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Opens the stream with a cartoon, a tired Star Wars scroll, a Marvel type character in costume and KING's Chris Cashman handing out honors to competitors.  K ING wins Overall Excellence with GM Christy Moreno bringing some 50 people on stage and acknowledging how difficult a year it has been under the Nexstar/Tegna issue.  It may get better, it may get worse.  The courts will decide. Good night for KIRO, which should make its fired ND Laura Evans a bit happier:  Elle Thomas won the News Anchor Emmy, Chief Met Morgan Palmer for Weather; plus Morning News and Breaking News. Some former KING folks won: Jim Dever of Evening for Program Host and investigative reporter Kristin Goodwillie won for her work, as did Bridget Chavez and Jim Nelson, who strongly and and passionately blasted social influencers in his thank you speech.  He said they did not measure up to the true storytellers of TV news, who report the most important news information and score key, emotional on...

Confirmed that Jeff Pohjala, a reporter at KNWN, 97.7, is the new news director, replacing Brian Calvert, who is apparently still on the air staff on mornings.

Tom Layson, longtime host/Managing Editor of Northwest Now on KBTC is heading for the wonderful world of retirement.  He does say the program will continue.   He's from Maple Valley, worked for a time in Yakima and has 40 years in the biz.  Congrats Tom. Hers his post: "So here are the closing few minutes from my final Northwest Now program that aired last night. My final separation date comes on June 30. What a long, strange, and great, trip it has been. With that said, damned glad to leave this business on my terms."  Video at the link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1LZS8A2TfC/

Former popular KCPQ met Walter Kelley, who I believed moved to Arizona after leaving the station here, has turned up in the West Palm FL market.  He posted the story: "Big news! I'm thrilled to join WPTV as your new morning meteorologist! After 23 incredible years in Seattle, my family and I are excited to call South Florida home. I can't wait to use my atmospheric science background and severe weather experience to keep this amazing community informed and safe. From Mount St. Helens inspiring my career to forecasting Pacific Northwest storms, every experience has led me here. See you bright and early weekday mornings - ready to tackle hurricane season together! 🌪️ #WPTVFamily #SouthFloridaWeather #NewBeginnings"  The station is owned by Scripps. 

Noticing that the pre-game show for Friday night games on KING uses the team's sports announcers as part of the deal with the station...Adam, Rowland-Smith and Mentink. K5's Chris Egan did one Live segment, to at least spread the wealth.    BTW, Brad Adams has already guested on The Ultimate Sports Show on KONG.   Partnerships!! Everybody loves everybody!   

We can confirm that Fox 13 Managing Editor Krkistina Moy wants the newsroom to use AI for producing maps and English to Spanish translations.  The push back has begun.  Here's the original story from our friends at FTVLive.com https://share.google/E5LNszV7mKb1TRSSr

Ouch.  The racket rolls on.  Will be interesting to see if KING's Evening co-host Chris Cashman will emcee. Emmy® Banquet Tickets • Tickets are SOLD OUT • Email northwest@emmyonline.tv to be put on the waitlist. As cancellations take place we will contact you. • If you purchased a ticket and cannot attend, full refunds are available through Tuesday, May 26, provided we have someone on the waitlist to take the seat. Member Tickets: • $200 for each NATAS member • $200 for first guest • $225 for additional guests Non-Member Tickets: $225 Table of 10: $2250 VIP Table of 10: $3500 Only 5 VIP Tables available. Guests will enjoy premium wine and preferred seating. The additional $1,250 is a tax-deductible contribution to the NATAS NW Foundation in support of student scholarships. A receipt for the tax-deductible portion of the VIP table purchase will be provided.

A while back I suggested KOMO traffic reporter/ARC anchor Tyrah Majors build up some reporting chops on transpo in Seattle to enhance I really street cred. I watch Thursday and see a terrible advancer package on Sound Transit decision offered by rote with no authority, knowledge or insight.    Handout stuff to fill time.   READING her script at the top of the simple close out and finishing with an obvious line.   "Riders certainly want to see start seeing these projects 'be put into place' and take advantage of it ultimately."  Projects is plural = THEY not IT.   She has taught at the university level?    Can't memorize a simple standup while the package is running more than a minute?      Does she get no reporting coaching from her boss?  Not doing herself any favors with this no-viewer impact preview story.   A lot more expected at this level with her loaded resume.   Do better.   ...

