Is this common around the country?

[MarcB]

I'm a guy who doesn't speak or understand the Spanish language, but I like some Spanish Music. Over the years I've learned what a few words mean.

I want to know if this is a practice on other Spanish Language radio stations across the country. I think it's odd.

During a commercial break on Bomba 97.1 in Hartford they aired 2 commercials for 2 different businesses on Park Street in Hartford. For one of the businesses they said "Park Street" in English. For the other business they said "Calle de Park", which I understand to also mean Park Street. (One of my Hispanic friends told me "Calle" means "Street").

 

[landtuna]

Your friend is indeed correct. Calle does indeed mean street.

Senor Edwardo should be along to clarify my answer but I'm going to opine it probably depends on how "Latino" they want the ad to sound (which is probably delimited by what type of business(s) they are touting). For instance:

If the business is not necessarily an ethnic business (like a car wash perhaps) then strict observance to the Spanish language would not be seen as a faux pas (pardon my French). But if the business is one offering products and services exclusively to the Latino community then they may want to sound pure Latino.

Now, all this is tossed out the window if the street in question is actually named "Calle de Park". Many cities in the Southwest use the actual Spanish names for the street so the English translation would be inappropriate in those cases. I wouldn't expect that to be the case in Hartford, CT but one never knows......

 

[quadraphonic]

Maybe the second time they really said "Park Street" but since you now understand the Spanishy word for "street" then your mind filled in "Calle de Park."

Our local ESPN affiliate (English-speaking only) runs a commercial for AutoZone that is completely in Spanish. I think that might just be a filler coming off the national satellite though. I don't think the station is targeting Spanish DIY mechanics three minutes a day, 30 seconds at a ROS time.

 

[MarcB]

Our local ESPN affiliate (English-speaking only) runs a commercial for AutoZone that is completely in Spanish.

Really? I've don't think I've ever heard a Spanish language commercial for AutoZone. Even on WLAT AM 910 the "major" Spanish Language radio station runs English Language commercials for AutoZone. And on both WLAT y WPRX I've heard some English Language PI spots that I've heard hundreds of times before on regular Ingles radio stations.

 

[Banjomax]

Really? I've don't think I've ever heard a Spanish language commercial for AutoZone. Even on WLAT AM 910 the "major" Spanish Language radio station runs English Language commercials for AutoZone. And on both WLAT y WPRX I've heard some English Language PI spots that I've heard hundreds of times before on regular Ingles radio stations.

I've received Spanish language spots in error several times over the years from satellite providers (Westwood One, Dial-Global, etc.) that obviously did not belong on our English language stations. Always Home Depot or AutoZone. Hearing a Spanish language national spot on an otherwise English language station tells me that traffic instructions from the network likely were in error.

 

[quadraphonic]

Really? I've don't think I've ever heard a Spanish language commercial for AutoZone. Even on WLAT AM 910 the "major" Spanish Language radio station runs English Language commercials for AutoZone. And on both WLAT y WPRX I've heard some English Language PI spots that I've heard hundreds of times before on regular Ingles radio stations.

I've received Spanish language spots in error several times over the years from satellite providers (Westwood One, Dial-Global, etc.) that obviously did not belong on our English language stations. Always Home Depot or AutoZone. Hearing a Spanish language national spot on an otherwise English language station tells me that traffic instructions from the network likely were in error.

I think it's always during ESPN Radio time that I've heard them.