Skip to content

Category: Uncategorized

Press Release

May 26, 2020

Media relations

No contacts found

Share this release

WABC-TV Channel 7 and National Puerto Rican Day Parade Announce Official National Puerto Rican Day Virtual Celebration

National Puerto Rican Day Parade Special Airs June 14 at Noon EDT

Stream Live at abc7ny.com and ABC7NY’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku

Photo Courtesy: National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc.

WABC-TV, the No. 1 broadcast station in the U.S., and the National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) committee announced an exciting 90-minute community celebration taking place on SUNDAY, JUNE 14, at noon EDT. The program will be hosted by WABC-TV anchors Joe Torres and David Novarro along with Sunny Hostin, co-host of “The View.” Featured will be special appearances from community leaders like Luis Miranda Jr. as well as Puerto Rican television, film and music luminaries, including award-winning actor, composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda. The historic program is in tribute to the popular annual parade known for its festive display up 5th Avenue, postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but will carry on the tradition of America’s largest celebration of Puerto Rican history, culture, historical figures and issues of importance.

“The Parade is more than a celebration of pride and culture. It’s a platform for preserving our heritage while advancing our community by informing on important issues and promoting educational achievement,” said Louis Maldonado, board chair for the parade committee. “Given the profound impact COVID-19 has had on New York and communities across the nation, and with Puerto Rico still grappling with incessant earthquakes and its own COVID19-related pause, the Parade Board agrees it’s critically important to continue the Parade’s legacy while celebrating our resilience.”

The celebration will showcase winners of the NPRDP Scholarship program and serve as a fundraiser for the scholarship fund. For four consecutive years, the NPRDP has awarded $200,000 to 100 exceptional high school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores and juniors of Puerto Rican descent.

“It’s more important than ever for communities to celebrate,” said Debra OConnell, WABC-TV president and general manager. “We are proud to continue our partnership with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade committee on their official celebration this year.”

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade Celebration will broadcast on WABC-TV, Channel 7, from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. EDT, on Sunday, June 14. It will also be streamed on the station’s website abc7ny.com as well as on the station’s free news and connected TV apps on Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku

Additional guest community leaders and artists will be announced in upcoming weeks.

About WABC
WABC-TV has been the leader in local news and entertainment programming in the New York City area for more than 60 years. Producing more than 45 hours of live, local news and weather each week, Channel 7 “Eyewitness News” is the most watched local news in New York and the United States. WABC-TV also produces “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” weekdays at 9:00 a.m., which is seen in more than 200 markets across the U.S. Quality news and programming, cutting-edge technology and ongoing community outreach are the hallmarks of excellence that have consistently kept WABC-TV New York’s No. 1 station and the most-watched television station in the nation.

About the National Puerto Rican Day Parade
Now in its 63rd year, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) is America’s largest celebration of cultural pride in the nation. Programs and events preserve Puerto Rican culture through special tributes to national symbols, historical figures and campaigns to raise awareness on important issues impacting the community. NPRDP’s hallmark program is the Scholarship Program, which serves to advance educational achievement in the Puerto Rican community. The Parade’s TV broadcast is a top-rated program and has been nominated for an Emmy® for three consecutive years.

WABC Media Contact
Elita Fielder Adjei
(424) 247-3517
elita.adjei@disney.com

NPRDP Media Contact New York/Puerto Rico
Javier Gomez
(917) 533-1247
javier@highpitchpr.com

NPRDP Media Contact Los Angeles
Jasmin Espada
Espada PR
(818) 521-3807
jasmin@espadapr.com

Press Release

May 21, 2020

Media relations

No contacts found

Share this release

ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles Presents the 131st Memorial Day Celebration Live From the Los Angeles National Cemetery

The Annual Event Will Televise Live Without an Audience With Live Broadcast to Air Monday, May 25, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT

Stream Live on abc7.com and ABC7’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku

KABC-TV, Southern California’s most-watched television station, has joined with the Los Angeles National Cemetery to present the first-ever telecast of the annual Memorial Day celebration. The 131st Memorial Day Celebration will broadcast and stream live from the L.A. National Cemetery without an audience due to the stay-home and social distancing orders stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. ABC7’s Eyewitness News anchor David Ono will host the celebration on MONDAY, MAY 25 (10:00-11:00 a.m. PDT). 

