Winnercomm to make announcement Tuesday.

[DM]

quote:Tulsa business acquiring manufacturer

SHAUN SCHAFER

Associated Press


TULSA, Okla. - A television production company that specializes in sports programming plans to announce Tuesday that it is acquiring an East Coast manufacturer of high-definition television broadcasting equipment and moving it to Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Commerce Secretary Kathy Taylor and Jim Willburn, president and CEO of Tulsa-based Winnercomm Inc., planned to formally announce the move, and the construction of a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Tulsa.

Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Winnercomm declined on Friday to provide additional details on the manufacturer and its potential impact here. They describe the firm relocating to Tulsa as a "high-profile Philadelphia-based" business.

Lynda Hashke, a Winnercomm representative, said the number of jobs associated with the move and the potential economic impact would be announced on Tuesday.

"Beyond that, I can't say anything more," Hashke said.

Launching into a manufacturing venture would represent a significant shift for Winnercomm. Based in Tulsa, Winnercomm was founded in 1982 as Winner Communications by Wilburn and Chris Lincoln.

Today the company is one of the largest producers of live sports in the United States. Winnercomm is the largest producer of programming for ESPN. The company employs about 200 in Tulsa plus about 2,000 subcontractors, according to Winnercom.

The company delivers 1,000 hours of programming annually to 12 national networks. Over the years it has won 12 Emmy awards for its work.

Winnercomm provides network coverage of professional and college football, basketball and hockey, soccer, fishing, hunting, outdoor adventure and extreme sports, pro rodeo, pro bowling, golf, lacrosse, cheerleading and dance, and horse racing around the globe.

The company also has a growing presence on the Internet. Winnercomm manages web sites for ESPN.com and U.S. Figure Skating, LPGA.com, NTRA.com and Breeders' Cup. It provides marketing, advertising and consulting for a number of other companies, including CITGO and TV Guide.

Winnercomm also produces documentary and special programming on a variety of topics.

The company has a national sales operation with offices in five cities, Tulsa, Dallas, New York, Chicago and Nashville.

Since they are in the Citgo building, I assume they will just be expanding in that location. I wonder where the manufacturing location will be.