Q COSTARICA — To date, more than 60 radio stations have indicated they did not participate in the auction of radio and television frequencies that closed last Friday, due to the high prices set by the telecommunications regulator, the Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (SUTEL).
Radio Columbia, Cadena Radial Costarricense (CRC), Grupo Musical, and Radio Sinfonola are some of the most iconic. The measure has also affected all evangelical radio stations.
Paula Bogantes, Minister of the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones (MICITT) —Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications, has stated that current licensees pay “ridiculous” amounts compared to the real value of the resource.
As an example, she pointed out that a television frequency is leased for ¢120,000 colones per year, while an FM radio station pays only ¢6,000 colones annually.
Meanwhile, the base prices set for the auction represent a significant jump: according to what was published in the Official Gazette La Gaceta, television frequencies with national reach start at US$1.6 million dollars. In comparison, the base price for radio was set at US$386,000.
This move is designed to modernize the country’s broadcast infrastructure and open the market to new players, promising a fresh wave of content and innovation for Costa Rican audiences.
It is the first major public auction in years, reflecting the government’s commitment to updating regulations and promoting diversity in the sector.
According to the regulatory authority overseeing the process, the intent is to optimize the use of the radio spectrum, which is a limited public resource. By reallocating frequencies through a competitive bidding process, they aim to encourage investment in digital broadcasting technologies and improve signal quality nationwide.
Industry experts see this auction as an opportunity to elevate Costa Rica’s media offerings. New entrants are expected to bring fresh perspectives and programming, potentially enriching public discourse and entertainment choices. At the same time, established media outlets are keen to secure their positions in the evolving market.
The auction has sparked interest both locally and from international companies, signaling Costa Rica’s growing appeal as a media hub in Central America. This regulatory framework aims to balance commercial success with public service objectives, including cultural representation and accessibility.
The result
Multiple television and radio stations did not participate in the auction due to the high entry costs.
The Sutel announced that the closing of the bidding period for the new radio and television concessions resulted in a total of 17 bids for FM frequencies nationwide, three bids for FM frequencies at the regional level, one national AM frequency, and four bids for national television channels.
The closing of the auction for radio spectrum frequencies has been met with controversy, following the announcement by numerous television and radio stations that they would not participate due to the high entry costs. Additionally, several injunctions have been filed against the Sutel regarding this auction, and these are still pending.
Furthermore, over the weekend, various organizations issued statements warning of potential impacts on freedom of expression. These included the Institute for Press and Freedom of Expression (IPLEX) and the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, which urged authorities to reconsider the auction model for allocating radio and television frequencies, arguing that this public resource should not be governed solely by economic criteria.
The list of media outlets that did not participate in the television auction includes:
- Telefides,
- TVN Canal 14 (San Carlos),
- TV Sur Canal 14 (Pérez Zeledón),
- Canal, OPA,
- Multimedios,
- Trivisión
While the radio stations that would lose their concessions include:
- Columbia (98.7 FM)
- Columbia Estéreo (92.7 FM)
- Radio 2 (99.5 FM)
- Amplify Radio (95.5 FM)
- Radio Sinfonola (90.3 FM)
- CRC 89.1
- 94.7 FM
- 95.9 FM
- Azul 99.9 FM
- 103.1 FM
- Radio Musical (97.5 FM)
- Radio Hit (104.7 FM)
- Élite Radio 88.5 FM (Turrialba)
- Potente Radio TV (Aserri)
- Onda Brava 104.1 FM (Guanacaste),
- TV Sur Canal 14 (Zona Sur)
- TVN Canal 14 (San Carlos)
- Radio San Carlos 1140 AM
- Radio Colosal 88.3 FM (Zona Sur)
- Radio Victoria 1180 AM (Heredia)
- Radio Stereo Bahía Limón 107.9 FM
- Radio Bahía Puntarenas 107.9 FM
- Radio Cultural Los Santos 88.3 FM y 1580 AM
- Radio Cultural Pérez Zeledón 88.1 FM
- Radio Cultural Upala 88.3 FM y 1600 AM
- Radio Cultural Puriscal 88.3 FM
- Radio Sistema Cultural La Cruz 88.3 FM y 1580 AM
- Radio Cultural Boruca 88.1 FM
- Radio Sistema Cultural Nicoyano 88.3 FM y 1600 AM
- Radio Cultural Buenos Aires 88.1 FM y 1600 AM
- Radio Cultural Pital 88.3 FM y 1600 AM
- Radio Cultural Corredores 88.1 FM y 1580 AM
- Radio Cultural Turrialba 88.3 FM y 1600 AM
- Radio Sistema Cultural Los Chiles 88.3 FM y 1580 AM
- Radio Cultural La Voz de Talamanca 88.3 FM y 1580 AM
- Radio Sistema Cultural Maleku 88.3 FM 1580 AM
- Radio Cultural Tilarán 88.3 FM
- 1580 AM
So, what happens now?
“People will be left without their main source of information,” said Gonzalo González Arroyo, administrator of Radio San Carlos.
“The social impact is very strong, because we have always been a deeply regional station since our beginnings. Radio San Carlos’s identity has always been service, and that is what we have maintained for many years,” he added.
Gonzalo also spoke about the legal process currently underway at the National Radio Chamber.
There’s a legal process going on right now because most of the radio and TV license holders had already met all the requirements for automatic renewal under the Radio Law. Many see this as a right they’re entitled to, and if denied, they plan to file lawsuits—which are expected to work in their favor—allowing them to keep broadcasting for another 20 years.
Smaller stations nd without the resources for a lawsuit, like Sinfonola, who have already made their views known, are more likely ready to throw in the towel.