KABC-TV
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| KABC-TV | |
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 Los Angeles, California  |
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| Branding | ABC7 (general) Eyewitness News HD (newscasts) |
| Slogan | Southern California's News Leader |
| Channels | 7 (VHF) analog, 53 (UHF) digital |
| Affiliations | ABC, ABC News on DT2, AccuWeather on DT3, Playhouse Disney on DT4 |
| Owner | Disney / ABC |
| Founded | September 16, 1949 |
| Call letters meaning | K American Broadcasting Company |
| Former callsigns | KECA-TV (1949-54) |
| Transmitter Power | 141 kW / 978 m (analog) 182 kW / 924 m (digital) |
| Website | www.abc7.com |
KABC-TV (Channel 7, branded as "ABC7") is the American Broadcasting Company owned television station in the Greater Los Angeles area market, and is the most-watched television station in Southern California. The station is the West Coast flagship of the ABC television network. The station's offices and studio are located in Glendale, California. Like many other television stations in the Los Angeles market, KABC-TV's transmitter is located north of Pasadena on the summit of Mount Wilson. The station broadcasts its analog television signal on VHF channel 7 and digital television (DT) signals on UHF channel 53. Programming produced in high definition (HD) from the station's studio, ABC-TV network, and syndication air on the station's 7.1 DT channel. Network and syndicated programs produced in standard definition (SD) are also broadcast on 7.1 DT. KABC-TV's DT sub channel 7.2 (branded ABC7 Plus) rebroadcasts local newscasts, locally produced public affairs shows, programs produced by ABC News, and certain syndicated shows following their original airing on KABC-TV DT 7.1. "ABC7 Plus" also airs long form infomercials and other syndicated programs not aired on 7.1 DT. KABC-TV DT sub channel 7.3 broadcasts low resolution local weather information, AccuWeather forecasts and the station's Live Mega Doppler 7000 HD radar image. KABC-TV's DT sub channel 7.4 broadcasts Playhouse Disney 24 hours a day, and rebroadcasts of Disney Channel's 6AM-Noon Playhouse Disney block in primetime.
KABC-TV's analog signal is available on cable television systems throughout the Los Angeles market. The station's 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 DT signals are available to digital cable customers. The station's HD and SD signals are also available to DirecTV and Dish Network customers within the Los Angeles market and nationwide for subscribers with distant market waivers.
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[edit] Digital channels
| Channel | Programming |
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| 7 / 53.1 | Main KABC Programming |
| 70 / 53.2 | KABC "ABC7 Plus" |
| 77 / 53.3 | Live Mega Doppler 7000 HD Radar/AccuWeather |
| 78 / 53.4 | Playhouse Disney |
[edit] History
[edit] As KECA-TV
KABC-TV went on the air as KECA-TV on September 16, 1949. It was one of the five original ABC owned and operated stations (all broadcasting on channel 7) along with WABC-TV New York, WLS-TV Chicago, WXYZ-TV Detroit and KGO-TV San Francisco. In that order, KABC was the last one to begin operations.
[edit] As KABC-TV
On February 1, 1954 KECA changed its call letters to the present KABC-TV.
From the time of its initial sign-on as KECA in 1949 until 2000, KABC-TV was located at the ABC Television Center (now branded as The Prospect Studios), located in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, east of Hollywood. In December 2000, KABC-TV moved from its longtime Hollywood studios to a new state of the art facility designed by César Pelli in nearby Glendale, California. The station is a short distance from ABC-TV west coast headquarters and parent Walt Disney Company headquarters located at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.
On Friday night, April 30, 1954, KABC-TV aired a preview, Dig Me Later, Vampira, hosted by Maila Nurmi at 11:00pm. The Vampira Show premiered on the following night, May 1, 1954. For the first four weeks, the show aired at midnight, and it moved to 11:00pm on May 29. Ten months later, the series aired at 10:30pm, beginning March 5, 1955. As Vampira, Nurmi introduced films while wandering through a hallway of mist and cobwebs. Her horror-related comedy antics included talking to her pet spider Rollo and encouraging viewers to write for epitaphs instead of autographs. When the series was cancelled in 1955, she retained rights to the character of Vampira.
KABC-TV has used the famous "Circle 7" logo since 1962 (the same year ABC created and implemented its current logo), and augmented its bottom left quadrant with the ABC network "bug" in 1997. The station's news anchors and reporters wear Circle 7 lapel pins when they appear on camera.