As usual KING Seattle enters the most and wins the most - 7 categories: Newscast, Feature Reporting, Continuing Coverage, Documentary, DEI, Video and Sports Reporting.   But KGW in PDX takes Overall Excellence and two others, including Investigative.  KIRO took Hard News.  One each for KOIN, OPB and KPTV. Small Market Overall Excellence goes to KXLY in Spokane and KREM wins Newscast there.  Apple Valley News in Tri-Cities won Investigative. On the radio side, KIRO 97.3 wins  Overall Excellence and Newscast. These winners go on to the RTDNA national contest.   Sadly the radio network that gave him fame is gone. Full list here of winners and content here: https://www.rtdna.org/2026-regional-edward-r-murrow-award-winners

From KOMO Senior News Reporter Chris Daniels, who cannot stay in his lane.    I just don't get the desire to post incidental sports news when you are supposed to be breaking news stories. "In scheduling news: Defending FCS Champs Montana State visit the Kibbie Dome & Idaho on Friday, October 2nd in an ESPN nationally televised game. Fresno State visits Washington State in Pullman on Saturday, October 3rd. That will be a great weekend on the Palouse."  Sheesh..couldn't wait for this nonsense.  Embarrassing.  

  It's a Sinclair transfer as WLOS-TV, Asheville, NC, anchor Patrick Hussion goes to mornings at KOMO, with Kelly Koopmans now moved to dayside anchoring. replacing Mary Nam. https://wlos.com/news/local/news-13-wlos-farewell-evening-anchor-patrick-hussion-sister-station-komo-seattle-washington-asheville-north-carolina-reporting-news Kinda looks like KOMO morning weather wizard George Waldenberger.  Whaddya think?

Tegna, owners of PNW stations KING, KGW and  KREM, has a new CEO from Fox Ad Sales, Patrick Paolini.  His first move was to dump a major hire (Adrienne Roark) by his predecessor, who has apparently cashed out, according to reports. The regional VPs all hired by Roark (who lasted a bit more than a year) could likely be among those next in line, all of whom are casualties of the mangled Tegna/Nexstar deal, now in the courts.   One of those VPs is Julie Wolfe, who was promoted from ND at KING. More at ftvlive.com .

Former Seattle TV weather anchor Todd Johnson posts about his continuing battle against cancer: "It’s time for the next step in my cancer fight. Chemo and radiation shrunk the tumor. Unfortunately they didn’t kill it. So this week I’ll have surgery to get rid of the tumor once and for all.  My long term outlook is still very good. And I’m blessed to have my family, friends and a great medical team along for the ride. Thanks again for all of your support."  And we have the big pictures from departing KING weekend anchor Madison Wade's Saturday wedding.  Joyce Taylor and Leah Pezzetti in this shot, along with former K5 reporter Connor Board and officiant Chris Egan.

I must be late to this party, but I watched the 4th game of the NBA Western Finals on Sunday night on KING and who turns up after?  Ryan Rowland-Smith with a show called The Top Step and a guest from the Ms pitching staff.  Playing catch-up. 

I criticized KING reporter Sebastian Robertson for his casual crew neck tee apparel on a probable child murder story the other evening. (scroll the site).  He provided an exclusive follow up on Friday and presented himself as authoritative, smart and professional.  Kudos.  That's how you do it.  

  Take a peek, if you dare learning about vampires, who will be coming to Seattle in the sequel, feauring Golden Garden, the old KINGDOME and other locations, narrative currently under construction. Feedback, please, good or bad.  https://waynelynchbooks.com/

Who knew that KING5 sports anchor Chris Egan could officiate at a wedding?  He's helping former anchor colleague Madison Wade get hitched Saturday, featuring Weather Wizard Leah Pezzetti as a bridesmaid.  Wade is relocating to be with her husband.  Mr. Egan posts this is his first ceremony:  There's even a celebratory bobblehead!! "Beyond honored and also a little nervous as the @KING5Seattle weekend team reunites this Saturday!!! @madisoncwade getting married, @leahpezzetti is one of the bridesmaids, and I'm officiating the wedding!!! My first wedding, any advice ???"  Speaking of relocation, one of our loyal readers sent along this picture of married couple and former KING reporters Maddie White and Drew Andre, who now work at KPIX, the CBS O&O in San Francisco.

