Adding to Clear Channel/Premiere Networks’ syndication deal with El Mandril, Group Radio Centro will now serve as the foundation partner of the new network, providing live broadcasts from some of Mexico’s top-rated radio stations on CCMEs’ iHeart digital platform.
The iHeartRadio Hispanic Network will serve Hispanics across the US and will include a unique collection of assets providing advertising partners large-scale reach to nearly 90% of the U.S. Spanish and English-speaking Hispanic population.
The agreement will provide exclusive digital distribution for all Grupo Radio Centro stations, including regional Mexican station KXOS in Los Angeles and the most-listened-to Spanish language program in America, “El Show Del Mandril.”
In addition, GRC’s parent company Grupo Radio Mexico (GRM), which owns and operates 51 radio stations across multiple formats in 13 Mexican markets–including the leading station cluster in Monterrey and Guadalajara–will also be available on iHeartRadio wherever it is offered, including the web, mobile, gaming, home entertainment and automotive.
Beginning later this year, iHeartRadio will become the exclusive digital ad sales provider for these market-leading Mexican stations. In an industry first, Clear Channel will replace all local Mexican station ads with consumer-targeted U.S. ads.
“This is the second step in the groundbreaking partnership between our two companies,” said Francisco Aguirre, Chairman/CEO, GRC. “Bob Pittman and I share a vision to expand both companies beyond their respective borders in a very fast paced and evolving digital landscape. Our Mexico stations are market leaders across all demographics and we look forward to their natural expansion in the U.S. through the iHeartRadio Hispanic Network.”
“There is a population of more than 50 million Hispanics in the U.S.–with 65 percent being of Mexican descent,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman/CEO, Clear Channel. “This unique partnership represents a key milestone in Mexico/U.S. broadcasting, allowing Clear Channel for the first time to offer this key demographic exclusive access to the most popular Mexican stations from anywhere across the U.S. with the iHeartRadio Hispanic Network, in addition to providing our partners with unprecedented access to the Hispanic community.”
