Rafael Pérez Perry

Rafael Pérez Perry (October 24, 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 TeleOnce and owned and operated by Liberman Media Group.

Early years Rafael Pérez Perry was born in Guayama, 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.

Radio broadcasting pioneer 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. Una Hora Contigo, Tira y Tapate, Yo Soy el Gallo (with José Miguel Class), El Show de Carmita, Cita Con Las Estrellas, El Show de Lissette, El Show de Iris Chacón, El Hit del Momento, El Super Show Goya, Una Chica llamada Ivonne Coll, Cambia Cambia (with Alfred Herger), Angela Luisa Dice (with Angela Luisa and José Luis Torregrosa), Almorzando/Del Brazo (both with Ruth Fernández), La Criada Malcriada (with Norma Candal), and Mediodia Circular (with Vilma Carbia), among others. From 1965-74, Telecadena Pérez Perry aired soap operas imported from Peru's Panamericana Television.

Under Pérez Perry's leadership Channel 11 became the first television channel in Puerto Rico to present its "News" broadcast, "El 11 en Las Noticias" (11 in the News), with a journalist "panel" and a news anchor. Among the television news journalists who began their careers in Channel 11 were Silvia Gomez, Pedro Zervigon and Carmen Jovet.

Later years On May 10, 1978, Rafael Pérez Perry died from a heart attack while working on a Channel 11 transmitter at Cerro la Marquesa located in the town of Aguas Buenas. He was buried at the Buxeda Memorial Park in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico.

Pérez Perry had had three children, Papo, Icha and Ingrid. From his marriage to Zayda Ramirez de Arellano. After his death his children continued to run the operations of Pérez Perry Enterprises until 1981, when WKBM declared bankruptcy and ceased operations.

In 1986, Lorimar-Telepictures acquired the station from bankruptcy Court and changed its call sign to the current WLII. The channel was branded as "Tele Once" with a new slogan: "Tele Once… Vívelo!" (Tele Once... Live it!). It was subsequently sold to Malrite Communications Group in 1991. In 2002, Univision entered into a local marketing agreement with Raycom Media to operate WLII and WSUR-TV. At the time, WLII had a longtime local marketing agreement with another Puerto Rican station, WSTE, which Univision honored. Both WLII and WSUR-TV were sold to Univision in 2005.