MediaMaven

 Let's take it one by one: KOMO is owned by Sinclair and the company has been in the midst of a bankruptcy debacle with the ill-fated Diamond Sports plan.   I find it hard to believe Sinclair would invest in local baseball, even though the ARC Seattle channel (KUNS) is available.    KOMO has the Storm and that may be all they want for now.   I don't see it. KIRO has been cut to the bones, so it's hard to picture owner Cox/Apollo being interested, especially when the station has no sports department.   An investment in personnel and telecasts would be a big step and big reputational boost, but as a CBS affil with strong network programming and no duopoly, I don't see the station pre-empting primetine for night games, even in rerun season.   Maybe a weekend package? KSTW is a CBS-owned independent but even though there is a side deal to carry a handful of Portland Trailblazers games, would it be interested in a baseball package. ...

Jason Hamilton, who has spent almost a quarter century as radio analyst for UW basketball, says this is his final season.     The Renton native was a standout guard for the Huskys who set a school record for steals. https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-basketball/washington-huskies-mens-radio-analyst-jason-hamilton-hanging-up-his-mic/

Good news for Seattle hockey fans.   KING5 has announced it has signed a multi-year extension to broadcast Kraken games on KING and KONG.   Still wondering if any station will step up to offer free TV games for the Mariners in what could be another playoff year. https://www.king5.com/mobile/article/sports/nhl/kraken/seattle-kraken-king-5-extension-broadcast-partnership/281-8b7022ad-d589-410c-8d26-c75f51cf39ba

  Our friends at ftvlive.com note that unhappy KOMO photographers sent a message during the Seahawks Super Bowl parade thru downtown Seattle.  Like KIRO's photog crew right now, all is not well.   Sinclair Stat ion Called Out — FTVLive https://share.google/SXmEi5NaMdVrrRUjs

So the stories about the team going up for sale after the big game were correct, negating the desperate Jody Allen denials and time spent taking the players and staff off the ledge, so there would be no distractions and negative questions during the game run up.    The team confirmed the sale process has gotten underway.  What was the over/under?  The original story that caused all the headlines and chaos was broken by a nationally-known reporter.   Where were the locals?   Too busy bandwagoning?    Worried about jeopardizing access?    Thoughts? https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-going-up-for-sale-paul-g-all en-estate-announces Seahawks officially up for sale; Seattle fans worry about a repeat of past ownership woes https://komonews.com/news/local/12s-seattle-seahawks-fans-paul-allen-estate-national-football-league-nfl-lumen-field-1990-chuck-knox-professional-sports-super-bowl-win-lx

Let the 2026 speculation begin! Per KIRO Radio post: Starting this week, The John Schneider Show with the general manager of the Super Bowl champion #Seahawks returns to Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app with @WymanAndBob at 4 p.m. each Thursday leading up to the NFL Draft.   

KOMO Senior news reporter Chris Daniels reports on a two-day old story from the NBA about potential Seattle expansion in his never-ending struggle to be the future media director for a new team here.  It's become more than embarrassing. It's blatant lobbying and KJR enabled it, too, today via Dick Fain.  He's a lobbyist for himself.   He's hasn't broken anything yet, that I can see. https://x.com/i/status/2023568120317915332

Arielle Orsuto already in Peoria, AZ, covering the Mariners, after just coming off Super Bowl coverage.  The sports beat goes on and KING 5 takes the early lead on Monday at 5. It will be interesting to see if any of the Seattle TVs will send crews to Mariners spring training, especially after all the money expended for the Seahawks and KING in Milan for the Winter Olympics.  I think with Egan in Italy at least another week, K5 may simply wait until the Games end, as well as needing Silvi and Orsuto to handle studio sportscasts right now.    In the past, stations have parachuted in for a couple of days to stockpile interviews.  The games or game highlights are usually available on Mariners.com.     Fox was very aggressive for the Super Bowl, and I would expect them to keep the pressure on and maybe ratchet up some travel and coverage as the Games end next weekend.  Haven't seen any publicity on that as yet.   KIRO likely doubtful to...

Weeknight anchor Jessica Janner Castro of KING is a happy mom.  Also a very strong anchor.  https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B5fPGEdyq/  

  waynelynchbooks.com

Both The Kelly Clarkson Show on KOMO and Sherri on Fox 13 are being cancelled, leaving the stations with big daytime holes to soon fill.  The erosion of daytime viewership, difficulty booking top guests and the emergence of podcast interviews are among the reasons.    I wonder if KOMO will try to expand Seattle Refined to help fill the gap or move its Arc Seattle replays from KUNS to the mother ship. Also, I wonder if Fox 13 will move its Live Desk off the duopoly channel KJZO or simulcast it on KCPQ. These would be money saving moves on the one hand but can they get decent revenue in return?   

