KGMB

KGMB, virtual channel 5 (UHF digital channel 23), is a CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, owned by Gray Television as part of the Hawaii News Now duopoly with NBC affiliate KHNL.^[1][2] It signed on the air on December 1, 1952, as the first commercial television station in Hawaii, initially broadcasting on VHF channel 9 before swapping frequencies in 1956.^[3][4] KGMB has long been a dominant force in local broadcasting, offering news, weather, sports, and entertainment programming tailored to the Hawaiian Islands audience.^[2] Its news operation, which began shortly after launch, achieved the highest ratings among Honolulu market newscasts for much of its early history, establishing it as a trusted source for island events.^[5] In 2009, KGMB entered a shared services agreement with KHNL, launching the unified Hawaii News Now brand that combines resources for comprehensive coverage of breaking news, severe weather, and traffic updates.^[6][7] The station's archives preserve significant footage of Hawaiian history, including local news from the 1970s to 1990s covering events like the Hokule'a voyages.^[5]

History

Establishment and early broadcasting (1952–1980s)

KGMB-TV signed on the air on December 1, 1952, marking the debut of regular commercial television broadcasting in Hawaii, with its inaugural transmission occurring at 5:04 p.m. under the announcement by Carl Hebenstreit.^[8] The station, operating on VHF channel 9 in the NTSC format, was established by J. Howard Worrall, who concurrently owned KGMB-AM (590 kHz), and maintained studios on Kapiolani Boulevard in Honolulu.^[9] Initially serving as the market's primary CBS affiliate, KGMB-TV supplemented its schedule with select programming from ABC and DuMont during the network television's formative period in the islands, prior to the arrival of dedicated affiliates for those networks. Early operations emphasized a mix of network feeds and local content tailored to Hawaiian audiences, including pioneering children's programming such as shows hosted by "Cowboy Bob" Jensen, who doubled as the station's inaugural news anchor delivering daily bulletins.^[10] By the mid-1950s, KGMB had constructed foundational infrastructure, including a permanent broadcast tower at 1534 Kapiolani Boulevard completed in 1962, which supported expanded coverage across Oahu and microwave relays to neighbor islands.^[3] The station's news department rapidly gained prominence, leveraging live remote broadcasts and on-location reporting to cover territorial events, establishing KGMB as the dominant force in local journalism through the 1960s and into the 1970s. Ownership transitioned in 1973 when broadcaster Cecil Heftel, through his partnership, acquired KGMB-AM-TV from prior holders linked to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, retaining control until reselling the properties to Lee Enterprises in 1977.^[9] Under Heftel's brief stewardship and subsequently Lee's, the station sustained its news leadership with high-rated evening newscasts, though competitive pressures emerged in the late 1970s, exemplified by the defection of sports director Joe Moore to KHON-TV in 1978, which began eroding KGMB's long-held ratings supremacy.^[11] Throughout the 1980s, KGMB focused on bolstering local production, including community-oriented specials and expanded weather coverage, while operating from its established Kapiolani facilities amid Hawaii's evolving media landscape post-statehood.

Ownership transitions and expansions (1990s–2000s)

In the 1990s, KGMB remained under the ownership of Lee Enterprises, which had acquired the station in 1977 and focused primarily on its newspaper operations while maintaining its television holdings.^[12][13] During this period, the station operated stably as Honolulu's CBS affiliate, with no major ownership shifts reported, though Lee began divesting non-core assets to emphasize publishing.^[14] In October 2000, Lee Enterprises sold KGMB, along with 14 other television stations, to Emmis Communications in a $562.5 million transaction, marking a significant ownership transition as Emmis sought to expand its broadcast portfolio.^[15] Emmis, which already owned Fox affiliate KHON-TV in the same market, received a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission to permit the duopoly despite cross-ownership restrictions under FCC rules at the time.^[16] This acquisition positioned Emmis as a dominant player in Honolulu broadcasting, controlling over 40% of the market's television audience share initially.^[17] Emmis held KGMB until 2007, when it sold the station to HITV Operating Co. (later associated with MCG Capital) for $40 million in cash, netting Emmis a $10.4 million gain after upgrades to the station's 41,000-square-foot Kapiolani Boulevard facilities.^[18][19] The sale reflected Emmis's strategic shift away from television amid industry consolidation and economic pressures.^[20] Under these owners, KGMB pursued modest operational enhancements, including news production investments, but faced no documented large-scale physical expansions or rebroadcast network growth beyond its existing satellites in Hilo (KGMD-TV) and Maui (KGMV-TV).^[15]

