Weather drives local TV news ratings in an increasingly lively Oklahoma capital. The market’s economy was long driven by energy, defense and agriculture but it has diversified, including a growing biotech sector.
KOCO, KFOR, KOKH, KOCB and KAUT began broadcasting Thursday with NextGen TV technology.
KFOR-KAUT Announce Plans For New Facility
“The new 4 Warn Storm Center will be designed from the ground up and stand as the centerpiece of the entire news operation. We’ll have the newest technology and the studios will be constructed utilizing the highest safety standards to withstand extreme severe weather so our team can deliver life-saving information on all digital platforms, without interruption, ” said Carlton Houston, news director of Tribune Media’s Oklahoma City duopoly.
News, Sales Changes At KFOR-KAUT
News director Mary Ann Eckstein is leaving after almost 33 years and Mark Martin has come on board at the Oklahoma City duopoly as general sales manager.
Reinventing The News Wheel Is A Tough Job
Taking a new look at three stations that adopted new approaches to their local newscasts over a year ago finds that “out with the old, in with the new” doesn’t always sit well with viewers. KOMU Columbia, Mo.’s Executive News Director Stacey Woelfel says he still believes that social media can still play a positive role in newsgathering, but that viewers don’t want their use to be so overt. “The tool got in the way of content that was perfectly fine.”
Exclusives
KAUT Oklahoma City Seeks Military Viewers
Local TV’s low-rated MNT affiliate has calculated that it may be able find its place in the 45th largest TV market by focusing on the large local community with connections to the military. If successful, Freedom 43, as the station is now calling itself, could prove the value of seeking niche audiences other than those based of gender, age or ethnicity, says Hofstra media prof Bob Papper.
