SER Catalunya launches a new season with more Catalan-language shows and a renewed focus on FC Barcelona. The station also celebrates 50 years since the first football broadcast in Catalan.
SER Catalunya has launched its new season with a significant expansion of Catalan-language programming and a sharper focus on FC Barcelona coverage. The station, part of the Prisa group, is marking the 50th anniversary of the first football broadcast in Catalan—a milestone originally set by Joaquim Maria Puyal on Ràdio Barcelona, which later became SER Catalunya. This anniversary will be highlighted throughout September with special programming dedicated to the occasion.
The sports segment sees a notable shift: Sique Rodríguez now leads the Barça broadcasts within the program Què t’hi jugues, Barça, with Albert Bermúdez as the main commentator and the established Què t’hi jugues team supporting. This move strengthens the station’s commitment to sports, especially FC Barcelona, at a time when local football coverage remains a key draw for listeners.
Another major change is the extension of Aquí Catalunya, hosted by Marina Fernàndez, which now airs from 7:00 to 12:00. This adjustment means uninterrupted Catalan-language content from 7:00 to 16:00. In the evenings, Catalan programming resumes with El Balcó (presented by Anna Puigboltas) and La Graderia, now under Anna Palet’s direction.
Sique Rodríguez continues to co-host Què t’hi jugues! with Lluís Flaquer, maintaining its blend of sports news, analysis, and entertainment—a format that has made it a reference point for Catalan sports radio. Meanwhile, established shows remain in place: Jordi Manau returns with Llapis de Memòria, known for its in-depth interviews built around guests’ chosen songs, and Màxim Castillo stays at the helm of Tot és Comèdia, a weekend cultural staple.
News coverage also remains stable. Gisela Rodríguez leads Hoy por Hoy Catalunya, Joan Bofill continues with the midday bulletin Hora 14, and Gemma Alegrí directs the weekend news. Local news is reinforced through Aquí Girona, Aquí Barcelona, Aquí Lleida, and Aquí Camp de Tarragona, underlining the station’s commitment to regional reporting.
This programming overhaul aligns with broader changes at Cadena SER, which also starts its new season this week. Flagship shows Hoy por Hoy and Hora 25 introduce new leadership with Aimar Bretos and José Luis Sastre, respectively. The network’s audience figures remain strong: SER in Catalunya averaged 453,000 daily listeners last season, while Prisa Media’s stations collectively surpassed one million. According to russpain.com, one in four radio listeners in Catalonia tunes in to a Prisa group station each day.
The evolution of Catalan-language radio and its focus on local identity echoes broader trends in Spanish media. For example, recent cultural initiatives in Madrid, such as the week of free events and music festivals, have also highlighted the importance of regional content and community engagement, as seen in coverage of Madrid’s summer cultural programming.
In context, the renewed emphasis on Catalan programming and FC Barcelona coverage at SER Catalunya reflects both a response to audience demand and a recognition of the region’s linguistic and cultural heritage. The station’s strategy aims to strengthen its position in a competitive media landscape, where local relevance and language remain decisive factors for listener loyalty.
