Spain’s radio industry wrapped up 2025 with significant shifts in the media landscape. Onda Cero, celebrating its 35th anniversary, achieved its highest audience in the past decade. The station grew its listener base by 152,000 compared to last year, bringing it close to 2.3 million. This growth stands out as one of the most notable milestones of the year for Spanish radio.
A particular highlight is the success of Carlos Alsina and his morning show. Over the past year, “Más de Uno” boosted its audience by 109,000, reaching 1.736 million listeners. This marks a new personal record for the host and makes a significant contribution to Onda Cero’s overall achievement. In general, radio remains one of the most popular media in the country: 24.5 million Spaniards tune in daily, with nearly 14 million choosing national networks.
Broadcast leaders
Despite Onda Cero’s impressive rise, SER continues to lead the market. Its audience exceeds 4.8 million, securing its top position in the national rankings. Cadena Cope takes second place with 3.5 million listeners, while Onda Cero ranks third.
The SER morning slot traditionally remains the most sought-after. “Hoy por Hoy,” hosted by Àngels Barceló, draws 4.89 million listeners, up 5.2% from the previous survey. This trend confirms the audience’s sustained interest in news and analysis shows during the first part of the day.
Programming trends
On Cope, Carlos Herrera’s program “Herrera en Cope” attracts 2.5 million listeners. However, compared to last year, his audience has slightly decreased. This season, Jorge Bustos joined him, marking a significant change for Cope’s morning show fans.
On Onda Cero, the evening program “La brújula” with Rafa Latorre has increased its audience by 11,000, reaching 539,000 listeners. On weekends, “Julia en la onda” with Julia Otero is also seeing growth: on Saturdays, it is listened to by over a million people—88,000 more than a year ago—and on Sundays by 833,000. This makes it the second most popular weekend morning show. Jaime Cantizano’s program “Por fin” has also added 3,000 listeners, now reaching an audience of 461,000.
Sports broadcasts
In the sports segment of the radio market, “El Partidazo” on Cope leads with 769,000 listeners. In second place is “El Larguero” on SER with 740,000 fans. On Onda Cero, the sports program “Radio Estado Noche” attracts 219,000 listeners, which also reflects the steady interest in sports reviews and analysis.
During the daytime broadcast, “La Ventana” with Carles Francino on SER remains on top, listened to by 1.17 million people. It’s followed by “La Tarde” with Pilar García Muñiz on Cope, which drew 611,000 listeners in its first season in this time slot.
Trends and prospects
The overall picture of Spain’s radio market in 2025 shows a sustained interest in traditional radio, despite the growth of digital platforms. Major radio stations continue to compete for audience attention by offering new formats and strengthening their flagship programs. The rise of Onda Cero and the success of individual hosts such as Carlos Alsina confirm that the radio industry is capable of adapting to changing listener preferences.
In case you didn’t know, Onda Cero is one of Spain’s largest radio stations and is part of the Atresmedia media group. The station was founded in 1990 and has held a leading position in the market ever since. Carlos Alsina is a renowned journalist and radio host whose program “Más de Uno” has become a hallmark of Onda Cero’s morning broadcasts. SER radio station, meanwhile, is the oldest and most popular in the country, with its programs consistently topping listenership ratings.
