Puerto Rico’s radio broadcasting history is replete with success stories. Some involve WUNO-AM and its early 1970s success at 1320 kHz under Mooney Broadcasting. Others involve the rise of one of the first “networks” in the U.S. territory, with the simulcast of WPRM-FM in San Juan on WIVA-FM in Aguadilla — creating Tropical powerhouse “Cadena Salsoul.”
Now, iHeartMedia is associating itself with these stations and others presently under the Uno Radio Group stable, thanks to an exclusive partnership that brings the iHeartRadio brand directly to the Caribbean.
The pact will give listeners to Uno’s Spanish-language broadcast properties “exclusive access” to iHeart content and programming, including promotions and national contests for its iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina in Miami, and the Las Vegas-based iHeartRadio Music Festival.
Further, iHeart advertising partners will now have access to Uno Radio Group’s Cadena Salsoul, as well as Spanish Hot Adult Contemporary WFID-FM “Fidelity 95.7,” simulcast on WZAR-FM 101.9 and WFDT-FM 105.5 ;” WTOK-FM “Hot 102,” an international CHR/Pop station with all Spanish-language programming; WUNO, now at 630 kHz and at 94.3 MHz via W232DH as Spanish News/Talk “NotiUno,” an island-wide cadena flagship tied to WCMN-AM 1280, WPRP-AM 910, and WORA-AM 760; and WNEL-AM 1430, a Spanish-language Full Service station targeting elder Puerto Ricans as “Radio Tiempo.”
Uno is also the parent of JS Power Promotions, which stages events and promotions on behalf of its radio clients.
“We are thrilled to partner with Uno to further expand the iHeartRadio brand to listeners in Puerto Rico,” said Hartley Adkins, COO of iHeartMedia Markets Group. “Uno Radio Group owns the largest footprint of radio stations in Puerto Rico and this partnership will allow us to build further awareness of the iHeartRadio brand to millions of new listeners across Puerto Rico and offer even more diverse content on our platform.”
Interestingly, iHeartLatino Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Enrique Santos did not offer a prepared comment, with Adkins the lone iHeart executive to comment on the business arrangement with Uno.
That said, the Uno-iHeart relationship could see Tu Mañana con Enrique Santos, his Miami-based Premiere Networks-syndicated morning show, wind up on Fidelity.
Further, the partnership brings Uno’s stations to the iHeartRadio platform from TuneIn, where geofencing prohibited audio streaming from outside the 787 area code. As of Thursday morning, Hot 102, NotiUno, Fidelity and Salsoul were added to the iHeart app but appear below Univision’s WKAQ-AM and WKAQ-FM “KQ105,” and four iHeart-exclusive audio choices.
Uno Radio Group President Luis Soto said, “iHeartMedia is the No. 1 audio company in the United States and this partnership allows us to further connect with listeners and consumers on a massive, national scale. We are excited to team up with iHeartRadio, giving our listeners access to iHeartRadio’s exclusive content, while partnering on programming, advertising and one-of-kind branded events.”
The partnership does not include any LMA or purchase of any airtime via a Time Brokerage Agreement by iHeart on an Uno-owned property, nor does it see the pending sale of Uno’s stations. The iHeartMedia-owned radio industry blog Inside Radio incorrectly inferred this in a Thursday morning report discussing iHeart’s expansion into Puerto Rico.
