Bold shift ahead: a major Spanish-language radio chapter is ending in South Florida. Latino Media Network has announced that it will discontinue the Spanish Conservative Talk format on Radio Mambí 710 WAQI in Miami tonight, signaling a notable change in a long-running station that has been a community hub for decades.
In a statement, General Manager Mike Sena explained that Radio Mambí has long served as a gathering place for South Florida and like-minded listeners who support the ideal of a free Cuba. The station has frequently led Spanish-language talk ratings and welcomed a wide range of voices—from presidents, governors, and mayors to dissidents, political prisoners, cultural icons, and everyday community members. Sena also highlighted the station’s role in standing with Miami through storms and significant moments in history. However, he noted that the media landscape is rapidly evolving and financially challenging, and that as of 11:59 p.m. on December 12, the live news/talk era will end as the station moves toward new frontiers. He expressed pride in the legacy and gratitude to colleagues, listeners, and advertisers who supported the evolution.
For now, WAQI will continue with archived programming, music, and Spanish-language broadcasts of the NBA’s Miami Heat and MLB’s Miami Marlins. Reports indicate that only a single board operator and one salesperson will remain, with the rest of the staff departing. This shutdown follows Latino Media Network’s earlier closure of sister News/Talk 1140 WQBA Miami at the end of June.
Tracing the station’s origins, the “Radio Mambi” brand launched in 1985 after Amancio Suárez’s Mambisa Broadcasting Corporation acquired the former WGBS from Jefferson-Pilot Communications and rebranded it with a Cuban exile-focused Spanish Talk format that steadily leaned conservative. The property later integrated into Univision’s Miami cluster until Latino Media Network purchased WAQI, WQBA, and sixteen other stations in 2022.
In Nielsen Audio’s November 2025 ratings, WAQI posted a 1.1 share, trailing Actualidad Media’s 1020 WURN at 2.5. The broader South Florida Spanish News/Talk field also included Salem’s La Poderosa 990 and Audacy’s Radio Libre 790, with shares of 0.6 and 0.1, respectively. Industry observer Chris Huff notes that WAQI’s peak came in spring 2000, when it led the market with a 6.7 share.
This development marks a significant moment in South Florida radio, raising questions about audience shifts, advertiser strategies, and the evolving role of Spanish-language talk in the region. Do you think this signals a broader trend away from traditional Conservative talk formats in multilingual markets, or is it a temporary adjustment as media consumption habits continue to evolve? Share your thoughts in the comments.
