannouncing.com/orig/2025-mlb-local-broadcaster-rankings.html

The great WNBA champion Sue Bird had her statue unveiled today at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena and the broadcast team Dick Fain and Elise Woodward helped her celebrate. Video of Sue and more of that statue below at the link courtesy KOMO'S Niko Tamurian! https://x.com/NikoTamurian/status/1957137725842473278?t=N18FqWlkIFxV5bctGXOpbQ&s=09

KIRO insider confirms my previous post that Robert Van Winkle will join the station as the third meteorologist, working weekends.  His official start date is Monday, so take a peek next weekend.    Doubt he will do any reporting, but who knows.   If you don't like him, please DO NOT 'RIP' VAN WINKLE.

Per an X post from her fellow KOMO reporter Ryan SImms, Karina Vargas is heading for California.  No word on a new job as yet.  She came to KOMO three years ago this month from a station in South Texas, so this looks like a standard contract expiration on either side.  Hannah Knowles just left last month and new anchor-reporter Natalie Fahmy replaces her.   KOMO also lost Denise Whitaker to Seattle radio in June and then r eporter Tyler Cunningham recently joined fom Colorado.   BTW weekender Lee Stoll left just before the new news boss came aboard.  Lots of churning inside the revolving door.   Can't tell the players without a scorecard.   Certainly makes you wonder what's going on behind the scenes and Sinclair is now in 'restructuring' mode.  Hmmmm

  Some Friday Fun: What can I say? Longtime KING 5 sports anchor Chris Egan loves making the big catch on camera.   Taking a lot of Alaska home with him.  

Our friends at ftvlive.com say sources are saying the deal is done for Nexstar to buy Tegna and the formal annoucement will be comng soon.    Developing story...stay tuned.  

Retirement ahead for Carl Pugliese, a true talented veteran news writer for KING 5.   

Mike Everett, former chief met at KING5 Seattle has started his new path - a voice work company: Mike Everett Voice Mike Everett - Award winning voice talent. Over 30 years of experience in advertising, media, and broadcasting. Trained in acting and improvisation. Equipped with a state-of-the-art recording studio. Fast, reliable service and collaborative spirit. Commercial work, narration, medical, e-learning & training, corporate videos & character voices.  Here's the logo.

                                               KING5 took three National Awards from the Radio-TV Digital News Association: Overall Excellence KING 5 News: Stand for Truth KING TV Seattle, WA Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion The Buffalo Hunt KING TV Sports Reporting Bumblebee’s Legacy KING TV Seattle, WA  KING does a lot of great work, for sure, but they flood both the Murrow and Emmy Award competitions and usually win a bunch.  That's the philosophy.   Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

KOUW does it again, very possibly because listeners rallied to listen with the federal funding in peril.  It jumped from 7.9 to 8.4 share - best number since April.    But the bigger jump came from strong Mariners baseball with KIRO AM sliding into third place from fifth last month, up 4.7 to 5.4!   KIRO FM down only a smidge, but KZOK slipped from third in June to seventh and lost 1.2 share points. KJEB stayed second.  KNWN up .5

  Anchor-reporter Jade Binkley is leaving Boise and Tegna-owned powerhouse KTVB for a station in Savannah.   At the same time, the site newsblues.com reports it is the 4th on-air departure at the station this year.  Screenshot below.

Sinclair big boss Chris Ripley sent out a long memo to employees talking about a strategic restructuring.  That translates into trouble   His exact words were:    “...unlocking new opportunities through innovations and scale."    Scale.  Is that code for consolidation.? Sinclair owns KOMO Seattle, KATU, Portland and KVAL in Eugene and KIMA in Yakima.   Sinclair now jumps on the bandwagon that started last week with Gray, Nexstar and Tegna either acquiring stations, selling stations or talking major deals that will jeopardize jobs and journalism.   