The Memorial Day ceremony is one of the largest ceremonies held in Southern California, where local leaders and families have traditionally gathered at the L.A. National Cemetery to pay their respects. Nearly 90,000 service members dating back to the Civil War, including 15 Medal of Honor recipients, are buried at L.A. National Cemetery.

When it appeared the event would be canceled due to the pandemic, KABC began working with the L.A. National Cemetery to produce the ceremony as a distanced experience to continue to support the community in observance of Memorial Day. KABC will use multiple cameras and drones to produce a telecast ceremony of the featured guests’ presentations, performances and dedications to present an engaging, informative and entertaining program for viewers while adhering to social distancing to protect the health and safety of participants.

“The annual Memorial Day ceremony is such an important way for the community to come together and honor the nearly 1.2 million veterans of greater Los Angeles. Despite the challenges of this unprecedented time that prevented a physical gathering, we wanted to preserve the tradition and deliver a way for the community to still safely experience it,” said Cheryl Fair, president and general manager of KABC-TV. “It’s an honor for KABC to help produce and broadcast the 2020 Memorial Day event in its entirety, and we’re proud to support the community in remembrance of service members no longer with us.”

Ono will be joined onstage with keynote speaker Brigadier General Michael Leeney, deputy commanding general of the 40th Infantry Division. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will address  Los Angelenos virtually, as well as  Congressman Ted W. Lieu who will appear virtually from Washington, D.C., to honor members of the armed forces; Rabbi Ed Feinstein from Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue will lead the invocation, and Monsignor Frank Hicks from St. Basil Catholic Church will give the benediction before the traditional “Echo Taps.” Additional speakers will appear on-site from four stages spatially placed throughout the cemetery to adhere to social distancing.

Additional speakers include the following:

  • Jennifer Campbell, American Legion Hollywood Post 43 Commander
  • Dr. Stephen Braverman, director, West Los Angeles VA Healthcare System
  • Emmett O’Meara, district director for the Veterans Benefit Administration
  • Bob Kurkjian, regional president, USO
  • (Retired) General Ruth Wong, director of Los Angeles County Military Affairs
  • Jere Romano, Ronald Reagan Palisades Post 283 Commander
  • Jimmy Weldon, WWII Veteran and retired voice of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Yakky Doodle
  • Lindy Sisters, swinging songstresses, will perform the “Star-Spangled Banner,” “I’ll be Seeing You,” “The Miliary Branch Melody” and closing song “Amazing Grace.”

The 2020 ceremony will air live exclusively for the first time on ABC7’s linear broadcast and stream on abc7.com and the new ABC7 Los Angeles connected TV apps for Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku.

About KABC Los Angeles
ABC7 Los Angeles is Southern California’s No. 1 local news and information source. ABC7 is a leader in digital and social audience engagements and was the first station in the Los Angeles market to regularly broadcast news in high definition and also the first local television station in the United States to surpass 2 million Facebook followers. The station’s offices and studio are located in Glendale, California.

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/abc7la/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ABC7
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ABC7/

Press Release

May 20, 2020

Media relations

No contacts found

Share this release

ABC7/KGO-TV Connects Audience With Mental Health Professionals to Help With Stress, Anxiety, Mindfulness and Coping Tactics During Pandemic

‘Your Mental Health: A Bay Area Conversation’ Airs Thursday, May 21 (4:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT), Live on ABC7

Questions for the panel can be submitted anonymously at abc7news.com.

