Univision Radio Abruptly Cancels Eddie Sotelo

Eddie Sotelo

Univision Radio Network has dropped "Piolín por la Manana," the wildly popular, nationally syndicated Spanish-language morning radio talk show hosted by Southern California-based Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo, a Univision spokesperson confirmed.

According to the LA Times, no reason has been given for the reported dropping of the show, which airs on dozens of radio stations in more than 20 U.S. states. Piolín has not posted to his Twitter account in two days. The show had been on the air since 2003. Affiliates were notified this afternoon that the popular radio show was pulled off the air and will be replaced by music until further notice.

Lately, his program, broadcast in Los Angeles on KSCA-FM 101.9, had begun to be eclipsed in the increasingly competitive world of Spanish-language morning radio. For example, Ricardo "El Mandril" Sanchez's program of regional Mexican music on radio station KLAX-FM (97.9) last month leap-frogged into the No. 1 spot in the L.A.-Orange County market, according to Arbitron, attracting 5.3% of the available audience weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m.

Piolín, whose nickname means "Tweety Bird," is one of the best-known Spanish-language personalities in the country, and his program made its reputation with a madhouse blend of satirical sketches, irreverent commentary, double-entendre wordplay and interjections by wacky characters.

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Sotelo, who in June was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame, was based in Los Angeles and was most recently on 14 owned-and-operated stations and 37 affiliates with an audience in the millions who tuned in to hear his rapid-fire humor and commentary on everything entertainment to pop culture and politics. Billboard reports he has interviewed some of the biggest names in Hollywood. One of his most celebrated guests was President Barack Obama in 2010.

Partial list of stations that carried Piolín por la Mañana:

• La Nueva 101.9 FM de KSCA, Los Ángeles, CA
• 98.9 y 99.1 FM de KSOL, San Francisco, CA
• SOL 99.1 FM de KSQL, Monterey- S.J. CA
• La Nueva 105.9 FM de KHOT, Phoenix, AZ
• Qué Buena 94.1 FM de KLNO, Dallas, TX
• La Nueva 103.5 FM de KISF, Las Vegas, NV
• Estéreo Latino 102.9 FM de KLTN, Houston, TX
• Qué Onda 92.1 FM de KOND, Fresno, CA
• La Qué Buena 105.1 FM de WOJO, Chicago, IL
• La Qué Buena 92.7 FM de WQBU, Nueva York, NY
• 97.5 FM Qué Buena de KBNA, El Paso, TX
• 98.5 de KGBT, McAllen, TX
• La Nueva 106.5 FM de KLNV, San Diego, CA
• Estéreo Latino 92.9 de KROM, San Antonio, TX
• La Qué Buena 104.3 FM de KLQB, Austin, TX
• La Jefa 105.1 FM de KJFA, Albuquerque, NM

Tom’s Take:   It won’t take long for Sotelo to find another syndicated gig.  The Hispanic market is growing too quickly for someone not to sign-up the free agent.  Maybe Clear Channel or SiriusXM?