Center for Spanish Language Media

News Corp. Set To Launch A Spanish Language Network

2012-01-23T12:39:00.001-08:00

Many companies have recently chosen to delve into the Spanish language media market. One of those companies includes News Corporation. Currently in the process of launching its own Spanish language broadcast network, News Corporation will "in conjunction with Colombian broadcast RCN Television SA" and "program a mix of telenovelas, news and sports."
While Spanish language networks are already thriving in the media industry, News Corp. believes that there can be more. The company, along with RCN, are in hopes of broadcasting "MondoFox" in the fall. Could this be future competition for the existing Spanish language networks?

To read the article written on the launch of News Corp.'s broadcast network please click the link below: http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Hereandthere/Hola-News-Corp-launching-Hispanic-network-.asp

Entravision Communications Corporation's New Show on La Tricolor Radio Network

2012-01-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

Entravision Communications Corporation, a Spanish language media company, has announced the launch of its new show, "El Vacilon del Mandril." The show (as of yesterday) airs on Entravision's La Tricolor format radio stations in Denver/Aspen, Colorado, Las Vegas/Reno, Nevada, Lubbock, Texas, Yuma, Arizona, and El Centro/Sacramento/Salinas/Stockton, California."El Vacilon del Mandril" is hosted by Hispanic radio personality, Ricardo Sanchez, with guest segments from Tatiano and La Toluca.

The president of Entravision's Radio Division says, "As a leader in Spanish-language radio, we constantly seek to enhance our programming lineup with fresh talent and shows to attract new audiences to our market-leading stations." Entravision's La Tricolor currently has four number one rated stations and four top five stations for men ages 18-34.

To read the article written on Entravision Communications Corporation's new show please click the link below: http://m.prnewswire.com/news-releases/entravision-communications-corporation-launches-el-vacilon-del-mandril-on-la-tricolor-radio-network-137661308.html

Can Learning Spanish Be As Easy As Owning A Mobile Device?

2012-01-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

Learning another language can often times be hard and frustrating when learning from books or with minimal to no interaction with others, but what if language lessons were made available on mobile devices? Mucho Spanish has announced its release of ten new Spanish lessons on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. This makes a total of twenty five lessons that Mucho Spanish offers on learning the Spanish language. According to the article many believe"A conversation partner makes communication come alive and helps the language learner develop an ear for the language."

The Mucho Spanish app is geared toward attempting to "mimic those benefits."The Mucho Spanish app gives people the opportunity to learn Spanish whenever they please. It is programmed to teach users vocabulary and assist in understanding the spoken language. The app does not just stop at 25 lessons. The founder of Mucho Spanish states there are more updates to come. After paying $2.99 for the app, users will receive entertaining lessons, see people conversing about things significant to them, and learn important Latin culture information.

To read the article written by PR Web please click the link below:http://news.yahoo.com/mucho-spanish-10-lessons-now-available-iphone-ipod-081816256.html

Is Bilingual the Future in California?

2012-01-18T09:21:00.001-08:00

Suzanne Manneh of New American Media has a good article examining the hard times for Spanish media in California's Central Valley.

Spanish language newspapers, mostly owned by English language outlets, were once a booming market in the Central Valley, but the recent recession has turned into a bust. In recent years, Spanish newspapers in Visalia-Tulare, Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Hanford, and Bakersfield have all been shuttered. Spanish radio stations heard from the Fresno area has also been on the deline, falling from 20+ early in the decade to only a handful. Those Spanish media that have survived in the Valley have had to make significant cutbacks in both staff and number of issues published.
Despite a robust Latino population in the Central Valley, a number of Spanish publications are beginning to incorporate English content in their pages, a trend reflecting a shift in demographics.

Nearly 30 years ago, Raul Camacho Sr. founded El Popular, an independent, weekly in Bakersfield, with the intention of publishing solely in Spanish. But his son, George Camacho, the paper’s publisher, says he sees incorporating English as an essential “tool for survival,” and said his father has begun realizing that as well ... Immigration is slowing down, the Hispanics are younger and they’re bilingual,” Camacho said.

According to the 2010 Census, more than half of Californians under the age of 18 are Latino. The group accounts for 90 percent of the state's overall growth over the last 10 years, and currently make up 38 percent of the state's residents. In the Valley, that number is even higher. Fresno’s Latino population stands at 47 percent, Bakersfield’s at 45 percent, Stockton’s at 40 percent, and Merced's at nearly 50 percent.

Kirk Whisler, president of Carlsbad, Calif.-based Latino Print Media said that Latino media have been shifting toward incorporating bilingual and bicultural content.

“The Latino (print media) market isn’t a Spanish market, it isn’t an English market,” he said. “It is a bilingual market and that person out there is going to sit and choose what they want based on what’s being offered to them. Language is almost secondary," he said.

Some have expressed concerns about the substance of Spanish media over time if the trend continues. Eduardo Stanley, a former editor at Vialia's recently-closed El Sol newspaper, said that many bilingual papers “translate content intended for the first generation into English, expecting that the second generation reads it,[but]those stories don’t resonate with them. Even though they (2nd generation, onward) keep the interest about their culture or the language, they won’t care about the issue.” Stanley also noted that Spanish publications would continue to lose readers if they use this method.

In sign that the trend isn't limited to print or online publications and that it isn't going away, Univision previously announced that it would consider adding English content in the near future.

Winter Comings and Goings

2012-01-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile, but it's time to get caught up on some of the recent Spanish media comings and goings.

- WKRS in Waukegan, IL (a northern suburb of Chicago) is expected to change its format to join the growing ESPN Deportes network. WKRS is the oldest station in Lake County, being in business since 1949 and most recently broadcast local news and talk.

- Gannett's Spanish newspaper in Visalia, CA shuts down. El Sol, a weekly publication put out by the Visalia Times-Delta, began publishing in 2003 and the last issue was printed this last December. Linda Green, executive editor of the Visalia Times Delta, verified that the paper had closed and said it was for business reasons. She did not know if the Visalia-Times Delta might provide any Spanish-language stories in the English Language publication.

- The LA Times has launched a revamped Hoy Los Angeles website.

- Dish Network announced that it will begin carrying three new networks from juggernaut Univision.

- Univision launches new "Noticias" news app for Apple and Android mobile devices (an iPad version is still in the works). The app will be available only in the US and Puerto Rico.

Verizon FiOS to Carry New Latin American Channels

2011-12-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

Alterna’TV, a division of Latin America’s leading satellite service provider SatMex, has announced a carriage agreement with Verizon FiOS TV that will bring five channels from Latin America to audiences in the United States effective immediately.

The new channels join FiOS TV’s broad collection of programming, which offers more than 530 all-digital channels, including more than 130 HD channels and 30,000 monthly video-on-demand titles. They are part of Verizon’s La Conexion and Spanish Language packages, which offer more than 41 of the most popular Spanish-language channels.

These new channels are:
- Canal 22 Internacional (Channel 1646). Broadcast from Mexico City, the channel "the arts and entertainment channel that televises the rich colors and beautiful traditions of Mexico," with "content ranging from award-winning documentaries, in-depth biographies and popular Mexican movies to original productions including mini-series, talk shows, game shows and local news."

- Once TV Mexico (Channel 1512) Once TV México is an “edutainment” channel that combines an internationally acclaimed on-air look with award-winning programming. (So Mexico's version of PBS?)

- AYM Sports (Channel 1535) Live sports from Mexico, including soccer, baseball, wrestling, boxing, college sports, rodeos, etc.

- Ecuavisa Internacional (Channel 1512) The number 1 network and general entertainment channel from Ecuador.

- Telemicro Internacional (Channel 1513) Broadcast from the Dominican Republic, "Viewers can experience all of the culture and hospitality that the tiny island is willing to offer through programming that includes the most popular comedy shows, exciting sports matches, daily newscasts, children’s shows and, scripted series."

Introducing The Spanish Language Kindle Store

2011-12-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

Amazon has just announced the launch of its Spanish language Kindle Store. Offering over 22,000 titles (fiction and non-fiction), the store will house various best seller books from Spain. More than 1,000 of the books will be available for free.

The Spanish language Kindle Store's content will include many categories and title selections, some of which include: Catalan, Galician, and Basque. Three exclusive titles will also be made available from an award-winning author. In addition to the store's launch, Amazon revealed its first Spanish language Kindle. It can be purchased for 99 Euros.

To read the article written on the launch of Spanish language Kindle Store please click the link below: http://www.webpronews.com/spanish-kindle-store-launches-with-22000-titles-2011-12

Blog Quickie: YouTube's First Original Programming Channel Targets Latinos

2011-11-15T11:27:00.000-08:00

Internet video giant YouTube recently announced that there going to be launching original channels in the coming months as part of a $100 million investment in expanding Google's already looming video presence.

