First let me mention I have nothing against there being a couple of spanish stations.And I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers,anyone who has read some of my posts knows that I think 90+ percent of the English language tv stations on the air now are garbage.Having said that I noticed while scanning through the tv stations there must be at least 10 spanish language stations here.There used to be only one or 2 of them.Just how many spanish stations are needed?And why are there so many nowadays?

I'm also concerned that these stations get in the way of stations like Me-tv and other quality classic tv stations getting more coverage.I'm still waiting on Me-tv here.

I don't have cable and here in Memphis there is only one over-the-air Spanish station. But when I go visit family and friends in Texas, there are so many Spanish stations. Dallas has at least 10.

Two words: POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!

One of these days, a mexican will be asking, " Why are there still a few english speaking stations in this country ? "

DirecTV had a massive amount of them when I subscribed. Probably because Spanish is the second most used language in the US.

I also wonder if these Spanish stations are a ploy by the smutpushers in Hollywood so they can air whatever they want, and that bad words in Spanish will escape the English-speaking public ... and therefore the FCC!

One of these days, a mexican will be asking, " Why are there still a few english speaking stations in this country ? "
There's probably now more spanish language stations in the states than there are in Mexico.And what is extra crazy is there is not one station(as far as I know at least) from another English speaking country like the countries of the UK,Australia,New Zealand etc. or even Canada available for viewing in the states.

I'd say it's because the "los illegales" demographic market is a pretty rich goldmine right now.

I'd say it's because the "los illegales" demographic market is a pretty rich goldmine right now.
Yep,that has got to be it,afterall what else could the reason be.Approximately 15+ years ago the only spanish language station I heard of in the states was Univision,and as far as I know they had a fairly limited audience.Now even stations like HBO which I don't have or want have a spanish language station too.

I don't know, could it be because Spanish is the primary language for over 35 million Americans? I don't know what you mean about there being "so many" channels. I have basic cable and have no Spanish channels. With so many Spanish speakers in this country, it makes sense to have Spanish channels. If anything, there should be more not fewer. I don't know why anyone should care. It's not as though they're removing a bunch of English channels to make way for them. To be honest, I have no problem whatsoever with people speaking Spanish. There is no law that says foreign language speakers have to learn English and there shouldn't be. It is part of their culture and I applaud them for wanting to be true to that. Why shouldn't they be able to enjoy television the same way as English speakers? This "learn English or get out" mentality is outdated, bigoted, and downright inhospitable. If you have a problem with Spanish channels for any reason, there's something called a remote. Use it.

I also wonder if these Spanish stations are a ploy by the smutpushers in Hollywood so they can air whatever they want, and that bad words in Spanish will escape the English-speaking public ... and therefore the FCC!

That's probably one of the most ignorant, racist, and ridiculous comments I have ever heard. Contrary to popular belief, people don't speak Spanish simply to freely cuss and make fun of English speakers.

retrofan05,Regarding your first post addressed to me.Did you read my original post.Or are you just adding a bunch of political nonsense that has nothing to do with this topic.

It's not as though they're removing a bunch of English channels to make way for them.
I called Me-tv up a few weeks ago and they said one of the reasons they are not available nationwide yet is because of a number of affiliate stations are picking up spanish language stations or stuff like weather channels etc. instead.Even though I have Antenna-tv,I'm sure the same is true in their case too.

retrofan05,Regarding your first post addressed to me.Did you read my original post.Or are you just adding a bunch of political nonsense that has nothing to do with this topic.

I wasn't just addressing you, I was addressing everyone that commented that seems to have a problem with Spanish channels. If by "political nonsense" you mean, having respect for other languages and cultures, then yes, I guess I was adding a bunch of "political nonsense." It has everything to do with the topic. If you have a problem with Spanish channels then consequently, you have a problem with Spanish speakers. Because it is Spanish speakers that these channels are targeted at.

I called Me-tv up a few weeks ago and they said one of the reasons they are not available nationwide yet is because of a number of affiliate stations are picking up spanish language stations or stuff like weather channels etc. instead.Even though I have Antenna-tv,I'm sure the same is true in their case too.

Antenna TV is one channel and honestly, if it were to go nationwide, I'm pretty sure it would eventually go the way of TV Land. Like I said, Spanish channels are not causing a major shake up to English channels. With Spanish being the second largest language in the US, we should just expect that there are going to be several Spanish channels. It's only fair.

I called Me-tv up a few weeks ago and they said one of the reasons they are not available nationwide yet is because of a number of affiliate stations are picking up spanish language stations or stuff like weather channels etc. instead.Even though I have Antenna-tv,I'm sure the same is true in their case too.
I get a bunch of Spanish channels. It might as well be a blank channel as far as I'm concerned. I wish we could pick the channels we want.

