MediaMaven

Tomorrow, June 30, two years ago, I started this blog to offer Seattle TV media information from here, there and everywhere, seeking to report and discuss the talent and program ups and downs in the market. THANKS to all of my readers and commenters.  It has grown to 349,000 views, almost 30,000 just this month with overall 4000 comments on 1225 posts.   Very amazed and more than grateful.   Here's to another year of keeping the conversation going.

Checked on ARC Seattle Monday morning and Menino and Fahmy were co-anchoring after Majors departure.  Maybe Steve just wanted a day off to process?   Interesting that the new male morning guy, Hussion, wasn't on board.   Or Waldenberger?   McCarron was back Tuesday with Menino!

KOMO's Molly Shen joined Sports Director Niko Tamurian on the Seattle Storm pre-game show Saturday night.  Previously he has been partnered on the Storm pre-game set with Kelly Koopmans and Michelle Esteban, so that's a Trifecta for Niko.   He likes the team effort and I understand the presence of the gals on a Storm show, but he should be leading this coverage solo, IMHO.   

We hear from Gee Scott on his radio show. Scroll down. 97.3 KIRO-FM's mid-morning radio man Gee Scott is taking heat for deciding to emcee a Seattle World Cup game on June 19 vs. Australia, skipping his son's wedding in Ohio.  People Magazine broke the story about and there has been expected criticism, including Scott being labeled a "shameless self-promoter" by local podcaster and colleague.   Scott has called it the "wrong decision," adding, "I chose the job over someone I would lay down my life for."     Is this worth a Red Card?  Or just a Yellow? More at this link: https://people.com/gee-scott-sr-radio-host-missed-sons-wedding-for-world-cup-wrong-decision-12006700 Gee tells his side on the radio show Monday: https://x.com/i/status/2071694907220390178

This time it's not from the departing KOMO talent, but her co-anchor Steve McCarron,  bidding her farewell and move to a competitor, KIRO.  "Well, the day I’ve been dreading for months is finally here… my dear friend Tyrah Majors’ last at KOMO & ARC Seattle.  It’s been a tough week - going to be honest - knowing this day has been coming. Quite emotional at times.  I know we’re not saying goodbye. She’ll still be in Seattle - just a few blocks away - beginning the next chapter in her already accomplished and impressive, young career.  But I will deeply miss seeing her beautiful smile as I walk into the studio each morning. And I will deeply miss looking over to see her sitting by my side on the ARC Seattle set - ready to engage in deeper conversations about the issues and events that affect our wonderful community.  I’ve loved every minute of our time together.  And I’m so proud of what we’ve built together - as part of a wonderful team that goes fa...

  From Radio-online: Connoisseur Media has promoted Heather Roberts to News Director at KXL in Portland, OR, expanding her leadership responsibilities at the heritage News/Talk outlet while she continues as co-anchor of Portland's Morning News. In her new role, Roberts will oversee the editorial direction of KXL's newsroom, guide coverage and content strategy, and continue her daily on-air duties. She succeeds into a position that will play a key role in shaping the future of one of Portland's longest-serving news brands. "Heather is a news force," said Grant McHill, Program Director for KXL. "She is relentless in her search for the news and will serve KXL well in this role. I'm excited to see where she takes the KXL News Department."

Madison Wade, a weekend anchor for four years, has now posted two videos and two written social farewells about leaving her 'dream job' at KING.  Three of those posts in the last four days!   Another dating back almost two weeks.   She is in every single shot of the final, expertly edited, video.  Can you say attention diva?   Even our friends at ftvlive.com weighed in, posting that first goodbye on June 11 https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2026/6/23/it-was-her-dream-job-but-the-dream-is-now-over The last two videos,we hope: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1032227856021556 https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2217637525741413 Madison, please just go quietly now.