The first original channel was launched over the weekend, and it targets the Hispanic audience. ClevverTeVe, the product of Clevver Media, launched three Spanish-language programs, all focusing on celebrity and entertainment news. Teve Hollywood, and Radar Latino will run daily news coverage from Hollywood, and Teve Moda will run twice a week and feature celebrity fashion. Two English language Clevver channels, ClevverNews and ClevverStyle, are expected to follow soon.

Clevver co-founder Jorge Maldonado said, in a statement:

"The YouTube original channels initiative will also enable us to expand our international reach. Our new ClevverTeVe channel is designed to tap into the rapidly growing Latino market, hungry for high quality and up-to-date entertainment news content."

You can check out the new channel here.

Que Pasa: Arbitron Releases Hispanic Radio Today

2011-11-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

On Monday, Arbitron released its latest report on Spanish radio: Hispanic Radio Today 2011. The report looks into radio listening habits and consumer behavior of the US's 49.1 million Hispanics. The 2011 report looks at 16 radio formats, 10 in Spanish and 6 in English. Some of the highlights:

- among both Spanish-dominant and English-dominant listeners, radio reaches between 95-96%, which represents a slight increase from the Hispanic Radio Today 2010. Radio also attracts 85% of Hispanic men 35-54 and 84% of Hispanic women 35-54 on the weekends, higher than any weekday daypart.

- the Mexican Regional, Spanish Adult Hits, Spanish Contemporary, and Spanish sports are all on the rise

- English Top 40 formats move in opposite directions. Pop Top 40 garnered its biggest share since Arbitron's first Hispanic Radio report while Top 40/Rhythmic dropped to its lowest share in 10 years.

- Other English formats: Adult Contemporary, Classic Hits, News/Talk/Information and Country -- each saw slight decreases in their overall Hispanic audience shares.

Arbitron's full report is available here (FYI, you have to fill out the little form on the right in order to download the full pdf, though.)

Time Warner's New Spanish Channels

2011-11-07T11:03:00.000-08:00

Time Warner Cable recently announced its new additions to its Apple Ipad app programming. The cable company has implemented 37 new national and international Spanish language channels. With no additional fee, Time Warner Cable and El Paquetazo Digital Cable subscribers have access to the 37 new channels if subscribed to the channels.

With a perk like being able to watch some of the top Spanish language networks throughout the entire house on an Ipad, this is a big deal! Some of the networks offering channels include: Galavision, Gol TV, History en Espanol, La Familia Cosmovision, Mun2, Discovery Espanol, Disney XD Espanol, and Boomerang Espanol Caracol. Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Residential Services for Time Warner stated, "This is a big step forward in our commitment to offering the best possible entertainment experience to our customers."

To read the actual article written on Time Warner's additional channels for Ipads please click the link below: http://fixed-mobile-convergence.tmcnet.com/news/2011/11/03/5905675.htm

Telemundo's Taking Names

2011-11-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

It has been reported that in October 2011 Telemundo was the fasting growing Spanish-language television network among total viewers 2+ and adults 18-49 during prime time. According to an article that quoted Nielsen, Telemundo is also the only Spanish-language television network with prime time year-over-year growth!

In comparison to Univision who had an 8% decline and Telefutura with a 37% decline among total viewers in prime time, Telemundo grew by 38% among total viewers 2+ and 30% among adults 18-49. In addition, Telemundo has also aired four out of the top five prime time movies on Spanish-language television among adults 18-49 and is currently in the process of premiering two more top rated movies this month.

To read the article on Telemundo's growth please click the link below: http://www.rbr.com/tv-cable/tv-cable_ratings/growth-month-for-telemundo.html

New Spanish Initiative to Spread the Word of Learning Disabilities

2011-11-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

By now, readers of this blog should be well aware that the Hispanic population in the US is booming. This population growth affects many aspects of this country, from the economy to the medical industry to education and everything in between. Well, according to the NCLD, you can now add learning difficulties to the list.

One in five school children are Hispanic, and some estimates proclaim that Hispanics will account for 95% of the teenage population growth within the next decade. Hispanic children, as well as many other minorities, face a greater risk of low academic achievement, dropout, and grade repetition. Spanish-speaking families have had scant access to resources that would help detect the early signs of learning disabilities, as such many Hispanic children with learning disorders go undiagnosed, and don't get the help they need in recognizing a learning disability and effectively dealing with that disability.

Until now.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities has launched a first-of-its-kind online toolkit and campaign to provide Spanish families with resources they hadn't had previously. James H. Wendorf, executive director of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, said in a statement:

"Early detection of barriers to learning can be life-changing for young students, and every Spanish-speaking parent and caregiver should know about these free resources. Now Hispanic families can access online tools and information in English and Spanish that will help them to be effective advocates for their children."

Full story also available here

O Canada!: Videotron Launches Three New Spanish TV Channels in Quebec

2011-11-02T08:49:00.000-07:00

Canadian telecommunications company Videotron has announced three new Spanish channels will be added to their cable system. Videotron is one of the largest cable providers in Canada (Rogers, Shaw and Cogeco are some of the others. The announcement adds three channels to the company's Illico TV lineup to "meet the information and entertainment needs of its Spanish-speaking customers." The new channels are:

- TLN en Español - channel 248

TLN en Español is Canada's all-Spanish with a wide range of premium general-interest programming from the Latin World including the acclaimed variety shows like Don Francisco Presenta, top telenovelas featuring Las Apariacio, Sin Senos no hay Paraíso and Páginas de la Vida, the biggest music specials like the Latin Grammy Awards, the latest news from Latin-American, sports and hit movies.

-TeleNiños - channel 259

The TeleNiños family channel will charm the young and the not-so-young alike with cartoons galore, action series for the entire family and hit movies. Schedule highlights include hit shows Caillou, Little Lulu, Arthur, Paddington Bear, and Ripley's Believe It or Not! Family entertainment at its best!

- Caracol Internacional TV - channel 258

Caracol Internacional TV, carries original programming including popular telenovelas such as Gabriela giros del destino and, four daily of news programming, drama, comedy and reality TV shows. A window on Colombia's rich cultural scene!

Customers will get a free preview of the three channels until January 4th, 2012 when they will become part of the Hispano package offering for $15

TeleFutura's New Late Night Show

2011-10-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

As if Spanish-language television has not created enough competition for the English-language networks, now TeleFutura has made an announcement that could potentially give them an even bigger audience base. The Spanish-language network is in the process of launching a new late night show entitled, "Noche De Perros," which translates into "Guys Night Out."

"Noche De Perros" is set to launch on October 31, 2011 at 11 p.m. ET/PT (10 p.m. central time). It is a show for men about things men care out. According to the article, "the guys wreak havoc as they discuss a plethora of manly topics such as sports, news, hobbies and mainly women, in a television man-cave like no other." This program will be the first and currently the only show made for men on Spanish-language television.

To read the actual article written on "Noche De Perros" and to read about the hosts or future topics please click the link below:

http://www.hispanictips.com/2011/10/19/telefutura-lets-the-dogs-out-with-the-new-late-

Telemundo and the World Cup - The Numbers

2011-10-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

This morning, Portada posted this analysis of how Telemundo secured the World Cup rights.

Securing the rights for the World Cup was a priority for NBCUniversal, according to sources knowledgeable about the bidding process. Securing rights for Telemundo was extremely important given the population (ad subsequent ratings growth) for the Hispanic population. NBCU launched a joint bid for the rights, with NBC Sports going after the English language rights. NBCU lost out on the English rights, with those being awarded to Fox Sports.

In terms of dollars, the new deals with FIFA for the 2015-2022 World Cups were significantly higher than the previous ones.
For the Spanish rights:
- Telemundo paid $600 million for the 2015-2022 rights
- Univision had paid $325 million for the 2007-2014 rights

For English:
- FOX paid $425 million for the 2015-2022 rights
- ABC/ESPN paid $100 million for the 2007-2014 rights

GOL!!!!! World Cup to Telemundo

2011-10-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever, one network will become the exclusive Spanish-language home for World Cup soccer. NBCUniversal-owned Telemundo (the fastest-growing network in any language) has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights for all FIFA men's and women's World Cup games from 2015-2022. Telemundo's broadcast associates, their cable network mun2, and all of their associated online platforms will be involved.
Additionally, Telemundo and mun2 will provide extensive coverage of the FIFA Confederations Cup, FIFA Men's and Women's U-17 World Cup, FIFA Men's and Women's U-20 World Cup as well as live coverage of the official draws and ceremonies.
Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media, Lauren Zalaznick said in a statement:

"The acquisition of the FIFA World Cup, one of the world's great sporting events, speaks directly to the commitment NBCUniversal has made in the future of Telemundo and to our diverse U.S. Hispanic communities that we serve."

