Radio Victoria, the provincial radio station in Las Tunas, Cuba, has been broadcasting for only five to six hours daily instead of its standard 24-hour schedule due to a severe energy crisis involving solar panel malfunctions and fuel shortages, according to Gretel Yanet Tamayo Velázquez, the station’s sports team head. The disruption, which began August 24, threatens local radio coverage of the upcoming 65th National Baseball Series opening on October 4.
Las Tunas Broadcasts Slashed Ahead of National Baseball Opener
The prolonged blackout of regular operations arrives at a critical juncture for Cuban baseball fans in Las Tunas. On October 4, the Leñadores de Las Tunas are scheduled to open their 65th National Baseball Series campaign against the Tigres de Ciego de Ávila. Tamayo Velázquez warned via social media that the lack of a stable broadcast signal places live radio coverage of the country’s marquee sporting event in serious jeopardy. While station producers remain willing to work, Tamayo Velázquez noted that the operation lacks essential institutional support and a definitive response to restore full power.
Energy Infrastructure Failures Silence Broadcasters Across Cuba
The crisis at Radio Victoria is part of a broader energy collapse affecting media outlets across the island. In January, Radio Angulo in Holguín went off the air due to extended blackouts and failing generator sets. Similarly, Santiago de Cuba lost both radio and television transmission in May following production deficits. Locally in Las Tunas, Radio Cabaniguán in Jobabo previously cut its daily broadcasts to six hours in September 2025 due to diesel shortages for its generators.
Data from the local Empresa Eléctrica directorate indicates that while Las Tunas features eight solar parks with 64.8 megawatts of installed capacity, average generation provides roughly 2.5 hours of electricity supply per day. Compounding these grid challenges, the province faced 311 pending electricity complaints at the end of August alongside 11 reported transformer thefts since the beginning of the year. To cope with the shortfalls, RadioCuba Las Tunas restructured its programming in June to prioritize only news systems and major public interest events.
Anniversary Overshadowed by Silent Transmitters
Radio Victoria marked its 73rd anniversary on September 20 under severe operational constraints, rendering its traditional anniversary motto—”Sempre con lei” (Always with her)—difficult to uphold. Tamayo Velázquez observed that the silence of the station cuts directly into the heart of Cuban baseball culture, leaving thousands of supporters across the province without their primary source of game updates.
