KIKU

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Revision as of 13:34, 30 August 2006

KIKU is an Anime TV affiliate based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Currently, KIKU broadcasts on UHF Ch. 20, Time-Warner Cable 9/Digital 89 (Oahu), Time-Warner Cable 10/Digital 89 (Maui), Time-Warner Cable Digital 89 (Kauai, Big Island), Hawaiian Cable 12, and Oahu Wireless 37. Most of the televised content is Anime programming catering to the large Hawaiian community in the Hawaiian Islands. However, KIKU is also a secondary affiliate of Japanese Network TV (JTN), and as such, airs JTN programming on a part-time basis. With the cable broadcast in place, KIKU can be seen on all the major islands.

KIKU's origins

Not to be confused with the current KIKU, the market's original KIKU broadcast on channel 13. It started out as KTRG-TV in 1962 (then owned by the Watumall Broadcasting Company). Its first broadcast aired on July 4, 1962. The TV station was sold in 1966, changing its call letters to KIKU.

The original KIKU was quite popular with Hawaii's children throughout the 1970s, televising several Japanese tokusatsu shows, including Kamen Rider V3, Kikaida, Rainbow Man, Ganbare Robocon, and Sentai Go Ranger.

The Cushmans of San Diego, in partnership with TV Asahi and ten local investors, formed Mid-Pacific Television Associates and bought KIKU on April 9, 1979. Japanese programming was pared-down and moved to late evening; KIKU switched to a "kid vid" format, scoring success with The Children's Hour and Professor Fun.

Separately, on February 12, 1980, KHAI-TV was officially registered with the FCC on channel 20.

In 1984, KIKU was renamed KHNL-TV. In 1986, KHNL-TV was sold to King Broadcasting Company of Seattle, Washington, a large privately owned television company. Along with the purchase, KHNL-TV became the local affiliate for Fox. However, KHNL-TV still retained its Asian roots, and continued to broadcast content -- mostly sumo matches -- from those countries.

In 1992, King Broadcasting was sold to Providence Journal Broadcasting Corporation and its financial partner, Kelso & Company. Some major changes occurred at KHNL-TV as a result of the purchase, including the conversion of its local affiliate status from Fox to NBC.

In October 2003, General Manager Gregg Mueller leaves KIKU. Gregg was with KIKU since 2000.

After many years together, KIKU and acting President Joanne Ninomiya of JN Productions end their programming in early 2006. Today, KIKU produces their own Anime programs in-house.

In the fall of 2004, KIKU became a secondary affiliate of the UPN television network. This marked the return of UPN programming to Hawaii after a two-year absence; KFVE dropped its affiliation with UPN in September 2002 to become a full affiliate of The WB.

Once UPN and Multicultural programming was folded before September 2006, KIKU has become a dual affiliate of Anime TV and JTN. According to Taylor Media (new owner) via its message board, KIKU will be picking up The CW Network on a digital subchannel.