KABC GETS THE BUSINESS

Notice the new advisories on “A.M. Los Angeles” and “Three Three O” that the “following people are clients of Fashion Office, which is co-owned by Pam Roberts”?

Could KABC have been trying to blunt possible criticism following a current Business Week article by Ellen Farley that includes allegations that Channel 7 fashion reporter Roberts accepts $2,000 yearly retainers through her Fashion Office P.R. firm for putting clients on TV shows--including several on KABC?

Station g.m. Tom Van Amburg and Donna E. Lusitana, exec producer of the shows, told Outtakes that the advisories began appearing two weeks ago because of a previous complaint about Roberts’ P.R. connection, not because of Farley’s inquiries.

But Lusitana conceded: “I’m not saying (the timing) is sheer coincidence.”

Lusitana said that Roberts has no influence on who is booked on the show. Van Amburg, who said he is conducting his own inquiry, was less sure: “(Roberts’) presence is there. I don’t know what influence she’s had on specific segments.”