In the last few years, I have noticed a big change in the entertainment industry.
Yes, you guessed it right. I am referring to the growing popularity of foreign shows.
As a Hispanic living in the US, this makes me excited, and honestly, I cannot stop talking about it with my peers. This is mainly because growing up watching good Spanish shows was a privilege.
Now, I know you might want to talk about all the good cable TV brands like Spectrum offering a Hispanic channel lineup for their users. However, we all know that the limitation of cable TV has resulted in the cord-cutting movement.
Moreover, after living in the US for fifteen years, my Spanish fluency suffered a great deal. So, relying on captions was my only hope. That is where content streaming sites outshone the basic cable channels.
Now, the best part of this deal is that OTT (over-the-top) or streaming platforms are not just keeping people entertained, they are also helping to build a more inclusive and diverse country.
And that’s not the only reason. There are so many other ways OTT platforms are supporting the Hispanic entertainment industry. Within this write-up we will look at some of the ways these content streaming platforms are contributing to the overall Hispanic community.
- Inclusivity and Diversity
Now that we are seeing more Spanish content online, it is helping people understand that the world exists beyond the typical Hollywood culture. This also highlights that within the US, Spanish characters are often portrayed with stereotypical characteristics. Thanks to the Spanish content, communities can learn and understand US Hispanics, which is improving the overall inclusivity and diversity within the country.
Now this has turned into a cultural phenomenon, as businesses are now trying to accommodate US Hispanics for the first time. Not only in the office as employees, companies are also trying to target Spanish consumers. Another important development is that there is a language acceptance, which means brands are offering customers support in Spanish. For instance, Spectrum is an internet service provider that has started offering Spectrum servicio al cliente in Spanish to accommodate and support the Hispanic customers with their services in their preferred language.
- Promoting Culture
For the longest time, we have seen Hispanic or Latino culture in a bad light.
How?
Well, even today when we look at traditional Hollywood plays and movies, we see Latinos women portrayed as gold diggers, home breakers, or second wives. Similarly, Latino men are portrayed as cheap and stingy with a very bad sense of humor.
However, as content streaming sites have become popular and people are now enjoying better content online, they are noticing a new version of Hispanic culture. This is encouraging people to learn more about Hispanic cuisine, language, and fashion.
- Highlighting Issues
We can all understand that every community has its own issues. While most people living in the US might share a few similarities in terms of lifestyle and overall goals, their social issues can differ based on their ethnicity, culture, social beliefs, and religion.
Previously, Hispanics living within the US were seen as an extension of American culture. Consequently, the portrayal of Latinos in media was like any marginalized community. Apart from this, most of the roles offered to Hispanics were limited to side characters just for comic relief.
Now that people are able to enjoy Spanish content, their understanding of Hispanic culture is far better, which is helping them understand their issues in depth.
- Building Role Models
As a Hispanic raised within the US, I always felt I did not have a decent role model.
Now, I know you will ask about my relatives or my peers, but in reality, you want your role model to be successful. Since I wanted to become a business owner, I could not find anyone to be my mentor, not even in movies.
Instead, I was fed with bunch of criminal stories where Latinos would randomly shed blood. Now, thanks to Hispanic content available on OTT platforms, audiences can find relatable characters that can be exceptional role models for their kids. This will further help people to explore some exceptional real-life stories about famous Latino heroes as well.
- Offering Representation
Representation in mainstream media is very important.
Why?
Well, millions at a time consume mainstream media. This means it has the capacity to change public opinion, foster a sense of empathy, and help different groups to learn about a new culture. It also boosts acceptability and validates the identities of minorities living within the community.
Since the USA is known for its diverse culture and colorful community, mainstream media can be used as a tool to build flexibility and tolerance among the population. Now, thanks to online content streaming sites, Latinos have their representation, and they can find their place in the community as well.
OTT platforms have slowly replaced the mainstream media, which is the reason they have the power to support the Hispanic community. The above-mentioned are some of the simple ways content streaming platforms are helping the Latino community.
