TheBuzz
TheBuzz
KGMB-9 weathercaster Kuualoha Taylor turned in her notice Tuesday, as had weekend sports anchor and reporter Ross Shimabuku the Friday before. TV’s Kuu and
Ross bid ‘aloha’Both have accepted positions in bigger markets on the mainland. Nielsen Media Research ranks Honolulu at No. 72.
Shimabuku heads for the No. 17 market -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- to KTVK TV. The independent station is owned by Dallas-based Belo Corp., former owner of NBC Hawaii News 8 (KHNL).
Ironically, News 8 is where Taylor is going -- News 8 KFMB TV in No. 25-ranked San Diego. Owned by San Diego-based Midwest Television Inc., it is a CBS affiliate, as is KGMB.
"We're really sorry to lose both of them," said News Director Bob Loy. But "these are great opportunities and I'm proud of both of them."
Shimabuku, a graduate of Arizona State University who became a Honolulu CPA with his accounting degree, "always wanted to get involved in sportscasting and KGMB gave me that opportunity." His last day is July 31 and come Aug. 27 he'll be a sports reporter and fill-in anchor with major sports teams to cover in baseball, football, hockey and basketball.
At 30 and single, he's moving now because "I just wanted to test myself to see what I can do out there while I'm still young," but cited mixed emotions about leaving his family.
Taylor's last day will be Aug. 17, and her first day at KFMB will be Sept. 4. "I will be scrambling," she said, adding the opportunity and offer were good, "and if I don't venture out now I never will."
While working to complete her broadcast meteorology certificate and earn an American Meteorological Society seal, Taylor's weathercasts will air in the 5 to 8 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. news shows. Unmarried but not single, Taylor said this will be the first time she's lived on the mainland.
The high-visibility departures are unrelated but foreshadow what is to come. Loy is "working on major changes to KGMB News," such as "how we present the news and the type of news we're presenting."
"I think in a four-station market where every night at 6 everyone has the same news on, it's time to change things a bit and give viewers something different," he said. "More substance, less hype."
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com