https://www.news9.com/story/67bce92b67d3e1e392241f1f/news-9-sports-director-dean-blevins-announces-retirement

Deans retiring.

Crazy that he gets to retire there with respect and dignity, but Kelly Ogle and Gary England get shown the door with no appreciation mentioned upon their termination.

Crazy that he gets to retire there with respect and dignity, but Kelly Ogle and Gary England get shown the door with no appreciation mentioned upon their termination.

Maybe he realizes that TV is still a game for the young and pretty? As always, personalities are involved. People that get along well with others and age gracefully usually get a lot of love on the way out.

Maybe he realizes that TV is still a game for the young and pretty? As always, personalities are involved. People that get along well with others and age gracefully usually get a lot of love on the way out.

Exactly, I think Dean is retiring at just the right time for his career. Guessing it's his choice, and not management, as a clear successor has been named already.

I think this was the final major storm event for Gary from 2013?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pIUCBiFHJg

I have always liked Dean as he seemed to have a good rapport with coaches and players all over the place. I saw him at Clark crew a few weeks ago and he wasn't looking great. I hope his health is fine and this was a planned step away from TV.

The News On 6 family is sending off Meteorologist Megan Gold as she heads to Oklahoma City to join the News 9 weather team, staying with Griffin Media.

^^^^^^^^^^^
Notably she was Miss Oklahoma 2022.

No doubt filling the Cassie Heiter spot.

In regards to SB 158. (The storm chasing bill) There are reports that Griffin media is lobbying for this bill to pass. If this is the truth. This should be the most concerning thing Griffin media has ever done. Most people in Congress / Senate don't know anything about storm chasing. Even if it involves Storm chasers having emergency lights. This could pave the way in the future to where this is abused

I had no idea this bill existed until I saw your post. Funny enough, this exact thing has been discussed before (among law enforcement) during previous spring events. The issue being during an event they are serving a public safety purpose. All the others on the road, are hampering public safety's response to the emergency weather event so they can live stream, take pictures, and provide tour services.

It is a thin line to tread but something has to be done as it has turned into a circus with everyone having the technology they do in the palm of their hand and a worldwide audience to stream to if they can fight to the right spot.

Looks like David Payne was streaming from his house as of an hour ago in which I heard is in some rual part of Northern Edmond. Not a good look for a night like tonight. Will be watching channel 5

Looks like David Payne was streaming from his house as of an hour ago in which I heard is in some rual part of Northern Edmond. Not a good look for a night like tonight. Will be watching channel 5

My understanding is that both David Payne and Mike Morgan live near their respected stations, both in NE OKC near the Kilpatrick, TV tower farms, and the Frontier City corridor. It's now 10 PM and David Payne is now on News 9....but like you, I'll be watching KOCO, as Damon Lane stays calm and on the topic of weather during coverage.

Speaking of Damon Lane, he proudly declares his residency in Moore. I've seen Facebook Live post from Damon from his home office at the start of long severe weather days as he examines the data before heading to the station in NE OKC. I imagine David Payne was doing something similar before heading back in to the station for what appears to be a long night on the horizon.

I have no idea where David Payne lives but Channel 9, as most everyone knows, is now downtown not NE OKC

If the county assessor is correct, David definitely lives in Edmond and Mike is near that Frontier City corridor as the previous poster alluded to. Not posting addresses or cross streets, for obvious reasons, but that's what I can find.

I get the motivation behind SB158. Giving them emergency vehicle status so they can beat the competition to the scene of the tornado or damage is asking for trouble. Especially since many of these chasers are running around in souped-up 4x4s looking NASCAR stock cars. I could see it now a lifted Silverado taking out a family of six in a Toyota Sienna. Being the first to put something on the air does not require an emergency code 3 response. The State of Oklahoma doesn't even give organ transplant and ECMO teams that kind of access. ECMO and transplant teams save more lives than chasers and meteorologists.

