People & Personalities: Writer Pays Tribute To WNBC's Len Berman

Berman Leaving WNBC After 23 Years

In N.Y., Michael Winerip paid tribute to former WNBC-TV sports anchor Len Berman, whose contract recently was not renewed by the station. Winerip: "Watching Len Berman do the nightly sports for WNBC news at 6 and 11 the last 23 years was one of life's small pleasures." Berman's voice is "rich and strong without straining," and his departure "marks the official end of boomer-era television newscasts." While WNBC has "let many talented staff members go" in the last year, none were of Berman's "stature or salary, reported to be near" $1M. Nielsen data indicates that when Berman started as an anchor in '86, 14% of N.Y. viewers watched WNBC's 11:00pm ET newscasts, while today only 4% watch the 11:00pm telecast and 2% watch at 6:00pm. NBC VP/Corporate Communications Liz Fischer said that local newscasts "will continue to have a sports report and that the changes are part of a plan to adapt 'in the face of new technology, new media platforms and changing consumer behavior.'" Winerip: "Would it be terrible if sports disappeared from local newscasts? Given the nation's woes, hardly. Might there be a better way for WNBC to spend $1[M]? Maybe so" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/3).

TALKIN' BASEBALL: In Illinois, Ted Cox noted the White Sox are the only MLB team with "nothing but ex-players in their broadcast booths," and White Sox VP & CMO Brooks Boyer "believes that yields certain advantages." Boyer: "Instead of it being a defined play-by-play and analyst role, you've got two guys in there talking about the game. It's a conversation. I think that's ultimately what our fans like" (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 5/3)....In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote SportsNet N.Y. Mets analyst Ron Darling "just keeps getting better ... and that's saying something." Darling is "smart, he's honest, he knows when to lay out," and "best of all, he has no act" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/3).

SAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT: TBS MLB game analyst David Wells made his debut with the net during Sunday's Red Sox-Rays game, and in Boston, Nick Cafardo noted prior to the game Wells "has always been outspoken and frequently clashed with commissioner Bud Selig," so it will be "interesting to see whether Wells will be outspoken on the air, and whether he'll be candid about Selig." Wells Saturday joked that his friends "already have a pool on when he'll make his first controversial statement" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/3).

WIDE RIGHT: In Ft. Worth, Jim Reeves wrote TCU Dir of Athletic Media Relations Mark Cohen was "blatantly wrong" to bar student-reporter Brian Smith "from doing further telecasts on The Mtn. ... because Smith dared to venture an opinion that incoming freshman Casey Pachall might just unseat incumbent Andy Dalton" as TCU QB. Smith was "simply following the format of the show and the lead of its producers, who asked him to give his perspective and opinion." TCU football coach Gary Patterson: "In my opinion, he's not qualified to answer those questions. I am" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/2).

SECOND LIFE: In N.Y., Bob Raissman noted Deadspin.com last month reported that former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "might be looking for a reporting gig" on HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel." Raissman cited a source as saying that Rice's reps are "preparing for a sit-down" with HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/3).