MediaMaven

On Oct. 5, KVI talk host Ari Hoffman moves to morning drive 6-9.   The station finished 24th with a 1 share last book, so this will change everything, I guess.   Lotus just moved syndicated radio to KNWN from 10-2 so the graph is in decline both sides.

During a sit-down post-season interview with the Seattle Times, owner John Stanton revealed that Mariners TV had 120,000 subscribers this year.  As far as I am aware this is the first time that number has been public.   And the question is, will it decline after this season's disappointment.   Not sure how to quantify streaming data.   BTW, Seattle is market 13 with 2.1 million TV households but those signups could be coming from hither and yon.  Also have seen nothing from KING on viewership and probably won't.   

Rebecca Stevenson sighting on KIRO 7 weather and confirmed.   She will be doing vacation relief and fill-in.  Remember, she was chief met there back in the day, so you CAN go home again!!  Her last Seattle stop was KOMO in late 24.   She worked for me at NWCN. 

Looks likes 'Seattle Red KTTH 770' botched final three outs called by retiring historic PxP announcer Rick Rizzs., according to a social post from KING 5 sports anchor Chris Egan.    From Egan:  "Missed Rick Rizzs final 3 outs on radio because they went to national news on 770am"  But here it is posted ICYMI: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D2Vm1JMRr/ It was on M's TV.

Maybe it was on the Fox Local stream or KZJO but there was no notice or crawl and no linear pre-game on main channel 13 because of baseball running late.  Alyssa Charlston-Smith was also not seen on the sidelines during subsequent UW-Minnesota TV game thru halftime, when we thought that possibly was the plan.  No sideline reporter at all, in fact.   Did I miss something? 

What if MLB/Fox/ESPN could persuade Mariners longtime and retiring announcer RIck Rizzs to do a guest half-inning on World Series TV or radio.  He always wanted to be in a Series booth and thought this was the year, so what if, as a tribute to his incredible career, MLB persuaded him to sit in doing pxp as third man with Buck and Smoltz on Fox, or the ESPN booth on radio, which may be more comfortable for him?  Back in the day, home radio announcers would share the full games with Curt Gowdy and others.  Now, Rick may not agree to it, but just an idea.  Thoughts?

AwfulAnnoncing.com is confirming early social reports that The Minnesota Timberwolves are hiring ex Sonics/Blazers pxp man Kevin Calabro to be their new TV voice for the upcoming season.  Up and coming star Michael Grady was snatched up by NBC for a schedule of NBA telecasts, which created an opening.   Some may say this is a whistlestop for Calabro as he waits for a possible Sonics Redux.

Have seen posts this week of FOX O&O news anchors learning to prepare and even punch their own newscasts for digital and streaming; preparing clips, interviews, graphics and intros at a tech suite with buttons galore  It's coming and coming fast and before you know it, David Rose and Hana Kim and the gang will be anchor, producer, graphics assistant, technical director, et al.   Here's a look, but it may already be going on in Seattle, for all I know. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1582389053623593

Seattle Kraken TV play-by-play voice, John Forslund, one of the best in the NHL, has signed a deal to stay in the booth.  From social media: The #SeaKraken and @JohnForslund have come to a multi-year agreement to keep the best game announcer in the business onboard as the voice of Seattle hockey ⬇️

  Alyssa Charlston-Smith, fresh from her first year as Seattle Storm TV analyst, showed up to talk about the failed season on KING's The Ultimate Sports Show.    At the same time she's advertised to be part of Fox 13's pre-game show Saturday night before the UW game telecast.  Is she still part-time at 13, so I must say I was surprised to see her on a competing station.  But this just in:  she's now a freelancer, per an unimpeachable source   May turn up anywhere.   How about sportsless KIRO. 

