Inaugural Puerto Rican Governor’s debate live on WAPA America.

For the first time in history, Puerto Ricans living in the United States will be able to watch the first Governor’s Debate live from Puerto Rico on October 1, 2008, exclusively on WAPA America. The Debate will take place from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. EST.

WAPA America originates from Puerto Rico and contains the best programming of WAPA-TV, Puerto Rico’s leading broadcaster.

WAPA-TV will be the exclusive broadcaster of the Governor’s Debate on October 1, 2008, which marks the first time the four competing candidates will have the chance to discuss and answer questions surrounding the issues of the country’s political status, the economy, the environment, and corruption. For the first time in history, WAPA America will also transmit the Debate simultaneously in the United States.

“This is an exciting election year for the more than four million Puerto Ricans living in the United States,” said Joe Ramos, president of WAPA-TV. “For the first time ever, U.S. based Puerto Ricans can watch their candidates discuss the important issues that affect the country face to face and without interruptions, at the same time as their fellow Puerto Ricans living on the island.”

Puerto Rico’s incumbent governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá (Popular Democratic Party) is running against candidates Luis Fortuño (New Progressive Party), Edwin Irizarry Mora (Independence Party), and Rogelio Figueroa (Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico).

WAPA’s electoral team has extensive pre- and post-Debate coverage plans. As part of the station’s pre-election coverage, beginning earlier this month, WAPA-TV began broadcasting a weekly hour-long program, Decisión 2008: Los Candidatos (“Decision 2008: The Candidates,” in English), in which one the four individual candidates is given the opportunity to discuss his platform for candidacy and answer questions directly from Puerto Rico representatives. This Sunday, September 28, WAPA-TV will broadcast the final program presenting candidate Rogelio Figueroa (Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico). The show will transmit at 10:30 p.m. EST.

Prior to the start of the Debate, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. EST, WAPA-TV will broadcast a pre-Debate special featuring reporting from each of the party committees, preliminary Debate preparations and political commentary. Following the Debate the station will host a post-Debate special from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. EST with reactions and insight from WAPA’s three political analysts; Luís Pabón Roca, Carlos Díaz Olivo and Carlos Gorrín Peralta.

For the first time in Puerto Rican history, the public will have the opportunity to participate in the discussion by submitting questions to the candidates via email to de****@**pa.tv. The WAPA news team will evaluate and select the questions to present to the candidates.

The Debate will air live on WAPA-TV in Puerto Rico and WAPA America in the United States on Wednesday, October 1, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. EST. The Debate will be moderated by Enrique Cruz, vice president of News at WAPA-TV, and will include a panel of prominent local journalists.

WAPA America broadcasts Puerto Rico’s most popular entertainment programming, including SuperXclusivo, the highest rated local program in Puerto Rico, and more than 30 hours per week of local news. Currently, WAPA America is viewed in more than 2.5 million homes throughout the U.S. and distributed on major cable and satellite providers, including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, DirecTV, and Verizon FiOS.