Orlando Radio: iHM Launches Hispanic News Format

iHeartMedia/Orlando has launched Hispanic News Accion 97.9 on WRSO 810 AM / W250CE 97.9 FM.

As of Sept. 1, iHM is operating the station under a new LMA with Carl Tutera’s former Brazilian-language WRSO.

WRSO had been airing Brazilian music and talk since 2016 under an LMA with Cafifa Media Group in partnership with the Bandeirantes Communication Group.

Accion 97.9 FM is targeting Puerto Ricans, who have relocated to Central Florida as a result of Hurricane Maria last year.

WRSO 810 currently operates under a special engineering STA with 5 Kw-D and 100 watts-N.  The station is relocating its transmitter site and also has an FCC CP  to decrease the day power to 2.5 Kw with 24 watts-night, from 20 Kw-D, 400 Watts-N.   WRSO requested and was granted an extension of its current STA in May 2018. The station continues to construct new transmitter towers specified in its current construction permit.  WRSO has taken down two of the four towers at the old site and is working with the City or Orlando to make the requested improvements at the new site.

WRSO 810 AM (Blue=Licensed 20 Kw-D, Red=Special STA 5-Kw-D 2 mV/m contour

Meanwhile iHM's News/Talk WFLF WFLA 540 AM is ending its simulcast on W273CA 102.5 FM, owned by Central Florida Education Association.  The station is now simulcasting on translator W226BT 93.1 FM, also under an LMA agreement with Tutera.

WFLA will simulcast on both 93.1 FM and 102.5 FM until October 1, while urging listeners to change their pre-sets to 93.1 FM.

The new translator improves Orlando city coverage at the sake of northern suburbs.  Country WKRO in Daytona Beach also operates on 93.1 FM and its signal bumps into the  market in the north and northeast. Another bump in the road for WFLF, another translator W227CP 93.3 FM covers the northern city of Sanford. W227CP is owned by Central Florida Educational Association and airs Gospel music.

No word on what will replace WFLA on 102.5 FM starting October 1.