KAAH-TV

KAAH-TV is a religious television station licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii, and serving viewers across the Hawaiian Islands. The station broadcasts on channel 26 and is owned by the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), a nonprofit religious broadcaster. Its transmitter is located on Palehua Ridge, north of Makakilo, on the island of Oahu. Although owned by a nonprofit religious organization, KAAH-TV retains a commercial license from the Federal Communications Commission. The station began broadcasting on December 23, 1982, under the call sign KSHO. It was the first television station in Hawaii to operate on the UHF band. Its original identity was that of a general-entertainment independent station rather than a religious outlet. Early schedules combined cartoons, sitcoms, drama series, feature films, Asian-language and other ethnic programming, business-news programs from the Financial News Network, and programs from the International Television Network. KSHO also carried selected ABC, CBS, and NBC programs that the principal Hawaii network affiliates did not schedule, including some ABC daytime programming preempted by KITV. The station faced increasing competition during the 1980s as additional independent and specialty stations entered the Honolulu market. In 1986, its call sign changed to KMGT, and from 1986 through 1990 the station was promoted as “K-Magic.” The branding was associated with a lineup of syndicated entertainment and Los Angeles Lakers basketball broadcasts featuring Magic Johnson. By the end of the decade, however, competing stations had secured stronger syndicated movies and reruns, leaving KMGT with a less competitive and lower-budget schedule. Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters subsequently sold the station to Oceania Broadcasting Network for a reported $4.3 million. Beginning around 1990, KMGT moved away from general entertainment and adopted a dual schedule consisting of Home Shopping Network programming and religious content supplied by TBN. The station adopted the call sign KOBN in 1992. It was sold to All American Broadcasting in 1993, and in 1996 it became KAAH, dropped Home Shopping Network programming, and began carrying TBN programming full-time. TBN later acquired the station outright in 2003. KAAH-TV has also had a history of associated and repeater facilities. During the 1990s, it operated KLEI in Kailua-Kona as a satellite station; KLEI subsequently became an independent full-power station and later a Telemundo affiliate. KAAH also operated the low-power Hilo repeater K34HC. TBN removed K34HC from the air on April 13, 2010, citing declining financial support associated with the transition to digital television. TBN-owned full-power stations, including KAAH-TV, permanently ended analog transmissions on April 16, 2009. The station formerly maintained a studio on Smith Street in downtown Honolulu. TBN closed that facility in 2019 after the FCC eliminated the Main Studio Rule, which had required full-power television stations to maintain a main studio in or near their communities of license. KAAH-TV continues to function as TBN’s Honolulu-area outlet, distributing religious television programming to Hawaii through its digital broadcast operation.

KAAH-TV traces its origins to a 1978 application by Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters for Honolulu’s channel 26 allocation. The application used the umbrella name Mauna Kea Broadcasting Company. After several years of preparation, the station signed on December 23, 1982, as KSHO. It was Hawaii’s first UHF television station. KSHO initially operated as a general-entertainment independent station. Its schedule included cartoons, situation comedies, drama series, movies, Asian programming, ethnic programs, business news from the Financial News Network, and programming from the International Television Network. The station also filled gaps left by Honolulu’s established network affiliates by carrying selected ABC, CBS, and NBC programs that those stations declined, including some ABC daytime shows preempted by KITV. The Honolulu independent-station market became more competitive during the 1980s. KIKU expanded its English-language offering, while KHAI-TV, KWHE, KBFD, and KFVE added further competition for syndicated entertainment and specialty programming. In 1986, KSHO changed its call sign to KMGT and adopted the “K-Magic” brand. The identity was promoted through entertainment programming and Los Angeles Lakers basketball broadcasts featuring Magic Johnson. By 1989, KHNL and KFVE had obtained much of the stronger syndicated movie and rerun inventory available to independent stations. KMGT consequently relied increasingly on lower-budget programming and was considered a money-losing operation by its owner, Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters. The station was sold to Oceania Broadcasting Network for $4.3 million. Around 1990, it began replacing its general-entertainment schedule with Home Shopping Network programming and religious content from TBN. The station changed its call sign to KOBN in 1992. All American Broadcasting acquired the station in 1993. In 1996, it changed call signs again, becoming KAAH, discontinued Home Shopping Network programming, and moved to full-time TBN programming. Trinity Broadcasting Network later purchased the station directly in 2003. KAAH-TV remained an unusual regulatory combination: it was owned by a nonprofit religious broadcaster but continued to hold a commercial FCC license. The station’s associated facilities changed over time. KAAH operated KLEI in Kailua-Kona as a satellite station in the 1990s; KLEI later became a standalone full-power station and a Telemundo affiliate. KAAH also operated the Hilo low-power repeater K34HC. Although K34HC received a construction permit in 2006 to begin a digital conversion, the repeater was taken off the air on April 13, 2010. Declining financial support related to the digital transition was cited in connection with the shutdown. KAAH-TV’s full-power analog service ended on April 16, 2009, as part of the digital television transition. The station formerly maintained a downtown Honolulu studio on Smith Street. TBN closed that facility in 2019 after the FCC eliminated the Main Studio Rule, which had required full-power stations to maintain a studio in or near their communities of license. KAAH-TV continues to operate from its transmitter site on Palehua Ridge, north of Makakilo, as TBN’s Honolulu-area religious television station.