Famed announcer Andres Cantor (yes, that Andres Cantor), already known as "the voice of soccer" around the world, would soon become "the face of soccer" for Telemundo's sports coverage.

In addition to the upcoming World Cup rights, Telemundo currently owns the exclusive U.S. broadcast and online rights to certain away FIFA World Cup qualifying matches of The Mexican National Team and the home of Mexico's most popular club team Las Chivas de Guadalajara.

Discovery Set to Launch TLC in Latin America

2011-10-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

Come November 1st, the TLC cable network will be available to 26 million homes in 36 countries in Latin America.
TLC would replace Discovery's "Discovery Travel & Living" channel with a new logo and an expanded slate of programming including Cake Boss, Earthtriping, Cupcake Wars, and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

Discovery has been pushing in recent years to expand the TLC brand (as well as it other brands) to strengthen their overall appeal to advertisers and audiences.

President and Managing Director of Discovery Networks Latin America/Hispanic Enrique R Martinez said, in a statement:

Over the years, viewers have identified Travel & Living Channel (TLC) as the travel channel par excellence. To reaffirm this positioning, we set out to increase the volume of content devoted to this genre, expand content dedicated to the culinary world, and introduce a new space focusing on some of the world's most eccentric personalities."

SirusXM Debuts SiriumXM 2.0 and SiriusXM Latino

2011-10-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, SiriusXM announced an expanded channel lineup that is fist phase of what the company is calling SiriusXM 2.0.

Per the company's press release:

The launch of new programming is the first phase of SiriusXM 2.0, a major upgrade and evolution of SiriusXM's satellite and Internet delivered service that will ultimately span hardware, software, audio, and data services. By employing highly efficient modulation and compression techniques introduced as part of 2.0 technology that effectively delivers 25% more bandwidth capacity, SiriusXM will expand its audio and data services without affecting the broadcast quality of existing channels.

The first phase of channel expansion is covered at the link above (or here). While the list of new channels has some noteworthy/interesting options (what broadcast station is going to brand itself "Red, White, and Booze" or devote itself entirely to the late George Carlin?), of particular interest to us here are the expanded Spanish-language options:

* Caliente, channel 150: A red-hot mix of the biggest hits of tropical, salsa, merengue and Reggaeton.
* Viva, channel 500: The brightest Latin stars in contemporary pop, alternative and ballads.
* La Mezcla, channel 503: Top hits in Spanish and English.
* Flow Nacion, channel 506: The hottest sounds in Latin hip-hop and Reggaeton.
* Aguila, channel 510: The sound of Norteno bands, Ranchera, Duranguense and the sounds of traditional Mexican music.
* Latidos, channel 520: Romantic Latin love songs from the '90s to today.
* Caricia, channel 523: The classics from unforgettable artists in Spanish and English.
* Luna, channel 530: Latin percussion and Afro-Cuban rhythms blended with Jazz for a fun-filled musical journey.
* Rumbon, channel 533: Classic salsa from the legendary artists and bands from yesterday.
* La Kueva, channel 540: Latin rock classics and today's upcoming artists.
* RadioFormula Mexico, channel 560, 24/7 news and talk from the leading radio broadcaster from Mexico.
* Playboy Radio en Espanol, channel 569, sexy, smart, refined and exclusive adult programming showcasing Latin talent.

In addition to some new programming on existing channels:
* Talk show host Cristina Saralegui's Cristina Radio will feature lifestyle, health and family programming for Latinas, produced by National Latino Broadcasting and launching in the coming months.

* In addition, SiriusXM will deliver more Spanish-language sports coverage, featuring play-by-play from NFL teams, to be available on multiple Deportes en Vivo channels, XM channels 550-556, which will also carry sports play-by-play from major college programs such as Army, University of Texas, Oregon State University and University of Nevada, among others, as well as an expanded lineup of MLB games

Telemundo's First GOP Debate

2011-10-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

The Spanish-language network, Telemundo, is hosting it's very first Republican presidential debate in December. The GOP primary debate will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to the article, Nevada counts as one of the two "early primary states with a sizeable and growing number of Latino voters."

The debate will be broadcast in Spanish, and the host will be news anchor Jose Diaz-Balart. Telemundo's sister network, NBC News will be joining Telemundo in producing the debate, and the programs will focus on education, immigration, health care, and the economy.

To read the article written by Associated Press please click the link below:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/spanish-language-network-telemundo-to-host-its-first-gop-primary-debate-in-december/2011/10/13/gIQAJ0MbiL_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Blog Quickie: Startling New Stats

2011-10-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Grantmakers In the Arts (GIA) conference in San Francisco last week featured a session entitled "Ethnic Media Research." Radio Bilingue executive Hugo Morales and Mike Henry, CEO of Paragon Media Strategies presented these Census statistics the flew under our radar (Note: scroll down at the link until you see "Ethnic Media Research"):

1. Every day there are 2,800 more Latinos in the U.S.

2. Every year there are ONE MILLION more Latinos in the U.S.

3. 200,000 Latinos turn 18 every month.

4. 98% of Latinos under the age of 18 are U.S. citizens.

5. 60% of the Latino population growth from 2000 to 2010 is from Latino births, with 40% from immigrants. This is a shift from the last census when it was 60% due to immigration and 40% to Latino births in the U.S.

6. Latino population growth is happening in 95% of U.S. counties. The growth of the Latino population is a national growth, not regional.

Univision Shows Available on Hulu

2011-10-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

Univision is the fifth largest television network in the United States and #1 when it comes to the Spanish-language market. With Univision already dominating other markets, Univision has announced that later on in the year its Spanish-language novelas, variety shows, and reality series will be made available for free on Hulu. An even bigger selection of this season's shows will also be made available on Hulu Plus for a subscription fee of $7.99 a month.

Choosing to make Spanish-language shows available on Hulu will make a huge impact on Univision and Hulu. It will expand the viewer base for both companies and gives Spanish-language viewers an opportunity to watch shows they are interested in as early as a day after the episode airs. According to the article, this partnership between Univision and Hulu will "enable the online video service to reach a population of 50 million Latino people in the United States."

For more information and to read the original article please click the link below:

http://www.theledger.com/article/20111005/news/111009624&tc=yahoo?tc=ar

Spanish Media & Politics - Update

2011-10-05T08:31:00.000-07:00

It won't be long now until the presidential election race hits its stride, and political advertisements and political issues will be so pervasive as to drive one crazy. However, a couple stories from the past few days are worth mentioning.

To Reach Latino Voters, Forget Immigration Issue and do Ads in Spanish
In an Advertising Week panel, President & CEO of the Mellman Group, Mark Mellman, had some advice for the presidential candidates regarding Latino voters. Hispanics represent about 9% or 10% of the electorate, but in key states can make up 12% to 16% of voters, and as much as 35% of the voting population. Mellman also remarks that while Hispanics lean disproportionately toward the Democratic party, there's a substantial number of swing voters among the population.
The immigration issue is also not as big of a deal to Latinos as politicians might like to assume:

"They're more interested in the economy, jobs, education, government waste and higher taxes. Language is also important. A large percentage of the swing voters -- one-third or more -- is Spanish dominant. A relatively small group only watches English-language media, and even they think it's important to advertise on Spanish-language media. They say that's a sign of respect for their community."

Another story making the rounds on the Internet lately centers on a Univision radio debate...
Four GOP Presidential Candidates to Boycott Univision Radio Debate
All this stems from a story Univision ran on Senator (and rumored VP candidate) Marco Rubio' brother-in-law. Orlando Cicilla was arrested and convicted in 1987 on drug charges and served jail time.
Rubio's staff allege that the story was aired in response to Rubio's refusal to appear on Univision's "Al Punto", an interview-style show.
"Rubio’s staff and Univision insiders say the network’s news president offered Rubio a deal: Appear on "Al Punto" and the station would soften the story. Rubio declined. The story ran on July 11.

Lee and other Univision officials vehemently deny the allegation of a deal and say the drug-bust story was newsworthy and fair."

Additional reads here, here and here.

Census: US White Population on The Rise, Thanks to Hispanics?

2011-09-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

Racial identity, it seems, is becoming less clear than we might have previously thought.
Exhibit A: In 2010 Census data, more Hispanics are listing themselves as white.

Recent changes that emphasize "Hispanic" as an ethnicity and not a race could explain this shift. In 1980 (when this distinction was originally made on Census forms), Latinos would routinely check the "other race" box to establish a Hispanic identity. Changes to the 2010 forms:

"specifically instructed Latinos that Hispanic origins are not races and to select a recognized category such as white or black"

The result is a 5 percent increase in the white population (as measured by the Census) despite little change in the number of non-Hispanic whites. Over the last decade, the number of people in the "white alone" category jumped by 12 million to over 223 million. Based on that definition, whites represent 72% of the US population and account for over half of the growth over the previous ten years.

