WIAC (AM)

WIAC
City of license San Juan, Puerto Rico
Broadcast area Puerto Rico
Branding WIAC 740 AM
Slogan Más Noticias
Más Análisis
Más Variedad
Frequency 740 kHz
First air date 1948
Format News Talk Information
Spanish Variety
Power 10,000 watts unlimited
Class B
Transmitter coordinates 18°21′24″N 66°14′5″W / 18.35667°N 66.23472°WCoordinates: 18°21′24″N 66°14′5″W / 18.35667°N 66.23472°W
Callsign meaning West
Indies
Advertising
Company
Affiliations CyberNews
Owner Bestov Broadcasting Corporation
(WIAC Broadcasting, Inc.)
Website www.WIAC740.com

WIAC (740 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to San Juan, Puerto Rico (a possession of the United States), it serves the Puerto Rico area. The station is currently owned by Bestov Broadcasting Corporation.

History

Puerto Rico's first advertising agency, the West Indies Advertising Company (WIAC), was founded in San Juan in 1933, by the Abarca family, which also owned a successful structural steel company. By 1942 the advertisement agency's management founded WIAC-AM, with Félix Muñiz, the brother of Tomás Muñiz (and uncle of Tommy Muñiz, as its administrator. Due to the untimely death of Félix, Tomás became the station's administrator soon after.

WIAC officially began operations in 1948 on the frequency 740 AM.

During the 1950s & 1970s, WIAC was the only radio station broadcasting weather forecasts every 10 minutes & public affairs programming.

In the 1980s, Bestov Broadcasting, Inc. (a radio company owned by Alan Mejia) acquired the station, along with WIAC-FM 102.5 FM (formerly Sistema 102). In 1981 Bestov launched WYAC 930 AM in Cabo Rojo, and in the 1990s WIAC 740 became Cadena Radio Puerto Rico, with a News/Talk format.

In 2009, WIAC reached an Agreement with Boricua-JE Broadcasting, inc., the station's licensee to change to Boricua 740.

On February 1, 2012 WIAC's owner Bestov Broadcasting Corporation joined in an alliance with Noti-Luz, buying from International Broadcasting Corporation, forming Puerto Rico's only AM & FM news & talk station. The Noti-Luz Network was conformed by WGIT 1660 AM in Canovanas, WIAC 740 AM in San Juan/Ponce, WYAC 930 AM in Cabo Rojo/Mayaguez, WISA 1390 AM in Isabela, WJDZ 90.1 FM in Pastillo, WNNV 91.7 FM in San German, WEKO 1580 AM in Morovis & WXRF 1590 AM in Guayama.

On June 1, 2012, it changed name from Radio 740 to "Accion 740", later, "Accion Radio" with news at the top of the hour. that same month, WIAC was purchased by Hector Marcano Martinez's subsidiary, Metro Media Broadcasting, which also owns WWXY-LD Channel 8.1 (Tiva TV) in San Juan.

On October 2, a legendary Broadcast Pioneer Alan Mejía & former owner Bestov Broadcasting Corporation returned to WIAC and changed their news/talk programming to a Spanish Variety format as WIAC 740 La Original. In November 2012, the station's programming was changed.

As of August 2014, WIAC 740 AM broadcasts Monday-Sunday from 3AM to 11PM, while its station website, WIAC740.com, continues on the air during the overnight hours for more programming.

Programming

External links