KATV, the ABC affiliate in Little Rock, Ark., handed off a network-produced presidential race debate to a competitor so it could air a previously scheduled college basketball game. The Republican and Democratic debates scheduled for Jan. 5 and produced by ABC News, will be aired in Little Rock by KWBF, a MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Equity Media Holdings Corp.
KWBF, on Channel 42, agreed to carry the ABC debate when it came in conflict with KATV�s coverage of the Arkansas--Baylor game.
�This conflict was quite disappointing because our job is to bring our viewers the very best in news, entertainment and sports programming," said KATV President and General Manager Dale Nicholson in a prepared statement issued by KWBF. �Over the years, we have learned that when we have two popular programs scheduled for the same time period, there is no way to make everyone happy. We are pleased we have found a way to offer viewers both the debate and the basketball game.�
KWBF and its sister station, KKYK on Channel 20, are said to regularly air ABC programming that KATV is unable to air, including golf, college football and basketball games, soccer and other events.