MJ McDermott, ex-Fox 13 meteorologist, says her sons are going to be playing on Netflix: "I got to be interviewed on KIRO Radio yesterday about the fun circumstance of both of my twin sons playing George Washington in the Netflix documentary "The American Experiment" - which debuts tomorrow!  Angela Poe Russell read my earlier Facebook post about this (below) and asked me to come in a chat about it on air.  What fun!  I got to meet Ursula Reutin, whom I've heard many times on KIRO.  And Angela interviewed me too.  What a hoot!  They were both warm and gracious.  And the conversation became a little about our kids - being moms of 20-somethings.  Let me know if you watch "The American Experiment" on Netflix.  Let me know what you think.  And if you catch Patrick and/or Kirby as GW!" Tune in!

It's a three-year deal, months in the making   Telecasting 4th fireworks, Torchlight Parade and Hydro races Fox13 is, indeed, the brand new TV partner of SEAFAIR, the city's major, traditional and famous summer event. It's been 'pirated' away from KIRO, which airs the annual Torchlight Parade.  Also, Fox 13 will televise the Lake Union fireworks on July 4, taking it from King.   And will do hydros as well.   Clean sweep. Aggressive move!

Tony Castricone, the play-by-play man for UW sports and successor to the legendary Bob Rondeau, has a new microphone spot per this post from the Tampa Bay Bucs of the NFL: "We're excited to introduce Tony Castricone as the organization’s new radio play-by-play announcer 📻 With more than two decades of experience, @Castricone was selected to succeed Buccaneer legend Gene Deckerhoff and lead Buccaneers Radio Network coverage."  Tony was Director of Broadcast Operations at UW, coming to the university nine years ago, following his work at sportscasting work at Clemson.   He is a graduate of Ohio University.

Linda Cohn, longtime ESPN SportsCenter anchor, is retiring from the network.  She is a long-ago KIRO sports alum, so might she return to help revive the station's dead sports image by freelancing during the Seahawks/Husky season and start of the Kraken????  Remember, she did a short-term deal to co-host Kraken pregame show the season before last on KING.  Interesting idea.  But what the ROI?   From Awful Announcing: Linda Cohn will soon be departing ESPN. Awful Announcing has learned Cohn’s contract expires at the end of the month, and the two sides could not agree on a suitable role for her moving forward. After beginning her tenure at ESPN in Bristol, Cohn relocated to the Los Angeles area, where much of her family lives, and enjoyed the work-life balance of her role hosting the 1 a.m. ET SportCenter. Last year, ESPN opted to move the 1 a.m. SportsCenter back to its headquarters in Connecticut. Since then, Cohn’s role shifted to hosting SportsCenter from ...

Tyrah Majors, KOMO morning traffic anchor and ARC Seattle co-host is entering the transfer portal, joining the KIRO morning news team on July 5 per her post on Instagram. Her last day at KOMO is June 26.   It's the first big anchor move by 7's new news boss.  Plus previously adding Nia Bliss (Wong-ex Fox 13) and Heather Bosch freelance (ex-Kiro radio).  Interesting to see exactly what her role there will be.  KIRO has a morning traffic anchor and an established news team in Dee Dee and Linzi plus Nick Allard on weather.    Waiting to hear more.    Majors also said she will continue teaching at Seattle U.     I have not been impressed by her work on ARC. Steve McCarron has carried her along. She's a strong brand builder, however.   You can search my previous posts about her on the site.   Could this also signal the end of ARC? I posted last week that a major move was going to happen in the market.  KING ...

Spokane's KREM 2 has named STEPHANIE RUIZ GIBILISCO as the new news director.  Per rickgevers.com, she's been working out of TV for the last three years, but earlier had been both Assistant ND and EP there at KREM.   She's also worked in Omaha, Tucson and Lincoln, NE.  She  replaces Jessie Kane who has decided to step away from TV news after six-year run there.    Kane also worked for KING in Seattle and met her husband here, who was a producer for me at NWCN.

 

Looks like Madeline Carter may be the new weekend evening anchor at KING 5 after the departure of Madison Wade.  Anchored Saturday night, at least.   And this was awful camera composition.   Hello????  'Get Carter' was a 1971 gangster film starring Michael Caine.  So there!  Thanks, Boomer. 

