4 days ago
Radio Martí is alive and well and transmitting to Cuba from Miami. Here's how
On March 26, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which oversees Radio and TV Martí reopened its doors amid a sweeping transformation of its parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
In the face of staffing limitations, we recommitted to our core mission: delivering timely, accurate and uncensored information to the Cuban people.
OCB is not just a media organization — it is a lifeline to truth for millions living under authoritarian control. What we achieved in the weeks that followed is a testament to our team's dedication and to the enduring value of public service journalism.
Here's how we did it:
Through careful analysis of audience patterns and programming needs, we realigned our content schedules to focus on high-impact time blocks.
Our review of staff roles allowed us to reassign tasks more efficiently, and we adjusted work shifts to ensure full coverage with fewer hands. We relaunched Radio Martí with a dynamic, 24-hour format featuring original programming, trusted newscasts and curated evergreen content.
Our technical and production teams were restructured and unified under a single editorial and operational vision. Since March, we have done more than resume operations — we have innovated. We launched Asuntos de Estado – State Affairs in partnership with the U.S. State Department's Media Hub of the Americas, bringing direct and transparent diplomatic insights to the Cuban public.
Our collaboration with Trinity Audio, an AI-powered text-to-speech tool, surpassed 1.5 million plays in one year — clear proof of growing demand for our content.
On May 20, we marked the 40th anniversary of Radio Martí. The celebration drew broad support: Miami U.S. Rep. Congressman Carlos Giménez submitted the date into the Congressional Record and Miami-Dade County issued an official proclamation delivered by Commissioner Juan Carlos 'JC' Bermúdez.
We premiered two short documentaries that reflect the spirit of resistance and the enduring demand for freedom among Cubans. 'Ferrer, Portrait of a Dissident'chronicles over 20 years of activism by José Daniel Ferrer, one of the island's most prominent opposition figures.
'Ramón Saúl Sánchez and His Struggle' highlights the tireless work of the well-known Cuban exile leader and advocate for human rights and democratic change. Both films serve not only as tributes to individual courage but also as reminders of a broader movement that continues to push for liberty — on and off the island.
We also resumed shortwave broadcasting to Cuba. On June 27, transmissions from the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station in North Carolina returned to the air on three frequencies. This expanded reach is more than a technical achievement — it is a moral obligation to ensure our signal breaks through censorship barriers.
Since the start of FY 2025, OCB has recorded over 622 million video views on Facebook, with 223.7 million meeting the 3-second industry engagement standard, and 65% of those views coming from Cuba.
Our efforts are reaching those inside Cuba. In June alone, Facebook videos reached 100.7 million views, including 35.5 million 3-second views. On YouTube, we recorded 1.6 million views in June, with 51.3% of that audience in Cuba. Overall, YouTube has reached 19.4 million views this fiscal year, with 52% originating from inside the island. These figures are verified by Meta Business Suite's Professional Dashboard.
None of this would have been possible without the consistent support of Cuban American elected officials who have fiercely defended OCB's mission.
In President Donald Trump's National Security Memorandum, OCB's role was explicitly reaffirmed as a key component of the renewed Cuba Internet Task Force, charged with expanding online access to the Cuban population. That designation was not symbolic — it was strategic. The ability to inform, connect and empower a society isolated from the world begins with access to truth. OCB remains a vital actor in that effort.
OCB has proven that with purpose, resilience and innovation, we can achieve extraordinary results. Our mission remains clear: to be a trusted source of information for Cubans, a platform for the voiceless and a force against censorship.
Álvaro Alba is the deputy director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Click here to listen to Radio Marti online.
