Nothing says that Hispanics are online in full force more than an email virus directed solely at them (and in Spanish). An item from People en Espanol reports that people have been getting viruses in emails that ‘deliver’ fatal news about the deaths of Luis Miguel, Shakira and/or Alejandro Fernandez. The emails appear to come from Televisa or CNN and are in fact vicious viruses. There is a lot of competing data about Hispanics online and their preferred language for navigation, but we know at least 33% prefer Spanish and market moves such as Impremedia gambling on Impre.com, Univision.com’s dominance and million of users, and even People en Espanol’s site all attest to the fact that the universe is large (also loyal judging for the growing ‘foros’ section on Univision.com). Of course, email is also heavily used among the group since it is a good way to stay connected long-distance. And while I have found no data to prove it, the incidence of hitting ‘forward’ seems to also be high, based on personal observations, so knowing about this virus can help prevent a further spread. Keeping in mind that the web has no geographical boundaries and the popularity of these artists beyond the U.S., there is no telling how many people could be taken by these false emails.
Posts Tagged ‘Media’
Late Night shows for Latinos
Posted by Ray Fohr**The following comes from Houston-based colleague Vanessa Astros–a new contributor to our blog.**
I was really happy to hear back in February that Latinos in the U.S. were going to have and ’own’ a Jay Leno-like late night show. I thought it was a smart move on Telemundo’s part and was looking forward to its debut and to see the often called Jerry Seinfeld look-alike in action. It was about time we had a sleek well-produced late night show that targeted younger audiences. But the fairytale didn’t last long. The news came recently when the Network announced that the Mas Vale Tarde con Alex Cambert show was going off the air. Telemundo probably really took a hit with this one. Telemundo’s efforts to produce unique programming have landed them in a good place and in my opinion have earned them respect. But, were they too quick to think ’outside the box’? Did they stop to think if Hispanics were ready for late night programming? The answer is probably NO. And here’s why…
Premios GLAAD
Posted by Maribel Ferrer*Thanks to our FH Hispania and FH Outfront colleague Ivette Lopez for the following contribution. For more on FHOutfront, visit their blog: www.fhoutfront.com**
Last week, premios GLAAD recognized some of the leading Spanish language media individuals, programs and celebrities who portray the LGBT community in a positive light for its Latino audiences. From telenovelas to reggeaton, the star-studded event is upholding a very important movement within the U.S. Hispanic community.
Puerto Rican Ivy Queen received a special award for being the first reggaeton singer to openly support the gay and lesbian community. Also recognized, and also from Puerto Rico, is Noah’s Ark’s Wilson Cruz who received the Visibilidad Award (visibility) for his work. RBD, who I have blogged about before, were sprinkled throughout awards received such as the coming out press release episode in Azteca America’s television network’s celebrity gossip show, “Ventaneando America,” in People en Español’s article on the band which touched on the gay member and the band’s support and for their new album “Empezar desde cero,” which loosely translates into “Starting from scratch.” As a side note, I did have the opportunity to watch them perform from, 5th row in Dallas (thanks to my better half) and yes, the gay following is muy fierce, and deservedly so.
Awards were also presented for shows and personalities that reach a different Hispanic audience (although reggaeton and RBD can be enjoyed by all Latinos, they primarily reach a younger audience) such as moms and dads. Telenovela series “Lo Que Callamos Las Mujeres” (Azteca America) loosely translated to “What We Women Keep Quiet” received an award for its episode “El Amor de Mi Hijo,” (My Son’s Love”), a story about a gay male, son of a very macho man, and his struggle to come out of the closet.
Other award-winning entities include Dallas’ Al Día, leading Spanish daily and Chicago’s Homofrecuencia Latino LGBT radio.
What truly shows progress in these awards are the regional media and targeted programming that is including LGBTs just as we should be – as contributing members of our communities, with personal stories and milestones. I look forward to what is to come from our Hispanic media – writers and hosts alike – and celebrities’ collaborations with GLAAD and our community.
Online Advances
Posted by Marisa VillalobosOne of the most exciting things about our field is the incredible pace of change. Nearly every day, there are announcements about new programming and media outlets, marketing deals, demographic research and pioneering techniques. When you track the news as closely as we do you begin to see trends.
One significant trend is the explosion and increased sophistication of online media aimed at U.S. Hispanics. Case in point: www.Impre.com.
Green is In with Latinos
Posted by Ray FohrThe environment is a top concern for U.S. Latinos. According to a 2006 Zogby poll, global warming was an issue high on Hispanic voters’ minds with more than 60 percent of Latino voters saying global warming was important—more than any other group.
