Leahey gets 5-year deal
to remain with KFVE

The voice of UH sports says
the contract may be redone
after two years

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Jim Leahey reached a new five-year agreement yesterday with KFVE-TV general manager John Fink to continue to be the voice of the Rainbows.

The veteran broadcaster didn't want to disclose the terms of his agreement, but it's believed he took a minimal raise the first two years of the new contract.

"I have a contract that lasts as long as the five-year agreement reached between KFVE and the University of Hawaii," Leahey said yesterday. "That's something I wanted from the outset to protect my family commitments.

"After two years, we will review the contract together to see what the state of the economy is and how we're doing as a station after meeting the yearly financial obligation to the university."

Leahey has been the voice of Hawaii athletics for 14 years and has been in the business for 35. He has garnered 19 Hawaii Sportscaster of the Year awards and has done more than 3,500 broadcasts since succeeding his father, Chuck.

The last year has been particularly difficult for Jim Leahey because of the uncertainty of the television contract. He said that Oceanic Cable's involvement put everyone under a lot of stress and he's glad it's all behind him.

"I'm happy we were able to reach an agreement that was good for everyone," Leahey said. "It's like a reaffirmation for me. I've been doing this for 14 years with four different owners. I'll be doing a little bit of everything next year."

Leahey's main gigs will be football, men's basketball and baseball, but he also plans to do broadcasts of volleyball, women's basketball, swimming, soccer and water polo.

Fink said he is happy to keep Leahey on board.

"Jim Leahey represents the absolute epitome of excellence in sports broadcasting in Hawaii and we're glad to have him be a part of the team," Fink said yesterday. "I'm not going to say what the terms of the agreement are, but Jim understands what it's like to be a team player and knows what we're going through business-wise as a station.

"We'll review the contract in two years and as long as Jim continues to provide the best in play-by-play coverage, we expect he will be a part of the team. It's just business as usual around here at KFVE."