Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL HomeKHNL and K5 launch Hawaii's first high-definition local newscast from a new home

KHNL and K5 launch Hawaii's first high-definition local newscast from a new home

HONOLULU (KHNL) - You'll find our  brand new KHNL/ K5 News Media Center on Waiakamilo Road just off of Nimitz Highway. Our operations take up two floors of the building. Let's head on inside for a closer look.

On the first floor is our brand new newsroom that we just moved into. Our team of reporters, anchors, producers, photographers, our news managers all come together to work in this space. In the back, you'll see our assignment desk -- the nerve center of our news operation.

And it is much more than just a newsroom ... This entire area is also part of our news set. This is where we'll be delivering all the live, local, late-breaking news of the day in high definition.

Not far from the newsroom is our control room. From here you can see almost every camera angle imaginable, covered on giant HDTV screens. This is where our directors and news producers work behind the scenes to make sure everything goes smoothly in our newscasts. 

"As producers we're really excited about our new toy if you look at all the monitors we can put any satellite in these boxes on these screens and any point during these live news casts we can bring breaking news to our viewers as soon as it happens" said assistant news director Rich Meiers.

On the other side, you'll find the audio room.

"We'll be transmitting clear sound to you" said technician Aaron Chun.

Just next door is our  is master control.  It's the heart of our station's operation. It is a very complex area consisting of miles and miles of cable, rows and rows of computer servers.  We have a team of experts from the mainland here to help us put this important achievement together.

"All the programs and commercials that are played back for both KHNL and K5, this is the brain for everything" said director of engineering Keith Aotaki. 

Our administrative, programming, and sales departments are just above us on the second floor and that's where we find our general manager John Fink.

 What you've seen so far is really just the beginning there's a lot more to come in terms of content and things we're going to do and living up to our live local late-breaking theme we hope you'll stay with us and look at the excitement you'll find we have a lot to offer" said Fink.

KHNL NBC 8 and K5 The Home Team are the first Hawaii television stations to broadcast local news in high definition.