Cuban radio and television before Fidel Castro's revolution were rich with domestically produced soap operas, live sporting events, lavish song-and-dance programs, and raucous political commentators. Cuba's 156 radio stations and 27 television stations sought the best talent from around the world. They paid large sums for exclusive rights to broadcast baseball games and boxing matches. All of these endeavors were overshadowed by Castro's revolution.

Radio and Television in Cuba: The Pre-Cuba Era describes broadcasting in Cuba during the 40-year period before the Communist government nationalized all mass media in the early 1960s. Michael Salwen explores some major themes: the alleged corruption of the broadcast media, the economic conditions in which the media operated, the political conditions in Cuba and issues related to freedom of the press.

He brings together documents and interviews with leading Cuban broadcasters from the pre-Castro era to shed some light on Cuban broadcasting during this significant period.