Backed by an all-star array of business associates, local entrepreneur and former Hialeah mayor Julio Martínez announced the formation of a new Miami television station at a news conference at the Hialeah Gardens Holiday Inn on February 25.
“It’s the station of truth,” states Martínez, of his titled, The True Channel. With “The True News Network” as the station’s subtitle, Martínez leaves no doubt that news along his airwaves will not be slanted in what he, and many, feel is a biased mainstream media approach to current national and world events that lean left of center. A youthful-looking 76 years of age, Martínez, who is no stranger to the public spotlight, after more than 30 years of political activism, envisions the 24-hour, Miami Lakes-based station as one with a focus on politics and sports.
Martínez will have the support of experienced communications figures in Julio Rodríguez and Jorge Rodriguez. Both men, who are not related, have extensive media backgrounds. Both have lived through historical events that fuel their current passion to get behind this new endeavor with an emphasis on straight forward news. President of Miami radio station La Poderosa 670 AM, Jorge Rodríguez was a 19-year old, working with appointed-president of Cuba, Manuel Urrita, in 1960, as Cuba shifted toward Marxism and appropriated all mediums of communication. “It’s important to bring the truth to the population,” Rodríguez said at the news conference. “I congratulate this new channel. It will have the support of many.”
“I’m proud to work with Julio, and the opportunity to contribute our bit to make this a grand station,” said Julio Rodriguez, who parents were integral contributors to Cuba’s biggest radio and television broadcasters, CMQ, before being forced to abandon the island.
One of the infant station’s most important backers will be Alex Hanna, one of South Florida’s most visible personal injury attorneys. “As a kid growing up in Hialeah, Julio Martínez was a role model,” said Hanna, who was born in Hialeah Hospital and opened his first office in the same city in 2001. “We have always supported veterans, minorities, women and have always combated injustices. Thank you, Julio, for the aim of true news and The True Channel.”“We are living in divisive, polarizing times,” said Anthony Verdugo, founder and executive director of the Christian Family Coalition of Miami and another speaker at the event. “We are losing our values. Our country was founded on JudeoChristian values. Unfortunately, we are seeing a methodical censure of those values on a local, state and national level. Every day we fight to make sure people of faith have their equal voice in government and the public square, in the market place, and we encourage you at True Channel to include that as part of your message.”
Frank de Varona is slated to be another prominent contributor. A veteran of Brigade 2506 and author of 26 books, de Varona has a target audience in mind when speaking about the new cable TV project. “We have to reach our young people,” he says. “There’s a false narrative being written about the history of the United States. It’s why 52% of millennials prefer socialism over capitalism, because of the misinformation being taught in school, especially the universities. We need a station that tells the truth and provides an alternative conservative message.” Speaking from the podium, Honduran-born Brenda Betancourt, Public Relations Director for the Hialeah Republican Club, said: “I think we are doing our duty as citizens of this nation. No matter how much they criticize us, the country that comes out to defend the whole world is the United States of America. Though my communism is different than yours, I’m with you. My husband is Cuban. I empathize with all the Venezuelan mothers who have lost children. When I see those young people dying on the streets of Venezuela, I think of my son who is 18. I think our fight has barely begun.”
Other distinguished community members who were not present but have offered their support to Martínez, include Raúl Saúl Sánchez, José “Chamby” Campos and Lorenzo Palomares.
Martínez will also count on Ed MacDougall, a fellow Vietnam veteran (who volunteered for two tours of duty). “I’ve spent enough time with Julio to realize that he is a 100% honest man,” says the former Green Beret, who along with Martínez was co-chairman of the Trump for President campaign in Miami-Dade. “Julio and I were both sergeants in the US army; I was e6, he was e5 (indicating a higher pay grade). But Julio was a boxer,” he kiddingly adds, “so he could beat me up.”
Martínez’s pugilistic background was significant enough to earn him induction into the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015. Though he gave up his sport of preference long ago, he made it clear that he will not be pulling any punches in his new effort.