Sources tell me that Walter Jones was not employed by KING5 for Super Bowl coverage, despite being the on-set analyst for the station's The Fifth Quarter show after Sunday Night Football all season.  Apparently, his deal with K5 ended with the final show after the NFL championship game, as I suspected, but perhaps nothing could be worked out financially with the Super Bowl budget going forward.  No Fifth Quarter show was specifically scheduled.   Surprised the Seahawks didn't weigh in with some cash to keep him front and center in some way.   Of course, with all the K5 personnel traveling to the Olympics and the Super Bowl, something or someone had to give.   I still think K5 should go after Matt Hasselbeck.  The program needs a stronger voice, even via ZOOM.

Just want to say that I think Parella Lewis has really done well since coming back to Seattle and re-joining the KING weather team.  She's comfortable, authoratative and on point with her presentation.  There were concerns about how she departed her past station internally in the Carolinas, but I see good stuff on air, at least.    Actually, I think the Seattle TVweather talent is among the best anywhere.  Her,  Rich Marriott, Shannon O'Donnell, Morgan Palmer, Nick Allard, Claire Anderson, Brian MacMillan, George Waldenberger, Stella Sun, Theron Zahn, Leah Pezzeti and more.    Lots of talent.   Oddly, although you can get local weather on your phone, these folks make it good to still check on regular TV and the stations emphasize them.

Former Fox 13 Seattle reporter Steve Kiggins, who joined Northwest Now at KBTC Tacoma after leaving 13, has passed away, per this post from show host Tom Layson "I'm sorry to report that our Northwest Now freelance reporting ace Steve Kiggins has passed away. He will be greatly missed. Steve was so funny and warm - and made a great contribution to our efforts on Northwest Now. I, and all of us at KBTC, send our best wishes to Steve's friends and family. I have the satisfaction knowing that he loved working on Northwest Now, and that according to him, he did some of the best work of his career with us. Rest in Peace Steve."

Surprised to see Jason Benetti filling in for Kevin Calabro on a Portland Trailblazers game Wednesday night on the CW.   He's in the hunt for the big upcoming NBC Sunday Night Baseball gig, has been the voice of the AL Chisox and Tigers and worked with Seattle's Brock Huard on Fox college football.  A cerebral palsy patient, he has carved out quite a rep in sportscasting.  Strong talent and versatile.

KING's Madeline Carter's heartthrob is leaving Louisville's WAVE to follow her to Seattle in hopes of landing work.  She joined King in June last year. His name is Dusty Baker!   How sportsy.    Room at KIRO 7 for him as a freelancer for M's season?  

The team used its own production facility and personnel at Lumen to provide the ceremony telecast exclusively on KING at 10 a.m., just like for home pre-season games on K5.   The show had great player and fan closeups, music, dancing, speeches, toasts, Ernest Jones' totally unnecessary and embarrassing double profanity at a family event, the works (I swear Steve Raible grimaced at those words, not to mention the middle finger on the shirt).    Radio pbp man Steve Raible actually anchored the event.   KING had Paul Silvi and Ariel Orsuto at a separate desk inside the stadium.  Partnership paid off!  The other stations, including KING, set up reporters along the parade route.    BTW, Kenneth Walker III, the Super Bowl MVP, did not speak and was only briefly mentioned awkwardly that I saw.  That seemed strange.  Soft spoken, so maybe he didn't want the added attention?  Or maybe he's already committed to Vegas with Kubiak??

  From a social media post: KING 5 is the only station bringing you the Seahawks Championship Ceremony live tomorrow at 10 a.m., from the trophy presentation to speeches by the biggest players, followed by unique access to the parade, riding alongside the team on the route. Can’t be there in person? We’ve got you covered. Stream on the KING 5 app for your TV or phone, watch on KING5.com or tune into KONG TV, and celebrate with us! #Seahawks #12s #SeahawksParade #ChampionshipCelebration KOMO and KIRO also covering on linear.  Fox 13 isn't showing coverage as yet.  But expect it on their app.

  The Citizen Action Defense Fund is suing the WA House and Correspondents Association for denying press credentials to Brandi Kruse, formerly of KCPQ, Jonathan Choe, formerly of KOMO and Seattle radio talk host Ari Hoffman.   Here's the link to the press release https://citizenactiondefense.org/for-immediate-release-cadf-files-lawsuit-challenging-denial-of-press-credentials-to-ari-hoffman-brandi-kruse-and-jonathan-choe/

KING's partnership with the team was perfectly timed and it paid dividends with the game on NBC. And they jumped over the network Olympics to do a live post game with Paul Silvi and Joyce Taylor, Drew Mikkelsen and Steve Raible in Santa  Clara.   Very impressive. Great work.   And word that Wednesday KING will have EXCLUSIVE coverage of the ceremony at Lumen Field at 10 am, with the parade to follow starting at 4th and S.  Washington.    Kudos to Fox 13 for its aggressive coverage all week long despite not having the game. Impressive. They are the Champions!

