You’re sitting on the couch in Midtown or maybe winding down after a long shift at St. Francis, and the question hits: whats on tv tonight tulsa?
We’ve all been there. You don’t want to scroll through five hundred channels of nothingness. You want to know if the storm clouds over the Osage are going to mess with your reception or if there’s a game you actually care about. Honestly, Friday nights in T-Town have a specific rhythm. It’s that mix of "is it time for the local news yet?" and "what's the big network premiere?" Tonight, January 16, 2026, the lineup is actually pretty solid, especially if you’re looking for a mix of comfort TV and fresh mid-season returns.
The Big Four: Tulsa’s Primetime Heavy Hitters
KJRH (Channel 2) is leaning heavily into its comedy roots tonight. If you haven’t checked out the second season of Happy’s Place, the winter premiere is hitting at 7:00 PM. It’s got that classic sitcom vibe that feels very "Oklahoma," which probably explains why it’s doing so well in our local ratings.
KOTV (Channel 6) is sticking to the procedural bread and butter. You’ve got the usual high-stakes drama at 8:00 PM. Honestly, it's the kind of show you can fold laundry to without missing a beat. Over on KTUL (Channel 8), ABC is pushing some reality competition energy. It’s a bit of a toss-up between watching people cry over rose petals or watching people cry over home renovations. Take your pick.
The Breakdown for Channel Surfers
- KJRH (NBC): Happy’s Place starts the night. It’s light, it’s easy, and it doesn't require a PhD to follow the plot.
- KOTV (CBS): Look for the 10:00 PM news—Travis Meyer and the News on 6 team are the gold standard here. If there’s a stray gust of wind in Bixby, Travis will tell you about it.
- KOKI (FOX): Usually the home for sports or high-octane drama, tonight they are running their standard Friday block.
Why Cable and Antenna Still Battle in Green Country
A lot of folks in the 918 have ditched the cord. I get it. But there’s something about a digital antenna in Tulsa that just works. If you’re using an antenna tonight, you’re likely pulling in those subchannels like MeTV or Comet.
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Tonight on Comet, they’re running a Stargate SG-1 marathon. It’s classic. It’s nerdy. It’s perfect if you just want to tune out the world. Meanwhile, MeTV is doing its usual retro-fest. There’s a certain comfort in watching Perry Mason solve a crime with a rotary phone while you’re checking your 5G smartphone.
Local News: The 10:00 PM Ritual
In Tulsa, the news isn't just about the headlines. It’s about the weather. We live in a place where the weather can go from "pretty sunset" to "get in the cellar" in twenty minutes. Even on a quiet Friday like tonight, checking in with the KJRH or KOTV crews at 10:00 PM is basically a local law.
They’ll be covering the latest from the City Council and probably something about the construction on I-44. Seriously, will that ever be finished? Probably not in our lifetime.
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Streaming vs. Linear: What Most People Get Wrong
People think "TV tonight" only means what's on the glass at a specific hour. But in Tulsa, we’re a streaming-heavy city. If the local broadcast doesn’t grab you, Prime Video just dropped LOL: Last One Laughing Quebec. It sounds niche, but if you need a laugh after a long week at the office, it’s a weirdly addictive watch.
Also, keep an eye on the sports schedules. While tonight isn't a massive night for the Thunder, the local college hoops scene is heating up. Check the ESPN+ listings if you’re a TU or OSU fan—sometimes the best games are tucked away on the digital apps rather than the main broadcast.
How to Get the Best Signal Tonight
If you are a "whats on tv tonight tulsa" searcher who still uses an antenna, here is a pro-tip: point your hardware toward the towers in Oneta. That’s where the magic happens.
- Rescan your channels. If you haven't done it since the new year, you're probably missing out on a few new subchannels that launched recently.
- Check the weather. High winds can sometimes cause "multipath interference" in the taller buildings downtown. If your picture is pixelating, it's not the show—it's the atmosphere.
- Sync your apps. Use the local station apps (like the News on 6 app) to get alerts.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Friday Night
Don't just stare at the guide. If you want a "Tulsa-specific" night, start with the 6:00 PM local news to see what’s happening at the BOK Center this weekend. Move into the NBC comedy block at 7:00 PM if you want something light. If you're a night owl, the 11:30 PM reruns of Seinfeld on the local independents are still the best way to end a day.
Check your local listings one last time before the 7:00 PM primetime block starts to ensure no last-minute sports blackouts or breaking news "specials" have bumped your favorite show. Grab some Mazzio’s, kick back, and enjoy the show.