Entravision Communications and Hemisphere Media Group Launch WAPA Orlando

On February 2, 2026, Entravision Communications Corp and Hemisphere Media Group announced an exciting new strategic partnership aimed at enhancing media offerings in Central Florida. The collaboration has culminated in the launch of WAPA Orlando, a full-power broadcast television station specifically designed to cater to the Orlando–Daytona Beach–Melbourne DMA. WAPA Orlando commenced its broadcasting on Entravision's WOTF (Channel 26) earlier today.

WAPA Orlando is set to make a significant impact, particularly by serving the region's large and rapidly growing Puerto Rican population. As the Orlando area now boasts the second-largest Puerto Rican community in the continental United States, this initiative comes in response to a sustained influx of residents over the past decade. The station will be powered by Entravision’s local broadcasting expertise and will be distributed through multichannel video programming distributors across the region.

WAPA Orlando will leverage the extensive content and programming capabilities of WAPA-TV, Puerto Rico’s leading television network for 16 consecutive years. The station aims to provide robust news and entertainment options, producing an impressive 80 hours of original content each week. The programming will include both news and entertainment segments produced in WAPA’s Puerto Rico studios, supplemented by locally produced newscasts branded *NotiCentro Orlando*, courtesy of Entravision's award-winning news team.

Initially, WAPA Orlando will air two daily locally-produced newscasts—morning and midday—with plans to expand into evening and late-night editions as viewership develops.

The partnership is built on a collaborative news framework led by Entravision, which will harness its nationwide news resources from stations across 24 U.S. markets. This will facilitate expanded local news and editorial coverage tailored for WAPA Orlando, thereby enhancing the station's commitment to serving Latino communities both locally and nationally.

Alan J. Sokol, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hemisphere Media Group, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are excited to bring WAPA’s world-class news and entertainment content and programming expertise to Orlando, which is often referred to as Puerto Rico’s ‘79th municipality.’” He emphasized that combining WAPA’s trusted programming with Entravision’s infrastructure would create a unique local service tailored for the Hispanic community in Orlando.

Jeffery Liberman, President and Chief Operating Officer of Entravision, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the strategic collaboration as a means to deliver relevant, community-focused media. “Our expertise in local media and news programming will be instrumental in driving WAPA Orlando's growth,” he stated.

Entravision will oversee the development and management of WAPA Orlando’s digital strategy, which will include the rollout of digital platforms such as a dedicated website. Additionally, Entravision will be responsible for all sales operations, maintaining a dedicated sales team and production staff in the Orlando market. The company plans to offer creative support and integrated marketing solutions alongside traditional commercial and digital advertising buys.

The launch of WAPA Orlando marks a significant milestone in enhancing media representation for the Latino community in Central Florida. By leveraging the strengths of both Entravision and Hemisphere Media Group, this initiative promises to deliver compelling content and news coverage that resonates with local audiences. As WAPA Orlando establishes itself in the market, it will play a crucial role in connecting the growing Puerto Rican population with relevant news and entertainment tailored to their cultural needs.