Fox13 Seattle brought in its weekday morning anchor team for the promised long day of coverage on Super Sunday, also adding a countdown clock so every viewer knows exactly when to switch to KING for the game. How nice to lead us fans to the already well known start time.   Taylor Winkel, who anchors weekend mornings, was dispatched from studio duty to Lumen Field for live shots to make way for the big guns.   Lots of Santa Clara live shots, too.   Oh the comp days ahead! Ian Furness even turned up on the show wearing a Kraken cap!  Furness used to freelance for Fox during the football season.  He hosts the KHN. Oddly, the cable program grid had no listing for the 7-hour special.  On-air, they introduced the show as Seahawks Game Day at 11, shifting from Good Day earlier.

Social media briefly erupted in Seattle about Fox 13's Aaron Levine posting laugh emojis about Druski's verbal gaffe at the NFL honors show Thursday night. He butchered Seahawks star JSN's name into an apparent racial slur while announcing the player's award. KIRO 97.3 talk host posted about it, calling Levine out disappointedly while not naming him.  But Levine stepped up and took the blame.  Apparently, all is well now.   Here is the sequence: From Gee Scott Sr.on X: Kinda disappointed when I see someone in Seattle media posting laughing emojis on social media about Druski's disrespect of JSN's name. Yes, I saw it before it was deleted. Hope all of us learn from this. From Aaron Levine on X in response: Gee, this was me and it was a big mistake and I apologize. I’m not familiar with Druski nor that he likely did that on purpose. Anyone deserves more respect for such an important honor, especially JSN. My knee-jerk reaction was childish and wrong but it had eve...

Fox 13's Sports Director Aaron Levine goes to 'great heights' to capture a Patriots practice at Stanford to help the Hawks.  Success?  Well, at least he kept himself out of Jeopardy!! https://x.com/i/status/2019578358997401896

  KOMO got spoofed by Saturday Night Live in a skit that was left on the cutting room floor.   Guess time was tight.   Anyway, have a chuckle: https://youtu.be/MD9knji2F0w?si=quG4VYdwhDCV7FPi

  At least KOMO topped KIRO's meaningless 'Play for the Bay' with this gem.   It seems that creativity has taken a sack.  No station is using 'Super or Seattle' in a promo line?  SMH.   SEATTLE GOES SUPER SEAHAWKS ARE SUPER 

I took a pledge NOT to watch all the coverage by the local stations at the Super Bowl this week.  I decided to avoid the pre-game hype, talk, and meaningless interviews at all costs.  Just want to see the game.  So, as a result, what are your thoughts on who's doing the best work this week on apps or on the newscasts?  Has KING won the week or Fox 13?   Has Eric Thomas and Horcher been effective?  How are Nike and Daniels faring.   Any thoughts on KIRO radio?     Please weigh in.

KOMO senior news reporter Chris Daniels  has officially been dispatched to the Super Bowl.  It was just a matter of time before joining Sports Director Niko Tamurian...or maybe upstaging him. https://x.com/i/status/2018866341692789138

Great shill 9:30 interview piece with the ABC mogul change today and David Muir lubricated his nest doing the job. Meaningless long form interview affecting no one while the country suffers, pushing out real news for people. Shameful. Look in the mirror, Muir. You are the conduit for this crap.  The show only has 22 minutes of news and this wasted most of it.  A new low and another reason no one trusts journalism as it does corporate PR.   Save this for GMA and have Strahan do it, a non-journalist, but I imagine the pressure on Muir was either great or he was thrilled to compromise himself.

  As predicted here, KIRO 7 is sending main male weeknight anchor Gary Horcher along with weekend evening anchor and sometimes sports reporter Eric Thomas to Santa Clara starting Monday to handle Super Bowl coverage.  I still think 'Play for the Bay' is an absurd, meaningless slogan.  But, despite that, Snoqualmie Casino is sponsoring!  The biggest surprise;  First, Fox 13 has sports boss Aaron Levine, Alyssa Charston-Smith and Ethan McReynolds at the game with reports beginning on the Sunday night sports show.  But, secondly, the station promises 7 straight hours of live coverage on Super Sunday, refusing to concede any sports territory to KING, despite having the game and the Olympics as well.   Good fight going. Meanwhile, KING sending at least 5 on-air folks, according to one of our readers, including Silvi and Joyce Taylor.    No word from KOMO that I have seen, beyond Niko Tamurian heading to the game with reports starting Monday....

KING smothered the Seahawks departure for the Super Bowl today with reporters stationed along the route from the VMAC, the main road and then the airport with five buses driving by.   Jim Nelson did a smooth anchor job in studio.  I checked on the much ballyhooed Fox Live Desk to see its coverage but nothing there.  Fox lost a major sampling opportunity for its App.  Their FOX LOCAL moniker failed miserably.   Obviously with the game on NBC/KING and the station's partnership with the team, it's plan was a no-brainer.   Paul Silvi already reporting from San Jose State where the team will practice.