KING and KONG expand daily newscasts

[AQH]

Now, we're settling for Meg Coyle. I just don't see it. On weekend evenings, I would rather watch Monique Ming Laven on KIRO. But I guess that these are the first effects of the Gannett acquisition. Gannett tends to go cheaper, rather than with quality people.

You're blaming Gannett for someone KING hired about 12 years ago?

 

[formeraa]

You're blaming Gannett for someone KING hired about 12 years ago?

No, I'm blaming Gannett for PROMOTING someone who is at best an average anchor person. And, from my sources, the effects of the sale to Gannett are already being felt.

 

[AQH]

no, i'm blaming gannett for promoting someone who is at best an average anchor person.

huh?

 

[searadiofreak]

I think Gannett may be calling some shots, but remember they have not entered the building yet, (as far as I know). Perhaps the directive was simply to expand. As for talent, until they get their own people in there, nothing is certain. A good example is how Gannett operates KUSA and WUSA, in Denver, and D.C., respectively. KUSA has always been a flashy, talent driven product, while WUSA has always been a more serious news operation. I see KING as somewhere in between.

 

[formeraa]

huh?

It's pretty clear that KING management is very concerned about the Gannett takeover. So, rather than searching for (and paying for) a solid weekend anchor, they chose the lower cost option and promoted Meg Coyle into the spot. IMHO, Meg is a very average anchor and belongs in a smaller market. I'm not sure what you don't understand about my statement. (of course, your opinion may vary).

 

[formeraa]

I think Gannett may be calling some shots, but remember they have not entered the building yet, (as far as I know). Perhaps the directive was simply to expand. As for talent, until they get their own people in there, nothing is certain. A good example is how Gannett operates KUSA and WUSA, in Denver, and D.C., respectively. KUSA has always been a flashy, talent driven product, while WUSA has always been a more serious news operation. I see KING as somewhere in between.

DC is a very different news market compared to most other markets. KUSA is flashy, KPNX has converted to flashy, the Gannett affiliate in Atlanta is flashy. Gannett does have a distinct style in most (but not all) markets. A great example was, when they went to HD, KPNX was given a set that turned bright red when there was Breaking News. I saw a very similar set at a couple of other Gannett stations.

 

[AQH]

It's pretty clear that KING management is very concerned about the Gannett takeover. So, rather than searching for (and paying for) a solid weekend anchor, they chose the lower cost option and promoted Meg Coyle into the spot. IMHO, Meg is a very average anchor and belongs in a smaller market. I'm not sure what you don't understand about my statement. (of course, your opinion may vary).

Let me make sure I understand. It's Gannett's fault that KING hired Meg Coyle in 2000, and it's Gannett's fault that they are promoting her presence?

 

[formeraa]

Let me make sure I understand. It's Gannett's fault that KING hired Meg Coyle in 2000, and it's Gannett's fault that they are promoting her presence?

Say WA???

 

[KMan]

You're blaming Gannett for someone KING hired about 12 years ago?

I think she started with NWCN longer ago than that... her husband, Michael King, is tremendously talented.

Meg Coyle seems to have the full package ... she looks good, she has a good voice, she reads the news very well. But there's something ... missing when she's behind the anchor desk. And I can't quite put my finger on it.

 

[formeraa]

I think she started with NWCN longer ago than that... her husband, Michael King, is tremendously talented.

Meg Coyle seems to have the full package ... she looks good, she has a good voice, she reads the news very well. But there's something ... missing when she's behind the anchor desk. And I can't quite put my finger on it.

It the "spark" that Mimi Jung has or, in the past, Carolyn Douglas had. I do notice that Meg's personality begins to sparkle when she interacts with Lisa Van Cise. I wonder if they paired Meg with the right co-anchor that she would improve.

I must say that, in terms of weekend mornings, Carolyn Douglas was the best anchor that KING ever had since those newscasts started.

 

[AQH]

I think she started with NWCN longer ago than that... her husband, Michael King, is tremendously talented.

Meg Coyle seems to have the full package ... she looks good, she has a good voice, she reads the news very well. But there's something ... missing when she's behind the anchor desk. And I can't quite put my finger on it.

She did, and you're right about that unknown factor.

It's the bizarre line of logic mentioned upthread that has me coming back to this thread. Kind of the same fascination we get with seeing a horrible traffic collision.

 

[formeraa]

She did, and you're right about that unknown factor.

Oh, so there is something missing? Glad you're in agreement!

 

[searadiofreak]

Oh, so there is something missing? Glad you're in agreement!

OK, let's move on from Meg. She is a pro and doesn't deserve the negative comments, including from me.

However, changes are on the horizon for all four network affiliates in Seattle. The timing is not certain, as I predicted would happen in 2013. I have re-evaluated my opinion, and Feb. '14 is the next target date.

All affiliates are due for changes, although KCPQ has been making gradual changes and may be less immune.

KOMO needs a new main female anchor. Will Sinclair put up the money for one? Unknown, but probable.

KING needs a new main female anchor, but with Enerson still going strong, not as urgent.

KIRO needs a new anchor team and set.

Will these changes occur by Feb '14? Not neccesarilly. However, I think these affiliates are working on this, (quietly), and will show the results sometime in 2014.

Bottom line, I predict 2014 will bring major changes at all affiliates in Seattle, but I said the same thing about 2013, so I could well be wrong. Stay tuned for the next episode!

