KGMB9 and KHNL debuted their new simulcast newscast yesterday evening by sticking to their game plan: traffic and weather coverage.

Anchors Tannya Joaquin and Stephanie Lum kicked off the inaugural 5 p.m. news with a story about recent flooding in the Waikane area, followed by a live report on a traffic accident that caused congestion in the Waimalu area.

"Overall, it was a solid beginning," said Rick Blangiardi, general manager for KGMB and KHNL. "With the amount of variables ... involved in making this happen, I'm very pleased with the hard work of everyone."

KGMB, KHNL and K5 say the merger of their newsrooms will create the largest television news operation in the state and promised to provide more news and more voices.

Under the deal, the stations are simulcasting their 5 p.m. and 10 p.m weeknight newscasts and KHNL has moved its 6 p.m. local newscast to 5:30 p.m.

The combined news operation has been rebranded as "Hawaii News Now."

Yesterday's launch went relatively smoothly although the newscasts had little in terms of exclusive content. There was a minor studio sound problem and an incorrect video was used for a story that aired on KHNL's 5:30 newscast.

Blangiardi said the "technical transition issues" are being ironed out. He added that the stations' viewers should expect to see more exclusive and in-depth reporting.

KGMB, KHNL and K5 announced in August that they planned to merge newsrooms, simulcast some news programs and cut about a third of their staff.

The shared services agreement resulted in the terminations of all but four of KHNL's on-air staff.

Raycom Media Inc. of Alabama, which owns KHNL and K5, said the deal was necessary to prevent one or two of the three stations from going under during a severe downturn in the local television advertising market.

According to Raycom, the combined annual television advertising revenues in the Hawaii market have declined by 30 percent, or about $20 million, during the past three years.

But community groups such as Media Council Hawaii say the deal will hurt consumers and violates federal laws barring the multiple ownership of television stations in a single market.

They are asking the Federal Communications Commission and other regulatory agencies to put a halt to the deal.

On Friday, FCC asked Raycom to provide further information about the deal, including a copy of the shared service agreement and asset exchange agreement between the stations.

The FCC is also asking for a copy of an agreement giving Raycom the option to purchase KGMB from Virginia-based MCG Capital Corp.

Raycom has said that the shared services agreement between the stations doesn't require FCC approval because the deal does not involve an ownership change.