KTLA Channel 5 Gives an Assist to Networks’ Quake Coverage

In the latest of a long line of examples of KTLA-TV Channel 5 assisting the major networks, portions of the independent station’s coverage of Monday’s earthquake were used by ABC and CBS.

When technical problems kept KABC-TV Channel 7 and KCBS-TV Channel 2 from providing their networks with pictures, the networks contacted KTLA.

Because News Director Warren Cereghino was not available, an editor on the assignment desk gave his approval to the ABC and CBS officials, both with whom he had working relationships.

Lane Venardos, CBS News vice president for hard news and special events, said his network used about 45 minutes of KTLA’s coverage, mainly shots from its helicopter before switching to KCBS’ work.

But ABC made far more extensive use of KTLA’s coverage, interspersing it with KABC’s and its own throughout its seven hours of continuous live reports.

ABC asked to use KTLA’s coverage because its Los Angeles bureau chief, Kathy O’Hern, had been watching the station and was impressed by its work, an ABC News spokesman said. ABC anchorman Ted Koppel praised KTLA’s efforts on the air, and ABC sent flowers and champagne to the station, Cereghino said.

Cereghino said the decision to allow the networks to use KTLA’s coverage initially concerned him because it meant that fellow Tribune Broadcasting-owned stations in New York City, Chicago, Atlanta and Denver, which were carrying KTLA’s signal, would find themselves competing against those very same pictures.

But those fears proved to be unfounded, as none of those station’s news directors or general managers have contacted Cereghino or KTLA General Manager Greg Nathanson.

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Portions of CNN’s coverage were also provided by KTLA. The station is a CNN affiliate, meaning it is allowed to use CNN’s coverage in exchange for CNN’s use of its work. CNN has similar arrangements with six other area TV broadcasters. CNN also used some of KCAL-TV Channel 9’s and KTTV-TV Channel 11’s earthquake coverage, a CNN spokeswoman said.

The decision to share coverage is made on a case-by-case basis, Cereghino said. Previous events that KTLA has assisted the major networks include the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, the 1965 Watts riots, the 1992 riots and many of the region’s fires.

KTLA also has a similar policy with Los Angeles’ foreign-language stations, who do not have the resources of the English-language counterparts, so they can better serve their viewers and stop the spread of unfounded and potentially dangerous rumors.