MediaMaven

Just happened upon a paid Saturday show called Loveable Listings on the Fox duopoly (KJZO), hosted by Erin Mayovsky of Fox 13 mornings and Gaard Swanson, host of KOMO's Seattle Refined weekday afternoon.  They are a moonlighting husband and wife team, ICYMI, and they voice and appear in the pieces. It's sponsored by Compass Real Estate Brokers and shows luxury home listings from Seattle and way beyond.   Highly produced. But wait, there's More: Former KOMO weekend anchor Lee Stoll is on the show, too, billed as a 'Design Expert.'  I thought she left KOMO for Amazon, but she was apparently laid off so she got her real estate broker's license.  Life after TV.   Who knew?

Ed Muir has landed a great spot at the Allen Institute in SLU, joining KING's Rob Piercy, Amity Addrisi and Fox 13's Liz Dueweke there.   I met Ed when I was doing news writing training for Time Warner Cable in 2003 at their new station in Albany, NY.   He was my first hire at Northwest Cable News in 2004, because I knew of his attitude and versatility.   SO happy for him!  Great gig at Allen! https://www.facebook.com/share/1BV11BxiPC/

Niko Tamurian off to Santa Clara to begin reports on Monday, according to a report Friday on KOMO. Have fun and worked hard.   Isn't Chris Daniels going?  Haven't heard yet  .

Stupid line by KOMO's Jeremy Harris at the traguc Rainer shooting. "The two victims were shot before police got there." Huh?  No kidding. Hype, confused reporting.   I don't care if it's breaking but calm yourself and communicate accurately.  I did live shots for 7 years, do it understandably 

  Your chance to see and hear the real me! New podcast out about my reporter horror fiction book on the SPEAKING OF WRITERS podcast.  Video version first link. https://youtu.be/NndZ_eEf9n4?si=3t97EZ3kQxTyZmCU https://open.spotify.com/episode/000urvru38pJNztl3nd3e6?si=5cSRMThNRFGwNu5FwY-PAQ

  KING's Chris Egan tells us how he's packing to cover the Winter Olympics in Milan.  Morning anchor Jake Whittenberg will be heading there too.  Fun video at the link.   Starts Friday a week. https://x.com/i/status/2017054705910972838

Per the Seattle TImes the Mariners will be creating a linear Mariners TV channel replacing Root Sports, but viewers must still await deals with major providers (like Xfinity and Direct TV) to carry it along with the accompanying cost.   Mariners.TV will be the streaming platform for $19.99 a month https://x.com/i/status/2016949693667037483

That's an accurate description of KOMO 's Theron Zahn , who is celebrating 25 years at the station, filling every role and duty over the years.    The Arc Seattle  team feted this versatile guy with a nice award.  Theron co-anchors KOMO's weekend mornings with newcomer Natalie Fahmy. https://www.facebook.com/share/1KjsZe6WuW/

KING senior met Rich Marriott had had a bit of a 'weak back,' but says he'll be 'back in a week.'  See what I did there? He's been on a medical leave, for those who've been missing him on the air.  He's OK!  His message here: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1JQgqNgS1r/

Rick Boone, who left Seattle's KIRO 7 as it's Managing Editor after just four months, has taken over as leader of the combined news operation of the Wenatchee World and NCWLIVE, apparently available only on Roku, Fire TV, Apple and a TV channel on local  cable access, I am told.  To say the least, Boone has had a checkered recent TV past with a multitude of quickly departed small market jobs, culminating in this gig which is way down the media food chain.  The question is how long will he last this time.   Culture shock dead ahead.     Read more at the links below: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/local/rick-boone-named-news-director-for-ncwlife-wenatchee-world-operations/article_ba6c5eeb-4329-5fb1-b1f3-af8eefce6617.html Live TV | ncwlife.com https://share.google/6y5BcTwGcbMpGTnfH

The Brock and Salk Show on Seattle Sports 710 landed  a major interview Wednesday with Tom Brady about the HOF snub of his former Super Bowl coach Bill Belichick.  Got mentioned on ABC World News Tonight.   Brock Huard told me: "The outcry from NFL personnel was perfectly articulated by Tom Brady with us. Nothing personal, on point professional."  He's also will be in Santa Clara for live radio shows on KIRO during Super Bowl week. Copy and paste the link below into your browser. https://sports.mynorthwest.com/brock-and-salk/tom-brady-on-bill-belichicks-hof-snub-i-dont-understand-it/1837337

  I know this is off topic, but I tried to read a story on komonews.com Wednesday about a complicated shooting related to a fire.    I couldn't get past the nce.lead sentence without saying, "Huh?"   Here is the sentence.  How many times does it take you to make sense of it??   LAKE FOREST PARK, Wash. —  The man who was wounded in a shooting on Sunday in Lake Forest Park after a reported burglary at a townhouse complex near a home that caught fire hours earlier has been identified, according to a police update Wednesday. First of all, it is passive voice.   The lead of the sentence should be "Police now say they have identified the man...."   That's active voice, where the subject does the action, i.e., police. Given the complexity of this sentence, running 39 words, (that's a run-on sentence, BTW), how about this: "Police now say they have identified the man shot Sunday in Lake Forest Park hours after a reported burglary ...

