• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, April 4, 2014

Univision Communications is laying off dozens of employees at radio stations across the U.S. as part of an initiative to consolidate programming responsibilities, which will be handled by a corporate programming teams working out of Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Miami. The cuts will also affect some on-air hosts.
 
As part of the transformation, Univision is changing formats and re-branding many stations.

The company’s “Recuerdo” stations, which featured Spanish-language adult hits, are being revamped with a new “Mas Variedad” (“More Variety”) format. The company is also investing in digital distribution, via its Uforia Music Platforms, including apps for iOS and Android.
 
In an open letter announcing the changes, Univision president Jose Valle stated: “The content teams… will provide customized and localized content across all of our markets, digital and beyond.” That means, in part, more national distribution of popular programs. “Many of our shows will see expanded coverage into multiple markets.”
 
However, Valle added: “Local promotions and activation teams, as well as local DJs, will continue serving clients and local audiences in each and every market.”
 
These moves come as Univision is preparing to go public with a stock offering sometime in the next year. It is also part of a larger trend toward more centralization of programming functions across the radio industry.
 
Back in 2011, Clear Channel Radio (now Clear Channel Entertainment and Media), the country’s largest broadcast radio group, created a new brand management team responsible for developing on-air and digital programming content for the company’s stations. The team consists of a brand manager and brand coordinator for each format, who consult with stations and advise CCR’s various senior vice presidents of programming throughout the country, sharing format-specific content and information to inform programming decisions.

advertisement

advertisement