Radio Victoria, the provincial station in Las Tunas, has been unable to broadcast normally for more than 35 days. The station went off the air on August 24, attributed to solar panel issues and a fuel shortage, as publicly stated by Gretel Yanet Tamayo Velázquez, a journalist and head of the station's sports team.
The crisis has slashed transmissions from 24 hours a day to a mere five or six hours daily, with no tangible results from efforts made to resolve the situation thus far.
The timing couldn't be worse: the 65th National Baseball Series kicks off on October 4, with the Leñadores de Las Tunas set to face the Ciego de Ávila Tigers. Without a stable signal, the province risks missing out on radio coverage of Cuba's premier sports event.
"The season begins on October 4, and the Leñadores will play against the Tigers, but radio transmission is in serious jeopardy," warned Tamayo Velázquez on her social media platforms.
The journalist emphasized that the issue is not due to a lack of effort: "Radio producers are willing, but institutional support and a final solution are missing."
Meanwhile, fans are voicing their frustration online: "Radio Victoria is silent," they write, filled with concern.
A Broader Energy Collapse Across Cuba
Radio Victoria's predicament is not an isolated incident but part of a broader energy collapse that, by 2026, has silenced stations throughout Cuba. Radio Angulo in Holguín went off-air in January due to prolonged outages and generator deterioration, while Santiago de Cuba lost both radio and TV coverage in May due to power generation shortages.
In Las Tunas itself, the pattern is long-standing: Radio Cabaniguán in Jobabo had already reduced its broadcasts to six hours a day by September 2025 due to fuel shortages for its generators.
Las Tunas is home to eight solar parks with an installed capacity of 64.8 MW, yet average generation only provides about 2.5 hours of electricity daily, according to local Electric Company data. By the end of August, the province had accumulated 311 pending electrical complaints and reported 11 transformer thefts this year alone.
Coping with the Crisis
Since June, RadioCuba Las Tunas has restructured its programming to focus solely on news and high-interest events, due to the inability to maintain regular broadcasts.
Radio Victoria marked its 73rd anniversary on September 20, amidst the crisis, with the slogan "Always with you" proving hard to fulfill.
"Today, the radio is silent. And that silence strikes at the heart of Cuban baseball," wrote Tamayo Velázquez, capturing the sentiment of thousands of Las Tunas fans as the baseball season draws near.
Radio Victoria and Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing Radio Victoria to be off the air?
Radio Victoria has been off the air due to problems with its solar panels and a significant fuel shortage.
How is the energy crisis affecting other areas in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba has led to several stations going silent, including Radio Angulo in Holguín and broadcasting services in Santiago de Cuba. The crisis is due to prolonged power outages and shortages in power generation.
What actions have been taken to address the broadcasting issues in Las Tunas?
Efforts to resolve the broadcasting issues in Las Tunas have included reconfiguring programming to prioritize news and major events. However, these efforts have yet to yield a lasting solution.