ABC7 News presents “Your Mental Health: A Bay Area Conversation,” a one-hour virtual town hall and solution-based discussion, hosted by ABC7 Mornings anchor Reggie Aqui. ABC7 News reporter Kate Larson will moderate audience questions live from ABC7’s Facebook throughout the event. 

ABC7’s panel of mental health experts will be LIVE during the town hall, answering questions, offering real solutions, and giving guidance on how to best care for yourself and others to make each day better during this pandemic and beyond. Panel members include the following:

  • Dr. Christine Garcia, regional director Edgewood Center, San Francisco  
  • Dr. Andrew Huberman, associate professor of neurobiology & ophthalmology, Stanford 
  • Dr. Karyn Skultety, executive director, Openhouse, San Francisco 

Questions from the public will be incorporated into the broadcast through an anonymous tip line and social media monitor in the studio, where ABC7 News hosts will be without a studio audience. The panel of experts will join the conversation live via a private Zoom conference. Questions and comments can be submitted via ABC7’s private tip line on abc7news.com and on the ABC7 Bay Area Facebook page.

“Your Mental Health: A Bay Area Conversation” will air LIVE on ABC7/KGO-TV while viewers can simultaneously engage on Facebook. It will also be available live on abc7news.com, the ABC7 News app, all ABC7 News connected TV apps, the ABC7 News Bay Area YouTube channel and Apple News.

Twitter:https://twitter.com/abc7newsbayarea
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/abc7news/

Press Release

Media relations

No contacts found

Share this release

ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles to Stream Virtual Town Hall on the Effect of COVID-19 on Health, Finances and the Rise in Discrimination

‘Race and Coronavirus: A SoCal Conversation’ Virtual Town Hall to Stream Today, Wednesday, May 20 (2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PDT)

Stream live at abc7.com and ABC7’s connected TV apps on Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku

KABC, Southern California’s most-watched television station, will live stream “Race and Coronavirus: A SoCal Conversation” virtual town hall on today, Wednesday, May 20 (2:00-3:00 p.m. PDT). The solutions-based, action-oriented virtual summit will discuss the health and financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racial and ethnic groups, plus the rise in discrimination.

Led by Eyewitness News reporter Veronica Miracle today at 2 p.m. PDT, a group of experts will discuss the effects and impact of the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic across communities. Panelists include medical professionals and health policy experts to provide data, tips and resources.

Featured guests include the following:

  • Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson – Mr. Harris Dawson chairs the city’s Planning Land Use and Management committee while introducing policies that combat homelessness, create quality jobs, clean streets and encourage community policing.
  • Bing Chen, chairman and co-founder, Gold House – Gold House is the largest collective of pioneering leaders dedicated to forging stronger bonds that enhance Asian representation and success.
  • Maria Salinas, president and CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce – Ms. Salinas oversees the largest business association in Los Angeles County representing member companies and serving the interests of more than 235,000 businesses across the Los Angeles region.
  • Dr. Veronica Contreras of AltaMed – A family medicine and urgent care physician with AltaMed Health Services, Dr. Contreras has spent years working in underserved communities and has firsthand knowledge of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Latinos.
  • Dr. David Carlisle, president and CEO, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) – Dr. Carlisle is a published author in health policy, quality of care, medical education diversity, and eliminating health disparities.

Viewers can submit their questions online at abc7.com for possible inclusion in the town hall.

The virtual town hall will stream live on abc7.com and the new ABC7 Los Angeles connected TV apps for Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.

About KABC
ABC7 Los Angeles is Southern California’s No. 1 local news and information source. ABC7 is a leader in digital and social audience engagements and was the first station in the Los Angeles market to regularly broadcast news in high definition and also the first local television station in the United States to surpass 2 million Facebook followers. The station’s offices and studio are located in Glendale, California.