Shared services agreement and operational mergers (2009)

In August 2009, Raycom Media, owner of NBC affiliate KHNL and MyNetwork TV affiliate KFVE in Honolulu, entered into a shared services agreement (SSA) with Hawaii Independent Television, Inc. (HITV), the licensee of CBS affiliate KGMB, under which Raycom assumed operational control as the senior partner while HITV retained ownership.^[21] The agreement, announced on August 18, was driven by financial pressures in the local broadcast market, including declining advertising revenue amid the Great Recession, and aimed to consolidate news production and administrative functions across the three stations to achieve cost efficiencies without an immediate ownership transfer.^[22] Under the SSA, Raycom provided news programming, sales, and technical services to KGMB, with HITV's president and general manager, Rick Blangiardi, appointed to oversee day-to-day operations for the combined entity.^[21] The operational merger involved relocating KGMB's staff and equipment from its facilities in downtown Honolulu to KHNL's larger studio in Kalihi, integrating the newsrooms of all three stations into a unified operation.^[23] This consolidation replaced separate newscasts with a shared brand, Hawaii News Now, which debuted on October 26, 2009, producing morning, evening, and late-night programs simulcast across KGMB and KHNL while leveraging KFVE for additional content distribution.^[23] The transition enabled KGMB to broadcast its local newscasts in high definition for the first time, utilizing upgraded facilities and shared resources, though it resulted in approximately 40 layoffs across the stations to eliminate redundancies in production and reporting roles.^[24] The SSA drew scrutiny from advocacy groups, including Media Council Hawaii, which filed a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission arguing that Raycom's dominant control—handling 90% of operations—constituted de facto ownership requiring prior regulatory approval under FCC rules on local market concentration.^[25] Critics contended the arrangement reduced viewpoint diversity in Honolulu's news market, where the three stations had previously offered distinct editorial perspectives, though proponents highlighted sustained local coverage amid economic constraints.^[26] The FCC ultimately permitted the SSA to proceed without immediate divestiture, setting a precedent for similar arrangements amid post-recession industry consolidations.^[27]

Channel swap and facility changes (2017)

In 2017, KGMB maintained its virtual channel 5 position (UHF digital channel 22), established following the 2009 license and facility swap with KFVE, during which KGMB acquired the channel 5 construction permit and transmitter facilities while KFVE assumed the channel 9 allocation. No additional channel swaps or reallocation occurred that year, with the station continuing stable over-the-air and cable carriage as the CBS affiliate for Honolulu.^[28] The station's operations were based at the shared studios with sister station KHNL on Waiakamilo Road in Honolulu's Kapalama neighborhood, a facility in use since KHNL's relocation there in late 2008 and subsequent integration for joint news production under the Hawaii News Now brand. Facility changes in 2017 were limited to routine maintenance and minor technological enhancements supporting digital broadcasting and news workflows, without reported major renovations, relocations, or expansions. This setup facilitated coordinated production of local programming, including CBS network feeds and syndicated content, amid a stable ownership structure under Raycom Media.^[29]

Sale to Gray Television and recent stability (2019–present)

