Hawaii New Year Network Negotiations with Service Provider in Limbo

By Wendy Osher

DirecTV customers in Hawaii could start the New Year with three less channels than usual, pending the outcome of network negotiations, that according to a network notice to customers this week.  Raycom Media, the parent company of Hawaii’s KGMB, KHNL and KFVE is in end-of-year discussions on an agreement with DirecTV that is set to expire on December 31, 2010.

A crawler was displayed during prime time programming tonight on KGMB, advising customers of the possible New Year’s Eve cut-off date.

A customer notice on the HawaiiNewsNow website states, “We are hopeful of a positive outcome,” but at the same time, states that if negotiations fail, “we are prepared to stream our local news live on this website.”

The customer notice contends that the percentage of revenues received is unfair compensation given the time and money invested in producing and securing local programming. The notice further states that negotiations have been ongoing for months.

Attempts to reach DirecTV at the time of this posting were unsuccessful.

(Supporting information available at the following link: HawaiiNewsNow)