KITV
KITV (virtual channel 4) is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, serving the Hawaiian Islands with a focus on local news, weather, and programming under the branding KITV4 Island News.[1][2] The station first signed on the air on April 16, 1954, as KULA-TV, the third commercial television outlet in Honolulu, initially constructed by American Broadcasting Stations and later adopting its current call letters in 1973 after a series of ownership changes.[3] KITV achieved a milestone in broadcasting technology by becoming the first commercially licensed U.S. television station to transition fully to digital high-definition broadcasting, receiving its FCC construction permit in 1997 and implementing all-digital operations ahead of national standards.[4][5] Owned by Allen Media Group since its $30 million acquisition from SJL Broadcasting in 2020, KITV operates satellite stations KHVO and KMAU to extend ABC coverage across Hawaii and produces over 30 hours of weekly local news content emphasizing island-specific events, public service, and community issues.[6][7] While maintaining a reputation for factual reporting with minimal editorial bias, KITV has covered significant local stories without notable station-level controversies, prioritizing empirical coverage of Hawaii's unique geographic and cultural context.[1]History
Founding as KULA-TV and early challenges (1954–1957)
KULA-TV, the precursor to KITV, signed on as Honolulu's third commercial television station on April 16, 1954. Owned by American Broadcasting Stations, Inc.—licensee of AM radio station KULA (530 AM)—the station launched with a test pattern airing from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., followed by an inaugural premiere party and programming as an ABC affiliate.[8] Operations commenced from studios at 1290 Ala Moana Boulevard, with the transmitter initially located on Mount Tantalus to serve Oahu viewers.[9] At the time, Honolulu's television market was nascent, dominated by established competitors KGMB (channel 9, CBS) and KHON (channel 2, NBC with secondary CBS and DuMont affiliations), limiting KULA-TV's initial audience and revenue base in Hawaii's isolated, low-population territory.[8] The station's early years involved building infrastructure amid logistical hurdles inherent to island broadcasting, including high equipment import costs and signal propagation challenges over rugged terrain. KULA-TV prioritized local content to complement network fare, but advertising depended on a modest economy reliant on tourism, agriculture, and military presence.[8] A key challenge emerged in 1957 as KULA-TV contested Kaiser Broadcasting Company's application for channel 13 before the FCC, citing potential market oversaturation. The FCC dismissed the objection on April 8, 1957, enabling rival KHVH-TV to debut on May 5, 1957, from facilities at the Ala Moana Hotel and intensifying competition for viewers and sponsors in the constrained Honolulu market.[8] This regulatory setback underscored the vulnerabilities of small-market independents like American Broadcasting Stations, which operated without the resources of larger networks.[3]Transition to KHVH-TV and channel merger (1957–1964)
In May 1957, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser launched KHVH-TV on VHF channel 13 in Honolulu as the islands' first independent television station, with call letters derived from his Hawaiian Village Hotel property.[8] The station operated from facilities associated with Kaiser's media interests, focusing on syndicated programming amid Hawaii's limited broadcast landscape.[8] On May 7, 1958, Kaiser acquired KULA-TV, Honolulu's ABC affiliate on channel 4, from Pacific Frontier Broadcasting Co. for $685,000.[8] To comply with Federal Communications Commission regulations prohibiting ownership of multiple television stations in the same market, Kaiser surrendered the channel 13 construction permit and license back to the FCC.[8] Operations merged at midnight on July 15, 1958, consolidating under the KHVH-TV callsign on channel 4; this retained KULA-TV's ABC network affiliation, studios at 1290 Ala Moana Boulevard, and technical facilities while discontinuing channel 13 broadcasts.[8] The merged KHVH-TV marked the inaugural television property of what would become Kaiser Broadcasting Corp., emphasizing local news expansion and syndicated content to compete with established outlets like NBC affiliate KNBH (channel 2) and CBS affiliate KGMB (channel 9).[8] Channel 13 remained off-air until its reactivation as KTRG (later KHNL) in 1962.[8] By 1964, amid growing viewership, Kaiser sold KHVH-TV to Western Telestations Inc., headed by Lawrence "Bob" Berger, for $4 million, facilitating further operational scaling under new ownership while preserving its ABC alignment.[8]Kaiser Broadcasting and expansion under subsequent owners (1964–1984)
