Disney's ESPN to Begin 24-Hour Spanish-Language Sports Network
By Scott Soshnick
09/23 10:18
Bristol, CT (Bloomberg) -- Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN will start a 24-hour Spanish-language sports network next year, hoping to capitalize on a growing Hispanic market in the U.S.
ESPN Deportes, which translates into English as ``ESPN Sports,'' currently is broadcast only on Sunday nights. It reaches 13 million subscribers, compared with 87 million for ESPN.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the country's Hispanic population has increased 58 percent to 35.3 million since 1990. The surge put Hispanics on the verge of surpassing black people as the largest minority group in the U.S.
"Providing ESPN-branded content in Spanish is a major step forward in ESPN's commitment to serving a diverse, growing fan base,'' ESPN President George Bodenheimer said in a statement.
ESPN Deportes will show Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and European soccer. In addition, it will carry college football from Mexico and Copa America Volleyball. SportsCenter, ESPN's signature news program, also will be broadcast in Spanish.
Disney shares fell 22 cents to $15.02 at 10:16 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.
By Scott Soshnick
09/23 10:18
Bristol, CT (Bloomberg) -- Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN will start a 24-hour Spanish-language sports network next year, hoping to capitalize on a growing Hispanic market in the U.S.
ESPN Deportes, which translates into English as ``ESPN Sports,'' currently is broadcast only on Sunday nights. It reaches 13 million subscribers, compared with 87 million for ESPN.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the country's Hispanic population has increased 58 percent to 35.3 million since 1990. The surge put Hispanics on the verge of surpassing black people as the largest minority group in the U.S.
"Providing ESPN-branded content in Spanish is a major step forward in ESPN's commitment to serving a diverse, growing fan base,'' ESPN President George Bodenheimer said in a statement.
ESPN Deportes will show Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and European soccer. In addition, it will carry college football from Mexico and Copa America Volleyball. SportsCenter, ESPN's signature news program, also will be broadcast in Spanish.
Disney shares fell 22 cents to $15.02 at 10:16 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.