Rick Mitchell leaving KOCO

[aintaokie]

Rick will not only fill the spot left when David Fenfrock leaves, he will continue a KXAS legacy of excellent & long time meteorolgists that began with the late Harold Taft who stayed with Channel 5 DFW for over 40 years. I still remember David Fenfrock when he was just out of college. Best of luck to Rick......

This is a HUGE step up for Rick Mitchell. What I'm wondering is if they're adding to the NBC 5 team or if David Finfrock, who is a DFW television icon (and chief meteorologist), is leaving. Finfrock has been at NBC 5 since the mid 70's. Big shoes to fill if he's replacing Finfrock. Best of luck to a great guy - go get 'em Rick!

[SoonerDave]

Genuinely sad to see Rick Mitchell go. Consummate professional. Easily the best weatherman in the market. Appealed to the intelligence of viewers and had a wonderful, calming presence on the air -- even during extreme weather events.

This+. Rick Mitchell is a superb member of this market and refused to buy into the HysteriaVision of others.

[t3hwookiee]

I am going to greatly miss Rich Mitchell!! I'm not a fan of Armageddon Mike or Gary at all. This is a bummer.

[mark]

Genuinely sad to see Rick Mitchell go. Consummate professional. Easily the best weatherman in the market. Appealed to the intelligence of viewers and had a wonderful, calming presence on the air -- even during extreme weather events.

I watch KOCO because it's the only Ogle-Free option on local TV, but he was easily the top of the heap at that station.

i agree with you on all points here

[Tydude]

well tomorrow is Rick last day so make sure you guys watch channel 5 at 5 6 and 10 they are planing on showing some highlights from the past 18 years at KOCO 5

[soonerguru]

well tomorrow is Rick last day so make sure you guys watch channel 5 at 5 6 and 10 they are planing on showing some highlights from the past 18 years at KOCO 5

I never really care much about local broadcasting professionals, but my wife and I are still pretty bummed out about Rick leaving. Can't KOCO come up with some dough to keep the guy around? Is DFW really that much of a lure? People love the guy here.

[Tydude]

Rick just did his last weather forecast on KOCO 5 and his 18 years at KOCO 5 has ended

[progressiveboy]

I never really care much about local broadcasting professionals, but my wife and I are still pretty bummed out about Rick leaving. Can't KOCO come up with some dough to keep the guy around? Is DFW really that much of a lure? People love the guy here.

Well the biggest lure would be a top 20 TV market, much bigger salary, more prestige etc.. Not to mention that DFW has world class shopping, world class restaurants, 4 major sports franchises much better cultural amenities than OKC. I believe that this is "much of the lure".

[TaoMaas]

Well the biggest lure would be a top 20 TV market, much bigger salary, more prestige etc.. Not to mention that DFW has world class shopping, world class restaurants, 4 major sports franchises much better cultural amenities than OKC. I believe that this is "much of the lure".

I would be extremely surprised if the cultural amenities of Dallas vs OKC played much of a role in Rick's decision. Sometimes, these things are more about family. When you're one of the main anchors at a tv station, you're away from your family quite a bit. You're off work while your kids are in school, then gone to work when they're at home in the evenings. You miss many of the school plays, ballgames, etc... Maybe Rick just traded a bit of fame for family.

[adaniel]

Well the biggest lure would be a top 20 TV market, much bigger salary, more prestige etc.. Not to mention that DFW has world class shopping, world class restaurants, 4 major sports franchises much better cultural amenities than OKC. I believe that this is "much of the lure".

I seriously doubt a self confessed weather geek like Rick Mitchell makes career decisions based on how close he is to a Neiman Marcus.

From what I remember growing up there, weathermen aren't viewed as very important in the DFW market, whereas in OKC stations live and die by their meteorologists. At the same time, I'm sure it can be very stressful to have that kind of weight put on you. Plus, a bigger market can probably pay a bit more (although I worry about him going to KXAS--their ratings stink).

I must say his performance last night was one of the best sendoffs I've seen from anyone in TV news. No phony "I love you's" or awkward blubbering. He is a very humble, down-to-earth person and I wish him the best.

[ou48A]

Well the biggest lure would be a top 20 TV market, much bigger salary, more prestige etc.. Not to mention that DFW has world class shopping, world class restaurants, 4 major sports franchises much better cultural amenities than OKC. I believe that this is "much of the lure".