In June 2018, Gray Television announced an agreement to acquire Raycom Media, the parent company of Hawaii News Now—which encompassed KGMB (channel 5, CBS) and KHNL (channel 13, NBC)—for approximately $3.65 billion in a merger that expanded Gray's footprint to include dominant market positions in Hawaii.^[1] The transaction, which required FCC approval amid divestiture of overlapping assets elsewhere, closed on January 2, 2019, integrating KGMB fully under Gray's ownership alongside KHNL and, subsequently, KFVE (channel 6) as a relay for KHNL's subchannels.^[30] This marked the end of prior shared services arrangements dating to 2009, consolidating operations at shared studios on Waiakamilo Road in Honolulu and enabling unified news production under the Hawaii News Now banner. Post-acquisition, KGMB experienced operational continuity and enhancements, with Gray investing in local journalism amid challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic; unlike some outlets, Hawaii News Now avoided furloughs or layoffs in 2020 due to prudent financial planning by the parent company.^[31] The station renewed its CBS affiliation in a multiyear deal announced in November 2021, securing long-term network programming stability across Gray's 47 CBS affiliates, including KGMB.^[32] By 2023, KGMB's integration into Gray's portfolio supported specialized coverage blending traditional reporting with Hawaii-specific elements, such as island-wide weather monitoring and cultural storytelling, leveraging the state's geographic isolation for unique content synergies.^[33] From 2019 onward, KGMB maintained steady viewership and community engagement, exemplified by Gray stations' 2023 fundraising exceeding $225,000 for Maui wildfire relief, underscoring the station's role in local crisis response without ownership disruptions.^[34] Leadership stability persisted, with general managers like Katie Pickman continuing from the Raycom era into Gray's tenure, fostering consistent programming and digital expansions. No significant facility relocations or affiliation shifts occurred, contrasting earlier volatility, as Gray prioritized operational synergies across its Hawaii duopoly to navigate economic pressures like advertising fluctuations. As of 2024, Gray's rebranding to Gray Media Inc. had minimal impact on KGMB's day-to-day functions, preserving its status as Honolulu's CBS outlet with reliable signal reach serving Oahu and repeater coverage statewide.^[35]

Ownership and affiliations

Current ownership structure

KGMB is licensed to Gray Television Licensee, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gray Television, Inc., which serves as the ultimate parent entity.^[36] Gray Television, Inc., a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: GTN), acquired the station effective January 1, 2019, through its merger with Raycom Media, Inc., the prior owner.^[37] This structure positions KGMB within Gray's broader portfolio of over 180 television stations across 113 markets, emphasizing local broadcasting operations under centralized corporate oversight.^[38] As of 2025, no changes to this ownership hierarchy have been reported, reflecting stability following the 2019 transaction approved by the Federal Communications Commission.^[1]

Network affiliation history

KGMB-TV signed on the air on December 1, 1952, as the primary affiliate of the CBS Television Network, operating on VHF channel 9 from Honolulu and serving as Hawaii's second television station overall.^[3][39] This affiliation established KGMB as the state's flagship CBS outlet, delivering network programming including news, primetime shows, and sports to local audiences amid the early development of broadcast television in the islands.^[5] The station maintained its exclusive primary CBS affiliation through subsequent decades, unaffected by the major network realignments that impacted other U.S. markets in the 1990s, such as the Fox-NBC and ABC-CBS swaps on the mainland.^[39] KGMB's consistent partnership with CBS supported its role in broadcasting key events like University of Hawai'i athletics and national coverage tailored to Pacific Time Zone delays.^[40] On a secondary basis, KGMB briefly shared UPN programming with KHON-TV from September 2, 2002, to October 31, 2004, filling gaps in the Honolulu market's coverage of the upstart network before its merger into The CW.^[41] No further primary or significant secondary affiliation shifts have occurred, with KGMB continuing as CBS's sole affiliate for Hawaii under Gray Television's ownership as of 2025.^[39]

