KITV

KITV is a television station based in Honolulu, Hawaii, and an affiliate of the ABC television network. Its service area covers the Hawaiian Islands through its Honolulu transmission facilities and rebroadcast operations on Maui and the island of Hawaiʻi. The station is owned by Allen Media Group and operates alongside KIKU, a multicultural independent station acquired by the same ownership group. KITV and KIKU share studios on South King Street in downtown Honolulu, while KITV’s main transmitter is located atop the Ala Moana Hotel. The station began broadcasting on April 16, 1954, as KULA-TV, making channel 4 the third television station established in Honolulu. It was built by American Broadcasting Stations, which also owned Honolulu radio station KULA, and it joined ABC from its launch. The station’s early history was shaped by the rapid development of television in Hawaii, competition for desirable VHF channel allocations, and repeated changes in ownership. Industrialist Henry J. Kaiser acquired KULA-TV in 1958 and combined it with his independent KHVH-TV, which had launched on channel 13 the previous year. The merged operation moved to channel 4 under the KHVH-TV call sign while retaining the ABC affiliation. During the Kaiser era, the station expanded its reach to neighboring islands through relationships with Maui and Hilo stations and developed a range of local programming, including children’s shows, sports, wrestling, and entertainment. It also played an important role in Hawaii’s early live television exchanges with the continental United States and Japan. Ownership passed to Lawrence S. Berger’s Western Telestations in 1964 and then to Starr Broadcasting in the early 1970s. When Starr acquired the station, channel 4 adopted the KITV call sign in 1973, representing “Island Television.” Subsequent ownership by Shamrock Broadcasting and Tak Communications brought further changes to the station’s facilities, programming, and business strategy. During these decades KITV competed in a relatively small but distinctive television market and was frequently associated with locally produced news, sports, cultural events, and community coverage. A notable part of KITV’s local identity was its coverage of the Merrie Monarch Festival, the major hula and Hawaiian cultural event held in Hilo. The station initially produced edited highlights and began live festival coverage in 1984. KITV retained the festival’s television rights until 2009, when another station obtained them after a competitive bidding process. The station also carried University of Hawaii sports and local civic events, helping it maintain a role beyond its network programming. KITV became an early technology pioneer in January 1998 when it began commercial digital broadcasting from a new facility at One Archer Lane. It has been described as the first television station in the United States to commence commercial digital broadcasts. In the same broad period, the station’s newscasts improved their market position, moving from third place into second place from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s under Argyle Television and later Hearst-Argyle Television ownership. Hearst sold KITV to SJL Broadcasting in 2015. Allen Media Group acquired the station in 2021. Allen later acquired KIKU and restored that station’s traditional Japanese- and Filipino-language programming format. KITV remains an active ABC affiliate focused on local news, weather, sports, community affairs, network entertainment, and information relevant to residents across Hawaii.

KITV traces its history to KULA-TV, which began broadcasting on Honolulu’s channel 4 on April 16, 1954. The station was developed by American Broadcasting Stations, owner of KULA radio, and became an ABC affiliate at launch. Its creation followed a competitive FCC allocation process in which channel 4 was regarded as a particularly valuable VHF assignment. KULA-TV initially operated from facilities on Ala Moana Boulevard shared with KULA radio. In 1957, industrialist Henry J. Kaiser launched KHVH-TV on channel 13. The independent station was notable for introducing color television to Hawaii and for relying heavily on feature films. Kaiser purchased KULA-TV in 1958 and merged the operations. The combined station retained channel 4, adopted the KHVH-TV call sign, and continued as an ABC affiliate. During the late 1950s and 1960s, the station expanded its reach beyond Oahu through links with stations on Maui and in Hilo. Kaiser’s operation also produced local programs such as Captain Honolulu, Kaiser Sports Central, 50th State Wrestling, and the Tom Moffatt Show. The station was sold in 1964 to Lawrence S. Berger’s Western Telestations. Under this ownership, channel 4 participated in significant early television transmission experiments. In 1966 it carried live pictures from the continental United States by satellite, including a college football game, and also exchanged live programming with Japan. These transmissions demonstrated Hawaii’s emerging role as a communications bridge between the mainland United States and Asia. Starr Broadcasting acquired the television station in the early 1970s. The sale closed in 1973, after which the station changed its call sign from KHVH-TV to KITV, an abbreviation associated with Island Television. Starr later became part of Shamrock Broadcasting, founded by Roy E. Disney. During the Shamrock period, KITV improved its transmission arrangement by moving its main antenna to the top of the Ala Moana Hotel in 1977. Shamrock also acquired the Maui station that rebroadcast channel 4 programming and changed its call sign to KMAU. KITV developed a strong local programming identity during the 1970s and 1980s. It aired University of Hawaii sports and local events, while its news and public-affairs operations covered Hawaii politics and civic life. The station’s most enduring cultural association was the Merrie Monarch Festival. After initially producing edited highlights, KITV began live coverage in 1984 and continued televising the festival through 2009. The event became one of the station’s signature local productions. Tak Communications acquired KITV from Shamrock in 1986. The station subsequently adopted same-day scheduling for network entertainment programs, aligning its broadcast timing more closely with mainland stations. Tak later entered financial difficulty and ultimately sold KITV to Argyle Television in 1995 as part of the resolution of its bankruptcy proceedings. Argyle’s ownership brought investment in the station’s news operation and contributed to improved ratings. Argyle merged with Hearst in 1997, creating Hearst-Argyle Television. In January 1998, KITV moved into a new One Archer Lane facility and began commercial digital broadcasting. The launch placed it among the earliest U.S. television stations to operate commercially in the digital format and is identified as the first such launch by a U.S. television station. During the Hearst-Argyle years, KITV’s newscasts generally held second place in the Honolulu market from the mid-1990s into the mid-2000s. Hearst sold KITV to SJL Broadcasting in 2015. Allen Media Group acquired the station in 2021 and later added KIKU to its Honolulu holdings. The two stations share downtown studios, although they retain distinct programming identities. KITV continues as an active ABC affiliate serving Hawaii with local news, weather, sports, cultural programming, and network content.

