Tom Van Amburg died yesterday in Los Angeles after a brief sickness. He was 83.
Van Amburg is remembered as a trailblazing Los Angeles TV govt whose improvements drove KABC to the highest and launched Regis Philbin as a morning discuss present fixture. He’s additionally the daddy of Apple TV+ head of worldwide video Zack Van Amburg and advertising govt Chris Van Amburg.
Van Amburg was greatest identified for his tenure because the Basic Supervisor of ABC’s flagship O&O tv station KABC-TV in Los Angeles. He took on that position in 1981 and below his stewardship KABC turned the primary broadcast information station and a most trusted information supply in Southern California. Programming improvements included shepherding the period of native unique programming in all day-parts, that included A.M. Los Angeles with Regis Philbin, in addition to afternoon discuss reveals like 330 and early night franchise hits similar to Eye on L.A. He employed the likes of Jerry Dunphy, Christine Lund, Paul Moyer, Chuck Henry, and lots of extra, to spherical out his high rated newscasts and unique collection. Following that run, Van Amburg briefly ran KCBS-TV, earlier than assuming the position of CEO of Vanamedia and manufacturing firm Tri-Crown Productions as a subsidiary.
Van Amburg additionally discovered success in entrance of the digicam, with trendy weekly editorials. He introduced the 1984 Olympics to Los Angeles on KABC-TV, and hosted specials together with Coliseum Coliseum — tracing the historic Los Angeles venue to its roots in Rome. One other innovation was turning the station right into a crime-stopping useful resource. He hosted Eyewitness Nameless, a present that profiled native criminals on the free. Van Amburg would finish every profile along with his signature catch-phrase, “Flip ‘em in!”
His storied profession spanned roots in radio and a prolific profession throughout a number of ABC O&O’s in San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and at last Los Angeles.
Van Amburg’s ardour for revolutionary storytelling was a household affair. His brother Fred, who glided by his final identify Van Amburg, was a well known broadcast anchorman for KGO within the Bay Space within the Nineteen Seventies and ‘80s. And sons Zack and Chris have adopted go well with in their very own lanes.
Van Amburg is survived by his spouse Mary, kids Zack, Chris and Arden, and 6 grandchildren.