Sister stations and operational synergies

KGMB operates as part of a duopoly with co-owned sister station KHNL (channel 13, NBC affiliate), both under Gray Television Licensee, LLC, following Gray's 2019 acquisition of Raycom Media.^[42] This structure enables shared facilities at studios on Waiakamilo Road in Honolulu, including consolidated news production for the joint brand Hawaii News Now, launched on October 26, 2009.^[43] The arrangement originated from a 2009 shared services agreement (SSA) between Raycom Media (owner of KHNL and KFVE) and MCG Capital Corporation (then-owner of KGMB), which merged operations to enhance efficiency amid economic pressures, resulting in the elimination of 68 positions across the stations—over one-third of combined staff.^[6][44] Operational synergies include unified newsgathering, where reporters and resources serve both KGMB's CBS programming and KHNL's NBC lineup, producing extended morning, evening, and weekend newscasts under the Hawaii News Now banner.^[23] KFVE (channel 5, independent/MyNetworkTV affiliate, now on virtual channel 20 post-2017 swap) also integrates into this framework for certain local content distribution, though it maintains separate affiliations.^[45] The SSA preserved distinct network feeds—CBS on KGMB and NBC on KHNL—while centralizing administrative, technical, and promotional functions to reduce costs and sustain viability in Hawaii's small market.^[6] Critics, including Media Council Hawaii, have argued the SSA diminished news diversity and local coverage depth by consolidating control, potentially harming public interest despite claims of operational sustainability.^[24] A 2011 study commissioned by the group found reduced investigative reporting and viewpoint variety post-merger.^[46] Gray's full ownership post-2019 has maintained these synergies without reported major restructuring, extending to a 2020 acquisition of KSIX-TV (a Big Island satellite repeater for KHNL and KGMB signals).^[47] This model aligns with FCC precedents allowing such agreements to avoid station failures, though it reflects broader industry trends toward consolidation for economies of scale in remote markets like Hawaii.^[27]

Programming

Network and syndicated content

KGMB serves as the CBS affiliate for the Honolulu market, broadcasting the network's comprehensive lineup of national programming across the Hawaiian Islands. This includes weekday morning shows such as CBS Mornings, daytime soap operas like The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, primetime dramas including NCIS, FBI, and Tracker, late-night programs featuring The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and weekend sports coverage encompassing NFL games on CBS Sports and select NCAA basketball events.^{[48] [2]} The station adheres closely to the CBS schedule, with preemptions rare and typically limited to extended local news or severe weather interruptions.^[48] In addition to network content, KGMB airs syndicated programming primarily in late afternoon slots leading into local news. Key offerings include multiple episodes of the game show Jeopardy!, broadcast weekdays around 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Hawaii time, drawing on the program's long-running format of trivia contests for cash prizes.^[49] Unlike many CBS affiliates that pair Jeopardy! with Wheel of Fortune, the latter airs on Honolulu's Fox affiliate KHON-TV, reflecting local market distribution arrangements.^[50] Overnight hours feature reruns of off-network sitcoms, supplementing CBS's late-night block when not carrying network feeds.^[51] These syndicated elements fill gaps in the schedule while prioritizing high-viewership game and talk formats proven effective in syndicated television.^[52]

Local non-news programming

KGMB produced several notable local children's programs during its early decades. The Checkers & Pogo Show aired from 1967 to 1982 as an after-school variety series featuring puppets, cartoons such as Speed Racer and Thunderbirds, games, and live skits hosted by Jim Hawthorne as Mr. Checkers and Morgan White as Pogo Poge.^[53][54] The program drew large audiences among Hawaii's youth and was later commemorated in the 1999 documentary Checkers & Pogo: Remembered, which included interviews, trivia, and archival footage.^[55] Earlier, in the 1960s, the station aired Bufo the Frog and a Mynah Bird, a puppet-based series for young viewers.^[5] By the 1970s, KGMB introduced Hawaii's SuperKids, another children's program emphasizing local themes.^[5] The station also developed comedy specials highlighting Hawaiian culture and pidgin English. High School Daze (1980) starred comedian Andy Bumatai in sketches satirizing local high school life.^[56] This was followed by All in the Ohana (1981), a family-oriented special with Bumatai portraying multiple roles in a pidgin-infused domestic comedy.^[57][56] Rap's Hawaii, featuring performer Rap Replinger, offered similar localized humor through character-driven vignettes.^[56] These productions were exclusive to Hawaii audiences and contributed to KGMB's reputation for culturally resonant content until the late 1980s.^[5] After the 2009 shared services agreement with KHNL and the formation of Hawaii News Now, KGMB reduced production of original local non-news programming, prioritizing news operations and cost efficiencies.^[23] Current schedules feature CBS network shows, syndicated series like Fire Country and Survivor, and limited local insertions such as community event specials or retrospectives of past programming.^[48][51] As of 2025, no regular original non-news series air, with occasional airings of archived specials like Checkers & Pogo Remembered.^[58]

