In a surprising move confirmed by RBR+TVBR, Eric Garcia has departed as Audio Revenue Chief of Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) and as VP/GM of the company’s WSKQ-FM “Mega 97.9” and WPAT-FM 93.1 “Amor” in New York.
Where is Garcia headed? Across the street — to Univision Communications.
Garcia’s departure was confirmed late Tuesday (2/6) by SBS General Counsel Richard D. Lara. “We wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Lara said.
Those endeavors will see Garcia stay in New York, but head to SBS’s biggest rival as Director of Radio Sales of Univision Radio.
In this role, Garcia will help direct efforts for heritage Spanish-language News/Talker WADO-AM 1280, regional Mexican AC WQBU-FM 92.7 “Qué Buena,” and Mega’s top challenger in the New York Tri-State Area, Tropical-infused Latin Contemporary WXNY-FM “X96.3.”
Garcia succeeds Karima Khawja; it was not immediately known if Khawja will remain with Univision in another role.
Before his most recent role at SBS, Garcia served in various executive positions at Mega and Amor as GSM, NSM and as an account manager. Before joining SBS in 2004, he worked at Interep National Radio Sales in New York as an account manager.
At Univision Radio/New York, one of Garcia’s top tasks will be gaining ad dollars for The Luis Jiménez Show, WXNY’s morning program. Jiménez rose to fame at Mega 97.9; his program has aired on X96.3 since February 2017. However, Jiménez exited SBS in December 2006, ending a 13-year run as WSKQ’s morning host.
The exit of Garcia from SBS is perhaps more eyebrow-raising.
His father, Joseph Garcia, is SBS’s Chief Financial Officer. While rumors are swirling that the elder Garcia is readying for retirement, an SBS spokesperson tells RBR+TVBR he “continues to be the Chief Financial Officer of the company.”
Eric Garcia’s exit from SBS results in corporate COO Albert Rodriguez taking interim GM duties in New York, while Liz Paulino has been promoted to GSM of Mega and Amor.
In other SBS news, the company has appointed Geraldo Arriaga VP/Digital Media Sales at SBS, focusing on its LaMusica digital brand.
In this role, Arriaga will spearhead all of the company’s digital revenue efforts at the national scale, while working directly with all Digital Sales Managers, sales management and divisions in each SBS market. He’ll be based in Miami.
Arriaga formerly served as Online Sales Manager for Clear Channel Online Music & Radio, where he was responsible for digital sales at the interactive division for 17 years.
However, Arriaga is no stranger to SBS, as he served as Digital/Local Sales Manager for SBS in the Miami market for four years.
Meanwhile, Univision Radio has shifted programming and branding at five of its stations, ending Regional Mexican AC “Más Variedad” and replacing it with its mainstream Latin Pop “Amor” presentation.
The stations are KBRG-FM 100.3 in San José, which also covers the San Francisco-Oakland market; KLQV-FM 102.9 in San Diego; KOMR-FM 106.3 in the Phoenix market; KOVE-FM 106.5 in the Houston market; and KLJA-FM 107.7 in the Austin market.
For the San Diego and Phoenix stations, it is a return to “Amor” after several years.
Other Univision Radio stations using the “Amor” name are in Chicago, Fresno and in Miami, where flagship WAMR-FM 107.5 has been a ratings leader in a crowded marketplace.
The expansion of “Amor” has led to rumors that Javier Romero, a veteran morning host at WAMR and Univision television personality, may be the next talent to be spread via syndication across other Univision Radio properties.
