WAPA (AM)

WAPA (680 AM) is a radio station licensed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, broadcasting a News Talk Information format. The station is owned by Wifredo G. Blanco-Pi (d/b/a Grupo AM Puerto Rico). It is an affiliate of CNN en Español radio news network.

WAPA
CitySan Juan, Puerto Rico
Broadcast areaPuerto Rico
Frequency680 kHz
BrandingWAPA Radio
SloganLa Poderosa
(The Powerful)
Programming
FormatNews Talk Information
AffiliationsCNN en Español
Ownership
OwnerGrupo AM Puerto Rico
(Wifredo G. Blanco-Pi)
WISO
WMIA
WBQN
WTIL
WVOZ
WXRF
History
First air date
January 15, 1947
Call sign meaning
Asociación de Productores de Azúcar
Technical information
Facility ID8889
ClassB
Power10,000 watts (day)
9,500 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates
18°24′16″N 65°56′52″W
Translator(s)W237FF (95.3 MHz, San Juan)
Links
Websitewaparadiopr.com

The station is shared with translator station W237FF 95.3 FM also located in San Juan.

The station was relayed through an experimental synchronous station, WA2XPA Arecibo, which also broadcasts on 680 kHz. On April 19, 2017 the Federal Communications Commission ruled that WA2XPA's license will not be renewed. The ruling stated that it must discontinue operation on May 7, 2017 and the license would be cancelled on May 8, 2017.[1][2][3][4]

A petition for review of the order to cancel WA2XPA's license was submitted on April 24, 2017.[5] The petition was withdrawn on September 5, 2017, and the license was cancelled on April 24, 2018.

History

Its call letters are a partial abbreviation of the station's original owners, the now-defunct Asociación de Productores de Azúcar, or Puerto Rico Sugar Grower's Association. In the late 1960s, it was acquired by Hearst Corporation. In 1991 it was acquired by NotiRadio Broadcasting (Eng. Wifredo G. Blanco-Pi, owner & his son Eng. Jorge Blanco, news director).

WAPA was the only radio station to remain on the air throughout the passage of Hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017. The station helped family members contact each other by relaying messages of safety. WAPA's programming will be reduced to 17 and a half hours from 4:45AM until 9PM, operating with a diesel generator, that some areas of the transmitters don't have electrical grid. As of 2018, WAPA's programming is heard on weekdays from 4:45AM to 10PM, Saturdays from 5AM to 10PM and Sundays from 6AM to 10PM.

WAPA Radio over the years

In 1996, NotiRadio Broadcasting acquires radio station WISO 1260 in Ponce from South Puerto Rico Broadcasting Corporation (founded by Luis Freyre in 1953), this would become the second radio station of the WAPA Radio News Network. In 2014, after 66 years of local operation, WXRF 1590 AM in Guayama (originally founded by Jose Fuster) finally acquires from International Broadcasting Corporation to NotiRadio Broadcasting for $100,000, this become the third radio station of WAPA Radio. Then on March 24, the station changed its call letters to WGYA. On March 14, 2017, after a year off the air due to transmitter problems, NotiRadio Broadcasting resumes operations WVOZ 1580 AM in Morovis-Manatí, rejoining the WAPA Radio News Network, since its establishment, 35 years ago in 1981. That station acquires from International Broadcasting Corporation for $150,000, this leaves WVOZ became silent due to technical maitenance and financial reasons in April 2016. The Network consists of 7 radio stations all across Puerto Rico. On May 7, 2017, WAPA will cease operations on experimental synchronized stations in WA2XPA Arecibo, WI2XSO Mayagüez and WI3XSO Aguadilla. All 3 stations cancelled the licenses the next day, on May 8, 2017. On March 2, 2017, WAPA Radio is acquiring WMIA 1070 AM in Arecibo (originally owned by Abacoa Radio Corporation) for over $250,000, and the sale was completed on April 14, 2017. On May 1, WMIA became the new WAPA Radio News Network station, serving the northern area. Also, WVOZ will changed its city of license from Morovis to Aguadilla, currently occupied by WI3XSO, which its license is cancelled on May 8. The move of the city of license was granted on December 28, 2017. Now, WAPA Radio will provide a network of five radio stations across the island. On June 21, 2017, WTIL 1300 AM in Mayaguez buys for a three-way swap from La Mas Z Radio, Inc., when awaiting the transaction completes, this becomes the sixth radio station of the WAPA Radio News Network on August 1. On August 3, WGYA changed back to the original WXRF call letters. On August 15, the sale of WTIL to Blanco Pi was completed.

WAPA Advertisement from 1949

Affiliates

WAPA's programming is heard on over seven AM radio stations across the island.

Call sign Frequency City of license FCC info
WAPA680 AMSan Juan, Puerto RicoFCC
WISO1260 AMPonce, Puerto RicoFCC
WTIL1300 AMMayaguez, Puerto RicoFCC
WMIA1070 AMArecibo, Puerto RicoFCC
WVOZ1580 AMAguadilla, Puerto RicoFCC
WXRF1590 AMGuayama, Puerto RicoFCC
WBQN1160 AMBarceloneta-Manati, Puerto RicoFCC

Translator stations

WAPA's programming can also heard on seven FM translators.

Broadcast translators of WAPA
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		FCC info
W237FF95.3 FMSan Juan, Puerto Rico.25FCC
Broadcast translators of WISO
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		FCC info
W268DJ101.5 FMPonce, Puerto Rico.25FCC
Broadcast translators of WTIL
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		FCC info
W265EC100.9 FMMayaguez, Puerto Rico.25FCC
Broadcast translators of WMIA
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		FCC info
W227DY93.3 FMArecibo, Puerto Rico.125FCC
Broadcast translators of WBQN
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		FCC info
W221EL92.1 FMBarceloneta, Puerto Rico.25FCC
Broadcast translators of WVOZ
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		FCC info
W286DL105.1 FMAguadilla, Puerto Rico.25FCC
Broadcast translators of WXRF
Call signFrequency
(MHz)		City of licenseERP
(W)		FCC info
W280FS103.9 FMGuayama, Puerto Rico.25FCC

References
  1. Blanco-Pi Loses Experimental Licenses Radio World - April 20, 2017
  2. Application for Renewal of License Federal Communications Commission - November 7, 2016
  3. Petition for Reconsideration Federal Communications Commission - April 19, 2017
  4. "Field Trial Results of AM Transmitter Carrier Synchronization" (PDF). Thomas F. King; Stephen F. Smith. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  5. "Petition for Review" (PDF). Wifredo G. Blanco-Pi. April 24, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
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