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/abc7la/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ABC7
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ABC7/

Press Release

Media relations

No contacts found

Share this release

ABC13/KTRK-TV Houston to Host Virtual Town Hall to Discuss the Impact of COVID-19 in the Asian American Community

Virtual Town Hall Airs Thursday, May 21 (7:00 – 8:00p.m.)

Stream Live at ABC13.com, ABC13’s Facebook Live and YouTube and ABC13’s connected TV apps on Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku

ABC13, Houston’s most-watched television station, presents a one-hour virtual town hall on THURSDAY, MAY 21 (7:00 – 8:00 p.m. CDT), to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities across southeast Texas.

Hosted by ABC13’s Eyewitness News reporter Miya Shay, the town hall coincides with the observation of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and will discuss the disparate challenges of COVID-19 faced by the approximately 140,000 Houstonians that identify as AAPI, as well as the significant accomplishments the community has achieved in the fight against COVID-19.  

Panelists for the town hall include the following:

  • Debbie Chen, Houston restaurateur and board member of OCA-Greater Houston, a  civil rights organization advocating for the AAPI community
  • Chloe Dao, fashion designer and television personality
  • Paul Gor, director of community services, Asian Chamber of Commerce Houston
  • Mustafa Tameez, president and founder of Outreach Strategists

ABC13 urges viewers to join the town hall and submit their questions online at ABC13.com or through the ABC13 news app for possible inclusion in Thursday’s town hall.

The virtual town hall will air on ABC13, THURSDAY, MAY 21, at 7:00 p.m. CDT, ABC13.com, streaming on ABC13’s Facebook Live, YouTube, ABC13’s app, and ABC13’s connected TV apps on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku.

About KTRK- TV
For over 50 years, ABC13 has been the undisputed news leader in Houston, from sign-on to sign-off. Broadcasting 46 hours of locally produced newscasts each week, ABC13 is top-rated and most-watched among the Houston-area viewers. ABC13 also leads the market in its digital media efforts, with top rankings for its website, abc13.com, Facebook and Twitter. ABC13 is the first and only television station in Houston with WATCH ABC, which delivers live, 24/7 digital streaming of our programming to users on their smartphones and tablets. ABC13 is deeply invested in the Houston community, and we spotlight Houston’s diversity through Eyewitness News reporting, covering issues that affect different segments of our population – from Crossroads, Viva Houston, Visions to City View. ABC13 is also known for telecasting most of the city’s major events including the annual July 4th Freedom Over Texas celebration, The Chevron Marathon, The Bayou Bowl and The Houston Rodeo Parade. The station also broadcasts several community affairs projects throughout the year including: Share Your Holidays, an annual food drive benefiting the Houston Food Bank; and our E-cycle Drive, a collection/recycling effort for outdated electronic equipment in conjunction with Earth Day.

Twitter:https://twitter.com/abc13houston
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/abc13houston/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/abc13Houston/

KTRK/ABC13 Contact:
Brandon DeHoyos, Director of Community Engagement
(713) 663-8712
brandon.dehoyos@abc.com

Press Release

May 18, 2020

Media relations

No contacts found

Share this release

News Executive Michael Carr Named President and General Manager of ABC30 KFSN-TV Fresno

News executive Michael Carr has been named the president and general manager of KFSN-TV, announced Wendy McMahon, president, ABC Owned Television Stations. In his new role, Mr. Carr has overall management responsibility for KFSN-TV ABC30 and its ancillary businesses.

“Michael started his career at KFSN decades ago and has repeatedly proven his incredible dedication to the station and the community,” said McMahon. “During his tenure as news director, he led the newsroom to embrace innovation and next-generation storytelling while always ensuring a steadfast commitment to our mission as local news brands. That vision and leadership led to increased ratings, audience reach and total engagement. You could say that Michael grew up with the station, and the station with him. This community knows him and trusts him, and just as important, the team at KFSN does too. I couldn’t imagine a better-suited leader than Michael to take KFSN-TV ABC30 into its next chapter.”

