Why Is 'El Mandril' Off The Air At KLAX?

Under Investigation?

What's up with SBS Regional Mexican KLAX (LA RAZA)/LOS ANGELES morning star RICARDO "EL MANDRIL" SANCHEZ? The show has been MIA for weeks, and THE LOS ANGELES TIMES reports, "details are emerging concerning the 47-year-old radio host's eviction from L.A. airwaves in early NOVEMBER. He's still going to work every day, but his show is no longer being broadcast."

Industry insiders had suspected a nasty contract negotiation was the root cause, and "SANCHEZ's manager, FERNANDO SCHIANTARELLI, said MONDAY that SANCHEZ was pulled from the air during negotiations over his employment contract, which ends next month," notes THE TIMES -- "but SCHIANTARELLI also confirmed, as did other industry sources, that SANCHEZ's show has been the subject of an investigation by research giant NIELSEN, which acquired radio ratings firm ARBITRON in late SEPTEMBER, into allegations of ratings tampering."

"There was an investigation raised by some other competitors who were very concerned that MANDRIL was being so successful," SCHIANTARELLI told the paper, which added, "Allegations have been raised that members of ARBITRON's audience panel had been contacted by people connected to SANCHEZ's show and encouraged to listen to his program, a violation of ARBITRON's and NIELSEN's practices."

A KLAX programming executive confirmed to THE TIMES that SANCHEZ's program had indeed been taken off the air because of an investigation.

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