This news courtesy of ex-colleague Kim Holcomb at KING 5. Angela Poe Russell was once a main evening anchor at KIRO, later co-hosted a failed 4pm show at KING for awhile, ended up on Evening at K5 for a spell and now sometimes fills in on 97.3 radio.  Her new play has debuted!  Kudos.  "Is there any better than watching someone you adore achieve a dream? ✨ When Angela Poe Russell sets her mind to something, amazing things happen. Three years ago she told me she was going to write a musical. It’s now playing at Seattle Public Theater - and tickets are selling out! If you want to feel inspired, laugh, cry, and dance in your seat, go see Aviatrix." 

97.3 KIRO FM becomes an ABC affiliate Friday. You heard it here first.   Bye bye to the Eye. 

Small history lesson: The beginning of trouble at KING started with the buyouts in April 2016 when the great, longtime leaders of the station decided to take the money and escape Tegna when they could. One talent called it a terrible company, even though being run by a previous KING GM and ND. Bounds, Brill, Byron, Renner and other top players took the buyouts.. Jean Enersen had already been pushed out prior but the then GM. The sale of the Dexter property ran parallel to the buyouts as Tegna wanted to cash in on the location and move to a Sodo rental with the Tegna-ordered, faddish, trendy high-ceiling newsroom for everyone and one tiny studio. Then, the initial talent replacements didn't work at all, and I don't believe they've ever fully recovered. Another GM was running the show back then and running interference for Tegna brass. The King ND and I both left (our calls) before the buyouts, seeing the trouble ahead.   In Response to a comment by Unknown King churned thru...

An interview visit by Mayor Katie Wilson on that hard hitting bastion of journalism, KING's New Day Northwest.  Wilson's been under fire for dodging questions and being protected by lower tier PR handlers, so what better way to curry favor by appearing on a lifestyle show.  She was introduced by host Hanson as "a person who's a pretty big deal around here, and we wanted to get to know her a little bit more." Sheesh. 

KING morning anchors turned to the magic window where a reporter was about to break some exclusive video on a story, when, lo and behold, a studio camera was wayyy in the way.  He then actually could be seen walking behind it to get into full position.   Well, it was at 6:02 so no one was awake anyway, right?   It continues to be an odd week at K5. Weather wizard Ashley Ruiz took on traffic this morning, BTW.   Also, on the Dusty Baker fabricated social post and his subsequent CYA post, hearing that the internal fallout is mostly just 'bad first impression.'.  I did not see him in studio on the new sports show this morning after his debut Weds., a show with The 700 Club as its lead-in.

Sebastian Robertson of KING 5 reporting on a child murder wearing a crew neck something or other on the story.  Just absurd.  Really classy, rookie. Now, back to our regularly scheduled program, Leave it to Beaver. Robertson isn't really a rookie, I should correct,  having worked in Austin and Dallas and 7 years here, so his apparel is even more surprising for a story like this.    

Not buying it bud, you're not Seattle Sports material. "My first mistake was made early! I was informed the current building was actually moved into in 2016, so naturally my memory might be a little mixed up with a more recent visit (worked in Seattle that year, so that checks out).  Regardless, have been well aware of this powerhouse station since I was young and am grateful to be at a place I’ve wanted to be at for a long time!"  Not a fake post, but appreciate the insight! I’ve been back and forth from Seattle and I do recall the KING logo, but very well could have been an ad or something alike instead. Probably confused it with another visit to this city, they were certainly spaced out! Learned the building was here in 2016, checks out since I made a trip to Safeco that year! But always had a dream of broadcasting and knew of KING when I was much younger, even without living here. Super excited to be here, and thanks for pointing out my mista

April radio ratings are in for Seattle and KIRO 710 jumps almost two share points at 6.4 to stand second (had to be the Mariners and NFL draft), way behind the usual leader, KUOW-FM at 10.6, a jump of more  than two share points.  Music stations rounded out the top five.   The other sports talker, KJR-FM registered only a 1.5. 97.3 KIRO-FM slipped .3 to a 3.5 and drops a touch farther out of the top 10.   Main competitor KNWN 97.7 had a .2 boost to a 3.3, so its a tight race for the newsies. KVI and KTTH both dropped. https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb039 Small radio tidbit: Former KCPQ talent Ellen Tailor, if you remember her, has joined the WOLF in Seattle to co-host a morning show with Aaron Crawford.

Noticed that the new Ultimate Sports Show on KONG at 10 am weekdays has The 700 Club as its lead in.  Good programming flow there, don't you think?   Yikes!    Well, it's essentially a religious infomercial so KING gets money for it.    It proves that USS is primarily a streaming product because no linear sports hour should ever follow religious programming in any time period.   Odd stuff from K5.   

