What Pacific Media Group does

Pacific Media Group (PMG) is a privately held, founder-controlled multi-platform media company headquartered in Kahului, Hawai'i, operating across all four major Hawaiian islands (O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and Hawai'i Island). Founded by Chuck Bergson in 1990 and rebranded to PMG in 1999, the company runs 21 radio stations, three digital news properties (MauiNow, BigIslandNow, KauaiNowNews), two television channels (Maui Visitor Channel and Experience Hawai'i), the official Experience Hawai'i visitor guidebooks published in partnership with the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, and an exclusive airport advertising network across all neighbor island airports (OGG, KOA, ITO, LIH).

PMG's product portfolio spans radio broadcasting infrastructure, digital publishing platforms driving millions of monthly page views, in-room visitor television distributed via cable and hotel partnerships, printed visitor guidebooks reaching 900,000+ readers annually, and digital out-of-home (OOH) advertising including baggage claim takeovers, jet bridge posters, and tension fabric banners. The DASH (Digital Advertising Specialists Hawaii) division extends the legacy business into programmatic display, OTT/CTV advertising, and social media marketing. The company maintains five offices statewide and 100+ Hawai'i-based employees.

The company generates revenue exclusively through advertising across five streams: radio, digital, television, print/guidebook, and airport OOH. Pricing is custom-quote-based with multi-year contracts, sold through a dedicated direct sales team to enterprise clients (Hawaiian Airlines, Tiffany & Co., OluKai, Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, University of Hawai'i, Hawai'i DOT) and a broad long-tail of local SMBs across tourism, retail, government, and education segments. The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and no public market listing.

Name

Pacific Media Group

Legal name

Pacific Media Group, Inc.

Website

https://pmghawaii.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacific Media Group is a Hawai'i-based, founder-controlled multi-platform media company operating 21 radio stations, three digital news sites, two visitor TV channels, official HVCB guidebooks, and exclusive neighbor-island airport advertising across all four major Hawaiian islands, serving local businesses, tourism operators, and government clients with custom advertising solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Broadcast Media and Advertising

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Commercial Radio Networks (National/Regional) (MPABABAA)

Keywords

• Radio advertising
• Digital advertising
• Airport advertising
• Multi-platform media
• Visitor guidebooks

Headquarters

HQ city

Kahului

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Radio Advertising: Radio advertising sales across 21 radio stations in Hawai'i, offering businesses targeted reach to local communities and visitors through various ad formats and sponsorship opportunities.
2. Digital Advertising: Digital advertising solutions including display ads, video integration, sponsored content, programmatic advertising (DASH), and OTT/CTV advertising across the company's digital platforms and partner networks.
3. Television Advertising: Television advertising on the Maui Visitor Channel and Experience Hawai'i statewide cable channel, reaching visitors in hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals.
4. Print/Guidebook Advertising: Official visitor guidebook publishing in partnership with HVCB, including Experience Oahu, Experience Maui, Experience Kaua'i, and Experience Hawai'i Island guidebooks distributed to visitors.
5. Airport Advertising: Out-of-home advertising at all major Hawai'i neighbor island airports, including digital displays, tension fabric banners, baggage claim takeovers, and jet bridge posters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pacific Media Group operates a cross-platform media business selling advertising across 21 radio stations, three local digital news websites (MauiNow, BigIslandNow, KauaiNow), two visitor television channels, official visitor guidebooks published in partnership with the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, and exclusive out-of-home advertising at all major Hawai'i neighbor island airports. The company packages radio, digital, television, print, and airport inventory into custom campaigns for local businesses, tourism operators, government agencies, and educational institutions seeking to reach Hawai'i residents and visitors.

Product overview

Pacific Media Group is Hawai'i's premier cross-platform media company operating a diversified portfolio of radio, digital news, television, print, and airport advertising products across all major Hawaiian islands. The company operates 21 radio stations, three digital news platforms (MauiNow, Big Island Now, Kauai Now), two television channels (Maui Visitor Channel and Experience Hawaii), the Hawaii Airport Advertising program with exclusive airport rights, and Experience Hawaii Media publishing official visitor guidebooks for all major islands in partnership with HVCB. The company has 5 offices statewide with over 100 Hawai'i-based employees and 30+ media brands, serving both local communities and visitors through multi-platform advertising and content solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KAPA: Radio station serving Hawaii Island
• The Beat Hawaii
• KBIG FM
• Big Island Now
• Hi95Kauai
• KUAI Country
• Shaka 103.1 FM
• Kong Radio
• Kauai Now
• KauaiFM 97
• DaJam 98.3
• Kiss FM Maui
• KPOA
• DASH
• Hi92 Maui
• Maui Now
• ESPN Maui
• Maui Visitor Channel
• KCountry
• Hawaii Airport Advertising
• 105.9 The Wave
• 94.7 Kumu
• 102.7 Da Bomb
• Hi93 Oahu
• Paradise Television
• Experience Hawaii Media