Several studies have also shown that Latinos, particularly Hispanic women, are more concerned about the environment and health-related issues than their non-Hispanic counterparts. Latinos are particularly sensitive to environmental concerns because the majority live in urban areas that are at times close to hazardous sites or industrial pollutants. Non-urban Hispanics such as migrant workers and their families have equally alarming environmental concerns, and pay close attention to pesticides and the overall quality of the fields where they live and work.
VH1′s New Reality Show: Bofetadas, Intriga, y Final Feliz
Posted by Maribel FerrerReading the trades, I had noticed some coverage about the newest VH-1 reality TV conconction: Viva Hollywood! I glossed over the headlines until I saw it mentioned again today and saw that Latino TV darling Carlos Ponce was hosting– had to learn more. Turns out, VH-1 is pitting 12 aspiring bilingual actors in a race to become… a Latino novela star!
The premise of the show is that contestants have to master the 7 sins of novelas. They will be showing off their acting skills while living at the ’Casa de Locos’. But hold on: in what seems like an implausible plot twist from novela madrina Delia Fiallo, astrologer Walter Mercado will provide alerts and predictions of challenges to come during each episode. And in true novela style, contestants will be ‘killed off’ during the progress of the show until one is crowned with the ‘papel estelar’ and receives a contract with talent firm LatinWe, a Miami condo, and $100,000 prize.
From the press release, it seems VH-1 was able to plot every single cliché of the Latino novela culture into one big reality TV show (or should we call it ‘spoof’?). Sofia Vergara, Daisy Fuentes, Angelica Vale, Charo, Christian De La Fuente, Lorena Rojas, Maria Celeste Arraras and Perez Hilton all have signed on as celebrity guests on the show that premieres this Sunday.
Hurban’s Radio Run
Posted by Ray FohrIn 2004 Houston’s KLOL, a Clear Channel Radio station, changed its programming from Classic Rock to a popular new format dubbed “Hurban,” short for Hispanic Urban. 
The new format was touted as the next big thing to win over 18 to 34 year-old bilingual Hispanics who favored Raggaeton, Spanish Hip-Hop and Pop. KLOL featured a “Spanglish” format playing hits by the likes of Daddy Yankee, Pitbull and Don Omar among others.
La Misma Taquilla
Posted by Maribel FerrerFlipping through El Nuevo Herald’s movie listings the other day, I ran across ads for Bajo la Misma Luna –a well-publicized movie and first big screen vehicle for Mexican soap opera darling Kate del Castillo. According to a recent news report, Hispanics are the USA’s fastest-rising demographic of movie ticket buyers. But from all accounts, this movie’s story line is relevant beyond ethnicity. With a Mexican cast led by Del Castillo and Eugenio Derbez, the plot is about a boy who decides to cross the border to look for his mom who crossed a few years before him. The sensibility to immigration is very palpable in today’s society and with widespread media coverage and accounts of personal stories, the story is very captivating.
Could This Be the Beginning of a Tectonic Media Shift?
Posted by Jorge Diaz de VillegasAnd I thought I would never see the day – but times do change. The Miami Herald reported this morning that Telemundo and Televisa have reached a 10-year agreement to have Televisa distribute Telemundo programming in Mexico. The deal itself probably won’t have a major immediate effect on the US media market, but combined with Televisa’s ongoing legal feud with Univision, it could signal a fundamental realignment of the forces that have governed Spanish-language television in the US over the past decades.
Univision’s ratings dominance has been anchored on the Mexican soap operas to which they have had exclusive rights as Televisa’s partner. Whether Televisa severs its programming relationship with Univision now as a result of their legal battle or down the road when their agreement expires, it could represent a huge windfall for Telemundo who have long languished in second place without access to the Mexican programming that is so popular among the immigrant population.
Confianza: Hispanic Trust Pulse Study
Posted by Jorge Diaz de VillegasMost every day my colleagues at FH Hispania are engaged in delivering information and messages to the Hispanic public, usually through the filter of media or other third-parties. Today, we unveil the results of Confianza: Hispanic Trust Pulse, a study our agency conducted that delves into the topics that are most important to U.S. Hispanics and what sources they rely on to obtain information about them.
One thing is for certain: Hispanics trust a variety of sources to obtain their information. Although media plays a prominent role in this interaction, to an even greater extent Hispanics reach out to individuals in their communities, such as professionals and service providers or family and friends, to get informed about that things that matter to them. Another aspect that bears noting is that Hispanics share key similar interests with non-Hispanics, but differences do come to the surface that should be heeded by communications professionals – as should differences between recent immigrants and more acculturated Hispanics.
You can access the press release about the study we distributed earlier today at http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-07-2008/0004751504&EDATE. If you are interested in seeing a more in-depth presentation about the study results, please feel free to contact me (jorge.diaz@fleishman.com) or any of our other team members who regularly contribute to FH Hispania Plaza.
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