According to Nielsen Online, 9.8% of active U.S. Internet users are Hispanic, The Miami Herald reported Monday.  In total, 16.9 million Hispanics were part of the active U.S. online population in July — up from 14.9 million users in July 2007 and 13.7 million users in July 2006.  

To take advantage of this burgeoning online Hispanic population, Telemundo will begin delivering its programming on websites and mobile phones globally, the Herald noted. 

The move reveals the growing importance of digital media in the Hispanic market, Peter Blacker, executive vice president Digital Media and Emerging Businesses, Telemundo, told the Herald.

“The audience is demanding it,” Blacker noted.  “Our audience wants to consume content wherever and however they can get their hands on it, so we need to make our content available to them whether you live in Latin America and are watching a novela or are looking at your cellphone and you want to see last night’s episode.”