WAWA no more on WFTV Orlando

Plans to air WAWA (an affiliate of Caracol’s GenTV network) on WFTV-9’s digital subchannel 9.3 have gone bust. The primary investor has pulled out of the deal, leaving the Orlando ABC affiliate without a Spanish-language outlet and 9 employees out of a job.

A story in the Orlando Sentinel points out the investor, Mark Jorgenson of Del Caribe Partners, didn’t feel the economic landscape was strong enough to launch a new Spanish-language station.

WAWA was broadcasting as a low-powered station (channel 47), but it went black after the investor pulled out.

Del Caribe had built a high-end studio on WFTV’s premises that will revert to WFTV. The GM is negotiating the purchase of WAWA’s equipment. As for the employees, WFTV is willing to consider them for some currently open positions. Among the laid-off employees: Katie Coronado, who was WAWA’s news director and anchor.