KFOR-TV

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

KFOR-TV

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Branding	Oklahoma's NewsChannel4
Channels	4 (VHF) analog, 27 (HDTV, UHF), 4.2 (NBC Weather Plus) digital
Affiliations	NBC
Owner	The New York Times Company (sale pending [1])
Founded	1949
Call letters meaning	K F O uR
Former callsigns	WKY-TV (1949-77), KTVY (1977-90)
Former affiliations	ABC, CBS, DuMont (1949-1956)[2]
Website	www.kfor.com

KFOR-TV, "Oklahoma's NewsChannel4" is the NBC affiliate based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Its studios and transmitter are co-located on North Britton Road in Oklahoma City. Owned by the New York Times Company and known for its stability in the anchor seat, KFOR has made significant gains in viewership, many times topping longtime ratings kingpin KWTV.

It has the characteristic of being only one of two stations in the state with two doppler radars (the other is KJRH in Tulsa), the southwest Oklahoma City doppler being the most powerful at 1 million watts of power.

1 History
2 KFOR in the Digital TV Age
3 News operations
4 News Sets/Graphics Packages
5 Newscasts
6 Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 on OK43
7 Personalities
- 7.1 Current On-Air Talent
8 News Presentation
- 8.1 Newscast Titles
- 8.2 Station Slogans
9 Office location
10 External links

[edit] History

The station began in 1949 as WKY-TV, owned by the Gaylord family's Oklahoma Publishing Company, publishers of the Daily Oklahoman, along with WKY AM. Over the years, the Gaylords acquired several other television and radio stations. The Gaylords sold WKY-TV to Universal Communications, a subsidiary of Detroit's Evening News Association (then owner of the Detroit News), in 1977. Universal Communications changed WKY-TV's call letters to KTVY after the sale was finalized.

After Gannett bought Universal Communications (whose television holdings included KTVY, KOLD-TV in Tucson, KVUE in Austin, Texas, WALA-TV in Mobile, Alabama and WDVM-TV in Washington, D.C.) in 1986, it sold KTVY (along with KOLD and WALA) to Knight Ridder Broadcasting after just one day of ownership. In this case, Gannett had to sell KTVY because it already owned ABC affiliate KOCO-TV at the time, since FCC rules then in effect did not allow television duopolies. In 1989, Knight Ridder sold the station to Palmer Communications, owner of fellow NBC affiliate WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa. Palmer changed the station's call letters to the current KFOR-TV in 1990.

The New York Times Company purchased KFOR and WHO-TV from Palmer Communications in 1996.

On September 13, 2006, The New York Times Company announced that it plans to sell off its television stations, including KFOR.

[edit] KFOR in the Digital TV Age

KFOR became the first television station in Oklahoma City to launch a digital signal in June of 1999. KFOR-DT also operates a second channel, KFOR-DT 4.2, which broadcasts weather information from NBC Weather Plus and features local weather forecasts and severe weather updates from KFOR's 4Warn Storm Team. It is branded as "4Warn 24/7," making it one of the few Weather Plus affiliates not to use its parent branding. KFOR does not simulcast the 4Warn 24/7 weather channel on the station's website, also unlike nearly all NBC affiliates that carry NBC Weather Plus on its digital signal.

[edit] News operations

KFOR has waged a high-spirited battle with KWTV in the Oklahoma City metro area for decades; currently it continues to run second in the news ratings behind its Oklahoma City rival.

KFOR adopted the NewsChannel format in 1990, following the station's change from KTVY. Currently, KFOR airs 32.5 hours of local news each week, second only to KWTV in the most hours of local news in the Oklahoma City area. On Sunday mornings, the station also airs Flash Point, a political/public affairs program focusing on state and national political issues, moderated by weekday evening anchor Kevin Ogle with Burns Hargis and Mike Turpin as panelists.

KFOR is the only station in Oklahoma City with an hour-long midday newscast and is only one of two stations in Oklahoma, Lawton ABC affiliate KSWO is the only other, with a hour-long newscast at 6:00PM. KFOR frequently advertises itself as having the number one newscasts in the morning and at Noon, 5:00PM and 6:00PM.

One of the station's principal anchors, Linda Cavanaugh, has been with the station since 1978. The Barrys and the Ogles are the prominent faces at KFOR. Sportscaster Bob Barry, who is sports anchor for the 5:00PM and 6:00PM newscasts, has been a fixture at KFOR since the 1960s. His son Bob Barry Jr. currently is the station's sports director and 10:00PM sports anchor. Kevin Ogle is co-anchor of the 6:00PM and 10:00PM newscasts, while brother Kent is co-anchor of the morning news on weekdays and principal anchor of the Noon newscast.

