All News: Why Pro-Market Talk Radio Outperforms Marxist Stations by a Wide Margin

You can even turn to surveys and see that the profile of the audience interested in economics, sports, and debates is the same everywhere in the world, from Argentina to the United States. Just look at the huge leadership margins of Radio Mitre in Buenos Aires or the Fox News network in the U.S.

I want to make this intuitively clear: who is the audience that tends to be interested in mathematics, economics, finance, and business? It’s the same group that usually bets on their own ventures, that loves soccer but isn’t the violent hooligan type; it’s the one who follows MMA fights and celebrates calmly with friends, and who, even just out of curiosity, stops everything to watch the Super Bowl, an event that, even in Brazil, becomes a spectacle. This is the audience addicted to information filled with numbers, to well-grounded analysis and solid arguments, not to “passapanista” rhetorical gymnastics.

The audience that loves the news… but isn’t loved by news radio

This “science-minded” audience has the patience to consume news, follow economic indicators, understand the implications of the rising dollar, and explore the possibilities of the financial market. They do not feel repelled by this, unlike what many news channels seem to assume when they treat them chaotically or even pejoratively.

And yes, news is directly linked to numbers. The way data on the economy (the dominant topic), public spending, and accountability (who’s to blame when the economy is at risk or in crisis) is manipulated is constantly shaped by the bias of whoever “throws” those numbers into public debate. Fully understanding what lies behind them is essential to recognizing the brutal intellectual dishonesty that many media outlets allow to flow in large volumes every day.

Mastering numbers is no longer optional

Mastering the language of numbers is no longer a choice: we live in a time when virtually all news is filled with data, and with the manipulations made with it. Without this understanding, one risks accepting distorted narratives as absolute truths.

There is a constant, insistent attempt to convince us that we need to pay even more taxes. At the same time, there’s an effort to sell the absurd idea that certain taxes, which in practice affect the entire population, would be levied only on a specific class. These are ridiculous attempts at manipulation.

Understanding all of this requires more than superficial knowledge. That’s why many small entrepreneurs and even shop owners end up outperforming many “doctors”: because they are in direct contact with the world of numbers and not just engaged in poetic daydreaming. And those who don’t understand, and have never had the patience for journalism, will hardly become loyal listeners of stations with that profile.

The irony of journalism

It’s ironic to note that, on average, journalism schools produce professionals with profiles almost opposite to those of the audience who consume news out of passion, not obligation.

Have you ever asked yourself why, despite all its flaws, Fox News is listened to many times more than its competitors in the U.S.? Mitre, for example, maintains a journalistic ethic far superior to Fox’s, but it also knows how to “speak the language” of that audience, offering consistent economic analyses from people who truly love the market and know how to diagnose its pains and opportunities.

How unexpected! #NOT

In Brazil, curiously, among the major stations, only one decided to create a few programs in the style of “guilt-free capitalists,” and by doing so, it rose to the top of the ratings.

Curiosidad sin la menor relación con el tema:

Radio pro-mercado: 79.426 live ips

Otra no tan simpática al mercado: 832 live ips

Focus here: In Argentina, Mitre 790 AM — a pro-market radio station and the absolute leader in overall audience — far surpasses both AM and FM competitors

I need to be very clear about one point. When compared with Fox News, I see Fox as an openly Trumpist channel and a highly aggressive one, whereas Radio Mitre maintains a non-partisan position, though clearly pro-market. Many people mistakenly believe this implies automatic alignment with right-wing politicians, without realizing that it is, in fact, a legitimate editorial stance, one that has no commitments to political parties and remains willing to criticize leaders on both the right and the left.

Yes, politicians who define themselves as right-wing are also criticized, especially when they act against the principles of sound public spending, fall into contradictions, or generate inflationary pressure in the market. It’s only natural that left-wing figures are also questioned when they promote monetary expansion, show disregard for public spending, or pursue policies whose outcomes the market already knows all too well.

I could summarize by saying that, from my perspective, the way Mitre does radio sounds far more honest, with a much more compelling format and, in general, without passions that compromise the quality of its analysis. Another point worth highlighting is precisely this: analysis is present consistently throughout the entire programming, not confined to a specific time slot, and I would say the overall level is highly satisfactory.

I can confidently say that Brazil has no station at Mitre’s level. Most stations merely reproduce news with a few analytical segments and, generally, with strong partisan alignment. Of course, there are journalists who, thanks to their quality, manage to rise above this generalized classification that defines the face of Brazilian journalism, but among so many, they represent only a tiny minority within the mainstream current of uniform thinking that Brazil has “adopted.”

Crushing dominance

Mitre’s dominance on the AM band is an exception within a global landscape where AM has been systematically eroded by technical and cultural changes. Expecting that leadership to remain intact for another decade is unrealistic, not because the station will decline in quality or abandon its proven style, but because every successful formula eventually finds its mirror on FM. When that happens, a competitor, possibly even from within the Clarín Group itself, will leverage FM’s broader reach in Buenos Aires to challenge Mitre’s stronghold on the AM dial.