  Our friends at ftvlive.com noted this Fox 13 Seattle post about a plane crash in Maine.  Let's just say it had lots of errors.  FTV calls it LAZY.  The post was corrected after FTV posted it, but that's too late and a credibility killer.   https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2026/1/26/lazy-post

Words to.live by...or die by! KING reporter gets f-bombed looking for fan reaction post-game.  Warning...graphic language here. https://awfulannouncing.com/nfl/seattle-reporter-fails-seahawks-fan-f-bombs.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

KING reporter Drew Mikkelsen asks on X if he can piggyback on a ride to Santa Clara for a story. "Who's driving to the Super Bowl? I am... and @KING5Seattle wants to tag-along and document your epic road trip! Interested? dmikkelsen@king5.com We're leaving Monday, and I promise, I won't eat your snacks." Great, creative idea.   

WARM radio, KWRM-FM, went Christmas-y early and won the massive musical book for the holiday period with double digits.    It knocked KUOW down to #2 with a slight drop in their numbers.   Both KIROs finished in the top 10 with almost identical shares.     https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb039 With all of the violent news we are experiencing in January, we should see the news stations shine when the ratings come out.

    After cutting Taylor Mirfendereski, losing Kristin Goodwillie and moving Suzannah Frame to News Director, KING 5 makes a move to fill the void with owner Tegna's help.  Andie Judson, an award-winning reporter at Tegna's Sacramento station will get her transfer papers to Seattle. The key to this story is K5's renewed/continued commitment to investigative reporting, despite personnel changes and Nexstar being poised to buy the company.  Good sign. https://x.com/i/status/2013451332582048136

Rick Rizzs , the longtime, legendary radio voice of the Seattle Mariners will make 2026 his last baseball season behind the mic.   The team made the announcement Tuesday.  He will do home games for sure, but will have a reduced road schedule.    He's had 40 years with the M's, first with the immortal Dave Niehaus and more recently with both Dave Sims, Aaron Goldsmith and Gary Hill.   Wouldn't it be great for Rick to end up calling a World Series in Seattle.  I am betting he hopes that will happen in 2026. https://www.mlb.com/mariners/press-release/mariners-icon-rick-rizzs-announces-plan-to-retire-following-2026-season Meanwhile, the team announced all of last year:'s broadcast team will return.  However no word on where games will be televised that I have heard.  MLB.com will take over production.  Link below: https://www.mlb.com/mariners/press-release/mariners-announce-2026-broadcast-team

PNW Natives Chris Egan and Madison Wade of KING join with weather lady Leah Pezzetti to jump for joy after the big win.  K5 will carry the game.  Also Ms. Wade just can't sit still she's so happy.  I think all of this exuberance is understandable in this particular case! Take a peek: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT_esZWkmYX/?igsh=MWFwMDl6OXlmZnduNg== https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT9ZVtgjPMO/?igsh=MW5weHV0ZWxmcjMxaA==

I hope one of you could weigh in on this banner on KIRO 7's Seahawks Super Bowl coverage Monday. It reads PLAY FOR THE BAY.  Is the word Bay subbing for Puget Sound here?  Is it synonymous?  Do we call it the South Bay or South Sound in normal parlance?  Is the Sound a bay or estuary or both? Anyway, IMHO, I think it is a weak, mealy-mouthed slogan for the team's run at the world championship, not to mention current fan enthusiasm and pride.      Thoughts?  Other ideas? How about 'Going Super for the Sound'?   'Seahawks go Super'

Watching KIRO 7 Monday evening when a promo comes on just before the 7 pm show.  It reads RIGHT NOW in big bold letters + Next at 7, with a shot of Deborah Horne.   Too bad she retired on Oct 8 after three decades! Oh, and back on Dec. 30, I happened to notice the station was still promoting several stories by Jesse Jones, who left in 2024!   See below.    They now seem to be gone when I checked back on Monday eve as well. Is there no one in Creative Services or is it just laziness or both?   Is ND Laura Evans watching her own air?   Could they freshen this promo after 3.5 months after Horne left, do you think? Click on the link below and look at the top of the page after the pre-rolls.   Again, found this on Dec 30. Jesse Jones Investigates – KIRO 7 News Seattle https://share.google/xpt5Uc9pLI53FlJbt

