KJRH-TV

KJRH-TV is a commercial television station licensed to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and affiliated with NBC. It operates on virtual channel 2 and is owned by The E. W. Scripps Company, which also owns Ion Television station KTPX-TV in the Tulsa market. The station’s studios are located in the Brookside area of midtown Tulsa, at the long-standing Broadcast Center on South Peoria Avenue near East 37th Street. Its transmitter is located near South 273rd East Avenue in the vicinity of Broken Arrow. The station traces its origins to a contested effort to develop Tulsa’s third commercial VHF television allocation. Two principal applicant groups were associated with major Oklahoma oil and broadcasting interests: Southwestern Sales Corporation, controlled by William G. Skelly and connected with radio station KVOO, and All-Oklahoma Broadcasting, which owned KRMG and included investors such as Robert S. Kerr and Dean A. McGee. The groups combined their applications in 1953 under Central Plains Enterprises. After competing applicants withdrew or reached agreements with the group, the Federal Communications Commission granted Central Plains the construction permit for channel 2 in July 1954. The station began regular programming on December 5, 1954, as KVOO-TV. Its launch included a dedication program followed by NBC’s Meet the Press. The NBC affiliation was inherited from KVOO radio’s long relationship with the network’s radio predecessor and has remained a defining part of the station’s identity. KVOO-TV initially operated from the Akdar Building in downtown Tulsa before moving with its companion radio station to the purpose-built Brookside Broadcast Center in December 1957. The facility was designed to allow television and radio operations, including news resources, to share infrastructure. During its early decades, the station combined network programming with locally produced entertainment, educational, and public-affairs content. Examples included The University of Tulsa Presents, the children’s program Big Bill & Oom-A-Gog, and the late-night science-fiction and horror showcase Fantastic Theater. The station was also an early adopter of technical developments in the Tulsa market: it began transmitting NBC programming in color in 1955, originated local programming in color in 1964, became the market’s first television station to broadcast in stereo in 1985, and introduced a fiber-optic connection to a local cable headend in 1992. The E. W. Scripps Company acquired KVOO-TV in 1970 through its Scripps-Howard Broadcasting subsidiary. The station changed its call letters to KTEW-TV on January 1, 1971, reflecting its new ownership and complying with FCC call-sign rules then in effect. In 1980, it adopted the KJRH call letters in honor of Jack R. Howard, a former president of E. W. Scripps and chairman of Scripps-Howard Broadcasting. The “-TV” suffix was added in 2010. KJRH-TV’s contemporary role centers on NBC network programming, local newscasts, weather, traffic, sports, investigative reporting, community coverage, and digital publishing. Its news branding has changed over time, including “2 NBC,” “2 News NBC,” and “2 Works for You.” The station serves as a local news and information outlet for Tulsa and northeastern Oklahoma while distributing content through broadcast, its website, and related digital platforms.