High-definition implementation and upgrades

KGMB began transmitting high-definition network programming feeds via cable provider Oceanic Time Warner on January 14, 2008, marking an early step in its HD rollout ahead of the national digital transition.^[59] In 2008, the station announced intentions to upgrade its local news production to high definition, aligning with broader industry shifts toward digital broadcasting.^[60] The full implementation of high-definition local news occurred on October 26, 2009, coinciding with the debut of the Hawaii News Now shared news operation between KGMB and sister station KHNL. All newscasts under this format were produced and aired in high definition, streamed live online, and distributed across multiple platforms including KFVE, leveraging consolidated facilities for enhanced production capabilities.^[7] This upgrade followed the federal digital television transition on January 15, 2009, when KGMB ceased analog broadcasts on VHF channel 9 and continued digitally on UHF channel 23, enabling HD over-the-air reception.^[59] Further technical upgrades in late 2009 involved temporary off-air periods for transmitter relocations and facility enhancements at Palehua Ridge, supporting improved HD signal reliability across Oahu and surrounding islands.^[60] In November 2022, KGMB adopted ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) standards as part of a multi-station rollout in Honolulu, enhancing HD delivery with features like higher resolution support up to 4K, interactive elements, and improved mobile reception while maintaining backward compatibility for existing HD tuners.^[61] This upgrade, powered by the station's digital channel 23, represented the most significant broadcast technology advancement for KGMB since the 2009 HD news transition.^[62]

News operations

Development of Hawaii News Now

Hawaii News Now originated from a shared services agreement announced on August 18, 2009, between Raycom Media, owner of NBC affiliate KHNL and independent station KFVE, and Emmis Communications, owner of CBS affiliate KGMB, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring the stations' long-term viability amid economic pressures in local broadcasting.^[6] The agreement facilitated joint news production while maintaining separate sales departments for each station.^[43] The brand officially launched on October 26, 2009, with the debut of combined newscasts simulcast across KGMB and KHNL, marking a milestone in Hawaii's television history by consolidating resources from two competing newsrooms into a unified operation.^[7] Under the initial format, the stations aired joint editions of the 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. newscasts, while KHNL shifted its existing 6:00 p.m. program to 5:30 p.m.; morning programming included Hawaii News Now: Sunrise from 5:00-7:00 a.m. on both stations, followed by a KGMB-exclusive hour until 8:00 a.m.^{[63] [7]} This structure reduced redundancies, allowing for expanded coverage of local stories across Oahu and the Hawaiian Islands. Following ownership transitions, including Meredith Corporation's acquisition of KGMB from Emmis in 2010 and Gray Television's purchase of Raycom Media in 2019—which brought KHNL and KFVE under the same corporate umbrella as KGMB—Hawaii News Now evolved into a fully integrated multimedia news organization producing content for all three stations.^[1] The operation expanded its digital presence, becoming Hawaii's leading online news source with extensive video streaming, mobile apps, and social media engagement tailored to the state's unique geographic and cultural demands.^[33] By 2021, the brand introduced a redesigned studio set to better reflect Hawaii's environment and storytelling traditions, enhancing visual production quality.^[64] Community initiatives, such as Maui wildfire relief fundraisers in 2023 that raised over $225,000 across Gray's network, underscored its role in crisis response and local engagement.^[65]

