KFOR-TV

{{For|the former television station in Lincoln, Nebraska|KFOR-TV (Nebraska)}}

{{Infobox television station

| callsign = KFOR-TV

| logo = KFOR News 4.png

| logo_alt = A blue box with the text "Oklahoma's News" in a sans-serif; to the right, a red box with a stylized segmented number 4 in white

| logo_size = 225px

| location = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

| country = United States

| digital = 27 (UHF)

| virtual = 4

| branding = Oklahoma's News 4

| affiliations = {{ubl|4.1: NBC|for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}}}

| owner = Nexstar Media Group

| licensee = Tribune Broadcasting Company II LLC

| sister_stations = KAUT-TV

| translators = See {{section link||Translators}}

| airdate = {{start date and age|1949|6|6|p=y|br=yes}}

| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WKY-TV (1949–1976)|KTVY (1976–1990)}}

| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|Analog: 4 (VHF, 1949–2009)}}

| former_affiliations = {{ubl|All secondary:|CBS (1949–1953)|ABC (1949–1958)|DuMont (1949–1955)|Paramount (1950–1953)|NTA Film (1956–1961)}}

| callsign_meaning = "Channel Four"{{r|KTVYSwitchesKFOR}}

| erp = {{ubl|{{val|600|u=kW|fmt=commas}}|{{val|800|u=kW|fmt=commas}} (CP)}}

| haat = {{convert|467|m|ft|0|abbr=on|sp=us}}

| facility_id = 66222

| coordinates = {{coord|35|34|7|N|97|29|21|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}

| licensing_authority = FCC

| website = {{URL|https://kfor.com/}}

}}

KFOR-TV (channel 4) is a television station in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside KAUT-TV (channel 43), an owned-and-operated station of The CW. The two stations share studios in Oklahoma City's McCourry Heights section, where KFOR-TV's transmitter is also located.

As Oklahoma's first television station, KFOR-TV signed on in June 1949 as WKY-TV, the television extension to WKY (930 AM). In its early years, WKY-TV boasted several regional and national technical firsts: it was the first independently-owned network affiliate to directly originate color programs, the first station to operate a mobile broadcasting unit for live event coverage, the first station to broadcast legislative sessions and cover court proceedings, and the first television station to broadcast a tornado warning. Originally owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company, a direct predecessor to Gaylord Broadcasting, the station became KTVY in 1976 and KFOR-TV in 1990.

History

= WKY-TV =

== Edward K. Gaylord's vision ==

{{Quote box

| quote = There is no outlook now for telecasting here, developments are coming every day, but the time is yet fairly distant... When television is practicable on a local scale, WKY, which led the radio field here, will install the necessary machinery.

| author = Edgar T. Bell

| source = Oklahoma Publishing Co. general manager, November 17, 1939{{r|TVDistant}}

| align = left

| width = 275px

| qalign = left

| salign = right

}}

Fascinated with the medium since the late 1930s, Edward K. Gaylord's April 13, 1936, dedication to new studios at the Skirvin Tower Hotel for his radio station, WKY, ended with a public pledge to bring television to Oklahoma when it and other related inventions had been perfected.{{Cite news|date=April 18, 1936|title=Speaker Describes New WKY Studio As The 'Most Modern in the World'|page=2|work=Sooner State Press|publisher=University of Oklahoma|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82309855/speaker-describes-new-wky-studio-as-the/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728000622/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82309855/speaker-describes-new-wky-studio-as-the/|url-status=live}}{{sfn|Meeks|1991|p=30}} With his Oklahoma Publishing Company (OPUBCO), Gaylord published both the morning Daily Oklahoman and evening Oklahoma Times newspapers, and had purchased WKY—established in 1922 as Oklahoma's first radio station{{efn|Prior to receiving a commercial license in 1922, WKY operated as experimental station 5XT from 1920 to 1922 and is also regarded as one of the oldest radio stations west of the Mississippi.}}—in 1928, successfully turning a profit for the station within two years.{{Cite news|date=April 14, 1936|title=WKY's Guests Offer Praise Of New Studio|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82310541/wkys-guests-offer-praise-of-new/ 4]|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82310488/wkys-guests-offer-praise-of-new-studio/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728000632/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82310488/wkys-guests-offer-praise-of-new-studio/|url-status=live}} His pledge soon manifest itself on an exhibitory basis in mid-November 1939{{sfn|West|1991|pp=32–33}} when OPUBCO sponsored a six-day demonstration of telecasts and broadcast equipment at the Oklahoma City Municipal Auditorium in downtown Oklahoma City, now the Civic Center Music Hall.{{Cite news|date=November 13, 1939|title=Mirrors, Buttons And Wires Create Modern Miracle|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81967358/mirrors-buttons-and-wires-create/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190530/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81967358/mirrors-buttons-and-wires-create/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=November 13, 1939|title=Television Apparatus Installed For First Shows Today|page=15|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81967207/television-apparatus-installed-for/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190534/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81967207/television-apparatus-installed-for/|url-status=live}} With equipment set up and operated by RCA engineers,{{Cite news|date=November 10, 1939|title=Television Baggage Is Unpacked|page=7|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81967645/television-baggage-is-unpacked/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190529/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81967645/television-baggage-is-unpacked/|url-status=live}} the event featured appearances by performers from NBC and WKY{{Cite news|date=November 14, 1939|title=Interest in Television's Magic Twice Fills Auditorium; Queen of Light Waves Makes Debut|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81966413/interest-in-televisions-magic-twice/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190536/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81966413/interest-in-televisions-magic-twice/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |first=Brad|last=Agnew |date=October 8, 2016 |title=TV transformative for Tahlequah residents |work=Tahlequah Daily Press |publisher=Community Newspaper Holdings |url=http://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/tv-transformative-for-tahlequah-residents/article_1f190770-f861-5b79-a644-f025201f2e64.html |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123103256/https://www.tahlequahdailypress.com/news/tv-transformative-for-tahlequah-residents/article_1f190770-f861-5b79-a644-f025201f2e64.html |url-status=live }} with attendees given an opportunity to be "televised" to other attendees watching television sets throughout the auditorium.{{Cite news|date=November 4, 1939|title=If You Want To Be Broadcast, See Television|page=16|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81968506/if-you-want-to-be-broadcast-see/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190532/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81968506/if-you-want-to-be-broadcast-see/|url-status=live}} OPUBCO executive Edgar T. Bell downplayed the immediate outlook for local television as "distant" despite well-received attendance for the exhibition; estimates had as many as 25,000 attendees on Thursday, taxing the auditorium's capacity.{{Cite news|date=November 17, 1939|title=Daily Television Is Far In Future|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81966274/daily-television-is-far-in-future/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190531/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81966274/daily-television-is-far-in-future/|url-status=live}} During November and early December 1944, OPUBCO conducted a similar, 19-city television exhibition tour across central and western Oklahoma{{Cite news|date=November 10, 1944|title=Television Caravan Ready|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81973274/television-caravan-ready/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190530/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81973274/television-caravan-ready/|url-status=live}}—open to residents who had purchased war bonds, as well as for attendees that wished to purchase them—that included performances from WKY personalities and demonstrations by television technicians.{{Cite news|date=November 10, 1944|title=Television Star is in State for WKY Caravan|page=18|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81973099/television-star-is-in-state-for-wky/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190534/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81973099/television-star-is-in-state-for-wky/|url-status=live}} The tour was attended by a total of 50,000 bond buyers with crowd size regarded as large throughout,{{Cite news|date=December 3, 1944|title=WKY Caravan Finishes Tour At Chickasha|page=A-19|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81970709/wky-caravan-finishes-tour-at-chickasha/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190536/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81970709/wky-caravan-finishes-tour-at-chickasha/|url-status=live}} several cities even saw encore performances due to overwhelming demand.{{Cite news|last=Rucker|first=Tom|date=November 19, 1944|title=WKY Caravan Continues Tour In Bond Drive|page=B-10|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81972971/wky-caravan-continues-tour-in-bond-drive/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190531/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81972971/wky-caravan-continues-tour-in-bond-drive/|url-status=live}}

{{Quote box

| quote = We knew we'd lose money.... I expected it would take at least 90 days of red tape up there in Washington, but we got approval almost by return mail.

| author = Edward K. Gaylord

| source = recounting the 1948 application for WKY-TV's license{{r|oklahoman-wkytv}}

| align = right

| width = 250px

| qalign = left

| salign = right

}}

Gaylord submitted a permit application to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on April 14, 1948{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/a4a3f81b-0291-e7a9-f898-2da6ba2be4b3|title=FCC History Cards for KFOR-TV|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}{{Cite magazine |id={{ProQuest|1014894560}} |date=April 26, 1948 |title=Actions of the FCC |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=48 }} for a television station on VHF channel 4.{{Cite magazine |date=April 19, 1948 |title=Seek Video: 12 More File Applications With Commission|id={{ProQuest|1014890258}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|page=27 }} Upon filing, Gaylord estimated any financial loss for the TV station would be offset within two years, echoing how WKY turned a profit two years after being purchased by OPUBCO.{{sfn|West|1991|p=34}} The FCC granted the license to Gaylord on June 2, 1948,{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite magazine |id={{ProQuest|1010499003}} |date=June 7, 1948 |title=Video Grants: FCC Authorizes Seven More |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|page=44 }} | {{cite magazine|id={{ProQuest|1010460289}}|date=June 7, 1948|title=Actions of the FCC|periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|page=79}} }} with the station assigned the WKY-TV call sign, joining WKY and WKY-FM (98.9), which signed on in July 1947.{{Cite news|date=June 3, 1948|title=Permit Granted for Television|page=20|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82337358/permit-granted-for-television/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728160700/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82337358/permit-granted-for-television/|url-status=live}} Studio facilities for WKY-TV were based at the Municipal Auditorium—WKY's studios remained at the nearby Skirvin Tower Hotel—with production facilities on the second floor in the Little Theatre.{{Cite news|date=June 5, 1949|title=This Controls The Television System|page=E-24|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82339410/this-controls-the-television-system/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728160703/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82339410/this-controls-the-television-system/|url-status=live}}{{sfn|West|1991|p=36}} Prior to launch, a fire to the theatre on November 17, 1948, resulted in $150,000 in damage{{Cite news|date=November 17, 1948|title=Little Theater's Loss is $150,000|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82337838/little-theaters-loss-is-150000-p2/ 2]|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82337760/little-theaters-loss-is-150000/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728160700/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82337760/little-theaters-loss-is-150000/|url-status=live}}

{{Cite news|date=November 17, 1948|title=Up in Smoke|page=3|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82337962/up-in-smoke/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728160702/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82337962/up-in-smoke/|url-status=live}} with most of the technical and production equipment replaced during renovations to the theatre that followed; soundproofing material was also added to limit disruptions between television productions and stage productions.{{Cite magazine |date=April 18, 1949 |title=Oklahoma TV: WKY-TV Studios Completed|id={{ProQuest|1016841950}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=35 }}

While assembling the TV transmitter antenna onto WKY's {{convert|968|ft|m|abbr=out|sp=us|adj=on}} broadcast tower in April 1949, an accident occurred when the antenna fell {{convert|8|ft|m}} while being hoisted upward; the antenna suffered minimal damage{{Cite news|date=June 5, 1949|title=Wires, Tubes and Headaches Keep Engineer Lovell Busy; Expert Faces Weary Routine|page=E26|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82335948/wires-tubes-and-headaches-keep/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728160705/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82335948/wires-tubes-and-headaches-keep/|url-status=live}} but added to delays earlier in the month due to inclement weather.{{Cite magazine |date=April 11, 1949 |title=Oklahoma Video: WKY-TV Installs Antenna|id={{ProQuest|1014901116}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=164 }} Daily test broadcasts over WKY-TV began on April 21 consisting of music played over a test pattern slide, enabling television set owners in Oklahoma and neighboring states to contact the station to report signal reception.{{Cite news|date=April 24, 1949|title=TV Pattern Goes on Air Daily Monday|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320573/tv-pattern-goes-on-air-daily-monday/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728024311/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320573/tv-pattern-goes-on-air-daily-monday/|url-status=live}}

{{Cite news|date=April 24, 1949|title=In Channel 4...|page=2|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320704/in-channel-4/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728024300/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320704/in-channel-4/|url-status=live}}
{{Cite news|date=April 23, 1949|title=TV Test Pattern|page=14|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82008357/tv-test-pattern/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728160705/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82008357/tv-test-pattern/|url-status=live}} The test signal operated at low power for three days following a lightning strike to a junction box on the tower on April 27.{{Cite news|date=April 28, 1949|title=Lightning Hits TV Antenna|page=2|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320413/lightning-hits-tv-antenna/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728024304/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320413/lightning-hits-tv-antenna/|url-status=live}} Closed-circuit transmissions began on May 27 with a wrestling match at the Stockyards Coliseum{{Cite news|date=May 28, 1949|title=TV Tells Tale Of The Tape|page=9|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82338789/tv-tells-tale-of-the-tape/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728160707/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82338789/tv-tells-tale-of-the-tape/|url-status=live}} along with two weeks worth of dress rehearsals between the local performers and show producers.{{Cite news|date=April 27, 1949|title=WKY-TV Day? It'll Be June 6!|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320019/wky-tv-day-itll-be-june-6-p2/ 2]|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320001/wky-tv-day-itll-be-june-6/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728024309/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320001/wky-tv-day-itll-be-june-6/|url-status=live}}
{{Cite news|last=Wilson|first=Madelaine|date=June 3, 1949|title=WKY Studios Buzz With TV Practice|page=9|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82338555/wky-studios-buzz-with-tv-practice/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728160704/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82338555/wky-studios-buzz-with-tv-practice/|url-status=live}}

== A 'pioneer station' ==

File:WKY RCA Victor TV ad.jpg television sets exhibiting WKY-TV's studios, control room and transmitter installation; WKY-TV was set to begin formal operations the following day.|alt=Refer to caption]]WKY-TV's inaugural broadcast on June 6, 1949, included speeches from Gaylord, executive vice president/general manager Proctor A. "Buddy" Sugg and Governor Roy J. Turner, a short feature on the new medium by Gaylord and Sugg and a film outlining programs WKY-TV would air.{{Cite news|date=June 6, 1949|title=Video Screens Bloom Tonight|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82311661/video-screens-bloom-tonight/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728000626/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82311661/video-screens-bloom-tonight/|url-status=live}} Gaylord boasted during his on-air address that WKY-TV had both the finest television studio in the country and the tallest transmission tower outside of NBC's transmitter for WNBT atop the Empire State Building.{{Cite news|last=Van Dyke|first=Bill|date=June 7, 1949|title=Stars Parade as WKY Video Gets Under Way|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82308821/stars-parade-as-wky-video-gets-under/ 2]|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82308787/stars-parade-as-wky-video-gets-under-way/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728000624/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82308787/stars-parade-as-wky-video-gets-under-way/|url-status=live}}{{sfn|West|1991|p=43}} The station was the first to sign on in the state of Oklahoma and the 65th station in the United States to sign on.{{Cite news|last=Guffey|first=Chan|date=June 6, 1949|title=Station Ready To Bring State New Diversions|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82312170/station-ready-to-bring-state-new/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728000633/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82312170/station-ready-to-bring-state-new/|url-status=live}} "Television parties" occurred throughout the city and state as people suspended or heavily curtailed their regular activities to watch the new station in homes, laundromats, bars, appliance stores and other businesses;{{Cite news|last=Patrick|first=Imogene|date=June 7, 1949|title=At Laundromats And in Homes, TV Scores With Bang|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82318724/at-laundromats-and-in-homes-tv-scores/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728024302/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82318724/at-laundromats-and-in-homes-tv-scores/|url-status=live}}{{sfn|West|1991|p=44}} in Tulsa, approximately 1,000 people sat outside of a store to watch the transmissions.{{Cite news|date=June 7, 1942|title=First Television Broadcast Success|page=1|work=Rogers County News|agency=United Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82318995/first-television-broadcast-success/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728024304/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82318995/first-television-broadcast-success/|url-status=live}}

Broadcasting over WKY-TV was originally limited to two and a half hours every night, Saturday excluded.{{sfn|West|1991|p=45}} Saturday transmissions began on February 11, 1950, and a morning schedule was added by 1951, giving the station 90 cumulative hours of weekly programming.{{Cite news|date=June 11, 1989|title=KTVY Celebrates 40th Birthday|pages=17, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82340912/ktvy-celebrates-40th-birthday-p2/ 68]:Television News|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82340636/ktvy-celebrates-40th-birthday/|url-status=live|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728160701/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82340636/ktvy-celebrates-40th-birthday/}} As WKY had been an NBC Radio Network affiliate since December 1928, WKY-TV debuted with the market's NBC-TV affiliation along with supplemental CBS-TV and ABC-TV clearances.{{Cite news|date=April 23, 1949|title=WKY Takes On Two More TV Contracts|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82308072/wky-takes-on-two-more-tv-contracts/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728000624/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82308072/wky-takes-on-two-more-tv-contracts/|url-status=live}} Due to Oklahoma City not being connected yet to transcontinental coaxial cables, a process AT&T estimated could take another two years to complete,{{r|StationNewDiversions}} all network programming had to be via film and kinescope.{{r|WKY-ABC-CBS}} A short feature NBC prepared welcoming WKY-TV to the network aired on the station's debut night,{{r|VideoScreensBloom}} while the first NBC program, Who Said That?, was broadcast via kinescope on June 17.{{Cite news |date=May 17, 2002 |title=WKY Television |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/862167 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044234/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/862167/wky-television |url-status=live }} The station additionally carried select programming from DuMont and the Paramount Television Network, the latter from 1950 until ceasing operations in 1953.{{Cite news |first=Joe|last=Angus |date=June 3, 1984 |title=Oklahoma TV 35 years old: Channel 4 first to air |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2070404 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044259/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2070404/oklahoma-tv-35-years-old-channel-4-first-to-air |url-status=live }}

