# Drama during live news programming **URL:** \ **Category:** News events\ **Created:** [December 1, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680 "2019-12-01T03:47:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/wwupdate/32/365115_2.png) [@WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/WWUpdate)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/1 "2019-12-01T03:47:46Z")
Here’s a thread devoted to dramatic events during live news broadcasts. Let’s begin in California. In 1987, the son of a former KNBC contributor who had been invited to the set as a guest pulled out a gun – a fake one as it turned out – during a newscast and demanded that the consumer reporter read out his statement: ---
**Author:** ![Sifon](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/sifon/32/65_2.png) [@Sifon](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/Sifon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/3 "2019-12-01T23:37:31Z")
Tim Bailey getting beat up ---
**Author:** ![BrekkyTVFan](https://forums.mediaspy.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@BrekkyTVFan](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/BrekkyTVFan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/4 "2019-12-02T00:49:09Z")
Could we consider the Sydney Siege during The Morning Show one? There was a fire at Martin Place in 2009 during The Morning Show, so they went outside. The Morning News was given the OK to stay inside. Can’t find a video online, must’ve been deleted. Also, someone went through the barriers at Rockefeller Plaza whilst NBC Today was outside in 2011, surprising Meredith Vieria (but with a rather calm response from Al Roker). They cut to Ann Curry to bring the news. _Video does work_ ---
**Author:** ![WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/wwupdate/32/365115_2.png) [@WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/WWUpdate)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/5 "2019-12-02T01:05:59Z")
Coverage from KNBC in Los Angeles just seconds after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, which left dozens killed and thousands injured: ---
**Author:** ![BrekkyTVFan](https://forums.mediaspy.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/85e7bf/32.png) [@BrekkyTVFan](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/BrekkyTVFan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/6 "2019-12-02T01:18:04Z")
Also the 1989 San Fransisco earthquake during the World Series baseball game. Includes the earthquake hitting then cutting to a local news affiliate, with good coverage. ---
**Author:** ![TV.Cynic](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/tv.cynic/32/316932_2.png) [@TV.Cynic](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/TV.Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/7 "2019-12-02T01:19:44Z")
Various instances of live reports during the Gulf War coverage including, incoming missile warnings, gas masks being applied, reporters shuting down interviews. ---
**Author:** ![WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/wwupdate/32/365115_2.png) [@WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/WWUpdate)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/8 "2019-12-02T01:50:26Z")
Another on-air hostage-taking; this one happened in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1982. Because the gunman brought a portable TV set with him, the station was unable to go off the air without endangering the anchor. More than five hours later, the gunman finally surrendered. You can go the 22:25 mark for coverage of the incident as seen on that night’s news – including the first minutes of the hostage-taking. ---
**Author:** ![WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/wwupdate/32/365115_2.png) [@WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/WWUpdate)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/9 "2019-12-03T02:27:19Z")
An approaching tornado forces the on-air evacuation of a TV station (the picture briefly breaks up just before the call to evacuate is made): The BBC reports on an invasion of the news set by LGBT protesters in 1988. The protest happened at the beginning of the 6 p.m. news; the report is from that night’s 9 p.m. news – and it’s followed by a clip of the disrupted newscast itself: ---
**Author:** ![WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/wwupdate/32/365115_2.png) [@WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/WWUpdate)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2019, 5:38am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/10 "2019-12-06T05:38:18Z")
When an earthquake strikes Japan (w/ English subtitles; the first alert appears at the 0:15 mark): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lAxxZkpV0HI/maxresdefault.jpg "2016/11/22 Japan earthquake and tsunami alert (w/ roughly translated English subtitles)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAxxZkpV0HI) A 1992 earthquake hitting live on CNN’s air: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iQWbJX-HGuU/maxresdefault.jpg "Landers Earthquakes M7.4 - CNN Excerpt with Ann McDermott on the air...June 28, 1992") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQWbJX-HGuU) In 1990, a gunman forced the evacuation of WLS’s studios in Chicago. The news was broadcast from the station’s transmitting facility: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZfsTBHbOBZ4/hqdefault.jpg "WLS TV WLS Broadcast From Transmitter After Gunman Invades Studio August 26, 1990") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfsTBHbOBZ4) ---
**Author:** ![WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/wwupdate/32/365115_2.png) [@WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/WWUpdate)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/12 "2021-06-22T00:25:22Z")
In 1983, NBC News’ Jessica Savitch, a high-profile but privately troubled news personality, anchored a primetime news update under the influence of what was almost certainly drugs or alcohol. (Bizarrely, her agent tried to pass it off as a Telepompter problem.) Later that month, as the network was contemplating how to deal with her issues, she died in an unrelated car accident. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/EGFM3NtJ-Q0/hqdefault.jpg "NBC News Digest with Jessica Savitch (10/3/83)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGFM3NtJ-Q0) ---
