ABC set to air in Spanish

The Washington Times


ABC as part of a plan to make all network's primetime entertainment available in Spanish starting this season.
The move is an acknowledgment of the expanding U.S. Hispanic population and its potential as a source of viewers. Previously, "George Lopez" was the only ABC series that aired in both English- and Spanish-language versions.

"We wanted to move beyond toe-dipping and really dive in," ABC entertainment chief Stephen McPherson said. "Almost half of the 41 million Hispanics in this country watch only or mostly Spanish-language television, and we want to bring that audience to ABC."

ABC, using both dubbing and closed-captioning, will be the first of the major English-language broadcasters to provide its full prime-time entertainment lineup in Spanish. Most other networks offer few shows in the language.

The cost is "not inexpensive," Mr. McPherson said Thursday, declining to provide a specific figure. But he said the return could be significant in terms of viewership.

Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority in the United States and represent one-seventh of the population, according to a recent Census Bureau report.

Casting has begun for actors to voice the Spanish dialogue.
The rest of ABC's prime-time entertainment schedule, which debuts next week as the 2005-06 season officially begins, will be available with closed-captioned subtitles in Spanish, the network said.


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