Oceanic wins rights to produce Jones' show

Advertiser Staff

The University of Hawai'i yesterday awarded Oceanic Time Warner Cable the rights to produce the "June Jones Television Show" this coming football season.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the entire rights fee will go to the athletic department. Jones, who is entering his sixth season as the Warriors' head coach, has waived his appearance fee as the show's co-host.

"I'm glad the athletic department will reap some gains from the show," Jones said.

Portlock Productions will produce the show. Portlock owner Russell Shimooka will serve as co-host. Dave Patterson will be co-producer.

Oceanic and K5, which owns the television rights to UH sports, were the only companies to answer UH's request for bids. The contract was awarded on a six-category system.

The show will air at 7:30 Sunday nights on cable channel 16, with re-telecasts at 10:30 that night and throughout the week. The show will feature segments on former UH players and the team's off-the-field activities.

Portlock Productions owned the rights to last year's show, which also aired on channel 16. Shimooka said the shows earned a weekly rating of 10, meaning they were watched in about 35,000 homes throughout the week.

Last year's shows were taped at Dave & Busters. Shimooka said a regular site has not been selected for this year's shows. He said tentative plans call for some shows to be taped on the Neighbor Islands.

"June has a big following on the Neighbor Islands," Shimooka said.

I Chang accepts invitation: UH quarterback Tim Chang said he has accepted an invitation to play in the 80th East West Shrine Game in San Francisco on Jan. 15, 2005.

"I'm very honored," Chang said.

Jones said he believes this is the earliest a UH player has accepted an all-star invitation.