Spanish-speaking sports fans in central Arkansas now have an easier way to keep up to date on their favorite teams, as ESPN Deportes is now on the air.

(Jeff Martindale, Regional Manager, ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes) “You grew up rooting for the Chivas or America, and now you still want to focus on that team. Not only what's the final score, but who's the coach, who's the goalie, who traded who. Well, that's where ESPN Deportes Radio comes in and kind of feeds that culture and feeds that demand for sports.”

1380 AM ESPN is now launching ESPN Deportes, which means “Sports,” on 1350 AM in central Arkansas.

(Martindale) “What do we program? Soccer. What's the second most popular sport? Soccer. The national team? Soccer. The professional team? Soccer. Maybe a little bit of baseball for the Caribbean culture. Maybe a little boxing. But predominately, 80% to 90% soccer.”

(Alma Viscarra, ESPN Deportes) “If you're an immigrant to this country, it's a connection that you hope will never go away. Not because you don't accept everything that is in this beautiful country--because of the fact of where you come from, it doesn't go entirely away. And you hope to pass that along to your children.”

ESPN Deportes has been around for two-and-a-half years, and now has 30 affiliates nationwide. Moving into Arkansas was a natural fit, because of the booming Hispanic community.

(Martindale) “As things develop with the station, we're also going to be able to offer local coverage of local soccer teams that are very popular within the community as well.”

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