KJRH-TV originated in the early 1950s, when Tulsa’s next commercial VHF television channel attracted applications from competing groups led by prominent Oklahoma oil and broadcasting figures. Southwestern Sales Corporation, associated with William G. Skelly and radio station KVOO, submitted an application in June 1952. All-Oklahoma Broadcasting, the owner of KRMG and a group involving Robert S. Kerr and Dean A. McGee, filed a competing application the following month. Rather than continue independently, the two groups consolidated their efforts in 1953 as Central Plains Enterprises. To satisfy FCC ownership requirements, All-Oklahoma Broadcasting sold KRMG to another company. Several other parties subsequently sought the channel, including Fryer Television Company, Oil Capital Television Corporation, and TulsaVision. Those competing applications were withdrawn or dismissed during late 1953 and 1954. The FCC awarded the construction permit to Central Plains Enterprises on July 8, 1954. The new station adopted the KVOO-TV call letters, connecting it with KVOO radio and the slogan “Voice of Oklahoma.” After test transmissions began in November, KVOO-TV commenced regular programming on December 5, 1954. It launched as an NBC affiliate, inheriting the network relationship associated with KVOO radio. The station initially operated from the Akdar Building in downtown Tulsa and broadcast for much of the day. Because UHF television reception was limited in the period before UHF tuners became standard, the new VHF station had an important technical advantage in reaching viewers across northeastern Oklahoma. KVOO-TV expanded its local programming during the 1950s and 1960s. Educational and cultural programming included The University of Tulsa Presents, while Big Bill & Oom-A-Gog provided children’s entertainment with cartoons, live segments, and a robot character. Fantastic Theater offered late-night presentations of science-fiction and horror films from 1965 to 1968. The station also adopted color early, carrying NBC programming in color by 1955 and producing local programming in color from its Broadcast Center by 1964. In December 1957, KVOO-TV moved with KVOO radio to a purpose-built Streamline Moderne facility in Tulsa’s Brookside district. The Broadcast Center was designed with shared resources for television and radio, including news operations. The building and its tower became a durable part of the station’s physical identity. In June 1974, a destructive tornado passed close to the facility. Although the building avoided a direct strike, the station lost power for much of the night while local utility crews worked to restore service. Scripps-Howard Broadcasting, a subsidiary of The E. W. Scripps Company, acquired the station from Central Plains Enterprises in 1970. The transaction was approved by the FCC in November and completed on December 31. On the following day, the station changed its call letters to KTEW-TV. In 1980, it became KJRH, a call sign honoring Jack R. Howard, who had led E. W. Scripps and Scripps-Howard Broadcasting. The “-TV” suffix was appended to the call sign in 2010. KJRH continued to invest in technical distribution and production. It became Tulsa’s first stereo television station in 1985 and, in 1992, installed a fiber-optic link to a local cable headend. Its on-air identities evolved from “2 NBC” and “2 News NBC” to “2 Works for You,” a positioning that emphasized service to viewers and local news. Today, KJRH-TV remains an NBC affiliate serving Tulsa and surrounding areas. Its output includes local news, weather, emergency information, traffic, sports, community reporting, advertising, and digital video, alongside NBC network programming. The station is owned by The E. W. Scripps Company and operates in the same market as Scripps-owned KTPX-TV.

1. 2010The -TV suffix is added

   The station’s formal call sign became KJRH-TV.

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2. 20012 Works for You branding launches

   KJRH introduced the “2 Works for You” identity for its station and local news presentation.

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3. 1997News branding changes to 2 News NBC

   The station adopted “2 NBC” for general identification and “2 News NBC” for its local newscasts.

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4. 1992Fiber-optic cable distribution introduced

   KJRH connected its studios directly to a local cable headend through a dedicated fiber-optic link.

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5. 1985Stereo broadcasting begins

   KJRH became Tulsa’s first television station to broadcast in stereo.

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6. 1980Call sign changes to KJRH

   The station adopted the KJRH call letters in honor of Jack R. Howard.

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7. 1971Call sign changes to KTEW-TV

   The station adopted KTEW-TV after its change in ownership.

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8. 1970Scripps completes acquisition

   Scripps-Howard Broadcasting completed its purchase of the station from Central Plains Enterprises.

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9. 1957Brookside Broadcast Center opens

   KVOO-TV and KVOO radio moved into their purpose-built shared facility on Peoria Avenue.

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10. 1955Color transmission begins

    The station became the first television outlet in the Tulsa market to broadcast programming in color.

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11. 1954FCC grants the construction permit

    The FCC granted Central Plains Enterprises authorization to build and operate the channel 2 station.

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12. 1954KVOO-TV signs on

    KVOO-TV began regular programming on December 5 as Tulsa’s NBC affiliate.

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13. 1953Central Plains Enterprises is formed

    Southwestern Sales Corporation and All-Oklahoma Broadcasting combined their applications in a jointly owned venture.

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14. 1952Initial channel 2 application

    Southwestern Sales Corporation filed an application for Tulsa’s channel 2 television allocation.

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A locally focused NBC affiliate serving Tulsa and northeastern Oklahoma, positioned around regional news, weather, community reporting, and access to national NBC programming.

• Local newsTelevision news1954

  KJRH-TV produces local newscasts covering Tulsa and surrounding communities. Its news output includes breaking news, public affairs, investigative reports, local government, education, sports, consumer stories, and community features. The operation has used several identities over time, including 2 News NBC and 2 Works for You.

• Weather and emergency coverageBroadcast weather service

  Weather reporting is a central service for a Tulsa-area station operating in a region exposed to severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, and winter weather. KJRH distributes forecasts, warnings, live coverage, and weather-related digital updates through its broadcast and online channels.

• NBC network programmingNetwork television1954

  KJRH-TV has carried NBC programming since its sign-on, including network news, entertainment, sports, and special coverage. Its NBC relationship is rooted in the earlier affiliation of companion radio station KVOO with the network’s radio predecessor.

