KOCB
KOCB is an independent television station serving Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KOCB is a television station licensed to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, operating on virtual channel 34. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and is operated alongside Fox affiliate KOKH-TV, with the two outlets sharing studio and transmission facilities in northeast Oklahoma City. KOCB is currently an independent station after ending its long-running CW affiliation in 2023. The station began broadcasting on November 1, 1979, under the call sign KGMC. Its launch came during a rapid expansion of independent television in Oklahoma City. KOKH-TV had recently become a commercial independent, and KAUT-TV followed in 1980, turning a previously underserved market into a highly competitive one. KGMC was initially associated with General Media Corporation, while Oklahoma City broadcaster Ted Baze held a minority position and served as general manager. In the early 1980s, the station generally ranked second among the market's independent stations, behind KOKH-TV. Ownership became unstable after General Media began liquidating its assets. Oklahoma City Broadcasting acquired General Media's interest in 1983, and Baze subsequently sold a majority stake to the Beverly Hills Hotel Corporation, controlled by financier Ivan Boesky. Boesky's later insider-trading case created regulatory complications for KGMC. The transfer of control to his wife had not received prior Federal Communications Commission approval, prompting an FCC review of the station's license renewal. Proposed distress-sale transactions involving minority-controlled buyers failed, and a broader plan to consolidate Oklahoma City's independent stations also collapsed. The failed transaction contributed to financial deterioration. KGMC entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 1989 with liabilities substantially exceeding its assets. Its secured lender pursued liquidation, while rival station interests sought to acquire the station's facilities and remove it from the market. The station avoided foreclosure, changed its call sign to KOCB during the reorganization, and emerged from bankruptcy in March 1991 under Baze's ownership. Superior Communications acquired KOCB in a transaction announced in 1993 and completed in January 1994. Under Al Holtz and Perry Sook, the station improved its syndicated programming, refreshed its presentation, and obtained rights to Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball. KOCB became an original Oklahoma City affiliate of the United Paramount Network when UPN launched in January 1995. Sinclair Broadcast Group bought KOCB in 1996. Sinclair moved the station from UPN to The WB in 1998 under a group affiliation agreement, while also developing a shared operating relationship with KOKH-TV. Following the 2006 merger of The WB and UPN, KOCB joined the resulting CW network. The station remained a CW affiliate for many years, but the affiliation moved to KAUT-TV in 2023. KOCB consequently returned to independent programming, while continuing to operate within Sinclair's Oklahoma City station group.
History
KOCB originated in two competing applications for Oklahoma City's channel 34 filed with the FCC in 1977. General Media Corporation and Oklahoma City Broadcasting, led in part by Ted Baze, settled their dispute, with General Media receiving the majority interest. The resulting station was assigned the KGMC call sign and began broadcasting on November 1, 1979, after construction and technical delays. KGMC entered a market undergoing an independent-station boom. KOKH-TV had recently relaunched as a commercial independent, and KAUT-TV began broadcasting in 1980. KGMC initially performed well, commonly ranking behind KOKH among the market's independent stations. Programming costs increased sharply as the three outlets competed for syndicated content, sports, and audience share. General Media began liquidating its assets in 1982. Oklahoma City Broadcasting bought its interest in KGMC in a transaction completed in 1983, after which Baze sold a majority stake to the Beverly Hills Hotel Corporation, controlled by Ivan Boesky. Boesky's insider-trading penalties and an unapproved transfer of control involving his wife triggered FCC scrutiny of the station's license renewal. Efforts to sell KGMC through the FCC's distress-sale process failed when proposed minority-controlled buyers could not obtain financing. A larger 1988 proposal sought to combine Oklahoma City's independent stations around KOKH-TV and transfer other facilities to educational or religious operators. Political objections, financing problems, and opposition to the proposed educational-station structure caused the plan to collapse. KGMC's competitive position weakened, and the station filed for Chapter 11 protection in February 1989. Its lender argued for liquidation and had discussed a transaction that could have taken the station off the air, but the bankruptcy court allowed reorganization to proceed. The station changed its call sign to KOCB in 1990 and obtained confirmation of a reorganization plan in March 1991. Superior Communications acquired KOCB in January 1994. The new owners improved the station's syndicated inventory, on-air presentation, cable reach, and sports programming. KOCB became an original UPN affiliate when that network launched in January 1995. Sinclair Broadcast Group purchased KOCB in 1996 and moved it to The WB in 1998. Sinclair also developed a shared operating relationship with KOKH-TV, eventually forming the basis of the present Oklahoma City station group. When The WB and UPN were replaced by The CW in 2006, KOCB became the CW affiliate for Oklahoma City. The station remained with the network until 2023, when the affiliation transferred to KAUT-TV. KOCB thereafter operated as an independent station under Sinclair ownership. Its history reflects the consolidation of local television, the rise and decline of broadcast networks, and the financial and regulatory pressures facing independent stations in the late twentieth century.
