History of KFOR-TV in Timeline
KFOR-TV is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group, along with CW affiliate KAUT-TV. The two stations share studio facilities in Oklahoma City's McCourry Heights, which is also the location of KFOR-TV's transmitter. The station provides news and programming to the Oklahoma City area.
1947: Frank McGee Joins WKY
In 1947, Frank McGee joined WKY, later adding duties on the TV side in 1950 under the air name "Mack Rogers".
1950: WKY-TV Employs Mobile Broadcasting Unit
In 1950, WKY-TV became one of the first television stations in the country to employ a mobile broadcasting unit to conduct live broadcasts.
January 1951: Broadcasts of Oklahoma Legislature Sessions
In January 1951, WKY-TV started broadcasting twice-weekly Oklahoma Legislature sessions from the State Capitol, becoming the first station in the U.S. to provide such coverage.
February 8, 1952: Fastest Sound on Film Airing
On February 8, 1952, WKY-TV aired introductory remarks by anchor John Fields filmed 15 minutes prior to that evening's newscast, claiming to have made the fastest showing of any sound on film ever to have been processed and aired on television at the time.
1952: Coverage of Oklahoma Conventions
In 1952, WKY-TV's mobile broadcasting unit was used to cover both the Oklahoma Republican and Democratic State Conventions, relayed live from the Municipal Auditorium and reported on by Frank McGee and John Fields.
December 13, 1953: Filming of Court Proceeding
On December 13, 1953, WKY-TV is purported to be the first in the U.S. to have been allowed access to film a court proceeding while covering Billy Eugene Manley's murder trial at the Oklahoma County Courthouse.
1955: Ernie Schultz Joins Channel 4
In 1955, Ernie Schultz joined Channel 4 as a reporter and photographer.
1955: McGee Becomes WSFA-TV's News Director
In 1955, after OPUBCO purchased WSFA and WSFA-TV in Montgomery, Alabama, Frank McGee became WSFA-TV's news director.
1956: Virgil Dominic Joins WKY-TV
In 1956, Virgil Dominic initially joined WKY-TV before being called into active duty with the U.S. Air Force after two months.
1958: WKY-TV Recognized for News Operation
In 1958, WKY-TV was recognized by the Radio-Television News Directors Association as the nation's "outstanding television news operation".
1959: Virgil Dominic Returns to WKY-TV
In 1959, Virgil Dominic returned to WKY-TV as both a reporter and news anchor after serving in the U.S. Air Force.
1959: Pam Henry as March of Dimes Poster Child
Pam Henry, who after contracting polio at 14 months old, was the March of Dimes' 1959 national poster child.
1961: Barry Selected as Radio Voice of Sooners
In 1961, Oklahoma Sooners coach Bud Wilkinson selected Bob Barry Sr. as the radio play-by-play voice of the Oklahoma Sooners.
1962: Jack Ogle Joins WKY-TV
In 1962, Jack Ogle joined WKY-TV as its main news anchor.
1964: Dominic Provides Record News Stories to NBC
In 1964 alone, Virgil Dominic and WKY-TV provided 36 news stories to NBC, a record amount for any NBC affiliate.
1964: Ernie Schultz Becomes News Director
In 1964, Ernie Schultz became news director and noon news anchor at Channel 4.
1966: Bob Barry Sr. Joins WKY-TV
In 1966, Bob Barry Sr. started his television career at WKY-TV as lead sports anchor.
1970: Barry Becomes Sports Director
In 1970, Bob Barry Sr. became sports director, holding that position for 26 years.
1970: Jack Ogle Becomes News Director
In 1970, Jack Ogle became the station's news director.
1972: Pam Henry Hired as Reporter
In 1972, Pam Henry was hired by Channel 4 as an assignment reporter, becoming the first female television news reporter in Oklahoma.
1973: WKY-TV Aired Spectrum
From 1973 to 1978, WKY-TV aired Spectrum, a weekly prime time public affairs newsmagazine focused on issues affecting Oklahoma's minority community.
1973: Brad Edwards Joins Channel 4
In 1973, Brad Edwards joined Channel 4 as a reporter/photographer.
1974: Barry Called OU and OSU Games
Bob Barry Sr. called radio broadcasts of OU and Oklahoma State football and basketball games with Jack Ogle until 1974.
1974: Spectrum Wins National Emmy Award
In 1974, Through The Looking Glass Darkly, a Spectrum installment about the history of blacks in Oklahoma, became the first program from an Oklahoma television station to win a national Emmy Award.
October 17, 1977: Linda Cavanaugh Joined the Station
On October 17, 1977, Linda Cavanaugh spent her entire 40-year broadcasting career at the station.
1977: Brad Edwards Becomes Late Evening Anchor
In 1977, Brad Edwards became late evening anchor.
1977: Jack Ogle Leaves News Director Position
In 1977, Jack Ogle left his position as news director to join Oklahoma State's athletic department.
June 1978: Cavanaugh Promoted to Weekend Anchor
In June 1978, Linda Cavanaugh was promoted to weekend anchor.
1978: WKY-TV stopped airing Spectrum
From 1973 to 1978, WKY-TV aired Spectrum, a weekly prime time public affairs newsmagazine focused on issues affecting Oklahoma's minority community. It stopped airing in 1978.
1980: Ernie Schultz Leaves Channel 4
In 1980, Ernie Schultz left Channel 4.
1981: In Your Corner Series Launched
In 1981, Brad Edwards launched the In Your Corner series of consumer advocacy reports.
