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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Third-generation
Leahey to co-anchor
KHON with Joe MooreKANOA Leahey will deliver his last KITV sportscast on Saturday because he's landed the plum lead sports anchor and sports director position at top-rated KHON-TV. He will co-anchor the news with Joe Moore.
"He's a third-generation Leahey," said Rick Blangiardi, Hawaii market senior vice president for the owner of KHON and KGMB-TV. His comment was a nod to Kanoa's father Jim, a sportscaster for KFVE-TV, and to his late grandfather Chuck, both key figures in Hawaii sports for, well, for generations.
The sports director position has not officially been filled since Alema Harrington left the station, except on an interim basis by John Veneri, according to News Director Dan Dennison.
A noncompete clause will keep Leahey off the air until November, but he will start work for the station before then.
This begs the question, "What about John?"
"John Veneri is very much a keeper and a critical player in our news organization, because we sincerely believe he has an enormous talent yet to really manifest itself," said Blangiardi.
Also, Dan Meizensahl is leaving KGMB advertising sales to return to KITV. "I hired Dan to work in sales but it became painfully apparent to him how much he missed being in television news," Blangiardi said. "We hated to lose Dan because he demonstrated an ability to sell television time and do it well, but he should follow his passion for himself and his future."
Meizensahl left KGMB yesterday and will start at KITV Monday.
"The prodigal son returns," chuckled KITV President and General Manager Mike Rosenberg.
Meizensahl had previously anchored weekend sports and transferred into KITV's news department as a general assignment reporter.
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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