I get the motivation behind SB158. Giving them emergency vehicle status so they can beat the competition to the scene of the tornado or damage is asking for trouble. Especially since many of these chasers are running around in souped-up 4x4s looking NASCAR stock cars. I could see it now a lifted Silverado taking out a family of six in a Toyota Sienna. Being the first to put something on the air does not require an emergency code 3 response. The State of Oklahoma doesn't even give organ transplant and ECMO teams that kind of access. ECMO and transplant teams save more lives than chasers and meteorologists.

Don't disagree with that either. The larger problem lies in the sheer numbers of social media "chasers" which converge on the storms which are active moving emergency events when there is damage. It is difficult to say the least navigating through that traffic even Code 3.

The news these days is downright ugly. If I wanted to feel sad and miserable, I could watch a WWII movie or accompany my wife to Hobby Lobby.

David Payne is a local treasure. Yeah he's polarizing. Yeah he carries on like a cocaine fueled lunatic, but that's part of the charm.

I have no idea where David Payne lives but Channel 9, as most everyone knows, is now downtown not NE OKC

Sorry, all the years at Wilshire and Kelley for News9 caught up to me, they are indeed in downtown.

Word on the street is Jed castles is going to announce his retirement tomorrow. If true. This would be the fourth high-profile person that left in the past 3 months with it being the second in the past 30 days. They keep dropping like flies over there

Word on the street is Jed castles is going to announce his retirement tomorrow. If true. This would be the fourth high-profile person that left in the past 3 months with it being the second in the past 30 days. They keep dropping like flies over there

I've been wondering if that was close as he's been doing more traffic reports than weather these days. He will probably go work real estate alongside his wife.

I've been wondering if that was close as he's been doing more traffic reports than weather these days. He will probably go work real estate alongside his wife.

Turns out they’re just repositioning him to a field meteorologist. Must have wanted more excitement in his life that didn’t involve waking up at 4 AM lol

https://www.news9.com/story/67c7df7197dd5426db401f62/news-9-morning-meteorologist-jed-castles-announces-new-role-as-field-meteorologist-and-stormtracker

Turns out they’re just repositioning him to a field meteorologist. Must have wanted more excitement in his life that didn’t involve waking up at 4 AM lol

He probably saw the recent hire and said "Yeah, I can't compete with that".

Edit: Is Field Meteorologist more of a part-time gig?

Word on the street is Jed castles is going to announce his retirement tomorrow. If true. This would be the fourth high-profile person that left in the past 3 months with it being the second in the past 30 days. They keep dropping like flies over there

Sorry to bust your Imminent Doom narrative, but he's just moving to field chasing.

Sorry to bust your Imminent Doom narrative, but he's just moving to field chasing.

That's good news. That is a position that he should have been offered a long time ago. However I think David Payne would be better qualified for that position with Jed Castles becoming Chief Meteorologist.

That's good news. That is a position that he should have been offered a long time ago. However I think David Payne would be better qualified for that position with Jed Castles becoming Chief Meteorologist.

that’s essentially what David Payne used to do prior to being promoted

Jed seems too soft spoken and chill for lack of a better description to be the chief in OKC

Also Maybe Jed got tired of waking up like 1:30 AM each day. Also it was announced that Jed will become the weekend Morning Meteorologist which means that Andrew Adams will now be the evening Weekend metrologist and Justin Radical will be on air at 12:00 PM Weekdays pretty much taking Cassie old position

I could be wrong. After watching that interview with Jed I believe he was ready to retire and move on to a life outside of TV. He was likely getting wooed by 5, 4, and possibly 25. They created this position as Michael Armstrong is doing pretty well and drawing audience in his role as field meteorologist. So why not have Jed compete with that? Its a win win because he gets a flexible schedule with days off when ever he wants minus storm seasons. Griffin gets to keep him and not worry about him drawing viewers away on another channel. At the end of the day its a step down from he was doing.

David Payne spoke at the SB 158 meeting today. And it pretty much confirms my suspicions on KWTV being the main lobbying power behind the bill

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EsPu2orbg/

David Payne, KWTV OKC’s News9 Chief Meteorologist - just said live during the SB 158 meeting today…

“April 27th we lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, my sales guys were mad.”