1982: Bob Barry Jr. Joins KTVY
In 1982, Bob Barry Jr. became KTVY's weekend sports anchor/reporter, working alongside Bob Sr.
1986: Kevin Ogle First Works at KTVY
From 1986 to 1989, Kevin Ogle first worked at KTVY as a reporter.
1989: Kevin Ogle Leaves KTVY
From 1986 to 1989, Kevin Ogle first worked at KTVY as a reporter before leaving in 1989.
1989: From Red Soil to Red Square Documentary
In 1989, Linda Cavanaugh's documentary From Red Soil to Red Square about life in the Soviet Union was awarded the Edward Weintal Prize for Diplomatic Reporting.
1990: Expansion of Local News Programming
Following the 1990 call letter change to KFOR-TV, the station began to slowly expand its local news programming.
1990: Kelly Ogle Becomes KWTV's Evening Anchor
Since 1990, Kelly Ogle has been KWTV's evening anchor.
1994: Kent Ogle Hired by KFOR-TV
In 1994, Kent Ogle was hired by KFOR-TV as a reporter.
April 19, 1995: Coverage of the Federal Building Bombing
During coverage of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing on April 19, 1995, KFOR-TV erroneously reported a member of the Nation of Islam contacted the station to take credit.
May 1995: Top-Rated Local Newscast
KFOR-TV became the top-rated local newscast with the May 1995 sweeps.
1996: Increased News Output
By 1996, KFOR-TV's news output increased from 25 hours to over 40 hours per week.
1996: Kevin Ogle Promoted to Weeknight Co-Anchor
In 1996, Kevin Ogle was promoted to weeknight co-anchor.
1996: Tapestry Documentary Produced
In 1996, Linda Cavanaugh produced and hosted Tapestry, a documentary on the lives of survivors of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing.
1997: Barry Jr. Assumes Sports Director Role
In 1997, Bob Barry Jr. assumed his father's role as sports director.
1997: Kent Ogle Becomes Weekday Anchor
In 1997, Kent Ogle became weekday morning/noon anchor.
2007: Scott Hines Takes Over In Your Corner
In 2007, Scott Hines took over the In Your Corner duties, following Edwards's death.
May 2008: Bob Barry Sr. Retirement
In May 2008, Bob Barry Sr. retired from his part-time evening sports anchor position.
January 2015: Groundbreaking for new combined facility
In January 2015, groundbreaking occurred for a new combined facility for KFOR-TV and KAUT, adjacent to KFOR-TV's existing studios.
June 20, 2015: Bob Barry Jr. Death
On June 20, 2015, Bob Barry Jr. died in an auto/motorcycle accident. He was KFOR-TV's sports director and weeknight sports anchor until his death.
February 2016: Brian Brinkley Succeeds Barry Jr.
In February 2016, station veteran Brian Brinkley succeeded Bob Barry Jr. as sports director.
May 8, 2017: Sinclair to Acquire Tribune Media
On May 8, 2017, Sinclair Broadcast Group agreed to acquire Tribune Media for $3.9 billion, plus the assumption of $2.7 billion in debt held by Tribune.
August 2017: Completion of new facility
In August 2017, the new combined facility for KFOR-TV and KAUT was completed, featuring an improved floorplan, reinforced construction, and conference rooms named after former on-air staff.
April 24, 2018: Sinclair Agrees to Divest KOKH-TV
On April 24, 2018, Sinclair agreed to divest KOKH-TV to Standard Media as part of a group deal, due to already owning KOKH-TV and KOCB.
August 9, 2018: Tribune Media Terminates Merger
On August 9, 2018, Tribune Media terminated the merger agreement with Sinclair and filed a breach of contract lawsuit, nullifying all transactions.
December 3, 2018: Nexstar to Acquire Tribune Media
On December 3, 2018, Nexstar Media Group announced it would acquire Tribune Media in a $6.4 billion all-cash deal.
September 2019: Scott Hines Leaves Station
In September 2019, Scott Hines left the station.
September 16, 2019: FCC Approves Nexstar-Tribune Merger
On September 16, 2019, the FCC approved the merger between Nexstar Media Group and Tribune Media, which included all outstanding Tribune debt.
December 2019: Adam Snider Named as Replacement
In December 2019, Adam Snider was subsequently named as Hines' replacement for In Your Corner.
Mentioned in this timeline
Basketball is a team sport played on a rectangular court...
NBC News is the news division of NBC operating under...
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics USSR existed from to...
The National Broadcasting Company NBC is a major American commercial...
Football encompasses a variety of team sports centered on kicking...
News encompasses information about current events disseminated through various media...
Trending
6 days ago James Gunn Plans Superman Sequel Shooting Soon; Teases 'Peacemaker' Role in DCU.
6 days ago Motorcycle crash in Beloit on Cranston Road: Police investigate single-vehicle incident.
6 days ago Zion: Influencers' Storm, Hidden Trail & East Mesa Hike, Views and Fewer Crowds
6 days ago Qatar Airways and Accenture partner for AI-driven aviation excellence, creating 'AI Skyways'.
6 days ago Ketel Marte's Absence and Day Off Requests Cause Frustration Among Diamondbacks Teammates
6 days ago Jamie Lee Curtis Celebrates 'Freakier Friday' with Fan Event and Lookalike Screening
Popular
Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman currently serving...
John Bolton is an American attorney diplomat Republican consultant and...
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is a prominent German politician...
Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter was an influential Australian zookeeper...