WABC debuted a new, street-level studio over the weekend with large windows linking it to the sidewalks of Manhattan’s upper west side.

“We’ve got windows here in the studio,” anchor Sandra Bookman said during the station’s evening newscast on Saturday, introducing the new space. “If you’re in the area and want to come on by and see the newscast and say ‘hello,’ come on by.” Read more

ABC “World News” anchor Diane Sawyer dropped by the 4 p.m. hour of the WABC newscast today. WABC is the flagship owned-and-operated ABC station and is located in the same building as ABC News in New York City.

It’s been a long day for local news outlets in the tri-state area, who have been in continuing coverage since early this morning reporting on the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Sawyer, on hand to anchor a special edition of tonight’s “World News,” talked with WABC anchors Joe Torres and Sandra Bookman about the reporting she did for ABC overnight, as the worst of the storm passed through the city. (Watch the video, above.)

“NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams also dropped in to help out his colleagues at WNBC earlier this afternoon.

Following the dramatic announcement late Sunday night that the U.S. had killed Osama bin Laden, New York’s WNBC stayed in breaking news mode long after Brian Williams signed off for NBC, as impromptu celebrations sprouted up across the city.

Shiba Russell, who joined the station in February, led WNBC’s coverage of the historic occasion as Ida Siegal reported live near Ground Zero, where thousands of New Yorkers had gathered to celebrate the death of a man who, nearly ten years ago, drastically altered life in the city.

The networks scrambled to cover the news on Sunday night, providing some memorable moments as well as a few intriguing sidebars for TV newsers. NBC seemed by far the best prepared for the event, with Williams quickly assuming his anchor chair and leading the network’s starting lineup of Andrea Mitchell, Chuck Todd, and Richard Engel. Katie Couric, who recently announced that she’s leaving CBS, was noticeably missing from the network’s coverage Sunday night as Lara Logan appeared with anchor Russ Mitchell shortly after her moving “60 Minutes” interview aired. Over on ABC, George Stephanopoulos was at the anchor desk, leaving one to ponder exactly what time he gets to work everyday for his “GMA” job.

In the end, though, it was WNBC’s coverage that was the most memorable as the NBC flagship was the only network affiliated station in New York to provide live, local coverage of the news that obviously bears special significance for the city. Read more