Channel 4's initial local programming included some WKY shows that were adapted for television, including variety series Wiley and Gene hosted by Wiley Walker and Gene Sullivan, and children's program The Adventures of Gismo Goodkin hosted by puppeteer—and high school senior—Robert Jerkins.{{Cite news|date=June 3, 1949|title=Gismo to be on WKY Television|page=1|work=The Shawnee American|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82319519/gismo-to-be-on-wky-television/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728024300/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82319519/gismo-to-be-on-wky-television/|url-status=live}} Oklahoma Times scribe R. G. Miller hosted the weekly Smoking Room that was an extension of his newspaper column.{{Cite news|date=June 5, 1949|title=Smoke...|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320873/smoke/|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728024306/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82320873/smoke/|url-status=live}} Danny Williams joined WKY-TV in 1950 to host a daily talk show, announce professional wrestling telecasts, and appear as Spavinaw Spoofkin on Gismo Goodkin.{{Cite news|date=February 20, 2013|title=OKC TV, radio icon Danny Williams dies|page=16A|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82342473/obituary-for-danny-williams-aged-85/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728160701/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82342473/obituary-for-danny-williams-aged-85/|url-status=live}}

{{Cite news|date=February 19, 2013|title=Timeline: Danny Williams|work=The Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/3757175|url-status=live|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225171706/http://newsok.com/article/3757175|archive-date=February 25, 2013}} Williams later fronted children's program The Adventures of 3-D Danny as "Supreme Galaxy Chief Dan D. Dynamo", incorporating science fiction and time travel elements derived from Flash Gordon with cartoon short subjects.{{r|3DDannyHonors}}{{Cite news|date=February 19, 2013|title=Oklahoma City television and radio icon Danny Williams dies|work=The Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/3757138|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=May 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515123521/http://newsok.com/article/3757138|url-status=live}} Airing on WKY-TV from 1953 to 1959, the ratings for 3-D Danny often beat those of ABC's The Mickey Mouse Club,{{Cite news|last=Osburn|first=Lyn|date=July 9, 1978|title=Durable Danny: Senior Disc Jockey (and sometimes unendurable)|pages=4, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82456297/durable-danny-senior-disc-jockey-and/ 5], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82456342/durable-danny-senior-disc-jockey-and/ 6], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82456455/durable-danny-senior-disc-jockey-and/ 7]|work=The Sunday Oklahoman Oklahomans Magazine|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82456270/durable-danny-senior-disc-jockey-and/|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730042425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82456270/durable-danny-senior-disc-jockey-and/|url-status=live}} making it the first local television program in the country to achieve that feat.{{Cite news|first=Ann|last=DeFrange|date=March 14, 2006|title=Oklahoma History Center honors TV's 3-D Danny|work=The Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2935353|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044235/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2935353/oklahoma-history-center-honors-tvs-3-d-danny|url-status=live}}

File:Civic Center 2013-08-27 13-19.jpg) served as the first studio home for WKY-TV. Studios were custom-built to minimize interference with any adjacent stage productions.|alt=Exterior picture of the Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City.]]Sports quickly became a fixture at the station, with high school basketball,{{Cite news|date=August 16, 1949|title=WKY to Televise Star Cage Game|page=15|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82182657/wky-to-televise-star-cage-game/|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725233614/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82182657/wky-to-televise-star-cage-game/|url-status=live}} football, golf and softball matches all broadcast within the first year.{{Cite news|date=August 3, 1949|title=WKY to Televise Queens' Softball|page=15|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82182350/wky-to-televise-queens-softball/|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725233614/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82182350/wky-to-televise-queens-softball/|url-status=live}} WKY-TV reached a deal to broadcast all ten Oklahoma Sooners football games for the 1949 season, with all home games airing live starting with the October 1 Texas A&M Aggies matchup at Owen Field.{{Cite news|date=September 20, 1949|title=Night and Day, At Home or Away TV Follows OU|page=11|work=The Oklahoma Daily|publisher=University of Oklahoma|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82180940/night-and-day-at-home-or-away-tv/|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725233616/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82180940/night-and-day-at-home-or-away-tv/|url-status=live}} Oklahoma A&M Aggies football was subsequently added, but with all of their games recorded on film.{{Cite news|date=September 29, 1949|title=College Football Goes On Television|page=12|work=The Hollis Weekly News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82183646/college-football-goes-on-television/|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725233615/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82183646/college-football-goes-on-television/|url-status=live}} WKY-TV also originated Bud Wilkinson's Football starting in September 1953.{{Cite news|date=September 8, 1953|title=WKY-TV Low Band Channel 4: Today (advertisement)|page=13|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82172634/wky-tv-low-band-channel-4-today/|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725213046/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82172634/wky-tv-low-band-channel-4-today/|url-status=live}} The first college football analysis program, it featured the Sooners' three-time national championship head coach discussing the previous week's game,{{Cite web|first=Andrew|last=McGregor|date=May 9, 2016|title=The Bud Wilkinson Show: Television, the NCAA, and the Cold War|url=https://ussporthistory.com/2016/05/09/the-bud-wilkinson-show-television-the-ncaa-and-the-cold-war/|access-date=October 2, 2017|website=Sport in American History|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220407/https://ussporthistory.com/2016/05/09/the-bud-wilkinson-show-television-the-ncaa-and-the-cold-war/|url-status=live}} a necessity after the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) enacted guidelines limiting live television coverage of college football.{{Cite news|last=Van Dyke|first=Bill|date=September 24, 1953|title=Regents Will Obey Football TV Limit|pages=1-[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82174250/regents-will-obey-football-tv-limit-p2/ 2]|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82174196/regents-will-obey-football-tv-limit/|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725213048/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82174196/regents-will-obey-football-tv-limit/|url-status=live}} Wilkinson also hosted Sports for the Family starting in 1954 that focused on a variety of sports, filmed and packaged for syndication to television stations around the U.S.{{Cite news|date=July 20, 1954|title=Sooner Coach Completes TV Sports Series|page=14|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82170932/sooner-coach-completes-tv-sports-series/|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725213050/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82170932/sooner-coach-completes-tv-sports-series/|url-status=live}} Among the play-by-play announcers for these shows was Ross Porter, starting with the 1960 season at age 21;{{Cite news|date=August 23, 1960|title=Porter picked as narrator for Big Red|page=1|work=Shawnee News-Star|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82766691/porter-picked-as-narrator-for-big-red/|access-date=August 3, 2021}} already a WKY news reporter, Porter would soon emerge as WKY-TV's sports director until leaving for Los Angeles in 1966.{{Cite news|date=October 5, 1966|title=Ross Porter Quits WKY Sports Post|page=14|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82766739/ross-porter-quits-wky-sports-post/|access-date=August 3, 2021}}{{Cite web|date=August 23, 2011|title=10 Questions with ... Ross Porter|url=https://www.allaccess.com/news-talk-sports/10-questions/archive/11161/10-questions-with-ross-porter|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128085951/https://www.allaccess.com/news-talk-sports/10-questions/archive/11161/10-questions-with-ross-porter|archive-date=January 28, 2021|access-date=August 3, 2021|website=All Access|publisher=All Access Music Group|language=en}} Under varying titles to 1963, Wilkinson's shows on WKY-TV helped boost awareness of the Sooners' football program and encourage physical fitness, with Wilkinson rejecting most advertising in favor of National Guard PSAs.{{r|BudShowNCAA}} Football was not the only college sport WKY-TV covered, a 1966 wrestling match between the Sooners and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys became the first of its kind to be televised live.{{Cite news|date=February 16, 2003|title=Company scores historic firsts|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/1916973|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044240/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/1916973/company-scores-historic-firsts|url-status=live}}

After OPUBCO declined to renew the lease for WKY's studios in the Skirvin, plans were made to combine it and WKY-TV's operations into a combined studio facility{{Cite magazine|date=January 30, 1950|title=WKY Plans New Building and Studio|id={{ProQuest|1401179577}}|periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|page=44}} on Britton Road east of the transmission towers for both stations, as well as WKY-FM.{{sfn|West|1991|p=46}} Ground was broken for the studios on July 10, 1950, with WKY moving into the facility on March 26, 1951;{{sfn|Meeks|1991|pp=37–38}} WKY-TV followed suit by July 17.{{Cite news|date=July 18, 1951|title=WKY-TV Shifts to Britton From Auditorium|page=11|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82358775/wky-tv-shifts-to-britton-from-auditorium/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728202033/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82358775/wky-tv-shifts-to-britton-from-auditorium/|url-status=live}} The new facility included television soundstages engineered to also allow origination of radio programs over WKY.{{Cite news|date=May 17, 2002|title=Television Enters the Picture|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/862166|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044254/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/862166/television-enters-the-picture|url-status=live}} The AT&T coaxial cable network was completed in 1952, WKY-TV was able to link to the network via microwave relays from Dallas.{{Cite news|date=July 2, 1952|title=WKY Switches Into TV Network|page=6|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82358953/wky-switches-into-tv-network/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728202032/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82358953/wky-switches-into-tv-network/|url-status=live}} The milestone was inaugurated the morning of July 1, 1952, with Gaylord giving a short message and pressing a button to activate the network connections, joining NBC's Today live in progress.{{Cite news|date=July 1, 1952|title=State Television Stations Become Part of Network|page=1|work=The Ponca City News|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82358094/state-television-stations-become-part/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728202031/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82358094/state-television-stations-become-part/|url-status=live}} With this, WKY-TV was able to sign on at 7 a.m. daily, increasing its programming to 111 hours per week.{{sfn|West|1991|p=46}}{{Cite news|date=May 17, 2002|title=WKY Television|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/862167|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044236/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/862167/wky-television|url-status=live}} Gaylord's predictions of financial shortfalls for the station being offset after two years came to pass, as WKY-TV lost $270,000 between 1949 and 1950, then turned a profit in 1951.{{Cite magazine|last=Codel|first=Martin|date=June 26, 1954|title=HEAVY LOSSES...|volume=10|page=8|magazine=Television Digest|publisher=Radio News Bureau|issue=26}}

OPUBCO successfully challenged the FCC over their Sixth Report and Order{{efn|The Sixth Report and Order ended a September 1948 freeze imposed by the FCC on issuing television station licenses and realigned VHF channel assignments in multiple markets.}} that proposed the channel 4 allocation be reassigned to Tulsa and WKY-TV move to channel 7, citing engineering costs, possible effects on the AM station's transmissions, and a need for viewers to replace existing outdoor antennas.{{Cite magazine |date=November 5, 1951 |title=WKY-TV Channel; Sees Change Costly|id={{ProQuest|1401197339}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=95 }} The FCC rescinded the frequency change request in April 1952, noting WKY-TV would have enough feasible co-channel assignment separation from Dallas's KRLD-TV; the channel 7 allocation was reassigned to Lawton for use by KSWO-TV.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iDLVAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22WKY+Radiophone+Company+was+ordered+to+show+cause%22&pg=PA397|pages=397–402|title=Television Assignments: Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Lawton, Oklahoma (41 FCC 397–402)|work=Federal Communications Commission Reports|volume=41|date=April 14, 1952}} Due to the FCC's 1948 licensing freeze, WKY-TV was the only television station in Oklahoma City until 1953, when UHF-based competitors—KTVQ and KMPT "KLPR-TV"—debuted on October 28 and November 8. Though KTVQ and KMPT respectively signed on as basic ABC and DuMont affiliates, channel 4 continued to carry selected programs from both networks;{{Cite magazine |date=September 7, 1953 |title=WKY-TV Signs ABC Basic Pact |id={{ProQuest|1201403841}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=70 }} in contrast, WKY disaffiliated from CBS on November 14, one month prior to KWTV (channel 9) signing on.{{Cite magazine |date=October 26, 1953 |title=WKY-TV to Drop CBS-TV As KWTV Nears Affiliation |id={{ProQuest|1401209911}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=74 }} At the same time, OPUBCO donated $150,000 worth of existing WKY-TV equipment to the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) for its proposed Oklahoma City station, KETA-TV (channel 13), which signed on in April 1956.{{Cite news|date=May 17, 2002|title=Television Enters the Picture|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/862166|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044236/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/862166/television-enters-the-picture|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Davis|first=Sandi |date=April 18, 1999 |title=Feb. 11, 1950: WKY-TV Lets City Viewers Tune In to Television Era |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2649975 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044243/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2649975/feb-11-1950-wky-tv-lets-city-viewers-tune-in-to-television-era |url-status=live }} WKY-TV carried select DuMont fare until that network discontinued operations in August 1956, while ABC programming left in March 1958 when Enid-licensed ABC affiliate KGEO-TV (channel 5) changed call letters to KOCO-TV and refocused its coverage area to include Oklahoma City.{{cite magazine|date=March 3, 1958|id={{ProQuest|1285753263}}|title=For the Record|periodical=Broadcasting|page=91}}

== Broadcasting in living color ==

{{Quote box

| quote = Once viewers observe color telecasts they will feel it is far more revolutionary than was the beginning of regular televising in the first place. Color will add a whole new perception and dimension to television that will certainly justify immediate viewer acceptance.

| author = P. A. Sugg

| source = WKY-TV general manager{{r|WKYColorOnWay}}

| align = right

| width = 275px

| qalign = left

| salign = right

}}

File:Color TV Camera, WKY-TV.jpg color television camera on display at the Oklahoma History Center. WKY-TV was the first non-network owned television station to originate local programming in color in 1954.{{Cite web|first=Bill|last=Moore|date=July 4, 2016|title=WKY-TV: First In Local Live Color|url=http://eyesofageneration.com/wky-tv-first-in-local-live-color/|access-date=October 2, 2017|website=Eyes of a Generation|publisher=Museum of Broadcast Technology|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220159/http://eyesofageneration.com/wky-tv-first-in-local-live-color/|url-status=live}}|left]]

WKY-TV was the first television station not owned by a network to produce and transmit local programs in color. Before the FCC had even approved a color transmission standard, Gaylord ordered color equipment from RCA—including two TK-40 color cameras—in September 1949.{{Cite magazine|date=February 20, 1961|title=Color Adds Zest to Sport, or Symphony|id={{ProQuest|1285747537}}|periodical=Broadcasting|pages=106, 108 }} By March 1954, the equipment was delivered and installed,{{Cite magazine|date=March 29, 1954|title=WKY-TV Slates Colorcasts As First Camera Arrives|id={{ProQuest|1285704087}}|page=62|periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting}} and WKY-TV was successfully receiving color programming from NBC via a separate microwave relay system, as the coaxial cable network was incompatible with color.{{Cite news|date=February 4, 1954|title=Color On Way: New WKY-TV Cameras Due|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82351692/color-on-way-new-wky-tv-cameras-due-p2/ 8]|work=Logan County News Tel-eVents|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82351631/color-on-way-new-wky-tv-cameras-due/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728183520/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82351631/color-on-way-new-wky-tv-cameras-due/|url-status=live}}

{{Cite news|date=March 14, 1954|title=Television in Color Moves Step Nearer For Oklahoma Firm|page=6|work=Seminole Producer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82351901/television-in-color-moves-step-nearer/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044321/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82351901/television-in-color-moves-step-nearer/|url-status=live}} OPUBCO had a special exhibition at the Municipal Auditorium's Home Show on April 4, 1954, where 30 patrons watched a color set displaying The Paul Winchell Show, one of three color programs NBC was regularly transmitting for testing purposes and the station's first color telecast.{{Cite news|date=April 5, 1954|title=Color Television Has City Debut|page=1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82349915/color-television-has-city-debut/|access-date=July 28, 2021|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728183520/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82349915/color-television-has-city-debut/|url-status=live}} The station's first local colorcast occurred on April 8 with a live five-minute message from E. K. Gaylord,{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite magazine|date=April 19, 1954|id={{ProQuest|1285702627}}|title=Leading the Color-Blind|periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|page=86}} |

{{Cite magazine |date=May 10, 1954 |id={{ProQuest|1285718697}} |title=WKY-TV Color Advertisement |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=41 }} }} followed by a half-hour sponsored variety show on April 21.{{Cite news|date=April 21, 1954|title=WKY-TV Slates First Colorcast With a Sponsor|page=21|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82386407/wky-tv-slates-first-colorcast-with-a/|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729053527/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82386407/wky-tv-slates-first-colorcast-with-a/|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|last=Codel|first=Martin|date=April 24, 1954|title=Color Trends & Briefs|volume=10|page=7|magazine=Television Digest|publisher=Radio News Bureau|issue=17}} With the hour-long Cook's Book becoming the first regularly scheduled weekday colorcast on April 26,{{Cite magazine|date=April 26, 1954|title=WKY-TV Now Colorcasting Regular Commercial Show|id={{ProQuest|1285708503}}|periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|page=64}}{{sfn|West|1991|p=46}} WKY-TV carried more programming in color than all of the networks combined.{{Cite magazine|last=Codel|first=Martin|date=May 1, 1954|title=Color Trends & Briefs|volume=10|magazine=Television Digest|publisher=Radio News Bureau|issue=18}} NBC's color coordinator Barry Wood even remarked that WKY-TV's color output was of better quality than the network itself.{{Cite magazine|last=Codel|first=Martin|date=May 8, 1954|title=Color Trends & Briefs|volume=10|page=12|magazine=Television Digest|publisher=Radio News Bureau|issue=19|quote=Quality of WKY-TV's color, incidentally, "is better than some of ours," according to NBC-TV color coordinator Barry Wood.}}

The station became the first network affiliate to provide live color programming to a network{{sfn|West|1991|p=46}} on August 17, 1954, when a feed of the American Indian Exposition in Anadarko was sent to NBC;{{Cite news|date=September 1, 1954|title=A salute to Rotarian Joe White McBride: He Builds Big...|page=14|work=The Oklahoma Publisher|publisher=Oklahoma Press Association|agency=Oklahoma City Rotary News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82470416/a-salute-to-rotarian-joe-white-mcbride/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730162242/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82470416/a-salute-to-rotarian-joe-white-mcbride/|url-status=live}} the ten-minute segments on Today and Home featured participants dressed in tribal "war dance" regalia.{{Cite news|date=August 15, 1954|title=Indian Show Opens Monday|page=B-1|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82470711/indian-show-opens-monday/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730155113/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82470711/indian-show-opens-monday/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=August 8, 1954|title=State Indians To Be Seen on TV|page=1|work=Henryetta Daily Free-Lance|agency=United Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82470805/state-indians-to-be-seen-on-tv/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730155921/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82470805/state-indians-to-be-seen-on-tv/|url-status=live}} On April 23, 1955, WKY-TV produced Square Dance Festival for NBC, showcasing the National Square Dance convention at Municipal Auditorium, the first full-length color program fed to a network by an affiliate.{{Cite news|date=April 23, 1955|title=TV Lens to Focus On Square Dances|page=20|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82480745/tv-lens-to-focus-on-square-dances/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730195009/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82480745/tv-lens-to-focus-on-square-dances/|url-status=live}} Also in 1955, the station transmitted to the network a surgical procedure in color via closed-circuit{{Cite magazine |date=January 24, 1955 |title=WKY-TV Airs Closed-Circuit Medical Program in Color|id={{ProQuest|1285730395}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=67 }} four years after becoming the first station in Oklahoma to broadcast a surgery on-air.{{Cite magazine |date=February 20, 1950 |title=Surgical TV: WKY-TV Uses Closed Circuit|id={{ProQuest|1401183917}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=80 }} In 1958, WKY-TV became one of the first local television stations in the U.S. to acquire a videotape recorder, intended for the news department but also used for some show production. One videotaped show, the Stars and Stripes Show, premiered on NBC that year as the first network television program to be produced by a local station.{{sfn|West|1991|p=47}}

