Hope church launches TV station

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer

New Hope Christian Fellowship has launched a local television station that begins round-the-clock programming at 8 a.m. Monday.

KALO TV38, dubbed "K38 — Spirit of Aloha," will include "family-friendly and locally produced programs," said Jocelyn McMahon, volunteer marketing director for the new station, an arm of New Hope International.

Programming will be broadcast on Oceanic Cable channel 38 as part of the cable company's basic lineup. The current occupant on the dial, HGTV, is moving to channel 76. Because it is a broadcast station, KALO will be available to noncable viewers as well.

The station's license with the Federal Communications Commission expires Feb. 1, 2007. As a broadcaster, it is in the same category as KHON (Fox affiliate), KBFD (independent Korean station), KFVE (UH Sports, WB), KITV (the ABC affiliate), KGMB (CBS affiliate), KHNL (NBC affiliate), KIKI (independent ethnic station), KHET (PBS affiliate), KWHE and KAAH (religious programming), and KPXO (PAX affiliate).

Besides broadcasting its "gala services" live — including the 7 p.m. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve services — New Hope will show its weekly 9 a.m. Sunday services live.

Rounding out the programming will be videotape of past events and other shows, including some for children, McMahon said. It is hoped local programming will grow, she added.

"At this point, we are a volunteer-driven ministry," McMahon said, noting that the only paid position is a full-time broadcast director.

The program guide is available on the Web.

New Hope officials did not disclose costs for starting up and running the new station.

"This is not a station that was purchased from another entity," according to a message on the Web site from New Hope International president and senior pastor Wayne Cordeiro. "It is a pioneer effort to bring excellence in local programming to reach the people of the Pacific and Asia."