Puerto Rico’s WAPA TV celebrates its 70th anniversary

WAPA TV, the pioneering television station in Puerto Rico, is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Launched on May 1, 1954, by renowned attorney, civic leader, and media executive José Ramón Quiñones, WAPA TV quickly became one of the first TV stations on the island, marking a significant milestone in Puerto Rico’s broadcasting history.

Throughout the next 70 years it would become an iconic brand that has served as the flagship station to a growing media conglomerate.

In 2004, WAPA TV became the first station in Puerto Rico and the 7th television station in the U.S. to become a satellite-distributed superstation with the creation of WAPA América, a cable network that allowed Puerto Ricans across the United States to stay connected with their beloved island.

Under the ownership of Intermedia Partners, which later became Hemisphere Media Group, the station continued to evolve, ushering in a new era of interactive communication with the launch of the new WAPA.tv website and WAPA MÓVIL in 2007, providing viewers with enhanced engagement opportunities. In addition, WAPA TV’s remarkable success and expansion, in hand with its unparalleled brand trust, propelled the creation of WAPA Deportes, the only local channel dedicated to sports.

Furthermore, the acquisition in 2023 of the top AM and FM stations on the island, WKAQ 580AM and KQ105 FM, prompted the launch of WAPA Media, the leading multi-platform media company on the island, progressively expanding the business, most recently to include podcasting and streaming content, and continues to innovate with the launch of FAST channel WAPA+.

Today, after 70 years of operation, and under Hemisphere Media Group’s management, WAPA TV stands as the undisputed leader in Puerto Rico’s television landscape and WAPA Media’s flagship platform. For 14 consecutive years, WAPA TV has been the number one TV broadcaster on the island, not only in terms of audience ratings but also in the quantity and quality of local productions, boasting 70 hours of locally produced news and entertainment programming, along with blockbuster movies, highly rated novelas and favorite U.S. series.

“While audiences in the U.S. are abandoning the linear TV model in favor of streaming, WAPA TV has defied the trend, becoming the best story in broadcasting today, not only outperforming its competitors on the island, but also boasting unparalleled ratings versus its counterparts in the U.S. With a rich history and a bright future ahead, WAPA TV remains dedicated to providing exceptional content and maintaining its unwavering leadership in the industry,” said Alan Sokol, president, and CEO, Hemisphere Media Group.

“WAPA TV is not just turning 70 years old; WAPA is part of Puerto Rico’s history. It’s its essence. It’s authentically boricua; a never-ending source of talent, in front of and behind the cameras, that today triumph not only on the island, but in many places throughout the U.S. As one of the earliest television channels in Latin American TV, to call it home is an honor, and to witness how history is written through its screen, a privilege,” added Jimmy Arteaga, CCO of Hemisphere and president of Programming, Production and Promotions of WAPA.