WRTO (AM)


WRTO is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish sports format. Licensed to Chicago, Illinois, United States, the station serves the Chicago area. It is owned by Univision subsidiary Univision Radio Illinois, Inc., and features local programming as well as shows originating at other Univision Radio stations.
The station is the flagship station of the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer and the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. It also broadcasts select Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs and Chicago Blackhawks games in Spanish.

History

The station began broadcasting in January 1990, and held the call sign WOPA. It was owned by CID Broadcasting Inc. In 1993, its format was changed from Regional Mexican to Spanish AC. In 1995, the station was sold to Heftel Broadcasting for $4.5 million. Concurrent with the sale, its call sign was changed to WLXX, and it switched back to a Regional Mexican format branded "La X". On September 20, 1996, the station adopted a tropical music format. On January 12, 2003, the station adopted a Spanish Hot AC format branded "Viva", simulcasting 103.1 WXXY. On January 17, 2003, its call sign was changed to WVIV, while its FM sister station's call sign was changed to WVIV-FM.
In October 2003, the station's call sign was changed to WRTO, and it began airing Spanish-language talk programming, which Univision had moved from AM 560 WIND. It became a full time Spanish-language news/talk station in February 2004. WRTO became a part of the Univision America Talk Radio network 4 July 2012. While the network itself ceased operations in 2015, WRTO aired remnants of Univision America's programming, as well as its local news, sports, and weather. On March 16, 2017, the station switched to a Spanish language all-sports format, as an affiliate of Univision Deportes.