KHON-TV

KHON-TV is a television station serving Honolulu and the wider Hawaiian market. The station broadcasts on channel 2 and is affiliated with the Fox network; its second digital subchannel, KHON-DT2, carries The CW under the brand Hawaii's CW. Nexstar Media Group owns KHON-TV alongside KHII-TV, an independent Honolulu station that carries MyNetworkTV programming. The stations share facilities at Hawaiki Tower on Piikoi Street in downtown Honolulu, while KHON-TV's primary transmitter is located at the Century Center complex. The station began broadcasting on November 16, 1952, as KONA on channel 11. It was the first television station to sign on in Hawaii and initially operated as a primary NBC affiliate. KONA also carried programming from the DuMont Television Network until that network ceased operations in 1955. The Honolulu Advertiser acquired the station in 1954, and KONA moved from channel 11 to channel 2 in October 1955. The lower VHF channel offered stronger effective coverage at the time and established the channel position that remains central to the station's identity. Ownership changed several times during the following decades. Pacific and Southern Broadcasting acquired KONA in 1956, and the station became KHON-TV in 1965 as part of a broader call-sign reorganization involving the company's Hawaii stations. In 1973, Pacific and Southern spun off KHON to company president Arthur H. McCoy in connection with ownership-limit issues surrounding the company's combination with Combined Communications. Western-Sun Broadcasting, a Cowles Communications subsidiary, bought KHON and Maui station KAII-TV in 1979. Burnham Broadcasting acquired the stations in 1985 and later reunited them with KHAW-TV. A defining turning point came in 1995, when KHON was acquired by SF Broadcasting, a venture associated with Savoy Pictures and Fox. On January 1, 1996, KHON ended its long NBC affiliation and became a Fox affiliate, while NBC moved to former Fox station KHNL. The switch expanded KHON's local-news emphasis and gave the station a substantial role in Fox's Hawaii distribution. KHON carried Fox Kids during the network's children’s-programming era and later adopted the KHON 2 identity, reducing the prominence of Fox in its on-air branding. The station subsequently passed through Silver King Broadcasting and USA Broadcasting, Emmis Communications, Montecito Broadcast Group, New Vision Television, LIN Media, and Media General. The 2006 transition from Emmis to Montecito generated substantial local attention because of a proposed automation program and planned workforce reductions. The station was later acquired by New Vision in 2007, LIN in 2012, Media General in 2014, and Nexstar in 2017. Nexstar's acquisition marked the company's first entry into Hawaii. KHON also became Honolulu's CW outlet. After difficulties securing a full-time Honolulu affiliate, The CW selected KHON in 2006. The network briefly appeared on the main channel before moving to digital subchannel 2.2, where it continues under the Hawaii's CW brand. Today, KHON's core proposition combines local news, weather, emergency information, community coverage, and Fox network programming for viewers in Oahu and across Hawaii through its broader distribution footprint.