“I’m thrilled for the incredible opportunity to lead the station in the very community that I’ve long called home,” said Carr. “We have such an amazing team at ABC30 and the trust that we’ve built with the community is invaluable. Together, we will continue to create meaningful, impactful, and premium content and experiences for our viewers as the No. 1 news source in central California.”

As the news director for KFSN for the past eight years, Carr oversaw the overall function of content creation and operations for KFSN’s television, digital and social media platforms. He led the redesign of ABC30’s studio; expanded the newscasts at midday, 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.; and led the creation of the digital content team. Under his leadership, the station significantly increased television ratings, attained four regional Emmy® Awards and increased its social media audience.

Carr has an extensive background in local TV journalism. He began his career as an intern at KFSN and has worked as an assignment editor, producer and executive producer prior to news director. In addition to Fresno, he has also worked in newsrooms in San Francisco and Sacramento.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and journalism from California State University, Fresno, where he also played football for the Bulldogs. In 2017, Carr was named as a fellow to the Fresno State Media, Communication and Journalism Department Hall of Fame. He is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

About KFSN
KFSN-TV ABC30 is the No. 1 source for local news in central California, both online and on the air. The station has dominated the local news ratings in the San Joaquin Valley for decades as a leader in multiplatform audience engagement. KFSN-TV is an ABC owned television station based in Fresno, serving Fresno, Madera, Merced, Mariposa, Tulare and Kings counties.

Twitter:https://twitter.com/ABC30
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/abc30_actionnews
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ABC30

About ABC Owned Television Stations  
The ABC Owned Television Stations includes WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The eight owned stations reach 23% of all U.S. television households. The stations are consistently market leaders in multiplatform local news, collectively No. 1 in local news among Adults 25-54 for 11 consecutive broadcast seasons, and in overall digital audience, video consumption and social reach and engagement. In 2018, the Stations further expanded their content portfolio and reach with the launch of the digital-first national lifestyle brand Localish that in its first year produced over 650 pieces of digital video content, totaling more than 240 million video views.  The Live Well broadcast channel was rebranded as Localish in February 2020, delivering locally sourced yet nationally relevant storytelling as long-form linear programming to more than 14 million viewers across America.  

Press Release

May 13, 2020

Media relations

No contacts found

Share this release

KABC-TV Los Angeles Presents ‘ABC7 Solutions: Hiring SoCal’ Virtual Town Hall to Discuss Economic Impact of the Coronavirus Crisis

Virtual Town Hall to Stream Thursday, May 14 (9:30 – 10:30 a.m. PDT)

Stream Live Exclusively on abc7.com and ABC7’s connected TV apps on Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku and tvOS

KABC-TV, Southern California’s most-watched television station, presents a one-hour “ABC7 Solutions: Hiring SoCal” virtual town hall on THURSDAY, MAY 14 (9:30 – 10:30 a.m. PDT), to discuss the economic impact and unprecedented unemployment rate during the coronavirus crisis. The virtual town hall is hosted by ABC7’s Eyewitness News anchor Phillip Palmer.

The virtual town hall builds on ABC7 Solutions initiative that has been reporting on the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Palmer will share what companies are currently hiring during the pandemic. The town hall will feature a panel of employment experts for a discussion on the realities of the job market over the next few months, highlighting industries that are hiring right now and sharing recommendations on launching a successful job search in the current economic climate. Viewers can submit questions at abc7.com or on ABC7’s Instagram page @abc7la.

Panelists include the following:

  • Jake Soberal, CEO, Bitwise and creator of employment website OnwardCA
  • Angela Reddock-Wright, employment attorney
  • Jamecca Marshall, program director, Urban League
  • Daniel Zhao, senior economist, Glassdoor
  • Larissa Gerlach, head of recruitment, 80Twenty employment agency

The virtual town hall will stream live exclusively on abc7.com and the new ABC7 Los Angeles connected TV apps for Amazon FireTV, Android TV, Apple TV, Roku and tvOS. A recording of the virtual town hall will also be available at ABC7.com immediately following the live stream.

