V-me TV Network launches to bring the Best of Public Television.

Beginning in March 2007, V-me, a new, national Spanish-language television network will bring the best of public television to Latino viewers. Through its relationships with world-class content producers and a unique partnership with American public television stations, V-me (pronounced veh-meh) will offer a fresh alternative in Spanish television that engages, entertains, empowers and inspires its viewers. V-me is the first venture announced by newly formed media production and distribution company, V-me Media Inc. The network launches as a 24-hour digital broadcast network presented by public television stations and carried on basic digital cable and satellite.

“All across the country, Latinos want more from media – more visibility, more quality and more choices,” said Carmen DiRienzo, president of V-me. “V-me provides intelligent entertainment that explores interests and issues Hispanics share with all Americans, and connects the many diverse Latino communities across the country.”

V-me is programmed for the more than 30 million bi-lingual and Spanish-language dominant US Latinos, and will launch with station partnerships in major Hispanic markets including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, San Francisco, San Antonio, Albuquerque/Santa Fe, Harlingen, San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, Denver, Tucson and Orlando. At launch, V-me will be in markets representing more than 60 percent of all U.S. Hispanic homes and carried in approximately 24 million U.S. homes. Within its first year, V-me expects to grow its distribution by 50%.

As a digital, multicast channel of its presenting stations, V-me will be included in the basic digital service of cable companies across the country. Public broadcasters receive V-me at no cost and can customize certain segments of the service with select local content. This unique partnership gives V-me an existing local presence, with cross-promotion, grassroots activities and relationships with educational and cultural institutions.

The name V-me comes from the Spanish veme, which means see me. “This name speaks volumes,” says Mario Baeza, Founder and Executive Chairman of V-me. “Latinos contribute so much to our country, culturally and economically. Yet quality programming in Spanish that reflects that experience, showcases those contributions, and entertains and educates our families, is sorely missing from the landscape. Through V-me, investors can do well for their businesses while doing good for the community. Few investments allow you to meet these two missions simultaneously and V-me is solid on both fronts.”
V-me’s programming features a mix of original productions, exclusive premieres and acquisitions, and the best of public television adapted for American Latinos. Content is broadly organized into four main categories:

– Kids – High-quality Spanish-language preschool programs, educational online resources for children and parents, and local activities;
– Lifestyle – Latino-focused food, travel, design, home and self improvement, parenting, health and well-being;
– Factual and current affairs – Intelligent entertainment and opinions: history, technology, nature, current affairs, news and biography
– Movies and special events – Contemporary Spanish-language films every night, plus international concerts and special events

V-me has already established content and co-production relationships with production powerhouses including the leading PBS producers WGBH and Thirteen/WNET in addition to BBC Worldwide, Sesame Workshop, HiT Entertainment, Alliance Atlantis, and many others. The network will feature original programming in pre-school, lifestyle, factual and current affairs and launches with a nightly original interview and public affairs program, Viva Voz.

V-me is a multi-platform environment with a robust website presenting issues, forums, content and resources for Latinos. In the largest sense, V-me is creating an on-air and off-air community for everyone who seeks more options from Spanish-language media.

“Public television exists to serve the American public, and Latinos and Spanish-speakers are an increasingly significant part of that public. With V-me, public broadcasters are able to fulfill their mission and serve this vitally important new audience,” said William F. Baker, Chief Executive, Educational Broadcasting Corporation. “An endeavor this significant could not be created by public broadcasters or private investors alone. Through this unique partnership, public television brings hundreds of hours of high-quality, exclusive programming to America’s Latino families.”

V-me Media, Inc. is a media company formed to create and distribute the best quality content for Hispanics in the U.S. and internationally. The company is a partnership of PBS flagship, Thirteen/WNET New York, and private investors, led by The Baeza Group and including Syncom Funds, both of which specialize in investing in media companies to reach underserved markets. Company revenues will come from the development and launch of strategic partnerships, the international syndication of its originally produced and co-produced programs, and sales of post-broadcast products such as DVDs and other program related products.

For more information at http://www.V-me.tv>