Staffing and on-air talent

The news operation of KGMB, integrated into the Hawaii News Now brand shared with sister stations KHNL and KFVE, relies on a compact team of on-air anchors, reporters, meteorologists, and sports journalists to cover local stories across Oahu and the Hawaiian Islands. As of 2024, the newsroom supports multiple daily newscasts, including Sunrise from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., evening broadcasts at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m., and weekend editions, with key anchors handling primary roles.^[66][67] Primary on-air talent includes Grace Lee, who anchors Hawaii News Now Sunrise weekdays, delivering morning updates on KGMB, KHNL, and KFVE; Stephanie Lum, an Emmy-winning anchor for the 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 9 p.m., and 10 p.m. newscasts; and Mahealani Richardson, who serves as an anchor and reporter focusing on community and cultural stories.^[67][68][69] Additional anchors and reporters encompass Mark Carpenter (anchor/reporter), Dillon Ancheta (reporter and "This Is Now" midday anchor/producer, transitioning roles in November 2024), Annalisa Burgos (reporter and Sunrise weekend anchor), Chelsea Davis (reporter), and Jonathan Masaki (afternoon traffic anchor and reporter, who joined in February 2023 after retiring from Honolulu police service).^[66][70][71] The weather team, branded First Alert Weather, is led by Jennifer Robbins as chief meteorologist, supported by Guy Hagi (Sunrise weather anchor), Drew Davis (meteorologist), and Ben Gutierrez (weekend weather anchor and reporter). Sports coverage features Kyle Chinen (sports multimedia journalist) and Cienna Pilotin (digital sports reporter, who joined in 2022).^[66][72] Recent personnel shifts include the departure of traffic reporter Lacy Deniz in April 2024 after over a decade and Allyson Blair from the anchor desk in late 2024.^[73][74] Staffing has evolved through operational consolidations, notably the 2009 shared services agreement between KGMB and KHNL, which merged newsrooms and reduced combined staff by approximately one-third to streamline production across the stations.^[75] This integration preserved core on-air roles while eliminating redundancies, resulting in a leaner team of around 50-100 total employees company-wide by recent estimates, though precise newsroom figures remain undisclosed.^[76] Historical on-air figures include Linda Coble, Hawaii's first female TV news reporter and anchor at KGMB in the 1970s and 1980s, who pioneered coverage amid industry sexism before transitioning to radio in 1986.^[77]

Coverage scope and notable reporting

Hawaii News Now, the news brand for KGMB and sister station KHNL, provides statewide coverage across the Hawaiian Islands, including Oahu, Maui County, Hawaii Island, Kauai County, and smaller islands such as Niihau. Reporting focuses on breaking news, investigative journalism, severe weather, traffic, government affairs, and community issues pertinent to residents throughout the archipelago.^[2] Weather forecasts detail conditions for specific regions, such as windward showers on Hawaii Island or red flag fire warnings for leeward areas of Kauai, Oahu, and Niihau, indicating dedicated monitoring of island-specific risks.^[78][79] While primary operations are based in Honolulu, the service deploys reporters to outer islands for localized stories, including drought impacts on Hawaii Island and broader environmental threats.^[80] Notable reporting under the HNN Investigates banner has examined high-profile local scandals and cold cases, such as the Red Hill fuel contamination crisis, where whistleblower testimonies challenged official narratives on accountability.^[81] Investigative reporter Lynn Kawano produced award-winning series including "The Case Against The Kealohas," which scrutinized corruption charges against Honolulu's former police chief and prosecutor, and "The Search For Peter Boy," probing the 1997 disappearance of a young child amid allegations of cover-up.^[82] Additional projects cover unsolved murders like "Who Killed Dana Ireland?," a 1991 Big Island case revisited through new evidence analysis, and topics ranging from pedestrian safety to business embezzlement.^[83][84] The outlet's journalism has earned multiple accolades, including 14 Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2025, with first-place honors in six categories such as agriculture reporting by Joshua Tigges and general reporting by Carter Soyer.^[85] In 2024, Hawaii News Now received six regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for overall excellence and 18 regional Emmy nominations, recognizing depth in news series and feature storytelling.^[86] These recognitions underscore commitments to factual accountability in coverage of Hawaii's unique challenges, from natural hazards to institutional transparency.

