Radio

It was announced that Jesus M. Soto, will receive the Spanish Broadcasters Association’s Profiles in Leadership Award for 2008 in a ceremony and reception to be held in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 during the National Association of Broadcaster’s Radio Show.

On August 13, 2008 four of the country’s top 10 Hispanic markets, including the number one market, officially received their first pre-currency PPM report. By John Snyder – Vice President, PPM Sales

Univision Radio announced that beauty and fashion expert Martín Llorens has joined RadioCadena, Univision’s national AM radio network, to host “Hola Martín,” a fun and upbeat new program featuring sought-after celebrity guests, renowned experts and engaging musical surprises. Kmart has signed on as the premiere sponsor of “Hola Martín,” which airs Monday through Friday across RadioCadena.

Just a few weeks ago I wrote about what was about to happen to our business as a result of Arbitron’s new method of ratings measurement called PPM (Portable People Meter). I said that if Arbitron continued with its plans to roll out this new measurement without making the necessary changes that the Hispanic and Urban broadcasters are demanding that the consequences would be dire. What has happened since then?

According to Radio and Records, the merged XM-Sirius must file necessary applications with the FCC to provide satellite radio service to Puerto Rico using terrestrial repeaters within three months of the merger’s consummation, notes the FCC in papers detailing the merger released late Monday afternoon (July 28). While both Sirius and XM have separately programmed, operated and regulated companies doing their work in Canada, the satellite signals beamed from Sirius’ Manhattan studios and XM’s massive Washington, D.C., complex have not been sold outside the continental United States.

Arbitron Inc. has released the first preliminary radio ratings from the Los Angeles Portable People Meter radio ratings service.

Based on the above article regarding PPM and the key issues brought forth by the Spanish Radio Association (SRA), we took the liberty to calculate the impact on local, regional and national dollars potentially impacted on Hispanic radio stations serving US Hispanic Consumers.

The number is HUGE … +/- $250,000,000 in local, regional and national Hispanic Radio revenues negotiated with Arbitron ratings.

But what is the trump card?

The Spanish Radio Association (SRA) created a list of issue they expect to receive answer on from Arbitron. Answers have not come forth, but are expected by the SRA from Arbitron.

According to Radio Ink magazine, a resolution by the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age asks the commission to “investigate Arbitron’s new PPM audience measurement system to determine whether the system is having or will have a detrimental and discriminatory effect upon stations targeting minority audiences.”

Arbitron Inc. announced that it will resume the commercialization of its Portable People Meter radio ratings service in eight markets.

Raul Alarcon Sr., founder and Director Emeritus of Spanish Broadcasting System, has died.

Alarcon, a pioneer in Spanish-language broadcasting, left Cuba, and the radio company he had founded there, following Fidel Castro’s rise to power. He re-established his radio career in the United States, and in 1983, he purchased his first radio station.