In 1964, Kaiser Broadcasting sold KHVH-TV along with its co-owned AM and FM radio stations to Lawrence S. "Bob" Berger's Western Telestations Inc. for $4 million.[8] This transaction enabled Kaiser to redirect resources toward establishing a chain of independent television stations on the U.S. mainland.[3] Under Berger's ownership, KHVH-TV emerged as Hawaii's leading television station, topping ratings for the top 20 programs and local news.[8] The station prioritized local content, including the sports program "Sports Central," hosted by Jim Lathrop and Gene Good, which aired on weekends and covered Hawaii events.[8] It achieved a milestone by broadcasting Hawaii's first live satellite telecast on November 19, 1966, featuring the Michigan State versus Notre Dame football game.[8] In 1973, Starr Broadcasting Group acquired Western Telestations, including KHVH-TV, for $4 million.[8] Following the separate divestiture of the radio stations, the television outlet adopted the KITV call sign on August 1, 1973, signifying "Island Television."[10] Starr's ownership period emphasized continuity in ABC affiliation and local programming. In 1979, Shamrock Broadcasting—established by Roy E. Disney—purchased Starr Broadcasting Group, thereby assuming control of KITV after a merger announced in May 1978 and approved by the FCC in May 1979.[10] Under Shamrock through 1984, KITV maintained its market position with ongoing investments in broadcast facilities and news operations.[3]Ownership shifts: Shamrock, Tak, and Hearst-Argyle (1984–2010)
In 1987, Shamrock Broadcasting sold KITV to Tak Communications for $50 million, with the buyer assuming operational control in April.[11] Tak Communications, a Maryland-based firm owned by Sharad Tak that held stations in markets including Wisconsin and Texas, managed KITV amid rising competition from cable and other local broadcasters.[11] Tak encountered financial strain, culminating in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing that extended into the mid-1990s. In June 1995, during the resolution of these proceedings, Argyle Television Holdings II acquired KITV from Tak's creditors for $51 million as part of a $146 million package that also included NBC affiliate WGRZ-TV in Buffalo, New York; the transaction received court and FCC approval earlier that year.[12][13] Argyle, a publicly traded group focused on mid-sized market ABC and NBC affiliates, integrated KITV into its portfolio alongside expansions like acquisitions in Michigan and Mississippi earlier in 1995.[12] In March 1997, Hearst Corporation acquired Argyle for $320 million and merged it with its existing broadcasting assets to create Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., a publicly held entity with Hearst retaining majority control (initially about 86% of shares).[14][15] This structure positioned KITV within a larger group reaching over 11% of U.S. TV households, emphasizing ABC affiliates and syndication revenue amid deregulation and consolidation in the late 1990s.[14] Under Hearst-Argyle, KITV benefited from corporate synergies, including shared news production techniques and digital transition preparations authorized by the FCC in 1997, though local operations remained focused on Honolulu's unique market dynamics like tourism and Pacific geopolitics.[16] The parent company navigated challenges such as the 2008 financial crisis through cost controls and political advertising surges, maintaining KITV's ABC affiliation without major disruptions until the end of the decade.[17] Hearst-Argyle's ownership concluded in 2010 with a pending sale to SJL Broadcasting, reflecting broader industry shifts toward divestitures by larger groups.SJL ownership and operational changes (2010–2020)
In May 2015, Hearst Television announced the sale of KITV (channel 4) and its satellite stations KHVO (channel 13) in Hilo and KMAU (channel 12) in Wailuku to SJL Broadcast Management Corporation, a California-based firm that had previously owned Honolulu Fox affiliate KHON-TV from late 2005 to 2007.[18][19] The transaction, valued at approximately $21 million including upgrades, marked SJL's return to Hawaiian broadcasting and was completed later that year following regulatory approval.[20] SJL invested around $5 million in KITV, covering the acquisition cost and facility improvements, with a focus on technological modernization to enhance efficiency and digital distribution.[21] Key changes included a transition to high-definition broadcasting launched in early December 2015, implementation of automation systems for production and engineering workflows, and an increase in studio cameras from three to seven to support expanded on-air capabilities.[21] These upgrades aimed to prioritize online, mobile, and social media delivery alongside traditional broadcasts, aligning with broader industry shifts toward cost-effective operations.[21] To oversee the transition, SJL appointed Joe McNamara as president and general manager in September 2015; McNamara had led KHON during SJL's prior ownership there and emphasized local content investment.[22] However, the changes involved workforce reductions affecting fewer than 10% of KITV's roughly 100 employees, including voluntary exits, contract non-renewals, and select layoffs primarily in engineering and production roles impacted by automation.