Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 18

18 BUSINESS TUESDAY 1 0270 Pilots want ou of talks Joint newscasts launch with technical glitches The newly combined news operations of KGMB-TV and KHNLKFVE-TV launched new news programming with new branding, some new anchors, a completed call-letter swap and the technical glitches that are typical in any such situation. The opposition to the stations' shared services ERIKA Engle The Buzz agreement also has moved forward at the Federal Communications Commission, whose Media Bureau has begun an investigation. "Hawaii News Now: Sunrise Early Edition" aired on KGMB at 4:30 a.m. yesterday, and the audio and video were not synchronized for some viewers. Then the audio dropped out completely.

"We've got some transmission issues" with the cable company, said Rick Blangiardi, vice president and general manager over KGMB (I if i St. The union is staging for a strike, demanding contract concessions from Hawaiian Airlines BY DAVE SEGAL dsegalstarbulletin.com Hawaiian Airlines' pilots union, claiming that contract negotiations are at an impasse, has asked the federal government to release it from mediation a move that could set the stage for a pilots' strike. Air Line Pilots Association President John Prater wrote in a letter yesterday to the National Mediation Board that Hawaiian's management has repeatedly demanded contract concessions from its workers dating back to its 2003 bankruptcy while the airline continues to post "positive, sustained and even record financial and operational performance." The union said the $5 million in bonuses and awards that Hawaiian gave to its top five executives in 2008 is almost double the amount ALFA has asked for in 2010 pay raises for its more than 400 Hawaiian Air pilots. ALPA pointed out that Hawaiian President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Dunkerley received a 42 percent increase in his total compensation in 2008 over the previous year. "The company continues to insist that its present business plan requires significant sacrifice from pilots and oth- more than posturing for negotiations." The company said the National Mediation Board continues to oversee talks and that "Hawaiian remains committed to reaching a fair agreement with its pilots union." Dunkerley has said in the past that the company has offered the pilots an opportunity to participate in profit-sharing in exchange for modifying outdated work rules such as how to bid for routes that would make the company more competitive with its rivals.

ALPA formally requested that the National Mediation Board end its mediation efforts and issue a proffer of arbitration to both parties. If the board makes a proffer and either ALPA or Hawaiian declines to enter binding arbitration, the two sides would be released from mediation and will enter a 30-day cooling-off period. At the end of that period, if a Presidential Emergency Board were not appointed to act as arbiter, then the two sides would be free to act in their best interests. At that point, Hawaiian's pilots could strike. Capt.

Eric Sampson, chairman of Hawaiian's ALPA unit, said the final straw came last week when the company announced its $30.7 million profit at the same time it asked pilots, in large part, to fund pay increases with productivity savings and work-rule changes. JENMS ODA DODASTARBULLETIN.COM Hawaiian Airlines piluk Lt a taken another step toward the first strike in company's 80-year history. Above, the airline's pilots mducted informational picketing in August at Honolulu Airport a one-time tax benefit. Revenue, however, fell 10.1 percent to $305.6 million. Prater said there is no reason to believe that Hawaiian will change its position without the imposition of a deadline and the possibje release from mediation.

He said the company will not agree to increase costs consistent with ALPA's offers without substantial offsets. Hawaiian characterized ALPA's request as "nothing 1 1 1 K. ALPHABET SOUP The stations recent call-letter history: Previous call sign: KGMB Facility ID number: 36917 CALL SIGN EFFECTIVE DATE KFVE Yesterday KGMB June 1,1982 KGMB-TV Oct. 25, 1980 Previous call sign: KFVE Facility ID number: 34445 CALL SIGN EFFECTIVE DATE KGMB Yesterday KFVE Aug. 28, 1986 Current call sign: KHNL Facility ID number 34867 CALL SIGN EFFECTIVE DATE KHNL Aug.

