Sports
Jim Williams » It’s no way to treat the King
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
January 3, 2009
On New Year’s Day George Michael was at his office at NBC on Nebraska Avenue cleaning out tapes. The King is leaving NBC4 after a 28-year run without any regrets or without animosity toward the station.
NBC4 recently announced that it was ceasing production on ‘The Redskins Report’, ‘Full Court Press’ and the Monday night Redskins segments with George and Sonny Jurgensen that have been the only reason that some (myself included) watch local sports on TV.
“’The Redskins Report’, with John Riggins, Michael Wilbon and Jurgensen have consistently been among the highest rated shows in Washington for years. But the station does not want to pay the talent and production costs so we are going off the air,” said Michael.
So does this mean that we won’t see the King on TV anymore?
“We are in no rush right now,” Michael said. “I want to continue and I think that we can find a home for the shows but our partner has to be committed to the quality that we expect in production and support the show.”
Executives at both MASN and CSN have had conversations in the past with Michael when he resigned as Sports Director at NBC4. I have confirmed that both are very interested in talking to him about his programs, though no conversation has taken place, yet. Also, don’t rule out Dan Snyder’s Redskins TV & radio.
TV has changed since George Michael started at NBC4. Recently I had a general manager at local station tell me, “Why should I pay a big-time talent to do a two minute live shot from downtown when my audience is mostly women who could are less. Plus sports fans have ESPN, CSN and all sports radio to find out what is going on they really don’t wait around for the 6 or 11 p.m. news to find a score.”
George Michael is the best local sportscaster in the country, he is an icon and someone who, with his Sports Machine Show, gave SportsCenter the blue print on how to do sports news shows. Now, budget cuts have kicked him to the curb for good.
Let’s hope that the King finds a new kingdom soon — we sure do miss him on the air!
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on dcexaminer.com.
NBC4 recently announced that it was ceasing production on ‘The Redskins Report’, ‘Full Court Press’ and the Monday night Redskins segments with George and Sonny Jurgensen that have been the only reason that some (myself included) watch local sports on TV.
“’The Redskins Report’, with John Riggins, Michael Wilbon and Jurgensen have consistently been among the highest rated shows in Washington for years. But the station does not want to pay the talent and production costs so we are going off the air,” said Michael.
So does this mean that we won’t see the King on TV anymore?
“We are in no rush right now,” Michael said. “I want to continue and I think that we can find a home for the shows but our partner has to be committed to the quality that we expect in production and support the show.”
Executives at both MASN and CSN have had conversations in the past with Michael when he resigned as Sports Director at NBC4. I have confirmed that both are very interested in talking to him about his programs, though no conversation has taken place, yet. Also, don’t rule out Dan Snyder’s Redskins TV & radio.
TV has changed since George Michael started at NBC4. Recently I had a general manager at local station tell me, “Why should I pay a big-time talent to do a two minute live shot from downtown when my audience is mostly women who could are less. Plus sports fans have ESPN, CSN and all sports radio to find out what is going on they really don’t wait around for the 6 or 11 p.m. news to find a score.”
George Michael is the best local sportscaster in the country, he is an icon and someone who, with his Sports Machine Show, gave SportsCenter the blue print on how to do sports news shows. Now, budget cuts have kicked him to the curb for good.
Let’s hope that the King finds a new kingdom soon — we sure do miss him on the air!
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on dcexaminer.com.
More from Jim Williams
- Jim Williams: Former Skins star Riggins goes viral on Snyder on 'Inside the NFL'
- Jim Williams: Former Lions exec Millen is happy to be back in the booth
- Jim Williams: World Series puts up big numbers for FOX; NBC and Comcast are near a deal
- Redskins owner: "We have let everyone down"
- Redskins fans complain, but they keep watching
