OKC THUNDER Comes To KSBI-TV

[Saberman]

My first "I told you so".

Oklahoma City’s locally-owned over-the-air broadcast television station with vast statewide reach will become Thunder TV, airing all 7 preseason and 17 regular season Thunder games, including the team’s opening night at the Ford Center. The multi-year agreement was announced today by Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett and Family Broadcasting Group’s President Brady Brus. Under the terms of the agreement, KSBI-TV/DT will become the Thunder’s official TV station and join Fox Sports Oklahoma as the team’s TV partners.

OKC THUNDER Comes To KSBI-TV/DT

Family Broadcasting Group, Inc., owner of the Oklahoma City-based independent KSBI-TV/KSBI-DT television network, announced today the addition of Aubrey K. McClendon and Tom L. Ward as new investors and shareholders. McClendon is Chairman and CEO of Chesapeake Energy Corporation and Ward is Chairman and CEO of SandRidge Energy, Inc., both
based in Oklahoma City.

Big Announcement For Family Broadcasting Group, Inc.

KSBI-TV/DT 52 is getting an upgrade, that’s right, a brand new state-of-the-art facility and studio built by the Precision Construction Group (OKC). KSBI is the only locally owned statewide television network, and will now be located in the fastest growing area in Oklahoma City. Less than two years after introducing Oklahoma News Tonight to viewers across the state, KSBI will be moving to a new location just south of the Northwest Expressway on Morgan Road. The facility, which is being built from the ground up, will include a new studio, state-of-the-art newsroom and weather center,and even a workout facility for the staff.

KSBI Breaks Ground on New Facility

[ShiroiHikari]

This is kind of off-topic, but I think it's cool that KSBI has come so far and is still movin' on up. Yay for locally-owned stations!

[Saberman]

To check out coverage area:

KSBI-TV - What's On - In Your Area

[Thunder]

Why not KFOR? What happened to the phrase...NBA ON NBC?

KSBI? Sounds like a bunch of Feds...

[drumsncode]

How cool! The station goes from relative obscurity to a "must see" station, and I don't even have to get out of my house to see the games.

Brady Brus has hung in there a long time, and look at the magic you can achieve once you get a couple of gazillionaires on your side. And wow, new facilities for that station. Next thing you know we'll all be watching their evening newcast and a bunch of new anchors.

I wouldn't even be stunned if Amy McRee landed there someday when she hits the end of her contract. You just never know. They might just be able to "buy" her. Money makes things happen, and these guys have money.

[venture]

Can they pay for the Ogle's to retire and never appear on TV again?

[ddavidson8]

Is KSBI available in High Def?

[Stinger]

Probably won't be in HD, huh?

[Saberman]

Said they would be in HD.

You should see the studio they have been working out of, its in an industrial area on the south side. Went to be on the morning show one time, it was all crammed into a small space.

[Intrepid]

Why not KFOR? What happened to the phrase...NBA ON NBC?

KSBI? Sounds like a bunch of Feds...

The NBA hasn't been on NBC for several years now.

[metro]

I agree, it's definitely cool that McClendon and Ward have been pumping money into this station for awhile now. There are a few other threads about their investing in the station and the station building new digs for those of you interested. I agree, it turned this into a off the radar station into a must watch station 17 nights a year overnight. Here is the article from OKC Business today:

Oklahoma City Thunder names secondary television broadcast partner
By - 10/2/2008


Oklahoma City’s KSBI-TV/DT announced today it will broadcast 17 regular-season and seven preseason Oklahoma City Thunder basketball games including the team’s Oct. 29 opening-night game.


Fox Sports announced Sept. 29 it would carry 65 Thunder games, using a newly named Fox Sports Oklahoma cable channel. The team’s total television package includes 82 regular –season games and seven preseason contests.


“This is an exciting, innovative and comprehensive partnership which will serve to further connect Thunder fans with their team,” said Ken Adelson, Thunder Senior VP/Executive Producer. “The game coverage, coupled with the extensive programming KSBI can offer as an independent station, will allow a wide audience to be exposed to Thunder basketball. We are thrilled we were able to find a partner like KSBI. It will be the place to go for Thunder information and excitement 24/7.”


Family Broadcasting Group owns KSBI. In January 2007, the group announced Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward, invested in it as shareholders. Family Broadcasting Group’s statement said the funds would be used to retire current debt and provide capital to relocate and equip a new state-of-the-art broadcast facility. Family Broadcasting Group has owned KSBI-TV/DT, KXOC-LP and 12 television translators across Oklahoma, north Texas and southern Kansas for more than three years.


McClendon and Ward are members of the Oklahoma City-based Professional Basketball Club which owns the Oklahoma City National Basketball Association franchise.


The multi-year agreement was announced by Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett and Family Broadcasting Group’s President Brady Brus. Under the terms of the agreement, KSBI-TV/DT will become the Thunder’s official TV station and join Fox Sports Oklahoma as the team’s TV partners.


“We are more than excited to have the opportunity to partner with the Thunder in such a unique way,” Brus said in a statement. “It’s a perfect fit with our proven commitment to local sports and family programming. The partnership will enable us to offer our viewers Thunder programming throughout the entire year.”


KSBI’s regular-season lineup:

• Oct. 29 vs. Milwaukee

• Nov. 9 vs. Atlanta

•Nov. 15 at Philadelphia

• Nov. 22 at New Orleans

• Dec. 5 at Orlando

• Dec. 6 at Miami

• Dec. 14 at San Antonio

• Dec. 21 vs. Cleveland

• Jan. 10 at Chicago

• Jan. 18 vs. Miami

• Feb. 8 vs. Sacramento

• Feb. 21 at Golden State

• March 7 vs. New Orleans

• March 14 at Phoenix

• March 29 at Boston

• April 5 at Indiana

• April 11 at Milwaukee

[Thunder]

Previously, it was only 1 or 2 games planned to be broadcasted to the nation, right? Which media was going to do that?

Now that the KSBI station will broadcast the game, will it be locally or nationally?

[metro]

Again, KSBI is a small, local station. KSBI games will not be broadcast nationally. Check the link out to the coverage map above.

[Thunder]

Okay, who was planning to nationally broadcast the game vs the Hornets?

[Saberman]

These are the only ones I could find, all on ESPN

ESPN - OKC at Lakers Oct 24

New Orleans at OKC Nov 21

[OKCDrummer77]

These are the only ones I could find, all on ESPN

ESPN - OKC at Lakers Oct 24

New Orleans at OKC Nov 21

Those are the only two. The Laker game is pre-season.

[betts]

Sometimes nationally televised games are added later. If the team were doing better than anticipated, a few more games might be added, although that's unlikely. There were quite a few Hornets' games added in the second half of their season when it become clear they were playoff bound.