Early reports from our friends at FTVlive.com say WRAL-TV Raleigh, NC, reporter Eric Miller is heading to KING.  No confirmation yet on my end, but getting it out there.   FTV issues a warning of sorts: https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2026/9/23/leaving-the-nest-for-the-unknown

I'm told multiple engineers are out at Fox 13, leaving just two behind, combined with the production department to get the new studio ready for November in Denny Triangle.  Don't get the wires crossed over there, OK? Meanwhile, looks like Abby Acone's vacated weather position there will not be filled.  She left to join sales at KING. So, more work for Brian, Claire and Ilona.    I get no info at all that things are going well on Westlake right now. 

  First of all, Graham Bensinger's show is not exactly top tier viewing.  Nobody in Seattle probably watches  it.   But, he published a clip that was thought to be off the record just prior to starting the official interview.  Bad news for MM.   Secondly, Dave Pearson, the Seahawks longtime PR man, has been with the team for decades and should have been on scene for this interview, understanding what was off the record and on.  Failure to make it clear to the coach. Now, we hear Bensinger sent the full clips over to the Seahawks in advance and they raised no concerns. Two strikes, Pearson.   Failure.     One more and you're out under a new owner. It's the first full-on fiasco for MacDonald, so perhaps it's just an anomaly.  One the other hand it is a distraction that won't go away in the media and upcoming game telecasts.      I suggest the Seahawks should stop patting themselves on the back. ...

KOMO anchor Kelly Koopmans, who co- hosted a 'Hard Turn' podcast with Mary Nam before she left the station, has launched a new community podcast called 'Connect with Kelly Koopmans.' KOMO now has three podcasts, two which are sports-oriented (Inside the Arena and The Dark Side).  The future presses on. 

  This appears to only affect ARC Seattle (KUNS) and Portland is not mentioned.    I wonder if this national SInclair launch is in any way tied to Trump's White House ban of CNN and MSNow just last Friday.   SInclair is creating a larger national TV news footprint with this move . Coincidence?  Connecting the dots?  Did Trump know the expansion was coming? Sinclair Expands The National News Desk with Additional Programming and Added News Hours 09.21.2026 5 P.M. Newscasts and Daytime Editions Launch September 21 HUNT VALLEY, Md. – September 21, 2026 – Sinclair today announced an expansion of The National News Desk (TNND), increasing news programming and adding additional news hours across Sinclair stations. Beginning today, a 5 p.m. edition of The National News Desk, anchored by Taylor Murray, will be added to the programming schedules in Seattle, Nashville, Baltimore, Columbus, Mobile, Wilkes-Barre, Flint, Savannah, Charleston, New Bern, Reno and Chic...

KOMO anchor Patrick Hussion should recuse himself from reading stories about the Trump ban of CNN, MS Now and Politico since his old colleague lackeys at lackey OAN still get in.  He even covered the White House for that phony outfit.  IMHO, we need to know where he stands on this.  Free Press or Fake News.  Let's hear from you Patrick?  I'm sure you're welcome at Sinclair, but maybe you're in recovery. 

Seattle Times columnist Matt Calkins, who quit the paper after a transgender column was spiked, debuts at Outkick, writing about a women's sports bar in PDX. https://x.com/Matt_Calkins/status/2100604129215439276

Former KOMO 4 photographer Peter Mongillo has died after a battle with esophageal cancer. He passed away over the weekend with his daughters at his side.  Photo and story courtesy of MyNorthwest.com and KOMO's Michelle Esteban.

KING5's The Ultimate Seattle Sports Show paid tribute to its co-producer/researcher Dusty Baker and Weekend PM news anchor Madeline Carter for getting married over the weekend.  Some video courtesy of the show: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FUh4T9sVk/ Cheers to the happy couple.

Debra Gil is leaving her post was longtime weekend morning anchor on KPTV Portland.  Here's her post on social: Last time to anchor weekend Good Day Oregon. I am retiring after 23 years here at @fox12oregon.  It’s been a great journey and I thank many of you for watching and supporting. No word on what may be next.