KIRO 7 has flashy showcasing graphics as usual and naming its World Cup coverage, but on the eve of the Seattle's USA game, NO special coverage at all at 11. Just anchor Elle Thomas voicing a story about Pulisic and a freelance reporter on parking confusion.  Where's Eric Thomas?  Not doing special duty?  That was it?  Ceding it all to Fox 13? Well, no sports department, of course, so no nothing.   Embarrassing, even for KIRO. I tuned in specifically to see if there was any strong emphasis or commitment on the night before this huge event.  I left shaking my head.    Not much of a connection to the cup! New ND didn't rise to the occasion.    Or maybe she has started yet? Haven't watched much coverage but Fox has good live reporting inside the stadium with Levine and Mayofsky,  and Kong's The Ultimate Sports Show was stationed with a great vantage point outside.   Nice overhead crowd shots. 

Heather Bosch, who was let go by KIRO 97.3 and lost her work at CBS Radio when it folded, has caught on doing some freelance reporting for KIRO 7.   They could use the help for sure.  She's smart and knowledgeable. Thanks to a loyal reader for the tip and Heather confirmed.

  From our friends at FTVlive.  This is not good folks.  Can't be erased. https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2026/6/17/no-surprise-there And this from 2015 at CPAC: https://youtu.be/fDs3zR2SKtM?is=e-FlDZaBUUCCYZc4 I don't trust him already after watching these but it's Sinclair, by the book. 

 . ... Has entered the transfer portal in town. Betting someone moving on from KING.   Stay tuned. 

The great, indomitable, major and SENIOR meteorologist Rich Marriott of KING 5.  Wow 77 candles would be a PNW wildfire.   That's perfect! 

While KUOW continued its strong first place run despite a half share point drop (10.6-10.1), and KIRO Seattle Sports AM added a .4 to remain second (6.4-6.8), two FM music stations were red hot, KJEB classic hits to third place with a full point jump 5.3-6.3 and KZOK classic rock with a 1.3 share jump to fourth (4.3-5-6). KIRO 97.3 was flat, and KNWN was down a half share a point.   The numbers are here: https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb039

Doing a little background research on KOMO's new morning man, Patrick Hussion, and noticed he has twice worked for Herring Networks, AKA, One American Network, considered a conservative, even a far-right wing news organization supportive of President Trump.  He doesn't even list One America on his linkedin.com resume, instead using the Herring moniker only.  And KOMO's own web story about him joining the team neither mentions that experience or that he was coming from its Sinclair sister station, only that he covered the White House and national politics.    Hmmm.     And did his previous stints there make him attractive for also-conservative Sinclair to hire him first in Asheville and then transfer/promote him to replace Mary Nam at KOMO?    Just wondering, not judging him - yet. https://komonews.com/news/local/

Nia Wong, who had a cup a coffee stint as a weekend co-anchor reporter at Fox 13 in Seattle, has joined the KIRO 7 reporting staff with a Monday debut, hitting the Seattle TV Exacta.   She once worked at KXLY in Spokane, so a semi-trifecta in WA TV. BTW now Nia Bliss per on camera intro by anchor.

By rule, The KOMO School of TV News Production loves to keep its anchors on camera when video is rolling, even dramatic video of violent/rowdy fan behavior in NYC.  Plus, they add (every five seconds) area temps and forecasts screen right, a rolling headline ticker and a two-line lower third font.     Phew.  That rivals Fox13's Live Desk malaise.  I know, we must be multitaskers, but this seems excessive early in the morning!    

Will somebody get KOMO morning anchor something to sit on or a small riser or raise her chair up to match the height of new anchor Patrick Hussion from North Carolina? Totally distracting and bad first impression, which a good producer would have immediately noticed and fixed.   I mean didn't they rehearse together???    Bad mismatch standing at the wall as well.  Guarantee you viewers chuckled when they watched.  They didn't notice in this pre-taped interview, where he listed his resume, they played a stirring 8 questions game like 'coffee or tea?'  'sunset or sunrise?'  and interviewed his wife!   Wow.    Well, good luck, sir!

