CHICAGO(April 19, 2017) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club have signed a two-year partnership with Univision Chicago to broadcast all Fire regular season games in Spanish on the new Univision Deportes Radio, which airs locally on WRTO 1200AM and made its national debut on April 19, 2017.
Comprehensive matchday coverage features award-winning Univision play-by-play commentator Hector Lozano and veteran analyst Raquel Ortiz.
“Our Spanish-language broadcast is an important part of our media mix and we are excited to fully unify the sports landscape by bringing the Chicago Fire to Univision Deportes Radio in Chicago,” said Fire COO Atul Khosla. “This as a great opportunity to ensure we reach the core of Spanish-speaking sports fans in Chicago by aligning with the station that carries each professional team in our market. We look forward to working with Univision Deportes Radio in Chicago and to hearing many Hector Lozano goal calls throughout the coming years.”
“Bringing the Chicago Fire back to Univision will allow our listeners to follow their home town MLS team all season long. We are excited that Univision Deportes Radio WRTO 1200 AM is the Spanish-language radio play-by-play home to all the major professional sports franchises in Chicago,” said Doug Levy, senior vice president and general manager, Univision Chicago. “Univision Deportes Radio is the perfect sports focused environment to showcase the great teams that make this the best sports town in America.”
See Also: Chicago Fire Spanish-Language Coverage
Univision Deportes Radio is the new national sports radio network from Univision Deportes, the No. 1 home of soccer in the U.S. A full-service sports network, Univision Deportes Radio will carry numerous in-studio magazine shows, daily highlights and results, and sports talk shows throughout the day. The radio network is currently airing on Chicago’s WRTO 1200 AM, McAllen’s KGBT 1530 AM, Dallas’ KFLC 1270 AM, Miami’s WQBA 1140 AM, Houston’s KLAT 1010 AM, New York’s WADO 1280 AM, Las Vegas’ KLSQ 870 AM, Phoenix’s KHOV 105.1 FM, Los Angeles’ KTNQ 1020AM, and San Antonio’s KCOR 1350 AM.
Hector Lozano is the director and presenter for sports at Univision Chicago. He has been part of the Chicago team since its inception in 1995. Lozano graduated from Columbia College in Chicago where he completed his degree in Communication Sciences. His professional debut was on the Spanish-language radio station WIND-AM in Chicago where he announced the plays for the Chicago Bulls. He is currently the Spanish voice of the Bears' matches on WRTO-AM Univision Deportes Radio 1200AM and Latino Mix 93.5 / 103.1FM.
Ortiz began as a Spanish-language columnist for mlssoccer.com, covering the Chicago Fire, in June of 2005. Since then, she has covered the Chicago Fire, contributing to its website and other media radio and television outlet. She debuted with the radio broadcast team in 2006 and has served the past six seasons as the color commentator. Prior to her work covering the Fire, Ortiz hosted and produced a sports-only radio show on Radio Arte 90.5 FM, managing the on-air website content for three years.
