It’s a move that Sinclair Inc. is calling “a strategic transformation” of its news operations in Tulsa, one in which it is “refocusing resources” at its two “Big Four” stations to “enhance” local reporting.
What does this mean for viewers of the ABC and FOX stations in the Oklahoma market?
The Baltimore-headquartered company is establishing a content center at FOX-affiliated KOKI-TV that Sinclair is is “designed to super-serve viewers of KOKI” and sibling KTUL-TV with hyperlocal news and weather coverage.
The content center will include “significant upgrades” to weather technology, studio production, and master control.
The move concludes separate facilities for the stations’ local newscasts, and is concurrent with the decision by Todd Parkin-led Rincon Broadcasting Group to swiftly divest stations acquired from Sinclair Inc., Imagicomm, and Standard Media by handing them to a unit of Standard General in an agreement submitted late Tuesday for FCC regulatory approval.
“By centralizing key operations increasing the number of reporters in the field, the stations will be able to produce more content across more platforms with more enterprise reporting, deeper community storytelling, and a stronger mix of local and regional news,” Sinclair said as Standard General is poised to become KOKI’s next licensee. KOKI is a former Imagicomm station, once owned by Brian Brady and his Northwest Broadcasting.
Viewers will begin seeing changes at KTUL in late May, when it will shift to “a reporter-driven format” that will come with a full rebrand of the station. “The new format will shift resources to emphasize field reporting, live coverage, and story-driven journalism, supported by one of the largest content centers in the region,” Sinclair said.
As part of the transition, Sinclair will begin simulcasting KOKI newscasts on KTUL in early May. “This temporary step ensures continuity for viewers while KTUL prepares for its broader transformation and station rebrand in late May,” Sinclair said.
It not mention any reduction-in-force initiatives tied to the changes, which typically transpire when consolidation is seen in the broadcast TV industry, avoiding redundancy as detractors lament the loss of an independent local editorial voice.
“Local journalism remains at the core of what we do,” said Scott Livingston, Senior Vice President of News at Sinclair. “This evolution allows us to invest more deeply in our content centers, expanding reporting in the field, strengthening storytelling, and ensuring we are positioned to serve our communities for the long term.”
