Estrella TV: A Latino Home
In an era where the Latino immigrant community has seen a wave of backlash for their illegal presence in the country, Spanish-news outlets have seen an ever-growing need to inform the community on issues that can impact them. Among the biggest conglomerates in the country but particularly in Los Angeles, are Univision 34 and Telemundo 52.
For years these outlets have broadcast news, music, food recipes, and tragedies into Latino households. However, a growing chain is seeking to fill the void that these conglomerates haven’t reached, with the void being the more personal stories.
A large part of the coverage on the Latino community can be covered broadly on bigger networks, which differs to Estrella TV. The difference comes as they seek to tell more personal stories that relate to the larger issue, so their audience can feel more connected.
Estrella TV, owned by Liberman Broadcasting in Los Angeles, has launched various programming on their network in an attempt to reach the growing Latino community in Los Angeles.
According to a 2010 USC publication, “nearly 3.5 Million immigrants live here (in Los Angeles)— -comprising 35% of the population-the largest number of any region.” With such a large immigrant population coming from Mexico, South and Central America, information on issues like immigration is required to educate and keep the immigrant community aware of issues that will impact them.
As a result, Estrella TV has launched a multitude of news programs including Noticias 62, Alarma TV, and Noticiero Cierre De Edicion. These news outlets broadcast throughout the morning, day and evening.
In a 2009 Media Life article, Coming, a new force in Hispanic TV, the reporter Kevin Downey said Estrella TV launched “in about 70 percent of Hispanic homes in most of the 20 largest Hispanic markets,” in 2009. Julio Rumbaut, a media consultant in the article claimed Estrella would be competitive if they were able to replicate the high ratings they received in top 10 markets, in the smaller markets they joined.
Though many of the stories the reporters for these outlets cover have to do with issues surrounding the Los Angeles region, they also provide them with information regarding immigration laws and changes, along with information on issues taking place at their countries of birth.
One example of this can be found on Noticiero Cierre De Edicion’s official website, where they posted a news package regarding the announcement of the one-year extension of the TPS program.
Though this news package doesn’t impact everyone, it does impact the lives of those who are from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti to name a few.
The Temporary Protected Status is typically granted to foreign-born individuals who cannot return to their country of origin due to various conditions or circumstances.
While the Latino immigrant populations continues growing in Los Angeles and the United States, the need for stations like Estrella TV, Univision, and Telemundo will continue to be in high demand. However, the only thing that might change is the way the information is broadcasted, due to the ever-growing popularity of social media and the internet.
