Àngels Barceló resigns from leading 'Hoy por hoy' on SER
The station has not announced who will replace her
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 presented 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," states the declaration included in the group's official note announcing this change, which, conversely, does not include an acknowledgment of the company or the station.
Barceló's continuity was already in doubt at the end of last season. Some of the tensions experienced at the radio station this season are related to the disparity in criteria between Fran Llorente, head of content at SER, and Barceló, who had requested more editorial and operational autonomy, according to unofficial SER sources consulted by ARA.
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 radio's present and build its future. We have the best radio team in Spain, the resources, the talent, and the drive 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 survey attributed 3,200,000 listeners to Àngels Barceló with Hoy por hoy, representing a growth of 30,000 listeners compared to a year earlier. Her immediate competitor, Carlos Herrera, at Cope, experienced significant 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, at Onda Cero, who also managed to gain listeners with Más de uno–in this case, going 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 opt for an external hire. The fact that Carlos Alsina has not yet renewed with Atresmedia's radio station positions him as a possible candidate in the speculation.
