Latino Public Radio will end its programming at 1290 AM after March 31, becoming an internet-based station, due to budgetary issues at LPR, according to the management of Rhode Island Public Radio.
RIPR, which had a programming agreement with LPR, announced this development in a statement from the public-relations firm Duffy & Shanley. According to the statement, LPR terminated its programming agreement with RIPR.
Rhode Island Public Radio plans to offer the 1290 AM signal for sale. That signal will carry RIPR’s programming, currently heard on 89.3 FM and statewide repeaters, from some time in April until the AM signal is sold.
Dr. Pablo Rodriguez and Reynaldo Almonte founded Latino Public Radio in 2005. About six years ago, LPR’s board formed an exclusive agreement with RIPR to provide its programming at 1290 AM. Rodriguez chaired LPR’s board from the start of the organization before resigning in 2017.
LPR previously planned to buy the 1290 signal from RIPR.
“We regret that the budget realities at Latino Public Radio meant we couldn’t complete the station sale as both parties hoped,” RIPR CEO Torey Malatia said. “We’re grateful, though, that they intend to continue reaching their audience online.”
Latino Public Radio and Rhode Island Public Radio are independent and separate 501 (c) 3 non-commercial broadcasters.
