Spanish-language top of the hour IDs

[Identnut]

Here's a question that's been bothering me for some time? Why do stations, even they have a Spanish-language format, do the top of the hour IDs in English? Why don't we hear anything from "doble u-ese-ka-cu, New York" or "ka-ese-ce-a, Glendale-Los Angeles"? I've only heard a handful of stations identifying themselves in English. One of them is the Radio Vida Abundante network. The other is owned by a big company: Univision's La Jefa 107.7 in Austin identified herself as "ca-ele-jota-a".

Meanwhile, here in Puerto Rico, nearly all the stations identify in Spanish. You don't hear the call sign as "double u-pee-ar-em" but as "doble u-pe-ere-eme". Some of them, like Noti-Uno's, don't even follow the rules of ID's. "Escuchas 'doble ve-u-ene-o', NotiUno 630 AM en San Juan, 'doble ve-pe-ere-pe 910 AM en Ponce, 'doble ve-o-ere-a' 710 AM en Mayagüez, 'doble ve-ce-eme-ene' 1280 AM en Arecibo y 'doble ve-ene-e-ele AM en Caguas!" You can see that they break the rule of having anything other than the frequency between the call sign and the city of license. Why is that?

 

[davideduardo]

Here's a question that's been bothering me for some time? Why do stations, even they have a Spanish-language format, do the top of the hour IDs in English? Why don't we hear anything from "doble u-ese-ka-cu, New York" or "ka-ese-ce-a, Glendale-Los Angeles"? I've only heard a handful of stations identifying themselves in English. One of them is the Radio Vida Abundante network. The other is owned by a big company: Univision's La Jefa 107.7 in Austin identified herself as "ca-ele-jota-a".

Meanwhile, here in Puerto Rico, nearly all the stations identify in Spanish. You don't hear the call sign as "double u-pee-ar-em" but as "doble u-pe-ere-eme". Some of them, like Noti-Uno's, don't even follow the rules of ID's. "Escuchas 'doble ve-u-ene-o', NotiUno 630 AM en San Juan, 'doble ve-pe-ere-pe 910 AM en Ponce, 'doble ve-o-ere-a' 710 AM en Mayagüez, 'doble ve-ce-eme-ene' 1280 AM en Arecibo y 'doble ve-ene-e-ele AM en Caguas!" You can see that they break the rule of having anything other than the frequency between the call sign and the city of license. Why is that?

At one time in Puerto Rico, many stations ID'ed in English... they thought it correct. And, on occasion, stations that did not use the call letters "burried" them by saying the ID in English.... "Double You Dee Oh Why, Fajardo San Juan es Yyyyyyy noventa y seis" was one 80's example. For a while, it was thought that only in PR could Spanish IDs be done. Obviously, enforcement or lack of same creates precedent and now stations can ID in either English or Spanish on the Island.

On the mainland, while IDs in Spanish are now accepted (the rule does not specify language), most stations stick with custom and do them in English, since the calls are not used by most as part of the identity.

And you can put the name of the licensee, channel and network affiliation between the calls and the COL. While some interpret the network affiliation to be a TV only rule, the NotiUno insertion in the case you give does comply with the rules as NotiUno is a network. (73.1201)

In your other example, KSCA, the station never uses "KSCA" to identify to listeners the station... so using the calls in English makes sense and avoids some confusion while complying with the rules.

 

[Identnut]

At one time in Puerto Rico, many stations ID'ed in English... they thought it correct. And, on occasion, stations that did not use the call letters "burried" them by saying the ID in English.... "Double You Dee Oh Why, Fajardo San Juan es Yyyyyyy noventa y seis" was one 80's example. For a while, it was thought that only in PR could Spanish IDs be done. Obviously, enforcement or lack of same creates precedent and now stations can ID in either English or Spanish on the Island.

I recall the tophour ID for that station. But why did they pronounce it "I-96", not "Ye-96"?

And you can put the name of the licensee, channel and network affiliation between the calls and the COL. While some interpret the network affiliation to be a TV only rule, the NotiUno insertion in the case you give does comply with the rules as NotiUno is a network. (73.1201)

Well that explains the WUNO ID. But what about the other three stations of the network, which have the preposition "en" stuck between the frequency and the COL. I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Only one station, WKRP in Salt Lake City, has done such a thing... and that's because their call sign was actually KRPN Salt Lake City.

Uno's sister, Salsoul, by the way, once indentified herself in an unusual, probably illegal way during a brief stint in the 2000s. "*male voice* Desde San Juan, Puerto Rico, ésta es... *female voice* WPRM noventa y ocho punto cinco!"

The male voice, by the way was the guy who replaced Marianito Artau and called the station "la más H.P." Never knew his name.

 

[davideduardo]

I recall the tophour ID for that station. But why did they pronounce it "I-96", not "Ye-96"?

The most correct Spanish form for "Y" is "igriega" and "I" is somtimes referenced as "i latina." Both the pronciation which is like the English pronunciation for the letter "E" and "ye" (Yeyh) are accepted.

In PR, WKAQ uses "doble u" for the "W" and WUNO uses "Doble v" since both are acceptable.

Well that explains the WUNO ID. But what about the other three stations of the network, which have the preposition "en" stuck between the frequency and the COL. I'm pretty sure that's illegal.

That actually clarifies the ID, and is sometimes used elsewhere and has, as far as I can research, never been objected to by the FCC.