Latest news with #EllenLeyva
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
KABC's Ellen Leyva signs off after 30 years in moving final broadcast: ‘I'm really lucky'
News anchor Ellen Leyva's decades-long tenure with KABC has officially come to an end. During her final broadcast this week, she said 'I cannot believe my luck to be here for 30 years.' Leyva bid an emotional farewell on Wednesday to the KABC newsroom and the viewers she helped inform and entertain during her send-off. She announced her decision to retire in February, telling the audience at the time, 'I'm ready to make a move on and focus on my next great adventure in life.' During the broadcast, Leyva became a story subject herself, inspiring a tender segment that walked viewers down the memory lane of her tenure. Her retirement also prompted a sit-down conversation with her longtime co-anchor David Ono. Leyva, an Arizona native, came to the Glendale-based station in 1995 as a health reporter and later joined the anchor desk, moving from morning news to the evening news post, where she remained for 25 years. 'I didn't know what to expect, I just knew that I couldn't believe I was working at KABC,' she recalled to Ono. 'My biggest fear was I would not make it and I wouldn't be good enough to stay on the air.' Leyva, despite her concerns, managed to do just that and more. Over the years, she has co-hosted Oscars red carpet arrivals, flown with the Blue Angels and provided Angelenos with a steady on-air presence. Earlier this year, Leyva kept viewers informed during the destructive wildfires that ripped through the region, including the Eaton fire. She said Wednesday that she was displaced from her Altadena home during the blaze. Beyond the desk, Leyva represented the KABC newsroom at several Los Angeles parades, was a team leader for AIDS Walk Los Angeles and advocated for mental health services for underserved communities. 'I'm really lucky,' she said during the segment. The final moments of Leyva's bow at KABC saw her behind the desk, surrounded by newsroom staff, friends and family who applauded her. 'This place has been the most incredible place to work,' she said. 'I cannot believe my luck to be here for 30 years.' Leyva turned her attention to her viewers: 'It has been an honor and a privilege to be welcomed into your living rooms every afternoon. You always made me feel like a welcomed guest.' As she begins her retirement, Leyva said she is looking forward to being on the other side of the screen as a supporter and viewer of KABC. For Leyva, it seems breaking news is not her problem anymore — at least that's according to a cheeky retirement gift candle the anchor posted to Instagram. Times staff writer Meg James contributed to this report.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ellen Leyva To Retire From KABC-TV Channel 7
Popular news anchor Ellen Leyva announced her retirement from the Los Angeles KABC TV channel in a recent public address made on a local broadcast. Since becoming a part of ABC7 in 1995, Leyva has worked at the news station for almost 30 years. Following her announcement, many fans and friends came forward to congratulate her. Here are the details of the retirement statement Ellen Leyva gave recently on the KABC7 channel. Ellen Leyva, who has served as a health reporter and newscaster for KABC7 TV channel, has decided to take retirement. As per ABC7 News, the news anchor conveyed the decision to viewers when she anchored the afternoon program of the news station. Leyva started her announcement by saying, 'After a lot of soul-searching, I know I'm ready to move on and focus on my next great adventure in life. While this isn't easy, it is something I've been thinking about for a long time. I am truly excited for what's next.' She referred to the news station as her second home and added, 'Almost 30 years later, I can say that I've been truly blessed to work at the best news station in the best city.' The clip of Ellen Leyva's retirement announcement was also shared by ABC7 LA on their official Instagram handle. The caption read, 'After 29 incredible years at ABC7, our beloved @abc7Ellen Leyva has decided to retire.' In her time at LA KABC7, Leyva had also been the team lead for the channel's AIDS Walk Los Angeles. Although she has announced her retirement, Leyva is set to anchor for the channel for some time before leaving. Providing a reason behind staying for a few more months after the announcement, she said, 'I'm looking forward to finding as many opportunities to say goodbye to as many of you as possible.' Originally reported by Ishita Verma on ComingSoon. The post Ellen Leyva To Retire From KABC-TV Channel 7 appeared first on Mandatory.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ellen Leyva Talks About Retiring From KABC-TV Channel 7