"What's white in America in 1910, 2010 or even 2011 simply isn't the same," said Robert Lang, sociology professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, citing the many different groups of European immigrants in the early 20th century who later became known collectively as white. He notes today that could mean a white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in upstate New York or Jews and Italians in the lowest East side of Manhattan.
Predicting a similar shift for Hispanics, Lang and others noted that mixed marriages are now more common between whites and Hispanics. U.S.-born Latino children of immigrants also are more likely than their parents to identify as white. "The definition of white has always been expansive," he said. "I could see the census in 2030 or 2040 dropping the differentiation between Hispanics and whites."

Time Warner's $1 Million English-language and Spanish-language PSA Commitment

2011-09-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

With the country's Hispanic population on an all time high, many companies are finding it necessary to invest in Spanish-language media. One of those companies is Time Warner Cable.

Time Warner Cable has announced its $1 million commitment to airing PSA's in both the English and Spanish language. According to Velez-Hagan's article, The Broadband Opportunity Coalition created this program in order to support its mission to make the public aware of the need for broadband Internet access, and while others have been somewhat reluctant to offer this free air time, Time Warner Cable has decided to invest.

According to the article, Hispanics have the lowest in-home Internet adoption rate, and by Time Warner making the decision to air these English and Spanish-language PSA's, there will be a larger reach within the Hispanic communities.

To read the article Time Warner's Commitment please click the link below:
http://politic365.com/2011/09/26/time-warner-cable-commits-1-million-to-show-spanish-language-psas/

Comcast Exec: New Spanish Channels Coming, Stir Tier Controversy

2011-09-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

Comcast's International Content Director Homer Gonzalez assured Hispanic program providers that new Spanish channels will be available at a Hispanic TV summit last week. The panel was focused on distribution of Spanish content, although Mr. Gonzalez was the only distributor representative present. Responding to concerns about a limited number of Spanish options, he said:

""What I can assure you of is that Comcast's Hispanic programming slate will not be static," Gonzalez said. "Right now I have 60 channels. Hopefully I can put more out there. But in the absence of more bandwidth being out there I have to optimize and keep my package relevant .""

Other panelists also pointed out that providers' Hispanic tiers remain stuck in the 4-5 million subscriber range despite significant upticks in the Hispanic population. Such growth would seem to suggest that distributors would benefit from carrying Spanish channels on broader tiers or packages, like Comcast's broad "D1" digital tier.

According to Gonzalez, such a move might not be customer-friendly, being that 2/3 of "D1" subscribers don't speak Spanish and the company questions having subscribers pay for channels they will never use. He also points out that the company's Spanish-speaking subscribers could purchase Hispanic tiers for less than the company's expansive (and expensive) "D1" option.

Insignia US's Antonio Briceno commented that those networks that initially helped populate Hispanic tiers are still on those tiers and that this creates potential problems for newcomers trying to break in. The limited subscriber base of such Hispanic ties also makes producing original programing difficult, Briceno said.

Gonzalez emphasized Comcast's value approach to acquiring content, including such factors as license fees, genre popularity, ratings, production quality, and marketing support and social media engagement. He acknowledges that "difficult decisions will be made on the programming slate."

Soapbox moment:
As the Hispanic population in the United States continues to grow, it will be interesting to watch how the judgments surrounding value play out. The media economy these days has mired distributors like Comcast in a kind of standoff: it's hard to justify moving Spanish channels to a broad digital tier when most of that tier's subscribers don't speak the language; but without those options available, Spanish-speaking subscribers that tier would remain low. The tiers need viewers to justify moving the content, but viewers need content to justify purchasing the tiers.
It's high noon and who will blink first?

NBCUniversal Hires A New President for Telemundo

2011-09-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

NBCUniversal has hired a new president for Telemundo. Media and airline executive, Emilio Romano, has been chosen to run the Spanish-language television network Telemundo and cable channel mun2. Former president, Don Browne, retired last spring, and Romano will take over this October.

Romano's background in Hispanic media was extensive before becoming a part of Telemundo. In the 1990s, Romano was Televisa's director of mergers and acquisitions and then the vice president of international operations. During 1995-1998, Romano served as a member of the Univision Communications' Board. In 2001, Romano became the co-founder for Border Group, LLC. From 2004-2007, Romano served as chief executive for Grupo Mexicana de Aviacion, coordinated the launch for Click Mexicana, and "engineered the sale of Mexicana de Aviacion to an investor group."

In the article, the chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment and Digital Networks and Integrated Media, Lauren Zalaznick, said, "His extensive knowledge of Hispanic media combined with a proven track record running large-scale businesses will be a great addition to the Telemundo management team." Zalaznick also believes Romano will be very beneficial in helping Telemundo's appeal to the Hispanic community through his "expertise in multiple media platforms.

To read the entire article on NBCUniversal's new president please click the link below:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/09/nbcuniversal-taps-emilio-romano-as-telemundo-president.html

What's In a Name? An "illegal immigrant" By Any Other Name...

2011-09-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

Elena Shore, of New American Media delved into an interesting topic over the weekend, namely how different media say the term "illegal immigrant".

Apparently, the AP Stylebook stipulates that "illegal immigrant" is the appropriate term, however "illegal" may not be used as a noun (i.e. three illegals were detained...). The National Association of Hispanic Journalists prefers using "undocumented immigrant" or "undocumented worker." An Applied Research Center campaign calls "illegal" a slur and is urging media across the country to stop using it.

The decision facing news editors in the US isn't clear, but for editors of ethnic media, the choice is even muddier due to the inexact nature of translation. The same term we know in the US as "illegal immigrant" could be described as anything from "always in hiding" in Punjabi to "overstayers" in Chinese. (A handy chart for your edification pleasure is provided here.)

While there is considerable debate among English-language media in the US, the issue seems to be mostly settled in Spanish media:

"“We had this discussion 10 years ago, maybe more,” said Juan Antonio Ramos, executive editor of La Estrella En Casa in Fort Worth, Tex., which consistently uses the term “inmigrante indocumentado” (undocumented immigrant). “I think this is a healthy discussion and I hope English-language media start using the term we’ve been using for years."

Alfredo Carbajal, of Dallas' Al Dia newspaper stated that there is still some opposition among Hispanic readers:

"“There are many diverse sentiments about immigration, even within the Hispanic community,” said Carbajal. “We’ve had readers call in, saying, ‘By not calling illegal immigration “illegal,” you’re already taking a side.’”"

Other highlights:
- Many outlets in Russian use "illegal" and "undocumented" interchangeably, but editors point out that "illegal" isn't necessarily a derogatory term.
- Korean outlets tend to use a term that translates to "illegal overstayer", a phrase that reflects general migration patterns from Korea.
- In Chinese media, the term "illegal immigrant" is common and is seen as neutral, describing someone who's status as an immigrant isn't valid, but not necessarily a criminal.
- Vietnamese media have a very simple reason why the term "illegal" is used instead of "undocumented": the it's the quickest translation.

Comcast's First Hispanic Film Festival

2011-09-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever, Comcast is introducing a multi platform Hispanic Film Festival. Comcast's decision to offer the Hispanic Film Festival is in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The festival will include 20 award-winning Spanish-language films from Spain and Latin America that people can view and vote on.

The Senior Vice President and General Manager of Video Services for Comcast said in the article that Comcast wanted to give the Hispanic customers more choices targeted specifically to them for free. Not only can the Hispanic customers view the Hispanic Film Festival, but the customers will also be able to watch specials on different entertainment aspects in Latin America.

Currently Comcast offers the biggest Spanish-language network package of the cable and satellite providers around the United States. This includes 60 Hispanic cable networks. Comcast has also introduced a Spanish-language Internet portal for entertainment.

To view the article and the list of programming offered for Hispanic Heritage Month please click the link below:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Comcast-Introduces-Its-First-bw-3778217754.html?x=0&.v=1

Rumors of New Spanish Network....from Iran??

2011-09-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

These days, it's not uncommon for new cable/satellite networks to spring up seemingly out of nowhere, after all here in Texas a school's athletic department just got their own. Expansion of Spanish-language media outlets in the US is also no big surprise. But you may be surprised where the next Spanish-network may be based from: Iran.

Yes you read that right, Iran.

Over the weekend, Edwin Mora of CNSN News reports on translations of stories first reported in Brazilian and Chilean newspapers back in August: that HisnpanTV will soon be set to launch on television, having had a web presence for some time.

The channel is expected to air news from Iran, the Americas, the United States, Canada, Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa and also reporting on culture, health, sports, society, economy, and technology.

The Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Pao quotes Chilean managing editor Manuel Raimondi as saying "Our signal will reach all of Latin America and Europe, and may also be picked up in Brazil."

