I guess I'm the contrarian here, as I don't find the new set that compelling. I guess, ultimately, the content should triumph, but the set strikes me as one with lots of kitsch, plexiglass, and clever lighting. I just hope some actual news comes out of it.

^^^ You're not alone. I took a look just to see what all the fuss was about. It's pretty busy looking.

I equate it to painting a car in hopes of making it run better.

This is not a comment for or against the set design, but it is clearly a brand new car rather than a paint job. There is more changed behind the camera than in front of it. Anyone who has ever had business at that station or who has appeared on camera there knows how tired the facility was. Hopefully the new station facility and technology results in improved news gathering and delivery, which I personally care about a lot more than I care about the color scheme or whether or not they used too much plexiglass.

Looks good. Overall I tend to watch channel 4. I like most the people on there, just wish they'd get rid of Mike Morgan. Just not a fan. My personal preference would be for him to go and have Emily step up as head meteorologist. I really have a feeling that's their long term plan. He's the main reason I never commit to them for the entire newscast.

Looks good. Overall I tend to watch channel 4. I like most the people on there, just wish they'd get rid of Mike Morgan. Just not a fan. My personal preference would be for him to go and have Emily step up as head meteorologist. I really have a feeling that's their long term plan. He's the main reason I never commit to them for the entire newscast.

Yeah a set may get my interest just for a curiosity but it isn't going to change my opinion unless the content behind the set changes. Frankly, I haven't seen much hard news content locally in years, which is sad, because we used to have some really good investigative journalists on local news staffs. The sugary stuff they put out today just leaves me kinda cold.

Looks good. Overall I tend to watch channel 4. I like most the people on there, just wish they'd get rid of Mike Morgan. Just not a fan. My personal preference would be for him to go and have Emily step up as head meteorologist. I really have a feeling that's their long term plan. He's the main reason I never commit to them for the entire newscast.

I don't think it's their long term plan. Mike Morgan is still a rating generator for them and I'm sure their fully aware that there is a good chance she would leave if another station offered her a head position.

Frankly, I haven't seen much hard news content locally in years

You know, I'm glad someone else has noticed that. I thought I was just getting grumpy (-ier) but it seems like they (all the local stations, not just KFOR) really love throwing out that old saw about "all local, all the time" right before cutting to a story about how someone in Montana dropped their car keys down a storm drain and half the town showed up to help. Maybe that was a big news item in that town, but I'm just sitting here in the middle of Oklahoma thinking "who the hell cares?". They sure got a lot of traction with that engagement ring on a carrot story, and that was in Canada. These would be fluff pieces if they happened across the street, let alone a different country.

On the other hand, let's be honest, the local news is just depressing. They're throwing in the carrot stories because otherwise they would have to report how much it's going to cost per day for the special session, or how teachers can get more money flipping Papa John's signs on the side of the road.

I would be interested in seeing the numbers of people in their 20's and 30's that still watch local TV news. I bet it's pretty low which doesn't bode well for the future of stations like KFOR. I'm in my early 30's and haven't watched it in years but I do follow some local stations on social media.

^^^^^^^^
Blame the Telecommunications Act of 1996. It also bears significant responsibility for our current polarized political climate.

I would be interested in seeing the numbers of people in their 20's and 30's that still watch local TV news. I bet it's pretty low which doesn't bode well for the future of stations like KFOR. I'm in my early 30's and haven't watched it in years but I do follow some local stations on social media.

The demographics that watch TV for any sort of news run quite older.

Median age for CNN is 61 (which is on the 'younger' end) and Fox News is 68. I would think for local news the numbers are similar or even older.

For print newspapers, it's much worse. Only 20% of U.S. adults get their news from a paper and I would think that even among that dwindling number, very few are under 50.

I would be interested in seeing the numbers of people in their 20's and 30's that still watch local TV news. I bet it's pretty low which doesn't bode well for the future of stations like KFOR. I'm in my early 30's and haven't watched it in years but I do follow some local stations on social media.

I still watch the local news during severe weather season but for the most part, I just check KFOR.com. I hope they redesign their website soon as part of this rebranding because the current site really isn't very good. I think cable news stations like CNN and Fox News are in greater danger due to the fact more and more people are deciding cable isn't worth it.

I would be interested in seeing the numbers of people in their 20's and 30's that still watch local TV news. I bet it's pretty low which doesn't bode well for the future of stations like KFOR. I'm in my early 30's and haven't watched it in years but I do follow some local stations on social media.

I'd agree with that. I'm in my thirties, and do watch the local news, on a fairly regular basis, and I know I'm in the minority.

I was at my in-laws house and they had the local news on... I don't think I've watched the local news myself in the last decade. I probably haven't watched live TV since the NBA season ended. I do subscribe to and visit several newspaper sites online though. I'm in my mid-30s, but it's crazy how quick my viewing habits have changed.

