José Diaz-Balart: Hispanics Watch TV News

Hispanic viewers are interested in watching news programming that discusses issues pertaining to them, but find little coverage of such issues on English language news networks, according to Telemundo and MSNBC news host José Diaz-Balart.

With the 2014 mid-term elections coming up and the issue of immigration resonating among Hispanics, Diaz-Balart – who hosts Telemundo news/public affairs shows Noticiero Telemundo and Enfoque, as well as MSNBC’s daily 10 a.m.- 11 a.m. timeslot -- says Hispanics are interested in legislation in Washington D.C.that affects their lives.

“Sometimes I think we’re living in the United States in two different worlds,” said Diaz-Balart during a video interview with Multichannel News. “The Spanish speaking audience is keenly focused on some key issues happening in Washington whereas maybe the English speaking media and certainly the television audience may feel as if we’ve seen that before and there’s nothing new.’”  

When asked how much coverage the mainstream news networks devote to Hispanic issues, Diaz-Balart responded “muy poquito” or very little. Catch the full MCN Multicultural Perspectives interview with Jose Diaz-Balart here.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.