KJRH-TV
KJRH-TV is an NBC-affiliated television station serving Tulsa, Oklahoma, and surrounding communities.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
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.
History
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.
- 2010
The -TV suffix is added
[1]The station’s formal call sign became KJRH-TV.
- 2001
2 Works for You branding launches
[1]KJRH introduced the “2 Works for You” identity for its station and local news presentation.
- 1997
News branding changes to 2 News NBC
[1]The station adopted “2 NBC” for general identification and “2 News NBC” for its local newscasts.
- 1992
Fiber-optic cable distribution introduced
[1]KJRH connected its studios directly to a local cable headend through a dedicated fiber-optic link.
- 1985
Stereo broadcasting begins
[1]KJRH became Tulsa’s first television station to broadcast in stereo.
- 1980
Call sign changes to KJRH
[1]The station adopted the KJRH call letters in honor of Jack R. Howard.
- 1971
Call sign changes to KTEW-TV
[1]The station adopted KTEW-TV after its change in ownership.
- 1970
Scripps completes acquisition
[1]Scripps-Howard Broadcasting completed its purchase of the station from Central Plains Enterprises.
- 1957
Brookside Broadcast Center opens
[1]KVOO-TV and KVOO radio moved into their purpose-built shared facility on Peoria Avenue.
- 1955
Color transmission begins
[1]The station became the first television outlet in the Tulsa market to broadcast programming in color.
Products and positioning
A locally focused NBC affiliate serving Tulsa and northeastern Oklahoma, positioned around regional news, weather, community reporting, and access to national NBC programming.
Television news · 1954
Local news
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.
Broadcast weather service
Weather and emergency coverage
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.
Network television · 1954
NBC network programming
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 media
Digital news and video
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.
Brand decisions
2001
Launch of the 2 Works for You identityStrategyBackground
The station had recently used “2 NBC” and “2 News NBC” branding and sought a broader identity centered on local service.
Action taken
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.
1992
Fiber-optic distribution upgradeOtherBackground
Cable distribution was an important way for local stations to reach households, and KJRH sought a more direct connection to the Tulsa cable infrastructure.
Action taken
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.
1980
Adoption of the KJRH call signStrategyBackground
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.
Action taken
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.
1971
Call-sign rebrand to KTEW-TVStrategyBackground
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.
Action taken
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.
1970
Sale to Scripps-Howard BroadcastingM&ABackground
Central Plains Enterprises sought to sell the Tulsa NBC affiliate after operating it from its launch in 1954.
Action taken
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)
Sources2 sources
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