Newsmax to Buy Miami's WAQI, WQBA for $1.8 Million
| RADIO ONLINE | Friday, November 6, 2026 | 2:00pm CT |
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 Newsmax Radio |
Newsmax Radio has agreed to acquire Spanish-language AM stations WAQI (710) and WQBA (1140) in Miami from Latino Media Network for a reported $1.8 million, marking the conservative news network's entry into radio station ownership. According to media reports, Newsmax will pay $1.26 million for WAQI, known as "Radio Mambi," and $540,000 for WQBA.
An assignment application filed November 6 with the FCC identifies Latino Media Network LLC as WAQI's seller and Boca Raton-based Newsmax Radio LLC as the proposed buyer. The application remains pending.
The stations were part of Latino Media Network's $60 million acquisition of 18 stations nationwide from TelevisaUnivision in 2022.
WQBA ended its local programming in July 2025 and most recently has carried Radio Marti, the U.S. government service operated by the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. WAQI had been scheduled to drop its Spanish-language Conservative Talk programming in December 2025 but ultimately retained a portion of the lineup, according to the reports.
Newsmax already distributes audio streams of its television programming and produces the syndicated "Rob Carson Show," which airs live weekdays from noon-3pm ET.
The proposed acquisitions would give the company its first owned radio outlets. No post-acquisition programming plans were detailed in the FCC filings.
