For those with an HD radio, WUFT-FM will now be coming through the airways in two languages.
The radio station has announced a new addition to its HD lineup, WUFT AHORA, a 24-hour Spanish programming channel.
The channel, which has been in the works for about four months, will be found in the 89.1 HD-3 slot.
Randy Wright, UF’s executive director of media properties, said he expects the station will go on-air Monday, but said the launch date is subject to change.
“We see this as an opportunity to provide a real difference for students who will be entering the job market,” he said. “And if they have the ability to truly call themselves a bilingual journalist and to have experience actually doing newscasts in Spanish and in English, then we’re giving our students a real advantage when it comes time to get the job.”
At first, the new station’s content will be taken from NPR’s national Spanish-language programming, but the station will gradually ramp up its local broadcasts as time goes on, he said.
Local content will be generated by bilingual UF students working in the broadcasting field, though the format currently centers on news and talk radio, Wright said.
Because the station is on an HD frequency, those with regular radios will be unable to access to the programming.
Wright said the station is unique in that it is the first foreign-language station offered by a prominent journalism college.