Technical information

Digital transition and analog conversion

KGMB launched its digital television signal on UHF channel 23 as part of the U.S. broadcasters' phased transition to digital formats mandated by the Federal Communications Commission.^[36] The station's digital service carried programming mapped to virtual channel 9.1, maintaining continuity with its longstanding analog channel position.^[36] Hawaii's full-power television stations, including KGMB, discontinued analog broadcasts earlier than the national deadline, ceasing regular programming on VHF channel 9 at 12:00 p.m. local time on January 15, 2009.^[87] This move preceded the mainland U.S. analog shutdown by nearly five months and applied to stations serving Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii counties, while Kauai's low-power translators followed the federal June 12, 2009, date.^{[87] [88]} The early conversion stemmed from logistical challenges, including a protected bird's nest disrupting a Maui transmitter, which necessitated coordinated rescheduling among Hawaii's broadcasters to avoid prolonged service gaps.^[87] Post-conversion, KGMB operated exclusively in digital, enabling subchannels for additional content alongside its primary CBS feed.^[36] The transition improved signal reliability and supported high-definition programming, though some Honolulu-area households initially reported reception issues due to terrain and antenna requirements.^[89] By mid-2009, the station had relocated its transmitter to Palehua Ridge for enhanced coverage, addressing pre-transition signal limitations.^[89]

Subchannels and multicast services

KGMB transmits its over-the-air signal on virtual channel 5 (mapped to physical UHF channel 23) and utilizes digital subchannels to multicast additional programming networks, a common practice among U.S. broadcasters to maximize spectrum usage following the 2009 digital television transition.^[36] These subchannels, owned and operated by licensee Gray Television Licensee, LLC, primarily feature syndicated diginet services in standard definition, complementing the main CBS affiliation on 5.1.^[36] The subchannels include: These multicast offerings have evolved over time, with affiliations reflecting Gray Television's strategy to fill subchannel capacity with advertiser-supported linear networks rather than local or high-definition content.^[36] Availability may vary on cable or satellite providers due to carriage agreements, but over-the-air reception requires an ATSC tuner.^[36]

Transmitter facilities and signal strength

KGMB's primary transmitter facilities are located in Akupu, an elevated site in the Ko‘olau Range of Oahu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, at coordinates 21°23′52″N 158°06′00″W. This shared broadcast tower site, utilized by multiple Honolulu-area stations, offers strategic height for line-of-sight propagation over the island's terrain.^[36] The station's digital signal operates on UHF channel 23 (frequency 524–530 MHz) with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 23 kW and an antenna height above average terrain (HAAT) of 629 meters (2,064 feet). These parameters were established following the repacking process after the 2016–2017 incentive auction, with the facility licensed under FCC facility ID 34445. Prior to the nationwide digital television transition on June 12, 2009, KGMB broadcast an analog signal on VHF channel 9 at 95.5 kW ERP from the same location, which was discontinued in compliance with federal mandates. The reduced digital ERP reflects UHF's propagation characteristics compared to VHF analog, prioritizing high-definition multiplexing over raw power.^[36] Signal strength predictions, based on FCC field strength contours (50% of locations, 90% of time), indicate primary coverage across Oahu, encompassing urban Honolulu and extending to coastal and leeward areas with minimal interference under clear conditions. Terrain-limited reception occurs in shadowed windward valleys and central ridges due to the island's geography, though the elevated HAAT mitigates multipath distortion in open areas. The station maintains no auxiliary transmitter facilities, relying on this single site for over-the-air distribution to its core market.^[36]

