WIAC (AM)

WIAC
San Juan, Puerto Rico ;
Broadcast area	Puerto Rico
Frequency	740 kHz
Branding	WIAC 740 AM
Programming
Format	News Talk/Spanish variety format
Affiliations	Square Multimedia
Ownership
Owner	Bestov Broadcast Group; (Bestov Broadcasting, Inc.);
Sister stations	WYAC, WISA
History
First air date	March 1947;77 years ago
Former call signs	WIBS (1947–1951)
Former frequencies	580 kHz (1942–1951)
Call sign meaning	West Indies Advertising Company
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Class	B
Power	10,000 watts
Transmitter coordinates	18°21′24″N66°14′56″W / 18.35667°N 66.24889°W
Links
Public license information	Public file ; LMS ;
Website	www.wiac740.com

Last updated November 21, 2024

WIAC (740 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information and Spanish variety format. Licensed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, it serves the Puerto Rico area. The station is currently owned by Bestov Broadcast Group.

History

Puerto Rico's first advertising agency, the West Indies Advertising Company (WIAC), was founded in San Juan in 1933, by the Abarca family, which also owned a successful structural steel company. By 1942 the advertisement agency's management founded WIAC at 580 kHz, with Félix Muñiz, the brother of Tomás Muñiz (and uncle of Tommy Muñiz, as its administrator. Due to the untimely death of Félix, Tomás became the station's administrator soon after.

WIAC operated on 580 kHz in San Juan from 1942 to 1947, a frequency later occupied by WKAQ. WIAC officially began operations in March 1947, moving to 740 AM, replacing WIBS in Santurce.

During the 1950s and 1970s, WIAC was the only radio station broadcasting weather forecasts every 10 minutes and public affairs programming.

In 1961, Bestov Broadcasting, Inc. (a radio company owned by Alan Mejía and his brother, Luis Mejía) acquired the station, along with WIAC-FM 102.5 FM (formerly Sistema 102), which began operations that same year. In 1962, Bestov acquired WISA 1390 AM in Isabela serving the western and north area, and it is owned by Mejia's subsidiary, Isabela Broadcasting, Inc., this serving as a satellite of WIAC. In 1982, WIAC changed its news programming, with the branding of "WIAC NotiReloj". In 1998, WIAC NotiReloj became Cadena Radio Puerto Rico, with a News/Talk format. In 1999, Bestov Broadcast Group acquired WEKO 930 (now WYAC) in Cabo Rojo from David Ortiz Cintron, a radio entrepreneur from Cabo Rojo, which becomes a repeater of WIAC. Bestov also acquired WTIL 1300 AM in Mayaguez and would become the repeater of WEKO until 2003.

In 2009, WIAC reached an agreement with Boricua-JE Broadcasting, inc., the station's licensee to change to Boricua 740.

On February 1, 2012 WIAC's owner Bestov Broadcast Group joined in an alliance with Noti-Luz, buying from Empower Media Group, forming Puerto Rico's only AM and FM news and talk station. The Noti-Luz Network consisted of WGIT 1660 AM in Canóvanas, WIAC 740 AM in San Juan/Ponce, WYAC 930 AM in Cabo Rojo/Mayagüez, WISA 1390 AM in Isabela, WJDZ 90.1 FM in Pastillo, WNNV 91.7 FM in San Germán, WEKO 1580 AM in Morovis and WXRF 1590 AM in Guayama.

On June 1, 2012, it changed its slogan from "Radio 740" to "Acción 740", later, "Acción Radio" with news at the top of the hour. that same month, WIAC was purchased by Héctor Marcano Martínez's subsidiary, Metro Media Broadcasting, which also owns WWXY-LD Channel 8.1 (Tiva TV) in San Juan.

On October 2, a legendary broadcast pioneer Alan Mejía and former owner Bestov Broadcast Group returned to WIAC and changed their news/talk programming to a Spanish Variety format as "WIAC 740 La Original". In November 2012, the station's programming was changed.