Dual-Language Implementation for Younger Students

2011-09-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Learning a second language was once something a student could not learn until high school, but for Boise schools, a student can learn a second language at the early age of five. Dual-language programs give native English speaking students the opportunity to learn Spanish and native Spanish speaking students the opportunity to learn English.

Boise schools have made it possible for younger kids to get a head start on another language. Bilingual programs are quickly becoming important to parents and students. With the population of Hispanics and Latinos steadily growing, this is something that could be beneficial to the entire country.

For Boise, only two schools have implemented the program (Whittier and Whitney Elementary Schools). To read the actual article being referenced about the dual-language programs in Boise please click the link below:
http://www.kivitv.com/news/local/128720728

More Information From The Pew Research Center on Spanish Media Progression

2011-08-30T08:29:00.001-07:00

Spanish-language media has quickly flourished due to the growing Hispanic population in the nation, and according to a study done by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism, Spanish-language media has even done better than English-language mainstream media within the last year. Although Hispanic newspapers declined, English newspapers had a larger downfall of 5%. There has been a growth in Spanish-language television, radio, magazines, and Internet use.

The study conducted is from the new edition of the state of the Media 2011. Some of the findings from The State of the Media 2011 annual report include:

The number of Hispanic newspapers were overall stable from 835 in 2009 to 832 in 2010.

Univision is planning to begin a 24-hour news network in 2012.

Internet use for Latinos has increased from 36% in 2009 to 47% in 2010.

Univision radio has formatted the broadcasts so audience ratings could be collected from Arbitron.

To read the actual article written by infoZine please click the link below:

http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid48813

If you are also interested in The State of the Media 2011 annual report please click the link below:

http://stateofthemedia.org/2011/hispanic-media-fairing-better-than-the-mainstream-media

Spanish Language Media Es More Bueno?

2011-08-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

Yes I realize the headline isn't proper Spanish, at best it's Texan-Spanglish. (But hey, it got your attention didn't it?)

A new report from the Pew Research Center suggests that Spanish-language media may be faring better in these economic times than their English counterparts.

The Latino population in America has risen nearly 50% since 2000 and has more than doubled since 1990. The median age for Latinos (27) is younger than African-Americans (32) and whites (42) and increasing numbers of the Latino population are US-born, and the majority are bilingual, according to the report.

Highlights:
Spanish newspapers have lost circulation, but the loss is less significant than the loss felt by English papers.

Univision continues to grow (they now have audience sizes competitive with the Big Three English networks, NBC, CBS, & ABC) and recently launched a 24-hr news station.

Radio continues to grow, and more Spanish-language radio companies began measuring for Arbitron, the standard for measuring radio ratings.

Internet use continues to grow, although as a whole Hispanics don't access the internet as much compared to other groups.

As the growth of the US Hispanic population shifts from immigration to birth rate it will certainly be interesting to see if the current growth in Spanish-language media continues.

Radio Las Americas, The New Spanish-language Station in Tulsa

2011-05-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

Radio Las Americas, a new Spanish-language station, launched last Friday, making this the fourth Spanish-language station in Tulsa. General Manager Carlos Raul Paredes said "This is historical for the Hispanic community," and it certainly is. The Spanish-language market is growing at a very fast pace, and people are finally beginning to recognize it.

AM 1380, Radio Disney Group's former broadcast channel, is now the new channel for Radio Las Americas. There will be local news Spanish broadcasts at 7 and 10 pm, and the remaining hours will be filled with Spanish-language pop music. For more information and to read the entire story written by World Staff Writer please click the link below:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=46&articleid=20110430_46_E1_RadioL372898&rss_lnk=5

Univision to Launch Sports Network?

2011-04-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

In early 2012, Univision is expected to launch a cable sports network (Univision Deportes) to rival those of ESPN and Fox. The rising Hispanic population has caused ESPN Deportes and Fox Deportes to beef up its programming to include more Mexican soccer matches, among other content.
A Crain's New York Business article says:
"According to two industry executives with knowledge of the plans, the company aims for Univision Deportes to have the kind of broad cable and satellite distribution that a new English-language cable channel would normally get—in the neighborhood of 40 million homes."
(For comparison's sake, ESPN Deportes and Fox Deportes reach approx 15 million subscribers each)
Live sports have proven nearly immune to DVRs and media fragmentation, as evidenced by record ratings for the recent Super Bowls and the last World Cup.

This man agrees:
“Sports is a key driver for our business down the road,” said Cesar Conde, president of Univision Networks. “The possibility of extending sports programming to other platforms, whether it's cable or interactive, [gives it] tremendous upside as a business.”

Univision has yet to negotiate deals with the various cable carriers, which could prove to be a long and dragged-out process. For their parts, Fox and ESPN won't go down without a fight.

Fox Deportes- The leader. Has the most hours of Spanish-language soccer coverage and launched 3 new studio shows last winter
ESPN Deportes - The "Worldwide Leader" has the most international soccer is expected to announce new studio shows (similar to the debate/talk shows on the English networks) next month.

Crain's New York Business

SiriusXM to Shuffle Channels

2011-04-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

For those out there that actually subscribe to satellite radio, SiriusXM has announced that they will be reorganizing their channels effective Wednesday May 4th.

Here's a handy, sortable channel guide:
SiriusXM

As far as the pure Spanish channels are concerned, the changes are as follows:

- Caliente will move from 85 150

- CNN Espanol will move from 126 to 148

- ESPN Deportes will move from 154 to 149

- MLB Play-by-Play en Espanol will move from 174 to 175

The weather and traffic channels will also be reorganized.

According to SiriusXM, most customers' radios will update automatically and radio presets will change automatically, but certain Sirius customers will have to take "additional action" (Those are SiriusXM's words, not mine)

A handy FAQ

Former North Carolina Teacher Creates "Spanish Superstars" to Teach Children Spanish

2011-04-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

According to the Center of Applied Linguistics, children in 15 out of 19 countries begin learning a second language in elementary school, but in the United States, the majority of children are not introduced to their second language until they are 14. A former Durham Public School teacher, Katie Griffin, wanted to make sure the children in the Triangle community were different. She started a business called "Spanish Superstars" which provides children with the opportunity to learn Spanish early on in the Durham, Raleigh, Morrisville, and Cary area.

The DBusinessNews' article on Griffin's business elaborated on her prior experience in the teaching field and future plans for "Spanish Superstars." The co-director of the Institute for Brain and Learning Sciences, Patricia Kuhl, said in the article, "Babies and children are geniuses [at acquiring language skills] until they turn seven, and then there's a systematic decline. After puberty, we fall off the map.” This means children need to begin a second language as early as possible because they will not only learn faster, but it will be easier for them to retain the information. Griffin's business will offer classes to children between the ages of 1-10. For more information on the "Spanish Superstars" and the actual article written by DBusinessNews please click the link below:

http://www.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?articletitle=Local%20Triangle%20Children%20Pursue%20Spanish%20Language%20Skills&newsid=233169&type_news=latest&s=sbcn

SBS Stock to be De-Listed

2011-04-19T05:50:00.000-07:00

Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) will have its stock de-listed from the NASDAQ tomorrow, April 20th unless the company files for a hearing request before 4pm Eastern time today.

SBS is the largest publicly traded Hispanic-controlled media and entertainment company in the United States. SBS owns and/or operates 21 radio stations as well as MegaTV; and also produces live concerts and events.

In case you're wondering:

De-listing occurs when a company's Class A Common Stock closing price falls below $1.00 for 30 consecutive days, as required by NASDAQ rules. At that time, the company is given a "written deficiency notice" which states that the company has 180 calendar days to comply. (SBS received this notice in October 2010; the 180 day period ended on April 11th 2011) In order to satisfy that requirement, the closing stock price would have to be above $1.00 for 10 consecutive business days prior to the end of the 180 day period. (Which SBS stock has not done.)

AllAccess.com
GlobeNewsWire

Telemundo Head Steps Down

2011-04-12T09:02:00.000-07:00

The president of Telemundo Communications Group Don Browne plans to retire from the company, according to an announcement from parent company NBCUniversal. Browne, 68, has been with NBC for 30 years, and spent the last 8 as a part of Telemundo. In the last 6 years, Browne has been responsible for Telemundo's programming and business ventures; including running the 14 owned-and-operated TV stations throughout the country as well as the news and sports operation at their youth-y cable channel, mun2.

Browne is also credited with spearheading Telemundo's entry into the realm of original programming. To that end, Browne oversaw the construction of a small TV production facility in Florida. In recent months, the network's original telenovela "La Reina del Sur" has garnered strong ratings.

Despite investing substantial sums of money in original programming, Telemundo has struggled to make much headway in a Spanish-language market dominated by uber-powerful Univision. Much of Univision's telenovelas have already played in Mexico and thus are easier/cheaper to acquire.

