Luis Ventura's fiery speech on Radio Martín Fierro: "Who said she was dead?" We have life!

The Argentine radio industry gathered at the Goldencenter venue in the Parque Norte neighborhood of Buenos Aires on Tuesday to celebrate the 2026 Martín Fierro Awards for Radio. Organized by the Association of Journalists of Television and Argentine Radio (APTRA), the ceremony recognized outstanding productions and professionals from the 2025 broadcast year across both AM and FM bands. The event featured 32 award categories, five special tributes, and a single gold award, marking a departure from previous years where the top honor was duplicated for each band. Approximately 650 guests attended the gala, seated at 66 tables, while hosts Luciana Rubinska and Luis Novaresio guided the evening proceedings. Luis Ventura, president of APTRA, opened the ceremony with a spirited defense of the medium’s relevance. He challenged critics who claim radio is obsolete, asking rhetorically who stated the industry was dead and demanding they prove it. Ventura emphasized that radio possesses more vitality than ever before. He recalled that twelve years ago, when his committee began separating radio awards from television ceremonies, many opposed the move because it annoyed stakeholders that radio maintained its own distinct identity. During negotiations with channel managers, Ventura said he received proposals to relegate radio distinctions to commercial breaks, reserving visible segments solely for television. He refused these suggestions, noting that radio often generates content later adopted by television screens. As the audience applauded and chanted for Ventura to run for office, he responded that he would remain dedicated to fighting for the industry, stating one must have the courage to put everything on the table. He also shared personal news, revealing he had lost 14 kilograms through weekly medical injections, diet control, and exercise, allowing him to wear a suit unused for a decade. The dinner service included a multi-course menu featuring cheese croquettes with burnt apple lasagna brûlée and zaalouk as appetizers. Main courses consisted of beef eye fillet with Dijon cream and smashed potatoes, or a vegetarian option of mushroom fiore with glazed carrots and saffron cream. Dessert was served as a dark chocolate dome with coffee quenelle. Winners were announced throughout the night. In the Best AM Music Program category, La trama celeste, hosted by Alfredo Rosso on AM 750, took the prize. Mercedes Ninci won for her work as a field reporter for Mitre Informa Primero on Radio Mitre. On the FM side, ¿Y ahora quién podrá ayudarnos? by Ernesto Tenembaum on Radio Con Vos was named Best Daily Morning News Program, while Vuelta y media with Sebastián Wainraich on the same station won Best Daily Afternoon News Program. Marcela Tauro accepted the award for Entertainment Columnist for her contributions to No está todo dicho and El club del Moro on FM La 100. She thanked hosts Guido Kaczka and Santiago del Moro for allowing her to present a different persona than she displays on television. Tauro expressed joy at attending with her son, Juan Cruz Álvarez, who is studying sports journalism, and colleague Marcelo Polino. Other recipients included Gabriel Marsili for operational work at FM Los 40, Pachu Peña for comedic performance on Re tarde at FM Pop, Gabriel Anello as Sports Commentator for Radio Mitre, and Lucas Colautti for production work on Mañana Sylvestre at Radio 10. Gigi Ribaloff won for Female Voice Work on Mucha Radio. The first tribute of the evening honored Julio Lagos for 65 years of communicating with respect and passion. The standing ovation prompted Lagos to admit he had not expected to cry. He thanked APTRA for stimulating young talent in Argentine voice-over work. He noted that he does not enjoy radio that serves as a political trench. Other attendees included María O'Donnell, Teté Coustarot, and Sebastián Wainraich. The red carpet coverage began at 8:00 PM local time prior to the main ceremony. The event underscored the continued prominence of traditional broadcasting in Argentina despite digital shifts, with the association maintaining separate recognition tracks to ensure radio professionals receive distinct visibility. The single gold award structure for this year simplified the final honors compared to past dual-band presentations. Ventura’s address set a tone of resilience, contrasting the perceived decline of the medium with the packed attendance and robust engagement displayed at the Goldencenter. The specific menu items and seating arrangements highlighted the scale of the annual gathering, which serves as a central social and professional milestone for the sector. The separation of awards from television continues to be a point of pride for the union, ensuring that radio achievements are celebrated independently of their screen counterparts.