The Law is now being enforced, en español, on a 40kw Class C1 FM serving Houston from the south, as Spanish Broadcasting System has effectively gained control of the station it agreed to acquire in April 2023 from Urban One in a deal delayed by the aborted sale of SBS’s Mega TV operation.
KROI-FM 92.1, licensed to Seabrook, Tex., is now regional Mexican, using the “La Ley” brand found at its WLEY-FM in the Chicago market.
Raúl Brindis, an iconic regional Mexican radio personality formerly with TelevisaUnivision’s KLTN “Qué Buena 102.9” and widely known across Texas, has joined SBS as KROI’s morning host.
The format change from “Praise” means the Black Gospel programming previously heard on KROI is now exclusively found at KMJQ-FM 102.1’s HD2 signal. And, it is a long-awaited assumption of operations for the company founded and led by Raúl Alarcón Jr. Closing was anticipated more than a year ago for the $7.5 million deal. But a Q3 2023 completion of the deal was predicated on the successful sale of SBS’s television assets, inclusive of MegaTV, to VOZ Media. That transaction never happened, triggering a deal reversal, termination fee and, ultimately, the departures of President/COO Albert Rodriguez and CFO José Molina.
Since Rodriguez and Molina exited SBS, 2024 has been on an expense-reduction, profit-generating crusade, with Alarcón reassuming day-to-day oversight of his media properties to great success. Still, a buyer for MegaTV has not been publicly disclosed, although sources tell RBR+TVBR that interested parties have stepped up to the plate in recent months.
METICULOUS FINANCES
A meticulous approach to cost management and operational efficiency was highlighted by Alarcón on the company’s recent Q3 2024 earnings call.
He commented, “We are doubling down on yet another line-by-line cost elimination review at all business units, which, as I have stated previously, will continue well into 2025. Some of you have asked, why continue with the cost cut? Why is it taking so long? Why not contract an efficiency consultant and implement across-the-board percentage cuts at all business units and get it over with?”
The answer, Alarcón continued, “is that we are taking pains to identify where we can reduce expenses without hurting the overall integrity of the business. This includes finding the creative and self-motivated personnel that consume additional duties without sacrificing effectiveness while eliminating the sacred cows and methods that have no place in today’s challenging competitive environment.”
Alarcón’s comments came days after SBS became the latest to join the Hispanic Radio Alliance, a group formed to highlight the influence and economic potential of Hispanic radio in the U.S., adding its influential voice to the growing coalition of industry leaders in the initiative.
— Additional reporting by Cameron Coats, in New York