Products and services

• Radio Advertising Network Advertising airtime sold across 21 radio stations spanning O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and Hawai'i Island, offering businesses targeted reach to local communities and visitors through spot ads, sponsorships, and station-level integrations.
• Digital News Advertising (NOW Sites Network)

Quantifiable outcome

• 8% enrollment increase for University of Hawai'i Maui College through digital campaign
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Broadcasting Corporation Niue (BCN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Pacific Media Network (PMN) formalized a new editorial partnership with Broadcasting Corporation Niue to deliver comprehensive multi-platform coverage of the 2026 Niue General Election and key community events. The agreement combines BCN's on-island presence with PMN's digital and broadcast platforms to provide real-time election access to Niuean communities both on the island and in the diaspora, particularly in New Zealand. Both organizations have signaled intentions to build on the partnership beyond 2026.
• Wailuku Film FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 April 2026Pacific Media Group has secured media partnership with the Wailuku Film Festival for its inaugural debut scheduled for June 17–21, 2026 in Wailuku, Maui. The County-supported festival organized by Maui's Film Office aims to establish a thriving local film industry while nurturing emerging storytellers. Selected films span documentaries and shorts rooted in Hawaiian culture and Indigenous storytelling.
• Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partnership for publishing visitor guidebooks for Maui, Kaua'i, O'ahu, and Hawai'i Island. PMG publishes the Experience Hawaii guidebook series in partnership with HVCB, serving as the go-to resource for visitors with recommendations on dining, activities, and cultural attractions.
• Hawai'i Airport Advertising SponsorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPacific Media Group partners with sponsors including HI Finest, Southwest Airlines, Roberts Hawaii, and The SurfJack Hotel & Swim Club for events like the Hawaii's Finest Talent Contest, bringing together talented individuals from across the Hawaiian islands.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Townsquare Media: Townsquare Media is a multi-platform local media operator combining radio stations, digital publishing, live events, and programmatic advertising in mid-sized U.S. markets — the closest structural analog to PMG's owned-and-operated local media model.
• Alpha Media: Alpha Media is a U.S. radio broadcasting group with ~200 stations and growing digital/advertising properties, operating exclusively in mid-sized and regional markets comparable to PMG's Hawaiian island footprint.
• Lotus Communications: Lotus Communications is a privately held regional radio broadcaster with multiple stations and digital properties in Western U.S. markets, mirroring PMG's owned-and-operated station group structure.

Broad incumbents

• Cumulus Media: Cumulus Media is one of the largest U.S. radio broadcasters with hundreds of stations and a national digital/advertising platform (Westwood One), offering overlapping but broader capabilities versus PMG.
• iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the dominant national radio broadcaster with 860+ stations, a national digital audio platform, and live events business — overlapping with PMG across nearly all platforms at vastly greater scale.
• Salem Communications: Salem Communications operates a portfolio of radio stations plus digital and publishing assets focused on niche and regional markets, sharing PMG's local-station economics even though its niche is talk/faith content.
• Cox Media Group: Cox Media Group operates radio, TV, digital, and newspaper properties across regional U.S. markets — a multi-platform model directly comparable to PMG's radio/digital/TV/airport mix.
• Emmis Communications: Emmis Communications is a regional radio broadcaster and publisher (including Indianapolis Monthly-style city magazines) with a portfolio of local media assets comparable to PMG's radio-plus-magazine model.

Regional players

• Hawaii News Now (Hearst): Hawaii News Now is the dominant broadcast TV news operation in Hawai'i (KGMB/KHNL), competing with PMG's NOW Sites for local news audience and station-level ad dollars in the same geography.
• Star-Advertiser (Hawaii): Honolulu Star-Advertiser is Hawai'i's largest daily newspaper with a digital edition, competing with PMG's print guidebook and NOW digital network for advertising and audience attention.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-media-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Media Group