Rafael Perez Perry

Rafael Pérez Perry
Rafael Pérez Perry
Born	1911 Guayama, Puerto Rico
Died	May 10, 1978 Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Occupation	Businessman
Notes
Pérez Perry founded Puerto Rico's television Channel 11, which now is known as Tele Once

Rafael Pérez Perry (1911 - May 10, 1978), was a businessman and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's radio and television broadcasting industry. He owned one of the most successful radio stations on the island (WKBM AM) and in 1954 founded Puerto Rico's television Channel 11, which now is known as Tele Once and owned and operated by Univision, the largest Hispanic television network in the United States.

Pérez Perry was born in the town of Guayama in Puerto Rico to a father of Spanish descent and a mother of French descent. When he was a child his family moved to New York City, where he received his primary and secondary education. He went to college after he graduated from high school and earned a degree in engineering in the field of electronics.

Pérez Perry returned to Puerto Rico in 1934 with the intention of going into business as an electronic engineer. At first he failed in his attempts because of the lack of experience and capital. However, it wasn’t long before he was able to establish several radio workshops in San Juan, Rio Piedras and Santurce.

Pérez Perry was hired by the Government of Puerto Rico as a communications consultant. He founded the "Escuela del Aire" (Airwaves School) which in 1945 became the radio station known as "WIPR". His radio station was located in the Condado area of San Juan. During this time he also worked as a consulting engineer for Angel Ramos's "El Mundo Enterprises".

His radio station had its transmitters in the City of Arecibo and operated from his facilities in San Juan. Pérez Perry moved the operations of his radio broadcasting station to the City of Mayagüez and in 1954 founded "WKBM", Channel 11, his first television station. It wasn’t until 1960, that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) finally granted Pérez Perry the license to operate WKBM. On August 1960, Pérez Perry inaugurated his television station which he named "Telecadena Pérez-Perry".