ABC7 Solutions has produced a series of jobs-focused reports including the following:

  • interviews with local government officials across Southern California about the economic recovery and unemployment relief programs available to residents
  • discussions with major job placement agencies including LinkedIn, Indeed, Wallethub, and Glassdoor  about the current jobs market
  • a week-long spotlight on the grocery industry that is actively hiring during the pandemic
  • tips from various colleges to prepare recent graduates and new entrants to the job market

About KABC Los Angeles
ABC7 Los Angeles is Southern California’s No. 1 local news and information source. ABC7 is a leader in digital and social audience engagements and was the first station in the Los Angeles market to regularly broadcast news in high definition and also the first local television station in the United States to surpass 2 million Facebook followers. The station’s offices and studio are located in Glendale, California. 

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/abc7la/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ABC7
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ABC7/

Press Release

May 12, 2020

Media relations

No contacts found

Share this release

ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles Receives Four Honors From the 2020 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards

KABC Honored With the Overall Excellence Award

KABC-TV, Southern California’s most-watched television station, has been awarded four 2020 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards by the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) for news coverage in 2019. The station received the distinction for Overall Excellence, Breaking News Coverage, Excellence in Video, and Best Newscast. The Regional Murrow Awards are among the most prestigious in broadcast and digital news, and recognizes the work of the highest quality produced by radio, television and digital news organizations around the world.

“I’m so proud of our teams at ABC7 for being recognized by the Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for two years in a row, and now receiving more accolades this year across four categories is exceptional,” said Cheryl Fair, president and general manager at KABC-TV. “KABC is committed to delivering the most impactful stories to our audiences across all platforms, and the investments in community journalism focused on expanding hyperlocal reporting and data-driven investigative storytelling have been instrumental.

“The Regional Murrow Award is one of the most esteemed awards given by the Radio Television Digital News Association,” said Rob Elmore, vice president at KABC-TV. “Receiving the Overall Excellence Award truly exemplifies the team’s dedication to groundbreaking reporting in service of our viewers.”   

Last year, KABC was honored for Breaking News Coverage and Best Newscast at 11 p.m. for news coverage in 2018. For its 2019 coverage, KABC has expanded its win to four categories and has won awards for large-market television in Region 2, which covers California, Hawaii and Nevada.

KABC’s four award-winning categories for 2019 news coverage include the following:

  • Overall Excellence Award for breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, data journalism, community journalism
  • Breaking News Coverage for its special edition of Eyewitness news coverage, “Easy/Hill Fires and Red Flag Warning/High Winds,” where reporters were on the scene covering real-time devastation of the “Easy Fire” that spread across Ventura County, endangering communities, animals and commuters, and threatened the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
  • Excellence in Video for  The Monarch – A touching narrated video of Eyewitness News anchor David Ono’s daughter, Kaia,  taking steps to preserve the monarch butterfly, which is being negatively impacted due to global warming and the pesticides tragically killing them and harming their natural environment. (Aired on Dec. 24, 2019)
  • Best Newscast at 5p.m. for the Nov. 14, 2019, coverage of the Saugus High School Shooting, where a 16-year-old high school student killed two fellow students and injured others on campus, before taking his own life.

KABC’s four award-winning entries will advance to the National Murrow Award competition. The national winners will be announced in June.

About KABC Los Angeles
ABC7 Los Angeles is Southern California’s No. 1 local news and information source. ABC7 is a leader in digital and social audience engagements and was the first station in the Los Angeles market to regularly broadcast news in high definition and also the first local television station in the United States to surpass 2 million Facebook followers. The station’s offices and studio are located in Glendale, California. 