Thought I would take a peek at KIRO's 7 pm show, designed, of course, for people arriving home later from their workday.  It's a highly aggressive newscast, with an overkill of story-starting graphics lkie 'Caught on Camera,' 'Exclusive,' 'Mason County,' and those are just three of many.  When you try to make every thing special, nothing is special.   The graphics whiz by at fast pace with hardly a moment to digest much of the actual content.   I feel like I want to hear the story again, because I missed something on the first pass.   Lots of double boxes, too, with anchors and video combined, which is distraction with no purpose.    We know who the anchors are, so why do we need to see them in those side by side stories?   Oh, son't worry, I get it, it's a production device.    The show offers high story count volume, but I would argue that it needs to step off the gas for people who just want a good, solid summary w...

Aaron Goldsmith, lead play by play man for the Mariners on Root Sports, says he is taking a family summer vacation and will miss the next two M's series with the Orioles and Mets on the road.   Says he will be back in action in Philly.   His old partner Dave Sims took heat from NYC radio host Boomer Esiason for taking family time off from his Yankee broadcast duties, I think Goldy is good to go, even though it comes at a time when the Mariners seem as hot as summer!   Wonder if RIck Rizzs will pick up some TV innings or if Angie Mentink is on her own?

Can confirm that  Natalie Fahmy, whom we previously reported is coming to KOMO from Columbus, Ohio, TV, will be stepping into the weekend anchor/weekday reporter role vacated by Hannah Knowles, who left effective July 30.   She worked at WCMH in Buckeye land and at WKBW in Buffalo before that.  She is a Syracuse grad.   BTW Syracuse turns out a great number of the top sportscasters, Marv Albert Mike Tirico, Ian and Noah Eagle, Costas, Dick Stockton, Beth Mowins, Dave Pasch, Sean McDonough, Andrew Catalan, Scottt Hanson and Andrew Siciliano.

The last few days have been spent trying to sort out what in the world I, and millions of others, will be watching on linear TV after the ESPN-NFL and ESPN-WWE deals.  It is a total cluster puck, as we say in hockey. Will ESPN and NFL Network have duplicate programming most days including a show that is now exclusive to the league network like Good Morning Football, which actually syndicates the program to broadcast stations?   Will ESPN take over the syndication rights?   Will ESPN get that syndie money, less 10%?  And exactly which games are left out with ESPN trading games back over to the NFL and international games coming the other way.  I am flummoxed. And what about the NFL draft?  Last time, we had NFL Network doing its coverage and ESPN had separate teams doing the show for itself and ABC, with much better talent on the latter, I might add.  Will it end up in a single show threesome?   The WWE deal is even crazier to f...

This list comes with full credit to Kirk Varner's TVND.com (worth subscribing, it's free) on the markets and stations that could merge under the much talked about sale.  A lot has to happen at the FCC before any of this takes place, but the door is open and when you look at the list, there are some powerhouse stations involved.     Market Name.        Nexstar Owns/Operates          TEGNA Owns/Operates Abilene, TX             KTAB (CBS) & KRBC (NBC)                  KXVA (FOX) Austin, TX               KXAN, (NBC), KNVA (CW), KBVO       KVUE (ABC) Charlotte, NC         WJZY (FOX) & WMYT                           WCNC (NBC) Cleveland, OH       WJW (FOX) & WBNX         ...

Ranji Sinah fills in on KIRO weekend weather at the incredible shrinking station.  No official word yet on any hire.

The Wall Street Journal says Nexstar is on deck for a big purchase: "Television-broadcaster Nexstar Media Group is in advanced talks to acquire rival Tegna, according to people familiar with the matter." This would affect KING, KGW, KREM, KTVB. Duopolies already present in Seattle and Spokane. Nexstar already owns more than 200 stations and runs the 24-hour cable network, News Nation. Consolidation marches on.  

Pleased to offer a quick catch-up interview I just did with former Seattle TV news anchor, Margo Myers.   I am sure many of the readers here remember and enjoyed her teriffic work with both KIRO and KOMO.  Take a peek, we tried to keep it short and sweet. 1. Margo, give us a bio on how you got from Point A to Point B in the TV business. I started my career in Redding, CA at the KHSL bureau where I was a one-man band – shooting, writing, editing and anchoring stories. It was a great learning experience and the summer I was there – hotter than blazes – with 21 straight days over 100 degrees.    From Redding, I went to KSBY in San Luis Obispo (where I met my husband), did a short reporting stint in Tulsa, OK and then back to California for several years anchoring at KSBW in Salinas.  I traveled to Panama twice with the US Army and the 7 th  Light Infantry to cover Noriega and our troop movements there. (Lots of stories). I was also on the air covering the...

