FM Center

FM Center and Traffic Center sign located at its headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela

In January 1997, with Martha Rodríguez Miranda as General Director and Enzo Cassella as vicepresident of programming and production, FM Center starts broadcasting their signal in Venezuela. For that time, the network owned only 5 radio stations: 88.9 (later to become "La Romántica"), HOT 94.1, Estrella 96.3, Fiesta 106.5 and 93.9 (Ciudad Bolívar). Only the latter was not located in the capital Caracas.

Already in 1998, FM Center swept with Venezuelan awards Premios Mara de Oro for their performance in the industry. This favored the expansion of the network towards the rest of the country. At the start of the 21st century, AM Center was created and the radio station 91.9 from Caracas was added in their stations portfolio as Life 91.9.

In 2000, the headquarters and major radio stations move to Centro Comercial Concresa in the southeast of the Venezuelan capital. The concept of the transformation was the construction of interactive studios where the audience could not only hear their programs, but also see them as they were recorded. In September, FM Center launches the first and only traffic service to drivers in the Capital District: Traffic Center.[1] With Alejandro Cañizales aboard a red Bell Ranger helicopter, Traffic Center delivers instant and effective status of local transit. The show also informs drivers with alternative routes to avoid traffic and preventive campaigns about the many problems that affect Caracas transit system.

In 2007, FM Center launched an oversize trailer which wonders the roads of Venezuela called Showcenter Rodando. It was designed to produce live in site-transmissions and live concerts from its stage located in the rooftop of the vehicle.

In January 2008 Estrella 96.3, an emblematic and key station to the network ceased transmissions as the new state-owned ALBA Ciudad started broadcasting. The frequency was lost to FM Center when the Venezuelan government refused to renew the concession to the network.[2] As a response, the first internet-based radio station was incorporated to the group under the name Estrella On-Line as a clear reference to Estrella 96.3, maintaining similar formats and shows. Nowadays, FM Center's radio stations are interconnected via Directv satellite.

Social responsibility in FM Center is enabled through the foundation "Fundación FM Center". Over the past years it has not only donated to communities in the traditional ways, but it has taken up the role of constructing the next generations for the radio industry in Venezuela. Through the program "Vive la Radio" (Live the Radio), "Fundación FM Center" seeks to give education to future operators, radio hosts, producers and sales executives, involved in the radio business.

As a response to moral decay in the Venezuelan society, FM Center relaunched the messages corresponding to the concept "Buen Ciudadano" (Good Citizen). They are directed into inducing proper and gregarious conducts to citizens by explaining the consequences of their actions and the effect in society. The voice is given by Martha Rodríguez Miranda, who became very famous in Venezuela for a televised version of it during the 80's and 90's, to the point she is sometimes known as "La Buena Ciudadana" (The Good Citizen).

• List of Companies of Venezuela
• List of radio stations in Venezuela

• Official Website
• HOT 94.1