Posted on: Wednesday, March 2, 2005

UH still in contract talks with KFVE

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

KFVE's contract negotiations with the University of Hawai'i for a two-year extension of the local television rights for sports it has held for 22 years have gone into overtime.

Although the station's exclusive negotiating window with UH expired Monday, athletic director Herman Frazier said in a prepared statement: "... we will continue to have discussions with KHNL/KFVE about a possible extension of our television relationship."

They are scheduled to meet at the end of the week and Frazier said, "in the event an agreement cannot be reached, we will, upon advice from legal (counsel), evaluate the options that are available to us."

John Fink, vice president and general manager of KFVE and sister station KHNL, said he has presented UH with a proposal but declined to comment on it. "We will meet with them (again)," Fink said. "They have our presentation and we'll see where we are."

It is believed UH has asked for the proposal to include doing away with or limiting free, live telecasts of its weekend events. Currently only live UH home football games are shown via pay-per-view.

"UH has made certain suggestions and we've tried to be accommodating," said Fink, who declined to comment on the details.

KFVE is in the final four months of a three-year agreement that guarantees the school $700,000 per year for TV plus 70 percent of the first $1 million of football pay-per-view.

If UH opens up negotiations beyond KFVE, Emmis and Oceanic Time Warner Cable could enter the competition.

Rick Blangiardi, general manager of KHON and KGMB, which are both owned by Emmis, has said he would like to become involved in the negotiations.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.