When Comcast took control of NBC Universal earlier this year, corporate chiefs wanted Telemundo to produce stronger ratings and therefore more revenue for the company.

In a statement on Tuesday, NBC Universal said about Don Browne: "[Browne was] an early and fervent supporter of NBC's investment in Spanish-language television and played a key role in the company's 2001 acquisition of Telemundo... Don Browne has had an outstanding career as a broadcaster and executive, from his years as a bureau chief and executive vice president of NBC News to his tenure most recently at Telemundo, we are grateful for what he has accomplished."

Browne's last day is expected to be June 3rd.

Source:
LA Times
Broadcasting & Cable

2011-04-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

The CSLM staff is in Vegas this week for the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) 2011 conference. The sessions started yesterday with some fascinating discussions on a variety of topics. We started the day with sessions about iPad publishing and pocket journalism. The iPad and other tablets are increasingly an important consideration for marketing and media distribution and app development, design and content management is an exciting and dynamic area of growth for the industry. Increasingly, journalists are required to act as “one man bands”, shooting, writing and editing their own stories. The flip cam has become a valuable news tool.

An online video consumption session revealed that outlets that incorporate both video and online interactivity draw a larger viewing audience. Online video consumers like the ability to interact with cast members, comment on videos, play games and interact with social media. Good news for online advertisers, online video consumers tend to be young and have a large disposable income.

In the spirit of job searching, we attended discussions on building your personal brand online. Academics and professionals alike are interested in seeing E-portfolios from students and recent graduates. Creating a personalized and clutter free website can put students one step above other applicants.

We rounded out the day with a debate about the future of TV with the presence of growing digital video distribution. Using “The Long Tail” theory as a backdrop, debates surrounded the future of big traditional media companies vs. new distribution models introduced by Netflix, Hulu and the like. We all agree that content is king, but distribution playing an increasing role in consumption.

We’re off to more sessions today and will keep you posted. Stay tuned!

PBS's PBSKIDSGO.org Begins Launch on New Spanish-language and Music Web Series

2011-04-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

PBS's PBSKIDSGO.org began a new launch on two new Spanish animated web series for children. The two new web series entitled, " Chuck Vanderchuck's Something Something Explosion" and "Noah Comprende" are targeting the areas of Spanish-language and music learning. According to an article written by Yahoo, "CHUCK VANDERCHUCK’S “SOMETHING SOMETHING” EXPLOSION engages children in a variety of musical genres while also stimulating creativity. NOAH COMPRENDE introduces children to the Spanish language through animated videos with embedded games. Both properties are designed for children ages 6-9 years old and will roll out new webisodes monthly on PBSKIDSGO.org."

Throughout the episodes of the series, the characters Chuck and Noah takes the children on "virtual learning adventures." With these two new web series being Spanish-language, PBS is taking the opportunity to reach across the masses of more than just English-language homes. Both web series are web-originals with new ways to engage children in learning. For more information and full descriptions of the new web series for Chuck Vanderchuck and Noah Comprende please click the link below directing you to the article written by Yahoo:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/PBS-Launches-New-Spanish-bw-1571243546.html?x=0&.v=1

Univision Does It Again: More Prime-Time Viewers Than NBC

2011-04-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

For the second time in four weeks, Univision surpassed one of the "Big Four" networks. Last week Univision gained more prime-time viewers than that of NBC. At a rapid pace, Univision continues to gain more viewers, making it a close competition with its English-language competitors. With the Latino population becoming the fastest-growing, Univision has more and more opportunities to attract more viewers. According to the LA Times Blog article postedbelow, "Tuesday, Univision said that on about 50% of nights during the first quarter of 2011, it attracted more viewers ages 18 to 49 than NBC. That demographic is a crucial target audience for advertisers." Could the "Big Four" networks ever have imagined that Spanish-language television would make it so hard for them to stay on top? Although in recent news NBCU has stated that they are launching a news sales initiative entitled "Hispanics at NBCU," Univision is already ahead of them keeping the Spanish-language and Latino audience interested. To read the actual story from LA Times please click the link below:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/04/univision-gains-on-nbc-to-vie-for-title-of-nations-fourth-largest-television-network-.html

NBCU Launches Hispanics at NBC

2011-04-05T11:14:00.001-07:00

NBC Universal announced this morning the formation of Hispanics at NBC.

A dozen new people are expected to work in the integrated sales marketing division. The new formation will help marketers and advertisers connect with U.S. Hispanics across the NBC brands and online extensions. “Hispanics represent 16% of the U.S. population, but only 4% of the total advertising market,” said Lauren Zalaznick, Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media.

“NBCUniversal is in a tremendous position to super-serve this growing and influential marketplace, with our unrivaled Hispanic audience reach and our proven track record of cross platform success." NBCUniversal reaches 91% of the Hispanic audience including cable, broadcast and digital, regardless of language.

“Think about it: We can reach Spanish-dominant Hispanics through Telemundo; acculturated Hispanics through mun2, but also all those English-dominant Hispanics that are watching our properties, including NBC, Syfy, Oxygen, Bravo, USA, E! and non-TV properties, including Fandango and iVillage,” said Zalaznick.

This morning’s announcement comes after Fox’s launch of Fox Hispanic Media (FHM) earlier this week.

Reference

Portada. (2011). NBC launches ‘Hispanics at NBC’ sales, marketing and research division. Retrieved April 5, 2011, from http://www.portada-online.com/article.aspx?aid=7818

After Univision Promotion to A Higher Position, Peter Lazarus Decides to Step Down

2011-04-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

One week after being promoted within Univision, sales executive Peter Lazarus decided to step down from his position. Although questions were asked about the details as to what really happened, the only thing given from a Univision spokeswoman was confirmation that it was indeed true that Lazarus would not be continuing with the company. According to stockshareprice.com, "This is not the first high-profile departure this month for the New York-based Univision. Two weeks ago, Univision Chief Executive Joe Uva learned the company was not renewing his contract after four years running Univision." For more information and access to the actual story please click the link below: http://www.stockshareprice.com/management-shakeup-continues-at-univision/

Televisa, The Largest Spanish-language Media Company, Takes Cablemas

2011-04-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

Televisa, the largest Spanish-language media company has decided to buy the local cable television company Cablemas for $397 million. According to zacks.com, "Cablemas offers triple-play bundled voice, video and data services in Mexico. Acquisition of 100% stake in Cablemas will further consolidate Televisa’s market share in Mexico. Cablemas has nearly 1 million cable TV subscribers, 360,000 Internet subscribers and 205,000 telephony subscribers." Within the last quarter Televisa produced and transmitted four of the five top-rated soap operas. And although very clear that Televisa has been successful in the Spanish-language media realm, there have been goals set to enlarge its territory into the U.S. market. For more information on this story please click the link below:

http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/50551/Televisa+to+Acquire+Cablemas

Hispanic-owned Businesses in New York Skyrocket

2011-04-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

Hispanic-owned businesses in New York are on a rapid inclination. With the number of these businesses totaling 193,200, a rise in sales have also totaled $18.2 billion dollars. Democratic comptroller Thomas DiNapoli was quoted by Reuters saying, "the Hispanic business community is a force to be reckoned with and an important source of new jobs, particularly in New York City." After recent broadcasts have focused on the national Hispanic population reaching 50 million, it is safe to say that the Hispanic population is becoming more and more prevalent in society today. While some have yet to master reaching the Hispanic population in their form of media others have found it an immediate necessity with the rapid growth of the Hispanic population. According to Reuters, " Immigrants, had 74 percent of the state's Hispanic-owned businesses, with a total of 143,000. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has repeatedly cited the contributions immigrants make to society, saying the vast majority are hard-working taxpayers." For more information on this story, please click on the link below: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/01/newyorkstate-hispanics-idUSN0114737120110401

FCC Steps Up Enforcement of "No-buy Dictates"

2011-03-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, the FCC released a statement announcing new requirements for the renewal of broadcast stations' licenses. Among the changes required is that licensees are required to "certify that their advertising sales contracts do not discriminate based on race or ethnicity and that all such agreements contain nondiscrimination clauses." This statement clarifies a non-discriminatory rule that's 3 years old (replacing the original "race and gender" with "race and ethnicity") and the FCC later issued an advisory which reiterated the agency's intent to vigorously enforce the rule.
These rules are meant to combat so-called "no-Spanish" or "no-urban" ad buys that Spanish and urban broadcasters contend are sometimes required.

Time Out: A "No Spanish" buy happens when an advertiser, or their agent, purchases ad time from a cluster or group of stations and specifies that their ad not be run on Spanish format stations. This tends to be more applicable to radio, but it's not unheard of for television. "No urban" follows the same principle, not run on "urban" format stations.