[21] Notable departures included veteran staff such as receptionist Lydia Mahelona and others like Ann Sterling, prompting concerns from local media observers about potential erosion in news depth and community focus amid the emphasis on operational streamlining.[21] McNamara resigned in June 2017 citing health reasons, after which SJL maintained a leaner structure without immediate high-profile replacements detailed in public records.[23] The ownership period emphasized fiscal discipline, including carriage renewals such as with Dish Network in late 2017, but faced no major publicized disruptions beyond routine industry challenges.[20] In August 2020, SJL agreed to sell KITV to Byron Allen's Allen Media Broadcasting for $30 million, ending its five-year tenure with the station amid a broader divestiture strategy.[24][25]Acquisition by Allen Media Group and recent developments (2020–present)
On August 17, 2020, Allen Media Broadcasting, a division of Byron Allen's Allen Media Group, announced the acquisition of KITV from SJL Broadcasting for $30 million, marking the station's transition to new ownership after five years under SJL.[24][26] The deal expanded Allen Media Group's portfolio of big-four network affiliates, with KITV serving as its first station in Hawaii.[24] The sale was completed on January 20, 2021, following regulatory approval by the Federal Communications Commission.[27] Upon closing, Allen Media Group committed to maintaining KITV's ABC affiliation and local news operations at its studios in downtown Honolulu.[27] In conjunction with the ownership change, Byron Allen donated $100,000 through KITV to Feeding America Hawaii to support food insecurity efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] Post-acquisition, KITV has continued its focus on local news and weather coverage for the Honolulu market, with no major structural overhauls reported in programming or staffing.[28] In May 2024, Hawaiian Telcom renewed its carriage agreement with Allen Media Group, ensuring continued distribution of KITV across its video services in Hawaii.[29] As of October 2025, the station remains under Allen Media Group's ownership, operating as Hawaii's ABC affiliate with an emphasis on island-specific reporting.[28]Technical information
Broadcast facilities and studios
KITV operates its main studios and production facilities at 801 South King Street in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, a location shared with its satellite station KHVO.[30][31] These facilities house news operations, programming production, and administrative offices for Allen Media Broadcasting's Honolulu cluster, including ABC affiliate KITV and other subchannels.[2] The station's primary over-the-air transmitter is mounted atop the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu, enabling VHF Channel 4 coverage across Oahu and surrounding areas with an effective radiated power of approximately 24.5 kilowatts.[32] This elevated position, featuring a distinctive red-and-white antenna spire, supports digital broadcasting on UHF Channel 20 while maintaining analog-era channel branding.[33] To extend ABC affiliation to the neighbor islands, KITV relies on additional transmitters: one for KHVO in Hilo on Hawaii Island and another serving Maui, enabling statewide coverage without full local studios on those islands.[2] These remote facilities focus on signal rebroadcast rather than independent production, with master control centralized in Honolulu.[2]Digital subchannels and multicast programming
KITV's digital signal, transmitted on UHF channel 20, supports multiple subchannels offering a mix of network affiliation, syndicated classics, and local content. The main channel, 4.1, broadcasts ABC network programming alongside KITV's local insertions for news, weather, and promotions.[34] Subchannel 4.2 carries MeTV, a digital multicast network syndicating vintage television series primarily from the mid-20th century, including dramas, comedies, and westerns produced between the 1950s and 1990s. This affiliation provides Honolulu viewers access to reruns of shows like Perry Mason and The Twilight Zone without subscription fees via over-the-air reception.[35][34] Subchannel 4.3, branded as KITV-D3, features continuous local news updates, weather forecasts, and live skycam feeds from across Hawaii, serving as a 24/7 resource for real-time information on tropical weather patterns and island events.[34] Additional subchannels include 4.4 with Start TV, focusing on crime dramas and female-led procedurals such as The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles, and 4.5 with Heroes & Icons, airing action-oriented classics like Star Trek and Mission: Impossible. These syndication services expand multicast options for antenna users in the Honolulu market, where terrain and distance limit cable penetration in rural areas.[36]| Virtual Channel | Programming Network | Content Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | ABC / KITV | Network shows, local news |
| 4.2 | MeTV | Classic TV reruns (1950s–1990s) |
| 4.3 | KITV-D3 | Local news and weather |
| 4.4 | Start TV | Crime dramas |
| 4.5 | Heroes & Icons | Action/adventure series |