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| XEW (Mexico City) | |
|---|---|
| Name | XEW |
| City | Mexico City |
| Country | Mexico |
| Branding | La Voz de la América Latina desde México |
| Frequency | 900 AM |
| Airdate | 1930 |
| Format | Variety |
| Language | Spanish |
| Callsign meaning | None |
| Owner | Grupo Televisa (historical), currently NTR/Radio Centro (note: station changed ownership) |
XEW (Mexico City) is a major Mexican AM radio station inaugurated in 1930 that became a cornerstone of Mexican broadcasting, linking Mexico City to audiences across Latin America, the United States, and beyond. Founded during the presidency of Plutarco Elías Calles and flourishing under the cultural milieu of the Maximato, XEW served as a platform for artists, politicians, and institutions including Dolores del Río, Jorge Negrete, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Over decades XEW intersected with networks such as Radio Programas de México and companies like Televisa, shaping ties with broadcasters in Spain, Argentina, and the United States via syndication and affiliation.
XEW launched on September 18, 1930, amid the post-revolutionary communications expansion that involved figures like Plutarco Elías Calles and businesses associated with Pascual Ortiz Rubio; early investment came from entrepreneurs aligned with Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta and Raúl E. Garduño. During the 1930s and 1940s XEW expanded under the leadership of executives tied to Radio Corporación S.A. and neighbors in the Colonia Roma broadcast district, establishing links with organizations such as Radio Programas de México and collaborating with artists affiliated with the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. In the 1950s and 1960s the station became integrated with audiovisual conglomerates including Telesistema Mexicano and later Televisa, while regulatory shifts under authorities like the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico) and legal frameworks influenced licensing. The 1970s and 1980s saw technological transition with influence from entities such as Radiodifusora XE, and in the 1990s and 2000s corporate consolidations involved groups related to Grupo Radio Centro and media mergers reflecting patterns seen with Univision partnerships and cross-border syndication.
XEW historically featured a variety format combining music, drama, news, and live events, drawing repertoire from composers and performers connected to Agustín Lara, Consuelo Velázquez, Juan Gabriel, José Alfredo Jiménez, and orchestras associated with Carlos Chávez. Its schedule often included serialized radio dramas comparable to productions from Rafael Banquells and announcers trained alongside figures from XEW-AM sister stations and studios used in productions by Studios Churubusco. News segments incorporated reporting practices similar to those of Notimex and commentary formats that paralleled programs on Televisa Radio. Music programming blended genres represented by artists like Pedro Infante, Lola Beltrán, Vicente Fernández, Celia Cruz, and international acts promoted via contacts in Spain and Argentina. Special broadcasts have featured sporting events linked to clubs such as Club América and cultural festivals associated with the National Institute of Fine Arts.
XEW gave platforms to performers, hosts, and creators including Jorge Negrete, Pedro Vargas, Agustín Lara, Toña la Negra, Lucha Villa, Amalia Mendoza, Xavier Cugat-adjacent bands, and presenters akin to Joaquín Pardavé-era entertainers. Signature programs included variety shows similar in stature to productions by RCA Victor affiliates, comedy segments resonant with performers like Cantinflas, and melodramas produced in collaboration with writers linked to María Félix-era cultural networks. Announcers and producers who rose to prominence had ties to institutions like the National Autonomous University of Mexico and later crossover careers in television with companies such as Televisa and international appearances on networks including CBS and NBC.
XEW transmits on 900 kHz AM with facilities historically located in transmission sites around Mexico City and associated with engineering practices influenced by equipment from manufacturers like RCA and Marconi Company. Its transmitter power and class have enabled long-distance skywave propagation under ionospheric conditions studied by researchers at institutions such as the National Autonomous University of Mexico and observatories collaborating with Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Coverage reached much of central and northern Mexico and parts of the United States after dark; the station engineered antenna systems similar to those of major North American clear-channel outlets such as WGY and WOR. Technical upgrades paralleled industry shifts to digital production tools used by broadcasters like Radio Disney affiliates and standards discussed within organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union.
XEW shaped popular culture across Latin America, promoting the careers of artists who became icons in arenas including Mexican cinema, bolero, ranchera, and mariachi traditions. The station influenced musical tastes in countries with networks like Radio Argentina and inspired programming formats later adopted by networks such as Univision and public broadcasters like Radio Nacional de España. Its role in national rituals and presidential communications paralleled historic uses of media seen with leaders including Lázaro Cárdenas and cultural policymakers at the Secretariat of Public Education (Mexico). XEW's archives contributed material used in retrospectives organized by cultural institutions such as the Museo de la Canción Mexicana and academic studies at universities like UNAM examining mass media and identity.
Originally associated with entrepreneurs tied to Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta and corporate entities active in the early Mexican broadcast industry, XEW later became incorporated into larger media groups including Telesistema Mexicano and Televisa before more recent transactions involving organizations comparable to Grupo Radio Centro and investors with links to broadcasting consortia. Management practices reflected executive networks that also operated television enterprises such as Canal de las Estrellas and negotiated carriage with international distributors like Televisa Networks and syndication partners in Madrid and Buenos Aires.
Over its history XEW and its personalities have received honors and recognition from cultural and industry bodies similar to awards presented by the Academia Mexicana de la Radio, declarations by the Mexican Congress and acknowledgments in festivals where institutions like the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes and the Latin Grammy Awards later celebrated the legacies of singers and producers first promoted on the station. Retrospective accolades and commemorative tributes have been organized by media museums and by broadcasters including Radio Educación and public ceremonies involving figures from Mexican cultural life.
Category:Radio stations in Mexico City Category:Mass media in Mexico City