One of my alert readers pointed out that Dusty Baker, KING's new sports guy who debuted Weds, posted on social about how he fell in love with the city when he was young: When I was in elementary school, my parents took me to a Mariners game in Seattle. I fell in love with Seattle for the passion the city has for its teams and the beauty of Safeco Field. I remember looking across from the ballpark, seeing the KING 5 logo, and thinking how incredible it would be to work at a place like that. Well, when he was a school boy, KING was not across from the ballpark.  333 Dexter until 2016.  Ten years ago.   Does not compute.   Exaggerate to ingratiate???     Looks like he's busted before his first at bat.    Stand for Truth, eh?    Screenshot:

We reported here in February that Louisville TV sportscaster Dusty Baker would be heading to Seattle to be with his bride-to-be, reporter/anchor Maddie Carter of KING 5.   We speculated he might help fill the void at sportsless KIRO7, but KING beat 'em to it.   It has come to pass, and Ms. Carter helped break the story on X: "So unbelievably proud of my best friend, future husband, and now co-worker! Welcome to the iconic @KING5SEATTLE, and the most exciting chapter in our lives and careers.  After almost a year of long distance and waiting for all the answers, God delivered." Not sure if he is fulltime or freelance, but the addition is much needed with so much sports ahead, plus the new morning show for the next several months, at least.    Lots of work-life balance in play at K5.  This couple supplants a married Seattle TV couple who just left for SFO (Maddie White and Drew Andre), Madison Wade and Leah Pezzetti are getting married soon and two ...

Bridget Chavez anchors KING news after a huge playoff game on NBC Monday night.   Good reporter, but not nearly ready for a newscast that would be sampled with that big sports lead-in.  Not going to comment on the outfit while anchoring sports, too.  Staffing is thin.   At least Greg Copeland was back at 10.    One other note:  The Ultimate Sports Show was now advertised at 8pm streaming on K5+.   Not timely at all for late Mariners.  It's all over the place. Wednesday promo-ed for 9 pm after NBC game.    K5 a little upside down right now.  

With vacations, maternity and staff departures galore, KING had weekend morning anchor Farah Jadran taking on the daunting assignment of traffic anchor Monday morning and weekday morning anchor Jake Whittenberg was in for vacationing Paul Silvi as the Ultimate Sports Substitute.  And the May sweeps dont  end until Wednesday.    

Chris Warren, ex of NWCN in Seattle and The Weather Channel, has a new gig with CNN after doing some fill-in on air work.  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chriswwarren_proud-to-be-part-of-the-launch-of-the-new-share-7460025738243604480-gtJE?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAFWTKaUBTwc4NGLVz4TARZHYT8qQaNhaM2Euthttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/chriswwarren_proud-to-be-part-of-the-launch-of-the-new-share-7460025738243604480-gtJE?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAFWTKaUBTwc4NGLVz4TARZHYT8qQaNhaM2Eutm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAFWTKaUBTwc4NGLVz4TARZHYT8qQaNhaM2E

Sources confirm KING5 weekend evening anchor Madison Wade is leaving after a four-yearr un.  She's getting married soon and relocating with the groom.   She joined the station in June 2022 and has specialized in a series a stories on unsolved crimes in the PNW.    This adds to the reporter shortage at K5 with Maddie White and hubby Drew Andre to SFO, as reported here previously.    Farah Jadran could move up from weekend mornings, but I also wonder if Christine Pae would give up KONG weekday mornings and KING noons on weekdays to get a solo weekend, higher viewed, evening newscast.  Another reporter, Savannah Welch, could also move to the desk, which would remove her from the field for two more days.  Getting tight over there!             World Cup coming, Seahawks training camp, too.  Silvi a nd Egan tied up in a new morning live/streaming experiment show, lots of big news stories looming in what has a...

With the NFL sked our, KING will have.pre-season telecasts on Aug. 15 vs Dallas at Lumen and 28th vs KC on the road.   We will see if the team and hawks bring back Kate Scott, Michael Robinson and Michael Bennett back to announce.