• 2019

  Downtown Honolulu studio closes

  [1]KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  TBN closed KAAH-TV’s Smith Street studio following repeal of the FCC Main Studio Rule.

• 2010

  K34HC repeater shuts down

  [1]KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  TBN took the Hilo low-power repeater K34HC off the air on April 13.

• 2009

  Analog broadcasting ends

  [1]KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KAAH-TV permanently ended analog transmissions on April 16.

• 2003

  TBN purchases the station

  [1]KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Trinity Broadcasting Network acquired KAAH-TV outright.

• 1996

  Full-time TBN operation begins

  [1]KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station became KAAH, dropped Home Shopping Network programming, and began carrying TBN programming full-time.

• 1992

  KOBN call sign adopted

  [1]KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station changed its call sign from KMGT to KOBN.

• 1990

  Programming shifts toward TBN and Home Shopping Network

  [1]KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station began phasing out general entertainment in favor of religious and home-shopping programming.

• 1986

  KMGT and K-Magic era begins

  [1]KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the KMGT call sign and was branded as K-Magic through 1990.

• 1982

  KSHO signs on

  [1]KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station began broadcasting on December 23 as KSHO, Hawaii’s first UHF television station.

• 1978

  Channel 26 allocation application

  [1]KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters applied for the Honolulu channel 26 allocation through Mauna Kea Broadcasting Company.

A local Honolulu broadcast outlet for Trinity Broadcasting Network religious programming, with island-wide reach through terrestrial television service.

• Television station · 1982

  KAAH-TV channel 26

  The station’s primary over-the-air television service, licensed to Honolulu and transmitted from Palehua Ridge on Oahu. Its current identity is centered on religious programming supplied by Trinity Broadcasting Network for viewers in Honolulu and throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

• Low-power television repeater

  K34HC

  A former KAAH-TV low-power repeater serving Hilo. The facility was taken off the air in April 2010 after declining financial support associated with the digital transition.

• Satellite television station

  KLEI

  A former Kailua-Kona satellite operation associated with KAAH during the 1990s. It later became a standalone full-power station and subsequently operated as a Telemundo affiliate.

• 2010

  Shutdown of K34HCOther

  Background

  The Hilo low-power repeater faced declining financial support during the transition to digital television.

  Action taken

  TBN removed K34HC from the air on April 13, 2010.

  Aftermath

  The repeater ceased to operate as part of KAAH-TV’s service footprint.

  Source

• 2003

  Trinity Broadcasting Network acquisitionM&A

  Background

  TBN had supplied religious programming to the station before obtaining direct ownership.

  Action taken

  Trinity Broadcasting Network purchased KAAH-TV outright.

  Aftermath

  The station became a directly owned TBN outlet while retaining its commercial FCC license.

  Source

• 1996

  Adoption of full-time TBN programmingStrategy

  Background

  The station had already been operating with a mixed Home Shopping Network and religious schedule.

  Action taken

  After changing its call sign to KAAH, the station discontinued Home Shopping Network programming and carried TBN programming full-time.

  Aftermath

  KAAH became a dedicated TBN religious television outlet in the Honolulu market.

  Source

• 1990

  Shift from general entertainment to religious and home-shopping programmingStrategy

  Background

  Competition for syndicated movies and reruns weakened the station’s general-entertainment business and left KMGT with lower-budget programming.

  Action taken

  The station began phasing out general entertainment and added Home Shopping Network and TBN programming.

  Aftermath

  The transition ultimately led to a full-time TBN format and the KAAH identity later in the decade.

  Source

1. 1KAAH-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Trinity Broadcasting Networktbn.org