Clear Channel Launches Hispanic Radio Network

Clear Channel has announced it is launching the iHeartRadio Hispanic Network.

Mexican broadcaster Group Radio Centro (GRC) will serve as the foundation partner of the network, providing live broadcasts from some of Mexico's top-rated radio stations on Clear Channel’s iHeart digital platform with new ads substituted to target U.S. Hispanics.

The network will include a collection of assets providing advertising partners large-scale reach to nearly 90% of the U.S. Spanish and English-speaking Hispanic population.

The agreement gives Clear Channel exclusive digital distribution for all GRC stations, including regional Mexican “Radio Centro 93.9” KXOS, Los Angeles and its popular "El Show Del Mandril” morning show.

The two companies recently inked a U.S. national sales and distribution deal via Premiere Networks for “Mandril.” GRC parent company Grupo Radio Mexico’s 51 radio stations in 13 Mexican markets will also be available on iHeartRadio. Beginning later this year, iHeart will become the exclusive digital ad sales provider for GRC’s Mexican stations with plans to replace all local Mexican station ads with consumer-targeted U.S. ads.

Bob Pitman

With 65% of the U.S. Hispanic population being of Mexican descent, Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman sees the network delivering unique content to the U.S. marketplace. "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,” he said in a statement.

GRC Chairman/CEO Francisco Aguirre calls it “the second step in the groundbreaking partnership between our two companies,” adding that he and Pittman “share a vision to expand both companies beyond their respective borders in a very fast paced and evolving digital landscape.”