Radio Habana Cuba-Cadena Azul (lit. "Radio Havana Cuba-Blue Network") was a Cuban radio network operating in various forms from 1939 until 1954. It was a heated rival of radio network CMQ.
History
Origins
RHC was created in 1939 by Felix O'Shea, founder of Havana's CMK radio station, with stations in Jovellanos, Matanzas and Victoria de Las Tunas; the network was then sold to Cristóbal Díaz González. Cadena Azul began in 1939. In 1940, Amado Trinidad Velazco became the owner and various Cuban stations merged with CMHI, among which were CMCF and CMKO thus forming Radio Habana Cuba, with its offices at Prado #54, corner of Capdevila Street.[citation needed] Díaz González was a partner with the Cuban telephone company, and with his connections the network had access to a telephone line repeater that could pass on the signals across the island.[1]
Characteristics
The goals of RHC Cadena Azul were to:
Promote Cuban-ness
Protect domestic artists
Position Cuban music in its "rightful" place as they saw it
Provide the listener with the best quality music
Raise the standards of music broadcasting by radio
To achieve this Trinidad raised the artists' and technicians' salaries. RHC Cadena Azul employed 40 singers, 34 actors, 18 announcers, 20 writers, 10 composers and 10 bands.