The combined operation was based at the KHNL/KFVE studios on Waiakamilo Road in Honolulu; KGMB vacated its longtime home on Kapiolani Boulevard.

Though non-news programming would remain in place, the three stations would have a single news department dominated by former KGMB personalities.

On June 22, 2020, Hawaii News Now began to broadcast its successful digital newscast ‘This is Now’ on KHNL-TV weekdays at noon.

The combined merger, especially the newscasts in general, drew complaints from local media watchdog groups, who cite Raycom for trying to monopolize the market by operating three stations at once and limiting the editorial independence and viewer choices for news programming.

This prompted several groups opposed to the merger such as Media Council Hawaii to file petitions with the Federal Communications Commission to end the arrangement.

[1] Paul McTear, president of Raycom Media, has staunchly defended the SSA, stating it would "preserve three stations that provide important and valuable local, national and international programming to viewers in Hawaii.

"[4] Further controversy over the SSA grew after a November 7, 2009, report in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin revealed that Raycom would pay MCG Capital Corporation $22 million (according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission[5]) – which, in effect, would constitute a sale of KGMB from MCG Capital to Raycom.