Thought I would watch KIRO7's 7 pm newscast on Wednesday, the date of the Seahawks home opener, competing against the game on KING 5. The station's formula is standard operating procedure: Fast paced directing, strong graphics in, around and between packages and copy stories.  They use a lot, and I mean A LOT of fast and furious graphics with reveal fonts, which means viewers have wayyy too much to read on full screens.   Save those for the website, KIRO, my eyes get bleary.  It's overkill to me.  I do still like how they cover the lag between studio tosses and live shots with a transition graphic to cover the slightly awkward delay.   On this particular show, it opened with a live shot from a bar for local reaction to tariffs on Canadian beer and booze, but it was a superficial, weak and phony lead with only one interview and b-roll of people watching the game.   Odd choice.     It was nothing more than a tease for more at 11,...

KUOW-FM and KIRO-AM are still OneTwo in the August People Meter Ratings for Seattle , although #1 KUOW caught a big jump from a 7.7 share to a 9.4, its biggest number since May when it had a 10.1.    Wondering in the Bite of Seattle violence and the Mayor-Police Chief fiasco was the reason which all started on Jul 26.   The rating period was July 23-August 19. KIRO-AM stayed in second with a 7.0 share, up from a 6.4.  KJR-FM is doing nothing, but maybe the Huskies will help. See for yourselves: https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb039

The on-air debut of KOMO's new "The Dark Side Podcast on the Seattle Seahawks" was dripping with the Toyota Sponsorship, including linebacker Derick Hall actually reading a sales script off a prompter screen at one point with a huge Toyota graphic on the side wall and a Toyota branded water bottle in the background.   Host Niko Tamurian even had a Toyota placard behind him on single shots.   We know Hall has 'big truck energy' from 'Hard Knocks', so there were ample mentions between him and the host about the Toyota Tundra and Toyota Tacoma.   It was essentially an internal commercial.  I thought it was a bit over the line for Tamurian pushing the product directly himself.  But it's sports, so OK, I guess.  I wonder where this program idea came from?   Was it Hall's and his relationship with Toyota trucks//dealers?  The sales department?   Or Niko?  Or all of the above?    Seemed awfully close to a 'pay...

KING's The Ultimate Seattle Sports Show came up with one of the funnier, creative graphic bits I've seen for a long time.  It just took co-host Chris Egan to put some poster board and markers together to show what the Mariners need to do to win the west and make the playoffs with 18 games to go.   Out of the box !!   Who needs AI?    Here's the bottom of the board and Paul Silvi soaking it in. A big LOL.    

I note from the cable grid that KOMO is airing a new temporary show at 3 pm Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the Seahawks opener.  It's called The Dark Side: A Podcast on the Seattle Seahawks featuring two stars from the team's 'Dark Side' defense, as it's called.  Derick Hall and Byron Murphy will join Sports Director Niko Tamurian.   Interesting that KOMO puts it up against KING's The Ultimate Seattle Sports Show on Tuesday and K5 News Weds trying to get a piece of the pre-game action.   Game is on 👑 Weds. The station is also adding 'Seattle Refined' replays this week to fill the 2-3 pm void left behind by cancellation of Kelly Clarkson's show, to be replaced next week by Drew Barrymore's talk fest.

I listened to UW radio today for the Apple Cup with new play by play announcer Elise Woodward.  Good work holding her own in a rather unexciting, sloppy, penalty-ridden game.  She was on time throughout.  Got better as the game progressed and she got more confidence.   Kudos in her debut.

Hard Knocks with the Seahawks seemed to have no juice at all.  It basically became an homage to extremely foul language from coaches and players that could have been managed better, plus a double homage to MacDonald and Schneider, who needs a beard trim and a haircut and no ballcap.  His coach always looked professional.     The cut down sequence was undramatic except for Diggs and he wasn't actually cut!   I could have done without the fried chicken segment for sure.    The best shot was the underground sprinkler emerging in slow-mo.  Way cool. I suppose working with a Super Bowl champ inherently meant less suspense and conflict.   My expectations were high.   The Chamber of Commerce must have loved it, though.  It was a showcase of the beauty of the city and environs, but from the football side, I came away thinking "Oh, that was nice."   Pleasant enough but not compelling.  The whole thing with ...

