In the USA and Australia there is more interest in the local news and big cities are spread further apart so the national news is not broadcast at the same time.
Big city tv stations sell advertising locally so go for a more tabloid action type of news that focuses on car smashes,police chases and fires.
Helicopter are a cheap and easy way of gathering vision hard to get from the ground where access is usually roped off by emergency services.
In Europe we are a bit more sophisticated in the news we watch.
Just try watching Motorway Cops etc and see how quickly you get bored.
Most of the scrotes caught in those programmes never see a prison cell.