Griffin Communications consolidates Oklahoma City, Tulsa operations

[DowntownNow]

I wonder how this latest news effects the new downtown Brady District studios and offices for KOTV.

Tulsa World today reported:

Griffin Communications consolidates Oklahoma City, Tulsa operations

by: RITA SHERROW World Television Editor
Monday, March 30, 2009
3/30/2009 4:54:45 PM

KOTV and KQCW have become Tulsa's first television stations without a local general manager, as both stations now report to Griffin Communications vice presidents in Oklahoma City.

It's the result of a restructure announced Monday in an e-mail to employees and in a subsequent meeting at channel 6, by David Griffin, president and chief executive officer of Griffin.

Regina Moon, who served as vice president and chief operating officer of the two stations, left channel 6 Monday and was unavailable for comment.

All three Griffin stations will report to a new executive team made up of longtime managers from Griffin's CBS-affiliated KWTV-channel 9 with a goal of creating "one statewide news organization."

Moon began with KOTV eight years ago as general manager. She continued in that role when Griffiin purchased former WB-turned-CW affiliate KQCW. She was promoted to vice president and chief operating officer of both stations a little over one year ago. KOTV was consistently ranked No. 1 in the Nielsen ratings during her tenure.

The reason for Moon's departure was "very simple," Griffin said in a phone interview Monday. "Regina is an incredibly talented executive. When we sat down and start talking about this, we said we've got to consolidate the top level leadership . And, as you move up, there are fewer and fewer jobs."

Decisions will still be made locally if Oklahoma City executives are unavailable, he said.

"We are aligning our organization to how viewers consume news now days," Griffin said. "It's a lot different than it was five years ago. I don't see a change away from being local (Tulsa) news. We have the largest electronic news gathering organization covering Oklahoma news ... If there's a tornado outbreak in Tulsa, why not take our whole 179 people in our (three) newsroom(s) and focus on it? Tulsa will get more access."

The net effect of the change will be five new positions among the stations, he said, six positions eliminated and 11 being added. According to the e-mail, among the positions being created are a statewide director of news operations, statewide director of morning/noon news content and a director of special projects.

[nathanm]

I wonder how this latest news effects the new downtown Brady District studios and offices for KOTV.

I can't say. I can say it doesn't bode well for KOTV's future quality. Nobody in OKC will be going to bat for things in Tulsa, as it's outside their personal fiefdoms.

[patric]

I can't say. I can say it doesn't bode well for KOTV's future quality. Nobody in OKC will be going to bat for things in Tulsa, as it's outside their personal fiefdoms.

It boils down to KOTV being the Tulsa Bureau of an OKC station.

[cannon_fodder]

My thoughts exactly.

The LOCAL stations always do a better job covering the news.  I don't watch Channel 6 to get a good feel for national issues or national sports, I can get that anywhere.  Local news can provide, wait for it, LOCAL news.

With someone 90 miles away in a market long known for disdain towards issues Tulsan, it is hard to imagine they come up with the same level of local programming.   Maybe I'll be proven wrong and the savings in the management team will go toward more/better local reporting.   But I see it as a poor strategic decision given the rivalry between the communities.

[DowntownNow]

Tulsa World reports in its related story today:

Griffin also said the plan to build a $20 million media center in downtown Tulsa, announced in October 2007, is still viable but the company is waiting for the economy to recover first.

Does not bode well for KOTV's downtown development plans sounds like, especially since I had heard they were rebidding as we speak.  It's unfortunate but wanna bet TDA will not move to make the land available to other developers anytime soon?  In light of Kaiser's planned park on the frieght center's land to the South, this is prime real estate for development.

[Hoss]

Tulsa World reports in its related story today:

Griffin also said the plan to build a $20 million media center in downtown Tulsa, announced in October 2007, is still viable but the company is waiting for the economy to recover first.

Does not bode well for KOTV's downtown development plans sounds like, especially since I had heard they were rebidding as we speak.  It's unfortunate but wanna bet TDA will not move to make the land available to other developers anytime soon?  In light of Kaiser's planned park on the frieght center's land to the South, this is prime real estate for development.

Sounds like someone should step up and buy the station, since it seems as if KOTV is going to get relegated to red-headed-stepchild status.

But then again, with the economy like it is, that's unlikely anytime soon I would think.

[sgrizzle]

Tulsa World reports in its related story today:

Griffin also said the plan to build a $20 million media center in downtown Tulsa, announced in October 2007, is still viable but the company is waiting for the economy to recover first.

Does not bode well for KOTV's downtown development plans sounds like, especially since I had heard they were rebidding as we speak.  It's unfortunate but wanna bet TDA will not move to make the land available to other developers anytime soon?  In light of Kaiser's planned park on the frieght center's land to the South, this is prime real estate for development.

Kaiser's park that you mention was a collaboration with Griffin and I believe there is still 2 more years until the freight company leaves.

[swake]

Sounds like someone should step up and buy the station, since it seems as if KOTV is going to get relegated to red-headed-stepchild status.

But then again, with the economy like it is, that's unlikely anytime soon I would think.

Sounds like it's about time to start watching the local news on KTUL

[Hoss]

Sounds like it's about time to start watching the local news on KTUL

Nah, I 'll watch KJRH; only station in Oklahoma that broadcasts local in HD.

[sgrizzle]

Nah, I 'll watch KJRH; only station in Oklahoma that broadcasts local in HD.

Which is sad, considering we are now PAST the transition date (the original one anyway) and there is still at ton of SD and 4:3 broadcasts.

[FOTD]

Stewie Griffin?

He's the one holding this up......Fox!

[Nik]

Which is sad, considering we are now PAST the transition date (the original one anyway) and there is still at ton of SD and 4:3 broadcasts.

The conversion has nothing to do with picture quality/aspect ration. It was broadcast method change.

[Ibanez]

Sounds like it's about time to start watching the local news on KTUL

No thanks. KTUL's picture quality for the news is horrible. HORRIBLE!

[jne]

Sounds like it's about time to start watching the local news on KTUL

Exactly, and I could give a damn about picture quality.  How about we just focus on quality of content.  I am deleting my bookmarks to the KOTV site and will stick with KTUL news channel from now on. 

[sgrizzle]

The conversion has nothing to do with picture quality/aspect ration. It was broadcast method change.

It was a broadcast method change sold with the benefits of higher quality picture.