MediaCo Holding Announces EstrellaTV Ratings Milestone
MediaCo Holding announced a ratings milestone for EstrellaTV, which delivered the highest year-over-year prime-time P18-49 growth in the network's history. The company said, "The network surged +92% in November P18-49 prime-time delivery, solidifying EstrellaTV as one of the fastest-rising Spanish-language broadcasters in the U.S. This record-breaking month was fueled by strong momentum across the entire lineup and standout gains from key tentpole franchises: Tengo Talento Kids - November's top performer, a powerful +65% jump from October. Alarma TV - November's #2 program, up +5% month-to-month. 100 Latinos Dijeron - Continued its upward trajectory with a +26% MTM lift. Liga MX - November matches outperformed this season's pre-November average by +45%. November wasn't just about big individual wins, it delivered consistency. Every weekly P18-49 prime-time average ranked within EstrellaTV's top 10 weeks of 2025, underscoring the network's sustained growth. Quarter-to-date, EstrellaTV is outperforming last year across the board, with higher P18-49 prime-time averages year-over-year every night, Monday through Saturday, a clear reflection of rising engagement and loyalty among Hispanic audiences nationwide."
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- Executive Appointment: Sigma Audio Networks has appointed Jason Corelli as Senior Vice President of Integrated Audio Sales, aiming to enhance the company's sales leadership in multicultural audio solutions to meet growing market demand.
- Industry Experience: Corelli brings extensive experience from senior leadership roles across major national audio organizations, focusing on driving revenue growth and cross-platform audio strategy, which is expected to create new growth opportunities for Sigma.
- Sales Strategy: In his new role, Corelli will lead the national sales strategy, oversee agency and brand partnerships, and drive revenue growth, helping the company expand its market share across terrestrial and streaming platforms.
- Market Transformation: Corelli's appointment reflects Sigma Audio Networks' ability to attract senior audio talent, particularly as advertisers shift investments toward multicultural audiences and accountable audio solutions.
- Significant Ratings Increase: According to the January 2026 Nielsen PPM ratings, WQHT-FM (HOT 97) has climbed to #3 among Adults 25-54 and 18-49 in AM Drive, demonstrating substantial year-over-year audience growth despite an overall market decline, thereby strengthening its competitive position in New York radio.
- Content Impact: MediaCo's EVP of Content & Growth, Kudjo Sogadzi, noted that the success of the morning show 'Mornings with Mero' reflects the ongoing power of culturally relevant live programming, indicating a growing audience engagement during critical listening hours.
- Market Competitive Edge: Local Markets VP Maire Mason emphasized that New York is the most competitive radio market in the U.S., and achieving a top-three rank in both major buying demographics underscores the strength of the HOT 97 brand and its commitment to consistent audience growth.
- Audience Connection Strategy: HOT 97 Assistant Program Director Katrina B stated that the team is focused on building connection and consistency every morning, with the positive audience response and growth directly reflecting the effectiveness of these efforts, showcasing the brand's influence in culturally driven programming.
- Significant Ratings Increase: In the January 2026 Nielsen PPM ratings, WQHT-FM ranked #3 among Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, with AQH Persons increasing by 18.5% and 30.7% year-over-year, respectively, showcasing its strong performance in the competitive New York market.
- Morning Show Success: The station's 'Mornings with Mero' program has attracted a large audience, reflecting the appeal of culturally relevant and live programming, further solidifying its competitive position in the New York radio landscape.
- Enhanced Brand Influence: MediaCo executives noted that achieving a top-three rank in major buying demographics underscores the strength of the HOT 97 brand and its commitment to consistent audience growth, especially amid an overall market decline in listening.
- Multi-Platform Reach: MediaCo Holding Inc. reaches over 20 million viewers monthly through its diverse brands and platforms, demonstrating its influence among multicultural audiences and appeal to advertisers.
- Broadcast Schedule: MediaCo announced that the COMBATE GLOBAL 2026 season will premiere on February 26 at 10 PM EST/PST on EstrellaTV, featuring Mexican star and MMA fighter Jawy Méndez against Puerto Rican competitor John "El Sicario" Padron, marking the start of a full year of MMA events.
- Multi-Platform Viewing: All COMBATE GLOBAL events will be broadcast live on EstrellaTV and streamed simultaneously across its digital platforms, ensuring fans can watch anytime, anywhere, on any device, significantly enhancing viewer accessibility.
- Increased Audience Engagement: MediaCo COO Rene Santaella stated that COMBATE GLOBAL brings highly engaged viewership to all platforms, with a consistent live schedule allowing fans to know exactly how to watch every fight, thereby strengthening the brand's market impact.
- Cultural Resonance and Entertainment: The 2026 season will continue to showcase COMBATE GLOBAL's signature blend of world-class competition, bilingual storytelling, and culturally resonant entertainment, aiming to further engage Hispanic audiences nationwide and drive long-term brand growth.
- Historic Growth: EstrellaTV achieved a 14% year-over-year growth in 2025, marking the first annual increase for any Spanish-language TV broadcast network in four years, underscoring its leadership in the multicultural media space.
- Significant Competitive Advantage: Amidst overall audience erosion in the industry, EstrellaTV's 14% surge starkly contrasts with competitors like Telemundo's -7%, Univision's -8%, and UniMás's -17%, demonstrating the appeal of high-quality, culturally relevant programming to the P18-49 demographic.
- Sustained Growth Momentum: EstrellaTV is on track for its fourth consecutive quarter of growth among the P18-49 demographic, with a remarkable 57% increase in Q4 2025 and a strong 54% increase to date in Q1 2026, reflecting a deep connection with its audience.
- Dominant Broadcast Season Position: Over the first 19 weeks of the current broadcast season, EstrellaTV leads the pack with a 55% growth rate among the four growing broadcast networks, establishing itself as a preferred destination for advertisers in the 2025/26 season.
- Viewership Growth: EstrellaTV closed January 2026 with a remarkable 46% year-over-year increase in prime time among Adults 18-49, marking its fourth consecutive month of growth and establishing itself as the fastest-growing Spanish-language network in the U.S.
- Strong Programming Performance: The January results were driven by a compelling mix of timely news, live sports, and popular franchises, including the January 3 news special 'Captura de Nicolás Maduro' and high-energy Liga MX matches, which solidified its appeal among U.S. Hispanic audiences.
- Advertising Market Appeal: MediaCo's Chief Revenue Officer, Brian Fisher, noted that EstrellaTV's sustained audience momentum provides brands with an ideal advertising platform, enabling them to reach engaged Hispanic audiences in premium viewing environments, thereby enhancing advertisers' confidence in their investments.
- Cultural Investment Returns: MediaCo CEO Albert Rodriguez emphasized that the investment in culturally relevant and high-impact programming is paying off, as EstrellaTV strengthens its connection with today's U.S. Hispanic audience, driving long-term business growth.