**Author:** ![Mechsta](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/mechsta/32/244653_2.png) [@Mechsta](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/Mechsta)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 3:10am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/13 "2021-06-22T03:10:52Z")
I can’t seem to find it anywhere on YouTube but back in January 1995, the start of One Network News in New Zealand was delayed for about 15 minutes after Maori protesters managed to get into the news studio. From memory, they were upset over the amount, or lack thereof, of Maori news in comparison to the main bulletin. ---
**Author:** ![OnAir](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/onair/32/88553_2.png) [@OnAir](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/OnAir)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 3:53am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/14 "2021-06-22T03:53:12Z")
> **[One Network News - Protest (2 January 1995) | Television | NZ On Screen](https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/one-network-news-protest-1995)** > > One Network News - Protest (2 January 1995) - Television news becomes the news in this brief report from TVNZ. In this excerpt, newsreader Tom Bradley explains why the beginning of that night's six o'clock bulletin was delayed for 10 minutes. Earlier... ---
**Author:** ![WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/wwupdate/32/365115_2.png) [@WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/WWUpdate)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 11:14am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/15 "2021-06-22T11:14:15Z")
Two more live protests… AIDS protestors interrupt a 1991 _CBS Evening News_ broadcast: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nzn1K92vJI) In 1977, a group of Communist aerospace unionists (protesting New York’s ban on Concorde flights) occupied the studios of TF1 in Paris just as the headline sequence of the 8 p.m. national news was getting underway. This report about the studio invasion aired the following day – it shows how the protesters startled the anchor, how the director then cut to a slide, and how the negotiations continued behind the scenes: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9BKtg4U12xo/hqdefault.jpg "IT1 20H : émission du 22 juillet 1977") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BKtg4U12xo) ---
**Author:** ![Mechsta](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/mechsta/32/244653_2.png) [@Mechsta](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/Mechsta)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/16 "2021-06-22T21:00:08Z")
So much for security. One could argue that people doing this are not doing their causes any good. ---
**Author:** ![rock12](https://forums.mediaspy.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@rock12](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/rock12)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 10:47pm UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/17 "2021-06-22T22:47:40Z")
> [@WWUpdate](#): > > AIDS protestors interrupt a 1991 _CBS Evening News_ broadcast: Any clips of the self interruption by Dan Rather in Miami, USA in 1987? > **[RATHER CRITICIZED FOR HIS CBS NEWS 'WALKOUT'](https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-15-ca-8170-story.html%3f_amp=true)** > > The head of CBS' affiliate advisory board said Monday that CBS anchor Dan Rather "blew it" in leaving his newscast for six minutes Friday, creating an apparently unprecedented situation in which viewers of more than half of CBS' affiliated stations... ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Puglisi6](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/leo_puglisi6/32/364243_2.png) [@Leo\_Puglisi6](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/Leo_Puglisi6)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 7:35am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/18 "2021-06-23T07:35:15Z")
> [@rock12](#): > > Any clips of the self interruption by Dan Rather in Miami, USA in 1987? > > [https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-15-ca-8170-story.html%3F\_amp=true](https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-15-ca-8170-story.html%3F_amp=true) These videos may help: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCqOCJkweo0) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/EHKllciGTEg/hqdefault.jpg "Dan Rather on the "Walk-off" - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHKllciGTEg) ---
**Author:** ![rock12](https://forums.mediaspy.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@rock12](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/rock12)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 8:20am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/19 "2021-06-23T08:20:38Z")
That’s awesome. Thanks @Leo_Puglisi6 ---
**Author:** ![WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/wwupdate/32/365115_2.png) [@WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/WWUpdate)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 10:42am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/20 "2021-06-23T10:42:38Z")
In 2007, a car crashed into the streetside studio of WLS in Chicago during the 10 p.m. news: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SZqng1s2v9E/hqdefault.jpg "WLS-TV Studio Car Crash") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZqng1s2v9E) ---
**Author:** ![foxyrover](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/foxyrover/32/272518_2.png) [@foxyrover](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/foxyrover)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 6:03am UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/21 "2021-06-24T06:03:12Z")
Just in time! Scary. To stay on air the whole time as well, incredible by the host. ---
**Author:** ![WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/user_avatar/forums.mediaspy.org/wwupdate/32/365115_2.png) [@WWUpdate](https://forums.mediaspy.org/u/WWUpdate)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680/22 "2021-06-25T23:15:08Z")
In 2007, two TV news choppers collided above Phoenix, live on the air, while covering a police pursuit. No one is the stricken helicopters survived. The accident promoted significant changes to chopper-based TV coverage, including the use of pool helicopters. CAUTION: Disturbing video. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kTIijI32vA0/hqdefault.jpg "PHOENIX NEWS HELICOPTER CRASH") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTIijI32vA0) [Next page](https://forums.mediaspy.org/t/drama-during-live-news-programming/11680.md?page=2)