TV exec back in Hawai'i to head KHON, KGMB

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

The new senior vice president and general manager of Emmis Corporation's Hawai'i operations, Rick Blangiardi, spent his first day on the job yesterday meeting with the management and staffs of two Island stations he will oversee: KHON and KGMB.

"We started with a breakfast meeting with the combined management, then separate sessions with the staffs of KGMB and KHON, followed by a luncheon with management of both stations," said Blangiardi, 55. "My objective, initially, is to see how both places operate, from the inside out."

KHON, Channel 2, is the local Fox affiliate. KGMB, Channel 9, is the CBS affiliate.

Blangiardi succeeds Bill Spellman, who resigned from his Channel 2 post; the manager's slot at Channel 9 had been vacant since the resignation of Lynne Mueller earlier this year. Blangiardi's position as head of both shops is unique in the Emmis operation, but not uncommon in duopolies. Blangiardi said he would set up offices at both station sites.

"Rick's experience in television coupled with his knowledge of the Honolulu market make him the perfect fit," said Randall Bongarten, president of Emmis' television division. Emmis is based in Indianapolis.

Since 1999, Blangiardi had been the Los Angeles-based president of the Telemundo Group, an 11-station company of mostly Hispanic stations. He was vice president and general manager of KHNL in Honolulu from 1984 to 1989, when it was known as Channel 13. He also held various posts at KGMB between 1977 and 1984. He also was a University of Hawai'i assistant football coach and a play-by-play radio announcer before venturing to the Mainland.

He also has worked as managing director of Brad Marks International, an executive search firm (1999), chief executive officer of the Premier Horse Network (1997-99), group president of River City Broadcasting (1994-96), vice president-general manager of KPIX-TV in San Francisco (1993-94), vice president of New Business Development for CBS Television (1992-93), and vice president-general manager of KING-TV in Seattle (1989-92).

Emmis Communications is a diversified media firm with stakes in radio, television and magazines.