Hawaii ABC-network affiliate KITV is being sold by New York-based Hearst Television to California-based SJL Broadcast Management.

“We expect the transaction to close later this year pending requisite regulatory approvals,” said Hearst spokesman Tom Campo, in a statement.

Hearst has owned KITV and neighbor island sister-stations KMAU-TV and KHVO-TV on Maui and Hawaii island, respectively, for 18 years.

Hearst “is proud of its ownership … and of our KITV colleagues,” the statement continued. “We’ll continue to work with the KITV team during the transition.”

SJL is the same company that bought KHON-TV in 2006. 

The transition team brought in to run KHON announced multiple job cuts and other changes that resulted in the mass resignations of the station’s management executives, including General Manager Rick Blangiardi, who went on to lead Hawaii News Now’s KGMB-TV and KHNL-TV.