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/abc7la/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ABC7
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ABC7/

Press Release

May 4, 2020

Media relations

No contacts found

Share this release

ABC Owned Television Stations Launch #belocalish Campaign to Support Local Businesses Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABC Owned Television Stations (OTV) launched a call-to-action campaign, #BeLocalish, to help support local businesses struggling to survive the economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. ABC’s owned stations have taken an active role to help by telling the stories of the small businesses on the frontlines, showcasing the resilience, ingenuity and compassion of our communities and offering practical ways that local businesses can continue to thrive.

“We are facing unprecedented times and now more than ever, our role as a news organization is expanding beyond delivering critical information to also serve as a resource to the communities in which we live and work,” said Jennifer Mitchell, senior vice president of content development for ABC Owned Television Stations. “Building off of Localish’s focus to bring out the good in cities    across America, the #BeLocalish campaign is a way for the entire station group to make a positive impact and rally support around struggling businesses at the heart of their communities.”

The #BeLocalish campaign will take a multiplatform approach to reach and engage the community, kicking off with a call-to-action PSA, launching immersive webpages across all eight stations, and building a community-driven social media activation movement. 

The #BeLocalish webpage spotlights community businesses, lists helpful business resources and provides practical suggestions to viewers on how they can support struggling businesses. Featured #Belocalish stories will air on the stations’ linear broadcast and as a half-hour weekly special on Localish’s linear network. Stories will also be featured on Localish.com, and each of the stations’ digital properties, as well as social media channels to reach ABC’s owned stations’ 21 million social followers.

As viewers support their local businesses by ordering takeout, purchasing goods from businesses providing “contact-less” pickup/delivery, shopping online through local companies’ websites, or contributing to business GoFundMe pages, they are also encouraged to participate in the social media activation by sharing their stories on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and tagging #BeLocalish. 

The owned stations are already hearing inspiring stories of how local businesses and communities are coming together:

  • KTRK-TV Houston The 70-year-old Houston business Three Brothers Bakery survived four floods, a fire and Hurricane Harvey. Finding its business once more in turmoil, the owners remained positive and offered advice to small businesses struggling during the pandemic and encouraged the community to place online orders to support local businesses. After Localish featured their story, the bakery experienced a dramatic surge of online orders which crashed the bakery’s website but successfully increased their sales. In a follow-up interview, the owners shared that Localish was saving their business “one pie at a time.”
  • WABC-TV New York is airing a local special called “Retail Rescue” hosted by “Deals and Steals”’s Tory Johnson and Eyewitness News’ Sam Champion. “Retail Rescue” will feature interviews of local boutique owners in the tri-state area impacted by the pandemic, share a curated list of products and offer exclusive discounts to encourage business and boost sales.  The “Retail Rescue” special will air on WABC-TV New York on May 9, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. (Learn more at shopretailrescue.com) 
  • KABC-TV Los Angelesfeatured Amazebowls, in their SOCAL Strong segment who showed they were #BeLocalish by creating “Smorgasburg” delivery boxes that featured food and beverages from their fellow vendors, to sell on their food truck when the stay home orders caused the temporary closure of the Smorgasburg food market where the company and other businesses normally sold its goods. 

Additionally, beginning May 11, 2020, KABC-TV Los Angeles will include a #BeLocalish segmentin its daily newscasts to highlight local businesses. Viewers can visit ABC7.com/BeLocalish to learn more about the featured businesses and, in certain instances, receive special offers, as well as submit #BeLocalish stories of their own. 

Follow Localish (#Localish, #BeLocalish) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. View Localish series at abc.com/shows/localish.

About ABC Owned Television Stations
The ABC Owned Television Stations includes WABC-TV New York, KABC-TV Los Angeles, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, WTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham and KFSN-TV Fresno. The eight owned stations reach 23% of all U.S. television households. The stations are consistently market leaders in multiplatform local news, collectively No. 1 in local news among Adults 25-54 for 11 consecutive broadcast seasons, and in overall digital audience, video consumption and social reach and engagement. In 2018, the Stations further expanded their content portfolio and reach with the launch of the digital-first national lifestyle brand Localish that in its first year produced over 650 pieces of digital video content, totaling more than 240 million video views.  The Live Well broadcast channel was rebranded as Localish in February 2020, delivering locally sourced yet nationally relevant storytelling as long-form linear programming to more than 14 million viewers across America. 