Mitre is powerful, well-established, and still has a comfortable five-year window to strategically build its FM counterpart. The challenge is not whether it can take that step, but whether it will do so in time. In a future article, I will present a practical digital-transition framework tailored to Argentina, one that could help the country avoid the costly, drawn-out indecision that paralyzed the future of AM radio in Brazil.

These are easily verifiable averages — even Kantar’s numbers are roughly as follows:

Average share in 2024

• Mitre 790 AM: ~36–40% share

• La 100 FM: ~21.7%

• Radio 10: ~16%

Program: Alguien Tiene que Decirlo (“Someone Has to Say It”)

The long-running program Alguien Tiene que Decirlo, broadcast on Radio Mitre AM 790 in Buenos Aires and hosted by Eduardo Feinmann, achieves impressive figures, with more than 40% audience share (the proportional participation of total radio listeners). Mitre’s overall average hovers around 36%, according to data published even by competing outlets like La Nación. This gives the station a substantial advantage over the runner-up in the overall ranking, La 100 FM 99.9, which records 21.79% share. Among AM stations, Mitre more than doubles the audience of second-place Radio 10, which maintains around 16%.

Eduardo Feinmann: the engine behind the programming

Feinmann’s program far outperforms its competitors in the same time slot. Described as “well ahead” of the competition, Alguien Tiene que Decirlo is one of the greatest audience phenomena in Argentine radio. Mitre is the most-listened-to station in the country, and Feinmann’s program is its flagship, especially in the mornings, the most competitive segment of the radio day.

Its strength comes from a direct approach, focused on political and current-affairs topics, which builds loyalty among a large and engaged audience. Eduardo Feinmann is a central figure in Argentine journalism, which amplifies the impact of his positions. Mitre also stands out on social media, with over 2.1 million followers on Facebook, and its century-long tradition further reinforces its authority.

Eduardo Feinmann’s profile

Feinmann does not hide, in fact, he emphasizes, the traits that define his style and connect him with a mostly male, pro-market audience. In his public statements and the editorial line of the program, he identifies as:

• A defender of free trade, which places him in opposition to Argentina’s historically strong protectionism.

• A fierce critic of Kirchnerism, using harsh, unfiltered language, including insults — far more common and accepted in Argentine media than in Brazil.

• An advocate for a smaller state, supporting privatizations, tax cuts, and greater economic freedom.

In the Argentine context, openly expressing an ideological position is not seen as a loss of journalistic neutrality, but rather as a sign of intellectual honesty with the audience. It’s worth emphasizing that ideology is not the same as partisanship: a journalist can coherently condemn a party they once supported if that party betrays its principles.

Feinmann also criticizes the judicial system’s leniency, particularly regarding crimes that receive light sentences.

Feinmann and Javier Milei

During Javier Milei’s rise to the presidency, Feinmann largely supported his proposals, although he has not hesitated to criticize him, particularly over episodes of aggression toward journalists. The ideological alignment between the two is natural, but Feinmann demonstrates independence by pointing out mistakes when he deems it necessary.

Uncomfortable (but honest) questions

Is Alguien Tiene que Decirlo a right-wing program?Yes. The program’s political profile is clear. Its agenda revolves around pro-market positions, opposition to state interventionism, privatizations, tax cuts, economic freedom, and a tough-on-crime stance.

Is Radio Mitre right-wing?Mitre belongs to the influential Clarín Group, traditionally associated with pro-market positions. This editorial stance has been reinforced by repeated attempts by populist governments to exert state control over the media. In the Argentine context, a free media environment that supports private initiative is also a matter of survival.

Between a pro-market program and a pro-state one, which attracts more audience?The numbers in Buenos Aires speak for themselves: Alguien Tiene que Decirlo led with 41.3% share (May 2023), while its main ideological rival, Radio 10, achieved around 16%. The difference is striking.

Is this phenomenon exclusively Argentine?Definitely not. The high audience levels of right-leaning news programs with a predominantly male audience are not unique to Argentina. I have observed the same pattern, for example, in Natal (RN, Brazil), when analyzing YouTube audiences. The pattern repeats: more neutral or left-leaning programs attract fewer views, while those more aligned with the right stand out.

Fox News Formula?

In the United States, the classic example is Fox News, the audience leader since 2017. According to a Gallup poll (2013), 94% of its viewers identify, or tend to identify, as Republicans. The contrast with channels like CNN, MSNBC, or ABC is clear.

The paradox is striking: journalism tends to lean left, with strong female representation, yet most of the male audience leans right and consumes debate, opinion, and political analysis content far more intensely.

