Editing Walter Mercado (section)

=== Astrology ===
{{quote box |align=right |width=300px |quote=I always give the touch of love and they call me the Walter of Miracles |source=Walter Mercado to WLRN<ref name="Martinez">{{cite web |last1=Martinez |first1=Alejandra |title=Legendary Astrologer Walter Mercado Wants You To Come Get A 'Touch Of Love' At HistoryMiami Exhibit |url=https://www.wlrn.org/post/legendary-astrologer-walter-mercado-wants-you-come-get-touch-love-historymiami-exhibit |website=www.wlrn.org |access-date=3 November 2019 |language=en |date=August 1, 2019 |quote=I always give the touch of love and they call me the Walter of Miracles}}</ref>}}
His TV debut as an entertainer came when Puerto Rican producer [[Elín Ortíz]] invited him to perform on his TV show when one guest artist did not show up. Walter Mercado happened to be at the station and Ortiz asked Mercado to use the 25-minute allotment scheduled for the other guest, to make astrological predictions wearing colorful and extravagant robes. After that, Mercado was made a regular in the show making astrological predictions.<ref name="end" /> He would frequently appear in heavily decorated costumes and capes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/03/entertainment/walter-mercado-dies-trnd/index.html|title=Popular astrologer Walter Mercado dies at 87|author=Douglas Wood|website=CNN|date=3 November 2019|access-date=10 November 2019}}</ref>

In 1970, Mercado started his regular astrology segment in ''[[El Show de las 12]]''. He enhanced his studies with formal study into [[astrology]], [[tarot]], and other [[occult]] disciplines. Mercado hosted a weekly astrology television show at [[WKAQ-TV]], Channel 2/Telemundo. After several years, when the network changed its programming, Mercado moved his show to [[WSTE-DT|WRIK-TV]] (channel 7 in [[Ponce, Puerto Rico|Ponce]]) where he hosted it for many years.<ref name="end" /> [[Westinghouse Electric (1886)|Westinghouse]] was a steady and long-time sponsor.<ref name="prpop" /> In the 1980s, his show was seen on several TV channels throughout Latin America and the United States.<ref name="end" /> When [[Tommy Muñiz]] bought WRIK-TV, Mercado stayed for two years then moved his show to [[WKBM-TV]], Channel 11/[[Tele Once]] (later renamed [[WLII-TV]]/Univision). In addition to the TV programs, Mercado also wrote his predictions for newspapers, magazines, and web pages. He was a syndicated writer in the ''[[Miami Herald]]''.<ref name="prpop" /> He also appeared on various radio segments.<ref name="end" />

In 1986, Mercado was awarded the title ''Mr. Televisión'' by the ''Asociación de Cronistas del Espectáculo de Nueva York'' (Association of Latin Entertainment Critics of New York). By the end of the 1980s, Mercado had authored seven books, of which one, ''Más allá del horizonte'' (''Beyond the Horizon''), was published in Spanish, English and Portuguese.<ref name="end" />

From the mid-1990s until 2010, Mercado's show aired in the [[Univision]] network throughout [[the Americas]], but on 8 January 2010, after a fifteen-year relationship, he announced that he and Univision had parted ways.<ref>[http://www.primerahora.com/walter_mercado_sin_univision_en_su_futuro-356468.html ''Walter Mercado sin Univisión en su futuro.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003071856/http://www.primerahora.com/walter_mercado_sin_univision_en_su_futuro-356468.html |date=3 October 2012 }} Ana Enid López Rodríguez. Primera Hora. 8 January 2010.</ref> He was managed by entrepreneur Bill Bakula.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://propertyintangible.com/2011/12/walter-mercado-still-losing.html|title=Walter Mercado Still Losing|work=Property, intangible®|access-date=17 June 2015|date=28 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528074313/http://propertyintangible.com/2011/12/walter-mercado-still-losing.html|archive-date=28 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2005, he was invited to appear on Welsh singer/songwriter [[Lisa Scott-Lee]]’s show ''[[Totally Scott-Lee]]'' to give her a special reading.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=QjLmsH7-cpo|title=Totally Scott Lee, Episode 3|website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref> From 1994 to 2009, he also appeared on ''[[Primer Impacto]]'', which airs on the Univision network in the United States.

Other ventures Mercado was involved with in the mid-2010s included a dating website; a line of Zodiac-themed soaps and hygiene items; and a popular personal website and app offering daily horoscopes and more.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.waltermercado.com/|title=Walter Mercado Sitio Oficial|author=Walter Mercado|work=waltermercado.com|access-date=30 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121205029/https://www.waltermercado.com/|archive-date=21 November 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> His eponymous website received over 1 million visits in the first month.<ref name="Línea Cautivadora">{{cite web|url=https://www.waltermercado.com/linea_cautivadora/|title=Línea Cautivadora|work=waltermercado.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315045409/https://www.waltermercado.com/linea_cautivadora |archive-date=15 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On a limited basis, Mercado continued to make public appearances during this time period as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.waltermercado.com/walter/medios-de-comunicacion/|title=Category Archive for "Medios de Comunicación" – Walter Mercado|work=Walter Mercado|access-date=30 October 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617211829/https://www.waltermercado.com/walter/medios-de-comunicacion/|archive-date=17 June 2015}}</ref>