Oklahoma City ABC affiliate KOCO will help NBC affiliate KFOR on Friday so staffers there can attend a memorial service for sportscaster Bob Barry, Jr., who died last Saturday.
KOCO gm Brent Hensley told TVSpy he made the offer after KFOR gm Wes Milbourn told him about the accident. “For me, it was the right thing to do,” said Hensley. “I looked at it, while our business is competitive, this was about life and people that we see every day were hurting and would be hurting for a while.”
“I also knew Bob Jr. personally and thought about what he would do in the same situation,” he said. “Members of our staff worked for Bob Jr., a member of our staff (Abigail Ogle’s) father and uncle both anchor at KFOR. She interned with Bob Jr. It is a small business.”
Hensley said KOCO will shoot video for KFOR, “send over police reports, PIO sound, and any breaking news that might happen.”
Barry was killed Saturday when his scooter was allegedly hit by a car making an illegal U-Turn. KFOR reports the service is on Friday at 11:00 a.m.
KFOR anchor Linda Cavanaugh tweeted out the news saying “Class act. @koconews GM has offered to staff our newsroom during @bbjsports funeral so more can attend. Thank you.”