Brock Huard of 710 Seattle Spurts Radio and former Seahawks backup wrapped up the Seahawks win direct from Lumen Field.  At the link: https://x.com/i/status/2015634980328886625

      Bryan Walters and Levine Fox 13 Seattle continued its post game show until 9 PM after the big win with all hands on deck band topping KINGs show timewise.  They maxed out the big win and had strong all day presence on TV and web.  Aaron Levine leading coverage.  They put two additional tag teams on the field as well. Kudos for smothering the story.                         Charlston-Smith and Crabtree                         Helmbrecht and McReynolds 

Using a 'breaking news' bug over its usual Fifth Quarter show after the Hawks victory.  Do they think nobody knows??  C'mon.   However, with the Seahawks partnership it has and NBC with the game, KING will have a huge advantage over the competition heading toward the big day.  Their deal pays offs and then some.  KING will control the coverage.

Lead weekday morning anchor Bill Wixey was at the a.m. anchor desk on Championship Sunday for the Fox 13 duopoly.   Second week in a row that the station sent reinforcements in to strengthen the existing team of Winkel and Acone. Last week they sent in Chief Met Brian MacMillan for weather and Mireya Garcia at the desk.  Not a vote of confidence, is it?   But, actually, it's a prettty standard move for big stories or event coverage.   Muscle up and create additional sampling. And they brought Matthew Smith in to run their cluttered Live Desk coverage all the way to game time on the mother ship.   Nikki Torres was live at lumen Field.

Watching the press conference by DHS after the latest Minneapolis shooting, I notice that the first question to the DHS boss comes from ALI.  And he identifies her by name.   Ali Bradley left Fox 13 to join News Nation, the new imitator of Fox Nox Channel, and she has been covering the border, becoming very close to border agents, seen in other clips that I have observed; very pro agents, IMHO.  Now, today, in MSP, she is getting called out for the first question by the DHS boss.   Friendly face for that first question?     Or good reporting?     5:00 in to this clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gCbOkfS-nM

It was on  ABC's Good Morning America Friday and thanks for posting Theron Zahn of KOMO.  And the game is in Fox! https://x.com/i/status/2014696107490816394

While we wait to see how MLB is going to produce and air Mariners games on local broadcast TV this coming season with Root Sports gone, we do have some national dates so far from Fox/Fox13 here.   Still waiting for a Seattle TV to pony up.  Sinclair (KOMO)won't do it because of the Diamond Sports mess but it would be a big plus for Arc Seattle).  KIRO is a non-$tarter.  To me, KING (although the Kraken deal could be an obstacle in the spring) and Fox 13 (will have World Cup) would seem to be the only saviors.  Both have duopolies, so great content available for one, but juggling needed.   Here's a link to the national games already set for FOX/KCPQ: https://x.com/i/status/2014489611113005360 Info from NBC in the comments at the bottom. And this just in from TBS MLB Tuesday will open up its 2026 regular season coverage on Tuesday, March 31, with a matchup of baseball’s home run leaders from the past two seasons: 2025 Home Run Champion Cal Raleigh a...

But he does it with a local sports twist in his final Tournament of Champions post on X.    https://x.com/i/status/2014022623240528094

Fox 13's Aaron Levine was back on Jeopardy Monday the 19th to play in the popular and highly rated Tournament of Champions.  Good luck after a previous stellar three-win performance to get him into the running for big money.  If you missed it, check Peacock and Hulu if you have it.  No spoilers here..

Abby Acone and Taylor Winkel must have a lot of time on their hands while anchoring the weekend morning news on Fox 13 Seattle.  Incidentally, Acone is a prolific Instagram poster using her station's studio to emphasize certain ideas, behavior which seems to be continually ignored by her bosses.    Posts on a personal handle is one thing, but again, here, the anchors are using their studio to dance.   Credibility killer.    Thoughts? https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQUoeMEEsuM/?igsh=c2F1M2J2a3oya3Bv

Fox 13's Alyssa Charlston-Smith posts that she's back on TV this week after maternity leave, just in time for Seahawks NFC championship game!   Mama and baby have good timing indeed.   Cute pix at the link: https://x.com/i/status/2013036817550110811

Fox 13, as expected, had the most coverage, with most of the first block devoted to the game, which Fox is televising.  They brought in Chief Met Brian McMillan and morning anchor Mireya Garcia to muscle up the anchor team with Taylor Winkel, and with Abby Acone saved for pre-game show (I learned later).  No stadium reporter live.  Nikki Torres live instead from an overnight shooting spree.  The show featured a bunch of social media fan posts about the game, reported the costs of attending the game, and, of course, promoted main channel pre- and post-game shows.   KOMO had the least coverage spinning thru the 8 am show with the biggest homage being the anchor wearing Seahawks colors.  No live reports from Lumen.  No taped presence from Sports Director Niko Tamurian, which was a bit of a showcasing surprise, even on a Saturday morning.   I also wonder if they will have sports sidekick Chris Daniels covering the story tonight. KING with it...

