A Couple More Allen Media Stations are in Play

It looks like Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group isn’t done trimming its television portfolio just yet.

Fresh off closing a massive $171 million deal earlier this month that offloaded 10 stations to Gray Media, industry eyes are turning toward the Pacific. It appears a couple more AMG properties could soon be corporate history, as a unique local buyer is quietly laying the groundwork to take over a pair of Hawaii stations.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) is making a stealthy, backend push to acquire ABC affiliate KITV and independent station KIKU in Honolulu. According to public meeting calendars and state procurement notices, OHA trustees are set to vote on May 28th to greenlight up to $172,500 for highly confidential due diligence.

The state agency is actively seeking an exemption from standard competitive bidding rules to hire a specialized media brokerage and broadcast transaction advisory firm. The goal? To conduct immediate market analysis, independent valuations, and FCC-related checks on “certain assets and real property controlled by a production and/or broadcast company serving the Hawaiʻi market.”

While OHA is trying to keep things quiet by planning to duck into executive session to discuss the details, local trustees are already talking about the potential power play. Trustees Keith Vieira and Kuhio Lewis have openly noted that owning the broadcast outlets would give the agency a direct role in controlling the statewide information flow and amplifying Native Hawaiian perspectives.

For Byron Allen, selling off KITV and KIKU would continue a broader trend of reshuffling the AMG deck. Last year, the company brought on financial firm Moelis & Company to explore selling off parts of its station group. If this Hawaii deal crosses the finish line, it proves that Allen's recent cash-out with Gray wasn't a one-off transaction, but rather the blueprint for more sell-offs to come.

Stay tuned.