PRESS RELEASE:

To better serve Utah’s growing Spanish-speaking audience with quality documentaries, current affairs programs and children’s programs, KUED is launching V-Me (“See me”) on its digital channel 7.3. beginning Tuesday, October 23.

Presentation of V-Me is a joint partnership between KUED and the University of Utah. V-Me is available to viewers with over-the-air digital sets and receivers on KUED digital channel 7.3 and on Comcast digital channel 108. “We have a great opportunity to serve Utah’s Spanish-speaking community, drawing viewers to this unique channel, presenting the kind of programming that is the hallmark of public television,” says KUED General Manager Larry S. Smith. “With V-Me, Spanish-speaking audiences get the best of public television in Spanish. It’s the kind of Spanish language programming that is available nowhere else.”

V-Me includes children’s shows such as Plaza Sésamo, Franny’s Feet, Las Tres Mellizas Bebe, Lunar Jim and Hoobs. Lifestyle programs include Latino-focused food, travel, design, home and self improvement, parenting, health and well-being Los Niños in Su Casa is a Peabody Award-winning series devoted to the unique needs of children and the people who care for them. Nuestro Barrio is a Spanish language mini-series about Hispanic life in the U.S. The popular Una Mirada A takes viewers to a different locale each week, featuring stunning high-definition aerial shots.

Trans World Sports highlights weekly international sports coverage of traditional and extreme sports from around the globe. Current affairs shows like Creencias, Biografías Clío, AIR Reportajes de Investigación and Exploraciones explore opinions, history, technology, nature, current affairs, news and biography.

Viva Voz, airing weeknights, provides a platform for hosts and guests to speak openly about issues currently affecting the national Hispanic community. Wide Angle, the award-winning internal documentary series makes its Spanish language U.S. debut on V-me.

Oppenheimer Presenta is anchored by noted columnist Andres Oppenheimer, features interviews with influential politicians, journalist, artists and advocates. La Plaza is hosted by celebrated journalist Maria Hinojosa, featuring in-depth interviews with America’s foremost Latino artist, writers, activists and civic leaders.

For more information, go to www.kued.org.

V-Me Facts

V-me is coming to Utah!

Read more about KUED’s new digital channel for Spanish-speaking viewers, launching in Utah on October 23. What is V-me? V-me is the first national Spanish-language television network to partner with American public television, launching across Utah October 23, in partnership with KUED and the University of Utah.

V-me brings the best in quality entertainment to Latino families. The name comes from the Spanish veme, meaning "see me." In addition to providing high-quality programming, V-me represents a new way for U.S. Hispanics to celebrate achievement, explore interests and issues shared with all Americans, and connect to diverse Latino communities across the country.

What kind of programs are on V-me? Just like PBS, V-me will offer a mixture of children's and adult programming. V-me's programming includes original productions, exclusive premieres and acquisitions, and the best of public TV adapted for American Latinos.

Programs are divided into four main categories:

• Kids – Growing and Playing, featuring Spanish-language preschool programs, educational online resources for kids and parents and local activities.
• Lifestyle – Living and Improving, an afternoon and weekend lineup of Latino-focused food, travel, design, home and self improvement, parenting, fitness and sports and health and well-being.
• Factual and Current Affairs – Exploring and Expressing, primetime presentations of intelligent entertainment and opinions: history, technology, nature, current affairs, news and biography.
• Movies and Special Events – Enjoying and Celebrating, a nightly presentation of the best in contemporary Spanish-language film – with closed captioned subtitles for English-speaking cinema fans. Specials will feature international concerts and events in the arts, pop culture and more.

Where can I watch it? V-me is a digital channel. It's available over the air in homes with digital receivers on KUED’s digital channel 7.3. It is also available to cable subscribers on Comcast Digital 108.

How do I know what’s on? You can check out the listings for V-ME at www.kued.org/whatson. If you’re a member of KUED, you’ll see the program grids for primetime V-Me shows in our Seven program guide.

Why was V-me created? Hispanics play an ever-increasing role in American society. Research shows that Latinos from all walks of life, and all across the U.S., seek something more from television – the quality and intelligent programming that is a form of respect. At the same time, public broadcasters presenting V-me are able to expand and fulfill their mission to educate, engage and entertain their communities to the broadest extent.

Who does V-me target? V-me is for the more than 30 million bilingual and Spanish-speaking Americans and anyone else who is interested in the American-Latino experience.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 18 percent of the Salt Lake City Metro population is of Hispanic or Latino origin.

Why is V-me programming in Spanish? Numerous studies support that Spanish and English speakers alike want to help develop and promote bilingualism among their children. V-me believes that the ability to speak two languages represents an ever more important global advantage, and the network offers a safe, non-commercial environment where this can happen.

What is V-me's relationship with public television stations? V-me provides a national core service at no cost to its partner stations like KUED. In addition to local marketing and outreach, stations can customize certain segments of the service with select local content which reflects the distinctive regional aspects of the U.S. Hispanic population. For more, visit www.VmeTV.com

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