I've noticed on several stations licensed to Mexico but serving the English-language population in San Diego that they are running campaign ads for upcoming Mexican elections. But they're quite odd. I assume it's required as part of the license for 92.5 XHRM, 1090 XEPRS and 105.3 XHPRS. I haven't listened to XETRA-FM or XHITZ but no doubt they're doing it too.
It seems candidates get to put a radio commercial together, maybe around 20 seconds, for airing on all stations in the Tijuana area. But they don't have professional writers. And then the English-language stations must translate the candidates' ads into English, even though sometimes the translations are poorly done. So we hear an ad with some generic music saying "Long Live Mexico! Pedro Gonzalez is running for senator. He says he is not running against his opponents but for the good of Mexico."
Often a male voice and female voice will alternate. "Ernesto Ruiz. Ernesto Ruiz. Ernesto Ruiz. Vote for the best candidate in District 37. Ernesto Ruiz, Ernesto Ruiz, Ernesto Ruiz." Sometimes the station runs three in a row of these spots.
Meanwhile I assume almost all the listeners to these English language stations are in the U.S. and virtually nobody hearing these ads will be casting a ballot in the election.
I always knew English-language stations have to run La Hora Nacional at 10pm on Sunday. But now I realize they also must run Mexican election ads. And every night at midnight, every station must play El Himno Nacional (The Mexican National Anthem). So in the middle of airing ESPN, 1090 XEPRS must break for a two-minute instrumental version of the anthem. For some odd reason, XHRM plays a vocal version. The station has a disclaimer before it airs that Magic 92.5 is a U.S. station licensed to Mexico and must follow Mexican regulations. Regular programming resumes in two minutes.
It seems candidates get to put a radio commercial together, maybe around 20 seconds, for airing on all stations in the Tijuana area. But they don't have professional writers. And then the English-language stations must translate the candidates' ads into English, even though sometimes the translations are poorly done. So we hear an ad with some generic music saying "Long Live Mexico! Pedro Gonzalez is running for senator. He says he is not running against his opponents but for the good of Mexico."
Often a male voice and female voice will alternate. "Ernesto Ruiz. Ernesto Ruiz. Ernesto Ruiz. Vote for the best candidate in District 37. Ernesto Ruiz, Ernesto Ruiz, Ernesto Ruiz." Sometimes the station runs three in a row of these spots.
Meanwhile I assume almost all the listeners to these English language stations are in the U.S. and virtually nobody hearing these ads will be casting a ballot in the election.
I always knew English-language stations have to run La Hora Nacional at 10pm on Sunday. But now I realize they also must run Mexican election ads. And every night at midnight, every station must play El Himno Nacional (The Mexican National Anthem). So in the middle of airing ESPN, 1090 XEPRS must break for a two-minute instrumental version of the anthem. For some odd reason, XHRM plays a vocal version. The station has a disclaimer before it airs that Magic 92.5 is a U.S. station licensed to Mexico and must follow Mexican regulations. Regular programming resumes in two minutes.