WFID

WFID (95.7 FM, "Fidelity") is a radio station licensed to serve Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, established in 1958. As of 2015 it is owned by the Uno Radio Group, and the broadcast license held by Madifide, Inc.

WFID
CityRío Piedras, Puerto Rico
Broadcast areaSan Juan, Puerto Rico
Frequency95.7 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingFidelity
Slogan"Mas Musica, Mas Variedad"
Programming
FormatAdult Contemporary
SubchannelsHD1: WFID analog
HD2: Spanish Variety "iHeartLatino"
HD3: News/Talk "Acción Radio" (WRSO simulcast)
HD4: Fox Sports Radio
AffiliationsiHeartMedia
Ownership
OwnerUno Radio Group
(Madifide, Inc.)
WUNO/WPRP/WORA/WCMN
WPRM/WIVA/WRIO
WTOK-FM
WCMN-FM/WMIO
WNEL
History
First air date
November 17, 1958[1]
Call sign meaning
FIDelity
Technical information
Facility ID10063
ClassB
ERP50,000 watts
HAAT287 meters (942 feet)
Transmitter coordinates
18°16′0.00″N 66°5′5.00″W
Links
WebcastListen live (via iHeartRadio)
Websitefidelitypr.com

WFID broadcasts an adult contemporary music format.[2]

History

WZAR Radio Station at Puerto Viejo, Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico

WFID's predecessor was Fidelity Broadcasting Corporation. The founders were Rafael Acosta and his wife Victoria Suarez, who, with no employees, made their first broadcast from their house with a 250W FM transmitter on November 17, 1958. It was the third FM radio station established in Puerto Rico (the others are WIOB in Mayagüez and WKAQ-FM in San Juan).

Originally, WFID was allocated the frequency of 95.9 MHz, but this frequency was at that time catalogued as Class A, subject to restrictions on power, so Acosta applied for a change of frequency to 95.7 MHz, class B, allowing power to be increased in 1962 to 12,500 watts. Acosta frequently travelled to the United States to stay up to date with technology, particularly the Gates transmitters and equipment. Acosta died in 1971, before FM became predominant. In 1962 the station had some employees, and became the first FM radio station broadcasting in stereophonic sound in Puerto Rico and Latin America. After Acosta's death the station was managed by Suarez, known as Doña Vicky, and the Acostas' son José Julián and daughter Carola. In 1980 Beautiful Music Service began broadcasting uninterrupted music for businesses. In 1983 the recently acquired WUNO was turned into NotiUno, a newstalk radio station. As of 2015 the 50,000-watts WFID was owned and operated by Arso Radio Corporation under Jesús Soto, who had been a friend of Acosta's.

One of Mr. Acosta's personal friend was the famous announcer and brother of the talented, The voice of Carlos Montalbán, a friend of Acosta and brother of Ricardo Montalbán, was the principal announcer in the early 1970s. WFID was the first FM radio station broadcasting "salsa", tropical music in stereo sound, Saturday nights on their program "El Bailable Don Q". The program later was modified to Spanish ballads when the first "salsa" FM station came on the air. That radio station was Jesus Soto's WPRM-FM, SalSoul 98.

Satellites

Callsign Frequency City of license Broadcast Area ERP HAAT First air date Former callsigns Licensee
WFDT 105.5 FM Aguada 3,000 watts 304.0 meters 1977 WRFE (1977-1992)
WNNV (1992–2000)
Arso Radio Corporation
WZAR 101.9 FM (HD Radio) Ponce 14,000 watts 789.0 meters 1966 WLEO-FM (1966-1979) Uno Radio of Ponce, Inc.

Programming

  • Gozalo con Rony
  • El Playlist
  • El Happy Hour
  • De Vuelta a Casa
  • Fidelity Nocturno
  • Fidelity Dance Fever
  • Fidelity Gospel

In the seventies, WFID programs included:

  • Temas Musicales del Cine
  • Nuestra Estrella Invitada
  • Melodías Identificadas
  • Juntos Con Don Q (Saturday night, 1979)
  • Duos Musicales
  • Oldies Sábado en la noche (1980's)
  • The Music Man (Friday night)
  • Domingo de recuerdos.
  • Jazzeando, smooth jazz Sunday night, and other programs sponsored by different businesses.

In the sixties programming included segments like:

  • The General Electric Stereophonic hour (this is the time when they played the few stereophonic records they could find).
  • La Hora Hípica (with Pito Rivera Monge, network with WUNO, WLEO and WLEY among others).
  • El Bailable Don Q (Saturday night)

References

  1. "The Facilities of Radio". 1979 Broadcasting Yearbook. Washington, D.C.: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1979. p. C-251.
  2. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron.


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