April 27th-28th 2024 was a stretch of 39 tornadoes across the OKC & Tulsa NWS coverage areas.

David Payne is blaming other “non-media” chasers as the reason of the loss of station $$$$$.

Legacy media wants this bill to pass TO MAKE MONEY.

Not to keep Oklahomans safe.

If they cared about keeping Oklahomans safe, they’d welcome any and all reporting as an effort to let everyone know about incoming severe weather.

This bill aims to give media chasers the ability to act as emergency vehicles and run red lights, run stop signs…

Let’s talk about one media chaser in particular….KWTV OKC’s lead storm chaser Val Castor

• Just last year on May 19th, Val FLIPPED HIS CHASE VEHICLE with his wife Amy inside while chasing….

• Back on Jan 2, 2023 Val Castor was also LIVE STREAMING being pulled over for speeding through a small town and getting cussed out by local law enforcement…

Given how it is being received by the storm chasing Community right now. It is not a good look for anyone at KWTV. Especially for Val Castor and David Payne. I would not be surprised if David Payne is out of a job within a few weeks. It is also not a good look for them currently as one of their biggest meet and greets of the year is coming up this Saturday.

Given how it is being received by the storm chasing Community right now. It is not a good look for anyone at KWTV. Especially for Val Castor and David Payne. I would not be surprised if David Payne is out of a job within a few weeks. It is also not a good look for them currently as one of their biggest meet and greets of the year is coming up this Saturday.

Are you kidding?

Payne is the face of News 9.

Are you kidding?

Payne is the face of News 9.

If that happens Mr Paynes replacement will probably be Mrs Swope. Feel like she's a better candidate in general anyway. Handles the position much more professionally

If that happens Mr Paynes replacement will probably be Mrs Swope. Feel like she's a better candidate in general anyway. Handles the position much more professionally

David Payne is the reason I turn it to channel 9 during tornado weather. Otherwise, I would just watch Mike Morgan's tie to determine the severity of the storms. Except that I can put all four stations on my TV screen and listen to the one that looks the most entertaining.

Given how it is being received by the storm chasing Community right now. It is not a good look for anyone at KWTV. Especially for Val Castor and David Payne. I would not be surprised if David Payne is out of a job within a few weeks. It is also not a good look for them currently as one of their biggest meet and greets of the year is coming up this Saturday.

KWTV is the only Oklahoma owned local station. David Payne appears before the legislature at the direction of station ownership. Everyone in Oklahoma from Black Mesa to Durant would prefer that the fastest and most accurate access to information should be prioritized for Oklahomans in harm's way. Current technology and geography in Oklahoma make it where full, free and unfettered access to storm chasing can place the safety of those in the path of danger, and those reporting on it in real time, at risk. Storm reporting in Oklahoma is critical for those at risk. Safe and reliable access to storm reporting should be prioritized for those with the most broad base of free and accurate communication to the largest audience in Oklahoma.

KWTV is the only Oklahoma owned local station. David Payne appears before the legislature at the direction of station ownership. Everyone in Oklahoma from Black Mesa to Durant would prefer that the fastest and most accurate access to information should be prioritized for Oklahomans in harm's way. Current technology and geography in Oklahoma make it where full, free and unfettered access to storm chasing can place the safety of those in the path of danger, and those reporting on it in real time, at risk. Storm reporting in Oklahoma is critical for those at risk. Safe and reliable access to storm reporting should be prioritized for those with the most broad base of free and accurate communication to the largest audience in Oklahoma.

Very good point. Storm chasing has turned into a complete circus... you can buy the adventure these days (a company will take you chasing for a fee, such as Extreme Tornado Tours or Tempest Tours among the many). This clutters up the roads and makes it dangerous for everyone.

