Overview

• KABC (Channel 7) led the ratings surge with a 6 p.m. newscast drawing 318,166 viewers, an 86% increase from its usual average of 170,769.
• KTLA (Channel 5) tripled its typical audience at 6 p.m., reaching 282,710 viewers, while its 10 p.m. newscast more than doubled its usual numbers.
• Spanish-language station KVEA (Channel 52) also experienced significant growth, with its 6 p.m. audience rising to 231,777, up from 201,458.
• National news networks such as ABC, NBC, and CBS saw viewership increases of at least 18% during wildfire coverage, with ABC’s ‘World News Tonight’ peaking at 9.65 million viewers on January 9.
• Local stations emphasized the critical role of community-focused journalism during emergencies, providing detailed, neighborhood-specific updates that drew residents away from national outlets.