A GUIDE TO RECALL COVERAGE.

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer

TELEVISION and news radio stations have been all over the recall campaign trail in recent weeks, and tonight they'll be poised to give up- to-the-minute results.

News outlets will be reporting some results of voter exit polls but, mindful of the seesawing Florida results in 2000, they are not likely to call the election one way or another based on exit polling and scant returns.

Here's a look at what's happening tonight:

BROADCAST TV

KNBC (Channel 4): Katie Couric will anchor ``Today'' (7 a.m.) from Los Angeles, as will Tom Brokaw on ``NBC Nightly News'' (6:30 p.m.). The 9 p.m. edition of ``Dateline NBC'' also will look at events and circumstances leading up to the election. KNBC Channel 4 will provide updates during the network's 8 to 10 p.m. programming and will pre-empt ``Law & Order: SVU'' at 10 p.m. for ``Decision 2003: Campaign for California,'' running as late as developments warrant.

KCBS (Channel 2) and KCAL (Channel 9): Both stations, owned by Viacom, are boasting a total of 12 hours of programming today dealing with the election. KCBS is moving ``Judging Amy'' to 7 p.m. to make way for special election coverage at 10 p.m. The recall also will play prominently in newscasts at 5 and 11 a.m. and 4, 5 and 6 p.m. KCAL will cover results during its 8 to 11 p.m. news block, followed by the Lakers preseason opener.

KABC (Channel 7): The station will provide updates in its 8 to 10 p.m. prime-time programming leading to a 10 p.m. election special and 11 p.m. newscast.

Fox (Channel 11) has the National League Championship game between the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins at 5 p.m. with news inserts throughout, followed immediately by a news recap before resuming regular programming. KTTV Channel 11 News picks up the recall torch at 10 p.m.

KTLA (Channel 5) will report during its regular 10 p.m. newscast, which may be extended if developments warrant.

KCOP (Channel 13) will run all its recall coverage in its regular 11 p.m. newscast.

KCET (Channel 28) will have analysis in its 7 p.m. ``Life and Times'' program, which replays at 11 p.m.

CABLE TV

CNN: Judy Woodruff's ``Inside Politics'' (noon), ``Crossfire'' (1:30 p.m.) and ``Wolf Blitzer Reports'' (2 p.m.) all will beam from California. At 8 p.m. into the night Blitzer will anchor recall coverage, and Wednesday's edition of ``American Morning'' picks up the morning-after reporting at 4 a.m.

Fox News: ``The O'Reilly Factor'' (5 p.m.), ``Hannity & Colmes'' (6 p.m.), ``On the Record With Greta Van Susteren'' (7 p.m.) and ``Special Report With Brit Hume'' (8 p.m.) all will focus on the election. The 9 p.m. edition of ``Hannity'' and 10 p.m. ``Van Susteren'' shows will be live as well.

MSNBC: ``Hardball With Chris Matthews'' airs in its usual 4 p.m. hour, and Matthews returns from 6 to 11 p.m. with continuous election coverage.

Game Show Network may be the go-to channel for hard-boiled cynics. GSN, which got a publicity boost from its game-show-like debate of underdog candidates, will air its ``Victory Party Live'' at 8 p.m. Porn queen Mary Carey will give her ``acceptance or concession speech'' at 8:45 p.m.

RADIO

KFWB-AM (980) will focus its daytime reporting to voting irregularities, poll lines, candidates' stunts and other scene reports, with results coverage at 7 p.m. anchored by Tracie Savage and Larry Carroll.

KCRW-FM (89.9) will have recall coverage anchored by Warren Olney airing from 7 to 9 p.m.

Valerie Kuklenski, [phone]

valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Beginning at 7 a.m., Katie Couric will broadcast her ``Today'' segments from Los Angeles; Tom Brokaw will anchor ``Nightly News'' at 6:30 p.m. also from L.A.

(3) ``Judging Amy,'' starring Amy Brenneman, will air at 7 tonight to allow extended election coverage.