Well, of course I know that the Fox 13 Zip Trips are largely for community PR, but going live from a Kangaroo Farm in Arlington WA, on a 'newscast' left me wondering why they didn't leave this for or tape it for Studio 13.    Traffic anchor Adam Gehrke takes another one for the team.   Oh, I forgot to mention Brian Macmillan live at a bowling alley.  My mind is in the gutter, apparently. Main anchor doing a chocolate chip cookie demo on a newscast.   

Hearing that KIRO is 'reportedly' adding a new weather wizard after struggling along with lots of freelance, especially on weekends and vacation time.   A good source claims it's Robert Van Winkle, who apparently retired from WBBH in Fort Myers 8 years ago?    No official annoucenment yet so can't confirm.   Seems a bit on the odd side though, and wouldni't seem to make sense to replace Frankie Katafias, and, btw, the job is still advertised as P-T.    As an aside, KIRO chief met, Morgan Palmer, worked at that station before coming to Seattle....hmmm.   If it's true, maybe a short term deal to get thru the storm season???? And speakng of weather, still waiting to see if Parella Lewis debuts on KING.  Not sure of start date but hearing that some of the blowback from her time in S.C. is making the rounds in Seattle.

The 'Seattle Gaza 5K run/walk' over the weekend at that began at Marymoor.   More here from the longtime KING 5 weatherman's FB post. A big thank you to all who supported me with donations, affirmations or prayers. 1700 people turned out for the Gaza 5k run/walk at Marymoor this morning-the cloudy skies were perfect in keeping everyone comfortable. $600,000 was raised-the money will go to provide mental health counseling and support for Palestinian children evacuated from Gaza-suffering the trauma of losing family members, friends and neighbors, to say nothing of severe physical wounds for many. A doctor who has provided emergency medicine support related stories that brought tears to most if not all of us.The emotional scars suffered by these children will persist for a long time, but thanks to the help of many caring people like you-they will know not everyone in the US is indifferent-they’ll receive opportunities for the healing art, music and compassion can provide. I s...

Always love to point out how Fox 13 Seattle spares no expense for the set of Washington Sports Wrap, seen in this flattering post with no sports memorabilia in sight and most slots empty.   By the way, horse racing fans, that is NOT the Woodlawn Vase.     Set designed by Helen Keller? 

  Summer vacation impact: Fox 13 started it's new morning newscast schedule today at 5 and, for the first two hours, it featured anchor team John Hopperstad and weekend a.m. anchor Taylor Winkel.  It wasn't until 7 when Wixey, Erin and Brian took over.   Mireya Garcia is on vacation so weekender Winkle sat in early, and then traffic guy Adam Gehrke hosted Studio 13. Why do you change the showtime from 10 to 11 without the regular host?  And why debut a 5 am show without the main people on a sampling day?   I made a point to tune in, expecting something new. Also, Wixey did a live chocolate chip demo with a guest at 10:40.  I thought they saved tha stuff for Studio 13. Main news anchor doing cookie bits??? No news in Spanish? Scheduling is controlled by mgmt, so this first day left me SMH.   

  Fox 13 weather wizard Abby Acone shared some big news on the station's morning show, its web site and on X.  She is engaged!    More at the link: https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/fox-13-meteorologist-abby-acone-announces-engagement-good-day-seattle?taid=688e98769f39720001016767&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A%20Trending%20Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

KOMO news posts on X about the cuts for public broadcasting but it got the letters all wrong.  One of the worst mistakes I have seen in this era of nobody checks anything.  It was CPB, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NOT CBS.   Somebody needs to be shown the door for this insipid, inexcusable mistake that remains up despite numerous comments on X "After being targeted by the Trump administration, CBS announced it will shut down operations at the end of the year - including longstanding institutions NPR and PBS - after Congress voted to cut $1.1 billion in funding." They finally took it down after three plus hours. I called it in. Hmm...this page doesn’t exist. Try searching for something else. Relevant people