Is Spanish and Ethnic radio.......

[Starbucks]

these days broadcast mostly live, voice trakked, or automated? It came to my mind one night where I did not have my satellite radio with me.... so as I was driving down the highway, I thought I would do some DXing, realizing maybe something unexpected would happen on terrestrial radio...mainly on the AM band.
Non -english language radio continues to increase mainly on AM....and I wondered, take a station at 1330/1640/ or a 50,000 watt FM transmitting spanish or ethnic music from somewhere on a large or medium market ...... is it programmed with a live announcer? Especially at night?
Obviously, I don't speak spanish, but I start to wonder with so many english stations devoting to canned syndicated programs and replays.....is spanish or ethnic radio going in the same direction? Especially AM stations? Do these stations have the budget to program round the clock live programming with live announcers?
When it comes to evenings, all nights, weekends,or special holidays like Christmas, do they operate with a full live staff, whether it's all talk or music? I noticed monitoring a top of the dial radio station out of Roseville, Ca. It sounded like a reel to reel tape running spanish music continously with a few seconds pause in between.
Dave Eduardo....I'm sure your the perfect candidate to answer my question in eeenglish please.

 

[davideduardo]

Dave Eduardo....I'm sure your the perfect candidate to answer my question in eeenglish please.

Due to the very young average age of Hispanics in the US... about 10 years younger than non-Hispanic whites... the use of AM is minimal. Only where there is not enough audience to support an FM will AMs get some audience. But in most places, there is next to none. Currently in the LA PPM, there are 27 12+ shares for Spanish language radio... only 2.2 shares for the AMs. In 18-49, of 33 shares, 1.9 is AM.

So, AMs, with little audience in most markets, are going to be run by board ops or use networks (like ESPN for KWKW, W for XEWW and Radio Cadena Univision for KTNQ in LA). Eventually, there will be little mass appeal Spanish language radio on AM. Part of this, of course, is the general decline of AM as it ages into over-55 demos and loses share below that age.

 

[Starbucks]

So, AMs, with little audience in most markets, are going to be run by board ops or use networks (like ESPN for KWKW, W for XEWW and Radio Cadena Univision for KTNQ in LA). Eventually, there will be little mass appeal Spanish language radio on AM. Part of this, of course, is the general decline of AM


>>>>>So what your telling me is that all or most of these spanish or ethnic signals that I hear locally or regionally from the skywaves, are satellite delivered broadcast piped in locally with a board op at the controls. Is that the same for FM as well?

 

[davideduardo]

So, AMs, with little audience in most markets, are going to be run by board ops or use networks (like ESPN for KWKW, W for XEWW and Radio Cadena Univision for KTNQ in LA). Eventually, there will be little mass appeal Spanish language radio on AM. Part of this, of course, is the general decline of AM


>>>>>So what your telling me is that all or most of these spanish or ethnic signals that I hear locally or regionally from the skywaves, are satellite delivered broadcast piped in locally with a board op at the controls. Is that the same for FM as well?

No, actually most AMs are still mostly local, although they may be running off the automation at night, not with a live jock in many smaller markets. The ESPNs and such will only be effective in large markets where the niche is big enough.

Most of the Spanish and ethninc FMs are live and local... a few are networked, and many have syndicated morning or afternoon shows, though. The reason there is not total networking is that the national origin, and thus, interests, of the listeners vary by market or region and there is no one size fits all, even in sports. Also, almost all radio in Latin America is networked nationally, even in Puerto Rico, USA, so there is a greater appeal of quality network shows or formats and no rejection of the idea.

 

[radioeye]

To me the answer to your question, is yes. Spanish language radio is syndicated.

With English language AM stations, syndicated radio shows have been a way of life for more than several decades. It seems to me that Univision and SBS are doing the same with big stick FM's in big markets.

Most of the smaller Spanish language operators got rid of DJ's and board operators for overnights and Sundays long ago. Recently, many have dismissed having personnel from 7p-12m Weekdays and Saturdays.

Whether in English or in Spanish, it seems that the game is essentially the same.

 

[davideduardo]

To me the answer to your question, is yes. Spanish language radio is syndicated.

There are quite a few syndicated shows, but then again there are over 1000 Spanish language stations in the US. 50 carry Piolin por la Mañana. Many Entravision stations are networked. There are a couple of other shows that have a couple of syndicated shows or an in house network. Clear Channel has 16 to 18 La Preciosa network stations.

We seem to be up around 100 out of 1000 with net shows. That's likely a lower ratio than in the general market.

With English language AM stations, syndicated radio shows have been a way of life for more than several decades. It seems to me that Univision and SBS are doing the same with big stick FM's in big markets.

SBS has one networked show on two stations (excluding PR where every major player has to be networked to cover the market). Univision has a couple of AM networked shows, a couple of morning shows, and some networked Recuerdo stations... but stations like WCAA, WRTO, WAMR, KLVE, etc., are live and local 24/7.

What this means is that a mix of local and network shows is what works in any environment and language.

Most of the smaller Spanish language operators got rid of DJ's and board operators for overnights and Sundays long ago.

That's because most Spanish language stations still get lower rates for the same audience and because there are many advertisers who don't seek Hispanic clientele. Unsalable overnight shifts are where some savings can be achieved. Sunday, for Spanish, is a huge day. I don't know of any staitons that are live all the rest of the time that are not similarly live on weekends. That's in part because remotes are still huge in the Hispanic market, and it's pretty gough to do remotes without someone live to do the intros and cues.