29, 1984 KHNL-TV May 24, 1984 KIKU-TV Nov. 28, 1979 The Federal Communications Commission refers to call letters of all types as call signs, some of which include letters and numbers. Radio industry people typically refer simply to a station's "calls." Source: www.fcc.gov and KHNL "Everything we saw is fixable." Overall, Blangiardi is "so pleased with what we got done." News technicians and talent rehearsed over the weekend, while many on-air folk also performed in the "Gridiron" variety show, making for a grueling weekend before the launch of an unprecedented broadcast product in Hawaii. The news, branded "Hawaii News Now," also includes Traffic Now" and "Weather Now" segments. A "Connect Now" segment incorporates feedback from social media site Twitter.com, in which KGMB has been heavily involved.

The call-letter swap, announced at the same time as the shared services agreement, took effect yesterday. The programming of KGMB and KFVE also swapped places, which new KHNLKGMB owner Ray- 'Waikiki Nei' producer is allowed $150,000 loan er employees," wrote Prater, noting that contract talks have been going on for three years. "That position is not justified by either the competitive environment, the company's place in the industry, or its present financial condition." Last week, Hawaiian said its third-quarter net income rose 408 percent from the year-ago quarter, but that $20 million of its $30.7 million in net income came from tres. But "Heartbeat Hawaii," an action-musical show that had been playing six nights a week since July, said farewell on Sunday. The self-funded show produced by Colorado surgeon Dennis Law featured a cast of 75 Chinese dancers, martial artists, musicians and acrobats.

Law, in a farewell letter, said economic circumstances made it impractical and unreasonable to continue, blaming the theater's "indifferent and arrogant landlord." Kamehameha Schools is the owner and landlord of the Royal Hawaiian Center. Law, in his letter, said the show's title song, "Hawaii Is the World," reflected the show's celebration of cultural fusion although it was certain corn Media Inc. said would keep KGMB and KFVE shows affiliated with each station's call letters. For viewers, though, the programs will appear on the same channels. It was part of the shared services agreement that watchdog group Media Council Hawaii decried as a "shell game" Raycom was playing to gain control of Hawaii's CBS affiliate in addition to NBC affiliate KHNL, which it already owned.

Meanwhile the FCC has asked the stations' owners to submit executed versions of the asset exchange, shared services, option and lease agreements they described in a Sept. 16 e-mail to the FCC. Copies are also to sent to Angela Campbell, an attorney representing Media Council Hawaii at the Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown University Law Center. Media Council Hawaii President Chris Conybeare said he is gratified that the FCC is investigating the stations' arrangement. "It appears to me that the FCC has agreed that we need to see these documents." BY NINA WU nwustarbulletin.com Royal Hawaiian Showroom LLC, the producer that launched the now-defunct "Waikiki Nei," will get an infusion of 150,000 to remain open on the top floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris granted the borrowed funds yesterday from Japan Sports Management, a partner of Royal Hawaiian, until another hearing scheduled for Nov. 24. The Level 4 Nightclub Ultra Lounge will remain open, without utilities being shut off, for now. Vendors will continue to be paid on a cash-on-delivery basis, and payroll for employees will continue through a contract with Al- to "irk the minority of hardcore traditionalists." A hula number from the show was initially eliminated after protest from some members of the Hawaiian community due to its lack of authenticity.

"'Heartbeat Hawaii' leaves with sadness that there has been a greatly lost opportunity," Law said. Members of the cast on work visas are expected to depart by Nov. 5, according to court documents. Jerrold Guben, attorney for the Royal Hawaiian Showroom, said another substitute show will be announced in the next week or two. Roy Tokujo, manager of Royal Hawaiian Showroom LLC, originally debuted "Waikiki Nei" on the top floor of the center, a narrative show telling the history of Hawaii while featuring acrobatics in the style of Cirque du Soleil.

But the show closed down after only a few months. Royal Hawaiian Showroom LLC filed for Chapter 1 1 bankruptcy reorganization last month, listing between $10 million and $50 million in estimated assets and liabilities. Among the largest creditors are Central Pacific Bank, which says it is owed $5.6 million, and Taisei Construction which says it is owed $4.6 million. Kamehameha Schools, which filed a complaint in August to repossess the property, has a claim for $693,259 for lease payments, utilities and tileemodeling work. Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.

Reach her by e-mail at erikastar- bullerJn.com..