TEMP-PER-AH-TURES.   If you find one who doesn't say TEMP-A-CHERS, let me know.  Diction, folks, on your most important and most often used word.  Pet peeve.

KOMO Senior News Reporter posts this after the Stanley Cup Finals.  Clicks, click, clicks.  Good for you Chris. The Hartford Whaler logo from the great beyond.  Stonehenge.   Meaningless.   I don't get it at all.  Why?   Pick your poison.  Covering sports business or pushing old hockey logos?  No young folks care.   Cover City Hall more. 

Checked in with KING on Saturday evening where reporter Sebastian Robertson was filling in on the anchor desk.  Please, somebody at KING coach this guy. He is too soft spoken to anchor. No energy, volume, no urgency, tone, drive.   He led in to an exclusive Investigators piece like he was ready for a nap.   Sell the stories.   He has one job.  Don't mail it in.  Boring presentation at a time where he could shine.

KING Sports Director Paul Silvi has posted a social media pitch for his side hustle, Biff's Blue Ribbon BBQ Sauce, which he owns!   It must be "The Ultimate Side Hustle."  I think it been out there for about a year, but this seems new.  I should charge him for this ad.   https://www.facebook.com/share/1Fiec84AtW/

I often think long goodbyes from TV people are overdone.  Layers of pollyanna hyperbole.  They talk about the privilege and trust and gratitude of being welcomed into viewers' homes.  On weekend newscasts?   The right words?   Vague next career steps and new chapters??  After being in Seattle for a proverbial cup a coffee?   Unfortunately, social media makes these goodbyes possible.   They seemed linked to the generation, but the comments aimed at strangers have become far more than we need to know.    Is it done to get clicks present and future?  To maintain your friends and followers? How bout mentioning the crisis facing the business, the pressures of working under the dark cloud of a Nexstar takeover or being asked to do too much work for the money?    Her unsolved murder series dates back to the 70s in TV when I did the same stuff in Baltimore.  They've  once again become the flavor of th...

Sources say Studio 13 Live on Fox 13 will end its run in early fall.    It was a year ago this month that co-host Carly Henderson was laid off.   No word on how this might affect remaining host Mireya Garcia, but  she's very versatile on-air.   The program debuted in Jan. 2023 as an hour at 10 a.m., but now is just 30 minutes at 11.   Meanwhile, the Studio 13 time slot will be taken over as of Thursday for a FIFA World Cup Live Preview Show from the network, putting the lifestyle show on hiatus.  It will also replace some hours of Good Day Seattle, according to the station program grid. 

Fox 13 Seattle has numerous June changes underway, especially in the sports department.   They've promoted sports freelancer Lauren Helmbrecht to fulltime anchor/reporter and she'll be part of the host rotation on the evening sports wrap show.    Ethan McReynolds moves to fulltime sports MMJ (multi-media journalist).  And for you Alyssa Charlston-Smith fans, she's transitioning from her former job as #2 sportscaster there to a freelance role while her new main gig continues as analyst on the Seattle Storm basketball broadcast team.   It's all just in time for a major sports summer and fall here and continues putting pressure on the KING bunch.   It's getting to be a real duel. In other news, Fox is adding a new member to its streaming roster, Felicia Michelle, who moves here from WISH-TV in Indy, where she was a lifestyle host and reporter..  She starts later this month. Good Day Seattle is getting a bump, too, in the person of Sadie Bug...

Apologize if I am late on this but here goes.  KOMO morning weather wizard George Waldenberger has a franchise explaining the WHY's of weather!  Promo graphic FYI. 

Former KCPQ weather wizard Walter Kelley recently announced he was moving to WPTV in West Palm Beach, FL for a morning weather gig. Our friends at ftvlive.com posted this pic of the station's introductory interview with the new kid in town.

Former KOMO News Anchor Mary Nam has been named to the Washington State University Board of Regents by Gov. Ferguson.    It's the governing body that oversees the WSU System.   Mary left the station just  three months ago after more than two decades.    She's a proud alum. 

