Àngels Barceló will stop presenting 'Hoy por hoy' on SER

BarcelonaThe Prisa group reported this Friday that next season will begin with a new face at the helm of the morning show Hoy por hoy, the leading radio magazine in Spain, which since 2019 has been hosted by Àngels Barceló. The move comes after the Catalan journalist decided not to renew her contract, after 21 years at the station. "I infinitely appreciate the loyalty and trust of the listeners, my teams, and my collaborators," say the statements included in the group's official note announcing this change, which, on the contrary, does not include any thanks to the company or the station.

Barceló's continuity was already in doubt at the end of last season. Part of the tensions experienced at the radio station this season are related to the disparity of criteria between Fran Llorente, head of content at SER, and Barceló, who had demanded full editorial and operational autonomy, according to unofficial sources from the network consulted by ARA. On the other hand, the content management considered that the format needed renewal, as Carlos Herrera from COPE has been closing the gap and qualitative data analyses suggested audience fatigue. Part of the focus had been on the discussion panels, as a renewal of names was requested, not so much for ideological reasons but to refresh the lineup, according to these sources.

Jaume Serra, general director of radio at Prisa, commented on the news in the press release: "We extend to Àngels our recognition and gratitude for her dedication and contribution to SER during these 21 years on A vivir que son dos días, Hora 25 and Hoy por hoy. Listeners and we have learned a lot with her. We continue to consolidate the present of radio and build its future. We have the best radio team in Spain, the resources, the talent, and the desire to keep growing." The group also included statements from Pilar Gil, CEO of Prisa Media, who recalled the project "of transformation and reaching new audiences" that is currently underway.

The last EGM granted 3,200,000 listeners to Àngels Barceló with Hoy por hoy, which meant a growth of 30,000 listeners compared to a year ago. Her immediate competitor, Carlos Herrera, on Cope, experienced notable growth, going from 2,490,000 listeners to 3,093,000. The gap, therefore, is only 107,000 listeners. The third in contention is Carlos Alsina, on Onda Cero, who also managed to add listeners with Más de uno–in this case, he went from 1,544,000 to 1,816,000 listeners.

When considering a replacement, the company will have to choose between an internal solution –with names like Aimar Bretos or José Luis Sastre, rising stars within the station– or resort to an external signing. The fact that Carlos Alsina has not yet renewed with Atresmedia's radio station positions him as a possible candidate in the predictions.