The rule would also require that stations who use an agent

The Minority Media & Television Council issued this statement commending the FCC for their enforcement measures. In the statement, MMTC president and executive director David Honig states:
"With strong enforcement, these actions by the Federal Communication Commission will finally bring to an end the practice of some advertisers’ refusal to buy time on stations because they serve African American or Hispanic audiences. No urban’ and ‘no Spanish’ dictates drain away an estimated $200 million a year from minority broadcasters. By enforcing the Advertising Nondiscrimination Rule and eradicating these discriminatory practices, the FCC will help minority stations garner a 5-to-10- percent increase in revenue."

The rule is not without its detractors, however. Broadcasters and some lawyers have expressed concern about the vagueness of the rule's wording and that there is no guidelines as to what such a nondiscrimination clause should look like.
Other concerns:
- The rule only targets stations that receive money from advertisers. As the FCC has no jurisdiction over advertisers, broadcasters are concerned that the FCC is holding them responsible for the advertiser's actions.
- In many cases, particularly in smaller markets, ad sales contracts aren't done in writing; they're done over the phone and via email. Would the requirement force an end to this practice?
- What about targeting your ads? The word "gender" was removed in 2010 to reflect the realities of targeting ads towards a specific demographic.

The FCC, to this point, has not issued any further clarification or advisories on this rule. However, as broadcasters begin/continue to renew their licenses, further statements from the FCC seem likely.

It’s Official, over 50 million Hispanics in the U.S.

2011-03-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

According to 2010 Census data, which revealed final population counts for all U.S. States last week, there are officially over 50 million Hispanics living in the U.S. Final census results reported 50.5 million Hispanics currently in the U.S. With 43% growth of the U.S. Hispanic population, Latinos accounted for 56% of all growth in the U.S. since 2000. Hispanics now make up 16.3% of the nation’s population. As anticipated, the census results validate a major shift in marketing budgets toward targeting the Hispanic audience.

National Hispanic population growth is not just fueled by the southern states. The Census results released last week provide data for populations of Rhode Island, South Carolina, West Virginia, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Maine and the District of Columbia – all which show substantial growth of the Hispanic population. Here are a few highlights:

As the fastest growing demographic group in Rhode Island, the Hispanic population in the state grew nearly 44% in the last decade.
The Hispanic population in South Carolina more than doubled in the last 10 years and is growing faster than any other demographic in the state.
In West Virginia, the Hispanic population grew 81% since the 2000 Census.
In the last decade, Michigan’s population declined by -0.6 percent, while the Hispanic population in the state grew nearly 35%.
In Massachusetts, the Hispanic population grew 46% since the 2000 Census.
The Hispanic population in New Hampshire grew 79% over the last decade.
Hispanics contributed 59% of the minority growth in New York.
In Maine, the Hispanic population grew nearly 81% in the last decade.
1 out of every 3 individuals added to the total population in the District of Columbia is of Hispanic origin.

More Hispanic Kids Than White Kids in AZ

2011-03-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

Hispanic population growth is credited with the growth of yet another state, the great state of Arizona. The Hispanic population was nearly 1.9 million, which represents an increase of 46% over the 2000 Census. Hispanics now make up 30% of the state's population, up from 25% 10 years prior.
However, the most striking statistic surrounds those 17 and under: there are now more children of Hispanic descent in Arizona than there are white, non-Hispanic children. This would suggest that the Hispanic population will continue to rise and potentially explode by the time the 2020 Census comes around.

In terms of more more general results:

-The major growth is clustered around the large, centrally-located Phoenix metro area (referred to as The Valley). In fact, of the top 10 cities in terms or population size in the state, only Tucson (at #2)is outside the Phoenix area. The west side of the area (referred to as the West Valley) grew at a rate of 69%! Some areas in the South and East Valley posted small declines.
- In addition, of Arizona's 14 counties, only tiny Greenlee (pop. 8,400) reported a loss between the 2000 and 2010 Census.
- The tiny town of Maricopa exploded from just 1,000 residents in 2000 to 43,000 in 2010. That's 4,000%!
- The Native American/Alaska Native population climbed 16% (about 297,000) but its share of Arizonans fell to 4.6 percent. The number of Native American children 17 and younger also declined.
- Arizona's population is aging, with a 1% decline in population among those 17 and under.
- The total growth figures actually represents a decline in rate from the 1990s. Growth also fell short of projections. The city of Phoenix fell short of projections by 10% compared to other large cities thus far have been off by just 2%. Overall, the state fell 4% short, the largest such margin in the nation. Speculation abounds as to why the figures were so off, but one factor may be the transient nature of Arizona's population; AZ is home to a large number of retirees and military families.

What about the controversial SB 1070 and stories of immigrants and their families fleeing the state after its passage? In an interview with the Arizona Republic, Brookings Institution demographer William Frey stated suspected that the effects of both that law, and a 2008 law that sanctioned employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, were overstated. The laws may in fact have an effect on new families moving to the state, but the numbers are expected to be small, according to Frey.

Source:
Census.gov
http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2011/03/10/20110310census-arizona-new-2010-numbers-brk10-ON.html

Hispanic Students Outnumber Anglos in Texas

2011-03-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

Hispanic children make up the majority in Texas public schools.

Data from the Texas Education Agency note that Hispanic students reached 50.2% of the 4.9 million public school children, compared to last year’s percentage of 49%. The number of Anglo students has been on the decline the past few years and continues to decrease.

High school and college graduation rates among Hispanics have traditionally lagged. However, December 2010 U.S. Census data showed higher graduation rates in the predominantly Hispanic counties on the Texas-Mexico border. The Associated Press reported, “Of the nation's 3,147 counties, the three least-educated counties were the Texas border counties of Starr, Presidio and Maverick.”

Quick Facts:

2 out of 3 Texas school children are minorities

There are an estimated 2.48 million Hispanic public school students in Texas

Hispanic Texas public school students in prekindergarten through high school total 2,480,000

Anglos are estimated to make up only one-fifth of the public school population in 2040 says Steve Murdock, former U.S. Census Bureau director and past state demographer

References:

Borunda, D., & Torres, Z. (2011). Hispanic students attain majority in texas schools. Retrieved March 24, 2011, from http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_17677779?source=most_emailed

The Associated Press. (2011). Hispanics now majority in texas public schools. Retrieved March 24, 2011, from http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2011-03-23/hispanics-now-majority-texas-public-schools

Hispanic Population Surges in California

2011-03-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

For the first time, Hispanics make up the majority of California’s under-18 population.

A U.S. Census report shows that California’s non-Hispanic white population fell 5.4% over the past ten years, while the Hispanic population grew by 27.8%. Surging past non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics, the non-Hispanic Asian population grew by 30.9% in California.

White Californians remain the largest demographic group, 40.1%, but demographers say Hispanics will take the lead. Experts say the surge in Hispanic population in California could even reshape politics. In the predominantly conservative town of Orange County, minorities have now become the majority of the population. Political observers say minorities tend to be Democrats, thus the increase of minority population in this area could change the historically Republican town over time.

Population by race in California in 2010:

· Whites- 15 million

· Hispanics- 14 million

· Asians- 4.8 million

Reference:

Carlton, Jim. (2011, March 9). Hispanics Surge in California. The Wall Street Journal, pp. A2.

2010 Census - A New "America's Heartland?"

2011-03-09T19:24:00.000-08:00

According to an Associated Press article, dated March 8th and published in various locations all over the Internet the notion of "America's Heartland" may be changing. The population center has shifted southwest from Phelps County, Missouri to Texas County, Missouri.
If you're curious as to how this is determined:

"The Census Bureau calculates the mean U.S. center every 10 years based on its national head count. The center represents the middle point of the nation's population distribution — the geographic point at which the country would balance if each of its 308.7 million residents weighed the same"

The West is home to the four fastest growing states: Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. As a region, the West as surpassed the Midwest in total population, according to the Census data. So-called "Mountain States" like Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming showed fastest growth rates.

So what? You ask. Census figures show that the growing Hispanic population, especially in Western states, is a major force in this shift.

Some other interesting tidbits:
- Arizona: Hispanics accounted for roughly half of the population increase since 2000.
Fun Fact:The state continued it's five-Census streak (since 1960) of gaining a House seat and at the current rate, would pass Ohio in House seats by 2040; provided that economic woes and immigration policies don't curb growth.

- In 7 of 8 Mountain states (Montana as the sole exception), Hispanics accounted for nearly 50% (or more) for gains in children under 18

- California: If not for growth in Hispanics and other minorities, the Golden State would've lost population. Los Angeles posted its smallest gain since 1890-1900 as many Hispanics moved out.
Fun Fact: Cali failed to gain a House seat for the first time EVER in its history.

