KBFD-DT


KBFD-DT, virtual channel 32, is a Korean-language independent television station licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. The station is owned by Allen Broadcasting. KBFD's studios are located on Bishop Street in downtown Honolulu, and its transmitter is located near Hawaii Pacific University.
Unlike major network affiliates in the Hawaii market, KBFD does not operate any satellite stations or translators, nor is it available on DirecTV or Dish Network. It can only be received via cable outside the Honolulu-area reach of its main signal. KBFD is carried on Oceanic Spectrum basic channel 2 on Oahu, on digital channel 1004 statewide, and on Hawaiian Telcom channel 6 and digital channel 1006.

Overview

The station first signed on the air on March 24, 1986. KBFD-DT is one of two television stations in Hawaii that specializes in Asian programming full-time. Although the station airs a variety programs from many Asian countries, most of the programs seen on KBFD are geared to a Korean audience as most of its lineup features programs acquired from the Korean Broadcasting System, the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, and SBS. Most of the programs on KBFD are also subtitled in English, due to a growing audience of non-Asian viewers interested in its music shows and drama series.
KBFD handles exclusive home video distribution of Korean shows and specials under the KBFDVD brand banner, which the station advertises on air and on their website. KBFD also carries programming from KBS World, the international program service from KBS on digital subchannel 32.2, Arirang programming on digital subchannel 32.3, and operates the cable channel KLife, a Korean lifestyle programming service.
KBFD airs infomercials during the morning hours. KBFD is one of few television stations in the Honolulu market that continues to sign-off each night from 12:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. local time. Its sign-on and sign-off features the national anthems of both the United States and South Korea.

Digital television

Digital channels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:
ChannelVideoAspectPSIP Short NameProgramming
32.1480iKBFD-D1Main KBFD-TV programming
32.2480iKBFD-D2KBS World
32.3480iKBFD-D3Arirang

Analog-to-digital conversion

KBFD-TV discontinued regular programming on its analog signal over UHF channel 32 on January 15, 2009, the date in which full-power television stations in Hawaii transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 33, using PSIP to display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF analog channel 32.