(10 September 2005 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: US broadcaster ABC has announced that from 19 September 2005, it will be the first English language channel to provide all primetime entertainment programming in Spanish via a combination of closed-captioning and dubbing.

Desperate Housewives and Lost along with the sitcoms George Lopez and Freddie will be dubbed into Spanish. The remainder of the network's primetime entertainment lineup available with Spanish-language subtitles. In addition, the network's fall theatrical premieres and select specials will also be dubbed into Spanish.

ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson said, "We wanted to move beyond toe-dipping and really dive in. Almost half of the 41 million Hispanics in this country watch only or mostly Spanish language television, and we want to bring that audience to ABC."