HITN Media, the leading Spanish-language public media network in the United States, has announced the broadcast premiere of El Sueño Americano, a Spanish-language special edition of the award-winning documentary Amerigo: The Search for the American Dream. The program will air on Sunday, September 20, at 8:00 p.m. EDT/PDT on HITN TV and will be available on demand via the HITNGo digital streaming platform beginning that day. The announcement highlights a significant moment for Spanish-language programming and underscores the growing influence of Hispanic audiences in American media.
El Sueño Americano builds on the summer launch of Amerigo, which was part of programming marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning producer, entrepreneur, and bestselling author David McCourt, the documentary explores what the American Dream looks like today. McCourt spent two years traveling the country and speaking with more than 1,000 Americans from all walks of life, capturing stories of struggle, resilience, and optimism. The unscripted conversations reveal a nation still defining what opportunity means in the 21st century.
Central to the special is new data showing that nearly one in four new U.S. entrepreneurs is Hispanic or Latino, up from roughly one in ten twenty-five years ago. This statistic points to a profound demographic and economic shift: Hispanic and Latino Americans are not just participating in the American Dream—they are driving it. For the Long Beach area, with its vibrant and diverse business community, this trend resonates deeply. Local entrepreneurs and small business owners may find inspiration and validation in these stories, while the broader business community can recognize the increasing economic power of Hispanic-owned enterprises.
"When I set out to make Amerigo, I wanted to understand what the American Dream looks like today through the voices of people actually living it. What we found again and again is that Hispanic and Latino Americans are driving it. The idea that one in four new businesses in this country are being started by Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs, up from one in ten a generation ago, is exactly what I hoped to capture when I set out to make this film," said McCourt. Michael Nieves, president and CEO of HITN Media, added, "The stories of Hispanic and Latino Americans are an important part of the American story. Amerigo highlights their contributions and aspirations, making it a natural fit for HITN and our commitment to telling stories that reflect our community."
As part of HITN's Hispanic Heritage Month programming, the network will also feature never-before-aired capsules filmed by the Amerigo crew. These exclusive capsules are drawn from the documentary's companion campaign, AD250.com, where over 5,000 Americans—more than a third Hispanic and Latino—have shared video reflections of the American Dream. Airing throughout the month on HITN TV and available on the program's dedicated digital hub, the capsules offer additional Hispanic perspectives connected to the themes of El Sueño Americano.
Directed by Adam Mason and co-produced by David and Julie McCourt of McCourt Entertainment, El Sueño Americano is adapted from Amerigo: The Search for the American Dream. The original film, presented by South Florida PBS and distributed nationally by American Public Television (APT), combines unscripted interviews with insights from notable voices to present a panoramic portrait of a country considering its future. For more information and to watch the special, visit hitn.tv/american-dream.
The implications of this broadcast extend beyond entertainment. By amplifying Hispanic voices and stories, HITN is fostering a national conversation about opportunity, family, work, and belonging—issues that matter to communities across California, including Long Beach. As the American Dream continues to evolve, initiatives like El Sueño Americano remind us that its promise is renewed by each generation, and that Hispanic entrepreneurs are helping to write its next chapter.
