Radio
Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmi ...
in
Honduras began in 1928, when the Tela Railroad Company established ''Tropical Radio''. The first commercial radio station, ''Radio HRN'', began
broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium, but typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum ( radio waves), in a one-to-many model. Broadcasting beg ...
in 1933.
History
In August 1920 a group known as ''Los Chicos del Coliseo'' began broadcasting from
Teatro Coliseo
The Teatro Coliseo is a theatre in Retiro neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina which opened on July 8, 1905.
History
The Coliseum Theatre opened in 1905 as living the American circus clown Frank Brown, of great importance in the origins of ...
in
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...
, but it would take many years for radio to arrive in places such as the isthmus of Central America. In Honduras, radio experimentation had begun with local transmissions. American companies (known as ''bananeras'') were just a few of the companies providing employment before and after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
In 1928 the Tela Railroad Company (one of the two major railroads) had received a license to establish a radio station (known as Tropical Radio). It broadcast on the 51-meter
shortwave band, and HRB (''La Voz del Trópico'') was the first radio station in Honduras. HRB was not a
"commercial" radio station. It was a medium for the Tela Railroad Company to broadcast its own bulletins.
It also played recorded music and featured live performances by local talent (including the Sisters Cordova and pianist Guadalupe Ferrari Hartling), marimba bands, singers, poets and other artists. HRB did not last long, but it inspired several individuals to keep the broadcasting flame alive.
Rafael Ferrari Garcia, an entrepreneur with great ambitions but little money, sold everything he owned to embark on a risky plan; he received permission to install the first commercial radio station in
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa (, , ), formally Tegucigalpa, Municipality of the Central District ( es, Tegucigalpa, Municipio del Distrito Central or ''Tegucigalpa, M.D.C.''), and colloquially referred to as ''Tegus'' or ''Teguz'', is the capital and largest city ...
. It was known as ''La Voz del Comercio''; to maintain its operation, he obtained commercial sponsorship from local businesses (retail and professional) and government agencies. From this HRN (''La Primera Emisora del País'') was born; Ferrari was credited as the first radio personality in Honduras.
The station was founded on November 1, 1933. Kenneth See and Paul John were the principal technical engineers and attorney Manuel Bonilla Rodriguez, Nicholas Odeh, Rodolfo Brevé Martinez and Ferrari were the station’s staff announcers. Bonilla Rodriguez was the first to broadcast a soccer game in 1935 between a
Costa Rican team and Club Motagua, a renowned Honduran team. Assisting Bonilla as engineer was Nat Lopez Fuentes, from a family radio dynasty known nationwide.
There were only a handful of radio receivers and in order to reach a wide audience Ferrari installed loudspeakers at various locations in Tegucigalpa. This was a daily pastime, an occasion for locals to meet and enjoy the programming. At first the programming was limited to news, government bulletins and recorded music. However, during the 1940s the station acquired a more powerful transmitter, reaching
audiences in faraway countries with its shortwave signal.
HRN was important during War World II, since it rebroadcast information from the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
in the United States. Ferrari continued his support of local talent with broadcasts including pianists, marimba bands, orchestras, singers, poets, composers, comedians and amateur artists. After the war, Europe, Asia and North America began to rebuild their economies and Honduras enjoyed some prosperity and tranquility under the Carias Andino regime.
HRN became one of many private enterprises which enjoyed a modest increase in business. During this time, the station replaced ''La Voz del Comercio'' for its current slogan, ''La Voz de Honduras''. Ferrari expanded the station, providing opportunity to a new generation of promising talent; some became household names, solidifying HRN's position as a powerhouse of Central American radio.
;Top 20 Honduras Radio Personalities
#Rafael Ferrari García
#Antonio Mazariegos Velasco
#Nicholas Odeh
#Manuel Bonilla Rodriguez
#Rodolfo Brevé Martinez
#Rigoberto Cuellar Cerrato
#Gustavo Acosta Mejía
#Raul Agüero Neda
#Christina Rubio
#Manuel Villeda Toledo
#Francisco Rolando Ramos
#Nahum Valladares
#Ruben “Chito” Fuentes Flores
#Moisés Ulloa Duarte
#Orfa Mejía Arauz
#Jorge Figueroa Rush
#Sigfrido Munez
#Roberto Diaz Lechuga
#Carlos Eduardo Riedel Morales
#Hector Maradiaga Mendoza
.
. At that time Tegucigalpa (the capital) comprised two cities, divided by the Rio Choluteca. It was a small metropolis, both geographically and in population. Radio America broadcast with three
of power; small by later standards, but sufficient for experimentation. Soon it increased its power to 10 kW, easily reaching audiences in the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela.
The station was first owned by Sergio Castellón who, within a few years, sold it to Cuban entrepreneur
. Peña, bringing the Cuban concept of radio as a fresh approach, began with live performances (especially ''radio-novelas'', or soap-operas). Peña brought in Emilio Díaz; the two developed programs popular in Cuba such as ''"La Tremenda Corte"'', which was known throughout Latin America. Subsequently Dr. Andonie Fernandez bought the station, maintaining its tradition while ushering in a new era.
Several changes took place, the most important of which was the addition of well-known radio personalities and the highest-rated program (''“Platicando con mi Barbero”'', after the cast left HRN). This program featured a group headed by humorist
, considered a genius for his comic range and originality. Padgett had gathered the best-known talent of the time, including Julio Lopez Fuentes, Abelardo Enrique Avendaño and Ricardo Antonio Redondo Licona. Like HRN, Radio America strives to improve; Fernandez created a conglomerate within the communications industry in
.