KKEA and KHNL/KFVE get extra time to negotiate the TV/radio rights

About giving KKEA and KHNL/KFVE extra time to negotiate with UH, Johm McNamara said:
"We're making progress. I think we're just trying to make sure they have the opportunity to put their best and final offers on the table. Once we have that we'll determine if we extend the current agreements or go out to bid and give other interested parties an opportunity." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The window for exclusive negotiation officially ends Friday for the current holders of radio and TV rights for University of Hawaii sports. But UH is willing to keep it open a while longer for KKEA (1420-AM) and KHNL/KFVE (Channels 8 and 5)."

About how they have received a proposal from KKEA but nothing yet from KHNL/KFVE, McNamara said:
"We'll be meeting with (KHNL/KFVE) this week to get an idea where they're at in the process and what their thoughts are." (HSB)

About how he wants to continue to cover UH, KHNL/KFVE GM and VP John Fink said:
"I'm hopeful and optimistic that we'll be able to continue a great relationship." (HSB)

About how they are happy with how things are going under the current contract, Carl Clapp said:
"We very much value both the entities we've been working with." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Internet video streaming won't be part of the current negotiations. ESPN, via the Western Athletic Conference, controls those rights for the next three years, McNamara said. However, Hawaiian Telcom has facilitated Internet video streaming of selected UH sports events because ESPN has declined to do so."

About how Hawaiian Telecom has done their video streaming and will continue to do so, McNamara said:
"They've done it the past three years without an issue. The global piece, the streaming piece, is very important to us. Right now we're still bound by the conference agreement with ESPN on streaming rights." (HSB)

Note: I paid for the Hawaiian Telecom streaming last season and thought that they did an acceptable job. The high bandwidth link didn't work for a few games, but the quality of the low bandwidth stream was at least better than past years.