With weather wizard Abby Acone gone, some noticeable changes on Good Day Seattle on Sunday morning.   Taylor Winkel was back anchoring all the news solo , instead of sharing it with Acone, which is the way it should be IMHO.    Illona McCauley handled weather and weather only and never appeared on the desk together with Winkel nor did she read any news.   Ilona is very credible and brings her own energy.    It seemed like more of a newscast than a 'friend fest' with the usual banter that Winkel and Acone did.   We will see if this combo continues into the fall, but so far so good.

In a very short time, KING 5 has hired Dusty Baker in sports, Rachel Just and Heidi Kirk as reporters, former KOMO photo Drake Presto as dedicated investigative unit photojournalist and ex-Fox 13 weathercaster Abby Acone as an account exec.   Meanwhile, Tegna fired the regional news VP Julie Wolfe, ex K5 ND.     It's a carousel, but it looks like since the Nexstar takeover is mired in litigation and there is a new corporate boss, things are back to cooking at Tegna.

Well, that didn't take long. Recently departed Fox 13 weather wizard Abby Acone has gone to the dark side, joining KING5 as an account executive.   It certainly gives her a M-F schedule, no holiday work, more time with her new spouse, etc., but it's a whole new world to sell linear and streaming, so we'll see, although her personality and  popularity will likely attract some clients to make buys. Here's here post on social: "So excited to share I’m joining the KING 5 team here in Seattle! ☀️ After 14 years on air in TV news, I’m stepping into a new role as an Account Executive on the sales team.  I grew up watching KING 5 around the dinner table, so supporting this station feels like a full-circle moment.  In the last several months, I’ve reflected a lot on what’s next for me. This role is the perfect blend of everything I love the most: relationship building, storytelling, and strategic communication. This was at the core of my work as a journalist and meteorol...

Kelly Hatmaker, who was the Asst. News Director at Fox 13 from 2022 until June 2025, has landed at WVIT, the NBC O&O in Hartford-New Haven, CT.   He will be the new Asst. ND.    Hatmaker also spent nearly six years at KHQ in Spokane in management roles.   Hatmaker made the announce ment on social media.

KOMO videojournalist Drake Presto is moving to KING 5 as its new dedicated investigative unit videojournalist.   He notes on social media that he looks forward to working with the station's award-winning reporters.   Good sign to see the commitment continues and as reported here, KING has just added two field reporters.  

Julie Wolfe, who was promoted to a Regional News Content VP following her stint as News Director at KING 5, has been ousted by the company after less than a year in the job.   Another Tegna VP, Michael Valentine, who was one of my bosses at Tegna, is also gone from his regional position back east. Wolfe came to Seattle in 2021 from the ND job at the Tegna station in Louisville.   Wolfe  All per rickgevers.com

Fox 13's Washington Sports Wrap replays at 11 a.m. the following day will be dead after Labor Day when The Jennifer Hudson Show moves from 1 pm to 11 am.   Both the Sherri sydicated program and Studio 13 Live are gone.  Also, the station is running a show called 'Battleground' (Midterms) at 11 pm against news on the other three locals.  The sports show was nothing more than a morning placeholder as we already reported.  The original still runs at 6:30 weeknights.   I am also seeing another edition of West Coast News Wrap from KTVU in Oakland running back to back at 7:30, but I don't recall what  p reviously ran in that time slot.  I watch Jeopardy anyway!      Update: A loyal reader says Sports Wrap was airing on a 730 replay weeknights, so looks like it's gone too.

KJR-FM's longtime radio host Softy Mahler is replacing Elise Woodward as sideline reporter on the station's broadcast of the 114th Apple Cup Saturday at Husky Stadium.  Jessamyn McIntyre will be on the opposite sideline as usual for the Cougar Radio Network.  It should be a barnburner, a nailbiter, a cliffhanger and that's just the game! As you may know, Woodward now does the play-by-play now after years on the Husky sideline.