WKY-TV and the Lions Club of Oklahoma collaborated on Gift of God, a December 2, 1957, program profiling medical and legal aspects of corneal transplants through the perspective of an organ donor's eyes transported {{Convert|150|miles|km|abbr=out|sp=us}} to an operating room, concluding with a film of a successful transplant.{{r|WKYViewersEyebank}} An appeal then aired for viewers wishing to become organ donors to join a statewide eye bank established by the Lions Sight Conservation Foundation initiative; 700 donor card requests were received by the bank 90 minutes after the program aired, including one signed by then-Oklahoma governor Raymond Gary,{{r|WKYHelpsEyebank}} the number increased to 2,000 cards after 48 hours.{{Cite magazine |date=December 16, 1957 |title=Oklahomans Respond Quickly To WKY-AM-TV Eye Programs|id={{ProQuest|1285748312}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting |page=22 }} The WKY-TV/Lions partnership lasted for four years with more than 16,400 volunteer donor cards signed, with 346 Oklahomans—including two who underwent surgery within 48 hours of the broadcast—having successful corneal transplants.{{Cite magazine |date=December 18, 1961 |title=WKY Helps Eye Bank |id={{ProQuest|962767170}} |page=65 |periodical=Broadcasting }}

== Long-running local shows ==

Another children's show with a similar local impact to 3-D Danny was Foreman Scotty's Circle 4 Ranch, hosted by Steve Powell as the titular cowboy. Airing from 1957 to 1971, Scotty's supporting characters included Danny Williams as sidekick Xavier T. Willard;{{r|DurableDanny}} Powell, with Williams, had additionally teamed up to host WKY-TV's The Giant Kids Matinee. The show also featured prize giveaways including the Golden Horseshoe, whose winner was selected through the "Magic Lasso", a cut-out slide that was superimposed on-screen over the audience, and honorary rides on a wooden horse named Woody for children in the studio audience who were celebrating their birthday. At its peak, the show had a 1½-year backlog of kids who wanted to be part of the show's audience.{{Cite news|first=Ann|last=DeFrange|date=November 20, 1994|title=Circle 4 Ranch, "Foreman Scotty" Lassoed TV Era|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2484364|access-date=July 3, 2014|archive-date=October 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018034039/http://newsok.com/article/2484364|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=November 18, 1994|title="Foreman Scotty," Steve Powell, Dies at Age 64|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2484089|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044243/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2484089/foreman-scotty-steve-powell-dies-at-age-64|url-status=live}}

File:Buck Owens Washington State Fair 1968.JPG hosted The Buck Owens Ranch Show, a country-variety show based at WKY-TV, from 1966 to 1973; at its peak, the Ranch Show was seen in over 100 markets.{{r|GoodbyeBuck}}|alt=Buck Owens playing the guitar at a 1968 state fair music performance.]]During this era, the station featured an assortment of other noted locally-oriented fare. In 1965, WKY host Don Wallace began hosting The Wallace Wildlife Show, a weekly fishing show that was the highest-rated program of its kind in the country from 1974 to 1975 and ended after 920 episodes with Wallace's 1988 retirement.{{Cite news|first=Covey|last=Bean|date=September 18, 1988|title=Wallace Would Rather Fish for Fun Wildlife Show Director Will Retire Dec. 31|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2239480|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044324/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2239480/wallace-would-rather-fish-for-fun-wildlife-show-director-will-retire-dec-31|url-status=live}} The Scene, a Saturday afternoon music and dance show hosted by WKY personality Ronny Kaye,{{Cite news|last=Bracht|first=Mel|date=January 25, 2008|title=Ronnie Kaye honored for 50 years in broadcasting|page=8D|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82484139/ronnie-kaye-honored-for-50-years-in/|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730181505/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82484139/ronnie-kaye-honored-for-50-years-in/|url-status=live}} aired from 1966 to 1974.{{Cite news|last=Triplett|first=Gene|date=September 2, 2009|title=TV dance party to live again in event saluting 'The Scene'|page=6E|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82484007/tv-dance-party-to-live-again-in-event/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044316/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82484007/tv-dance-party-to-live-again-in-event/|url-status=live}} The Jude 'n' Jody Show, a country-variety program hosted by singers/furniture salespeople Jude Northcutt and Jody Taylor, aired on channel 4 and other Oklahoma City stations between 1954 and 1982.{{Cite news|last=Medley|first=Robert|date=September 5, 2015|title=Jude 'n' Jody's musical legacy lives on|page=6A|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82483385/jude-n-jodys-musical-legacy-lives-on/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730195041/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82483385/jude-n-jodys-musical-legacy-lives-on/|url-status=live}} Danny Williams returned to channel 4 in 1967 to host the local midday talk-variety show Dannysday, which enjoyed a 17-year run.{{r|DurableDanny}} Among Williams' co-hosts included Mary Hart, who became a fan favorite on Dannysday from 1976 until leaving for Los Angeles at the end of 1979,{{Cite news|last=Triplett|first=Gene|date=December 7, 1981|title=Former 'Dannysday' Co-Host to Debut on New NBC Television Talk Show|page=8|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82458509/former-dannysday-co-host-to-debut-on/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730042427/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82458509/former-dannysday-co-host-to-debut-on/|url-status=live}} later becoming the co-host of Entertainment Tonight.{{Cite news|last=Bracht|first=Mel|date=September 11, 2000|title='Biography' subject recalls city stint|page=4-B|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82458335/biography-subject-recalls-city-stint/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730042548/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82458335/biography-subject-recalls-city-stint/|url-status=live}} John Ferguson hosted three distinct horror movie showcases at the station under the horror host persona "Count Gregore": a local version of Shock Theater from 1958 to 1962,{{Cite news|last=DeFrange|first=Ann|date=May 21, 2008|title=Count Gregore lives on: John Ferguson followed his star|page=VI-4|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82438126/count-gregore-lives-on-john-ferguson/|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044237/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82438126/count-gregore-lives-on-john-ferguson/|url-status=live}} Thriller Theater from 1962 to 1964 and Sleepwalker's Matinee from 1973 to 1979.{{Cite news|last=Zizzo|first=David|date=October 28, 2008|title=Don't count him out: Count Gregore/John Ferguson still on the local scene|page=E-1|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82437862/dont-count-him-out-count-gregorejohn/|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730005454/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82437862/dont-count-him-out-count-gregorejohn/|url-status=live}} WKY-TV originated The Buck Owens Ranch Show from 1966 to 1973; seen in over 100 U.S. markets, the half-hour country-variety show was the most successful of its kind not produced in Nashville.{{Cite news|last=Price|first=Robert|date=March 25, 2006|title=Goodbye, Buck|work=The Bakersfield Californian|publisher=Moorhouse Publishing, Inc.|url=http://www.bakersfield.com/news/goodbye-buck/article_30949069-b0ab-5279-8ddf-1159f79fdcbf.html|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002221702/http://www.bakersfield.com/news/goodbye-buck/article_30949069-b0ab-5279-8ddf-1159f79fdcbf.html|url-status=live}} In addition to hosting the Ranch Show, Owens was paired with Roy Clark in 1969 to host the similar-themed Hee Haw on CBS,{{Cite news|last=Angus|first=Joe|date=July 4, 1982|title='Hee Haw's' a'hootin' and a'laughin' into 14th year|pages=4, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82441409/hee-haws-ahootin-and-alaughin/ 6]:TV News|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82441329/hee-haws-ahootin-and-alaughin/|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730005508/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82441329/hee-haws-ahootin-and-alaughin/|url-status=live}} which was relaunched as a syndicated show in 1971.{{Cite news|last=McDonnell|first=Brandy|date=May 10, 2011|title=Roy Clark talks 'Hee Haw'|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82441004/roy-clark-talks-hee-haw-p2/ 3D]|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82440963/roy-clark-talks-hee-haw/|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730005435/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82440963/roy-clark-talks-hee-haw/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=McDonnell|first=Brandy|date=May 2, 2011|title='Hee Haw' receives salute from state's history center|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82440389/hee-haw-receives-salute-from-states/ 3C]|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82440342/hee-haw-receives-salute-from-states/|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730005449/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82440342/hee-haw-receives-salute-from-states/|url-status=live}} As the result of a renegotiated contract, Yongestreet Productions forced Owens to discontinue the Ranch Show due to heavy music and content duplication with Hee Haw.{{r|GoodbyeBuck}}

Through its WKY Radiophone Company subsidiary, the Oklahoma Publishing Company eventually acquired or launched other television and radio stations during and after its stewardship of WKY-TV, including Montgomery, Alabama's WSFA-TV and WSFA (1440 AM) in 1955,{{Cite magazine |date=November 8, 1954|title=WKY Answers Protest To Montgomery Buy|id={{ProQuest|1285723741}}|periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|pages=60, 64 }}{{cite magazine |date=February 21, 1955 |title=WKY Buy of WSFA Approved by FCC|id={{ProQuest|1285724129}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|page=82 }} Tampa's WTVT in 1956, Milwaukee's WUHF-TV in 1966, KTVT in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1962,{{cite magazine |date=February 26, 1962 |title=AT DEADLINE: Nafi sells KTVT (TV) to Oklahoma Publishing |id={{ProQuest|1014450041}} |periodical=Broadcasting|page=9 }} Houston's KHTV in 1967, and Tacoma, Washington's KTNT-TV in 1973.{{cite magazine |date=March 9, 1973 |title=Oklahoma Publishing buys KTNT-TV for $4.5 million|id={{ProQuest|1014528192}} |periodical=Broadcasting|page=8 }}{{cite magazine|id={{ProQuest|1016872463}} |date=February 4, 1974 |title=FCC okays Post buy in Hartford; Okla. Publishing purchase in Tacoma |periodical=Broadcasting|page=52 }} WKY-TV served as the company's flagship station, and in October 1956, OPUBCO renamed its broadcast group the WKY Television System.{{Cite news |date=September 18, 2011 |title=OPUBCO timeline |work=The Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/3605306 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044242/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3605306/opubco-timeline |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |first=David|last=Dary |date=November 8, 1998 |title=A Work in Progress: The Oklahoma Publishing Company Celebrates 95 Years – Technological Changes Help Newspaper Grow |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2632332 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044302/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2632332/a-work-in-progress-the-oklahoma-publishing-company-celebrates-95-years-technological-changes-help-newspaper-grow |url-status=live }} After Edward K. Gaylord's death at the age of 101 on May 30, 1974, control of OPUBCO was transferred to son Edward L. Gaylord.{{Cite news |date=May 17, 2002 |title=E.K. Gaylord's Death |work=The Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/862161 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=October 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007102112/http://newsok.com/article/862161 |url-status=live }}

= KTVY =

{{Quote box

| quote = ...at that time period we were successful in selling the station to close business people that we knew well—The Detroit Evening News—and we knew their type of operation was similar to ours. They had agreed that they would take care of our people who were long-term employees of the station, and we also got a very handsome sales price for it.

| author = Jim Terrell

| source = Gaylord Broadcasting president, on why WKY-TV was sold to the Evening News Association in 1975{{sfn|Meeks|1991|pp=39–40}}

| align = left

| width = 275px

| qalign = left

| salign = right

}}

File:Dannysday ad with Mary Hart.jpg; Hart left the program at the end of 1979 to move to Los Angeles, and co-hosted Entertainment Tonight for 29-years.|alt=Newspaper advertisement for the television talk show Dannysday, hosted by Danny Williams and Mary Hart, including a list of guests for an upcoming program.]]

OPUBCO sold WKY-TV to the Evening News Association on July 16, 1975, for $22.697 million; this included $197,000 for upgrades to the studio building.{{cite magazine|id={{ProQuest|1014669774}} |date=November 10, 1975 |title=Changing Hands |page=37 |periodical=Broadcasting}} WKY-TV was sold after the FCC adopted cross-ownership rules preventing the same company from owning newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same market.{{cite magazine |id={{ProQuest|1016882614}} |date=July 21, 1975 |title=Sign of times: Gaylord breaks up crossownership (sic) |page=23 |periodical=Broadcasting}} While Oklahoma City was not one of 16 markets the FCC had planned to strictly enforce this rule, the sale happened under the possibility, with OPUBCO preferring Evening News as the buyer since it also was a newspaper publisher-turned-broadcaster.{{sfn|Meeks|1991|pp=39–40}} Additionally, Oklahoma City was the smallest market in which the company owned a TV station.{{r|OPUBCOProgress}} WKY, the Oklahoman, and the Times were all retained by OPUBCO, which planned to purchase additional TV and radio stations with the sale proceeds{{r|GaylordWKYBreakup}} under the newly renamed Gaylord Broadcasting division.{{cite magazine |date=July 7, 1975 |title=By a new name|id={{ProQuest|1016883548}} |page=30 |periodical=Broadcasting}} As OPUBCO/Gaylord retained the rights to the WKY call sign,{{r|GaylordWKYBreakup}} WKY-TV was rechristened as KTVY on January 5, 1976.{{r|hc}}

Starting with the 1978 Oklahoma Sooners season, KTVY debuted The Oklahoma Playback, a next-day hour-long condensed recap of the most recent Sooners football game with wraparound segments co-hosted by then-head coach Barry Switzer.{{Cite news|first=Jerry|last=McConnell|date=August 13, 1982|title=Switzer to Receive Rights Fees From OU Cable Replays But He'll "Make Most Money' From Rangeraid Commercials|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/1993021|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044326/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/1993021/switzer-to-receive-rights-fees-from-ou-cable-replays-but-hell-make-most-money-from-rangeraid-commercials|url-status=live}} Also regarded as a continuation of the Bud Wilkinson coaches shows by sponsor Kerr Magee, Tulsa's KTUL handled production for the 1980 season but became a KTVY production again in 1981 with sportscaster Ron Thulin as host.{{Cite news|last=Lassiter|first=Jim|date=July 1, 1981|title=OU's 'Inner Circle' Not So Mysterious, After All|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82751758/ous-inner-circle-not-so-mysterious/ 2]|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82751506/ous-inner-circle-not-so-mysterious/|access-date=August 3, 2021}} This program—which was also syndicated throughout the Southwest and on cable—ended in 1984 after a successful legal challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court by the University of Oklahoma and then-Oklahoma City mayor Andy Coats against the NCAA restrictions over the number of games that could be televised live in a single season. KTVY was occasionally granted exceptions to this rule, most notably with the 1983 Oklahoma–Texas rivalry game, which aired live on the station.{{Cite news|first=Dave|last=Pego|date=October 4, 1983|title=KTVY to show OU-UT|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2041685|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044239/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2041685/ktvy-to-show-ou-ut|url-status=live}} KTVY added Sooners college basketball coverage to the lineup in 1982.{{Cite news|date=October 15, 1982|title=KTVY to Air OU Games|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/1999060|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044248/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/1999060/ktvy-to-air-ou-games|url-status=live}} Originally produced by KTVY and the university under a revenue-sharing deal, production subsequently was taken over by Raycom Sports under a larger deal with the Big Eight Conference in 1985;{{Cite news|date=July 24, 1985|title=KTVY-Channel 4 Wins Bidding For Big Eight Football Package|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2115771|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044243/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2115771/ktvy-channel-4-wins-bidding-for-big-eight-football-package|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=August 2, 1986|title=KTVY to Air Big 8 Games|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2155405|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044326/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2155405/ktvy-to-air-big-8-games|url-status=live}} the station continued to air ESPN Plus, though with KOCB airing more games to allow KFOR to fulfill NBC obligations,{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82355782/and-now-for-your-viewing-pleasure-soone/|access-date=July 28, 2021|title=And Now for Your Viewing Pleasure: Sooners, Cowboys|work=The Daily Oklahoman|page=27|first=Mel|last=Bracht|date=December 10, 1998|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044317/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82355782/and-now-for-your-viewing-pleasure/|url-status=live}} until KOCB became the exclusive carrier in 2001.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82356024/big-12-football-rates-well-with-cunningh/|access-date=July 28, 2021|title=Big 12 football rates well with Cunningham|work=The Daily Oklahoman|page=2-D|first=Mel|last=Bracht|date=November 8, 2001|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044241/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82356024/big-12-football-rates-well-with/|url-status=live}}

