America's First and Only Channel Developed for Latino Preschoolers

NEW YORK, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Vme strengthens its commitment to Latino families with the launch of a new channel for preschoolers – Vme Kids, America's first and only 24/7 channel to focus specifically on preschoolers for whom Spanish is the home language.

From the magical gifts of Dibo (the Dragon), to the vivid imagination of Los Disfraces de Dougie (Dougie in Disguise) and the creative introductions of colors, numbers and reading from shows like Los Supernumeros (Numberjacks), Bruno y los amigos Banana (Bruno & the Banana Bunch) and Cinco Minutos Mas (Five Minutes More), Vme Kids offers a vibrant and diverse lineup to capture the attention of our young audience.  The Vme Kids schedule will also feature hits including LazyTown, Jim de la Luna, Musti, 7 Pets, Pororo and Connie la Vaquita (Connie the Cow), among others.

Vme Kids launches on AT&T U-verse® channel 3058 on September 1, 2010 with additional distributors to be announced. Vme will support each of its distribution partners with significant on-the-ground marketing events such as book tours with Vme's sister company, Santillana USA and a LazyTown Live! school-based tour. (More news on Vme Kids and events can be found on Vme Ninos page on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/vmeninos)

Since the successful launch of its broadcast network in 2007, Vme has built the largest library of educational Spanish kids programming in the US, making Vme the recognized network for quality programming for kids. In addition to the launch of Vme Kids, Vme continues to offer the only daily broadcast block of kids programming on its main network.

President and CEO Carmen M. DiRienzo said, "Building on the success of our kids block, Vme is uniquely positioned to offer this new channel for our littlest viewers and their caregivers.  In addition to entertainment, the channel is designed to support the clear guidance of educators who emphasize how important it is for kids to learn in their first language…in order to be able to excel in learning other languages."

In the development of Vme and Vme Kids programming, the network has consulted with leading policy makers, researchers and educators who share a unified concern about helping Hispanic preschool children overcome a widening language and literacy gap.  Several research studies(1) show that a strong early grounding in the language of the home –  in this case, Spanish – builds fundamental language skills that facilitate and accelerate learning English.

Knowing that Latinos have a high level of co-viewing with their kids, Vme's content goes beyond kids to offer information that helps parents reinforce the lessons from the screen into hands-on activities that can serve as the foundation for school readiness and success. Plus Vme Kids will offer programs and interstitials that help kids transfer Spanish language skills and vocabulary to English – strengthening their understanding, and even their parents understanding, of both languages.  

About Vme

Vme, one of America's largest Spanish networks, entertains and informs Latino families in Spanish with drama, music, sports, news, current affairs and Latin cinema, food, lifestyle, nature and the most-widely distributed block of educational preschool content on Spanish TV. The 24-hour network, partnered with public television stations, is currently available in over 77% of all Hispanic homes.  In 40 markets, Vme is available free over the air and on basic digital cable; and is carried nationally via satellite in the basic and Hispanic packages of Dish Network and DirecTV. In some areas, Vme is available on Verizon FiOS and AT&T U–verse. Vme is the first venture of the media production and distribution company, Vme Media Inc.  To find out more please visit www.VmeTV.com

(1) Uccelli, P.,& Paez, M. (2007). Narrative and vocabulary development of bilingual children from kindergarten to first grade: Developmental changes and associations among English and Spanish skills.

SOURCE Vme

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