Cadena SER unveils a new season packed with news, sports and humor

With a heavyweight team of professionals, a vast network of stations and ongoing digital innovation and new formats as part of its DNA, SER looks forward to this season with a commitment to strengthening, both as a network and among local stations, its consolidated 24-year lead in news and entertainment

Cadena SER has revealed its schedule for the 2016-2017 season during an Hoy por Hoy special, anchored by Marta González Novo. SER’s journalists face a new season that’s set to be key, with major national and international news stories to cover over the coming months, stories that will involve all of the network’s News Services.

SER maintains, this season, its firm commitment to journalistic rigor and entertainment. Managing director of SER and PRISA Radio in Spain, Vicente Jiménez, stressed that "while sport is a huge commitment this season, so too is news, humor and the digital challenge. Internet is Cadena SER’s third pillar, after Radio Madrid and Radio Barcelona. We have clocked up over 10 million downloads for SER programs on demand; and a total of more than 120 million downloads per year. We have 200 digital stations and 75 sites. We’ve had more than half a million digital downloads via our app and 70% of such traffic, of digital listeners, is via mobile devices. This is the reality that’s already here, and, while we have achieved a lot, much remains to be done."

Antonio Hernandez-Rodicio stressed that "at SER we’re not changing our rigor, nor our outlook, nor the conviction with which we do things, nor our priorities, nor our passion. One crucial thing is not changing: we care about people. We won’t be changing how we always place our listeners at the very center of everything we do. As a radio network, SER may have seen a complete overhaul but all that is essential remains untouched. And it is worth highlighting that we have a very busy news season ahead of us this fall: attempts to form a new government in Spain, regional elections, we will be in Brussels for important debates on immigration, refugees ... On October 2 we will be in Colombia for the peace process and the referendum . We have elections in the United States. But above all, besides all this vital work done by all these men and women who are sitting here with us today, this is the true home of local news. This is the local radio in Spain. And all our tributaries are what make us a mighty river."

The perfect duo formed by Pepa Bueno and Gemma Nierga is back for its fifth season in Hoy por Hoy, bringing together its winning combination of analysis, news and entertainment. Says Pepa, "politics will take center stage on Hoy por Hoy, we’ll be covering everything as it happens, we’ll be analyzing events to see what state we’re in, and we’ll also be trying to ensure that our listeners’ lives are lived out here on SER". Gemma Nierga said that her remit involved "even more entertainment" and highlighted the signing up of Javier Sardá as a collaborator – who says he’s thrilled with this new section on the program, where he’ll be joined by Juan Carlos Ortega.

José A. Marcos, on Monday through Friday, and Esther Bazán, at the weekend, will continue to report the lunchtime news on Hora 14 andHora 14 fin de semana, respectively.

Carles Francino’s La Ventana also returns for its fifth season, with Carles announcing a new section featuring Irene Lozano’s ‘Más Platón y menos WhatsApp’, (More Plato and less WhatsApp), and where she’ll be applying the principles of the great philosophers to modern life.

Àngels Barceló, who anchors Spanish radio’s leading nightly news program, Hora 25, will continue to bring listeners in-depth and considered analysis on current affairs. According to Àngels, the intensely busy news season is an exciting time for journalists, and "the challenge is to ensure that people are engaged by what we do”.

Manu Carreño has already started the season at the helm of a revamped El Larguero – with more commentators, more opinion, greater participation, analysis and a wider range of views that’s set to get listeners hooked. A program specially made for people who love sport.

Manu once again said he was delighted to be back at Cadena SER and El Larguero. The journalist noted that one of novelties this season was the way they’re getting "people from the street on to El Larguero" giving a platform to listeners at the end of each program.

The Cadena SER sports schedule, Monday through Friday, is completed with SER Deportivos,

presented by Francisco José Delgado 'Pacojó', and with Hora 25 de los Deportes, presented by Jesús Gallego.

Oh My LOL! changes this season. David Broncano will head the show, Monday to Thursday, with La vida moderna, while on Fridays it will be the turn of Las noches de Ortega, with Juan Carlos Ortega.

SER’s late night schedule belongs to Macarena Berlin’s Hablar por Hablar, which will continue to accompany listeners this coming season. “Hablar por Hablar  is a very open and generous SER slot, where the night belongs to listeners," said Macarena.

More news, entertainment and sports at the weekends

A vivir que son dos días, the second most listened to show in Spain, will continue this season with its alternative take on radio and entertainment. Javier del Pino explained that as the season gets underway, more time will be dedicated to news on the US elections.

Carrusel Deportivo, with Dani Garrido is changing too, to bring listeners all the best in sports from every conceivable angle.There’ll be new commentators on football and international sports, humor and the very best radio journalists in Spain. "The crazy passion for covering all sport while respecting the DNA of Carrusel," is how Dani Garrido has defined the program for this season.

Andreu Buenafuente and Berto Romero are back for a second season with Nadie sabe nada. Andreu explained how much enjoyed the program, saying "radio has gotten into our lives."

Oh My LOL! Also airs on Saturdays, with Estrella Galicia bringing Saturday listeners El Mundo Today. The Cadena SER weekend schedule is completed with Acento Robinson, with Michael Robinson giving listeners the human side of sport; Negra y Criminal with Mona Leon; SER Consumidoranchored by Jesús Soria,Contigo Dentro with Celia Blanco,La Script with María Guerra, Sucedió una noche with Antonio Martínez,SER Historia with Nacho Ares,Los Toros with Manolo Molés,SER Aventureros with José A. Ponseti,Punto de Fuga with Pablo Morán at the helm; andLa hora extra with Javier Torres.

Cadena SER closed the 2015-2016 season as Spain’s leading radio broadcaster, with 4,353,000 listeners according to second quarter EGM figures.