LOS ANGELES COUNTY : Board OKs Bill to Ease Burden of Costly Trials
Seeking ways to offset the cost of trials, the County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal Tuesday to change state law and allow counties to charge the media for broadcasting from the courtroom.
The board’s 3-2 vote was prompted by the ballooning costs of the O.J. Simpson trial, which has cost the county about $5 million so far.
Such high-profile trials are profitable for television, said Supervisor Mike Antonovich. He cited one instance where a network increased its fee for a 30-second commercial from $3,000 to $24,000 on the days it aired the trial. Meanwhile, the county is facing a deficit of as much as $1.2 billion in the 1995-96 fiscal year.
If the state Legislature passes the bill--which would award coverage rights to the highest bidder--and it is signed by Gov. Pete Wilson, counties and cities could charge media outlets for the pool camera, which provides footage for television networks.
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