KWTV is the only Oklahoma owned local station. David Payne appears before the legislature at the direction of station ownership. Everyone in Oklahoma from Black Mesa to Durant would prefer that the fastest and most accurate access to information should be prioritized for Oklahomans in harm's way. Current technology and geography in Oklahoma make it where full, free and unfettered access to storm chasing can place the safety of those in the path of danger, and those reporting on it in real time, at risk. Storm reporting in Oklahoma is critical for those at risk. Safe and reliable access to storm reporting should be prioritized for those with the most broad base of free and accurate communication to the largest audience in Oklahoma.
There are other ways to go about making the roads safer for his chasers to go chase on like give them advanced training. Making a law that basically allows Storm chasers that already pose a threat to public safety have more rights is not the way to go. I will tell you a majority of the chasing community is not happy with David Payne or Griffin media as of right now. This could turn very bad for David Payne when it comes to his employment rather if that comes with a demotion or termination of employment. This technically also is against the first amendment the freedom of press portion of it. It also looks like most law enforcement across the state isn't even going to enforce the law so if true that is a win.

There are other ways to go about making the roads safer for his chasers to go chase on like give them advanced training. Making a law that basically allows Storm chasers that already pose a threat to public safety have more rights is not the way to go. I will tell you a majority of the chasing community is not happy with David Payne or Griffin media as of right now. This could turn very bad for David Payne when it comes to his employment rather if that comes with a demotion or termination of employment. This technically also is against the first amendment the freedom of press portion of it. It also looks like most law enforcement across the state isn't even going to enforce the law so if true that is a win.

Another thing that I will point out. Is they allowed David Payne to speak however most of the individual Storm chasers that were present as well we're not allowed to speak. From what I have been reading on social media from other chasers. The relationship between David Payne and Griffin media with individual Storm chasers is not in the best situation right now.

KWTV is the only Oklahoma owned local station. David Payne appears before the legislature at the direction of station ownership. Everyone in Oklahoma from Black Mesa to Durant would prefer that the fastest and most accurate access to information should be prioritized for Oklahomans in harm's way. Current technology and geography in Oklahoma make it where full, free and unfettered access to storm chasing can place the safety of those in the path of danger, and those reporting on it in real time, at risk. Storm reporting in Oklahoma is critical for those at risk. Safe and reliable access to storm reporting should be prioritized for those with the most broad base of free and accurate communication to the largest audience in Oklahoma.

Griffin Media of OKC, which owns KWTV-9 also owns KOTV-6 in Tulsa. Travis Meyer is a well regarded weatherman there.

Also owned by Griffin Media are KSBI-52 OKC and KQCW-19 Muskogee.

Griffin Media of OKC, which owns KWTV-9 also owns KOTV-6 in Tulsa. Travis Meyer is a well regarded weatherman there.

Also owned by Griffin Media are KSBI-52 OKC and KQCW-19 Muskogee.

Agree. And I think they bought some radio stations in the Tulsa area from Katz Media (or somesuch) a few years ago. I recall the family organization also own Griffin Foods in Muskogee?

Agree. And I think they bought some radio stations in the Tulsa area from Katz Media (or somesuch) a few years ago. I recall the family organization also own Griffin Foods in Muskogee?

Griffin owns Tulsa's CBS and CW network TV stations and a number of radio stations they bought from E. W. Scripps Company. They also own a local billboard company.
KOTV (1170 AM)
KHTT (106.9 FM)
KVOO (98.5 FM)
KXBL (99.5 FM)
KBEZ (92.9 FM)

https://x.com/MatthewCappucci/status/1898177539576594559 So could I slap on a news 9 sticker on my car with a fake license number and be able to break all traffic laws? It's horrible. The first person that gets killed going through a green light while a news 9 chasers is running the red light and kills them. Griffin Media will be sued for everything they have.

https://x.com/MatthewCappucci/status/1898177539576594559 So could I slap on a news 9 sticker on my car with a fake license number and be able to break all traffic laws? It's horrible. The first person that gets killed going through a green light while a news 9 chasers is running the red light and kills them. Griffin Media will be sued for everything they have.