From March 2016 to June 2017, WIAC 740 AM broadcast Monday-Friday from 3AM to 10PM, Saturdays from 4AM to 11PM and Sundays from 5AM to 10PM, while its station website, WIAC740.com, continued operating during the overnight hours for additional programming.

In June 2017, WIAC 740 AM switched back to broadcast operations of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, in August WIAC returned to broadcast operations until 10PM, on Saturdays from 4AM to 11PM and Sundays from 5AM until 9PM, due to the passage of Hurricane Maria, as WIAC was forced to reduce operations because of damages in the transmitter antenna caused by the Hurricane. WIAC reduced its operations from a Diesel generator until 6PM. In 2018, WIAC returned to its full 24-hour broadcast operation. However, in June, WIAC returned to reduced operations, ending their broadcast day at 6PM, occasionally on Wednesdays, Thursdays and weekends, at 7PM.

Synchronous relay station

Until late 2016, WIAC's programming was relayed through an experimental synchronous booster station that also transmitted on 740 kHz, WI2XAC in Ponce, which was originally licensed on November 24, 2009.^[1]

On November 29, 2016 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stated that WI2XAC's license would only be renewed for 6 months, after which the station would be deleted. The reason given was that the station had exceeded the 6 year maximum permitted for experimental authorizations.^[1]

A reconsideration petition was denied, and WI2XAC's license was deleted on November 30, 2016. As a result, WIAC's programming was no longer heard in southern Puerto Rico.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSTE-DT</span> Independent TV station in Ponce, Puerto Rico

WSTE-DT, branded on air as Teleisla, is a Spanish-language independent television station serving San Juan, Puerto Rico, that is licensed to Ponce. It is owned by TelevisaUnivision. The station maintains its studios on Calle Carazo in Guaynabo. To provide island-wide coverage, WSTE maintains a network of five transmitter sites, located at Cerro Maravilla in Ponce, at Cerro La Marquesa in Aguas Buenas, at Cerro Canta Gallo in Aguada, on Highway 22 in Arecibo, and at the Monte del Estado in San Germán.

The media of Puerto Rico includes local radio stations, television stations and newspapers; for the majority of all these the language is Spanish. There are also three stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.

WTCV is a television station in San Juan, Puerto Rico, serving as the U.S. territory's outlet for the Spanish-language network Mega TV. Owned and operated by Spanish Broadcasting System, it is sister to radio stations WZNT, WZMT, WODA, WNOD, W276AI, WRXD, WNVI, W233CW, W238CR, WIOB, WMEG and WEGM. WTCV shares studios with independent station WJPX at the Amelia Industrial Park in Guaynabo; the two stations share transmitter facilities at Barrio Cubuy in Canovanas.

WSKN is a radio station. WSKN serves San Juan, Puerto Rico and is owned by Media Power Group. The station serves as the flagship station of the Radio Isla Network and carries a Spanish-language news and talk format.

WKAQ is a commercial AM radio station in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Currently owned by WAPA Media Group, the station airs a Spanish language talk radio format. Its programming is repeated on WUKQ, which broadcasts on 1420 kHz in Ponce, and WYEL which broadcasts on 600 kHz in Mayagüez. The station was the first radio station to broadcast in Puerto Rico. According to Ernesto Vigoreaux, in the early days of music in Puerto Rico, the musicians would record music at the WKAQ radio station. WKAQ is the Puerto Rico primary entry point station for the Emergency Alert System.

WFID, branded on-air as Fidelity, is a radio station licensed to serve Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, established in 1958. As of 2015 it is owned by the Uno Radio Group, and the broadcast license held by Madifide, Inc.

WPUC-FM, branded on-air as Católica Radio, is a non-commercial educational radio station broadcasting an Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Ponce, Puerto Rico, the station serves the entirety of the island with the aid of a booster at Caguas and a translator covering Mayagüez. The station is owned by Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Service Association, Incorporated.

WMIO, branded on-air as HOT 102, is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40/CHR format. Licensed to Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, it serves the Puerto Rico area. The station is currently owned by Uno Radio Group and repeats the audio of WCMN-FM.