• Digital news and videoDigital media

  The station extends its local television operation through its website and related digital channels, providing articles, video, weather information, breaking-news updates, and selected material from its broadcast newscasts.

• 2001Launch of the 2 Works for You identityStrategy

  The station had recently used “2 NBC” and “2 News NBC” branding and sought a broader identity centered on local service.

  What changed. KJRH introduced “2 Works for You” alongside a new graphics package for its station and news presentation.

  Aftermath. The service-oriented identity became a prominent part of KJRH’s local-market positioning.

  Source
• 1992Fiber-optic distribution upgradeOther

  Cable distribution was an important way for local stations to reach households, and KJRH sought a more direct connection to the Tulsa cable infrastructure.

  What changed. The station installed and activated a 5.6-mile fiber-optic link between its studios and a local cable headend.

  Aftermath. KJRH became the first Tulsa-area television station to deliver its signal directly to a cable system by fiber optics.

  Source
• 1980Adoption of the KJRH call signStrategy

  Scripps chose to associate the station with Jack R. Howard, a former president of The E. W. Scripps Company and chairman of Scripps-Howard Broadcasting.

  What changed. KTEW-TV changed its call letters to KJRH.

  Aftermath. The KJRH identity became the station’s enduring broadcast brand and was later formalized with the -TV suffix.

  Source
• 1971Call-sign rebrand to KTEW-TVStrategy

  The station changed ownership after the Scripps acquisition, while FCC rules then restricted the sharing of identical call letters by commonly located radio and television stations under different ownership arrangements.

  What changed. The station replaced KVOO-TV with KTEW-TV, a call sign associated with Tulsa and E. W. Scripps.

  Aftermath. The KTEW identity remained in use until the station adopted KJRH in 1980.

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• 1970Sale to Scripps-Howard BroadcastingM&A

  Central Plains Enterprises sought to sell the Tulsa NBC affiliate after operating it from its launch in 1954.

  What changed. The E. W. Scripps Company, through Scripps-Howard Broadcasting, agreed to acquire KVOO-TV. The FCC approved the transaction in November 1970, and the sale closed on December 31.

  Aftermath. The acquisition placed the station under long-term Scripps ownership and led to a call-sign change to KTEW-TV at the beginning of 1971.

  Reported transaction consideration. (1970)

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• 2001KJRH adopts the 2 Works for You brand

  The station introduced the “2 Works for You” identity for its local news operation and broader on-air presentation after previously using “2 NBC” and “2 News NBC” branding.

  Campaign
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• 1992KJRH establishes fiber-optic cable connection

  The station activated a fiber-optic link between its Peoria Avenue studios and a local cable headend, becoming the first Tulsa-area television station to deliver its signal directly to a cable system through fiber.

  Product launch
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• 1985KJRH introduces stereo television broadcasting

  KJRH became the first television station in the Tulsa market to broadcast in stereo, initially using the format for NBC programs, local productions, and selected syndicated programming.

  Product generation
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• 1980KTEW-TV becomes KJRH-TV

  The station changed its call letters to KJRH in recognition of Jack R. Howard, a former E. W. Scripps president and Scripps-Howard Broadcasting chairman.

  Leadership change
  Source
• 1974KTEW survives a tornado near its Tulsa studios

  An F3 tornado struck Tulsa’s Brookside district near the station’s Peoria Avenue facility. The building narrowly avoided direct impact, but the station lost electrical service for much of the night.

  Other
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• 1971Station adopts the KTEW-TV call sign

  Following the Scripps acquisition, the station changed its call letters from KVOO-TV to KTEW-TV, reflecting its new ownership and the call-sign restrictions then applicable to commonly branded radio and television stations.

  Leadership change
  Source
• 1970E. W. Scripps acquires KVOO-TV

  The E. W. Scripps Company purchased KVOO-TV from Central Plains Enterprises through its Scripps-Howard Broadcasting subsidiary. The transaction was completed at the end of 1970 after FCC approval.

  M&A
  Source
• 1957KVOO-TV moves to the Brookside Broadcast Center

  KVOO-TV and KVOO radio moved into a purpose-built broadcast facility on South Peoria Avenue and East 37th Street in Tulsa, which became the station’s long-term studio and operational base.

  Other
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• 1954KVOO-TV begins regular broadcasting in Tulsa

  The station signed on with regular programming as KVOO-TV on December 5, 1954, becoming Tulsa’s second VHF television station and beginning its long-running NBC affiliation.

  Product launch
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1. KJRH-TV
2. KJRH-TV official website