KMEX leads Los Angeles Area Emmy nominations, surpassing KNBC

Univision owned-and-operated station KMEX-TV Channel 34 has dethroned reigning nominations champ KNBC-TV Channel 4 for the 66th Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards, racking up 20 nominations to KNBC’s 16.

The nominations were announced early Thursday. Last year KNBC had three more nominations that KMEX. The Spanish-language station picked up speed this time around, marking the first time its led in the number of nominations.

KMEX, which frequently beats English-language stations in the ratings in the 6 p.m. hour, is up for awards in categories including hard news reporting (recognizing reporter Antonio Valverde) and investigative reporting for “La Dalia Negra” (The Black Dahlia), a three-part special from anchor Leon Krauze that reexamined the infamous 1947 slaying, in addition to the highly competitive newscast categories.

Among the gaggle of nominations KNBC received was for its live coverage of the Springs fire and its multipart report on the deadly Typhoon Haiyan that struck the Phillippines.

Coming in at No. 3 was KTLA-TV Channel 5 with 14 nominations, followed by KABC-TV Channel 7 with 13. Telemundo owned-and-operated KVEA-TV Channel 52 placed fifth with 10 nominations. Meanwhile, KCBS-TV Channel 2 placed ninth with seven nomintations.

The winners will be announced July 26 at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood.

A full list of the nominations can be found on the Emmys website.