The truth of the matter is the state will be sued for this bill under 1st amendment violations (the freedom of present freedom of movement sections of it) there is also a chance that Griffin media gets pulled into the lawsuit. I'm going to predict by the end of the year Griffin media will have to let David Payne go. His name is already tarnished within the storm chaser community. Also I think this should be a lesson to all media outlets to not gain control on certain aspects like this.

What on earth makes you think KWTV will let David Payne go? As a poster said a couple of days ago, that guy is the face of the whole station.

I just skimmed over the bill and the "red light running" seems to be more of a fear mongering stance. Emergency vehicles still have to ensure an intersection is clear before entering (see this all the time). I definitely agree to tight restrictions on these licenses to no anyone can be a "professional storm chaser". We definitely do not need anyone pretending to be a storm chaser or these storm chasing tour companies getting one of these, as they will cause more harm than good. The good part of the bill is that is allows them to go down otherwise closed roads, which can be beneficial (and risky). It does require proof of insurance also. If they get out of hand, the insurance costs will force them out.

The truth of the matter is the state will be sued for this bill under 1st amendment violations (the freedom of present freedom of movement sections of it) there is also a chance that Griffin media gets pulled into the lawsuit. I'm going to predict by the end of the year Griffin media will have to let David Payne go. His name is already tarnished within the storm chaser community. Also I think this should be a lesson to all media outlets to not gain control on certain aspects like this.

I mean no disrespect, but I think most people in Oklahoma believe Over The Air television is the best source of storm information that reaches the most people the most rapidly. And they don't want any hobbyist activity impeding that. And if the TV stations and government tell us that amateur storm chasers are clogging up roadways and taking up precious bandwidth in rural areas, then the average citizen is going to side with the government.

I mean no disrespect, but I think most people in Oklahoma believe Over The Air television is the best source of storm information that reaches the most people the most rapidly. And they don't want any hobbyist activity impeding that. And if the TV stations and government tell us that amateur storm chasers are clogging up roadways and taking up precious bandwidth in rural areas, then the average citizen is going to side with the government.
And I will say that is unfortunate. Most people don't do their research before standing with a side. About the over-the-air television stuff though. I don't think all the media stations should be within a mile of each other. All it takes is a wedge tornado and all of them go offline which is the last thing you want in Oklahoma. I think they do need to spread their studios out. Like for example channel 4 building theirs in Edmond or channel 5 building there is in Norman. If a big tornado goes through there it would be a bad deal. That risk has been pretty much eradicated since channel 9 moved to downtown which pretty much means you'll have at least one station online. I would assume that is a thing they considered when they we're picking a location to move to

And I will say that is unfortunate. Most people don't do their research before standing with a side. About the over-the-air television stuff though. I don't think all the media stations should be within a mile of each other. All it takes is a wedge tornado and all of them go offline which is the last thing you want in Oklahoma. I think they do need to spread their studios out. Like for example channel 4 building theirs in Edmond or channel 5 building there is in Norman. If a big tornado goes through there it would be a bad deal. That risk has been pretty much eradicated since channel 9 moved to downtown which pretty much means you'll have at least one station online. I would assume that is a thing they considered when they we're picking a location to move to

A large business should have a disaster contingency plan and I would be surprised if the news stations didn't. Their main motivation wouldn't be to keep the public informed in any shape or form, but to make sure they are still generating revenue.

And I will say that is unfortunate. Most people don't do their research before standing with a side. About the over-the-air television stuff though. I don't think all the media stations should be within a mile of each other. All it takes is a wedge tornado and all of them go offline which is the last thing you want in Oklahoma. I think they do need to spread their studios out. Like for example channel 4 building theirs in Edmond or channel 5 building there is in Norman. If a big tornado goes through there it would be a bad deal. That risk has been pretty much eradicated since channel 9 moved to downtown which pretty much means you'll have at least one station online. I would assume that is a thing they considered when they we're picking a location to move to

But you could have the studios spread out all over, but they would still be broadcasting from the OKC antenna farm. I doubt the broadcast towers are sturdy enough to survive the worst tornados. It's another reason why in the future OTA TV may abandon broadcast towers and only be found streaming on the Internet. At least antenna farms will always be great because people in outlying areas can aim their antennas in one fixed direction and have near equal signal strength from all the high-powered stations.