Popular news anchor Ellen Leyva announced her retirement from the Los Angeles KABC TV channel in a recent public address made on a local broadcast. Since becoming a part of ABC7 in 1995, Leyva has worked at the news station for almost 30 years. Following her announcement, many fans and friends came forward to congratulate her. Here are the details of the retirement statement Ellen Leyva gave recently on the KABC7 channel. Ellen Leyva, who has served as a health reporter and newscaster for KABC7 TV channel, has decided to take retirement. As per ABC7 News, the news anchor conveyed the decision to viewers when she anchored the afternoon program of the news station. Leyva started her announcement by saying, 'After a lot of soul-searching, I know I'm ready to move on and focus on my next great adventure in life. While this isn't easy, it is something I've been thinking about for a long time. I am truly excited for what's next.' She referred to the news station as her second home and added, 'Almost 30 years later, I can say that I've been truly blessed to work at the best news station in the best city.' The clip of Ellen Leyva's retirement announcement was also shared by ABC7 LA on their official Instagram handle. The caption read, 'After 29 incredible years at ABC7, our beloved @abc7Ellen Leyva has decided to retire.' In her time at LA KABC7, Leyva had also been the team lead for the channel's AIDS Walk Los Angeles. Although she has announced her retirement, Leyva is set to anchor for the channel for some time before leaving. Providing a reason behind staying for a few more months after the announcement, she said, 'I'm looking forward to finding as many opportunities to say goodbye to as many of you as possible.' The post Ellen Leyva Talks About Retiring From KABC-TV Channel 7 appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Los Angeles Times
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
KABC news anchor Ellen Leyva to retire
News anchor Ellen Leyva is leaving KABC-TV Channel 7 after nearly 30 years, marking the latest departure of a prominent local newscaster. Leyva made the announcement Monday during the Walt Disney Co. station's afternoon program. She plans to remain on the air, alongside longtime co-anchor David Ono, for a few more months during a transition, station officials said. 'After much contemplation and introspection, I know I'm ready to make a move on and focus on my next great adventure in life,' Leyva told viewers, adding that the decision was 'something I've been thinking about for a long time.' In an email to the staff, KABC General Manager Wendy Granato called Leyva's retirement 'bittersweet news.' The Glendale-based station has long boasted one of the most stable on-air teams in Los Angeles. Its anchors remain popular with viewers even as news consumption patterns change and stations become less lucrative divisions for the major networks. Last spring, a Pew Research Center report highlighted the industrywide shift, noting that a growing number of Americans get much of their local news online. Still, an overwhelming majority of respondents said local news coverage is important to their community, according to the Pew study. And local broadcasters demonstrated their mettle — and importance — by providing marathon coverage of last month's Altadena and Pacific Palisades wildfires and the devastating aftermath as thousands grieved the loss of loved ones, homes, churches, schools and businesses. Leyva is the latest local news anchor to exit. Popular KNBC-TV Channel 4 meteorologist Fritz Coleman retired in 2020. Two years later, a cadre of prominent KNBC journalists — Beverly White, Chuck Henry, Kim Baldonado and Angie Crouch — retired from the station. Also in 2022, longtime favorite Lynette Romero switched to KNBC after a high-profile departure from KTLA-TV Channel 5. And last year, two deaths stunned the local broadcast community: KTLA's stalwart entertainment anchor Sam Rubin, who died in May; and KCAL-TV Channel 9 co-anchor Chauncy Glover, who died unexpectedly in November at the age of 39. Leyva, who grew up in Arizona, joined KABC in 1995 as a health reporter and later joined the anchor desk. Over the years, she has co-hosted Oscars red carpet arrivals, flown with the Blue Angels and provided a steady on-air presence. She also served as KABC's team leader for AIDS Walk Los Angeles and advocated for mental health services for underserved communities. 'To say that she has been an invaluable and truly treasured member of our Eyewitness News team is an understatement,' Granato said in her email. The station did not specify Leyva's departure date. 'This station, everyone who works here and all of you are truly my home away from home,' Leyva told viewers. 'I could not have asked for a more rewarding career with the best people in the best city in the world.'
