WKAQ (580
kHz
The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that on ...
) is a commercial
AM radio station
Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...
in
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan (, , ; Spanish for "Saint John") is the capital city and most populous municipality in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2020 census, it is the 57th-largest city under the jur ...
. Currently owned by
Hemisphere Media Group
Hemisphere refers to:
* A half of a sphere
As half of the Earth
* A hemisphere of Earth
** Northern Hemisphere
** Southern Hemisphere
** Eastern Hemisphere
** Western Hemisphere
** Land and water hemispheres
* A half of the (geocentric) celestia ...
, the station airs a
Spanish language
Spanish ( or , Castilian) is a Romance languages, Romance language of the Indo-European language family that evolved from colloquial Latin spoken on the Iberian peninsula. Today, it is a world language, global language with more than 500 millio ...
talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often featur ...
format. Its programming is repeated on WUKQ, which broadcasts on 1420 kHz in
Ponce, and
WYEL
WYEL (600 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish language talk radio format, repeating San Juan station WKAQ AM. It is licensed to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez (, ) is a city and the eighth-largest municipality in Puerto Rico. ...
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
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national warning system in the United States designed to allow authorized officials to broadcast emergency alerts and warning messages to the public via cable, satellite, or broadcast television, and both ...
.
WKAQ was owned for many years by Angel Ramos, owner of the ''
El Mundo'' newspaper, and eventual namesake for
WKAQ-TV
WKAQ-TV (channel 2) is a television station in San Juan, Puerto Rico, airing programming from the Telemundo and NBC networks. It is Owned-and-operated station, owned and operated by the Telemundo Station Group subsidiary of NBCUniversal. WKAQ-T ...
, branded as
Telemundo
Telemundo (; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language Terrestrial television, terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Television and Streaming#NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a divi ...
. The ''El Mundo'' operated until 1986 when labor strikes and acts of terrorism ended its operation.
On May 9, 2022,
Hemisphere Media Group
Hemisphere refers to:
* A half of a sphere
As half of the Earth
* A hemisphere of Earth
** Northern Hemisphere
** Southern Hemisphere
** Eastern Hemisphere
** Western Hemisphere
** Land and water hemispheres
* A half of the (geocentric) celestia ...
, the owners of
WAPA-TV
WAPA-TV (channel 4) is a Spanish language in the United States, Spanish-language Independent station (North America), independent television station in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is owned by :es:Hemisphere Media Group, Hemisphere Media Group, w ...
announced they will purchase WKAQ-AM, WKAQ-FM, WUKQ-AM, WUKQ-FM and WYEL from Univision Radio. The deal marks Hemisphere's entry to the radio business. The transaction was completed on September 13, 2022 putting both the WKAQ-AM and KQ105 FM brand under the same as WAPA-TV. During WAPA's 2023 upfront presentation, the network's management alluded that talent from the channel would also be joining the radio stations in the future and vice versa.
Notable current on-air staff
*
Jay Fonseca
Josué Fonseca Aponte (better known as Jay Fonseca) is a Puerto Rican journalist, radio host, lawyer, and political analyst. Fonseca appeared in ''Día a Día'' and ''Telenoticias'' on Telemundo Puerto Rico for eleven years until he announced ...
- ''Jay en el 580''
*
Rubén Sánchez - ''Temprano en la Mañana''
*
Ángel Rosa
Ángel R. Rosa Rodriguez is a Puerto Rican politician and an academic. Rosa served in the 25th Senate of Puerto Rico. He is a tenured professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. Politically, Rosa is affiliated with the Popu ...
- ''Las Cosas como Son''
*
Carlos Díaz Olivo
Carlos Eduardo Díaz Olivo is a Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican attorney, professor of law, former politician, and political analyst.
Early years and education
Carlos Díaz Olivo was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico. He co ...
– political analyst ''WKAQ Analiza''
* Luis Pabón Roca - political analyst ''WKAQ Analiza''
* Veronique Abreu Tañon - ''WKAQ Intimus''
References
External links
FCC History Cards for WKAQFCC History Cards for WUKQOfficial website
News and talk radio stations in Puerto Rico
Radio stations established in 1922
Univision Radio Network stations
KAQ
1922 establishments in Puerto Rico
Radio stations licensed before 1923 and still broadcasting
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