KBFD-DT is an independent station that airs Asian programming. The Allen Broadcasting outlet operates on ATSC channel 33 (digital) and is licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...

. Since they do not have any satellite stations in Hawaii, KBFD can be also seen on Oceanic Cable

Time Warner Cable

Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...

 basic channel 4 in Oahu, while digital cable subscribers can see KBFD on Oceanic Cable digital channel 82 statewide. On Hawaiian Telcom

Hawaiian Telcom

Hawaiian Telcom is the incumbent local exchange carrier or dominant local telephone company, serving the state of Hawaii. It was formed in 2005 by The Carlyle Group, following its purchase of the Hawaii assets of Verizon Communications, which was known as Verizon Hawaii, Inc., and previously as...

's cable lineup, KBFD is seen on channel 6 because of KITV

KITV

KITV is the American Broadcasting Company television station affiliate licensed to Honolulu, Hawaii. Based in Honolulu and broadcasting on digital channel 40, displayed as channel 4 the station is owned by Hearst Television and operates several satellites and translators on all the major Hawaiian...

 occupying the channel 4 position.

History

KBFD, which signed on the air on March 24, 1986, is one of two full-time stations in Hawaii specializing in Asian programming. KIKU

KIKU

KIKU-TV is an independent television station based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Currently, KIKU broadcasts on DTV channel 19, Time-Warner Cable 9/Digital 89 , Time-Warner Cable 10/Digital 89 , Time-Warner Cable Digital 89 , Hawaiian Cable 12, and Hawaiian Telcom Cable 20...

 is the other. And although the station airs various programs from many Asian countries, most of KBFD's programs are geared to a Korean audience since most of their lineup come from Korea's

South Korea

The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

 KBS, MBC

Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation

Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC (Hangul : 문화방송주식회사, Munhwa Bangsong Jushikoesa) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television...

, and SBS

SBS (Korea)

Seoul Broadcasting System is a national South Korean television and radio network. It is the only private commercial broadcaster with a wide regional Network to operate in the country. On March 17, 2009, the company legally became known as SBS, changing its corporate name from Seoul Broadcasting...

 networks respectively. Most of the shows that air on KBFD are also subtitled in English as well, due to a growing audience among non-Asian viewers for its fare of music shows and drama serials. KBFD also handles local sales for KBS World

KBS World

KBS World is a name of Korean Broadcasting System's international broadcasting service. It consists of KBS World Radio and a KBS World television channel.- History :...

, the cable program service from KBS (broadcasting as KBFD2), and KLife, the Korean lifestyle programing service.

KBFD is one of the very few stations in the Honolulu market that still signs off, every night at 12:30 AM. The station signs back on at 6:00 AM.

Digital television

On January 15, 2009, KBFD-DT moved from channel 32 to channel 33 when the analog to digital transition was completed, but has a PSIP to display its virtual channel as 32.