After almost three years of talks, WAPA-TV of Puerto Rico and Dish Network agreed to launch WAPA America on the satellite-TV provider's Hispanic Package, DishLatino. Financial details were not disclosed.
WAPA America is now carried by the nine of the top 10 U.S. distributors; it also has carriage contracts with Comcast, DirecTV, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-verse, Cablevision and Bright House Networks. All told, WAPA America is now available to some 5.2 million U.S. homes.
WAPA America produces more than 40 hours per week of original, locally-produced entertainment programs from Puerto Rico, including SuperXclusivo, the highest-rated program in Puerto Rico, as well as more than 30 hours per week of live news produced by Puerto Rico's largest news-gathering team, Noticentro. The network also delivers the most popular sporting events in Puerto Rico, including the National Superior Basketball League games.
"We're pleased to broaden our Spanish-language television offerings with original content and sports programming from Puerto Rico," said Dave Shull, senior vice president of programming for DISH Network. "WAPA America broadens the robust lineup found in our DishLatino programming packages and shares the rich cultural heritage of Puerto Rico."
DishLatino Clásico is available at $22.99 per month for the first 12 months and $32.99 per month thereafter.
"With the best programming from Puerto Rico, WAPA America is the leading source of entertainment and news for the millions of Puerto Ricans and Caribbean Hispanics living in the United States," added Alan Sokol, chairman of WAPA-TV and senior partner at InterMedia Advisors, which owns the station. "We are thrilled to have Dish Network as a distribution partner and we are confident this channel will be a compelling viewing choice for Dish Network viewers."
