Los Angeles – The 77th Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards celebrated the best in local television on June 26 at the Skirball Cultural Center, with Spectrum News 1 anchor Kelvin Washington hosting the ceremony. Amid federal funding pressures on public broadcasting, PBS SoCal emerged as the biggest winner, securing eight trophies across multiple categories.
Close behind, Spanish-language broadcasters KMEX-TV and KVEA each earned seven awards, while ABC7 and KTLA5 collected three apiece. Spectrum News 1 and Spectrum SportsNet LA each took home two honors. The Los Angeles Times, NBC4, and USC Football also made their mark with single victories.
One of the standout stories of the evening was KVEA’s dominance, sweeping all three “Regularly Scheduled Newscast” categories. ABC7’s live coverage of the Franklin Fire was recognized as the best coverage of an unscheduled news event, while KTLA5’s annual Rose Parade telecast won in the “Live Special Events – Programming” category.
PBS SoCal not only led the tally but also showcased its range, earning recognition for independent programming with “Possible Selves: Overcoming the Odds in Foster Care,” cultural storytelling in “Fast Food and Car Culture,” and arts coverage with “Artbound: The Cheech.”
In sports, Spectrum SportsNet LA claimed victory with “Backstage Dodgers,” while USC Football was honored for its short promotional feature “Arrival of the Trojan.” KTLA5 received recognition for its profile of a Paralympian preparing for the Paris Games.
The evening also highlighted excellence in entertainment and human interest reporting. The Los Angeles Times earned a win for its star-studded “Actress Roundtable,” and Spectrum News 1 took home an award for “A Beautiful Mind.”
Adding a special touch to the night, veteran sportscaster Jim Hill of KCBS/KCAL received the prestigious 2025 Governors Award, honoring his long-standing contributions to Southern California broadcasting.
The full list of winners underscored the diversity and strength of the Los Angeles media landscape, with outlets representing English and Spanish-language audiences alike. From investigative journalism to cultural storytelling and live event coverage, the awards showcased the vitality of regional broadcasting at a time when public media faces significant financial challenges.
