Is former Channel 6 sports anchor Ping pulling a Shaq and jumping to LA? – Orlando Sentinel

First Shaq, then Dwight, now perhaps Ping, too.

Popular former WKMG-Channel 6 sports anchor David “Ping” Pingalore has apparently torn a page from the itinerary of Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard and could be on the verge of making a professional jump to Los Angeles.

Ping was doing the sports report on multiple newscasts Monday at KTLA-Channel 5 in Los Angeles. No word yet on whether he will sign a contract at the station.

WKMG-Channel 6’s decision not to renew the contract of Ping caught many viewers by surprise a few weeks ago. When I asked WKMG general manager Jeff Hoffman about the decision, he replied: “There has been a shift on how valuable and how popular sports is on local TV newscasts “The last station I was at [in Virginia] didn’t even have a sportscaster. The sports landscape has changed. There are so many other options now where people can get their sports scores and news.”

From all indications, though, it doesn’t appear as if sports has been de-emphasized at Channel 6. Jamie Seh, who had been doing weekend sports at WKMG, has been promoted to Ping’s old spot as sports director

Meanwhile, Ping posted a Facebook Live video Monday night from the newsroom of Los Angeles’ KTLA-Channel 5.

“I said a few weeks ago that I would be seeing you soon — I am here in Los Angeles, KTLA,” Ping told Facebook viewers. “… I flew out here over the weekend, and I have my badge. The weather is unbelievable here in Los Angeles. Thanks everybody for the support over the last several weeks. Certainly very excited to be here.”

According to sources close to the situation, Ping has not officially been hired by KTLA. He was reportedly filling in Monday night for KTLA sports anchor Derrin Horton, whose significant other just had a new baby. However, the Tribune Media station has had an opening for a sports anchor/reporter since October 2016. This could be a tryout for Pingalore, who interviewed at the L.A. station during his time in Orlando.