In 1964, Pinky Lee attempted a return to kids TV by hosting a local children's comedy program on KABC-TV. The series was also seen in national syndication for the 1964 & 1965 TV seasons. But the program fell prey to creative interference from the show's producers and from station management. Lee tried to fight off the creative interference, but his efforts were for naught. The 1960s version of "The Pinky Lee Kids TV Show" went off the air after one season.
On February 4, 2006 the station debuted upgraded HD studio cameras, switcher, a new news set, updated graphics and new theme music. Along with the in-house upgrades, several of the station's weather cameras have now also been upgraded to HD. The station's HD studio signal is down-converted for SD broadcast. In addition to KABC, KTLA also broadcasts its local news in High Definition, and also has an HD capable helicopter. KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV will also begin broadcasting in HD in the Spring of 2007.
[edit] Former callsigns
- 1949–1954: KECA-TV
- 1954–present: KABC-TV
[edit] News Programming
KABC-TV adopted the Eyewitness News format in 1969, soon after it became a hit at sister station WABC-TV in New York City and KYW-TV in Philadelphia. Unlike the other ABC owned stations, KABC-TV used the original version of Cool Hand Luke that became associated with ABC's version of Eyewitness News well into the late 1980s, even after the others adopted News Series 2000, an updated version of the theme. The station's newscasts used a synthesized version of the old theme, composed by Frank Becker, during the mid-1980s. KABC-TV would pick up the NewsSeries 2000 package in 1990. In 1995 KABC began using Frank Gari's Eyewitness News package which remains the station's news theme.
During the 1980s, KABC-TV was one of a few stations in the country to run a three-hour block of local news during weekday afternoons and early evenings from 4-7 p.m. The station reduced this block by one half hour in 1990, when it moved ABC World News Tonight from 7:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. KABC-TV is the only ABC station on the west coast to air ABC World News Tonight at 6:30 p.m. Most other west coast ABC owned stations and affiliates run this broadcast at 5:30 or 6:00 pm. When Port Charles ended its run in 2004, KABC expanded its midday newscast to a full hour.
KABC-TV currently brands its newscasts as ABC7 Eyewitness News HD and it airs over 40 hours of live news programming each week, more than any other individual television station in Los Angeles. The station's news crews shoot video in SD 16:9 aspect ratio. News material from outside sources including ABC News, ABC owned stations, its network affiliates, CNN and other sources shot in 4:3 aspect ratio are treated with graphic frames for HD broadcast in order to fill the void left due to screen difference of the two formats. The station currently utilizes the market's first helicopter equipped to shoot and transmit HD video. The helicopter branded Air7HD made its on-air debut in February 2005. At times, due to current logistical and equipment limitations, video from Air7HD at times is only available in SD 16:9 aspect ratio. When this occurs, the helicopter is branded as Air7. On January 23, 2007, when KTLA began broadcasting their news in high definition and introduced a new high definition helicopter, "SkyCam-5 Telecopter HD," Eyewitness News changed their opens to reflect this. Instead of "Southern California's only high definition newscast," the voiceover now reads "Southern California's first high definition newscast."
KABC-TV, along with rival KNBC-TV, are the only Los Angeles television stations with a full time daily presence in California's state capital, Sacramento. In late 2003, the station began pooling resources with sister stations KGO-TV and KFSN to hire a full time reporter and photographer to staff a Sacramento bureau following Arnold Schwarzenegger's election to the office of Governor (during the 2003 California recall election), just as KNBC did.
The station has its own Doppler radar weather system (branded "Live Mega Doppler 7000 HD") on the summit of Oat Mountain in the Santa Susana mountain range. This system is used by the station's weather department in conjunction with the National Weather Service NEXRAD network and other resources to provide viewers with weather forecasts and storm warnings.
Notable on-air personalities who have worked for the station's news department in the past include the late Jerry Dunphy, Lisa McRee, Harold Greene (current news anchor at KCBS-TV), Laura Diaz (current news anchor at KCBS-TV), Paul Moyer (current news anchor at KNBC), Chuck Henry (currently at KNBC), Dr. George Fischbeck, the late Judd Rose, Bill Weir (currently co-host of Good Morning America Weekend Edition), former National Football League (NFL) player and current NFL Director of Operations Gene Washington, NFL Hall of Fame inductee Lynn Swann, former NFL player Jim Hill (currently sports anchor at KCBS-TV), former NFL player the late Bob Chandler and former Major League Baseball player Rick Monday (current Los Angeles Dodgers radio analyst and play-by-play announcer).