 

[KMan]

My thoughts ...

KOMO: I agree KOMO needs to really look at their evening anchor teams. All four are good, Dan Lewis of course is great. I tend to believe Molly Shen is a stronger anchor than Mary Nam ... but who is the best fit with whom? I also think the new weekend anchor, Russ Bowen, is quite good. I tend to believe that the heir apparent to Dan Lewis is not Eric Johnson (whose writing style I find annoying) but Brad Goode.

They could upgrade their weather team too... I just don't think Seth Wayne is up to snuff for this market. They've got Larry Rice and Rick Van Cise already in house. I think this market is probably more receptive to older talent as long as they can deliver the goods (see: Rich Marriot and MJ McDermott, the two best morning show mets in this market ...)

KING: I've said before this before ... Matsukawa, despite her increasing age, is still the replacement for Enerson. If KING management didn't feel that way, they would slide someone else into the desk alongside Bounds when Enerson is off, which is often. There's been a bit of churn in the reporter ranks lately ... For a number of years the reporters at 10 and 11 were Elisa Hahn, Jim Forman, and Tanya Mosely. Mosely quit, Hahn has moved up to the 5PM news, and Jim Forman is totally absent. They've been replaced by a crew that all write and edit like Chris Daniels (whose done this for years) ... the script is cut into twitter speak with the reporter reading a line (often not even a complete sentence) interspersed with a one liner from someone they are interviewing. Heather Graf, Zahid Arab, and John Langler are all guilty of this and it is truly awful to watch. Is this the latest trend in TV reporting?

KIRO: Raible and Russell have got to go. Its almost painful to watch this trainwreck. They have zero chemistry and Russell delivers the news in this earnest, enthusiastic manner that just doesn't fit with Raible. KIRO was posting for a new morning anchor about a month ago ... did one of the evening pair get non-renewed and KIRO is just waiting for their contract to run out before slipping one of the morning team into an evening slot?

KCPQ: Anchor teams on all newscasts are better than they've been since the Sam Shane/Leslie Miller and Tony Ventrella/Christine Chen pairings we saw a decade ago. Some of the teams they had a few years back were truly bush league. CR Douglas may be the heir apparent to Robert Mak in this market. Another high point is the second best 1-2 punch weather team in the market (Walter Kelley and MJ McDermott). Sadly, the station still does not have enough reporters to fill an hour long newscast with quality content, which keeps me on KONG.

 

[searadiofreak]

Good post KMan. I agree with most of what you say. KIRO needs a major shake-up despite some growth in some areas. However longterm, they need a different set of people, and different look. Kind of like '93, but back then they went too far and the "news out of the box" was way ahead of its time. However, keep in mind, that the standup settings that KIRO miserably failed at are being used by KOMO and KING today. Ironic.

 

[formeraa]

Good post KMan. I agree with most of what you say. KIRO needs a major shake-up despite some growth in some areas. However longterm, they need a different set of people, and different look. Kind of like '93, but back then they went too far and the "news out of the box" was way ahead of its time. However, keep in mind, that the standup settings that KIRO miserably failed at are being used by KOMO and KING today. Ironic.

Of course, KOMO and KING don't have the staircase...and theme music composed by a symphony!

 

[searadiofreak]

Of course, KOMO and KING don't have the staircase...and theme music composed by a symphony!

Haha, that staircase was actually a real staircase that was enhanced. It drops from the control room to the studio. Part of the original KIRO Broadcast House built in 1969!

The KIRO main studio, (I think called simply Studio 1, but perhaps has changed name), has been revamped more times than Liz Taylor's marriages.

So obviously, they have the room to do whatever they want.

As for the music, they were trying to get a NW sensibility with the orchestra, but the truth is most viewers, don't care about that stuff, they just want a pleasing, exciting music intro. KIRO quickly learned this, and has been much better with music and graphics ever since, even picking up the CBS enforcer package in recent years.

 

[crainbebo]

MJ McDermott is a train-wreck to watch in my opinion. Her "Pet Walk Forecasts" and pictures of big Dobermans and German Shepherd's don't mean a darn thing to me - I want the weather, and just the weather!

KIRO - Steve Raible IMO is still OK, Angela needs to go ASAP. Eyewitness News will probably either lose ratings even more or won't be the same without Raible in some form.

KING - Twitter crap needs to go, now. Look at the traffic in the mornings! 99% of the time part of the traffic map is covered by some 'tweet' from DOT. Like we need to look at social media to find out about an accident.

KOMO - Seth Wayne, in my opinion, is not the greatest at weather. I think he would do fine back at KVAL, or at another Sinclair like KEPR or KBOI in Boise. Wonder how Larry Rice would do with his experience back at KIRO during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

-crainbebo

 

[KMan]

I finally remember to tune in for the early part of the KING Five News at 9 on KONG expecting to see Rob Piercy .... instead we get former KOMO Weekend anchor Sabra Gertsch, who has resurfaced.

 

[formeraa]

I finally remember to tune in for the early part of the KING Five News at 9 on KONG expecting to see Rob Piercy .... instead we get former KOMO Weekend anchor Sabra Gertsch, who has resurfaced.

Next up, KING 5 News at 4 with...you guessed it...Julie Francavilla! (just kidding)