One minute, Disney's news division is promoting the launch of the new Shanghai Disneyland theme park. The next minute, it is reporting on the alligator attack at Walt Disney World that left a 2-year-old boy, Lane Graves, dead.
"We begin with that devastating headline from Disney World," the "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir said Wednesday night.
The newscast included a lengthy report about the gator attack. But it excluded an angle that NBC and CBS (CBS) explored in detail: Whether there should have been signs warning about the presence of alligators around the lagoon where the attack occurred on Tuesday night.
NBC's parent, Comcast, owns competing theme parks in Orlando.
ABC's morning show, "Good Morning America," routinely integrates other Disney brands into its segments. This week "GMA" co-host Robin Roberts was scheduled to broadcast live from Shanghai on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
But on Wednesday morning Roberts was missing. "GMA" covered the breaking news about the gator attack extensively, and ABC News executives decided it would be inappropriate to have Roberts at the light-hearted resort setting.
"The news came first," one newsroom source said, and "we look forward to celebrating Shanghai at another time."
"World News" also made the gator attack the top story, and disclosed ABC's corporate connection twice in the coverage.
"Disney says it will thoroughly review this situation," he told Muir.
Deepest condolences to the Graves family. Thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/nXaRrgjLhl— OCSO FL News (@OrangeCoSheriff) June 16, 2016
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