During the 1970s and 1980s the station's newscasts often included spirited mini debates and commentaries reflecting various political viewpoints. Several notable politicians and political pundits appeared on these segments including Proposition 13 backer the late Howard Jarvis, former U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator John Tunney, Bruce Herschensohn, Bill Press and the late Baxter Ward.
The Los Angeles television market is one of the most competitive for news coverage in the nation. Currently during the weekday 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. time period there are a total of five English language and two Spanish language stations airing newscasts. KABC-TV has held the market lead in overall ratings for its newscasts over the past three decades although it has frequently exchanged leads with KNBC in head-to-head competition during specific time slots. The station's 4 p.m. newscast benefits from a large audience lead-in advantage generated by the syndicated The Oprah Winfrey Show. In May 2006, KABC-TV fell to third place in ratings at 11 p.m. behind a resurgent KCBS-TV and KNBC. KCBS-TV had not been a serious contender in Los Angeles news ratings since the early 1970s with the exception of a brief period in the mid-1990s when it tied KABC-TV for first place at 6 p.m.
As of February 2007, KABC once again leads every English-language local news period (including the hotly contested morning and 11PM news time periods) and actually draws more viewers than KNBC and KCBS combined during the 5-6:30PM local news block. The station has commenced running quick 5-second 'tags" after most newscasts that say, "Number One in News, Number One in Southern California."
[edit] Newscasts
[edit] Weekdays
- Eyewitness News HD This Morning - 5:00 - 7:00 a.m.
- Eyewitness News HD @ 11 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
- Eyewitness News HD @ 4 p.m. - 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
- Eyewitness News HD @ 5 p.m. - 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- Eyewitness News HD @ 6 p.m. - 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
- Eyewitness News HD @ 11 p.m. - 11:00 - 11:35 p.m.
[edit] Saturdays
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[edit] Sundays
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[edit] On Air Personalities
[edit] News Anchors
- Marc Brown - Weekdays 4p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
- John Gregory - Weekend Mornings (also does general assignment reporting on weekdays)
- Lisa Hernandez - Weekend Mornings (also does general assignment reporting on weekdays)
- Jovana Lara - Weekdays 11 a.m., (also does general assignment reporting)
- Ellen Leyva - Weekdays 5 p.m.
- Micah Ohlman - Weekend Afternoons and 11 p.m. (also does general assignment reporting on weekdays)
- David Ono - Weekdays 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Phillip Palmer - Weekdays 5 and 6 a.m. (also does general assignment reporting)
- Leslie Sykes - Weekend Afternoons and 11 p.m. (also does general assignment reporting on weekdays)
- Michelle Tuzee - 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
- Kathy Vara - 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.
[edit] Weather
- Indra Petersons - Weekend Mornings
- Garth Kemp - 5 a.m., 6 a.m. and 11 a.m.
- Dallas Raines - Chief Meteorologist (4 p.m., 5p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.)
- Danny Romero - Weekend Afternoons and 11 p.m.
- Christine Clayburg fill in
[edit] Sports
- Rob Fukuzaki - 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
- John Hartung - (sports reporter and fill in sports anchor)
- Curt Sandoval - Weekend Afternoons and 11 p.m.
[edit] Traffic
- Alysha Del Valle - 4 p.m. (Airwatch Contract)
- Jane Monreal - 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.
- Sabina Mora - 4 p.m. (Airwatch Contract)
[edit] Reporters
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[edit] Alumni
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[edit] Other Programming
KABC-TV is also the Los Angeles home of syndicated shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, Ebert & Roeper, Urban Latino, Teen Kids News; a show developed by Al Primo, Entertainers with Byron Allen, Ron Hazelton's HouseCalls, Beautiful Homes and Great Estates, and Business Week. The station also carries syndicated daily HD broadcasts of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!.
KABC-TV produces several local shows including Vista L.A. (which profiles Latino life in Southern California), and Eye on L.A. (which has been on the air in some form since the early 1980s). On weekends, the station airs Eyewitness Newsmakers, hosted by reporter Adrienne Alpert.