Recently, many have dismissed having personnel from 7p-12m Weekdays and Saturdays.

Maybe in very small markets, but that would be the economy not radio at the root of the problem. But I have not heard of any such thing happening; many Hispanics are shift workers and evenings is an important daypart.

Whether in English or in Spanish, it seems that the game is essentially the same.

Not really. I see very few similarities on the level you describe. Hispanic radio has long syndicated shows, because it is hard to find talent and the good talent is a draw in multiple markets (the cause here is legal immigration and the fact that good talent from Latin America is often better paid at home than radio can pay in the US).




[/quote]

 

[radioeye]

To me the answer to your question, is yes. Spanish language radio is syndicated.

There are quite a few syndicated shows, but then again there are over 1000 Spanish language stations in the US. 50 carry Piolin por la Mañana. Many Entravision stations are networked. There are a couple of other shows that have a couple of syndicated shows or an in house network. Clear Channel has 16 to 18 La Preciosa network stations.

We seem to be up around 100 out of 1000 with net shows. That's likely a lower ratio than in the general market.

With English language AM stations, syndicated radio shows have been a way of life for more than several decades. It seems to me that Univision and SBS are doing the same with big stick FM's in big markets.

SBS has one networked show on two stations (excluding PR where every major player has to be networked to cover the market). Univision has a couple of AM networked shows, a couple of morning shows, and some networked Recuerdo stations... but stations like WCAA, WRTO, WAMR, KLVE, etc., are live and local 24/7.

What this means is that a mix of local and network shows is what works in any environment and language.

Most of the smaller Spanish language operators got rid of DJ's and board operators for overnights and Sundays long ago.

That's because most Spanish language stations still get lower rates for the same audience and because there are many advertisers who don't seek Hispanic clientele. Unsalable overnight shifts are where some savings can be achieved. Sunday, for Spanish, is a huge day. I don't know of any staitons that are live all the rest of the time that are not similarly live on weekends. That's in part because remotes are still huge in the Hispanic market, and it's pretty gough to do remotes without someone live to do the intros and cues.

Recently, many have dismissed having personnel from 7p-12m Weekdays and Saturdays.

Maybe in very small markets, but that would be the economy not radio at the root of the problem. But I have not heard of any such thing happening; many Hispanics are shift workers and evenings is an important daypart.

Whether in English or in Spanish, it seems that the game is essentially the same.

Not really. I see very few similarities on the level you describe. Hispanic radio has long syndicated shows, because it is hard to find talent and the good talent is a draw in multiple markets (the cause here is legal immigration and the fact that good talent from Latin America is often better paid at home than radio can pay in the US).

[/quote]

My point EXACTLY.

 

[jh]

Bustos Media has three 24/7 formats... La Gran D, La Ke Buena, and Magia.

La Preciosa is also syndicated to non-Clear Channel stations.

 

[davideduardo]

Bustos Media has three 24/7 formats... La Gran D, La Ke Buena, and Magia.

On a handful of stations.

La Preciosa is also syndicated to non-Clear Channel stations.

They are down to, I believe, two non-CC affiliates and about 16 total stations... no major markets after the DOJ mandated spin of KSJO.

 

[Mediatran]

La Gran D is on (about) 45 stations in small and medium markets. It's available on 100% barter and has decent jocks, so it's a good choice for small market stations on a budget. Fire up the bird and go sell.

I believe Magia and La Ke Buena are no longer available for syndication to non-Bustos stations. Actually, I think the only market that has Magia now is Sacramento.

 

[davideduardo]

La Gran D is on (about) 45 stations in small and medium markets. It's available on 100% barter and has decent jocks, so it's a good choice for small market stations on a budget. Fire up the bird and go sell.

I had no idea there were that many... they must be in rather small markets, where having a satellite format may be the only way to even consider dong a Spanish language format.

 

[Mediatran]

I got this information from Bustos' affiliate coordinator (Jose Reynoso) a few months ago. I'm sure most are very small markets. Others markets have La Gran D on selected dayparts (i.e. KZSF/San Jose after 4:00 PM). I guess the part-timers are also in that count.

I wonder why the larger groups like Univision Radio and SBS don't try a 24/7 regional mexican format for syndication into smaller markets. It should be easy to do for them with the talent pool and resources they have. It probably wouldn't be a huge money-maker, but it would get Spanish-language radio into even more markets.

 

[elchupacabras]

La Gran D is on (about) 45 stations in small and medium markets. It's available on 100% barter and has decent jocks, so it's a good choice for small market stations on a budget. Fire up the bird and go sell.

I had no idea there were that many... they must be in rather small markets, where having a satellite format may be the only way to even consider dong a Spanish language format.

Before I left the U.S., the station I programmed was affiliated with La Gran D from Bustos. I chose to go satellite outside of my local hours for a key reason: It had a live jock! Voice-tracking in a small market does not work. Most of my audience members are from rural Mexico, where "saludos" are an important part of the program, and not having anybody at the station was killing my ratings. I tried voice-tracking and it didn't work. I got better response with Bustos format.

A former post also mentioned something about Jose Reynoso. He got blown out last October. I don't know where he has landed, but I wish him the best. What a great guy to work with!