WAPA & Puerto Rican Public TV reach deal for U.S. Market.

A television alliance was announced in Puerto Rico between local broadcaster WAPA-TV Channel 4 and Puerto Rican Public TV station WIPR, also known as TU UNIVERSO TELEVISION (TUTV). The deal provides the 4 million Puerto Ricans living in the U.S. with access to 16 weekly hours of TUTV’s top programming via WAPA’s U.S. cable and satellite channel, WAPA- America.

The announcement between WAPA and TUTV was made in San Juan, with Joe Ramos, WAPA President, Víctor Montilla, TUTV General Manager and the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. Transmissions started on April 18th.

“WAPA-America now has an even wider range of programming for Puerto Ricans and others from the Caribbean in the U.S. TUTV’s high quality shows complement nicely our top-rated WAPA news and entertainment”, said Ramos.
“Our programming will be an open door to our Hispanic friends, particularly Puerto Ricans, who can enjoy the best of our Caribbean culture. This alliance sets the precedent that a public broadcasting station may be attractive and marketable for commercial networks,” said Montilla.

The programs of TUTV joining the current WAPA- America lineup are Cultura Viva, Contigo, Dímelo, Puerto Rico El son del Caribe, De Pura Cepa, Geoambiente, Prohibido Olvidar, El Show de Chucho, Así Canta Puerto Rico and Exprésate.