Skydance’s local television station in Sacramento is launching a year-round reporting unit focused on state politics, expanding on its Emmy Award-winning “Bear Politics” franchise and expanding it to more CBS-owned stations in Northern California.
On Thursday, CBS said the expanded Bear Politics initiative will include political reporters Steve Large and Darrielle Fair, along with political analyst Gary Dietrich, who will contribute reporting, interviews and analysis across the station’s broadcast, streaming and digital news platforms.
KOVR (Channel 13) in Sacramento will spearhead the initiative, with reports aired on other stations like KPIX (Channel 5) in San Francisco and KCBS (Channel 2) in Los Angeles. The expanded operation comes less than two weeks before California’s November 3 general election, when voters will decide a number of statewide and local contests.
CBS said the unit will provide coverage of candidates, campaign issues and policy decisions leading up to Election Day, with reporting continuing throughout the year.
“Sacramento is at the center of decisions that affect millions of Californians, and audiences deserve political reporting that extends beyond campaigns and election night,” Scott Warren, the President and General Manager of KOVR and KPIX, said in a statement. “The Bear Politics unit brings together an experienced team committed to asking consequential questions, providing meaningful context and helping people understand how decisions made at the Capitol and in their communities affect their daily lives.”
The initiative represents an expansion of an existing political reporting franchise rather than the introduction of an entirely new news product.
“Bear Politics” previously operated as a collaborative reporting effort between journalists at KOVR and KPIX, examining political disputes, legislative developments and public policy issues affecting communities throughout the state. That reporting earned a regional Emmy Award in 2024.
Under the expanded structure, “Bear Politics” will operate as a dedicated reporting unit based at KOVR, with a broader emphasis on sustained political coverage beyond individual election cycles.
KOVR, KPIX and KCBS news programming is widely available on free streaming services, including Skydance-owned Pluto TV, Paramount Plus, The Roku Channel, Plex and Local Now.