KTVY became the first television station in Oklahoma to broadcast in stereo on June 6, 1985; initially, the station broadcast NBC network programs, local programs and certain syndicated shows that were transmitted in the audio format.{{Cite news |first=Glen|last=Phillips |date=June 30, 1985 |title=Watching TV with both ears |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2113544 |access-date=March 7, 2018 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044318/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2113544/watching-tv-with-both-ears |url-status=live }} Taking advantage of the new format, channel 4's daily sign-ons and sign-offs began to feature music videos, some of which were tailored to the station's public service campaigns.{{Cite news |first=Glen|last=Phillips |date=July 21, 1985 |title=Another young KTVY viewer |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2115483 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044317/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2115483/another-young-ktvy-viewer |url-status=live }} That September, the station debuted another local talk show in the vein of Dannysday, which had ended its run the previous year:{{Cite news|last=Osburn|first=Lyn|date=January 31, 1984|title=KTVY Cancels 'Dannysday'|pages=7|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82452602/ktvy-cancels-dannysday/|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730042431/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82452602/ktvy-cancels-dannysday/|url-status=live}} AM Oklahoma, hosted by brothers Ben and Butch McCain, who were also KTVY's morning news and weather anchors, respectively.{{r|Glen Phillips}} The program was canceled in May 1986 after nine months, and the McCains ultimately left KTVY in June 1987 for KOCO-TV. A local version of PM Magazine had much better success, airing on KTVY from 1980 to 1988 with hosts Stan Miller, Karen Carney,{{Cite news|last=Osburn|first=Lyn|date=September 7, 1980|title='PM Magazine' debuts|page=4: TV News|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82506134/pm-magazine-debuts/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044248/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82506134/pm-magazine-debuts/|url-status=live}} Dan Slocumb,{{Cite news|last=Angus|first=Joe|date=September 26, 1982|title=Stan Miller heads east|pages=6, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82518687/stan-miller-heads-east-p2/ 7], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82518708/stan-miller-heads-east-p3/ 9]: TV News|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82518655/stan-miller-heads-east/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044321/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82518655/stan-miller-heads-east/|url-status=live}} Dave Hood,{{Cite news|last=Phillips|first=Glen|date=September 15, 1985|title=Say goodbye to Dave Hood|pages=6, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82518165/say-goodbye-to-dave-hood-p2/ 7], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82518196/say-goodbye-to-dave-hood-p3/ 9]: TV News|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82505533/say-goodbye-to-dave-hood/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044307/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82505533/say-goodbye-to-dave-hood/|url-status=live}} Kelly Robinson{{Cite news|last=Phillips|first=Glen|date=September 16, 1984|title=New co-host to debut on "PM'|pages=4, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82505813/new-co-host-to-debut-on-pm-p2/ 6]: TV News|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82505745/new-co-host-to-debut-on-pm/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044327/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82505745/new-co-host-to-debut-on-pm/|url-status=live}} and Becky Corbin.{{Cite news|last=Phillips|first=Glen|date=May 19, 1985|title=PM' co-host comes home|work=The Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2109252|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044248/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2109252/pm-co-host-comes-home|url-status=live}}

The Gannett Company purchased the Evening News Association on September 5, 1985, for $717 million,{{cite magazine |date=September 2, 1985 |title=Gannett's magic touch wins Evening News |periodical=Broadcasting|pages=31–32 }}{{Cite news |first=Mary Jo|last=Nelson|date=August 28, 1985 |title=Gannett May Bid For ENA Control |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2119336 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044318/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2119336/gannett-may-bid-for-ena-control |url-status=live }} thwarting a $566 million hostile takeover bid by L.P. Media Inc., owned by television producer Norman Lear and media executive A. Jerrold Perenchio.{{cite magazine |date=August 5, 1985 |title=Lear, Perenchio make $1,000-share bid for ENA|id={{ProQuest|963263072}} |periodical=Broadcasting |pages=24–26}} Due to Gannett already owning KOCO-TV since their 1979 acquisition of Combined Communications,{{Cite news |first=Glen|last=Phillips |date=September 8, 1985 |title=OK, Gannett, your move! |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2120412 |access-date=October 2, 2017}} KTVY, along with WALA-TV in Mobile, Alabama, and KOLD-TV in Tucson, Arizona, were sold to Knight Ridder Broadcasting for $160 million;{{Cite news |first=Mary Jo|last=Nelson|date=November 16, 1985 |title=Gannett Sells KTVY To Knight-Ridder |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2128026 |access-date=October 2, 2017}}{{Cite news|title=Knight-Ridder agrees to purchase KTVY-TV|work=Journal Record|date=October 16, 1985|via=ProQuest|id={{ProQuest|258986810}} }} KTVY sold for a reported $80 million.{{cite magazine |date=November 18, 1985 |title=In Brief |id={{ProQuest|1014712231}} |page=126 |periodical=Broadcasting}} Knight Ridder subsequently announced in October 1988 their intent to sell their station group to help reduce a $929 million debt load{{Cite news |date=February 18, 1989 |title=Owner Negotiating Sale of Channel 4 |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2256215 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044508/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2256215/owner-negotiating-sale-of-channel-4 |url-status=live }} and finance a $353 million acquisition of online information provider Dialog Information Services.{{Cite news |date=October 4, 1988 |title=Stations to Be Sold, Including Channel 4 |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2241238 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044602/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2241238/stations-to-be-sold-including-channel-4 |url-status=live }} Four months later, KTVY was sold to Palmer Communications, owner of WHO-TV in Des Moines and KWQC-TV in Davenport, Iowa,{{cite magazine |date=March 13, 1989 |title=Closed Circuit: On block in Des Moines|id={{ProQuest|1014734106}} |periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Times Mirror Company |page=6 }} for $50 million on February 27, 1989.{{Cite news |first=Mary Jo|last=Nelson|date=March 1, 1989 |title=KTVY to Switch From Knight-Ridder To Iowa Company |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/ktvy-to-switch-from-knight-ridder-to-iowa-company/article/2257381 |access-date=October 2, 2017}}{{Cite web |date=March 2, 1989 |title=Palmer to Buy Knight Station |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/02/business/palmer-to-buy-knight-station.html?mcubz=3 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220255/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/02/business/palmer-to-buy-knight-station.html?mcubz=3 |url-status=live }}

= KFOR-TV =

{{Quote box

| quote = It's up to us to give (the viewers) a reason to be loyal to us. People want to identify with that kind of thing. This is the foundation for a long-term future. KTVY kind of lost a sense of community, lost its heart. That's one of the reasons why we changed our call letters.

| author = Bob Brooks

| source = KFOR-TV program director{{r|BrooksChannel4}}

| width = 275px

| qalign = left

| salign = left

}}

File:Clouds and TV tower - NOAA.jpgAfter several weeks of on-air promotions that "TV reception in Oklahoma would get stronger,"{{Cite news|last=Chavez|first=Tim|date=April 29, 1990|title=Fine Tuning|page=3: TV News|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36531791/fine-tuning/|access-date=July 23, 2021|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723194111/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36531791/fine-tuning/|url-status=live}} KTVY's call sign changed to KFOR-TV on April 22, 1990, at the start of their 10 p.m. newscast, coupled with an overhaul to the station's on-air presentation.{{Cite news |date=April 24, 1990 |title=Sweeping Changes Made at OKC Television Station |work=The Journal Record |publisher=The Journal Record Publishing Company |first=Bill|last=May|quote=The station, which was purchased in September by Palmer Communications Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa, changed its call letters, logo, station colors and sets at 10 p.m. Sunday.|id={{ProQuest|259173552}}|via=ProQuest}} Station program director Bob Brooks explained in an interview that KTVY had lost "a sense of community, lost its heart" in recent years, and that was a driving force behind the call sign change;{{Cite news|last=Chavez|first=Tim|date=July 1, 1990|title=Stations Go All Out For Viewer Loyalty|pages=1-C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81983689/stations-go-all-out-for-viewer-loyalty/ 3C]|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81983636/stations-go-all-out-for-viewer-loyalty/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722211813/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81983636/stations-go-all-out-for-viewer-loyalty/|url-status=live}} management opted for calls that alluded to their dial position and new "4-Strong" branding.{{Cite news|last=Chavez|first=Tim|date=April 24, 1990|title=Channel 4 Switches To KFOR|page=14|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81958930/channel-4-switches-to-kfor/|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190532/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81958930/channel-4-switches-to-kfor/|url-status=live}} As part of the change, the station altered their newscasts to have a statewide focus, with reporter Kelly Ogle filing a series of statewide reports during the May sweeps that management described as "a barnstorming approach to news".{{Cite news|date=May 6, 1990|title=KFOR-TV 'Barnstorming'|page=4|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81976117/kfor-tv-barnstorming/|access-date=July 23, 2021|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723194109/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81976117/kfor-tv-barnstorming/|url-status=live}}

KFOR-TV began maintaining a 24-hour programming schedule seven days a week beginning on May 11, the additional programming included hourly local news updates, which was attributed to viewer demand;{{Cite news|date=May 12, 1990|title=24-Hour TV Programming Announced|page=33|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81963885/24-hour-tv-programming-announced/|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722190533/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81963885/24-hour-tv-programming-announced/|url-status=live}} the move was to have taken place on May 13 and was pushed up after management found out KOCO-TV was also planning to broadcast around the clock.{{Cite news|last=Chavez|first=Tim|date=July 1, 1990|title=TV Profits Focus on Newscasts: Local Market Revenues Fall|pages=1C-[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36531768/profits/ 2C]|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81983818/tv-profits-focus-on-newscasts-local/|access-date=September 30, 2019|archive-date=July 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722211813/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81983818/tv-profits-focus-on-newscasts-local/|url-status=live}} It was KFOR-TV's usage of the "24-Hour News Source" phrase that led KOCO-TV owner Gannett, which filed a 10-year service mark for the phrase on May 11—the same day KFOR-TV begin using it over the air—to sue Palmer Communications alleging trademark infringement.{{Cite news|last=Chavez|first=Tim|date=May 23, 1990|title=KOCO-TV Files Suit Against KFOR-TV In Trademark Case|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2318399|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044551/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2318399/koco-tv-files-suit-against-kfor-tv-in-trademark-case|url-status=live}} Gannett claimed in court testimony that KFOR-TV's infringement of the phrase cost KOCO-TV $208,000 annually in lost revenue, while KFOR-TV argued that the phrase only described a programming service and was not an advertising slogan.{{r|TVProfits1990}} The lawsuit was eventually settled with KFOR-TV adopting a different promotional slogan.{{Cite news|last=Chavez|first=Tim|date=December 23, 1990|title=FINE TUNING|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2342213|access-date=September 30, 2019|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044532/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2342213/fine-tuning|url-status=live}}

Palmer signed a letter of intent on November 7, 1991, to sell KFOR-TV and their Des Moines properties to Hughes Broadcasting Partners for $70.2 million;{{cite magazine |date=November 18, 1991 |title=Changing Hands |periodical=Broadcasting|page=75 |id={{ProQuest|1014739464}}}} Hughes was formed earlier that year with their purchase of WOKR-TV in Rochester, New York.{{Cite news |last=Chavez|first=Tim |date=November 8, 1991 |title=Broadcasting Company to Acquire KFOR |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2374595 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044538/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2374595/broadcasting-company-to-acquire-kfor |url-status=live }} Palmer terminated the sale agreement was on April 2, 1992, after rejecting the bid submitted by Hughes Broadcasting.{{Cite news |date=April 3, 1992 |title=Channel 4 Owner Cancels Sale Deal |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2390095 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044547/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2390095/channel-4-owner-cancels-sale-deal |url-status=live }} In a lawsuit against Palmer, majority owner VS&A Communications Partners LP asked the Delaware Chancery Court to force Palmer, which claimed it had no binding obligation to negotiate or reach a formal agreement, into resuming negotiations to reach a definitive sale contract.{{cite magazine |date=April 27, 1992 |title=In Brief |periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Cahners Business Information |page=80 |id={{ProQuest|1014748047}} }} Hughes formally gave up its pursuit of the transaction{{cite magazine |date=January 11, 1993 |title=VS&A Gives Up on Palmer Stations |periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Cahners Business Information |page=65 }} months after the judge presiding the case ruled that the agreement between VS&A and Palmer was not binding.{{cite magazine |date=May 4, 1992 |title=For the Record |periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Cahners Business Information |page=78 }} KFOR-TV and WHO-TV would ultimately be sold to The New York Times Company for $226 million on May 14, 1996;{{Cite news |date=May 15, 1996 |title=New York Times to Buy KFOR |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2539571 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044510/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2539571/new-york-times-to-buy-kfor |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |first=Michael|last= Katz |date=May 20, 1996 |title=N.Y. Times buys two TVs|id={{ProQuest|1014762094}} |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=Cahners Business Information |page=8 }} KFOR in particular sold for $155 million.{{cite magazine |date=June 10, 1996 |title=Changing Hands; Big Deals |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=Cahners Business Information |page=29 |id={{ProQuest|1014762751}}}} The sale received FCC approval less than two months later on July 3 and was finalized on July 16.{{Cite news |first=Jon|last=Denton |date=July 4, 1996 |title=FCC Approves Times' Buy Of KFOR-TV |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2546191 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044536/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2546191/fcc-approves-times-buy-of-kfor-tv |url-status=live }}

On June 13, 1998, the former transmitter tower for WKY and WKY-TV collapsed due to straight-line wind gusts near {{convert|105|mph|kph|abbr=on}} produced by a supercell thunderstorm that also spawned four tornadoes, a KWTV tower camera captured the collapse on-air.{{Cite web |first=Scott|last=Fybush |date=January 29, 2004 |title=A selection from a decade of visits to tower and studio sites in the Northeast and beyond |url=http://www.fybush.com/sites/2004/site-040129.html |access-date=March 24, 2011 |website=Fybush.com |archive-date=March 25, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060325233624/http://www.fybush.com/sites/2004/site-040129.html |url-status=live }} Still in use as an auxiliary tower for KFOR-TV and WKY up to that point, the tower had been designed to withstand winds in excess of {{convert|125|mph|kph|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|last=US Department of Commerce|first=NOAA|title=The Oklahoma City Tornadoes of June 13, 1998|url=https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19980613|access-date=July 22, 2021|website=weather.gov|language=EN-US|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721005713/https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19980613|url-status=live}} Channel 4 had already moved off the tower in April 1965 when a {{Convert|1602|feet|m|adj=on|sp=us}} mast was constructed off of Britton Road.{{Cite news|last=Kendell|first=Jim|date=April 25, 1965|title=New Antenna Extends Picture|page=2: Special Section|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82444100/new-antenna-extends-picture/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044533/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82444100/new-antenna-extends-picture/|url-status=live}}

File:"Moore, Okla., October 3, 2013 -- FEMA mitigation expert John Bourdeau (r) demonstrates a partially underground safe room for a two-part television news report on residential safe r - DPLA - facdeb836fa0d2eddbce281b634d6824.jpg mitigation expert in Moore, Oklahoma about safe rooms for an October 2013 news report.|alt=Refer to caption]]

The New York Times Company operated Pax TV station KOPX-TV (channel 62) from October 11, 2000, to July 1, 2005, via a joint sales agreement with Paxson Communications.{{Cite news |date=October 17, 2000 |title=Channel change |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/channel-change/article/2715956 |access-date=October 2, 2017}}{{Cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |date=October 12, 2000 |title=Deal brings KFOR newscasts to Pax affiliate |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2715271 |access-date=March 24, 2018 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044515/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2715271/deal-brings-kfor-newscasts-to-pax-affiliate |url-status=live }} As part of the arrangement, KFOR handled advertising sales for KOPX, and KOPX rebroadcast KFOR's evening newscasts on a tape-delayed basis.{{Cite news |date=April 13, 2001 |title=Repeat newscasts |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://www.newsok.com/article/2737391 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=March 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316034445/http://newsok.com/article/2737391 |url-status=live }} Several weeks after Paxson dissolved the KOPX joint sales agreement, the Times Company purchased UPN station KAUT-TV (channel 43) from Viacom Television Stations Group on November 4, 2005, for an undisclosed price.{{cite web|first=Allison|last=Romano|date=September 15, 2005|title=New York Times Buying KAUT|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/new-york-times-buying-kaut/107930|access-date=June 30, 2017|periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=Cahners Business Information|archive-date=March 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301164410/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/new-york-times-buying-kaut/107930|url-status=live}} The Times Company left television broadcasting altogether with the $530 million sale of their nine station group to Local TV LLC{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2007 |title=New York Times Company : Investors : Press Release |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=105317&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=904561&highlight= |access-date=March 24, 2011 |agency=Business Wire |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321033152/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=105317&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=904561&highlight= |url-status=live }}{{Cite press release |title=NY Times CO. Sell TV Group to Equity Firm for $530M; Second equity group to buy a media business in two weeks. |date=January 8, 2007 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-193906581.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105132454/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-193906581.html |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |agency=NewsInc. |via=HighBeam Research}} the deal was finalized on May 7, 2007.{{Cite press release |title=The New York Times Company Financial Report: The New York Times Company Reports April Revenues |date=May 7, 2007 |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=105317&p=irol-pressArticle&ID=1003528&highlight= |access-date=August 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722191553/http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=105317&p=irol-pressArticle&ID=1003528&highlight= |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |agency=Business Wire}} The Tribune Company—which formed a management company in December 2007 for their stations and those owned by Local TV—acquired Local TV LLC on July 1, 2013, for $2.75 billion,{{Cite news |first=Robert|last=Channick |date=July 1, 2013 |title=Acquisition to make Tribune Co. largest U.S. TV station operator |work=Chicago Tribune |publisher=Tribune Publishing |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-tribune-buying-local-tv-20130701,0,3402241.story |access-date=July 1, 2013 |archive-date=July 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704152051/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-tribune-buying-local-tv-20130701,0,3402241.story |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=July 2, 2013 |title=Chicago's Tribune Co. to buy two Oklahoma City television stations |work=The Oklahoman |publisher=The Anschutz Corporation |url=http://newsok.com/article/3858131 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044521/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3858131/chicagos-tribune-co-to-buy-two-oklahoma-city-television-stations |url-status=live }} this sale was completed on December 27.{{Cite web |date=December 27, 2013 |title=Tribune Closes Local TV Holdings Purchase |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/72966/tribune-closes-local-tv-holdings-purchase |website=TVNewsCheck |publisher=NewsCheck Media |access-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529033818/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/72966/tribune-closes-local-tv-holdings-purchase |url-status=live }}