Anything static -- like a newscast at a pre-determined time with pre-determined stories and to a much greater extent, the newspaper -- is by definition old news.

It's things that have already happened, sometimes days ago.

People generally want to know what is happening now and have various news feeds to provide real-time info.


The only real value to traditional media is investigation and features and interestingly, they do less and less of that sort of thing, at least locally.

Yeah I get a ton of my breaking news from Twitter. Just got to be careful what the source is.

You know, I'm glad someone else has noticed that. I thought I was just getting grumpy (-ier) but it seems like they (all the local stations, not just KFOR) really love throwing out that old saw about "all local, all the time" right before cutting to a story about how someone in Montana dropped their car keys down a storm drain and half the town showed up to help. Maybe that was a big news item in that town, but I'm just sitting here in the middle of Oklahoma thinking "who the hell cares?". They sure got a lot of traction with that engagement ring on a carrot story, and that was in Canada. These would be fluff pieces if they happened across the street, let alone a different country.

On the other hand, let's be honest, the local news is just depressing. They're throwing in the carrot stories because otherwise they would have to report how much it's going to cost per day for the special session, or how teachers can get more money flipping Papa John's signs on the side of the road.

Hence all the flash and dash. Without it, there is little to keep viewers interested.

If the demographics are increasingly unfavorable for local TV news I question why make such a large investment in a new studio? Wouldn't the money be better spent on the website or social media.

As for severe weather I will tune in to KFOR or KWTV...on my phone or computer, and only during high end events. Otherwise the local NWS site provides the best forecast and current conditions/radar.

Always nice to see Joleen Chaney though. :)

^

It might not be as big as it once was, but TV news is still big business and very competitive.

And the media center is for everyone, including all the mutli-media people who play a big role in that organization.

Places like KFOR are true multi-platform content providers, not just on-air news.

I will say I've felt more loyal to KFOR now that they are affiliated with OKC Talk. I'm all about supporting those that support things I like and believe in.

They have been fantastic to work with.

Have been really impressed by everyone I've collaborated with.

I'm very happy for you and the site. This seems like a great partnership. Hopefully KFOR doesn't change too much with Sinclair buying them out. Some of Sinclair's efforts with other stations have been fairly sinister.

They have been fantastic to work with.

Have been really impressed by everyone I've collaborated with.More than 60 years ago, I moonlighted as a stringer for them, covering southside events in the evening hours with a (silent) Keystone 16-mm camera and getting paid 50 cents per second for my film that aired. It was a great experience and the crew then was, as you say now, fantastic to work with. When I moved over from the Times staff to the Oklahoman, I had to sever the association with TV because it would be a direct conflict of interest, and over the years my TV loyalties drifted over to Channel 9. In the past couple of years, like so many others in this thread I've become bored with the non-local fluff dispensed by all four of the local stations, and irritated by the obvious internal politics at the two leaders that serve to diminish their on-air content, so seeing your connection gives me a bit of hope that at least some of the investigative drive is returning to the local TV scene!

+1^^^

... so seeing your connection gives me a bit of hope that at least some of the investigative drive is returning to the local TV scene!

I wish that would be the case, but I suspect all the investigating will be done by Pete and then reported on by KFOR (not to diminish the relationship, which is great to have).

I wish that would be the case, but I suspect all the investigating will be done by Pete and then reported on by KFOR (not to diminish the relationship, which is great to have).

That's okay for a start, IMO. It gives KFOR some "investigative" cred by being able to benefit from Pete's scoops and Pete gets some "legitimacy" cred by having his storied back up with an established name in local news. I think its a good thing that KFOR is even looking for that edge and hopefully indicative, as Jim stated, of a greater focus on investigative reporting in the future.

Does anyone know who sings the song that KFOR has playing in there memory videos of the old station? the start of the lyrics are Do you remember when and are sung by a female. I have been trying to search for the song on the internet with little luck.

Does anyone know who sings the song that KFOR has playing in there memory videos of the old station? the start of the lyrics are Do you remember when and are sung by a female. I have been trying to search for the song on the internet with little luck.


Here is the link with the video and song in question. Click on he video to hear it.

http://kfor.com/2017/08/18/remembering-the-men-women-who-helped-build-channel-4s-legacy/

I guess it is a mystery to everyone else also..

Would help if you would provide a link.

When KFOR switched sponsors from Bob Moore to Air Comfort Solutions has anyone seen the helicopter flying in the air? I personally always look up when an aircraft is overhead but I have not seen KFOR's helicopter in months. I also haven't heard or seen a live flight report from Jon Welsh in awhile either.

Meanwhile KOCO's new helicopter is now always in the air. They used to never fly that thing.