The San Francisco 49ers announced on Tuesday the launch of a new Spanish-language content initiative for the 2018 season that will feature live radio broadcasts of every 49ers game and a weekly in-studio show, all airing on 49ers.com. Committed to developing the most comprehensive content offering ever produced for the team's Hispanic fanbase, the organization's 49ers Studios broadcast team is partnering with Telemundo 48 to broadcast 49ers games in Spanish after a one-year hiatus. Owned by NBCUniversal, Telemundo 48 is a local Spanish language television station.
"Backed by a diverse 49ers fan base throughout the Bay Area and beyond, our goal in providing in-game radio broadcasts and weekly in-studio shows in Spanish is to deliver exciting content to more members of the Faithful than ever before," said Robert Alberino, 49ers Vice President and Executive Producer of 49ers Studios. "The 49ers global social media reach of more than 8 million followers shows us the Faithful have a great appetite for Spanish-language content and we look forward to delivering that to our fans everywhere."
While the 49ers previously licensed rights to its Spanish-language radio broadcasts from at least 2005 to 2016, the 49ers Studios team will now directly produce the game broadcasts and studio shows while providing unprecedented access to the team for play-by-play announcerJesus Zarate and color commentator Gabriel Sotelo. Supported by engineer Matias Godinez and spotter Enrique Zarate, the Spanish language broadcasts will begin with the preseason opener on August 9th against the Dallas Cowboys. Sarina Soriano of 49ers Studios will co-produce the game broadcasts and host the weekly studio show with Zarate and Sotelo.
The Spanish-language in-game radio broadcasts, along with accompying pre and post-game analysis by the broadcast team, will be streamed at no cost to fans exclusively on 49ers.com. This broadcast coverage augments the extensive Spanish-language written coverage available now and throughout the season at 49ers.com/news/espanol/. There are no current plans for the broadcasts to be carried on terrestrial radio, as the online model provides the potential for a larger audience.
"Growing up as a 49ers fan in Eastside, San Jose, I have a strong appreciation for what this content will mean to so many members of the Faithful who are hungry to experience the drama of 49ers football in their native language," said Soriano. "Jesus, Gabriel, and I are committed to delivering Spanish-language coverage of the 49ers that will bring that audience closer to the team than they've ever felt before."
