The rise of a Spanish-language television media industry in the United States, and the programming offered through various Hispanic-oriented channels and national television networks, has a history dating back to the early 1950s. This history can be characterized through three main stages: first, when Spanish-language television corporations and programming were mostly considered as foreign immigrant media in the United States (from 1950 to mid-1980s), second, when their status transitioned into American ethic media (mid-1980 to 2006), and third, when they finally entered to mainstream visibility (2006 to the present). This entry further explores these stages, reviews the growth of Hispanic television programming, and looks at programming schedules and ratings.