WCMN-FM, branded on-air as HOT 102, is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40/CHR format. Licensed to Arecibo, Puerto Rico, it serves the Puerto Rico area. The station is currently owned by Uno Radio Group.

WUNO is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, it serves the Puerto Rico area. The station is currently owned by Uno Radio Group and features programming from CNN Radio. The station's programming is also heard on translator station W232DH 94.3 FM, serving the entire metropolitan area.

WTIL, branded on-air as WAPA Radio, is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, it serves the Puerto Rico area. The station is currently owned by NotiRadio Broadcasting, LLC. The station is part of the WAPA Radio News Network and features programming from CNN en Español. The station is shared with translator station W265EC 100.9 FM, also in Mayaguez. WTIL was founded in 1950 by Gilbert Mamery, and changed owners over the years. WTIL is the second oldest radio station in the western region.

WAPA is a radio station licensed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, broadcasting a news-talk format. The station serves as the flagship station of the WAPA Radio News Network and is owned by Wifredo G. Blanco-Pi. It is an affiliate of CNN en Español radio news network. The station is rebroadcast at 95.3 FM by translator station W237FF, also located in San Juan.

WBQN is a radio station broadcasting a news talk format. Licensed to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, it serves the Western Puerto Rico area. The station is part of the WAPA Radio News Network and it is currently owned by NotiRadio Broadcasting, LLC, managed by Wifredo G. Blanco-Pi. The station is shared with translator station W286DL 105.1 FM also in Aguadilla.

WVVI-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands. The station is owned by Philip E. Kuhlman and Ellen N. Kuhlman as joint tenants. The station is operated by JKC Communications under a leasing agreement. WVVI-FM has been airing the current country format since 2011.

WPRP is a radio station broadcasting a News radio format. Licensed to Ponce, Puerto Rico, the station serves the Puerto Rico area. The station is currently owned by Arso Radio Corporation. The station is shared with translator station W238DH 95.5 FM also located in Ponce.

WVOZ is a radio station broadcasting a news talk format as part of the "WAPA Radio News Network". Licensed to Ponce, Puerto Rico, the station is owned by Wilfredo G. Blanco Pi, licensed to NotiRadio Broadcasting, LLC.

WISA is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish News/Talk format. It is licensed to Isabela, Puerto Rico. The station serves as a semi-satellite for WIAC 740 and is currently owned by Radio Noroeste Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Bestov Broadcast Group. It airs a News/Talk format.

WYAC, branded on-air as WYAC 930 AM, is a radio station licensed to serve Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. The station serves as a satellite of WIAC 740 AM in San Juan and it is owned by Bestov Broadcast Group. It airs a News/Talk/Variety format.

WBYM is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian format. licensed to serve Bayamón, Puerto Rico, The station is owned by Pura Palabra Media Group. Now the station has a new, modern and more powerful transmitter to improve the power, the range of the signal and the quality of the sound. The station is shared with translator stations W268BK in San Juan and W251DA in Vega Baja.

WTOK-FM, branded on-air as HOT 102, is a radio station based in San Juan, Puerto Rico and owned by Uno Radio Group and its license held by Jesus Soto's WIAC-FM, Inc.

References

1 2 "In re: WI2XAC(AM), Ponce, Puerto Rico: Application for Renewal of AM Experimental Booster Station License", correspondence from FCC Audio Division, Media Bureau, November 29, 2016.

External links

FCC History Cards for WIAC (covering 1946-1980 as WIBS / WIAC)
Facility details for Facility ID 4935 (WIAC) in the FCC Licensing and Management System

WIAC in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
FCC Station Search Details: DWI2XAC (Facility ID: 132564)

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[renewal-1] 1 2 "In re: WI2XAC(AM), Ponce, Puerto Rico: Application for Renewal of AM Experimental Booster Station License", correspondence from FCC Audio Division, Media Bureau, November 29, 2016.

[1]