Dallas has a reputation of being a plastic place, Rick Mitchell is a man of inter substance.
He doesn’t need many of those types of things to be happy.
When you grow up in a place like rural Nebraska you learn to create your own fun and inter security.
There are many of us who grew up in small town rural Oklahoma who can relate.

[TaoMaas]

...in OKC stations live and die by their meteorologists. At the same time, I'm sure it can be very stressful to have that kind of weight put on you.

Relatively recently, Ch. 5 seems to be going "wall-to-wall" in their weather coverage, many times blowing out regular programming long after 4 & 9 have gone back to scheduled programs. Doesn't seem to matter if it's tornados, grass fires, or ice storms. I'm sure they're doing it in an attempt to become OKC's 'go to' station for disasters. As you mentioned, it can be very stressful to be on camera for several hours at a time. I wonder if that played any part in Rick's decision.

[Bellaboo]

Well the biggest lure would be a top 20 TV market, much bigger salary, more prestige etc.. Not to mention that DFW has world class shopping, world class restaurants, 4 major sports franchises much better cultural amenities than OKC. I believe that this is "much of the lure".

He said he waited to make any kind of job move until his kids were through school. Has zero to do with DFW being amenity overcrowded. It's just about populace being overcrowded at its best.

[Tydude]

NBCDFW announced that Rick will be doing the 4 and 10 newscast Monday-Friday and the Chief Meteorologist who just sign a 5 year contract and once the 5 year contract expires he will retire will do the 5 and 6 newscast.

[okcpulse]

Well the biggest lure would be a top 20 TV market, much bigger salary, more prestige etc.. Not to mention that DFW has world class shopping, world class restaurants, 4 major sports franchises much better cultural amenities than OKC. I believe that this is "much of the lure".

Certainly doesn't lure me to DFW. I prefer to grow OKC's amenities than be spoon-fed by pre-existing conditions of another metro area I have absolutley no vested interest in, much less any connections whatsoever. That being said, as others have mentioned on this board, I doubt his decision was weighed based on the factors above. An opportunity at NBCDFW is more of a career decision. DFW's amenties are the icing on the cake.

Besides, comparing a metro of 6.5 million to a metro of 1.5 million is no where near a fair comparison.

[RadicalModerate]

is rick mitchell a tv weatherman? or is he, like, the protagonist of Kahlil Gibran's book, "The Prophet"?
(the adoration is nearly overwhelming. i just don't get it. of course, i'm confident that rick wears more tasteful ties . . .)

[venture]

NBCDFW announced that Rick will be doing the 4 and 10 newscast Monday-Friday and the Chief Meteorologist who just sign a 5 year contract and once the 5 year contract expires he will retire will do the 5 and 6 newscast.

Grammar. :-P

Anyway. It is good to see the original agreement finally public. There was little reason for Rick to leave a Chief spot in OKC for AM weather guy in DFW. Good move for Rick all around.

[Bunty]

Probably need some weather guys down in DFW after the debacle this spring...Probably pump up his tornado credentials left and right

You mean from the mega hail storm they had?

[venture]

So going by TLO it is coming down to Zach Daniels (former KWTV), Dan Threlkeld (former KFOR), David Payne (current KFOR), and Damon Lane. Dan Threlkeld would be a solid pick as it would bring him down from Tulsa, though it is more of a lateral move. Zach Daniels would be very good and he is my pick to replace Gary at KWTV when the time comes. So would that be a consideration that he might be offered a ton of cash by the Griffins to jump KOCO? David Payne I think is too good in the field, but has put in his time to be a chief somewhere. Damon Lane comes across as the most unqualified out of all of these and too green.

[Tydude]

I think Damon will stay as a Morning weather person so i think David Payne will get the job over at Channel 5

[ou48A]

Who is the new noon WX guy on Chanel 4 and who did he replace?

He seems like he doing a decent job.

[Tydude]

Who is the new noon WX guy on Chanel 4 and who did he replace?

He seems like he doing a decent job.

According to Channel 4 he is just a 5th meteorologist just helping out during severe weather coverage and KFOR says no one is leaving from the Weather Department

[boscorama]

Well, does KOCO have a chief met at this time? Ch 4 has an abundance of good ones, any of which could be a good leader at 5.

There was a blurb in the OK about Rick being promoted to prime time news in Dallas. Good for them. Though I don't care for the 5-team, Rick is the only one I would miss.

[Tydude]

KOCO 5 doesn't have a Chief met at this time Rusty is just filling in for the weekday evening newscast

[Tydude]

They brought in a new Girl named Jennifer who i believe is going to help them out while they are looking for a new chief