Ground Broken For New Media Center

Tuesday brought a big milestone for The News On 6.  Ground was broken for our new state of the art media center.  News On 6 anchor Scott Thompson reports The News On 6 has been broadcasting from its original building since 1949, but now, the journey to a new home is off to a rousing start.

With a turn of the shovel, the symbolic beginning to the new Griffin Communications Media Center is underway. 

"Today is just an incredibly exciting day," said CEO David Griffin of Griffin Communications.

David Griffin's grandfather started the Griffin Company in 1908. A century later, the parent company for The News On 6 is owned by David and his brother, John.
 
"Today we come together to start the next 100 years by a committement to the city of Tulsa and the Brady District," said John Griffin of Griffin Communications.

The multi-media center will set in the heart of the Brady District with the downtown skyline  visible outside the front door. At 50,000 square feet, it's twice the size of our current building.

More than 200 employees from The News On 6, NewsOn6.com, the CW 12/19, and Griffin New Media, which handles the internet side of the company will work in the new facility.

"For the employees and staff it'll be a more creative environment. They're going from 25,000 square feet approximately to over 50,000 square feet. A very modern, a very high tech building. So, I think it'll be a much more creative, dynamic place for our employees which should translate into better programming," said CEO David Griffin of Griffin Communications.

When plans for the move began in 2005, city leaders were hoping The News On 6 would stay downtown. Three years later, Mayor Kathy Taylor says she's glad that wish became a reality.

"It'll promote downtown Tulsa, but also having a communications team here, having that life for 24 hours a day downtown, that's going to be an amazing catalyst for businesses and housing downtown," said Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor.

For the Griffin family, the choice of the Brady District was an easy decision.
 
"We set out with a goal of building a new facility and being part of something bigger than just a television station and of any place in Tulsa, we wanted to be in downtown," said CEO David Griffin of Griffin Communications.

The building should be ready for The News On 6 by next summer. 

Griffin Communications, L.L.C. is Oklahoma owned and operated by David and Kirsten Griffin of Oklahoma City and John Griffin of Muskogee. Combined, the company's media companies cover more than 90 % of Oklahoma households.

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