Mitre has a fundamental difference compared to Fox News: it doesn’t embrace political contradictions. That means, even with a pro-market stance, it doesn’t avoid thorny issues involving politicians aligned with that view. It will question corruption allegations, point out glaring failures, and demand explanations, something that, especially nowadays, is rare to see on Fox.

Thus, Mitre continues to capture the largest share of the audience that enjoys “All News” radio, as Fox does, but without needing unconditional alignment with political figures. It secures that position simply by being pro-market, which gives it the freedom to criticize even politicians who share that vision but may fall short on coherence.

Does Journalism Attract One Gender More Than the Other? One Side More Than the Other?

According to several studies, journalism tends to present a left-leaning bias across much of the free world, including Brazil, the United States, and Europe. This pattern is evident in newsrooms and in the coverage of political and social issues.

What’s interesting is that, although women have a significant and prominent presence in journalism, the female audience, on average, shows less interest in political debate programs, especially those with a more combative tone. This observation, based on empirical findings, can be confirmed by analyzing media consumption patterns among acquaintances or directly in audience data.

For example, over the course of a year, I specifically monitored the metrics of a political debate program broadcast on YouTube in Natal and found that male viewers represented an average of 83% of the audience. This ratio does not seem to be an isolated case, as male predominance is often seen in similar programs across different regions of Brazil, especially in live-chat interactions.

A possible explanation lies in thematic affinity: tougher, more confrontational debates focused on politics, economics, or security tend to attract more male viewers. Meanwhile, lighter formats, with gentler approaches or themes related to culture, well-being, or society, tend to attract more female viewers — without this implying less interest in global affairs or a weaker analytical capacity.

Another relevant point is the difference in political leanings between genders. Data suggests that men, on average, tend to identify more with right-wing ideas, while women show a stronger inclination toward the left. This divergence can influence preferences for journalistic content and even affect the balance of power in electoral contests, where ideological polarization becomes more evident.

This dynamic is not unique to Brazil. Audience analysis in other countries reveals similar patterns, with male dominance in more intense political debate spaces. To confirm these trends, one only needs to watch live broadcasts of political programs in different parts of Brazil and observe the ratio of male to female names in comments or interactions. While such observations are not definitive, they point to a segmentation of interests that deserves deeper investigation, considering factors like format, tone, and subject matter.

AM Radio in Argentina

It is important to note that Mitre is an AM station, a band that in Brazil has been emptied by FM’s supremacy and the decline in commercial relevance. In Argentina, however, AM stations remain strong, largely thanks to their strong focus on political-economic analysis and critical journalism.(Mitre 790 website and streaming: https://radiomitre.cienradios.com/)

The Key to Its Audience

Mitre’s distinctive advantage lies in the strong presence of analysts — more than just journalists, and in its use of intelligent humor that cuts through dense and complex discussions. It is essentially a word-oriented station: almost its entire programming is based on analysis of events rather than mere reporting. The focus is on Mitre’s exclusive content, with well-grounded opinions from figures with strong track records and the authority to express them, as well as forecasts that closely match reality, further reinforcing its credibility.

One cannot dismiss a certain philosophical alignment with most of its listeners as a key factor in achieving resonance and audience loyalty.

From Rio Grande do Norte: How I Follow Mitre’s Success and Argentina’s Reality

I have been following Radio Mitre via streaming since the end of 2023, as I mentioned in another article. I usually do so while traveling between cities in Rio Grande do Norte, and I’ve listened to several programs at different times of day. One of the station’s most prominent figures, Jorge Lanata, passed away at the end of 2024. His program, Lanata Sin Filtro, was a benchmark for investigative and independent journalism. Lanata was not a right-wing journalist, but his independence led him to strongly criticize the abuses of Kirchnerism, exposing economic maneuvers that benefited “friendly” companies with privileged access to subsidized dollars.

I decided to closely follow Argentina’s reality without relying on intermediaries that distort information, as often happens with news reaching Brazil. My interest was to observe the libertarian experiment led by Javier Milei, with his proposal to implement a model of greater economic freedom, similar to countries like New Zealand. In Brazil, such a debate seems almost taboo, but Milei, an intriguing president, moved forward with initially unpopular measures that, although controversial, often prove necessary to avoid the economic poison of populist policies.

By following Argentine sources directly, such as Radio Mitre, La Nación+, A24, TN, and the ridiculous C5N (worth watching as an example of how not to do journalism), I felt much more confident in obtaining information close to the local reality.

Contrary to the pessimistic forecasts of many economic analysts in Argentina and abroad, who predicted failure, I chose to trust the project and even invest in the country. Many of these experts, in my view, lack practical economic understanding, treating the subject as academic literature while ignoring the real mechanics of how economies function.

The recent end of the currency-control regime (“cepo cambiario”), for example, was a sophisticated move, worthy of a masterclass in economics, demonstrating precise and strategic calculation.

I intend to explore this topic in greater depth in a future article, but for now I emphasize that Argentina’s experience deserves close attention, without the filters that so often distort our perception.