A new combined facility for KFOR-TV and KAUT was constructed adjacent to KFOR-TV's existing studios;{{Cite web |date=August 5, 2014 |title=KFOR NewsChannel4 announces plans for new digital multimedia forecasting & news information complex |url=http://kfor.com/2014/08/05/kfor-newschannel4-announces-major-plans-to-build-new-digital-multimedia-forecasting-information-center/ |access-date=August 7, 2014 |publisher=KFOR-TV |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808063915/http://kfor.com/2014/08/05/kfor-newschannel4-announces-major-plans-to-build-new-digital-multimedia-forecasting-information-center/ |url-status=live }} groundbreaking occurred in January 2015.{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2014 |title=Oklahoma NBC announces new facility |url=http://www.newscaststudio.com/2014/08/06/oklahoma-nbc-announces-new-facility/ |access-date=August 7, 2014 |website=NewscastStudio |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808062212/http://www.newscaststudio.com/2014/08/06/oklahoma-nbc-announces-new-facility/ |url-status=live }} Completed in August 2017, the new building both boasted a floorplan improving workflow and employee collaboration, and was built with reinforced steel, concrete and protective glass that could withstand a direct hit from severe weather and enable unlimited broadcasting.{{Cite web|last=Siegel|first=Stephanie Tsoflias|date=August 21, 2017|title=Oklahoma Station Relaunches With Focus On Tornado Coverage|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/oklahoma-station-relaunches-with-focus-on-tornado-coverage/193305|url-status=live|access-date=October 2, 2017|website=TVSpy|publisher=Beringer Capital|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002221810/http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/oklahoma-station-relaunches-with-focus-on-tornado-coverage/193305}} Several conference rooms in the new facility were named after former on-air staff—including the "Barry Huddle Room" in honor of Bob Barry Sr. and Bob Barry Jr.{{Cite news|last=King|first=Kari|date=August 20, 2017|title=KFOR Building 4 the Future as station moves into state-of-the-art Media Center|publisher=KFOR-TV|url=http://kfor.com/2017/08/20/kfor-building-4-the-future-as-station-moves-into-state-of-the-art-media-center/|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220134/http://kfor.com/2017/08/20/kfor-building-4-the-future-as-station-moves-into-state-of-the-art-media-center/|url-status=live}}—and the main studio was later named in honor of Linda Cavanaugh upon her December 15, 2017, retirement.{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=Michael P.|date=December 18, 2017|title=Oklahoma City station names studio in honor of retiring anchor|url=http://www.newscaststudio.com/2017/12/18/kfor-studio-linda-cavanaugh/|url-status=live|access-date=December 19, 2017|website=NewscastStudio|publisher=HD Media Ventures LLC|archive-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051448/http://www.newscaststudio.com/2017/12/18/kfor-studio-linda-cavanaugh/}} Along with the studio move, the station rebranded to Oklahoma's News 4 concurrent with a revised on-air presentation.{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=Michael P.|date=August 21, 2017|title=Oklahoma City station unveils new building, on air overhaul|url=http://www.newscaststudio.com/2017/08/21/kfor-new-building/2/|url-status=live|access-date=October 2, 2017|website=NewscastStudio|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002215704/http://www.newscaststudio.com/2017/08/21/kfor-new-building/2/}}

Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to acquire Tribune Media on May 8, 2017, for $3.9 billion, plus the assumption of $2.7 billion in debt held by Tribune.{{Cite web |first=Stephen|last=Battaglio |date=May 8, 2017 |title=Sinclair Broadcast Group to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion plus debt |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-tribune-sinclair-20170508-story.html |access-date=June 6, 2017 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=June 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606151425/http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-tribune-sinclair-20170508-story.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |first=Todd|last=Frankel |date=May 8, 2017 |title=Sinclair Broadcast to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion, giving it control over 215 local TV stations |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/05/08/sinclair-broadcast-to-buy-tribune-media-for-3-9-billion-creating-nations-largest-tv-station-group/ |access-date=June 6, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |publisher=Nash Holdings, LLC |archive-date=May 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522182043/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/05/08/sinclair-broadcast-to-buy-tribune-media-for-3-9-billion-creating-nations-largest-tv-station-group/ |url-status=live }} As Sinclair already owned KOKH-TV and KOCB, the company agreed on April 24, 2018, to divest KOKH-TV to Standard Media as part of a $441.1 million group deal.{{Cite web |first=Harry A.|last=Jessell |date=April 24, 2018 |title=Sinclair Spins Off 23 TVs To Grease Trib Deal |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113054/sinclair-spins-off-23-tvs-to-grease-trib-deal |access-date=April 25, 2018 |website=TVNewsCheck |publisher=NewsCheck Media |archive-date=April 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425121326/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/113054/sinclair-spins-off-23-tvs-to-grease-trib-deal |url-status=live }} Howard Stirk Holdings also agreed to purchase KAUT for $750,000 in a deal that included shared services and joint sales agreements with Sinclair, which planned to retain KFOR-TV and KOCB.{{Cite news |date=April 24, 2018 |title=Sinclair Revises TV Spinoff Plans For Tribune Deal, Announces Deals For Several Stations |work=All Access |url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/176083/sinclair-revises-tv-spinoff-plans-for-tribune-deal |access-date=April 25, 2018 |archive-date=April 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425182933/https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/176083/sinclair-revises-tv-spinoff-plans-for-tribune-deal |url-status=live }} All three transactions were nullified on August 9, 2018, after Tribune Media terminated the merger and filed a breach of contract lawsuit;{{Cite web |first=Jon|last=Lafayette |date=August 9, 2018 |title=Tribune Ends Deal with Sinclair, Files Breach of Contract Suit |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/tribune-ends-deal-with-sinclair-files-breach-of-contract-suit |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable |publisher=NewBay Media |access-date=August 9, 2018 |archive-date=August 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809182004/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/tribune-ends-deal-with-sinclair-files-breach-of-contract-suit |url-status=live }} this came several weeks after the FCC voted to bring the deal up for a formal review and lead commissioner Ajit Pai publicly rejected it.{{Cite news |first=Harper|last=Neidig |date=July 16, 2018 |title=FCC chair rejects Sinclair-Tribune merger |work=The Hill |publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/397194-fcc-chairman-rejects-sinclair-tribune-merger/ |access-date=August 9, 2018 |archive-date=July 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716163305/http://thehill.com/policy/technology/397194-fcc-chairman-rejects-sinclair-tribune-merger |url-status=live }}

Following the collapse of the Sinclair merger, Nexstar Media Group announced it would acquire Tribune Media in a $6.4 billion all-cash deal on December 3, 2018, which also included all outstanding Tribune debt.{{Cite web |first1=Gerry|last1=Smith |first2=Nabila|last2=Ahmed |first3=Eric|last3=Newcomer |date=December 3, 2018 |title=Nexstar to buy WGN owner Tribune Media for $4.1 billion |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-nexstar-tribune-media-20181202-story.html |newspaper=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Tribune Publishing |agency=Bloomberg News |access-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-date=April 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405053753/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-nexstar-tribune-media-20181202-story.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |first=Jon|last=Lafayette |date=December 3, 2018 |title=Nexstar Announces Deal to Buy Tribune for $6.4B |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/nexstar-announces-deal-to-buy-tribune-for-6-4b |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable |publisher=NewBay Media |access-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-date=April 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405084338/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/nexstar-announces-deal-to-buy-tribune-for-6-4b |url-status=live }} Approved by the FCC on September 16, 2019, the merger was completed three days later.{{Cite web |first=Mark K.|last=Miller |date=September 19, 2019 |title=Nexstar Closes On Tribune Merger |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/239233/nexstar-closes-on-tribune-merger/ |website=TVNewsCheck |publisher=NewsCheck Media |access-date=September 19, 2019 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920231248/https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/239233/nexstar-closes-on-tribune-merger/ |url-status=live }}

Local programming

= Newscasts =

{{Quote box

| quote = We try, and I think we have succeeded, in identifying our station with news. We like to feel that the two are synonymous. Our people are known personally by every news source in our immediate area... And of one thing I am convinced. An aggressive, competent news establishment can make a television station individually outstanding.

| author = John Fields

| source = WKY-TV news director{{r|WKYJohnFields}}

| width = 275px

| qalign = left

| salign = right

}}

Channel 4's news department began with the station on June 6, 1949, originally consisting of 10-minute-long newscasts at sign-on and sign-off, using wire copies of local news headlines read by anchors over still newspaper photographs.{{Cite news |date=February 7, 1999 |title=KFOR Marks 50 Years on the Air |work=The Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2642182 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044554/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2642182/kfor-marks-50-years-on-the-air |url-status=live }} WKY-TV's first news director Bruce Palmer saw the new medium as a way to provide immediacy to news coverage.{{sfn|West|1991|pp=38–39}} In a Daily Oklahoman op-ed Palmer penned the day before WKY-TV's launch, he not only foresaw television news using films and photographs to provide a newsreel-like method to storytelling, but that coaxial cable-driven networks would soon be able to relay major news events to stations nationwide.{{Cite news|last=Palmer|first=Bruce|date=June 5, 1949|title=News Reports On TV Raising New Problems|page=E6|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82764476/news-reports-on-tv-raising-new-problems/|access-date=August 3, 2021}} Within a few years, WKY-TV employed a staff of 44 Oklahoma-based reporters and additional correspondents in three surrounding states{{cite magazine |last=Fields |first=John |date=December 19, 1955 |title=News While It's News: It Can Be Done with TV|id={{ProQuest|1014913644}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|pages=76, 78 }} and was recognized in 1958 by the Radio-Television News Directors Association as the nation's "outstanding television news operation".{{Cite news|date=June 7, 1959|title=WKY-TV Heads Into 11th Year|page=2TV: TV in Oklahoma|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82752292/wky-tv-heads-into-11th-year/|access-date=August 3, 2021}} Ernie Schultz, who joined channel 4 in 1955 as a reporter and photographer, became news director and noon news anchor in 1964, and remained at the station until 1980.{{Cite news |date=January 10, 1990 |title=Ex-newsman To Work For Nickles |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2303280 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044528/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2303280/ex-newsman-to-work-for-nickles |url-status=live }}

File:WKY-TV news team ad.jpg—using the air name Mack Rogers{{r|FrankMcGeeOABOK}}—and meteorologists Wally Kinnan and Harry Volkman.|alt=Refer to caption|left]]

The television station's news department used WKY's news staff, including Frank McGee, who had joined WKY in 1947 and added duties on the TV side in 1950 under the air name "Mack Rogers";{{Cite web|title=Frank McGee: OAB Hall of Fame, Inducted 1987|url=https://oabok.org/awards/oab-hall-of-fame/oab-hall-of-fame-members/frank-mcgee/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919190150/https://oabok.org/awards/oab-hall-of-fame/oab-hall-of-fame-members/frank-mcgee/|archive-date=September 19, 2020|access-date=August 3, 2021|website=OABOK|publisher=Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters|language=en-US}} during this time, WKY and WKY-TV used stage names for their airstaff that could be retained as intellectual property in the event an on-air personality were to leave the station.{{Cite news|date=January 13, 1955|title=Names ain't the same|page=3|work=The Allen Advocate|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82746754/names-aint-the-same/|access-date=August 3, 2021}} In 1950, WKY-TV became one of the first television stations in the country to employ a mobile broadcasting unit to conduct live broadcasts that would be relayed to the Oklahoma City studio or to film on-scene footage for later broadcast. The unit employed up to three cameras, one of which was stationed on a special platform on the bus's roof, and included a 12-inch television receiver built onto its side to display the direct-to-studio feed.{{cite magazine |date=March 3, 1952 |title=Feature of the Week|id={{ProQuest|1401199332}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|pages=18, 61 }} This unit was used to cover both the 1952 Oklahoma Republican and Democratic State Conventions, relayed live from the Municipal Auditorium and reported on by both McGee and John Fields.{{r|1952StateConventions}}

WKY-TV started broadcasting twice-weekly Oklahoma Legislature sessions from the State Capitol in January 1951, becoming the first station in the U.S. to provide coverage of state legislature sessions.{{cite magazine |date=January 22, 1951 |id={{ProQuest|1285670430}} |title=Legislative Telecasts: WKY-TV, WSB-TV, KSL-TV Start Series |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|page=70 }} Channel 4 claimed to have made the fastest showing of any sound on film ever to have been processed and aired on television at the time, when on February 8, 1952, WKY-TV aired introductory remarks by anchor John Fields filmed 15 minutes prior to that evening's newscast. The Houston film processor used by the station allowed WKY-TV to broadcast news coverage only a few hours after it was shot on-scene.{{cite magazine |date=February 22, 1954 |title='Fastest' Sound on Film|id={{ProQuest|1285723988}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|page=35 }} The station is also purported to be the first in the U.S. to have been allowed access to film a court proceeding on December 13, 1953, while covering Billy Eugene Manley's murder trial at the Oklahoma County Courthouse.{{Cite web |first=Tom|last=Head |date=February 19, 2017 |title=History of Television Censorship |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-television-censorship-721229 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |website=ThoughtCo |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003030017/https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-television-censorship-721229 |url-status=live }} Led by Frank McGee,{{Cite news|date=June 17, 1955|title=TV Newscaster Exchange Speaker|page=7-B|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82748036/tv-newscaster-exchange-speaker/|access-date=August 3, 2021}} a WKY-TV news crew was placed in a custom-built enclosed booth near the courtroom's rear, with a discreet microphone{{Cite book |first1=Marjorie|last1= Cohn |url=https://archive.org/details/camerasincourtro0000cohn |title=Cameras in the Courtroom: Television and the Pursuit of Justice |first2=David|last2= Dow |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2002 |page=[https://archive.org/details/camerasincourtro0000cohn/page/18 18] |isbn=9780742520233 |quote=WKY televised trial Billy Manley. |access-date=October 2, 2017 |url-access=registration|author1-link=Marjorie Cohn }} and a small button that Judge A. P. Van Meter could use to stop recording at any point.{{Cite web |date=May 1957 |title=Television in Texas... a Murder Trial |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2bv14QniJXAC&q=WKY-TV+%22Billy+Eugene+Manley%22+trial&pg=PA420 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |page=420 |periodical=ABA Journal |archive-date=July 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720233342/https://books.google.com/books?id=2bv14QniJXAC&q=WKY-TV+%22Billy+Eugene+Manley%22+trial&pg=PA420 |url-status=live }} The swearing in of the jury, some testimony and Manley's sentencing was filmed for later news broadcasts.{{cite magazine |date=August 1, 1955 |title=WKY-TV Clears Way for TV Trial Coverage|id={{ProQuest|1014918762}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|page=84 }}{{cite magazine |date=September 8, 1958 |title=High Court Integrates News Media|id={{ProQuest|1401226939}} |periodical=Broadcasting-Telecasting|pages=29, 31 }} After OPUBCO purchased WSFA and WSFA-TV in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, McGee—under his real name—became WSFA-TV's news director;{{Cite news|date=December 29, 1956|title=WSFA Reports Staff Shifts; McGee Resigns|page=5-A|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82748127/wsfa-reports-staff-shifts-mcgee-resigns/|access-date=August 3, 2021}} McGee's reporting regarding both the Montgomery bus boycott and riots on the University of Alabama campus over Autherine Lucy's admission motivated NBC News to hire him at the end of 1956 for their Washington operations.{{Cite news|date=October 13, 1957|title=NBC Newsman Worked at WKY|page=4: TV in Oklahoma|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82747765/nbc-newsman-worked-at-wky/|access-date=August 3, 2021}}

{{Quote box

| quote = The station was full of mentors. In all categories someone took the time to mentor me and critique me in a helpful way. That is how I learned. No one ever once made me feel bad. Their feedback was pointed and important, and I soaked up the lessons they were teaching.

| author = Virgil Dominic

| source = former WKY-TV reporter{{r|VirgilDominicSenior}}

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File:Bob Dotson.jpg produced multiple award-winning documentaries and netted the station its first national Emmy Award.{{r|WKYDotson}}|275x275px|alt=Headshot portrait of reporter Bob Dotson]]Virgil Dominic initially joined WKY-TV in 1956, then after two months was called into active duty with the U.S. Air Force;{{Cite web|year=2007|title=Virgil Dominic: Cleveland Seniors Profile|url=http://www.clevelandseniors.com/people/virgil-dominic.htm|url-status=live|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=clevelandseniors.com|archive-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706052518/http://www.clevelandseniors.com/people/virgil-dominic.htm}} Dominic returned to the station in 1959 as both a reporter and news anchor.{{Cite news|date=March 7, 1978|title=Club to hear TV newsman|page=8|work=Mansfield News Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82408274/club-to-hear-tv-newsman/|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729210525/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82408274/club-to-hear-tv-newsman/|url-status=live}} As NBC News did not have dedicated news bureaus in the early 1960s, Dominic was often requested to file reports to the network—particularly on The Huntley–Brinkley Report—whenever a story was needed from Oklahoma or portions of adjacent states.{{Cite web|last=Macek|first=Frank|date=September 25, 2008|title=Where Are They Now? - Virgil Dominic|url=https://wkycdirectorscut.blogspot.com/2008/09/where-are-they-now-virgil-dominic.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Director's Cut Blog with Frank Macek|publisher=Gannett Broadcasting|quote=In those days, the networks did not have extensive bureaus. They relied on local stations with good news operations to cover stories in the regions of the country. Our region was Oklahoma and parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729174705/https://wkycdirectorscut.blogspot.com/2008/09/where-are-they-now-virgil-dominic.html}} In 1964 alone, Dominic and WKY-TV provided 36 news stories, a record amount for any NBC affiliate.{{Cite news|date=April 25, 1965|title=Cameras, Wires, Airplanes: Award Winning News|page=8: Special Section|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82409665/cameras-wires-airplanes-award/|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729174707/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82409665/cameras-wires-airplanes-award/|url-status=live}} When NBC hired away Virgil in 1965, he was assigned to network-owned WKYC-TV in Cleveland as that station's lead anchor{{r|VirgilDominicClub}} in addition to newscasting duties for NBC Radio.{{Cite news|date=October 4, 1970|title=Action Line Bonus|page=F-16|work=Akron Beacon Journal|publisher=Knight Newspapers|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82414218/action-line-bonus/|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729174703/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82414218/action-line-bonus/|url-status=live}}

In 1972, Pam Henry—who after contracting polio at 14 months old, was the March of Dimes' 1959 national poster child—was hired by channel 4 as an assignment reporter, the first female television news reporter in Oklahoma.{{Cite news |first=Paula|last=Burkes |date=July 26, 2015 |title=Faces of ADA |work=The Oklahoman |publisher=The Anschutz Corporation |url=http://newsok.com/article/5436204 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=May 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514120633/http://newsok.com/article/5436204 |url-status=live }} After a brief stint working in Washington, D.C.,{{Cite news |date=April 2, 2004 |title=Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame to induct nine |work=The Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/1896746 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044529/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/1896746/oklahoma-journalism-hall-of-fame-to-induct-nine |url-status=live }} Henry worked at other television stations in Oklahoma City and Lawton, and was OETA's news and public affairs manager for 16 years.{{Cite news |first=Bryan|last=Painter |date=November 23, 2014 |title=Of Character: Pam Henry has focused on her ability to help others with disabilities |work=The Oklahoman |publisher=The Anschutz Corporation |url=http://newsok.com/article/5369590 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=May 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521031919/http://newsok.com/article/5369590 |url-status=live }} From 1973 to 1978, WKY-TV aired Spectrum, a weekly prime time public affairs newsmagazine focused on issues affecting Oklahoma's minority community.{{cite magazine |date=August 19, 1974 |id={{ProQuest|1014671381}}|title=WKY-TV's weekly public affairs program offers variety of formats on variety of subjects and issues |periodical=Broadcasting|page=72 }} Through The Looking Glass Darkly, a Spectrum installment about the history of blacks in Oklahoma produced and reported by eventual NBC News correspondent Bob Dotson became the first program from an Oklahoma television station to win a national Emmy Award in 1974.{{Cite news|date=March 22, 1974|title=Station in Oklahoma wins service award|page=E-8|work=Arizona Republic|publisher=Phoenix Newspapers|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82199541/station-in-oklahoma-wins-service-award/|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726035607/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82199541/station-in-oklahoma-wins-service-award/|url-status=live}}