They aren't aimed at English-speaking viewers, but Spanish only and Spanish people who speak English, so I really don't see why should this even be a problem. If you went to Mexico or Spain or any other country where English is not the primary language, you would be expected to put up with their channels. But we forget about that when we go on our xenophobic "ENGLISH ONLY OR GET OUT!" rants, now don't we?

"ENGLISH ONLY OR GET OUT!" rants, now don't we?

Welcome to America.

NOW SPEAK CHEROKEE!

Welcome to America.

NOW SPEAK CHEROKEE!

Land of the bigoted and intolerant.

Land of the bigoted and intolerant.

There are Bumper Stickers that say what I stated, and they were available IN CHEROKEE, NORTH CAROLINA! :D

I also once saw a Native American place a sticker on his car that read:

CUSTER GOT SOUIXED! :lol:

To whoever's in charge of this board - I think this thread belongs in the "Political Chit Chat" Section. :argue:

Okay.

I was going to say something, but things didn't quite get this way yet. Now, here goes.

The topic of this thread is "Why are there so MANY Spanish language stations?" Some people have stated their thoughts on this topic. It should go no further than that. Either "Because..." or "I don't think there are too many spanish stations, because..." That's how it should be.

The Sitcoms Online Message Board is not a political flame-war-ground. If someone makes these egg-us-on statements, or does namecalling, etc., we should show these people that if what they're looking for is pointless argument back-and-forth between them and us, they'll be sorely disappointed. To use one example, if anyone replied to the statement I made in a like manner, I would not reply back to them, plain and simple.

This ain't YouTube.

Now back to the topic:
"Why are there so MANY Spanish language stations?"

What the hell is wrong with you people. You attitude is utterly disgusting.

What now going to object because opera's aren't in english.

Their are many stations for two very valid reasons. One there is a market for it, and the other is they are generally cheap in relationship to broadcast or the major cable stations.

There are literally hundreds of different broadcast and cable stations that are english speaking. If your show you like isn't available it's because it isn't financially viable, because if it was it would replace an infomercial somewhere.

And be very clear about this, radio (the mass media of its day) also had other languages broadcast besides English (in fact several others).

And before that it was books. And guess what many, many books had various translations published in the US.

The media of the day, has never, never, never been exclusively english. Get the hell over it.

Actually here in Illinois many formerly English speaking stations that played classics have become Spanish so yes it has affected Chicago TV. While I am lucky to have Antenna TV and Me-TV as local stations, along with Me Too I am tired of more and more tv and radio stations going Spanish. Not to turn this into a political rant, but those who claim there should be Spanish stations I would ask why not other languages? Btw, explain why many English speaking stations have Spanish closed captioning but as far as I know Spanish stations do not. Incidentally, I do speak Spanish so not knowing the language isn't the issue. I have a lot of strong views on this topic but will keep it to TV.

That's probably one of the most ignorant, racist, and ridiculous comments I have ever heard. Contrary to popular belief, people don't speak Spanish simply to freely cuss and make fun of English speakers.
Then why was Benny on Geoge Lopez Show allowed to say Chi chi's on the air that went over the heads of the FCC. From what I've seen on the spanish stations they do show more skin than the regular channels.

A few years ago in Orlando, Florida an Oldies Station SUDDENLY switched over to Spanish. They were in a Commercial Break, the first ad was for a local Auto Dealer (In English) then WT:censored:? From what I read the staff wasn't told of the switch until tat commercial brak, when they were told to pack up and go home. They were replaced with an entirily new staff!

If you look at the ratings, you'd note that Spanish-language television often will beat English programming in many markets, thus it would make sense for broadcasters to tap into this audience.

Incidentally, years ago, MeTV experimented with a Saturday morning Spanish block they called "Si Me", where they featured shows like Knight Rider in Spanish (it also allowed them to carry shows that they didn't have the English rights to). They pulled the plug on the experiment after a short while, however.

Now back to the topic:
"Why are there so MANY Spanish language stations?"

In comparison to English channels, there aren't.

Not to turn this into a political rant, but those who claim there should be Spanish stations I would ask why not other languages? Btw, explain why many English speaking stations have Spanish closed captioning but as far as I know Spanish stations do not.

If there were enough of an audience, I would be all for other language channels. However, English and Spanish are the top two languages spoken. I think that's probably why our channels are limited to those two languages. I don't know about the closed captioning issue. My guess is that there isn't much demand for English closed captioning for Spanish channels, but there is for Spanish closed captioning for English channels.

Then why was Benny on Geoge Lopez Show allowed to say Chi chi's on the air that went over the heads of the FCC. From what I've seen on the spanish stations they do show more skin than the regular channels.

