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Is OC16 available on Hawaiian Telcom? Here’s the honest answer

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OC16 is one of Hawaii’s most beloved local TV institutions. Whether you’re watching Rainbow Warriors football, catching a high school championship, or tuning in to see familiar local faces, it’s the kind of channel that feels like home. So naturally, one of the first questions we hear from customers considering Hawaiian Telcom is: “Will I still get OC16?”

We believe in giving you straight answers — so here it is.

The direct answer

OC16 is not available on Hawaiian Telcom. It is a Spectrum-exclusive channel, owned by Charter Communications, and is only available to Spectrum cable subscribers in Hawaii. As an authorized Hawaiian Telcom retailer, we want to be upfront about this so you can make the right decision for your household. Click here to sign up for Spectrum

Why OC16 is Spectrum-only

OC16 has been a part of Hawaii’s media landscape since 1976, starting out as a cable access channel before evolving into what it is today — two feeds under one brand. There’s the general interest channel (ch. 12) and Spectrum Sports Hawaii (ch. 16), which airs live University of Hawaii athletics and local high school sports.

When Charter Communications acquired Oceanic Time Warner Cable in 2016, OC16 became a Spectrum property. Since then, it has remained exclusive to Spectrum subscribers and is not licensed to other TV providers in the state, including Hawaiian Telcom. This is a business decision by Spectrum, not something Hawaiian Telcom can change.

“OC16 has aired local Hawaii content since 1976 — it’s genuinely a community staple. We understand why it matters to so many households.”

What Hawaiian Telcom does carry

Here’s the good news: if UH sports is the main reason you watch OC16, Hawaiian Telcom has you more covered than you might expect.

Spectrum Sports is available on Hawaiian Telcom — channel 89. This carries live University of Hawaii athletics, including Rainbow Warriors football, basketball, baseball, and more — the same UH sports content that airs on OC16’s sports feed.

Your full options for watching UH & local sports

  • 1
    Spectrum Sports — ch. 89 on Hawaiian Telcom Live University of Hawaii athletics, included in Advantage TV packages and above.
  • 2
    UH Pay-Per-View channels (ch. 437–439) Select games, full-season packages, and away game packages available as affordable add-ons. Great for die-hard Rainbow Warriors fans.
  • 3
    OC16 app & oc16.tv Some on-demand content from OC16 is available free online at oc16.tv — no Spectrum subscription required for select programming.
  • 4
    Streaming services Platforms like Peacock, ESPN+, and the ESPN app carry many UH games depending on the sport and broadcast rights for that season.

Is Hawaiian Telcom still worth it?

That depends on what matters most to your household. If OC16’s local general-interest programming is something you watch daily, that’s a real consideration worth thinking through. But for the large number of customers who mostly care about catching UH games, channel 89 and the PPV add-ons cover the bases well — often at a better overall package value than Spectrum.

Hawaiian Telcom’s fiber-based Fioptics+ service offers reliable speeds, local customer support right here in Hawaii, and competitive TV packages. We’re always happy to walk you through what’s included so you can compare honestly and make the right call for your ‘ohana.

Have questions? We’re here.
As an authorized Hawaiian Telecom retailer, we can walk you through current packages, pricing, and exactly what channels are included — no pressure, no runaround. Just give us a call and we will walk you through plans and maybe cut your bill in half.

View the full Hawaiian Telecom channel guide →

Disclosure: We are an authorized Hawaiian Telcom retailer. This article is intended to help Hawaii residents make informed decisions about their TV service. Channel availability is subject to change — visit Fiberinternethawaii.com for the most current lineup. OC16 and Spectrum Sports are trademarks of Charter Communications and are not affiliated with this retailer or Hawaiian Telecom.

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