Hemisphere Media Group and Entravision launch WAPA Orlando on WOTF-TV, expanding Puerto Rican-focused programming

New over-the-air station begins broadcasting on Channel 26 across the Orlando–Daytona Beach–Melbourne market

Hemisphere Media Group and Entravision have launched WAPA Orlando, a new broadcast outlet carrying programming built around Puerto Rican news and entertainment for Central Florida. The station began broadcasting on Monday, February 2, 2026, using Entravision-owned WOTF-TV, virtual Channel 26, serving the Orlando–Daytona Beach–Melbourne designated market area (DMA).

The launch formalizes a partnership in which Hemisphere, through its WAPA Media operations, supplies programming and production infrastructure from Puerto Rico, while Entravision leads key local-market functions including local newscasts, distribution strategy, and sales operations.

Programming model combines Puerto Rico-produced content with locally produced newscasts

WAPA Orlando’s schedule is anchored by content produced in WAPA-TV’s Puerto Rico studios and by a new local news brand, NotiCentro Orlando. The initial plan calls for two locally produced daily newscasts—one in the morning and another at midday—with additional evening and late-night editions planned for a later phase.

The station is positioned to serve an audience shaped by sustained Puerto Rican migration to Central Florida over the past decade. The companies described the Orlando area as having the second-largest Puerto Rican population in the continental United States.

Distribution and station details

WAPA Orlando is being distributed across major multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) in the region, including Xfinity, Spectrum, AT&T U-verse, DirecTV and Dish, alongside over-the-air availability through WOTF-TV.

• Station brand: WAPA Orlando
• Broadcast vehicle: WOTF-TV (virtual Channel 26)
• Market: Orlando–Daytona Beach–Melbourne DMA
• Launch date: February 2, 2026

Operational roles: news collaboration, digital buildout and sales handled locally

Under the partnership structure, Entravision is responsible for developing and managing WAPA Orlando’s digital strategy, including the rollout of a dedicated digital platform. Entravision is also handling sales operations in-market, supported by a dedicated local sales team and production staff.

Editorially, the companies have outlined a collaborative framework intended to expand coverage by drawing on Entravision’s national news resources across multiple U.S. markets, while integrating WAPA’s Puerto Rico-based production and reporting strengths.

The stated programming approach centers on maintaining Puerto Rico-based news and entertainment output while adding Orlando-produced newscasts designed for local relevance in Central Florida’s Puerto Rican community.

Why the launch matters in Central Florida’s media landscape

WAPA Orlando enters a competitive regional television environment with a format that blends diaspora-oriented content from Puerto Rico with locally produced news. The early emphasis on daily local newscasts signals an intent to build a recurring local news footprint, while the distribution push across major pay-TV providers aims to secure broad household reach beyond over-the-air viewers.