The Leaders of the Pack
By: Raymie Humbert
Tags: Mexico, Radio

The Leaders of the Pack

The first social window in the 2021 PABF is led by wolves Raymie Humbert Sep 2·4 min read

Every year, En Frecuencia files for a list of every social radio station application received by the IFT in that year’s PABF.

This year, someone else decided to make an ask in August for the first window. Because of that, we have our first look at the applications the IFT took in.

…It’s not looking good.

The first window of the 2021 PABF attracted 71 social station applications. If that pace keeps up, we’ll get 142 this year, compared to 226 in 2020 and 344 in 2019.

There were 30 community applicants and four groups seeking new social stations. Of the untyped social applications, five groups represent 32 of the 37 proposals.

Same Old Wolves

If you’ve read En Frecuencia at PABF time, then you’ll be familiar with some of the largest social wolves in the nation. Three of the big five social applicants already own broadcast stations, and all five have appeared in prior PABFs:

Fundación Educacional de Medios has applied for 10 stations, four television and six radio. The television stations it seeks are Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Colima, Jalostotitlán/San Juan de los Lagos, and Tlaquepaque. On FM, it seeks La Paz (El Centenario); Imí, a Class B social allotment that would cover Campeche; Cabo San Lucas; Durango, Chilpancingo; and Acapulco.

Impulsa por el Bien Común, A.C., which showed up in 2020 and made 10 applications, has doubled its number of applications. In fact, it filed for the exact same 10 stations as Fundación Educacional de Medios, but one day prior. With no stations on record, it likely would hold an advantage over FEM for each allotment.

Six applications came from Michoacán Te Escucha, A.C. It has 11 pending filings for other stations from prior PABFs. If they are trying to listen to Michoacán, they’re going to have a hard time doing it in such places as…Tlaquepaque, Acapulco, Plan de los Romo (Aguascalientes), and Durango. They filed for four television stations and two radio stations.

Radio de Ayuda, which has emerged as the Miled social wolf, is seeking La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, Chilpancingo, and Acapulco.

Alas para las Palabras, A.C., owner of Saltillo’s unbuilt XHPEFQ-FM 92.1, wants more FMs, at Imí and in Calnali, Hidalgo. It is the only applicant for Calnali.

Just five other applications were made for untyped social stations, from five different applicants:

ATEI Televisión Educativa Iberoamericana, A.C., seeking a television station for Guadalajara, has to be the most interesting. This low-profile entity is based in Spain and produces the Noticiero Científico y Cultural Iberoamericana (NCC), which is aired by some Mexican public TV stations. Founded in 1991, Mexican members include the SPR, Canal 22 and Guadalajara’s Canal 44.

Fundación Fomento Social Mexicano, A.C., seeks an FM in La Paz, Baja California Sur. Unlike others, it’s an honest-to-goodness foundation and has actual activities in BCS.

Fundación Tabasco Hoy, A.C., wants to build the second social TV for Tuxtla Gutiérrez. As its name indicates, this is Grupo Cantón, which owns Tabasco’s XHJAP-FM.

The other two foundations are seeking the same frequency: Fundación Radio Coahuila and Fundación Radiodifusoras Capital Jalisco. They are the only applicants for an FM to serve Monclova. There is no information on the former applicant, but FRCJ seeking a station here raises some serious eyebrows.

Remember…when…Capital operated a radio station serving Monclova? One it still owns despite leasing out every station it owned in Coahuila?

Community Applications

That leaves us to discuss the 34 community and indigenous station proposals, which run the gamut from places with no local stations at this time to major cities.

Some of the proposals would represent first community services in major areas. Notably, these include La Picosita de Mexicali, Radio Barba Negra (for Benito Juárez/Cancún), and and Todos Unidos por Reynosa, A.C., which would bring northeastern Tamaulipas its first community FM station. Despite its name, Voz Joven Chilpancingo, A.C., seeks Acapulco.

Other urban centers could get additional stations. La Monarca de Contepec is seeking a Morelia station, as well as a TDT in its home base of Contepec, Michoacán. Expresión de Alianzas Comunitarias would cover various central Tabasco municipalities — including Centro, home to Villahermosa.

Radio ANARSI — which, you might remember, filed for a community TV in Mexico City last year — wants FM and TV stations at Ecatepec de Morelos.

Among the areas where potential first stations are on the docket are:

Radio Ahuatl, A.C. — Ahuatitla, Hgo.

La Banda de Atotonilco el Grande, A.C. (Hgo., TDT)

Radio Tizayuca Hidalgo, A.C.

Radio La Nueva O del Oro, A.C. — El Oro, Mex.

Soyataco Somos Todos, A.C. — Jalpa de Mendez, Tab. (Soyataco is a locality in Jalpa)

Comunidad Indígena Tutunakú, Asentada en Mecatlán, Veracruz

Two areas have two groups filing for the same place. At San Felipe del Progreso, Mex., Por el Rescate de la Comunidad Mazahua and Primero los Mazahua, Otüye Jñatjo, A.C., have both filed for indigenous stations. Tres Valles, Veracruz, has two parties looking for a frequency: La Chinateca, A.C., and Fonética de la Cuenca, A.C.

The second window for social stations this year runs from October 11 to 22.