iHeartMedia and Univision launched new Spanish CHRs in San Antonio this afternoon.
While we were waiting for iHeartMedia to flip Rhythmic Hot AC “Hot 104.5” KZEP-FM San Antonio to “104.5 Latino Hits“, Univision beat them to the punch by flipping Classic Hip Hop “Yo 95.1” KMYO Comfort back to its previous “95.1 Latino Mix” identity.
“95.1 Latino Mix” debuted at 5pm today with a playlist described as “Pop, Reggaeton, y mas!”. KMYO had previously used that branding for its previous identity until its flip to Classic Hip-Hop in December 2014.
As the press release below points out, the new “104.5 Latino Hits” was originally intended to launch at 12pm on Thursday or Friday but was moved up to 5:30pm due to KMYO beating them to the punch. KZEP will run 10,000 songs commercial free with a mix of Spanish and English pop hits from core artists including Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Nicky Jam, Shakira, and Mana. Enrique Santos’ morning show based at “Tú 94.9” WZTU Miami will be heard from 5-9am starting Monday, May 1.
iHeartMedia San Antonio announced today the debut of 104.5 Latino Hits, the new home of Spanish Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) music for San Antonio, TX. The station will kick off today at noon with 10,000 songs of commercial-free music featuring around-the-clock Spanish and English songs as well as contest opportunities for listeners to win cash.
104.5 Latino Hits will broadcast hit music from artists such as Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Nicky Jam, Shakira, and Mana. Beginning May 1, Enrique Santos will host Tu Manana con Enrique Santos from 5-9 a.m. The full local programming lineup will be announced at a later date.
“We are so excited to introduce the new 104.5 Latino Hits to the San Antonio community,” said Brian Gann, Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeartMedia Central Texas. “We truly believe this format will resonate well with our San Antonio listeners, and is a perfect complement to our other stations in the market.”
“I am thrilled to help wake the great people of San Antonio on weekday mornings with the best music and entertainment,” said Santos, Morning Show Host and Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of iHeartLatino, iHeartMedia’s new Hispanic platform. “Everything is bigger in Texas…but better in Spanish! I’m proud to represent mi gente on the new 104.5 Latino Hits.”
“The addition of this new Spanish-language station adds a new dimension to our cluster and the San Antonio community,” said Matt Martin, President of iHeartMedia Central Texas. “We have an amazing team in place and I am excited for what’s to come!”
iHeartMedia is a leading media outlet in the Central Texas market and its content is available across multiple platforms, including its broadcast station; online via its branded digital site; mobile; and social, with nationwide listening through iHeartRadio, the all-in-one streaming music and live radio service – with its more than a billion downloads and 100 million registered users. Fans can listen to 104.5 on the stations’ websites at 1045latinohits.com, and on iHeartRadio.
WOW! OK!
This is the kind of thing we often see with two competing all-Christmas formats in a major market: When one station takes the plunge, the other station that was planning to do so follows within minutes.