Robert Kovacik - TVSpy

KNBC Expands Weekend Newscasts

Merrill Knox — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:04:00 +0000

KNBC in Los Angeles is expanding its weekend evening newscasts.

The NBC-owned station is launching a 30-minute newscast at 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, as well as expanding the Sunday 11 p.m. newscast to a full hour.

“The expansion of our newscasts give us a chance to tell more stories and cover events that happen on weekends,” KNBC vice president of news Todd Mokhtari said in a statement. “The added time slots give our viewers more options for getting breaking news, local information and weather all weekend long.”

Robert Kovacik and Kathy Vara, who currently anchor the station’s 6 and 11 p.m. weekend newscasts, will also anchor the 5 p.m. broadcast.

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VIDEO: Cockroach Crawls Up Reporter’s Arm During KNBC Live Shot

Merrill Knox — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:16:43 +0000

Yesterday we told you about KIDK anchor Tudd Kunz keeping his cool as a spider crawled up his arm at the anchor desk. Today, another reporter gets props for maintaining composure on the air.

During a live shot on KNBC‘s 11 p.m. newscast, a cockroach crawled up Robert Kovacik‘s shoulder and down his other sleeve (video above). Kovacik tweeted about his “new pet” on Friday morning: continued…

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KNBC’s Robert Kovacik on Olympics Coverage: ‘The Goal is to Make Sure We Highlight Our Local Athletes’

Merrill Knox — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:21:38 +0000

The NBC O&Os are preparing to send 25 journalists to London for Olympics coverage later this month. KNBC anchor-reporter Robert Kovacik talks to FishbowlLA about making the trip:

“The goal is to make sure we highlight our local athletes, the participants, the spectators, to really show the Southern California participation in the London Olympics,” Kovacik tells FishbowlLA via telephone. “The nice thing is that all of these O&O crews are working together as a team. We’re sharing resources, potential interviews, story ideas… Right down to if I see a great shot of some guy walking around in a Yankees baseball cap, then I can pick up that shot and give it to our guys at WNBC in New York.” continued…

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Behind-the-Scenes: KNBC Covers Santa Monica Pepper Spray Incident

Andrew Gauthier — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:29:43 +0000

As a KNBC news crew started shooting outside of the Santa Monica College building where students were pepper sprayed on Tuesday night, a bystander filmed them.

The video (above) offers a behind-the-scenes look at reporter Robert Kovacik‘s coverage of the incident. It includes footage of Kovacik speaking with witnesses, as well as a discussion about the station using witnesses’ video of the incident.

At one point (around the 1:25 mark), someone tells the crowd that KNBC will pay them for their footage. continued…

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On the Move, 9/28/11

Andrew Gauthier — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:16:18 +0000

Kristen Drew joins KXTV in Sacramento as a reporter from WLKY in Louisville.

Frank Holland joins WGN in Chicago as an anchor-reporter from WDIV in Detroit.

Joel Brown joins WTVD in Durham, NC as an anchor-reporter from correspondent at CBS Newspath in Washington, D.C.

Ray Villeda will be joining KXAS in Dallas as a reporter from WFSB in Hartford, CT. continued…

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KNBC’s Commitment to Diversity Questioned Following Demotions of Hispanic Talent

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:58:00 +0000

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists has sent a letter to Los Angeles NBC O&O KNBC and its corporate parent Comcast expressing concern over an alarming number of recent demotions among the station’s Hispanic on-air talent.

According to data compiled by a KNBC staffer and shared with NAHJ, the station has taken action against the majority of its Hispanic on-air staff this year. Of the nine Hispanic anchors, reporters, and weathercasters at KNBC, since January 10th, five have either been demoted or terminated. And as of last week, none of the station’s on-air hires in 2011 are of Hispanic heritage.

KNBC, which just announced the promotion of Robert Kovacik and hiring of Stephanie Elam to anchor weekends, currently has no Hispanic anchors on its prime p.m. newscasts while 30% of reporters appearing during these programs are Hispanic. This seeming lack of Latino representation is especially significant in the Los Angeles market, where nearly half of viewers are Hispanic.

“We’re very concerned about what’s being reported,” NAHJ president Michele Salcedo tells TVSpy. “It’s very important for a newsroom to reflect the community in which it operates.”

continued…

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KNBC Names Robert Kovacik and Former CNN Correspondent Stephanie Elam Weekend Anchors

Merrill Knox — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:08:15 +0000

KNBC, NBC’s owned-and-operated station in Los Angeles, has named new anchors of its weekend 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts: Robert Kovacik and Stephanie Elam (pictured).

Kovacik has been the interim anchor of the two evening broadcasts since March. He has been with the station since 2004 and spent the majority of his time at KNBC as the weekday morning anchor.

He will anchor alongside former CNN business correspondent Stephanie Elam, who left the cable network in April after eight years. A California native, Elam and her family relocated to Los Angeles this spring.

“Having two anchors again will bring an exciting new vibrancy and pace to the broadcasts,” KNBC vice president and news director Vickie Burns said in a statement. “Robert and Stephanie are two respected journalists with a terrific on-air presence. We believe they have just the right dynamic to deliver a solid news product and connect with our audience.”

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Reporter Robert Kovacik’s Assailant Ordered to Pay $19k Plastic Surgery Bill

Andrew Gauthier — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:01:39 +0000

The man accused of punching KNBC reporter Robert Kovacik (right) in a drunken altercation involving “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Lisa Vanderpump has entered a no contest plea in the misdemeanor battery case.

Roger Talavera, who was reportedly harassing Vanderpump at the swanky Beverly Hills Polo Lounge before punching her pal Kovacik in the face when he tried to make him stop, was sentenced to a 36-month probation term as well as 120 hours of community service, according to RadarOnline.

In addition to probation and community service, Talavera is required to pay $19,299.38 in restitution to Kovacik’s plastic surgeon.

Kovacik filed charges against Talavera on Christmas Eve, hours after he received two dozen stitches to repair a deep gash along his lip.

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KNBC Reporter Robert Kovacik’s Assault Case Continues in Los Angeles

Andrew Gauthier — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:38:34 +0000

Lisa Vanderpump, of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” fame, appeared in court on Friday in the assault case of her friend, KNBC reporter Robert Kovacik (right).

Last December, Kovacik filed charges against a man who allegedly punched him in the face following an argument at Beverly Hills’ posh Polo Lounge.

According to Vanderpump, who was subpoenaed in the case, a drunken man began making rude remarks while she was dining with Kovacik a couple of days before Christmas. When the veteran reporter tried to get the man to stop, he received a swift blow to the face. The altercation left Kovacik with a split lip that required stitches.

RadarOnline reports that the case will resume on April 11th.

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KNBC Reporter Robert Kovacik Assaulted While Defending ‘Real Housewives’ Star

Andrew Gauthier — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 12:48:10 +0000

There was little Christmas cheer evident inside the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel last Thursday, where KNBC morning reporter Robert Kovacik was assaulted while dining with friends.

According to reports, Kovacik was out to eat with his friend Lisa Vanderpump, of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” when a drunken man began verbally harassing the Bravo star. Kovacik asked him to stop but the unidentified man landed a blow to the “Today in L.A.” veteran’s mouth. Kovacik’s face required two dozen stitches, according to TMZ.

Following the incident Vanderpump tweeted, “My friend, Robert Kovacik was viciously attacked by an aggressive drunk…I am shocked and upset, merry Xmas.”

On Christmas Eve, Kovacik filed charges against his assailant with the Beverly Hills Police Department.

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