About Localish
Localish, a digital native lifestyle brand from ABC Owned Television Stations featuring locally sourced yet nationally relevant stories which target a younger audience, debuted its broadcast home on Feb. 17, 2020. In Localish’s first year, ABC’s owned stations produced over 700 pieces of digital video, totaling more than 240 million video views, with 65% of its audience under the age of 44. Most recently honored with the 2019 Innovator Award – the highest distinction among TVNewsCheck’s annual Social Media Excellence Awards – Localish was credited for its forward-minded ideas, sleek execution and all-around positive impact. As a broadcast network, Localish expanded its short-form series of local storytelling into long-form programming to reach approximately 14 million households across America. The brand also continues to debut stories on localish.com, ABC digital platforms and social media platforms, as it transcends city limits and inspires its audience to live like a local wherever they are.

Press Release

April 30, 2020

Media relations

No contacts found

Share this release

ABC7/KABC-TV Los Angeles to Exclusively Stream Minority Health Institute’s Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of COVID-19 in African American Communities

COVID-19: The Battle to Save Black Lives’ Virtual Town Hall to Stream on Thursday, April 30 (12:00 – 1:30 P.M. PDT)

Stream live at abc7.com and ABC7’s connected TV apps on Amazon FireTV, Android FireTV, Android TV, Roku, and tvOS

KABC, Southern California’s most-watched television station, will live stream Minority Health Institute’s “COVID-19: The Battle to Save Black Lives” virtual town hall on Thursday, April 30 (12:00-1:30 p.m. PDT). The solutions-based, action-oriented virtual summit will discuss the health, economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on black communities.

Black Angelenos are dying from COVID-19 at a disproportionate rate, according to data released Tuesday from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The death rate in LA County is about 9 per 100,000 people, as of April 28 data, but for the African American population, it’s about 16 per 100,000 people. The county data also shows many communities of color with incomes below the county median have higher death rates.

The town hall will be led by Dr. Richard Allen Williams, MD, FACC, FAHA, FACP, president and founder of the Minority Health Institute. Panelists include medical professionals and health policy experts to provide data, tips and resources during the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Richard Allen Williams, MD, FACC, FAHA, FACP – Clinical professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; past president, National Medical Association; founder, Association of Black Cardiologists
  • David Pryor, MD, MPH – regional vice president, medical director, Anthem; board member, American Heart Association, Los Angeles Chapter
  • Johan (Gigi) El-Bayoumi, MD, FACP – founding director, Rodham Institute; professor of medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA – president, American Medical Association
  • Oliver T. Brooks, MD – chief medical officer, Watts HealthCare Corporation; president, National Medical Association
  • Muntu Davis, MD, MPH – county health officer, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
  • Vicki M. Mays, Ph.D., MSPH – professor, UCLA Department of Psychology in the College of Letters and Sciences; professor, UCLA Department of Health Services
  • Gustavo Friedrichson – CEO Los Angeles County Medical Association
  • Lisa Barkley, MD, FAAFP. FSAHM, FACSM – chair and program director, Family Medicine Residency, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
  • Mia Keeys, MA – director of Health Equity Policy & Advocacy, American Medical Association
  • Reverend J. Edgar Boyd – pastor, First American Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles (FAME)

About KABC Los Angeles
ABC7 Los Angeles is Southern California’s No. 1 local news and information source. ABC7 is a leader in digital and social audience engagements and was the first station in the Los Angeles market to regularly broadcast news in high definition and also the first local television station in the United States to surpass 2 million Facebook followers. The station’s offices and studio are located in Glendale, California. 

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/abc7la/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ABC7
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ABC7/