Members of the Ogle family have been part of channel 4 in some manner since 1962, when Jack Ogle joined WKY-TV as its main news anchor. Best known for a friendly, "good-ol'-boy" on-air delivery,{{r|OgleSonsLegacy}} Ogle became the station's news director in 1970 and served in that capacity until leaving in 1977 to join Oklahoma State's athletic department.{{Cite news|date=June 23, 1977|title=Jack Ogle Resigns Position in TV News|page=37|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82073190/jack-ogle-resigns-position-in-tv-news/|access-date=July 29, 2021|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729213008/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82073190/jack-ogle-resigns-position-in-tv-news/|url-status=live}} Ogle continued to make occasional appearances on channel 4, KOCO-TV and KWTV delivering commentaries.{{Cite news |date=October 5, 1999 |title=Jack Ogle dies at 68 |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2669970 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044553/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2669970/jack-ogle-dies-at-68 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=October 8, 1999 |title=Jack Edward Ogle |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2670314 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044515/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2670314/jack-edward-ogle |url-status=live }} All three of Jack's sons followed him into broadcasting, two of them at channel 4. Eldest son Kevin first worked at KTVY from 1986 to 1989 as a reporter, then returned in 1993 and was promoted to weeknight co-anchor in 1996. Middle son Kent was hired by KFOR-TV as a reporter in 1994,{{Cite news |date=March 8, 1994 |title=BUSINESS PEOPLE |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2459132 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044529/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2459132/business-people |url-status=live }} anchored weekend newscasts{{Cite news |date=March 26, 1995 |title=KFOR-TV Announces Promotions, New Additions to News Staff |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2496614 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044507/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2496614/kfor-tv-announces-promotions-new-additions-to-news-staff |url-status=live }} and became weekday morning/noon anchor in 1997. Youngest son Kelly has been KWTV's evening anchor since 1990,{{Cite news|last=Bracht|first=Mel|date=February 11, 2001|title=Sons continue Ogle's TV legacy|page=17: TV This Week|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82420497/sons-continue-ogles-tv-legacy/|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729213009/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82420497/sons-continue-ogles-tv-legacy/|url-status=live}} and granddaughters Abigail and Katelyn Ogle work at KOCO-TV and KFOR-TV, respectively.{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Scott|date=March 22, 2021|title=Another Ogle is added at OKC Station|url=https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2021/3/22/another-ogle-is-added-at-okc-station|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322231113/https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2021/3/22/another-ogle-is-added-at-okc-station|archive-date=March 22, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=FTVLive|language=en-US}}

{{Quote box

| quote = As many years as he was in the job, he was always enthusiastic about it. He was always a young guy in a little bit older body. He always stayed that same young guy and embraced life.

| author = Damon Fontenot, KFOR sports anchor

| source = on Bob Barry Jr.{{r|BBJ2015Obit}}

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File:2015 OKC Memorial Marathon.jpg after her 2015 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon win) was a KTVY-KFOR sports anchor from 1981 until his death in 2015; his father Bob Barry Sr. preceded him as station sports director from 1966 to 1997.|alt=Bob Barry Jr. interviewing marathon runner Camille Herron after her win at the 2015 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.|left]]Bob Barry Sr. started his television career at WKY-TV in 1966 as lead sports anchor, but was already a fixture in the market as the radio play-by-play voice of the Oklahoma Sooners, a position Sooners coach Bud Wilkinson selected Barry for in 1961.{{Cite web|last=Hoover|first=John E.|date=September 1, 2010|title=Bob Barry felt scared before calling his first OU game in 1961|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=20100901_29_B7_CUTLIN249610|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102222049/http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=20100901_29_B7_CUTLIN249610|archive-date=November 2, 2012|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=tulsaworld.com|publisher=Tulsa World}} Barry called radio broadcasts of OU and Oklahoma State football and basketball games with Jack Ogle until 1974. Barry became sports director in 1970,{{Cite news|last=Bracht|first=Mel|date=August 27, 2000|title=Bob Barry Sr. launches his 40th season on the air|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2709782|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044523/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2709782/bob-barry-sr-launches-his-40th-season-on-the-air|url-status=live}} holding that position for 26 of his 42 years at channel 4,{{Cite web|last=Hoover|first=John E.|date=September 1, 2010|title=Signing off: Bob Barry to retire as OU announcer at season's end|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20100901_92_B1_CUTLIN470970|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014171837/http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20100901_92_B1_CUTLIN470970|archive-date=October 14, 2012|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=tulsaworld.com|publisher=Tulsa World}} and remained a part-time evening sports anchor until his May 2008 retirement.{{Cite news|date=October 30, 2011|title=Longtime Oklahoma sportscaster Bob Barry Sr. dies|work=The Oklahoman|publisher=The Anschutz Corporation|url=http://newsok.com/article/3618563|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=May 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504134103/http://newsok.com/article/3618563|url-status=live}} His son Bob Barry Jr. became KTVY's weekend sports anchor/reporter in 1982, working along Bob Sr. for 25 years and assuming his father's role as sports director in 1997. The younger Barry—who was known for a jovial, off-the-cuff style—was KFOR-TV's sports director and weeknight sports anchor until his June 20, 2015, death in an auto/motorcycle accident.{{Cite news|last=Kersey|first=Jason|date=June 20, 2015|title=Longtime sports voice Bob Barry Jr. dies at 58|pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29135439/robert-bonnin-barry-obituary-2/ 4B]|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29135496/robert-bonnin-barry-obituary-1/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29135496/robert-bonnin-barry-obituary-1/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=June 20, 2015 |title=Our hearts are broken at the tragic loss of our friend Bob Barry, Jr. |publisher=KFOR-TV |url=http://kfor.com/2015/06/20/our-hearts-are-broken-at-the-tragic-loss-of-our-friend-bob-barry-jr/ |access-date=June 20, 2015 |archive-date=June 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621055229/http://kfor.com/2015/06/20/our-hearts-are-broken-at-the-tragic-loss-of-our-friend-bob-barry-jr/ |url-status=live }} Including a posthumous win by Bob Barry Jr. in 2016, both Barrys earned 22 "Sportscaster of the Year" awards from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association; Barry Sr. holds the record for most wins with 15.{{Cite news|last=Tramel|first=Berry|date=June 25, 2015|title=After 49 years, Channel 4 will never be the same|pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82485356/after-49-years-channel-4-will-never-be/ 6B]|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82485327/after-49-years-channel-4-will-never-be/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044537/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82485327/after-49-years-channel-4-will-never-be/|url-status=live}} Station veteran Brian Brinkley succeeded Barry Jr. as sports director in February 2016.{{Cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |date=February 9, 2016 |title=Media notes: Marv Albert agrees to multiyear extension with TNT |work=The Oklahoman |publisher=The Anschutz Corporation |url=http://newsok.com/article/5477883 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610094747/http://newsok.com/article/5477883 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|last=Greeley|first=Paul|date=February 10, 2016|title=KFOR Promotes 25-Year Station Vet To Sports Director|work=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/marketshare/2016/02/10/kfor-promotes-25-year-station-vet-to-sports-director/|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=June 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608133955/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/marketshare/2016/02/10/kfor-promotes-25-year-station-vet-to-sports-director/|url-status=live}}

Brad Edwards, who joined channel 4 as a reporter/photographer in 1973 and became late evening anchor in 1977,{{r|JackOgleResigns}} launched the In Your Corner series of consumer advocacy reports in 1981. Edwards also started several community initiatives for the station to assist low-income residents, including the winter-focused "Warmth 4 Winter" and summer-focused "Fans 4 Oklahomans".{{Cite news |first=Kari |last=King |date=November 23, 2015 |title=Brad Edwards' Warmth 4 Winter coat drive |publisher=KFOR-TV |url=http://kfor.com/2015/11/23/brad-edwards-warmth-4-winter-coat-drive/ |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220635/http://kfor.com/2015/11/23/brad-edwards-warmth-4-winter-coat-drive/ |url-status=live }} Following Edwards's death in May 2006,{{Cite news |date=May 16, 2006 |title=Heart ailment, aneurysm claim KFOR broadcaster |work=The Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2944405 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044508/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2944405/heart-ailment-aneurysm-claim-kfor-broadcaster |url-status=live }} In Your Corner duties were handled by a rotation of staffers until Scott Hines took over the role in 2007,{{Cite news |last=Hines |first=Scott |date=May 24, 2017 |title=Fans 4 Oklahomans: Here's how you can help |publisher=KFOR-TV |url=http://kfor.com/2017/05/24/fans-4-oklahomans-heres-how-you-can-help/ |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220136/http://kfor.com/2017/05/24/fans-4-oklahomans-heres-how-you-can-help/ |url-status=live }} remaining at the station until September 2019.{{Cite news |last=Meyer |first=Ali |date=September 26, 2019 |title=Bittersweet: Saying goodbye to In Your Corner's Scott Hines |publisher=KFOR-TV |url=https://kfor.com/2019/09/26/scott-hines-retires-from-kfor/ |access-date=October 12, 2019 |archive-date=September 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928183936/https://kfor.com/2019/09/26/scott-hines-retires-from-kfor/ |url-status=live }} (Notice of Adam Snider's appointment as "In Your Corner" reporter is mentioned in the video clip of Scott Hines' departure retrospective included within the link.) Adam Snider was subsequently named as Hines' replacement in December 2019.

File:US Navy 070604-N-8497H-030 Director of Global Operations (J3) United States Strategic Command, Rear Adm. Doug McClain, talks to (KFOR) Channel Four News's Ali Meyer about the Navy and events during Oklahoma Navy Week.jpg Doug McClain, Director of Global Operations (J3) United States Strategic Command, about Oklahoma Navy Week.|alt=Refer to caption]]

The station began to slowly expand its local news programming following the 1990 call letter change to KFOR-TV. Under the direction of then-general manager Bill Katsafanas and news director Melissa Klinzing, a greater emphasis was placed on Oklahoma-related stories and features{{r|KFORBarnstorming}} along with the aforementioned hourly news updates.{{r|KFOR24HourDay}} Klinzing enacted the strategy to gear KFOR-TV as "the CNN of the (Oklahoma City) market". With Palmer Communications committing resources to the news department, KFOR-TV's news output increased from 25 hours to over 40 hours per week by 1996; the station accordingly became the top-rated local newscast with the May 1995 sweeps.{{cite magazine |date=October 7, 1996 |title=Business approach pays off |id={{ProQuest|225364116}}|first=Stephen|last=McClellan|periodical=Broadcasting|publisher=Cahners Business Information |page=44 }}

During coverage of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing on April 19, 1995, KFOR-TV erroneously reported a member of the Nation of Islam contacted the station to take credit, but cautioned the phone call might have been a crank call.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82243285/some-errors-as-tv-races-to-bomb-site/|first=Howard|last=Rosenberg|title=Some Errors as TV Races to Bomb Site|date=April 21, 1995|work=Los Angeles Times|pages=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82243334/rosenberg/ F18]|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726222624/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82243285/some-errors-as-tv-races-to-bomb-site/|url-status=live}} Lead anchor Linda Cavanaugh was in Vietnam producing a series about Vietnam War prisoner of war experiences, and only found out about the bombing by seeing KFOR-TV's coverage, helmed by co-anchor Devin Scillian, simulcast on CNN in her hotel room;{{Cite news|last=Bracht|first=Mel|date=February 13, 2000|title=Anchor is honored for career|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2686125|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630153054/http://newsok.com/article/2686125|url-status=live}} NBC additionally relayed KFOR-TV's feed across their entire network.{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=Steven|date=November 30, 2020|title=The Storyteller: For a man of many talents, one skill stands above: the art of the tale|url=https://kansasalumnimagazine.org/the-storyteller/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123005615/https://kansasalumnimagazine.org/the-storyteller/|archive-date=January 23, 2021|access-date=August 3, 2021|website=Kansas Alumni Magazine|publisher=KU Alumni Association|language=en-US}} In the bombing's aftermath, then-KFOR reporter Jayna Davis filed a report claiming that Timothy McVeigh was seen drinking beer with a former Iraqi soldier in an Oklahoma City tavern; the individual Davis implicated on-air sued the station, while KFOR-TV sued Davis and her husband after they stole videotapes of her past work when she left the station.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82243522/judge-refuses-to-bar-subpoena-of-ex-repo/|access-date=July 25, 2021|work=The Daily Oklahoman|first=Ed|last=Godfrey|page=7|title=Judge Refuses To Bar Subpoena Of Ex-Reporter|date=September 12, 1997|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044559/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82243522/judge-refuses-to-bar-subpoena-of/|url-status=live}} Cavanaugh would produce and host Tapestry, a 1996 documentary on the lives of survivors of the bombing{{Cite news|date=October 20, 1996|title=TV Notebook|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/tv-notebook/article/2554090|access-date=October 2, 2017}} honored with four regional Emmys, a Gabriel Award, and accolades by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, the National Press Club and the Society of Professional Journalists.{{r|CavanaughCareerHonor}}{{Cite news|date=January 26, 1997|title=Local TV Station Racks Up Honors|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2566759|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044606/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2566759/local-tv-station-racks-up-honors|url-status=live}}

{{Quote box

| quote = I never had any intention of anchoring or being in front of the camera. As I was growing up, Channel 4 was the only station that my grandparents watched... and so when it came time to pick a station (to work at), that was the only one I knew about.

| author = Linda Cavanaugh{{r|KavanaughAnnouncement}}

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Linda Cavanaugh spent her entire 40-year broadcasting career at the station, from October 17, 1977, to December 15, 2017.{{Cite web|first1=Katrina|last1=Butcher|first2=Kari|last2=King|date=October 17, 2017|title=Broadcast icon Linda Cavanaugh makes big announcement after celebrating 40 years at KFOR|url=http://kfor.com/2017/10/17/broadcast-icon-linda-cavanaugh-makes-big-announcement-after-celebrating-40-years-at-kfor/|access-date=October 18, 2017|publisher=KFOR-TV|archive-date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019004442/http://kfor.com/2017/10/17/broadcast-icon-linda-cavanaugh-makes-big-announcement-after-celebrating-40-years-at-kfor/|url-status=live}} Originally an assignment reporter and news photographer, Cavanaugh was promoted to weekend anchor in June 1978, and then became the station's first weeknight co-anchor the following year. Until her retirement in 2017, Cavanaugh's co-anchors included George Tomek, Brad Edwards, Gary Essex, Jerry Adams,{{Cite news|first=Glen|last=Phillips|date=July 29, 1984|title=Newswoman coming home|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2076291|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044605/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2076291/newswoman-coming-home|url-status=live}} Jane Jayroe,{{Cite news|date=July 22, 1984|title=KTVY New Home For Jane Jayroe|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2075627|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044607/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2075627/ktvy-new-home-for-jane-jayroe|url-status=live}} Dan Slocum,{{Cite news|date=June 27, 1987|title=TV Anchors Switch Channels|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2190592|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044523/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2190592/tv-anchors-switch-channels|url-status=live}} Bob Bruce,{{Cite news|first=Tim|last=Chavez|date=August 29, 1990|title=KFOR Fills Co-anchor Position|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2329353|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044530/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2329353/kfor-fills-co-anchor-position|url-status=live}} Devin Scillian{{r|DevinScillianKFOR}} and Kevin Ogle. In addition to Tapestry, Cavanaugh's 1989 documentary From Red Soil to Red Square—assisted by chief photographer Tony Stizza—about life in the Soviet Union under glasnost was awarded the Edward Weintal Prize for Diplomatic Reporting.

