Chicago’s “Window to the World,” PBS station WTTW launched a Spanish language channel March 5, 2007. According to a press release dated February 7, 2007, WTTW joined eighteen other PBS stations across the country in presenting V-Me. V-Me (pronounced veh-meh) is a fresh Spanish language network that provides quality broadcasting for Latinos. V-Me is the first Spanish language network to ink a deal with public television. WTTW’s splash into the world of Spanish-language television is a part of a growing trend. Recently, MTV debuted its third channel, MTV Tres.
WTTW is home to three channels in addition to V-Me: WTTW11, WTTWD, and WTTW Create. VP of Programming at WTTW, Dan Soles, stated that station wanted to bring something different to Chicago’s media market and V-Me was the perfect vehicle. “The service [V-Me] mirrors the public television that WTTW has provided over the past fifty years. V-Me is an opportunity for WTTW to add something fresh to Chicago’s existing market.”
V-Me’s national programming content is centered on kids, lifestyle, factual and current affairs, and movies and special events. When asked the type of programming WTTW’s V-Me will show, Dan Soles stated, “V-Me will feature twenty-five percent of current WTTW programming. Programming will include variety, morning kids, noon travel and how-to, evening public affairs and music specials, all of which will be in Spanish.”
WTTW is known for its wonderful local programming. Television shows such as Check, Please! and Chicago Tonight, which is taped on WTTW’s property, are programming only a true Chicagoan would be acquainted with. In the fall, V-Me will have weekly local programming of the public affairs nature. Show such as Chicago Stories will be produced in Spanish for V-Me, Soles stated in a response to a question about local programming.
WTTW’s latest venture displays how mainstream television is seeking more diversity. Despite being an affiliate of PBS, WTTW, reaches millions of viewers monthly and is a powerhouse in Chicago television. “We strive to have more diversity in our programming to reach the diverse population of Chicago,” Soles said. Mass media shapes our society and if it continues to supply assortment within programming, the diversity of our society will be embraced.
Soles believes V-Me is an asset to WTTW’s programming. When asked if V-Me adds to the variety of programming at WTTW, he simply replied, “Sure, absolutely.”