Todelar

Todelar is a system of radio stations that covers all of Colombia, founded in 1953 by Bernardo Tobón de la Roche.^[1] Its flagship station is Radio Continental of Bogotá,^[2] which joined Todelar (an acronym of the last names of its founder) in 1957.

History

Bernardo Tobón de la Roche was the manager of Radio Pacífico,^[3] a station in Cali affiliated to RCN Radio,^[1] and had founded La Voz de Pereira in the 1940s. After a congress of radio stations in 1956, Tobón de la Roche was able to secure affiliations for his network from stations of Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, and Cartagena de Indias.^[3] By 1962 Todelar had 24 stations (11 owned-and-operated, 13 affiliates). In 1967 Unión Radio, a group of radio stations of Cali (Radio Uno, Radio el Sol), Pereira (La Voz Amiga, La Voz de Pereira), and Bogotá (La Voz de Bogotá, Emisora Monserrate), joined the network.^[3]

Todelar had its golden era in the 1960s and 1970s, broadcasting live sports events such as the Vuelta a Colombia, and the 1966 FIFA World Cup,^[3] or radioplays like La ley contra el hampa, a crime drama, or the Colombian version of the Mexican hit Kalimán.^[4] It would later expand to FM. In 1977, Todelar had 344 stations.^[2]

Main networks

• Circuito Todelar de Colombia: the main network, broadcasting news, sports, and events. Its flagship station is Radio Continental
• La Z: devoted to salsa music. The Bogotá station changet to a Latin pop format
• 92.9 FM Bogotá: devoted to Spanish-language pop and rock. It replaced salsa music network La Z (1994-2013) and balada en español network Sonorama Estéreo (1982-1994)
• La X: youth programming— English-language rock and pop in Bogotá, electronica in Medellín, pop and electronica in Cali. Formerly known as Todelar Estéreo.

References

External links

• (Spanish) Todelar Official Site

Coordinates: 4°40′15″N 74°03′34″W / 4.670735°N 74.059321°W / 4.670735; -74.059321