- 2023
Return to independent programming
[1]The CW affiliation moved to KAUT-TV, leaving KOCB independent.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KOCB ended analog broadcasting as part of the United States digital television transition.
- 2006
CW affiliation begins
[1]KOCB joined The CW after the network merger of The WB and UPN.
- 1998
The WB affiliation begins
[1]KOCB switched from UPN to The WB under a Sinclair group affiliation agreement.
- 1996
Sinclair acquisition
[1]Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired KOCB from Superior Communications.
- 1995
UPN affiliation begins
[1]KOCB became an inaugural local affiliate of the United Paramount Network.
- 1991
Reorganization approved
[1]The bankruptcy court approved a reorganization plan that enabled the station to continue operating.
- 1990
KOCB call sign adopted
[1]The station changed its call sign from KGMC to KOCB during bankruptcy reorganization.
- 1989
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
[1]KGMC sought bankruptcy protection after a proposed sale and market-consolidation plan failed.
- 1987
FCC reviews license renewal
[1]The FCC designated KGMC's license renewal for hearing over an unauthorized transfer-of-control issue linked to the Boesky ownership.
Products and positioning
A locally licensed Oklahoma City broadcast outlet within Sinclair Broadcast Group's KOKH/KOCB station group, with an emphasis on free over-the-air television, syndicated programming, advertising, and selected sports and special-event telecasts.
Broadcast television station · 1979
KOCB broadcast service
KOCB provides free over-the-air television service to Oklahoma City and surrounding areas on channel 34. Its schedule has varied over time according to ownership, syndicated-programming availability, sports rights, and network affiliations. Following the departure of The CW in 2023, the station returned to an independent format.
Television advertising · 1979
KOCB local advertising
The station sells commercial inventory to advertisers seeking reach across the Oklahoma City television market. Advertising activity is part of the broader Sinclair-operated KOCB and KOKH station structure, which shares facilities and operational resources.
Sports broadcasting · 1994
Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball telecasts
During Superior Communications ownership, KOCB obtained rights to televise Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball. The sports inventory helped strengthen the station's local profile and contributed to improved carriage and audience positioning in parts of its market.
Controversies
1987
FCC scrutiny of Boesky-related control transfer
The FCC reviewed KGMC's license renewal after Ivan Boesky transferred direct control of the station to his wife without prior FCC approval. The matter arose amid Boesky's broader insider-trading penalties and contributed to prolonged ownership uncertainty.
Brand decisions
2023
Return to independent statusStrategyBackground
The CW changed its Oklahoma City distribution arrangement while Sinclair retained KOCB.
Action taken
The network affiliation moved from KOCB to KAUT-TV, leaving KOCB to schedule programming independently.
Aftermath
KOCB continued operating as a Sinclair-owned independent television station alongside KOKH-TV.
2006
Adoption of the CW affiliationStrategyBackground
The WB and UPN were discontinued and replaced by The CW, combining programming from both predecessor networks.
Action taken
After negotiations, Sinclair placed KOCB with The CW rather than the competing MyNetworkTV service.
Aftermath
KOCB carried The CW for approximately seventeen years before the affiliation moved to KAUT-TV in 2023.
1998
Switch to The WBStrategyBackground
Sinclair negotiated a group affiliation arrangement involving several stations that were affiliated with UPN.
Action taken
KOCB changed its affiliation from UPN to The WB.
Aftermath
UPN temporarily lacked an Oklahoma City affiliate until a replacement station was relaunched on channel 43.
1995
Launch as a UPN affiliateProduct launchBackground
Paramount Television created UPN as a new broadcast network, initially offering a limited weekly schedule.
Action taken
KOCB joined UPN at the network's launch and carried its programming in the Oklahoma City market.
Aftermath
The affiliation expanded KOCB's network programming and followed its programming improvements under Superior Communications.
1988
Attempted Oklahoma City independent-station consolidationM&ABackground
Pappas Telecasting proposed acquiring KOKH-TV, KGMC, and KAUT-TV, consolidating programming on one station and transferring the other facilities to educational and religious operators.
Action taken
The plan was revised several times but ultimately failed after political opposition, financing problems, and the termination of the KOKH purchase agreement.
Aftermath
KGMC remained an independent commercial station and soon entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
Sources2 sources
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