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40% of English-speaking Latinos Turning to Spanish-language TV and Radio

An Associated Press-Univision poll finds many U.S. Hispanics who mainly speak English are turning to Spanish-language TV and radio. The main appeal: sports and entertainment, a cultural connection and a nagging feeling among some Latinos that English-language media portray them negatively.

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An Associated Press-Univision poll finds many U.S. Hispanics who mainly speak English are turning to Spanish-language TV and radio. The main appeal: sports and entertainment, a cultural connection and a nagging feeling among some Latinos that English-language media portray them negatively.

The enduring interest in Spanish media has helped fuel a surge of Spanish marketing in a bid to reach the fast-growing U.S. Latino demographic of 48 million people — from Spanish music and college recruiting to a bit of politics — even as many cities and states consider English-only policies amid a contentious immigration debate.

The nationwide poll, also sponsored by The Nielsen Company and Stanford University, found U.S. Latinos spent at least some time each day — in many cases, several hours — consuming Spanish-language media. They included almost 90 percent of Hispanics who mostly speak Spanish who watched TV and roughly 75 percent who listened to Spanish radio.

Among Latinos who spoke mostly English, about 4 in 10 said they turned to either Spanish TV or Spanish radio for news, entertainment or sports, which recently included the World Cup soccer championships — won this year by Spain.

English-speaking Latinos also were somewhat skeptical of English-language news and programs. About 35 percent said English media portrayed Hispanics mostly in a negative way, nearly three times the share who said it was mostly positive. Still, 50 percent of Hispanics considered the English-language media neutral.

"In the movie programs, it's like the bad guy has a Spanish name like Carlos who is from 'the hood' or the slums, or the characters are maids," said Damaris Marrero, 34, a home health aide from Puerto Rico who lives in Oviedo, Fla. "They never portray Spanish people who are successful and who live a good life."

"From what I see most of the time on English TV, it's always about Hispanics and immigration, and how we're all here illegally presumably," he said. "Spanish TV has more interviews with Hispanic people in terms of what's going on."

The media consumption of Hispanics is drawing increased attention as many businesses and political groups battle for their loyalty. The nation's largest minority group, Hispanics now represent 16 percent of the U.S. population, a number that is projected to grow to about 30 percent by 2050. The Census Bureau estimates roughly 3 out of 4 U.S. Latinos speak some Spanish at home.

In 2008, White House candidates participated in the first presidential debates broadcast in Spanish, an acknowledgment of the strength of Spanish-language media and Hispanic voters.

Source: AP-Univision Poll

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