TheBuzz Erika Engle

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East Coast blackout sends
isle TV stations scrambling

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The East Coast power outage was more than just a workplace distraction in Hawaii yesterday.

Programmers at Hawaii's network-affiliate TV stations were busy monitoring updates from network offices in New York City.

At ABC affiliate KITV, Program Manager Tracy Keliihoomalu knew by early afternoon the station's programming would be locally originated from 5 to 7 p.m., including "Seinfeld" at 6:30 p.m.

KITV-4 News at 5 was expanded to 90 minutes from its usual 30. As with other local newscasts, the lead story was the blackout, followed by coverage of Oahu-wide blackouts in years past.

Prime time programming was the big question, as KITV was told to stay with the live network coverage. Contingency plans for 7 to 10 p.m. had included airing reruns of Pamela Young's "Mixed Plate," and Gary Sprinkle's "Pacific Adventures."

"The advertisers would be fine with that," she said, but by late afternoon regular programming resumed.

NBC affiliate KHNL aired blackout coverage from MSNBC.

The breaking news policy of Alabama-based KHNL owner Raycom Media is "first in, last out," said Bert Muramatsu, program coordinator. About 12:20 HST, when power was restored to some cities, the decision was made to return to regular programming, including soap operas and syndicated shows.

"Of course if anything develops well break in," she said.

CBS affiliate KGMB and Fox affiliate KHON carried network blackout coverage into the afternoon as well.

"Obviously we follow the lead of the networks," said Rick Blangiardi, Hawaii market senior vice president for Emmis Communications Corp., Indiana-based owner of both stations.

The networks returned to regular programming, "once everybody got comfortable that it was not an act of terrorism," he said.

Off-camera at KGMB

A new news director has been named for KGMB.

Tauna Lange's resume includes varied news experience, including producing, reporting, anchoring and management positions at KPTV in Portland, Ore., KOAT and KRQE in Albuquerque and KOIN in Portland. KHON anchor Kirk Matthews and former broadcaster Linda Coble were her colleagues back in the day.

"I hired her because she brings a very strong and successful track record, along with passion, excellent news judgment and excellent experience as a news executive," Blangiardi said.

It was a difficult position to fill because of the uncertainty over Emmis' continued ownership of KGMB and because it has gone through 10 news directors in 14 years, he said.

The news operation needs some strong coaching and mentoring and Lange will be the one to do the nurturing, Blangiardi said. "This is not going to be a small challenge moving forward."

Now Blangiardi is recruiting locally and nationally for a new general sales manager and local sales manager. For differing reasons, Phyllis Kihara and Bill Pulliam both resigned last week.

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See the Columnists section for some past articles.

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