Dialectal Varieties in the Public Television Networks of Colombia, Spain, and Peru, and in the Private Pan-Hispanic Network Telemundo

This research explores how Spanish-language public television reflects linguistic diversity and how this influences issues such as standardization, prestige, and identity. To this end, it examines the representation of dialectal varieties of Spanish in the national public television networks of Colombia (Señal Colombia), Spain (Televisión Española), and Peru (TV Perú), as well as in the private pan-Hispanic network Telemundo, based in the United States. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and an analysis of the style guides of these networks. The study investigates the existence of explicit or implicit policies regarding the acceptance and promotion of specific dialects. The findings reveal that, although public television networks do not explicitly prohibit the use of regional varieties, there is a marked preference for a “neutral” variety, particularly in news programming. This tendency is often self-imposed by presenters rather than being a requirement from the networks. Regional accents are more prevalent in field reports and entertainment segments. The role of television in shaping linguistic identity is emphasized, highlighting the need to balance linguistic standardization with the representation of diversity.