I'm guessing the antenna farm was the reason for the bunching of TV stations in the early years of the 1950s and later. Channel 4 was the first, and the Gaylord family who owned it already owned miles of real estate on the North side of town. KWTV 9 was second IIRC and set up in the same area. KOCO 5 was started in Enid, and moved to OKC after several years there. KOCO had their studio on the NW corner of NW 63rd & Portland until sometime around the early 1980s-ish, when they moved to their current site. They sold the studio to KTBO 14, and they were there for over 10 years, again IIRC.

As we got to the late 1970s, channels 25, 34 and 43 became real stations, and the benefit of having the antennae clustered in the same general for air traffic and signal location by home antennae was top of mind. I think the ability to minimize cable distance from studio to towner was also more important than it is today.

As far as I know, OTA is the only free TV available. That is still a big thing.

They have been many times where there have been toradoes and tv hasn't been on it cause they are out of position but there will be a storm chaser that is. So why don't they pay some of these chasers to use their streams? Suplher torando comes to mind. Not one tv tracker in the area but there were chasers much closer.

I'm guessing the antenna farm was the reason for the bunching of TV stations in the early years of the 1950s and later. Channel 4 was the first, and the Gaylord family who owned it already owned miles of real estate on the North side of town. KWTV 9 was second IIRC and set up in the same area. KOCO 5 was started in Enid, and moved to OKC after several years there. KOCO had their studio on the NW corner of NW 63rd & Portland until sometime around the early 1980s-ish, when they moved to their current site. They sold the studio to KTBO 14, and they were there for over 10 years, again IIRC.

As we got to the late 1970s, channels 25, 34 and 43 became real stations, and the benefit of having the antennae clustered in the same general for air traffic and signal location by home antennae was top of mind. I think the ability to minimize cable distance from studio to towner was also more important than it is today.

As far as I know, OTA is the only free TV available. That is still a big thing.

I'm not sure about that. I'd venture to say the majority of people in the OKC area who want to see their locals do it by subscribing to a high dollar service, such as YouTube, Direct TV or Hulu to avoid having to use an antenna. However, maybe some of the older people who can't stand to pay another month of rising Cable TV costs finally get off of it and end up delightfully reliving their much younger days by rediscovering OTA TV and find dozens more channels, quite unlike back when there were only 4.

I'm not sure about that. I'd venture to say the majority of people in the OKC area who want to see their locals do it by subscribing to a high dollar service, such as YouTube, Direct TV or Hulu to avoid having to use an antenna. However, maybe some of the older people who can't stand to pay another month of rising Cable TV costs finally get off of it and end up delightfully reliving their much younger days by rediscovering OTA TV and find dozens more channels, quite unlike back when there were only 4.

You might be surprised.

An antennae costs maybe $30.

Some of us don't care for tv all that much.

I only bought an antennae to watch football.

You might be surprised.

An antennae costs maybe $30.

Some of us don't care for tv all that much.

I only bought an antennae to watch football.

lots of options for under 10 dollars .. everyone should have 1 for back up at the min ... cable/satellite/internet are out far more then the power is out ..

I'm not sure about that. I'd venture to say the majority of people in the OKC area who want to see their locals do it by subscribing to a high dollar service, such as YouTube, Direct TV or Hulu to avoid having to use an antenna. However, maybe some of the older people who can't stand to pay another month of rising Cable TV costs finally get off of it and end up delightfully reliving their much younger days by rediscovering OTA TV and find dozens more channels, quite unlike back when there were only 4.

I agree that most people use pay TV to watch all stations. But, the United States owns the airwaves in our country, and it sells access to a group of waves that have to be able to be watches/accessed free of charge.

Long way of saying there is a government mandated free way to watch local channels.

I'm not sure it has to be free. It always has been. Except for that time around 1980 when 43 had that scrambled signal in the evening service called "VEU TV", or something like that. I think a person had to pay for the service and descrambler box.