KOMO Sports Director Niko Tamurian threw out an idea today.  "Can I just put the petition out there now? PLEASE (to both the Seahawks and Patriots) Wear the throwbacks for the season opener!" Yesssssss. Maybe Chris Daniels could wear a throwback KING yellow jacket during coverage to get his nose in.  Lol

I posted the other day about a KOMO promo for a Storm Watch segment at 6pm Wednesday as if it were something special.  Well, It wasn't special, it was only a paltry 1:00 highlight segment??  What a joke. Embarrassing. I guess I fell for it, but I was expecting a long segment, something in-depth or even a full block  about the team based on the promo, but was fooled into waiting until the show was almost over at 55:00 after the hour for nothing.  Shameful bait and switch.  I won't be fooled again.  Tell me that promo slide is not misleading.  When a viewer sees a promo for the first time, there are expectations.  Not a throwaway.

I have had some comments about a beef I have with Brandi Kruse. Here's the truth. When she started The Divide on Fox 13 in 2019, I heavily criticized the first show about Fake News. Her guests were her compadre/buddy Jason Rantz (pictured), who spreads such news himself on the low rated KTTH, and two familiar Fox 13 colleagues who were also clueless. No expert, and there was one available had she asked, Kate Starbird of UW, who might have joined if invited. She railed strongly against my critique, which included a urge to smile on show promos, to welcome viewers, instead of being grim, which I advised male anchors to do for years, including Seattle talent.  She was able to, as usual, dish it out, but not take it, and I sarcastically called her 'Miss Fragile' to chide her, calling out her self-marketed 'iron' persona, which I did, BTW, on my personal email.  My opinion.  She proceeded to doxx me with an employer, which was totally ridiculous given the context, even ...

...Connected to TikTok.  Wonderful for one and all, right?  TikTok, that bastion of factual, clear, attributed information and, more often, news anchors dancing in their studios. Desperate station, trying to be what it's not. 

Former King 5 Evening co-host jim Dever gives us a FREE, yes FREE, parking nugget for downtown Seattle visitors.     It's a bit of an Amazon building secret unveiled for nights and weekends. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1G82tMqe8b/

Looks like the Seahawks and Patriots will meet in a Super Bowl rematch for opening Day in September.  It will draw media from everywhere, including TMZ, and the ratings will be huge because of the Vrabel-Russini affair story likely to bubble up yet again at that point.  NFL takes advantage of the hype if this happens.   Gonna be a wild Wednesday.   Full schedule out tomorrow.  

  Brandi Kruse, who left Fox 13 in a huff citing corporate media oversight despite her own failed news show 'Divided,' gets allegedly caught in a scheme to be a hidden political donor from her podcast site, 'Undivided.'   Not a fan.   From The Seattle Times "A campaign finance watchdog has filed a complaint against Let’s Go Washington, alleging the conservative political committee failed to properly disclose political advertising tied to two statewide initiative campaigns. The 24-page complaint, filed by Washingtonians for Ethical Government, alleges that Let’s Go Washington failed to report the financial value of more than 150 individual instances of promotional political advertising that the group identified by conservative podcaster and former TV journalist Brandi Kruse, as well as other in-kind, noncash contributions the organization allegedly received. Failing to disclose advertising and contributions breaks state law on reporting campaign expenditures, sai...

  Price to watch stream the Mariners drops to 90 bucks.  Wasn't it $120 a while back?  Hmm.  Sub numbers not good?  Here's the ad: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DPEzQhdPb/

***Recorded the 6pm KOMO Wed.  NO No Storm Watch.  Not sure if this is a new show or a partial reprise from last season, but it's on 6pm Wednesday on KOMO with Niko Tamurian hosting as the Seattle Storm season takes hold.  It has a sponsor, too.  And there's this, too.  Pretty cool.  https://x.com/i/status/2054351527322788084 🌩️Storm pride is going up at KOMO Plaza. 🌩️ The @seattlestorm logo is being installed on the Space Needle side, and we’re proud to be the team’s broadcast partner. Catch "Before the Storm" Sunday at 2:30 p.m., then watch the Storm take on the Indiana Fever right here on KOMO.

Noticed a social media post Monday that said KING's The Ultimate Sports Show will specifically stream on KING5+ at 630, the same time as Fox 13's Washington Sports Wrap.  Stoking some competition?   The KING show airs on KONG at 10 am and streams on KING5+, but this is a counter move pushing a specific evening time slot to attract streamers.   It might have been happening since the April debut, but my first time noticing any pre-emptive strike.  UPDATE  this move was because KING had an NBA on NBC game and no early news Monday.  So, likely  sampling opportunity but a smart idea to push it against Fox13's show for sports streamers.