KFOR was known for its In Your Corner investigative reports by Brad Edwards, which ran from 1973 to 2006. Sadly, Edwards died in April 2006 after suffering a brain hemmorage which came an unexpected illness whose symptoms for the most part were unknown but included Bronchitis and inflammation of the lungs. KFOR recently decided to continue the In Your Corner segments with four reporters solving problems: Lance West, Cherokee Ballard, Ali Meyer and Scott Hines.

KFOR is also known for the segment Is This a Great State or What? with Galen Culver, airing Monday, Wednesday and Fridays during the 5:00PM newscast, which began in 1991. The segment, which is more of a lighter fare, features some of Oklahoma's most interesting stories and interesting people.

KFOR started a segment called The Rant with Kevin Ogle running Monday through Thursdays during NewsChannel 4 at 10:00 in early 2006, a segment similar to brother Kelly Ogle's My Two Cents segment on KWTV. The main difference is every edition of The Rant is a rant or rave by viewers who submitted an email on their take on the selected topic on KFOR's website. Each Thursday night edition is an Open Topic forum which features rants and raves from viewers on various subjects.

Following the sale of KAUT-TV to The New York Times Company, KFOR created a repurposed half-hour newscast called Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 at 9:00 on 43 airing Monday through Friday nights. The newscast is anchored by Cherokee Ballard (who previously anchored the weekend evening news for rival KOCO before joining KFOR in 2005) and Ernie Paulsen (who previously worked for Little Rock NBC affiliate KARK).

[edit] News Sets/Graphics Packages

In the last 15 years, KFOR has had three news set/weather center remodels. From 1993 to 2005, KFOR's news desk has been located in front of the newsroom. In November 2005, KFOR debuted a new state-of-the-art news set with the station's logo etched on the area of the set near where the anchor desk is located. Much like the 4:30 news set, this set features still news shots placed on "monitors." A separate set is used for certain news stories and also serves as the set for Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 at 9:00 on 43. The studio where the 4:30 newscast is done has not been updated in the 12 years that the 4:30 newscast has been on the air though some of the still pictures on the monitors have been updated from time to time usually those featuring station logos.

KFOR's graphics have also been updated about three times over the last 10 years. KFOR has updated and altered the graphics every four to six years with some modifications on their weather forecast graphics within the four year time period.

[edit] Newscasts

[edit] Weekdays

Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 Morning Edition: 5 - 7 AM
- anchored by Kent Ogle and Sarah Stewart with David Payne on weather
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 @ Noon: 12 - 1 PM
- anchored by Kent Ogle and Sarah Stewart with David Payne on weather
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 @ 4:30: 4:30 - 5 PM
- anchored by Kevin Ogle and Linda Cavanaugh with Mike Morgan on weather
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 @ 5: 5 - 5:30 PM
- anchored by Meg Alexander and Lance West with Mike Morgan on weather and Bob Barry Sr. with sports
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 @ 6: 6 - 6:30 PM
- anchored by Kevin Ogle and Linda Cavanaugh with Mike Morgan on weather and Bob Barry Jr. with sports
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 @ 6:30: 6:30 - 7 PM
- anchored by Meg Alexander and Lance West with Mike Morgan on weather and Bob Barry Sr. with sports
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 @ 10: 10 - 10:35 PM
- anchored by Kevin Ogle and Linda Cavanaugh with Mike Morgan on weather and Bob Barry Jr. with sports
Friday Night Heroes - 10:20 - 10:35PM (Fridays) (*)
- hosted by Bob Barry, Jr.
Friday Sports Overtime - 10:20 - 10:35PM (Fridays) +
- hosted by Bob Barry, Jr.

[edit] Saturday

Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 Morning Edition: 8 - 9 AM
- anchored by Tara Blume with Jonathan Conder on weather
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 @ 6: 6 - 6:30 PM
- anchored by Ali Meyer with Grant Johnston on weather and Brian Brinkley with sports
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 @ 10: 10 - 10:30 PM
- anchored by Ali Meyer with Grant Johnston on weather and Brian Brinkley with sports

[edit] Sunday

Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 Morning Edition: 6 - 7 AM and 8 - 9:30 AM
- anchored by Tara Blume with Jonathan Conder on weather
Flash Point (public affairs) - 9:30 - 10:00AM
- moderated by Kevin Ogle with Burns Hargis and Mike Turpin as commentators
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 @ 5:00: 5 - 5:30 PM
- anchored by Jack Damrill and Heather Holeman with Grant Johnston on weather and Brian Brinkley with sports
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 @ 10: 10 - 10:35 PM
- anchored by Jack Damrill and Heather Holeman with Grant Johnston on weather and Brian Brinkley with sports

+ During high school football season only

(*) During rest of the year NOTE: From 2002 to 2005, KFOR aired rebroadcasts of Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 at 10 at 10:30pm on KOPX. From 2004 to 2005, KOPX aired a rebroadcast of the 6-7AM hour of Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 Morning Edition, but KOPX discontinued the rebroadcasts of KFOR newscasts in 2005. Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 at 10 is rebroadcast at 1:05am weeknights, 1:35am Friday and Saturdays and 2:05am Sundays on KFOR.