KHON-TV began broadcasting on November 16, 1952, as KONA on channel 11. It was Hawaii's first television station and initially served as a primary NBC affiliate, with secondary DuMont programming until DuMont ended operations. The Honolulu Advertiser purchased the station in 1954. In 1955, KONA moved to channel 2, taking advantage of the stronger propagation characteristics of the lower VHF band. Pacific and Southern Broadcasting acquired the station in 1956. In 1965, KONA became KHON-TV, while related Hawaii stations received the KHAW-TV and KAII-TV call signs. Ownership-limit considerations led Pacific and Southern to spin off KHON in 1973. Western-Sun Broadcasting, a Cowles Communications subsidiary, acquired KHON and KAII in 1979, and Burnham Broadcasting bought them in 1985. Burnham later reunited KHON with KHAW. In 1994–1995, SF Broadcasting acquired KHON and three other Burnham stations through a venture involving Savoy Pictures and Fox. KHON changed from NBC to Fox on January 1, 1996, and NBC moved to KHNL. The affiliation change made local news a larger part of KHON's schedule. Fox Kids programming was carried during the network's children’s-programming period. Silver King Communications acquired the SF Broadcasting stations in 1996, and USA Broadcasting later sold KHON to Emmis Communications in 1999. KHON moved from its longtime Auahi Street studios to its current Piikoi Street facility that year. Emmis sold KHON to Montecito Broadcast Group in 2006. The transition became contentious after Montecito proposed automation and workforce reductions. General manager Rick Blangiardi resigned, several managers departed, and longtime anchor Joe Moore publicly criticized the planned changes while choosing to remain with the station. The dispute also included technical problems attributed to the new automated system. Montecito sold the station to New Vision Television in 2007. LIN Media acquired New Vision's stations in 2012, and Media General acquired LIN in 2014. Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired Media General in a transaction completed in 2017. KHON therefore became part of Nexstar's national local-television portfolio and operated alongside KHII-TV in Honolulu. The CW affiliation developed during the 2006 Honolulu network realignment. KHON was announced as The CW's Honolulu affiliate in October 2006. The network briefly aired on KHON's primary signal before moving to digital subchannel 2.2. Branded Hawaii's CW, the subchannel gave KHON a second network service while preserving Fox programming on the primary channel. The station currently operates from downtown Honolulu and remains a major local-news and network-programming outlet for Hawaii.

• 2017

  Nexstar ownership

  [1]KHON-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar completed its acquisition of Media General, acquiring KHON-TV.

• 2006

  CW service launched

  [1]KHON-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KHON began carrying The CW, later placing it on digital subchannel 2.2.

• 1999

  Studio relocation

  [1]KHON-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KHON moved to studios on Piikoi Street in downtown Honolulu.

• 1996

  Fox affiliation begins

  [1]KHON-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KHON switched from NBC to Fox, and NBC moved to KHNL.

• 1965

  Call-sign change

  [1]KHON-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KONA became KHON-TV.

• 1955

  Move to channel 2

  [1]KHON-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KONA moved from channel 11 to channel 2.

• 1952

  First broadcast

  [1]KHON-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KONA signed on November 16 as Hawaii's first television station and a primary NBC affiliate.

A locally focused Honolulu broadcast brand combining Fox network entertainment and sports programming with prominent Hawaii news, weather, traffic, and public-service coverage.

• Local television news

  KHON 2

  KHON-TV's principal local broadcast service, featuring Hawaii news, weather, traffic, public-affairs coverage, and emergency information. The service is distributed through the station's over-the-air signal and digital platforms.

• Network television · 1996

  Fox programming

  The primary channel carries programming from Fox, including the network's entertainment, sports, and special-event schedule. KHON has been a Fox affiliate since January 1, 1996.

• Network television · 2006

  Hawaii's CW

  KHON-DT2 is the station's CW-affiliated digital subchannel. It serves the Honolulu market under the Hawaii's CW identity and carries CW network programming separately from Fox service on the primary channel.

• 2006

  Launch of CW digital subchannelStrategy

  Background

  The CW had difficulty securing a full-time Honolulu affiliate after local network affiliations shifted.

  Action taken

  KHON accepted the CW affiliation, initially airing it on the main signal before moving it to digital channel 2.2.

  Aftermath

  KHON operated two network services: Fox on its primary channel and The CW on KHON-DT2.

  Source

• 2006

  Automation plan during ownership transitionStrategy

  Background

  Montecito Broadcast Group announced an operational restructuring after acquiring the station from Emmis.

  Action taken

  The owner proposed automation and workforce reductions, later reframing the plan around a salary target rather than a fixed number of terminations.

  Aftermath

  The plan prompted management departures, public criticism from anchor Joe Moore, and concerns about technical performance and local-news capacity.

  Source

• 1996

  Switch from NBC to FoxStrategy

  Background

  SF Broadcasting acquired KHON as part of a transaction involving Fox and Savoy Pictures.

  Action taken

  KHON ended its NBC affiliation and became a Fox affiliate on January 1, while NBC programming moved to KHNL.

  Aftermath

  The change expanded KHON's local-news schedule and made the station a leading Fox outlet in Hawaii.

  Source

1. 1KHON-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KHON-TV official websitekhon2.com