PR - anyone NOT in Spanish?

[Bob E. Nelson]

My work has taken me to area code 809 numerous times, mostly
the Dominican Republic, Caymans and Jamaica. Yet, I've never
been in Puerto Rico -- not even passing through the airport.

Anyway, being totally unfamiliar with the market (and in the
absence of a regional board), are there any stations in
San Juan or elsewhere that target non-Spanish speaking
listeners?

In the old days, I recall that companies like Hearst
(WIAC) and Mooney (was it WUNO) had facilities there. Plus
I seem to remember reading long ago that WHOA/870 was doing
some format in English.

So...what about now?

 

[davideduardo]

> Anyway, being totally unfamiliar with the market (and in the
> absence of a regional board), are there any stations in
> San Juan or elsewhere that target non-Spanish speaking
> listeners?

WOSO 1030 in San Juan is news talk, mostly syndicated stuff from the US.

WIVV 1370 on the Islando of Vieques off SE PR is English religion, but it programs mostly for the USVI and Lesser Antilles than PR.

WBMJ 1190 San Juan has some English religion. Same owner as WIVV.
>
> In the old days, I recall that companies like Hearst
> (WIAC) and Mooney (was it WUNO) had facilities there. Plus
> I seem to remember reading long ago that WHOA/870 was doing
> some format in English.

WHOA was sold and went Spanish about 20 years ago.

Hearst owned WAPA 680, but it was never in English.

Mooney owned WUNO, and it was never in English. In fact, George Mooney bought it in 1970 and I became its GM late that year, arriving from Ecuador. Format was Spanish personality CHR.

From about 1969 to 1973, WBMJ, owned mostly by Bob Hope, was English CHR. It went Spanish announcing, mostly English music in 73. Hope sold in about 1981.

WRAI 1520 was briefly CHR in English in the late 70's. That lasted about 2 years.

Way before, WKYN 630, now WUNO and all news, was English in the early 60's and San Juan's only daytimer then. Sally Jesse Raphael was there for many years.

There is little market for an English station, as the "continentals" are far fewer than when PR was rapidly industrializing in the 50's and 60's. Most management there is now Puerto Rican, and there are just not that many who are not predominantly Spanish speaking.