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
L.A. News Anchor Ellen Leyva Retiring & Exiting KABC After 29 Years
Los Angeles' KABC7 is losing Ellen Leyva, as the news anchor is retiring from the ABC affiliate after 29 years. The on-air personality made the news official Monday, addressing viewers during the local 3 p.m. broadcast. More from Deadline Biggest Storm Of The Season Bears Down On Los Angeles, Prompting Flood Watches & Concern Over Debris Flows In Burn Areas 2025 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming 'The Bachelorette' Paused For Summer 2025: ABC Dating Series To Skip Cycle 'After much contemplation and introspection, I know I'm ready to make a move on and focus on my next great adventure in life,' Leyva said on air. Leyva called ABC7 her 'home away from home,' adding, 'I could not have asked for a more rewarding career with the best people in the best city in the world.' The decision to leave was something Leyva said she had 'been thinking about for a long time' and is 'truly excited for what's next.' Leyva noted that she would continue at KABC 'for a few more months,' adding, 'I'm looking forward to finding as many opportunities to say goodbye to as many of you as possible. I just want to thank you for welcoming me into your living rooms since 1995.' KABC president and general manager Wendy Granato emailed staff today informing them of Leyva's decision to leave. 'To say that she has been an invaluable and truly treasured member of our Eyewitness News team is an understatement,' Granato said in the memo. She continued, 'A mainstay in people's living rooms each night, she is easily one of the most loved and trusted news anchors in Southern California, and I know she will be missed.' Here's Levya's full message to viewers: 'Now, for some personal, bittersweet news for me. I have been at KABC for almost 3 decades, and I have been so fortunate! This station, everyone who works here and all of you are truly my home away from home. I could not have asked for a more rewarding career with the best people in the best city in the world. But, after much contemplation and introspection, I know I'm ready to make a move on and focus on my next great adventure in life. While this isn't easy, it is something I've been thinking about for a long time, and I am truly excited for what's next. I'll be here for a few more months, so you aren't getting rid of me just yet. And of course, I'm looking forward to finding as many opportunities to say goodbye to as many of you as possible. I just want to thank you for welcoming me into your living rooms since 1995.' Here's Granato's email to staff: Team –I have some bittersweet news to share with you. After 29 incredible years, our beloved Ellen Leyva has decided to retire. This is news Ellen will be sharing with our viewers in her newscasts today, starting with the 3 say that she has been an invaluable and truly treasured member of our Eyewitness News team is an understatement. She joined the KABC family in 1995 as a health reporter before quickly making her way up to the anchor desk. Her reporting has taken her to the greatest heights – flying with the Blue Angels, co-hosting the Oscars red carpet arrivals with the great Roger Ebert, and standing in the OR with Dr. Oz as he performed a double-bypass, just to name a few. Ellen was inducted into the Walter Cronkite School of Broadcast Journalism's Hall of Fame in 2006 and is the recipient of an Impact Award for Excellence in Television from the National Hispanic Media Coalition. Her contributions to the community are endless. Most notably, serving as ABC7 team leader for AIDS Walk Los Angeles, being front and center of our Pride Parade, advocating for mental health services for underserved communities, and championing to help rescue dogs find their forever of course, viewers know her best as the long running co-anchor of our late afternoon and evening newscasts. A mainstay in people's living rooms each night, she is easily one of the most loved and trusted news anchors in Southern California, and I know she will be is so much more to say about her many accomplishments, but Ellen isn't leaving anytime soon so trust me when I say we will find many opportunities over the next few months to celebrate and honor I can't say enough about what a pro Ellen is and how much I have enjoyed working with her in the time I've been here. And, while this is sad news for us, I know how excited she is to embrace life's next big adventure. And for that, I'm thrilled for her and wish her Stephen, Charli, Emma and Aubrey much love, laughter and Wendy Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Christopher Nolan's Next Film – 'The Odyssey': Release Date, Cast And More 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More 2024 Hollywood & Media Deaths: Photo Gallery & Obituaries