The station produces a sports variety type show branded ABC7 Sports Zone which formally originated from the ESPN Zone located at Downtown Disney in Anaheim. This show airs occasionally following network telecasts of NCAA football and NBA games. Most ABC7 Sports Zone shows now originate from local sports venues including the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and Staples Center in Los Angeles, the show is occasionally produced at the station's studios in Glendale.
On the day that ABC telecasts the Academy Awards show, KABC-TV produces a live pre-awards show branded An Evening at the Academy Awards: The Arrivals prior to the network show featuring red carpet interviews and fashion commentary. This show also airs on the network's owned stations and is syndicated to several ABC affiliates and other broadcasters outside the country. The station also produces and broadcasts a show following the network's broadcast of the Academy Awards show branded An Evening at the Academy Awards: The Winners.
In the past, KABC featured various locally produced shows such as AM Los Angeles; a morning talk show which at various times featured personalities Regis Philbin, Sarah Purcell, Ralph Story, Tawny Little, Cristina Ferrare, Cyndy Garvey, and Steve Edwards as hosts. Edwards also hosted a short lived afternoon show in the mid-1980s branded 330. (Live with Regis and Kelly, co-hosted by Philbin, now occupies the former time slot of AMLA.)
[edit] ABC7+
The station's digital sub channel 7.2 airs the weekday KGO-TV produced variety show The View From the Bay hosted by Spencer Christian and Janelle Wang, Comics Unleashed hosted by Byron Allen, Exploration with Richard Wiese, Hometime, Latin Eyes, Sports Stars of Tomorrow, Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures and B InTune TV. ABC 7+ also rebroadcasts the station's Eyewitness News shows and ABC's Nightline. The station's news department occasionally interrupts regularly scheduled programming on ABC 7+ to air extended breaking news coverage. On November 7, 2006, ABC7+ showed Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune at the times they are normally seen on the main channel, as KABC joined the network for expanded coverage of the U.S. midterm elections.The channel is available on several cable television systems in the Los Angeles market.
[edit] Newscast Titles
- Channel 7 Eyewitness News (1970-1996) also used on ABC owned stations WABC-TV and WLS-TV
- ABC 7 Eyewitness News (1997-present)
- ABC 7 Eyewitness News HD (February 2006-present)
[edit] Movie Umbrella Titles
- Movie 7 (1969-1990)
- The 3:30 Movie (1968-1981)
- ABC 7 Movie Special (1996, 2005-present)
- ABC 7 Prime Movie Special (2003-2004)
- Channel 7 Midnight Movie (1993-1995)
- Channel 7 Late Movie (1995-1998)
- The Vampira Show (1954-1955)
- The Saturday/Sunday Afternoon Movie (1969-1980s)
- Hollywood Theatre (1990s-1998)
- ABC 7 Weekend Afternoon Movie (1998-present)
- The Saturday/Sunday Night Movie (1969-1996)
- The Monday Night Movie (1970-1981)
- The ABC 7 Saturday/Sunday Night Movie (1996-present)
- Insomniac Theatre (1992-2004)
- Classic Theatre (1988-1995)
[edit] Rebroadcasters
KABC is rebroadcasted on the following translator stations:
- K48IP Daggett
- K19BT Lucerne Valley
- K67AO Palmdale (broadcasts on channel 12)
- K08IA Newberry Springs
- K07NH Ridgecrest
- K41GO Ridgecrest
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- ABC7 Official Website.
- ABC7 Wireless
- Photos of KABC's news set
- Query the FCC's TV station database for KABC-TV
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- Satellite image from WikiMapia, Google Maps or Windows Live Local
- Street map from MapQuest or Google Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image from TerraServer-USA
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KEYT 3 / K57BC 57 (Santa Barbara / San Luis Obispo) - KABC 7 (Los Angeles) - KGO 7 (San Francisco) - KRCR 7 (Redding) - KECY-DT 9.2 (El Centro) - KGTV 10 (San Diego) - KXTV 10 (Sacramento) - KAEF 23 (Eureka) - KERO 23 (Bakersfield) - KFSN 30 (Fresno) - KESQ 42 (Palm Springs) |
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| See also: CBS, CW, Fox, MyNetworkTV, NBC, PBS, Telefutura, Telemundo, Univision, Independent, Other Spanish Network, Religious, Home Shopping and Other stations in California | |
