Oklahoma City (March 27, 2006) -- Today, Griffin Communications, L.L.C. launched its newest addition – a Bell 407 helicopter equipped with the most advanced high definition news gathering capabilities in the nation. The helicopter, to be housed at News 9 (KWTV) in Oklahoma City, joins the Bell Jet Ranger (SKYNEWS 6) helicopter based at the News on 6 (KOTV) and KQCW in Tulsa.

Named “SKYNEWS 9”, the helicopter can fly at speeds 20% faster than any other news gathering helicopter in Oklahoma, and is touted as “the sports car in the air.” SKYNEWS 9 is loaded with the most sophisticated HDTV HDL-20 full digital nose-mounted camera powered by Flir Systems’ UltraMedia gyrostabilization technology. Until today’s launch, there were only four HD cameras loaded on television news gathering helicopters across the entire country, and those cameras are leased rather than owned outright by media companies.

“The addition of SKYNEWS 9 is a significant advantage for our viewers and the state” said Griffin Communications President and CEO, David Griffin. “Not only does it fly faster than any other helicopter in the state but, with its HD cameras, it will gather severe storm and tornado pictures for viewers in crisp, stunning detail. Oklahomans have grown to depend on our ability to show them the location and magnitude of storms. This is yet another tool in News 9’s already impressive news/weather gathering arsenal that continues the Griffin tradition and commitment to providing quality news and information content within the state of Oklahoma and creative marketing solutions for clients.”

In Tulsa, SKYNEWS 6 is the only television station-owned helicopter in that market. It, too, has a nose-mounted, gyro-zoom stabilized camera—Steadi-Scan 360 Polytech Eagle Vision -- that provides steady, close-up pictures of news and weather events.

“The advantage of having two helicopters in the state dedicated to news gathering will provide more to viewers in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and the State of Oklahoma, “Griffin said. “Our state is known for its tornadic outbreaks especially during spring storm season. Two helicopters will enable our company to track multiple storms or alternatively task one bird to cover damage while the other continues tracking severe weather to provide our viewers with up-to-the-minute storm warnings under the direction of our nationally recognized meteorologists.”

Both SKYNEWS 9 and SKYNEWS 6 are equipped with on-board Global Positioning Systems (GPS) street mapping to pinpoint the exact location of storms for our viewers and high-gain directional antennae for long-range live capabilities.

News 9 and The News on 6 are consistently rated among the most watched CBS affiliates in the country, and are already the severe weather leaders in their markets.

About Griffin Communications, L.L.C.

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 percent of Oklahoma households.

In addition to News 9 and The News on 6, the company owns KQCW in Tulsa, the Radio Oklahoma Network, which is comprised of 30 radio affiliates across the state, and Griffin New Media, focused on Griffin’s Internet sites and information delivery to cell phones.

The company also has numerous strategic partnerships and alliances in the state. It co-owns NewsOK.com with The Oklahoman — a Web site with more than 30 million page views per month. Griffin Communications, L.L.C. is a partner with Cox Communications in NewsNow 53, both in Oklahoma City and Tulsa with cable channel repeats of News 9 and The News on 6 newscasts 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Griffin is also a partner in Sooner Sports Properties with the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department, Learfield Communications and Renda Broadcasting. SSP owns the marketing rights to the University of Oklahoma Athletics.