Sinclair Fucks Tulsa Station
/My first full-time job in TV news was at KTUL in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a station that was owned by a single person and had as many live trucks as any station in the country.
KTUL was a top-tier station even though, at the time, it hovered in the 50th market.
KTUL was sold to Albritton and then later purchased by Sinclair.
Under Sinclair, KTUL became a shell of its former self. A great station was ruined by an awful owner, and yesterday, Sinclair gutted the station.
The company announced that KTUL is basically dead, and the newscasts the station airs will soon be produced out of Oklahoma City.
"Beginning December 11 we will be making changes to the way we produce news in Tulsa and refocusing our resources, establishing a regional content center to super serve the Tulsa and Oklahoma City television markets," KTUL said in a statement. "This will allow hyperlocal news and weather content from both markets, as well as regional content, to be included in every newscast."
Many are losing their jobs and the viewers of Tulsa will be served up an unwatchable newscast anchored 125 miles away from Tulsa.
If I sound pissed, I can assure you, I am.
That was my first station, that is a place many learned how to do journalism and learned from mistakes.
The fact that Sinclair has thrown that all out the window, just to save a buck is disgusting.
I urge Sinclair to sell all their stations and get out of the TV business. This business and the people in this business deserve better.
Excuse me…but FUCK Sinclair!