KFOR-TV has competed with KWTV for first place among the market's local television newscasts for decades. It had placed second behind KWTV in the morning and late evening news timeslots. Nielsen later found an error in KFOR's ratings reports in September 2008, in which share points were mistakenly assigned to KFOR's 4.1 digital multicast signal from 2005 to 2008;{{Cite web |first=Michael|last=Malone |date=September 26, 2008 |title=Nielsen Mistake Hurts KFOR |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/nielsen-mistake-hurts-kfor/85216 |access-date=March 24, 2011 |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002221247/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/nielsen-mistake-hurts-kfor/85216 |url-status=live }} the corrected ratings showed that it had placed second in all timeslots at that time. On June 5, 2006, KFOR-TV began producing a half-hour weeknight 9 p.m. newscast for KAUT-TV;{{Cite news |date=June 12, 2006 |first=Jerry|last=Shottenkirk|id={{ProQuest|259456055}} |title=KAUT begins news program: Ernie Paulson to join Cherokee Ballard as co-anchor on 9 o'clock news |work=The Journal Record |url=https://www.questia.com/library/1P2-2168916/kaut-begins-news-program-ernie-paulson-to-join-cherokee |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112033844/http://www.questia.com/library/1P2-2168916/kaut-begins-news-program-ernie-paulson-to-join-cherokee |archive-date=January 12, 2014}} by 2023, the total weekly output of news across both stations was {{frac|54|1|2}} hours, including the KAUT 9 p.m. news and the two-hour morning show Rise and Shine.{{Cite news |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=January 30, 2023 |title=Local News Close-Up: Winter in Oklahoma City Means Ice, Wind ... and Thunder |url=https://www.nexttv.com/features/local-news-close-up-winter-in-oklahoma-city-means-ice-wind-and-thunder |access-date=February 17, 2024 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en}}

A collection of 16 mm news footage shot by WKY-TV between 1953 and 1979 was donated to the Oklahoma Historical Society, which made the films available on its website and a dedicated YouTube channel, in 2013.{{Cite news |first1=K.|last1=Querry |first2=Linda|last2=Cavanaugh |date=November 25, 2013 |title=Rewind In Time: Going through historical events captured in the WKY archives |publisher=KFOR-TV |url=http://kfor.com/2013/11/25/rewind-in-time-going-through-historical-events-captured-in-the-wky-archives/ |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220556/http://kfor.com/2013/11/25/rewind-in-time-going-through-historical-events-captured-in-the-wky-archives/ |url-status=live }}

In 2025, KFOR and reporter Ali Meyer won an Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award for coverage of the wrongful conviction of Glynn Simmons, which was overturned after nearly 50 years.{{cite web|url=https://kfor.com/news/local/ali-meyer-and-news-4-receive-dupont-columbia-award/|date=January 23, 2025|first=Caroline|last=Sellers|website=KFOR|title=Ali Meyer and News 4 receive duPont-Columbia Award}}

= Severe weather coverage =

{{Quote box

| quote = We had hundreds and hundreds of postcards and letters of thanks... I remember one card said, 'Thank God for Harry Volkman.'

| author = Harry Volkman

| source = remembering viewer reaction to his pioneering 1952 telecast of a tornado warning{{r|WKY Volkman}}

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File:Harry Volkman 1956.jpgs to be employed by a television station, Harry Volkman also became the first person to broadcast a tornado warning live over WKY-TV, in defiance of what had been a federal ban on the practice.{{r|WKY Volkman}}|alt=Meteorologist Harry Volkman from 1956 standing in front of a weather map of Oklahoma and adjacent states, presenting a weather report on-air.]]Channel 4 has laid claim as the first television station to house a professional meteorological department, beginning with Wally Kinnan's February 1951 hiring as a nightly weather presenter, dubbed "Wally the Weatherman".{{Cite news|last=Carlberg|first=Loren|date=February 22, 1951|title=Fly Dope|page=6|work=The Enid Events|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82130397/fly-dope-1951-02-22/|access-date=July 24, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725041132/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82130397/fly-dope-1951-02-22/|url-status=live}} A graduate of MIT, Kinnan was one of the first meteorologists to be awarded a "seal of approval" by the American Meteorological Society with seal number No. 3{{Cite web|title=List of AMS Television Seal Holders|url=https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/education-careers/careers/ams-professional-certification-programs/directories-of-ams-certified-individuals/list-of-ams-television-seal-holders/|url-status=live|access-date=July 24, 2021|website=American Meteorological Society|language=en|archive-date=July 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724214246/https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/education-careers/careers/ams-professional-certification-programs/directories-of-ams-certified-individuals/list-of-ams-television-seal-holders/}} and was on active duty with the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Tinker Air Force Base as an Air Weather Service (AWS) officer and tornado researcher.{{Cite news|date=February 14, 1962|title=Weatherman Speaks Here|page=1|work=The Oklahoma Daily|publisher=The University of Oklahoma|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82128802/weatherman-speaks-here/|access-date=July 24, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725042635/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82128802/weatherman-speaks-here/|url-status=live}} Kinnan had developed methodology to predict and detect tornadoes using radar by identifying wind patterns to predict precipitation movement, despite the AWS's belief no method could exist to accurately predict them.{{r|WallyKinnanBP}} Kinnan was soon teamed with fellow meteorologist Harry Volkman, who joined WKY-TV in March 1952 after a two-year stint at Tulsa's KOTV.

WKY-TV holds the distinction of being the first television station to broadcast a tornado warning. Station general manager P.A. Sugg and Oklahoma Senator Mike Monroney had actively lobbied the federal government to overturn a ban on disseminating tornado alerts to the public, believing the high fatality risk and urgency for residents to take safety precautions outweighed concerns that they could incite panic.{{Cite web |first=Gerry |last=Wilkinson |title=Wally Kinnan |url=http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/wallykinnan.html |access-date=October 2, 2017 |website=Broadcast Pioneers |archive-date=November 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117015521/http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/wallykinnan.html |url-status=live }} Several weeks after Harry Volkman joined the station on March 21, 1952,{{efn|An OPUBCO corporate brochure from 1967 erroneously attributes the date as in 1951.{{Cite news|date=November 12, 1967|title=WKY goes where the action is|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82003392/wky-goes-where-the-action-is/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723025347/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82003392/wky-goes-where-the-action-is/|url-status=live}}}} Sugg intercepted an AWS tornado forecast—intended to be released exclusively to Tinker Base staff—and instructed Volkman to deliver an on-air bulletin of the "tornado risk" for central Oklahoma.{{Cite news |first=Burt|last=Constable |date=April 21, 2013 |title=Harry Volkman weathers wild Chicago climate |work=Daily Herald |publisher=Paddock Publications, Inc. |url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130421/news/704219914/ |access-date=October 23, 2015 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223143/http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130421/news/704219914/ |url-status=live }} Though he had apprehension of facing arrest for violating government rules, Volkman agreed to deliver the warning after Sugg volunteered to take responsibility.{{Cite web |first=Kara|last=Kovalchik |date=June 2, 2011 |title=Not-So-Famous Firsts: Tornado Edition |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/27887/not-so-famous-firsts-tornado-edition |access-date=October 23, 2015 |website=Mental Floss |publisher=Dennis Publishing |archive-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818145202/http://mentalfloss.com/article/27887/not-so-famous-firsts-tornado-edition |url-status=live }} WKY-TV and WKY remained on-air until 1 am,{{Cite news|date=April 20, 1952|title=Weatherman Calls His Shots on TV|page=34|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82001487/weatherman-calls-his-shots-on-tv/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723025349/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82001487/weatherman-calls-his-shots-on-tv/|url-status=live}} with residents of Woodward, Alva and adjacent farm communities having retreated to storm cellars, prompted by the alert.{{Cite news|date=April 9, 1952|title=Loss of Sleep Is Biggest Wind Damage|page=1|work=Seminole Producer|agency=United Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81999526/loss-of-sleep-is-biggest-wind-damage/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723025347/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81999526/loss-of-sleep-is-biggest-wind-damage/|url-status=live}} It was on May 1, 1954,{{efn|A 2016 Oklahoman story regarding a National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum exhibit gave the incorrect date of September 5, 1954, for this event.{{Cite news |first=Brandy|last=McDonnell |date=April 4, 2016 |title=National Cowboy museum exhibit in Oklahoma City explores the effects of weather in the West |work=The Oklahoman |publisher=The Anschutz Corporation |url=http://newsok.com/article/5489073 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=April 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420052833/http://newsok.com/article/5489073 |url-status=live }}}} that Frank McGee intercepted another AWS weather bulletin meant for Tinker Base regarding a tornadic thunderstorm approaching Meeker, relaying it over the phone to Volkman.{{Cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |date=December 19, 1999 |title='Remember' stirs memories |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2679249 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044514/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2679249/remember-stirs-memories |url-status=live }} No one in Meeker lost their lives despite the tornado's destruction, with one resident telling an Associated Press reporter, "God bless Harry Volkman."{{Cite news|last=Carey|first=Frank|date=March 28, 1955|title=Tornado Forecasting Improvements Expected to Forestall Much Damage|page=10|work=The Ponca City News|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82000727/tornado-forecasting-improvements/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723025349/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82000727/tornado-forecasting-improvements/|url-status=live}} The federal ban on broadcasting tornado watches/warnings was eventually repealed in part due to the efforts of Volkman and Kinnan, and WKY-TV became the first station to hold a contract with the National Weather Service.{{Cite news|date=November 12, 1954|title=WKY Weather Aces Get Free Rein by U.S.|page=18|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82000665/wky-weather-aces-get-free-rein-by-us/|access-date=July 22, 2021|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723025347/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82000665/wky-weather-aces-get-free-rein-by-us/|url-status=live}}

Volkman left the station in October 1955 to join KWTV and KOMA (1520 AM), prompting Kinnan to take over his nightly forecasting duties.{{Cite news|date=October 15, 1955|title=Volkman Leaves WKY-TV, Joins KWTV and KOMA|page=4|work=Sooner State Press|publisher=The University of Oklahoma|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82128347/volkman-leaves-wky-tv-joins-kwtv-and/|access-date=July 24, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725041129/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82128347/volkman-leaves-wky-tv-joins-kwtv-and/|url-status=live}} On January 23, 1958, WKY-TV became the first Oklahoma television station to use the weather radar from Will Rogers Field during severe weather conditions, with an effective range of {{Convert|200|miles|km|abbr=out|sp=us}} radius.{{Cite news|date=January 31, 1958|title=WKY-TV to Show Radar Scope during Severe Weather|page=1|work=Tecumseh County Democrat|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82130166/wky-tv-to-show-radar-scope-during/|access-date=July 24, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725041131/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82130166/wky-tv-to-show-radar-scope-during/|url-status=live}} The station additionally installed a converted surplus military radar for use as a radar of their own, using that unit until 1970.{{Cite news |date=November 20, 2005 |title=COOL STUFF |work=The Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2920297 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044542/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2920297/cool-stuff |url-status=live }} Kinnan departed WKY-TV in September 1958 to join Philadelphia's WRCV-TV, then owned by NBC; Bob Thomas, who had joined the station at the end of 1957, became Kinnan's replacement.{{Cite news|date=September 21, 1958|title=Major Changes at WKY|page=12: TV in Oklahoma|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82130544/major-changes-at-wky/|access-date=July 24, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725041125/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82130544/major-changes-at-wky/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=December 27, 1957|title=Bob Thomas to Be Asst. Weatherman|page=4|work=Oklahoma City Advertiser|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82128509/bob-thomas-to-be-asst-weatherman/|access-date=July 24, 2021|archive-date=July 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725042633/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82128509/bob-thomas-to-be-asst-weatherman/|url-status=live}} 1958 also saw the hiring of Jim Williams, who would succeed Bob Thomas as chief meteorologist in 1967.{{Cite news|date=September 22, 1967|title=WKY Names Forecaster|page=16|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82515986/wky-names-forecaster/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044514/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82515986/wky-names-forecaster/|url-status=live}} Williams worked at channel 4 for 32 years, earning industry praise for a calm and steady on-air demeanor{{Cite news|date=February 13, 2020|title=James "Jim" Williams: Dec. 18, 1928 – Feb. 10, 2020|page=A5|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82496293/jim-williams-obit/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044531/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82496293/jim-williams-obit/|url-status=live}} in addition to pioneering further technical advancements.{{Cite news|last=Phillips|first=Glen|date=February 9, 1986|title=KTVY reporters pick up awards|pages=6, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82506073/ktvy-reporters-pick-up-awards-p2/ 7]: TV News|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82506031/ktvy-reporters-pick-up-awards/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044531/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82506031/ktvy-reporters-pick-up-awards/|url-status=live}}File:Tornado Damagae Edmond, Oklahoma.jpg van stationed in Edmond, Oklahoma to cover the aftermath of a May 19, 2013, tornado.|alt=A news van with a microwave antenna fully extended in front of a section of tornado-damaged houses.|left]]In recent years, KFOR-TV, KWTV and KOCO-TV have displayed a public rivalry over severe weather coverage. KWTV became the first station in the country to use a Doppler weather radar system in 1981, then upgraded the system in 1984.{{Cite news|date=March 30, 1986|title=KWTV Keeps Track of Twisters|page=10|work=The Sunday Oklahoman GoodNews Oklahoma|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82509867/kwtv-keeps-track-of-twisters/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044527/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82509867/kwtv-keeps-track-of-twisters/|url-status=live}} Channel 4 followed suit with colorized Doppler radar in 1986, then "Super Doppler" in 1990.{{r|BrooksChannel4}} Mike Morgan joined KFOR-TV as chief meteorologist in 1993,{{Cite news|date=January 10, 1993|title=Tuning In...|page=67: TV News|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82505930/tuning-in/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044519/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82505930/tuning-in/|url-status=live}} having taken over for one of Jim Williams' short-lived successors, Wayne Shattuck, who himself preceded Morgan at KOCO-TV in the same position.{{Cite news|date=December 10, 1989|title=Changes Announced|page=4: TV News|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82513707/changes-announced/|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044512/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82513707/changes-announced/|url-status=live}}

In 1994, KFOR-TV became the first television station to transmit images over cell phones with the development of "First Video", technology that allowed the station's news crews to send photos and video of severe weather over mobile relays for broadcast.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82287615/kfor-koco-given-awards-for-broadcast-ne/|access-date=July 27, 2021|title=KFOR, KOCO Given Awards For Broadcast News Work|work=The Daily Oklahoman|page=TV News 50|date=October 16, 1994|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82287615/kfor-koco-given-awards-for-broadcast/|url-status=live}} While the video was transmitted at lower frame rates, this enabled quicker transmission and increased flexibility compared to conventional microwave or satellite facilities.{{cite news|id={{ProQuest|203815367}}|via=ProQuest|title=Cellphone-delivered video becomes eye of the storm|first=Daisy|last=Whitney|work=Electronic Media|date=January 14, 2002|page=12}} For decades, KFOR-TV's helicopters have been used extensively in newsgathering and severe weather coverage, with the station currently operating a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV. Along with KWTV's chopper, it captured live, continuous footage of an F5 tornado that killed 36 people from Amber to Midwest City on May 3, 1999, with Moore among the hardest hit,{{Cite news|first=John|last=Rohde|date=May 9, 1999|title=TV Weather Pilots Live by Blade|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/316409|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044534/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/316409/tv-weather-pilots-live-by-blade|url-status=live}} which earned industrial acclaim for station chopper pilot Jim Gardner.{{Cite news|last=Bracht|first=Mel|date=January 21, 2000|title=Chopper pilot due honor|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=http://newsok.com/article/2683561|access-date=October 2, 2017|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044516/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2683561/chopper-pilot-due-honor|url-status=live}} Government officials praised the local broadcast media as a whole after the storm for properly alerting the public and preventing additional fatalities.{{cite magazine |first=Elizabeth A.|last=Rathbun |date=May 10, 1999 |title=Officials: local TV saved lives |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=Cahners Business Information |page=19 }}

{{Quote box

| quote = Living in Oklahoma, our weather is tough but our people are tougher. The Moore tornado was devastating, but we know that our severe weather coverage saved lives that day. Our team did everything possible to alert viewers to the danger. We are honored to accept this Emmy award and we would like to dedicate this to the people of Moore.

| author = Wes Milbourn

| source = KFOR-TV general manager, accepting the station's 2015 Emmy Award for their coverage of the 2013 Moore tornado{{r|MooreDedication}}

| align = right

| width = 325px

| qalign = left

| salign = right

}}

KWTV management criticized KFOR-TV after what it deemed "sensationalistic" coverage on March 7, 2000, when the station preempted programming for possible tornadic activity, the only station in the market to do so.{{Cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |date=March 10, 2000 |title=Weather turns stormy between 2 stations |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2689334 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044524/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2689334/weather-turns-stormy-between-2-stations |url-status=live }} KWTV meteorologist Gary England then stated on-air that other stations—not specifically citing KFOR-TV or Mike Morgan—should not take a "chicken little" approach by excessively covering tornadoes that don't immediately threaten life and property, and compared it to "yelling 'fire' in a crowded auditorium".{{cite magazine |first=Dan|last=Trigoboff |date=March 20, 2000 |title=STATION BREAK: Weather wars in Oklahoma|id={{ProQuest|225327998}} |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=Cahners Business Information |page=28 }} Morgan and KFOR-TV defended their coverage after hearing of initial damage to telephone poles and eyewitness reports that suggested dangerous conditions.{{r|EnglandChickenLittle}} During an October 2000 storm, Morgan noted on-air that KFOR-TV's "The Edge" radar was "20 to 25 minutes" ahead of NEXRAD data due to unexpected data lag, noting that KWTV forecaster Brady Bus erroneously listed a specific area as in "the danger zone" minutes after the fact; Bus later remarked he didn't put stock in anything said by someone without a meteorological degree.{{Cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |date=October 24, 2000 |title=KFOR-4's comment inflames more debate |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2716866 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044634/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2716866/kfor-4s-comment-inflames-more-debate |url-status=live }} After another tornado struck Moore in 2003, KFOR-TV invested in the first million-watt radar system in the area, which came into service in 2005.{{cite news|title=OKC's KFOR quadruples Doppler competition|via=ProQuest|id={{ProQuest|259513341}}|first=Brandice J.|last=O'Brien|date=April 4, 2005|page=1|work=The Journal Record}} David Payne, a KFOR-TV meteorologist from 1993 to 2013, also performed storm chasing for the station during severe weather coverage,{{r|EnglandChickenLittle}} most notably capturing footage of a rare anticyclonic tornado that damaged the El Reno Regional Airport on April 24, 2006.{{Cite news|date=September 26, 2007|title=TV News: KFOR-4 wins Emmy for El Reno tornado coverage|page=4E|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82770663/tv-news-kfor-4-wins-emmy-for-el-reno/|access-date=August 4, 2021}} Payne left the station in 2013 to become KWTV's chief meteorologist, working with, and ultimately succeeding, Gary England.{{Cite news|last=Bracht|first=Mel|date=December 18, 2012|title=Meteorologist David Payne to leave KFOR-4 for KWTV-9|page=4B|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82769668/meteorologist-david-payne-to-leave/|access-date=August 3, 2021}}