Chi chi is just a slang term for breasts. You can't tell me that in the last 60 some years of TV, a character hasn't used some American slang term for breasts.

Chi chi is just a slang term for breasts. You can't tell me that in the last 60 some years of TV, a character hasn't used some American slang term for breasts.

Yep. You've even been able to say "tits" on broadcast television for over twenty years (I remember it being used once on Designing Women), so why not "chi-chis?"

To answer the question in the subject line: because there's a market for them, and like it or not, it's much bigger than the market for "classic TV."

English is not the official language of the United States. In fact, there isn't one.

Actually here in Illinois many formerly English speaking stations that played classics have become Spanish so yes it has affected Chicago TV. While I am lucky to have Antenna TV and Me-TV as local stations, along with Me Too I am tired of more and more tv and radio stations going Spanish. Not to turn this into a political rant, but those who claim there should be Spanish stations I would ask why not other languages? Btw, explain why many English speaking stations have Spanish closed captioning but as far as I know Spanish stations do not. Incidentally, I do speak Spanish so not knowing the language isn't the issue. I have a lot of strong views on this topic but will keep it to TV.


You do understand basic capitalism don't you. If a network changes its because its going to make more money.

As to why their aren't other language channels, well as many have said Spanish is the 2nd largest language next to english in the US. ANd even small stations are expensive. But in its hey day with radio, you did see regional radio broadcasts in many different languages. But again radio (which can be quite expensive) is still far cheaper then tv.

Again just like in the day, plays, operas, books were all translated into many different languages to suit the local audience. Why tv should be different isn't logical at all.

Though in all fairness there are a hand full of stations that are geared to other languages, but none have anywhere near the traction of the number of spanish or the near monopoly of english in the US.

You do understand basic capitalism don't you. If a network changes its because its going to make more money.

As to why their aren't other language channels, well as many have said Spanish is the 2nd largest language next to english in the US. ANd even small stations are expensive. But in its hey day with radio, you did see regional radio broadcasts in many different languages. But again radio (which can be quite expensive) is still far cheaper then tv.

Again just like in the day, plays, operas, books were all translated into many different languages to suit the local audience. Why tv should be different isn't logical at all.

Though in all fairness there are a hand full of stations that are geared to other languages, but none have anywhere near the traction of the number of spanish or the near monopoly of english in the US.

Yes I am quite aware of capitalism. However, catering to many people who refuse to learn English seems the opposite, especially in Illinois where we have the problems where many of those (not all)refuse to learn English. People who live in Illinois know the problem I speak but it's not broadcasting based.

Yes I am quite aware of capitalism. However, catering to many people who refuse to learn English seems the opposite, especially in Illinois where we have the problems where many of those (not all)refuse to learn English. People who live in Illinois know the problem I speak but it's not broadcasting based.

English is one of the hardest languages to learn. Being fluent English speakers ourselves, we surely take that for granted. I believe you said that you also speak Spanish, however there are many Americans (including myself) that only speak English. I find it pretty hypocritical for those that only speak English to expect others to learn an additional language (English) simply because this is America and the majority of Americans speak it. I guarantee you that if those same individuals moved to another country and encountered the same situation of becoming bilingual, they too would refuse to learn the additional language. Let's face it, there are a lot of arrogant people in the US.

English is one of the hardest languages to learn. Being fluent English speakers ourselves, we surely take that for granted. I believe you said that you also speak Spanish, however there are many Americans (including myself) that only speak English. I find it pretty hypocritical for those that only speak English to expect others to learn an additional language (English) simply because this is America and the majority of Americans speak it. I guarantee you that if those same individuals moved to another country and encountered the same situation of becoming bilingual, they too would refuse to learn the additional language. Let's face it, there are a lot of arrogant people in the US.

I realize it is hard to learn a language but yes if I went to another country I wouldn't expect to have to speak English, though of course in many countries English is common. I know I am lucky because I can pick up languages pretty quickly so I know I do judge on that, knowing many can't. If it was just the issue of broadcasting in Illinois I wouldn't be bothered but more and more companies require bilingual, including public aid and WIC. The stations are just the tip.I wouldn't even be bothered if these were recent legal immigrants either but many are illegally and here many years.

I definitely agree there are many arrogant people in the US who do have attitude of everyone should know English, including in other countries! I know people who travel to European countries and didn't understand that not everyone speaks English. I told them they need to at least learn a few basic words to communicate with others.

Yes I am quite aware of capitalism. However, catering to many people who refuse to learn English seems the opposite, especially in Illinois where we have the problems where many of those (not all)refuse to learn English. People who live in Illinois know the problem I speak but it's not broadcasting based.
I am far, far (read not interested in any why shape or form), in what language people enjoy their entertainment.