Too many people on ESPN's NBA Tipoff Monday.  Large men on itty bitty ugly chairs. As ZZTop might sing 'They've got LEGS!    We don't want to see them." They all get 12 seconds to talk.   Lol.

T ery Garras has been named Vice President/General Manager of KXLY Brands, which include KXLY 4 News Now (ABC), KAYU Fox 28, as well as seven radio stations and digitial, consolidating the management structure. More from InsideR adio: Morgan Murphy Media is expanding the scope of its KXLY Brands operation, bringing Fox affiliate KAYU-TV into a unified structure that already includes ABC affiliate KXLY-TV, seven radio stations and digital marketing agency Phase 3 Digital. The company announced that Tery Garras has been promoted to Vice President and General Manager of the consolidated operation, succeeding longtime KXLY Vice President and GM Teddie Gibbon, who is retiring after 44 years with the station. The restructuring creates a single management team overseeing television, radio and digital assets serving Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and the broader Inland Northwest. Company executives said the move will allow advertisers to execute integrated campaigns across multiple platforms through a...

KING5 Morning Traffic Anchor Shante Sumpter turned up Monday from home to let everyone know her new baby boy is doing well but said she has no firm timetable for returning to the newscast.    The station has been using several staffers to fill in during her maternity leave.  World Cup traffic will be a major challenge for one and all starting real soon!!   Fox 13's Adam Gehrke should have the experience edge in the market. https://x.com/i/status/2063982924295524714

Teased three old stories, one by Whitaker, one by Stahl, one by the departed Cooper.  The anchor intro included everyone: Pelley, Copper, Alfonsi, Vega.  All rights reserved.  Nothing to see here.  But I wonder what kind of lead-in it was for the Tony Award on CBS?  Curiosity tune-in?   I turned it off after peeking at the opening sequence. There's a long interview with Pelley at the NYTimes.  FYI

I want to salute the man in the tux from this celebratory photo taken in 2010, if memory serves. The industry lost Dick Splitstone nine years ago this month.   He was my talented, loyal executive producer and dear friend at NWCN, running the day-to-day and teaching our young staff professionalism.   He also had many work colleagues at KIRO and NATAS NW.  He is missed very much. Dick was kind enough to honor me in retirement, arranging some great farewell photos of the staff. (Below) Thank you, Richard Also, I want acknowledge that the lady in the first photo is Emily Cantrell, former NWCN and KOMO leader, now president of Seafair. 

I went looking on the cable program grid Saturday for evening network news, but none of the local stations elected to take earlier feeds of WNT, NNN or CBS EN.     There were network sports events at 7, 730 & 8 in the East, presumably with the usual network news in normal time slots.  Here, KOMO did Sinclair's 'Full Measure' at 330 and local news at 4. KIRO ran paid at 330 and local news at 4. KING ran paid at 330.   And after Golf, it ran five straight paid shows.  First local news aired at 10 on KONG, 11 on K5 after Dateline.   This happens a lot during college football Saturdays, but was surprised today that there were no opportunities.  

Rick Rizzs, longtime, popular and soon to be retiring voice of the Mariners has a new honor: "The voice of the Seattle Mariners, legendary broadcaster Rick Rizzs, is officially your 2026 Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade Grand Marshal! For decades, Rick has brought unforgettable Seattle sports moments to life, and on Saturday, July 25, he'll lead one of the city's most beloved summer traditions down the Seattle waterfront. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the Alaska Airlines Seafair Torchlight Parade will Light Up the Night with dazzling floats, marching bands, cultural performances, dragon dancers, precision drill teams, prancing horses, and more. The parade is free and open to the public, but if you want the best views without the hassle, secure your reserved seating now. Skip the wait, save your spot, and enjoy the parade from premium viewing areas. Reserve your seats today and join us on July 25 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. as we celebrate Seattle with Rick Rizzs leading the wa...

Elise Jawed, an Emmy-winning producer for KOMO/ARC Seattle, is leaving for 'new adventures,' but no word yet on a specific destination or job.    Good luck!!