• 2021

  Allen Media Group acquires KITV

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  Allen Media Group becomes the station’s owner.

• 2015

  SJL Broadcasting ownership begins

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  Hearst sells KITV to SJL Broadcasting.

• 2009

  Merrie Monarch television rights change hands

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  KITV’s long-running rights to televise the Merrie Monarch Festival end after another station wins the competition.

• 1998

  Commercial digital broadcasting begins

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  KITV commences commercial digital television transmissions from its One Archer Lane facility.

• 1995

  Argyle Television acquires KITV

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  KITV is sold to Argyle Television during the conclusion of Tak Communications’ bankruptcy proceedings.

• 1984

  Live Merrie Monarch Festival coverage begins

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  KITV expands its existing festival highlights production into live coverage of the Hilo cultural event.

• 1973

  The KITV call sign is adopted

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  After Starr Broadcasting completes its acquisition, channel 4 is renamed KITV.

• 1966

  Early satellite and international live broadcasts

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  The station carries live television from the continental United States and participates in live exchanges with Japan.

• 1958

  Kaiser merges the channel 4 and channel 13 operations

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  KULA-TV is acquired and combined with KHVH-TV under the channel 4 KHVH-TV identity.

• 1957

  KHVH-TV launches on channel 13

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  Henry J. Kaiser launches an independent Honolulu station that helps introduce color television to Hawaii.

• 1954

  KULA-TV launches

  [1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  Channel 4 begins broadcasting in Honolulu as KULA-TV and affiliates with ABC.

A locally focused Hawaii television station combining ABC network programming with regional news, weather, sports, cultural coverage, and community service.

• Broadcast television

  KITV local news

  Local news programming produced for viewers in Honolulu and throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The service covers regional politics, public safety, community developments, weather, transportation, and other issues affecting Hawaii residents.

• Network television · 1954

  ABC network programming

  KITV’s network affiliation provides scheduled ABC entertainment, news, sports, and special-event programming to its Hawaii audience. The station has maintained an ABC relationship since its original KULA-TV launch in 1954.

• Cultural programming · 1984

  Merrie Monarch Festival coverage

  KITV’s locally produced coverage of the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo developed from edited highlights into live broadcasts beginning in 1984. The festival was one of the station’s best-known cultural programming properties until its television rights ended in 2009.

• Digital television · 1998

  KITV digital broadcast service

  A digital terrestrial television service launched commercially in January 1998. The rollout made KITV an early digital broadcaster in the United States.

• 1998

  Commercial digital television launchProduct launch

  Background

  The station moved into a new One Archer Lane facility during the transition toward digital terrestrial television.

  Action taken

  KITV began commercial digital broadcasting in January.

  Aftermath

  The launch established KITV as one of the earliest commercial digital television broadcasters in the United States.

  Source

• 1984

  Launch of live Merrie Monarch coverageProduct launch

  Background

  KITV had previously presented edited highlights from the Merrie Monarch Festival.

  Action taken

  The station began broadcasting the Hilo festival live.

  Aftermath

  The festival became one of KITV’s signature local cultural productions and remained associated with the station through 2009.

  Source

• 1977

  Relocation of the main transmission antennaStrategy

  Background

  A new condominium development affected reception from the station’s original tower for some Waikiki viewers.

  Action taken

  The station moved its main antenna to the top of the Ala Moana Hotel.

  Aftermath

  Reception improved in Waikiki, although some windward Oahu viewers experienced different coverage limitations.

  Source

• 2021

  Allen Media Group acquires KITV[1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Allen Media Group acquired KITV as part of its expansion in local television broadcasting.

• 2015

  Hearst sells KITV to SJL Broadcasting[1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Hearst transferred ownership of the Honolulu station to SJL Broadcasting.

• 1998

  KITV begins commercial digital broadcasting[1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  KITV launched commercial digital broadcasts from its new One Archer Lane facility, becoming an early U.S. digital television pioneer.

• 1980

  KITV employees begin AFTRA strike[1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Eight on-camera employees walked out during a labor dispute over contract negotiations, producing a two-month strike and public pressure on the station.

• 1973

  Channel 4 becomes KITV[1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following Starr Broadcasting’s acquisition of the station, the channel adopted the KITV call sign.

• 1958

  KULA-TV and KHVH-TV are merged on channel 4[1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Henry J. Kaiser combined the two television operations under the KHVH-TV identity while retaining the ABC affiliation.

• 1954

  KULA-TV begins broadcasting in Honolulu[1]KITVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Channel 4 began operations as KULA-TV and joined ABC from launch.

1. 1KITVen.wikipedia.org