> Just curious... why is it that these two stations share
> reporters?
>
To obtain stories or video that the stations might not have otherwise had.
There have been some long-term story trading arrangements between Sacramento and San Francisco stations... often along network lines... although sometimes not.
Some relationships go back to the days of film, before "live shots" were either do-able in either market or were common.
Back then, a reel of tape (yes, reel... as in 2" quadruplex) tape would be sent by courier or taxicab to the bus (Greyhound) station, and then picked up by similar means at the receiving end.
I remember selling film of a log-deck fire to (then ABC) KOVR... and learning that it had been sent to all the ABC affiliates in California by similar means... except the SoCal dubs went by plane.
When news moved to tape... 3/4" tapes were the medium of exchange.
If I recall correctly, KCRA-TV and KRON developed the first two-way microwave link between the two cities, via Mt. Diablo.
That's one of the reasons you would see KRON video/talent on KCRA-TV and vice-versa. KCRA-TV maintained a San Francisco bureau for many years, and also made use of the link. That story sharing continues today, even though KRON is not an NBC affiliate anymore.
KTVU is a member of the CBS affiliate feed system, NEWSPATH, and has access to tape from many CBS affiliates around the country... unless embargoed.
The KXTV and KTVU relationship may date back to before KXTV swapped CBS for ABC. The stations maintain a two-way microwave link, and KXTV has another link to and from SF ABC O&O, KGO-TV.
When the CBS-ABC swap happened, the NEWSPATH bureau moved from KXTV to KOVR, and IIRC, a fiberoptic line liked KOVR with the CBS O&O, KPIX, SF, where the video could be turned around to CBS in LA.
ABC owned KGO-TV also traded tape with KMAX, the Viacom UPN O&O in Sacramento. Don't know whether that's happening since KOVR was purchased by Viacom. KOVR and KMAX traded tape even before the sale was in the works.
At one time... KXTV and KTXL would occasionally share tape, after the originating station had aired it first.
Don't look for such "out of house" sharing within the market as the competition ramps up.
Ted.