Former Mariners and now Yankees play-by-play man Dave Sims and his wife celebrate his journey back from prostate cancer surgery.   Worth a listen and a bunch of congrats.   Kudos and thanks for sharing, Mr. Sims. https://x.com/i/status/2012283405413556256

Seahawks Fever is 'crystal clear' as the first playoff game approaches when morning anchors Jake Whittenberg and Mimi Jung are called to the GM's office on an often-foreboding Friday for a football gift. Enjoy: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17sQJahF67/

Don O'Neill, part of the long running 'Ron and Don Show' on 97.3 KIRO, posted some fiery comments about the station letting award -winning reporter/anchor Heather Bosch go with just a cardboard box and hardly a goodbye.   Here's the link to the post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FUKivTiyB/ Bosch quoted as saying:  " After decades as a successful broadcast journalist, the local radio station I worked for declined to renew my contract. They did provide a lovely cardboard box for me to put my most recent awards in, and my news director was kind enough to fetch my coat. "Realocating resources" I was told. They will not be "back filling" my position. I will continue to do fill-in work for CBS” Heather B. O'Neill and his partner were also unceremoniously cut seven years ago.

NFL TV reporter Kyle Brandt went to the streets of New York to see if die-hard NFL fans there can actually name the coach of the Seahawks by showing a picture.  McDonald's may be a household name, but not when Mike is in front of it.  But.I think Seattle fans would be stumped, too.  Check out the video: https://x.com/i/status/2011817249003147642

  Shannon Brady did her final forecast Wednesday th 14th at KTVZ in Bend, OR.   What's next can be found at this station link, but it appears this was a final FAREWELL. https://ktvz.com/news/local-news/2026/01/14/ktvz-sunrise-meteorologist-shannon-brady-signs-off-moving-to-arizona/

KIRO radio talk host John Curley has done Lasik surgery and hair restoration over the years and is featured in local TV commercials about the procedures.  Now, he's gotten a facelift, giving him his best 'face for radio,' I guess.     Video at the link: https://mynorthwest.com/john-curley/john-curley-kiro-facelift/4186678 And here he is on the left after he worked for me in DC and then did a morning talk show at the CBS affiliate there in 93-94.   That led to his job on Evening at KING and the rest is history.

Monty Webb , longtime meteorologist at KIRO 7 , with freelance stint at NWCN and a good run in Tri Cities , got a ' Dad Joke ' book for Christmas and is now posting them every day on cam.  Here's a sample of one he added himself: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DiXJjr1et/

I see a producer opening posted at Fox 13 Seattle with the confirmed departure today of a morning producer, reportedly leaving for a law firm.   Just noting that the morning show is 5-11 a.m., and I wonder if she is the first casualty of working in that grind since the June expansion...or maybe a contract expiration?    Side comment:  The number of local law firms advertising on Seattle TV is astounding...Dubin, Pendergast, Davis, Bernard and others.   The spots seem to be everywhere.   Anyone else notice?   

On Thursday, federal agents shot two people on Portland. Back when NWCN was on the air, we would have simulcast our sister station KGW there for the entire PNW.  Given the current controversy over the Minnesota killing, three ICE arrests in Seattle and this new incident, the channel would have been valued more than ever, regardless of other platforms for immediately informing viewers on their phones.   One stop shopping.   Sorry that Tegna and Xfinity thought otherwise as to its worthiness to every Washingtonian.   Full disclosure, I was ND there for 11 years, but I would have the same opinion as a viewer.

John Forslund, TV play by play man for the Seattle Kraken Hockey Network, apparently got very frustrated after reading some long ad copy about Alaska Airlines during a break in the action.  AwfulAnnouncing.com reports he lashed out about it on air: "'Now I’m done with ‘War and Peace,'” the play-by-play man said in reference to the 1,200-plus page novel. “Let’s make that one longer next time… the powers that be that control these things have never read something and watched a hockey game at the same time. That’s all I’ve got to say. It’s almost goodnight, folks.”