It was KFOR-TV's coverage of the May 20, 2013, EF5 tornado which struck Moore that garnered national and international attention, as it was significantly aided by chopper footage that captured both the tornado's path in real-time and the immediate destruction to the city.{{Cite web|last=Greeley|first=Paul|date=September 30, 2015|title=KFOR Recognized With National Emmy|url=https://marketshare.tvnewscheck.com/2015/09/30/kfor-recognized-with-national-emmy/|access-date=July 25, 2021|website=TVNewsCheck Marketshare|language=en-US|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726021254/https://marketshare.tvnewscheck.com/2015/09/30/kfor-recognized-with-national-emmy/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Broderick|first=Ryan|date=May 20, 2013|title=Horrifying Photos Of The Massive Tornado Tearing Through Oklahoma City|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/21-photos-of-the-massive-tornado-tearing-through-oklahoma-ci|access-date=July 25, 2021|website=BuzzFeed News|language=en|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726021253/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ryanhatesthis/21-photos-of-the-massive-tornado-tearing-through-oklahoma-ci|url-status=live}} Visuals from the scene, and particularly from KFOR-TV's helicopter,{{Cite web|date=May 20, 2013|title=AERIAL VIDEO: Initial Discovery of Moore Tornado Path Damage by KFOR-TV News Helicopter|url=https://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/2013/05/video-initial-discovery-of-moore-tornado-path-damage-by-kfor-tv-news-helicopter/|access-date=July 25, 2021|website=Cardinal News|language=en-US|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023551/https://www.arlingtoncardinal.com/2013/05/video-initial-discovery-of-moore-tornado-path-damage-by-kfor-tv-news-helicopter/|url-status=live}} were aired live on CNN{{Cite news |last=Tompkins |first=Al |date=May 21, 2013 |title=Oklahoma governor thanks media for tornado coverage |language=en-US |work=Poynter |url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2013/oklahoma-governor-thanks-media-for-tornado-coverage/ |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726010435/https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2013/oklahoma-governor-thanks-media-for-tornado-coverage/ |url-status=live }} leading to increased coverage by other national news outlets and pleas to donate to the American Red Cross on social media.{{Cite news |last=Stelter |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Stelter |date=May 21, 2013 |title=Helicopters Bring Viewers Vivid Images of Tornado |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/business/media/helicopter-brings-viewers-vivid-images-of-tornado.html |access-date=July 26, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |url-access=limited |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726010438/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/21/business/media/helicopter-brings-viewers-vivid-images-of-tornado.html |url-status=live }} The station was awarded the 2015 News & Documentary Emmy Award for "Regional – Spot News" for their coverage of the tornado with the staff dedicating the Emmy to the citizens of Moore.{{Cite web|last=Wheelbarger|first=Brent|date=September 30, 2015|title=KFOR Dedicates National Emmy Award to Citizens of Moore|url=https://www.mooremonthly.com/news/kfor-dedicates-national-emmy-award-to-citizens-of-moore|url-status=live|access-date=July 25, 2021|website=Moore Monthly|language=en|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726021303/https://www.mooremonthly.com/news/kfor-dedicates-national-emmy-award-to-citizens-of-moore}} It was the third national Emmy in channel 4's history,{{r|KFORThirdEmmy}} having also won in the same category in 2007 for their 2006 El Reno tornado coverage.{{r|KFORSecondEmmy}}{{cite web|date=September 24, 2007|title=The Emmy Awards - 28th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards|url=http://www.emmyonline.tv/mediacenter/news_28th_nominees_data_list.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922081240/http://emmyonline.tv/mediacenter/news_28th_nominees_data_list.html|archive-date=September 22, 2010|access-date=August 4, 2021|publisher=Emmyonline.tv}}

= Non-news =

In addition to newscasts, KFOR-TV also airs some ancillary non-news local programming. Since 1993, KFOR-TV has aired the Sunday morning talk show Flash Point, hosted by weeknight anchor Kevin Ogle with Mike Turpen and Todd Lamb as liberal and conservative panelists, respectively.{{Cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |date=May 4, 2001 |title=Still politically correct KFOR-4's 'Flashpoint' celebrates 8 years |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2740120 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044539/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2740120/still-politically-correct-kfor-4s-flashpoint-celebrates-8-years |url-status=live }}

{{Cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |date=November 30, 1999 |title=KFOR's 'Flashpoint' gets five-year extension |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/2676945 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044620/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2676945/kfors-flashpoint-gets-five-year-extension |url-status=live }} The station has exclusively broadcast the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon benefiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum since its April 2001 inaugural run.{{Cite web|title=KFOR-TV Airs Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon|url=https://www.wearebroadcasters.com/publicService/default.asp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729210943/https://www.wearebroadcasters.com/publicService/story.asp?id=1199|archive-date=July 29, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=We Are Broadcasters|publisher=National Association of Broadcasters|location=Washington, D.C.|language=en|quote="The station has been with us since the beginning," said Kari Watkins, executive director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. "The race represents hope – something fun from a tragic event. The marathon program KFOR produces and airs is an amazing contribution to the city and the nation."}}

KFOR-TV originates Discover Oklahoma, a half-hour regionally syndicated program highlighting tourist attractions, events and restaurants produced by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.{{Cite news|date=May 19, 1991|title=Tourism Show Focuses on State|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/2357472/tourism-show-focuses-on-state|access-date=October 8, 2019|archive-date=October 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008222643/https://oklahoman.com/article/2357472/tourism-show-focuses-on-state|url-status=live}} The program initially ran on KFOR-TV from 1992 to 1995,{{Cite news|date=January 22, 1995|title=Revamped 'Discover Oklahoma' Tourism Show Enters Prime Time|work=The Oklahoman|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/2490298/revamped-discover-oklahoma-tourism-show-enters-prime-time?|access-date=October 8, 2019|archive-date=October 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008222654/https://oklahoman.com/article/2490298/revamped-discover-oklahoma-tourism-show-enters-prime-time|url-status=live}} and returned to the station in 2014 after a 21-year run at KWTV.{{Cite news|date=August 12, 2014|title=Discover Oklahoma television show moving to KFOR this week|publisher=KFOR-TV|url=https://kfor.com/2014/08/12/discover-oklahoma-television-show-moving-to-kfor-this-week/|access-date=October 8, 2019|archive-date=October 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008222640/https://kfor.com/2014/08/12/discover-oklahoma-television-show-moving-to-kfor-this-week/|url-status=live}}

= Notable on-air staff =

== Current staff ==

Todd Lamb, political commentator and Flash Point panelist{{Cite news|last=Jordan Miller|date=June 4, 2019|title=Todd Lamb to join KFOR's 'Flash Point'|work=The Norman Transcript|publisher=Community Newspaper Holdings|url=https://www.normantranscript.com/oklahoma/news/todd-lamb-to-join-kfor-s-flash-point/article_a1325494-403c-5489-8a3e-fbc43c5caa9f.html|access-date=June 5, 2019|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605154806/https://www.normantranscript.com/oklahoma/news/todd-lamb-to-join-kfor-s-flash-point/article_a1325494-403c-5489-8a3e-fbc43c5caa9f.html|url-status=live}}
Kevin Ogle, weeknight anchor, reporter and statewide newsreader{{r|OgleSonsLegacy}}
Mike Turpen, political analyst and Flash Point panelist{{r|FlashPoint8Yrs}}

== Former staff ==

Bob Barry Jr.{{r|BBJ2015Obit}}
Bob Barry Sr.{{r|BarrySrObit}}
Tiffany Blackmon{{Cite web|date=June 26, 2020|title=Q&A with Sports Reporter Tiffany Blackmon|url=https://www.sportstvjobs.com/qa-female-sports-reporter-tiffany-blackmon-2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803152408/https://www.sportstvjobs.com/qa-female-sports-reporter-tiffany-blackmon-2/|archive-date=August 3, 2020|access-date=August 3, 2021|website=SportsTVJobs.com|publisher=Fifteen21, LLC}}
Linda Cavanaugh{{r|KavanaughAnnouncement}}
Bob Dotson, later of NBC News{{Cite news |first=Ken|last=Raymond |date=October 23, 2015 |title=NBC News storyteller Bob Dotson to be subject of final 'American Story' |work=The Oklahoman |publisher=The Anschutz Corporation |url=http://newsok.com/article/5455400 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=October 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024143556/http://newsok.com/article/5455400 |url-status=live }}
Brad Edwards{{r|BradEdwardsObit}}
Mary Hart, later of Entertainment Tonight{{r|MaryHartBiography}}
Burns Hargis{{Cite news |last=Bracht |first=Mel |date=February 21, 2008 |title=Find out who will succeed Hargis on his final 'Flashpoint' episode |work=The Daily Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/3207000 |access-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044519/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3207000/find-out-who-will-succeed-hargis-on-his-final-flashpoint-episode |url-status=live }}
Dave Hood{{r|DaveHoodBye}}
Kirk Humphreys{{Cite news|last=K. Butcher|date=June 2, 2019|title="It's been a great season here," Member of Flash Point team makes big announcement|publisher=KFOR-TV|url=https://kfor.com/2019/06/02/its-been-a-great-season-here-member-of-flash-point-team-makes-big-announcement/|access-date=June 5, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603130234/https://kfor.com/2019/06/02/its-been-a-great-season-here-member-of-flash-point-team-makes-big-announcement/|url-status=live}}
Jane Jayroe{{r|KTVYJaneJayroe}}
Wally Kinnan{{r|WallyKinnanBP}}
Herschell Gordon Lewis{{Cite web|last=Thrower|first=Stephen|author-link=Stephen Thrower|date=October 4, 2016|title=RIP Herschell Gordon Lewis, the godfather of gore|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/comment/obituaries/herschell-gordon-lewis|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005210201/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/comment/obituaries/herschell-gordon-lewis|archive-date=October 5, 2016|access-date=August 3, 2021|website=Sight & Sound|publisher=British Film Institute|language=en}}
Ben McCain{{r|Glen Phillips}}
Butch McCain{{r|Glen Phillips}}
Frank McGee, later of NBC News{{r|FrankMcGeeOABOK}}
David Payne{{r|KWTVPayne}}
Russell Pierson, agriculture reporter from 1959 to 1983{{cite web|last1=Root|first1=Ken|title=Russell Pierson: 20th century pioneer, a long life lived well|url=http://www.hpj.com/opinion/russell-pierson-th-century-pioneer-a-long-life-lived-well/article_366519a6-dd68-11e4-bb93-afbed2815309.html|access-date=May 6, 2015|work=High Plains Journal|date=April 13, 2015 }}
Ross Porter{{r|RossPorterAllAccess}}
Marianne Rafferty{{Cite web|last=Fernando|first=Aneya|date=April 15, 2015|title=Marianne Rafferty Named Evening Anchor at KFOR|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/marianne-rafferty-named-evening-anchor-at-kfor/145890/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703165354/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/marianne-rafferty-named-evening-anchor-at-kfor/145890/|archive-date=July 3, 2015|access-date=August 4, 2021|website=TVSpy|publisher=Adweek, LLC|language=en-US}}
Devin Scillian{{r|DevinScillianKFOR}}
Bella Shaw, later of CNN{{Cite news|last=Buttelman|first=Michele E.|date=August 26, 2012|title=Anchorwoman stays current: Former CNN anchor Bella Shaw evolves with new media landscape|work=The Santa Clarita Valley Signal|url=http://www.signalscv.com/archives/73973/|url-status=dead|access-date=August 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160723155633/http://www.signalscv.com/archives/73973/|archive-date=July 23, 2016}}
Hank Thompson{{Cite news |first=Heather|last=Warlick |date=November 9, 2007 |title='Oklahoma Hills' singer left mark here |work=The Oklahoman |url=http://newsok.com/article/3166866 |access-date=September 10, 2010 |archive-date=July 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731044622/https://www.oklahoman.com/article/3166866/oklahoma-hills-singer-left-mark-here |url-status=live }}
Ron Thulin{{Cite news|last=Bracht|first=Mel|date=December 23, 1999|title=Thulin seeking his TV niche|page=3-D|work=The Daily Oklahoman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82751954/thulin-seeking-his-tv-niche/|access-date=August 3, 2021}}
Reed Timmer{{Cite web|last=McVicar|first=Brian|date=October 5, 2013|title=Storm chaser, West Michigan native Reed Timmer hospitalized after suffering seizure|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2013/10/storm_chaser_west_michigan_nat_1.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803061941/https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2013/10/storm_chaser_west_michigan_nat_1.html|archive-date=August 3, 2021|access-date=August 3, 2021|website=mlive|publisher=The Grand Rapids Press|language=en}}
Harry Volkman{{r|WKY Volkman}}{{div col end}}

Technical information

= Subchannels =

The station's signal is multiplexed:

class="wikitable" \|+ Subchannels of KFOR-TV{{Cite web \|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KFOR \|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KFOR#station \|access-date=October 2, 2017 \|website=RabbitEars \|archive-date=October 2, 2017 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002215702/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KFOR#station \|url-status=live }} ! scope = "col" \| Channel ! scope = "col" \| Res. ! scope = "col" \| Aspect ! scope = "col" \| Short name ! scope = "col" \| Programming
scope = "row" \| 4.1 \|1080i \| rowspan="4" \|16:9 \|KFOR-DT \|NBC
scope = "row" \| 4.2 \| rowspan="3" \|480i \|ANT-TV \|Antenna TV
scope = "row" \| 4.3 \|TRUCRM \|True Crime Network
scope = "row" \| 4.4 \|DEFY \|Defy
style="background-color:#DFEBF6; border-top: 2px solid #003399;" ! scope = "row" \| 43.1 \| 1080i \| 16:9 \| KAUT-DT \| The CW (KAUT-TV)

class="wikitable"

|+ Subchannels of KFOR-TV{{Cite web |title=RabbitEars TV Query for KFOR |url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KFOR#station |access-date=October 2, 2017 |website=RabbitEars |archive-date=October 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002215702/http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KFOR#station |url-status=live }}

! scope = "col" | Channel

! scope = "col" | Res.

! scope = "col" | Aspect

! scope = "col" | Short name

! scope = "col" | Programming

scope = "row" | 4.1

|1080i

| rowspan="4" |16:9

|KFOR-DT

|NBC

scope = "row" | 4.2

| rowspan="3" |480i

|ANT-TV

|Antenna TV

scope = "row" | 4.3

|TRUCRM

|True Crime Network

scope = "row" | 4.4

|DEFY

|Defy

style="background-color:#DFEBF6; border-top: 2px solid #003399;"

! scope = "row" | 43.1

| 1080i

| 16:9

| KAUT-DT

| The CW (KAUT-TV)

On October 8, 2020, ATSC 3.0 Next Gen TV launched in Oklahoma City, with KAUT-TV as the host station and KFOR-TV as one of the feeds offered. KAUT's main subchannel in ATSC 1.0 format was moved onto KFOR-TV's multiplex on that date.{{Cite web |first=Tom |last=Butts |date=October 8, 2020 |title=Oklahoma City Broadcasters Deploy ATSC 3.0 |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/oklahoma-city-broadcasters-deploy-atsc-30 |website=TVTechnology |publisher=Future US, Inc. |access-date=May 20, 2021 |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521013251/https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/oklahoma-city-broadcasters-deploy-atsc-30 |url-status=live }}

= Analog-to-digital conversion =

KFOR-TV began transmitting a digital television signal on UHF channel 27 on June 1, 1999, becoming the first television station in Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma as a whole to begin operating a digital signal; until KFOR-DT began broadcasting on a full-time basis on May 1, 2002, the digital feed only transmitted NBC prime time and sports programming as well as a limited schedule of local programs carried by the main analog signal. The station discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, VHF channel 4, on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television; the station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 27.{{Cite web |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=June 28, 2017 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}

= Translators =

KFOR-TV is additionally rebroadcast over a network of nine low-power digital translator stations:{{r|re}}

Cherokee–Alva: K20JD-D
Elk City: K32OF-D
Gage, etc.: K20BR-D
Hollis: K34JJ-D
Mooreland, etc.: K33JM-D
Sayre: K23ND-D
Selling: K18LY-D
Strong City: K18LS-D
Weatherford: K28OX-D

{{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=600|frame-align=left|frame-height=375|text={{ubl|Transmitter locations for KFOR-TV's translator network. Click on each marker to reveal details.|{{legend-col |{{legend|#ff0000|Originating station}} |{{legend|#000080|Low-power translators}} }}}}|type=point|coord={{coord|35|34|7|N|97|29|21|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=KFOR-TV}}|title=KFOR-TV|description=27 (UHF)
Facility ID: 66222
Oklahoma City, OK|marker=communications-tower|marker-color=#ff0000|marker-size=large|type2=point|coord2={{coord|36|47|6|N|98|33|35.2|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K20JD-D}}|title2=K20JD-D|description2=20 (UHF)
Facility ID: 167259
Cherokee–Alva, OK|marker2=communications-tower|marker-color2=#000080|type3=point|coord3={{coord|35|21|25|N|99|16|9|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K32OF-D}}|title3=K32OF-D|description3=32 (UHF)
Facility ID: 168301
Elk City, OK|marker3=communications-tower|marker-color3=#000080|type4=point|coord4={{coord|36|26|5|N|99|46|29|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K20BR-D}}|title4=K20BR-D|description4=20 (UHF)
Facility ID: 59840
Gage, OK|marker4=communications-tower|marker-color4=#000080|type5=point|coord5={{coord|34|44|30.2|N|99|48|31.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K34JJ-D}}|title5=K34JJ-D|description5=34 (UHF)
Facility ID: 168324
Hollis, OK|marker5=communications-tower|marker-color5=#000080|type6=point|coord6={{coord|36|33|55|N|99|16|40|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K33JM-D}}|title6=K33JM-D|description6=33 (UHF)
Facility ID: 167260
Mooreland, OK|marker6=communications-tower|marker-color6=#000080|type7=point|coord7={{coord|35|9|5|N|99|42|51|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K23ND-D}}|title7=K23ND-D|description7=23 (UHF)
Facility ID: 168311
Sayre, OK|marker7=communications-tower|marker-color7=#000080|type8=point|coord8={{coord|36|5|35|N|98|57|16|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K18LY-D}}|title8=K18LY-D|description8=18 (UHF)
Facility ID: 167253
Selling, OK|marker8=communications-tower|marker-color8=#000080|type9=point|coord9={{coord|35|46|58|N|99|35|14|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K18LS-D}}|title9=K18LS-D|description9=18 (UHF)
Facility ID: 168318
Strong City, OK|marker9=communications-tower|marker-color9=#000080|type10=point|coord10={{coord|35|29|29.1|N|98|43|55.2|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K35MQ-D}}|title10=K35MQ-D|description10=35 (UHF)
Facility ID: 168298
Weatherford, OK|marker10=communications-tower|marker-color10=#000080|zoom=7}}

Notes

References

Bibliography

{{Cite web|last=Meeks|first=Herman Ellis|date=May 1991|title=A History of WKY-AM|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc500899/m2/1/high_res_d/1002778907-Meeks.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002220517/https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc500899/m2/1/high_res_d/1002778907-Meeks.pdf|archive-date=October 2, 2017|access-date=October 2, 2017|publisher=University of North Texas|publication-place=Denton, Texas}}
{{Cite web|last=West|first=Keith|date=May 1991|title=Images Across the Prairie: The Birth of WKY-TV|url=https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/13841/Thesis-1991-W518i.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227111238/https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/13841/Thesis-1991-W518i.pdf|archive-date=February 27, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021|publisher=Oklahoma State University–Stillwater|publication-place=Stillwater, Oklahoma}}{{Refend}}

External links

{{Official website|https://kfor.com/}}
[https://www.youtube.com/user/kforarchives/ WKY KTVY KFOR Archives] (YouTube channel maintained by the Oklahoma Historical Society)

Category:1949 establishments in Oklahoma

Category:Antenna TV affiliates

Category:NBC affiliates

Category:Nexstar Media Group

Category:Peabody Award winners

Category:Ryman Hospitality Properties

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1949

FOR-TV

Category:True Crime Network affiliates