Caracol Radio (Cadena Radial Colombiana, "Colombian Radio Network") is one of the main radio networks in Colombia. Founded in Medellín in 1948 when La Voz de Antioquia station acquired the 50% of Emisoras Nuevo Mundo, based in Bogotá.

Julio Mario Santo Domingo was its main shareholder until 2003, when Spanish Grupo Prisa bought the Grupo Latino de Radio, whose 17% was Santo Domingo's.

History In 1945 Colombian Liberal Party politicians César García, Jorge Soto del Corral, Luis Uribe Piedrahita, Alberto Arango Tavera, Carlos Sanz Santamaría, José Gómez Pinzón, Alfonso López Pumarejo, and Alfonso López Michelsen created Sociedad Radiodifusión Interamericana, which would create the Emisora Nuevo Mundo in Bogotá. On 3 September 1948, La Voz de Antioquia acquired the 50% of Emisora Nuevo Mundo. Caracol would be legally founded in 1949. Coltejer, a textile company which had invested in La Voz de Antioquia and Emisoras Nuevo Mundo, would own some shares until 1959.

In the 1950s, the network expanded when Emisoras Fuentes (Cartagena de Indias), Emisoras Unidas (Barranquilla) and RCO Radiodifusora de Occidente (Cali) became affiliates. In 1952 Caracol would create a second station, Radio Reloj, which would become the first station with an all-music format, with a time mention between songs. In 1956, Caracol owned and operated four stations: La Voz de Antioquia (Compañía Colombiana de Radiodifusión, Medellín, HJDM, currently Radio Reloj Medellín), La Voz del Río Cauca (Cali, currently Caracol Cali, HJED), Emisoras Nuevo Mundo and Radio Reloj. The first three created in 1956 the so-called Triángulo de Oro ("Gold triangle"), with 50 kW each, in order to broadcast the Vuelta a Colombia. La Voz del Río Cauca could be heard as far as Argentina. In 1960, Fernando Londoño Henao, a prominent member of the Colombian Conservative Party, became its president.

Between 1958 and 1963, Caracol would acquire several stations, such as Emisora Mil 20, Emisoras Eldorado and La Voz de Colombia (Bogotá), Radio Reloj (Panama), Sociedad Informativa de Contrapunto, La Voz del Café (Pereira), Pregones del Quindío (Armenia), Radio Comercio (Bucaramanga), and Radio Visión (Medellín), and absorb small networks as Cadena Radial Andina and Sociedad Nacional de Radiodifusión. In 2003, Caracol TV was spun off from Caracol Radio. In 1970 it would acquire exclusive broadcasting rights for the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

In 1986 Caracol Radio would rent the stations of the Núcleo Radial Bienvenida. In the same year Julio Mario Santo Domingo would acquire the 50% of both Caracol Radio and Caracol TV, with 25% belonging to Alfonso López Michelsen, and the other 25% for the family of Fernando Londoño Henao. In 1990, it acquired Radio Sutatenza, a network of educational radio stations founded in 1947 which was having financial problems. Radio Sutatenza was the only network in Colombia with transmitters over 50 kW.

On 12 August 2010 at 05:30 (10:30 UTC), a car bomb exploded outside the headquarters of the network, which did not interrupt its broadcast, despite having its building's tiles and windows shattered. FARC were held responsible for the attack. Merger with W Radio As of January 13, 2026, it merged with W Radio to create the station called W Caracol or La W de Caracol. This was done to expand its news coverage and information resources throughout the country.

Radio Stations Current Music Radio Stations Radio Station Main Style Caracol Estéreo Contemporary adult Tropicana Various genres (Mixed/Tropical) Los 40 Pop hits, reggaeton, Latin pop Bésame Radio Pop and Romantic Ballads Radioacktiva Rock, metal and punk

General programming stations Radio Station Main Style Coverage / Signal Caracol Colombia News, talk radio, analysis, music National basic chain Radio Santa Fe News, popular, ranchera, regional Mexican, sports AM (currently operated by Caracol)

Sports programming station Radio Station Main Style Coverage / Signal AS Colombia sports AM - FM

