KHON Debuts New On-Air Look, HD News

LIN Media-owned Fox and CW affiliate KHON Honolulu (DMA 69) has premiered new looks and newscasts in high definition. The station upgraded the entire infrastructure to broadcast in HD, as well as constructing a brand new set, installing a top-of-the-line graphics system and switching digital platforms all at the same time.

KHON General Manager Kristina Lockwood had been with the station since late February, and was presented with the challenge of modernizing KHON’s look and news content delivery. “We are so excited to launch in high definition, and reveal our new look,” she said. “We wanted to have an on-air design that truly reflected the professional hardworking journalists in our newsroom and our commitment to the local community. We wanted to share our multi-platform approach and make our viewers feel really connected to our team.”

The process to modernize KHON’s on-air and online look began nearly seven months ago. Strategic analysis of the KHON2 brand and the Hawaii market led to the creative development of the new look, which includes set design, lighting design, a new logo and animated graphics.

Commenting on the design process, Kathy Mosher-Boule’, manager of on-air image and design for LIN Media, said: “We worked with KHON2’s key staff and collaborated with an outside team of award-winning designers to develop the new look. The primary goal was to create a definite feel of Hawaii, with elements that were bright, modern and engaging. The beautiful Hawaiian landscape figured prominently into the images and colors of the set backdrops — and the lush blues, blue-greens and the water effects of the animated graphics. The end result captures the beauty of Hawaii as well as the modern feel and functionality that you see in many network sets.”

Lori Silva, news director, said: “We wanted a news set that was vibrant and looked to the future, but also wanted to make sure we incorporated Hawaiian images and colors. Even our new music incorporates traditional Hawaiian instruments. We want our viewers to know we are committed to working for the entire state to bring them the best news product we possibly can. We are not just journalists, we are also part of this community.”