Mexico. The Economic Competition Unit of the Federal Institute of Telecommunications, IFT, presented the Diagnostic Study of the sound broadcasting service in Mexico, which details the evolution of this service from 2014 to 2018, including the availability of radio stations for audiences, the economic interest groups that participate, as well as the levels of concentration in different geographical areas.
From 2014 to 2018, the number of radio stations in the national territory increased 21.4%, going from one thousand 516 to one thousand 841, thanks to the start-up of 141 stations for commercial use, 34 public, 95 social, 51 community and 4 indigenous.
The Study, published today, offers statistical information on the sound broadcasting service, and concludes that this service is of high relevance to the population, due to its coverage and free access, which make it one of the most important sources of information and entertainment for Mexicans.
According to the Study, despite the increase in the offer of entertainment through different platforms and devices, radio continues to be one of the most important means of communication, given its open access and wide coverage - 93% of the population lives in localities with AM and / or FM coverage. In addition, during 2018, it ranked fourth in the reception of total spending on advertising -8.9% of the total for that year.
As a result of the bidding of commercial concessions carried out by the Institute in 2017 (IFT-4 Tender) and the granting of public, social, community and indigenous concessions, the entry of new participants and the expansion of local or regional groups to other coverage areas was allowed, as well as the entry or expansion of non-commercial concessionaires - public entities and civil organizations and associations, community and indigenous media and educational institutions - which offer the sound broadcasting service for cultural, scientific, educational purposes or to the community.
Changes in the provision of the sound broadcasting service have generated tangible benefits for audiences. For example, in 93 geographical areas, during 2018, there was at least one more commercial FM radio station than there was in 2014. In the same period, commercial FM radio service was offered for the first time in 40 geographical areas and commercial AM radio service was offered for the first time in 22 other areas.
In addition, between 2014 and 2018, most of the states have a greater number of radio stations. Highlights on this list are Michoacán, which has 40 additional stations, Oaxaca (38), Quintana Roo (21), Veracruz (20), Sonora (20), Chiapas (18), Jalisco (18) and Sinaloa (16).
The results of the Diagnostic Study of the Sound Broadcasting Service can be found at: http://www.ift.org.mx/industria/competencia-economica/competencia-economica/estudios