What does this mean for media? At this point, answering this question is speculative at best but here goes:
- Spanish-language media should gain in market share in these Western states, and by extension nationwide, as demand for such services grows.
- The "Big Four" English TV networks (ABC, NBC, CBS & FOX) should expect heavier competition from giant Univision as their ratings/share growth could/should increase as well. And don't count out Telemundo.
- Radio could prove to be an interesting beast. Spanish radio would grow in popularity at the same time as its English bretheren decline.

These days, however, with the economic news of the day, all bets are off.

Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110309/ap_on_re_us/us_census_america_s_heartland
http://www.census.gov

The Center For Spanish Language Media Goes to AEJMC MidWinter Conference

2011-03-06T19:16:00.001-08:00

March 4-5 of 2011, The Center For Spanish Language Media attended the AEJMC Midwinter Conference in Norman, Oklahoma. Among other universities and colleges, UNT's Center For Spanish Language Media presented a paper in the Media Management and Economics Division with the title of "The State of Spanish Language Media in the United States." Friday's agenda included check in, conference paper presentations, and a welcoming reception at the National Weather Center. While attending the conference various interesting topics were discussed including but not limited to: "Citizenry as Journalism in the Digital Age," "New Media in Organizational Settings," "Technology in Education," and Media Beyond the Mainstream." AEJMC's Midwinter conference was filled with speakers, presenters, and observers who were students, professionals, and academic professors.More blog posts to come.

What the 2010 Census says about Texas, Some Highlights

2011-02-24T12:43:00.000-08:00

As the 2010 U.S. Census results are rolled out, Hispanic growth across the U.S. continues to outpace projections. Results were released on a state level for Texas, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Illinois last week. Here are some of the highlights regarding our home state of Texas:

Of the 25,145,561 people counted in Texas in the 2010 Census, 37.6% reported themselves as Hispanic or Latino. Hispanics account for 65% of the overall state population growth, making up 2.8 million of the total 4.3 million increase since 2000. Hispanics accounted for more than half of international migration to Texas and 30% of migration from other states. Much of the growing Hispanic population in Texas are very young, comprising 48.3% of Texans under 18 years of age, which is up from 40.5% in 2000.

According to Bloomberg.com, Hispanics are now the largest ethnicity in the state’s two most-populated counties, Dallas and Houston. Non-Hispanic whites in Dallas County now make up 33.1% of the local population, down from 44.3% in 2000. While Hispanics now make up 38.3%, up from 29.9%, according to census data. Harris County, Houston’s largest county, experienced a very similar shift. Austin also experience population increases among Hispanics and minority populations. Overall, Austin’s population grew by just over 20% during the past decade. Hispanics and Asians combined accounted for 71% of the city's population increase.

With such strong growth among the Hispanic population in Texas, many businesses are looking to Texas markets for case studies of how to serve and market to the growing Hispanic audience. One example is Wal-Mart Stores Inc., who is using Texas markets as a testing ground for developing strategies to sell more baby products to Hispanics as the Hispanic birth rate in several Texas cities already exceeds the national average.

Sources: http://www.portada-online.com/article.aspx?aid=7598; http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-18/rising-young-hispanics-in-texas-poised-to-pick-up-aging-tab.html; Dallas Morning News, February 18, 2011

Dallas, Tejas

2011-02-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

U.S. Census data reports show that Hispanics are driving the population growth of Texas.

The 2010 U.S. Census reported the population of Texas increased by 4.3 million compared to the 2000 U.S. Census. Of the 4.3 million new Texans, 2.8 million or 65% are Hispanic.

The population of Dallas County has grown since the 2000 Census, and Hispanics have dominated the growth. Census numbers revealed that while the Hispanic population in Dallas County has grown, the number of non-Hispanics decreased. Compared to the 2000 Census, Dallas County lost about 198,000 non-Hispanic whites, yet gained 243,000 Hispanics. Dallas County went from being 44% Anglo to 33%, and 30% Hispanic to 38%.

References

Young, M. E., & McNeill, R. (2011, February 18). Hispanics drive Texas' growth. The Dallas Morning News, pp. 18A.

2010 Census - "Texas should thank Hispanics"

2011-02-18T14:30:00.000-08:00

The above quote is from U.S. Representative Henry Cueller (D) of Laredo, TX in an article in this morning's Dallas Morning News.

The Lone-Star State has seen its population rise by over 4 million to approximately 25 million. An estimated 2.8 million of those new residents (a whopping 65%) are of Hispanic origin. From 2000 to 2010, the Hispanic/Latino population in Texas has gone up almost 42%. Compare that to the number for whites (up nearly 20%) and blacks (up 24%) and it's easy to see why Mr. Cueller said what he said.

Due to the population boom of the state (mainly concentrated around the urban areas of Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston) Texas is poised to gain 4 new seats in the House of Representatives. The Dallas Morning News cites Cueller as predicting a deal that would split the seats between the Republican and Democratic parties.

In one district, District 32 (which covers a swath of the DFW area), Hispanics have become the ethnic majority, with 42% of the population in that district.

Stay tuned for more updates and analysis.

The 2010 State of Spanish Language Media report is now available!

2011-02-09T08:23:00.000-08:00

You can download a PDF copy of the full 2010 State of Spanish Language Media report here: http://www.spanishmedia.unt.edu/.

The report provides an analysis of the current state of each Spanish language media industry, including radio, television, print, Internet and advertising. Below are some of the highlights in the Internet section of the report.

The U.S. Hispanic online population continues to show exponential growth as it is quickly catching up to the general population. As of March, 30 million Hispanics were online, representing 59.9% of the total Hispanic population and 13% of all online users. Several factors contribute to Hispanic Internet usage, including age, origin and language. Hispanics online tend to be younger, native-born and proficient in English. Hispanics, compared to the general market, are more sophisticated when it comes to technology and are most likely to access the Internet via cell phones.

Some activities Hispanics are more likely to engage in than non-Hispanics are shopping, music and streaming radio, watching video, socializing and exchanging reviews. Social media is a major activity for Hispanics online, with Facebook as the fourth ranked website among Hispanics. Most Hispanics consume online media in English. The top ten websites for online Hispanics are English language sites, with Microsoft sites topping the list and reaching almost 84% of all Hispanics online. Univision remains the number one Spanish language web property and launched several initiatives thorough 2009 and 2010 to maintain relevant content and improve engagement across its websites. Competition is much more intense on the internet versus other media as barriers to entry are much lower, so maintaining compelling content is key.

We hope you find the report useful and welcome any comments or feedback!

Sneak Peak: 2010 State of Spanish Language Advertising Report

2011-01-31T14:19:00.000-08:00

The release of the 2010 State of Spanish Language Media annual report is just around the corner! In anticipation, we thought we'd give you a sneak peek at some of the highlights found in the advertising section...

Advertising spending in Spanish language media showed signs of recovery in 2010 after suffering its worst declines yet from 2008 to 2009. Spanish language media did, however; claim smaller declines when compared with the general market. As the struggle for ad dollars continues, anticipation mounts over the 2010 census results and its implications for the Hispanic market, as it is projected to make a considerable impact.

Overall, a total of $5.4 billion was spent on advertising in Spanish language media in 2009, with advertisers allocating 5.4% of marketing budgets toward targeting Hispanic consumers. The bulk of spending remains in Spanish language TV, with Spanish language newspapers and magazines accounting for the majority of ad spending declines in 2009.

While a study by Hispanic advertising agency Orci, found that 51% of respondents do not currently market to Hispanics, AHAA’s list of “best in class” Spanish Language advertisers grew from 32 to 40 advertisers in 2009. In a time when many advertising agencies are forced to downsize and tighten their belts, some Hispanic-owned shops are actually reporting significant growth. Of the top 50 Hispanic-owned ad agencies, just seven reported a drop in revenue through July 2009.

Stay tuned next week for the release of the full report!

Online Advertising More Effective on Hispanics?

2010-11-23T12:02:00.000-08:00

ComScore released preliminary findings of the study, "A Closer Look at the U.S. Hispanic Online Audience," which suggest that Hispanics are less jaded and more receptive to advertising on the Internet. Results also indicate that online Hispanics expect to be entertained with advertising and content is more important than language.

Josh Chasin, comScore chief research officer states, "Online Hispanics are younger and more acculturated than their offline counterparts and they are quite receptive to advertising when it is sufficiently engaging. What's especially interesting is that engagement with advertising has more to do with narrative elements and storytelling than it does with actually running the advertisement in Spanish."

Some key insights produced by the study include:

Approximately 50% of Hispanic online consumers prefer Hispanic-targeted advertisements to be in English, while 28% have no language preference

Hispanics were more likely to recall advertising, with 35% stating they remembered advertised products when shopping

Advertising was more likely to influence Hispanic consumers' product decisions when buying for their children

See the entire preliminary release here: http://bit.ly/dzDEsL