[edit] Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 on OK43

On May 5, 2006, KFOR debuted a half-hour 9:00 newscast produced for KAUT Channel 43, entitled Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 at 9:00 on OK43 airing Monday through Friday nights. This newscast runs directly against the Fox Primetime News @ 9:00 on KOKH.

[edit] Personalities

[edit] Current On-Air Talent

NEWSCHANNEL 4 ANCHORS

Meg Alexander, 5PM & 6:30PM Anchor/Fill-in 4:30PM Anchor/Reporter
Tara Blume, Weekend Morning Anchor/Reporter
Linda Cavanaugh, 4:30, 6PM & 10PM Anchor/Reporter
Jack Damrill, Sunday Evening Anchor/Reporter
Heather Holeman, Sunday Evening Anchor/Reporter
Ali Meyer, Saturday Evening Anchor/Sunday Evening Fill-in Anchor/Reporter/In Your Corner Reporter
Kent Ogle, Morning, Noon Anchor/Reporter
Kevin Ogle, 4:30, 6PM & 10PM Anchor/"Flash Point" Moderator/Reporter
Sarah Stewart, Morning Anchor/Reporter
Lance West, 5PM & 6:30PM Anchor/Reporter/In Your Corner Reporter

NEWSCHANNEL 4 REPORTERS

Cherokee Ballard, General Assignment Reporter/9PM Anchor (OK43 Newscast)
Russell Carter, General Assignment Reporter
Galen Culver, "Is This A Great State or What?" Reporter
Ed Doney, General Assignment Reporter
Scott Hines, General Assignment Reporter/In Your Corner Reporter
Burns Hargis, Political Analyst/"Flash Point" Commentator
Sheradee Hurst, General Assignment Reporter/Consumer Reporter
Bobbie Miller, General Assignment Reporter
Tina McGarry, General Assignment Reporter
Ernie Paulson, General Assignment Reporter/9PM Anchor (OK43 Newscast)
Mike Turpin, Political Analyst/"Flash Point" Commentator

4WARN STORM TEAM METEOROLOGISTS

Mike Morgan (AMS Certified), 4:30, 5, 6, 6:30, 10PM Chief Meteorologist
David Payne (NWA Certified), Weekday Morning, Midday Meteorologist/Fill-in Meteorologist
Jonathan Conder, Weekend Evening Meteorologist/Fill-in Meteorologist
Grant Johnston, Weekend Morning Meteorologist/Fill-in Meteorologist

SPORTS ANCHORS/REPORTERS

Bob Barry, Sr., 5PM Sports Anchor
Bob Barry, Jr., Sports Director/6PM, 10PM Sports Anchor/"Friday Night Heroes" and "Friday Sports Overtime" Host
Brian Brinkley, Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter
Matt Reese, Fill-in Sports Anchor/Sports Reporter
Damon Fontineau, Sports Reporter

[edit] News Presentation

[edit] Newscast Titles

Action 4 News (Late 1970s-Mid 1980s)
News 4 Oklahoma (Late 1980s-1990)
NewsTeam 4 (1990-1992)
NewsChannel 4 (1992-1997) while KFOR has since reverted its branding to Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4, some reporters still occasionally sign off their reports with "(reporter's name), NewsChannel 4." Currently, the only reporter who does this is Galen Culver.
Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4 (1996-present (used interchangeably with NewsChannel 4 branding from 1996 to 1997))

[edit] Station Slogans

Going All Out 4 Oklahoma (Late 1980s-1990)
Oklahoma's News Channel (1990-present)
Where The News Comes First (1990-1997)
Expect The News First (1997-2001)

[edit] Office location

KFOR's studios and transmitter are located at 444 East Britton Road, within driving distance of the studios of KOCO-TV.

[edit] External links

Broadcast television in the Oklahoma City market (Nielsen DMA #46)
KFOR 4 (NBC) - KOCO 5 (ABC) - KOHC 7 (AZA) - KWTV 9 (CBS) - KETA 13 / KWET 12 (PBS / OETA) - KTBO 14 (TBN) - KLHO 17 (LFN) - KUOT 19 (LFN) - KTOU 21 (HSN) - KOKH 25 (Fox) - KGBN 27 (A1) - KTUZ 30 (TMD) - KWEM 31 (A1) - KXOK 32 (A1) - KOCB 34 (The CW) - KUOK 35 (UNI) - KXOC 41 (A1) - KAUT 43 (MNTV) - KOCM 46 (DS) - KSBI 52 (Ind) - KOPX 62 (i)
Local cable television channels City Channel 20 - News Now 53