Broadcast reach

Primary coverage area

KGMB's primary coverage area centers on the island of Oahu, where its main digital transmitter at Akupu provides over-the-air service to the Honolulu metropolitan region and surrounding communities.^[36] The station operates with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 50 kW on UHF channel 23 (virtual channel 5), achieving a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 2,641 feet above mean sea level.^[36] This configuration yields a predicted noise-limited contour extending 53.8 miles from the transmitter site, encompassing an area of approximately 9,094 square miles, though the vast majority consists of ocean surrounding the island due to Hawaii's isolated geography.^{[36] [90]} The signal reliably reaches an estimated population of 953,583 within this contour, aligning with Oahu's role as Hawaii's most populous island, home to over 1 million residents concentrated in urban centers like Honolulu, Pearl City, and Kailua.^[36] Line-of-sight propagation from the elevated Akupu site (coordinates 21°23'52"N, 158°6'0"W) ensures strong reception across the island's varied terrain, including coastal plains and central valleys, supporting KGMB's position as a key broadcaster in the Honolulu Designated Market Area (DMA), ranked 73rd nationally with around 650,000 television households.^{[36] [90]} Reception quality diminishes in shadowed valleys or remote leeward areas without supplemental antennas, but the primary focus remains Oahu's urban and suburban zones.^[36] As a CBS affiliate, KGMB delivers network programming, local news via Hawaii News Now, and subchannels to this core audience, with over-the-air availability free to viewers equipped with digital tuners since the 2009 analog shutdown.^[36] The coverage supports essential public service broadcasting for Oahu's diverse population, including emergency alerts and community events, without relying on satellite or cable extensions in this primary zone.^[36] FCC-mapped contours confirm the station's compliance with service requirements for the licensed community of Honolulu.^[90]

Satellite and repeater stations

KGMB extends its broadcast signal to the Neighbor Islands via low-power digital translators operated by its licensee, Gray Television Licensee, LLC. On Maui, translator station K28NN-D (RF channel 28, virtual channel 5.1) rebroadcasts KGMB's primary CBS feed from a transmitter site near Wailuku, providing coverage to central and western Maui.^[91] On the Big Island, K20NX-D (RF channel 20, virtual channel 5.1) serves the Hilo area and surrounding east side communities from a facility in Hilo.^[91] Historically, prior to a 2009 channel swap with then-KFVE, KGMB operated full-power satellite stations KGMD-TV (channel 9) in Hilo and KGMV (channel 3) in Wailuku, which simulcast the main Honolulu signal to reach the Big Island and Maui, respectively.^[18] Following the swap, these facilities transitioned to independent programming under KFVE (later KHII-TV), leaving KGMB reliant on lower-power translators for over-the-air extension. No dedicated over-the-air repeaters are operated for Kauai, where KGMB programming is primarily distributed via satellite and cable providers.^[91]

Former distribution methods

Prior to October 2009, KGMB distributed its CBS-affiliated programming statewide via two full-power satellite stations: KGMD-TV (channel 9) serving Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii and KGMV-TV (channel 3) serving Wailuku on Maui.^{[20] [92]} These stations simulcast KGMB's content from Honolulu to overcome geographic challenges in relaying over-the-air signals across the Hawaiian Islands, providing identical programming schedules including local news inserts where applicable.^[20] The satellite arrangement ended on October 26, 2009, following a shared services agreement (SSA) between KGMB's owner, HITV Operating Company (a subsidiary of MCG Capital), and Raycom Media (owner of KHNL and KFVE).^[6] As part of the deal, KGMB swapped channel positions with KFVE, moving to virtual channel 5 (physical UHF 22) while KFVE relocated to virtual channel 9 (physical UHF 23); KGMD and KGMV, tied to the channel 9 allocation, subsequently simulcast KFVE's independent programming instead of KGMB's CBS lineup.^[93] This shift eliminated KGMB's direct satellite distribution, relying thereafter on over-the-air signals, cable/satellite carriage, and any remaining low-power translators for outer-island coverage.^[6]