A vast amount of Entertainment through out US history has been presented in languages that aren't in english.

And again until the date English is an official language of the US, then we can state that everything should be in English. But those laws do not exist.

And to suggest that those channels are there to encourage others specifically not to learn English is simply without any factual evidence.

For example my great grandmother was German (born in Germany) and while she learned English, in her home German was the more used language. It was part of her Culture that she brought with her to the US, each generation learned more english then the previous. But in large settings German was still used. German songs, german folklore, german entertainment.

This is common for all cultures that migrated both legally and illegally throughout the history of migration to the Americas. But it days passed migrating groups tended to stay in communities with others of the same group. Where you would see and hear more culture from their original point of origin.

But most of for example migration from Europe is several to many generations removed. And entertainment wasn't geared to large masses and across large areas (hell even radio is far newer then most European migration). But you can still see a lot of this still with some of the Asian driven migrations (and that is still much older then the rush of hispanic migration).

Hispanic migration is really the only major immigration group that has occurred with the life of TV.

But once again we don't have many other language channels except Spanish. More and more channels are going Spanish (radio and tv)and this of course means one less English channel. While no English isn't the "official" language it is the language that is the most common and we should have more channels in it than English. Of course we have more English channels but for how long? I happen to know many recent immigrants (formerly worked in ESL)and there are people coming here from all over, but we don't have channels for them, why is that? There are many Polish people emigrating to Chicago for example but outside of one subchannel I believe that's it. State departments don't have to be bilingual in Polish, it's expected they will learn English. An exboyfriend of mine was born here but his parents weren't. They learned English and there aren't channels in their language.

I know people who travel to European countries and didn't understand that not everyone speaks English. I told them they need to at least learn a few basic words to communicate with others.

I Second This! People in foreign contries will treat you with much more respect if you can greet them in their tounge. It is much better to be a "Tourista" than a "Gringo" even though there is only a "Slight Difference" between them. :D

Very true. A former coworker of mine speaks Italian and goes to Italy a lot. They treat him much better than American tourists who don't even bother to learn Italian.

But once again we don't have many other language channels except Spanish. More and more channels are going Spanish (radio and tv)and this of course means one less English channel. While no English isn't the "official" language it is the language that is the most common and we should have more channels in it than English. Of course we have more English channels but for how long? I happen to know many recent immigrants (formerly worked in ESL)and there are people coming here from all over, but we don't have channels for them, why is that? There are many Polish people emigrating to Chicago for example but outside of one subchannel I believe that's it. State departments don't have to be bilingual in Polish, it's expected they will learn English. An exboyfriend of mine was born here but his parents weren't. They learned English and there aren't channels in their language.Now see we have two points here.

One is should entertainment be available in formats outside of english if there is a market for it.

And should the government openly offer wide language based adds to people that don't speak english.

Those are two very, very, very different issues.

For example I lived 25 years in alaska and another 20 years in California.

TV stations aren't government services (with one partial exception), thus any market that can support whatever language they want should be perfectly viable.

Currently that means the vast majority are going to be english driven (which surprise the vast majority are in fact driven by english).

Generally first generation immigrates are those who are going to most likely favor their original language. Poland from 2000-2010 measures 120,000 immigrates (legal or illegal), 21 other countries have more people coming to the US out of those 21 how many are from a country were Spanish is a major language or official language? 10. And the number over the last three decades are vastly, vastly larger then any other language group, by several factors.

TV didn't really start its huge expansion until the 1980's. So it missed most of the European immigration to the US, missed the forced African immigration into the US, even missed the bulk of the various Asian nations immigration to the US.

THe longer you have been here, in the US, as a culture, the more you are assimilated into the fake melting pot of America.

If TV existed back in the 1800's there would have been a huge number of German, Italian, Polish, ect tv stations. But we are way, way , way past the peaks of those immigration groups.

What people enjoy on their down time, in their homes, on their computers, their mobile devices is with in the law, completely and totally up to them.

I mean do you go to a book store and complain about the number of books in different languages there? Do you go the theatre and complain about opera's not in english, plays translated into languages (or in their original) non english form? When going to a music store do you complain that you can find material not in the english language?

Because if you don't then your a hypocrite.

These are all leisure activities, they aren't mandated by law or government. If a market can support it a business will take advantage of it. Its occurred literally from the very first days of this nation.

I also wonder if these Spanish stations are a ploy by the smutpushers in Hollywood so they can air whatever they want, and that bad words in Spanish will escape the English-speaking public ... and therefore the FCC!
I see beside's being no fun at parties , i see you are also a racist. Typical blowhard far-right winger , only care about a small % of Jesus' teachings (whatever suits their personal agenda)