Los Angeles stations saw viewership increase during wildfire coverage

Local Los Angeles stations saw an increase in viewership when the fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena began Tuesday.

The stations were covered from wall to wall. Variety said local channels saw their normal audience double, or even triple in some cases, especially as the fires began to spread.

According to market leader Nielsen data KABC (Channel 7) averaged 318,166 viewers for its 6 p.m. newscast on January 7; In the days leading up to Tuesday, the ABC-owned station normally averaged 170,769 in the time slot. The station also saw huge peaks at 4 p.m. (209,421, compared to a normal average of 119,190) and 5 p.m. (268,915, compared to 140,820).

Nextstar CW Plug KTLA (Channel 5) also saw a considerable increase in audience that evening, averaging 212,396 (up from its normal audience of 73,036) at 5 p.m. and 282,710 (more than three times its normal audience of 70,027) at 6 p.m. hours. KNBC (Channel 4), owned by NBC, attracted 130,787 viewers. at 5 p.m. (up from its usual average of 70,511) and 123,795 (up from 69,638) at 6 p.m.

CBS-owned KCBS (Channel 2) averaged 93,231 at 5 p.m. (up from 58,165) and 113,180 at 6 p.m. (up from 78,033). And Fox-owned KTTV (channel 11) averaged 44,891 (up from 30,184) at 5 p.m. and 67,821 (up from 31,016) at 6 p.m.

NBC’s Spanish-language Telemundo channel, KVEA (channel 52), also saw strong increases, with 218,498 (up from 168,305) at 5 p.m. and 231,777 (up from 201,458) at 6 p.m.

Prime time:

KABC averaged 261,440 viewers from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

KVEA attracted 251,194 viewers

KTLA had 215,972 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

KNBC averages 156,864 in bonus

KCBS attracted 76,839 viewers and KCAL 166,320 at 8 p.m. (compared to its normal average of 111,473) and 193,606 at 9 p.m. (compared to its usual average of 104,708).

Late news:

KABC’s 11 p.m. broadcast averaged 191,995 (compared to 134,753 for the regular half hour)

KTLA saw 200,260 (up from 79,863) at 10 p.m. and 170,008 (up from 61,707) at 11 p.m.; And

KCBS averaged 89,668 (up from 60,148) at 11 p.m. and KCAL averaged 131,474 (up from 85,681) at 10 p.m.

KNBC attracted 81,916 viewers (up from 66,408) at 11 p.m.

At 10 p.m., KTTV averaged 87,233 people (up from 35,198). And at 11 p.m.,

Telemundo station KVEA saw 177,400 (up from 132,752).