Disappeared radio stations Radio Station Operating Period Grades Mil 20 1958–1991 The country's first record-playing radio station. Radio Visión 1964–1987 Tropical de Oro 1982–1989 Radio Deportes 1983–2001 Nota Estéreo 1987–1989 Musicar FM 1984–1993 In partnership with Carvajal S.A. Bienvenida Estéreo 1986–1992 Precursor of the Tropicana Stereo System. Radionet 1997–2004 First 24-hour radio station dedicated to real-time news. Corazón AM 1989–1997 Corazón Estéreo 1998–2001 Radio 15 1963–1977 La Deportiva 2001 La Vallenata 1994–2016 Radio Recuerdos 1985–2012 Oxígeno 1998–2022 Los 40 Urban 2022–2023 Colorín ColorRadio 1992–2013 First children's programming station in the country. Q'hubo Radio 2013–2023 Radio Mercadeo 1995–1998 The first 24-hour radio station dedicated to selling products and services. It operated on 1220 AM. Radio Reloj 1951–2008 W Radio 2003–2026 Contemporary and informative broadcaster, merged with the basic network since January 13, 2026.W+2020–2026Classics from the 80s and 90s

Frequencies City Department AM Frequency (License Plate) FM Frequency (Platform) Bogotá Bogotá D.C. 810 HJCY 100.9 HJGL Medellín Antioquia 750 HJDK 90.3 HJE27 102.9 HJE71 Arauca Arauca 102.3 HJC34 Barranquilla Atlántico 1100 HJAT 90.1 HJQU 97.6 HJH26 Cartagena de Indias Bolívar 1170 HJNW 107.5 HJA25 Magangué 960 HJND Tunja Boyacá 1120 HJKQ 99.3 HJCW Nobsa 107.3 HJB86 Duitama 1150 HJGJ Manizales Caldas 1180 HJFX 101.7 HJB62 Popayán Cauca 1330 HJLS 98.1 HJK40 Montería Cordoba 1310 HJDG 107.5 HJA21 Neiva Huila 1010 HJJR 105.1 HJM65 1210 HJFR Santa Marta Magdalena 890 HJPM 101.1 HJA79 Villavicencio Meta 102.3 HJN24 Pasto Nariño 1280 HJLR 97.1 HJD32 Cúcuta Norte de Santander 1090 HJBC 99.9 HJO65 1250 HJHS Armenia Quindío 1150 HJFI 106.4 HJO84 Pereira Risaralda 950 HJFN 88.7 HJB23 San Andrés San Andrés and Providencia 1260 HJHU Bucaramanga Santander 880 HJGE 99.2 HJP29 90.7 HJQ72 Sincelejo Sucre 100.3 HJP69 103.5 HJL40 106.3 HJB59 Ibagué Tolima 1260 HJCO 96.3 HJB81 Cali Valle del Cauca 820 HJED 90.5 HJAF 700 HJCX 95.5 HJMQ International frequencies Miami, Estados Unidos Florida 106.3 WRAZ Caracol América

Affiliated Broadcasters Name City Department AM Frequency (License Plate) FM Frequency (Platform) La Voz de Amalfi Amalfi Antioquia 1460 HJMU Apartadó Stereo Apartadó 103.3 HJB70 Radio Son Oriente Sonsón 1490 HJTC La Voz del Cinaruco Arauca Arauca 1050 HJE73 Tropicana Yopal Casanare 106.3 HJB20 La Voz de Marquezote Valledupar Cesar 103.9 HJA50 Platino Stereo Condoto Chocó 102.3 HJB76 Caracol Girardot Girardot Cundinamarca 1230 HJTP Armoníaz Zipaquirá 1600 HJHV Caracol Guaviare San José del Guaviare Guaviare 102.3 HJYA Guaviare Stereo Calamar 92.7 HJM37 Tropicana Pitalito Huila 101.8 HJM68 Cardenal Stereo Riohacha La Guajira 91.7 HJM30 Planeta Radio El Banco Magdalena 106.1 HJC46 La Voz de los Centauros Villavicencio Meta 1140 HJE67 Radio Caracol Ipiales Ipiales Nariño 1400 HJJJ Tropicana 93.1 HJN51 Radio Catatumbo Ocaña Norte de Santander 1150 HJBT Maguaré Stereo Mocoa Putumayo 89.3 HJO66 La Voz del Petróleo Barrancabermeja Santander 1540 HJHD Sonora Stereo Cimitarra 96.7 HJO97 Voces Rovirenses Málaga 1560 HJHE Radio Palmira Palmira Valle del Cauca 1050 HJNG Caracol Sevilla Sevilla 1530 HJEU

See also WSUA - Radio Caracol's sister network in Miami

References

External links