Delayed Cable Debut At Issue
With great fanfare, Maryland Public Television yesterday launched the state's first public all-Spanish-language channel, featuring an array of educational and entertainment programming. But it could be a while before most Comcast subscribers in Montgomery and Prince George's counties are able to tune in.
As the digital station made its debut in the Baltimore region, officials from Comcast, the Washington area's dominant cable provider, hadn't committed to a starting date in the two Maryland jurisdictions with by far the largest Hispanic populations.
The debut in Prince George's and Montgomery, where more than two-thirds of the state's Latino population lives, could occur as late as 2009, MPT officials said.
That prompted a chorus of calls from Latino advocates and elected officials, including Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D), to apply public pressure on the cable provider.
"People ought to be calling Comcast and expressing their wishes and desires," said Brown, a Prince George's resident, who took part in the station's morning launch at MPT headquarters in Owings Mills. When Brown took the microphone, he relayed his desire to watch the station, called V-Me, with his family, saying it could help his two young children learn Spanish.
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By Anne Bartlett |
August 21, 2007; 10:26 AM ET
| Category:
John Wagner
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Posted by: Robin Ficker of Robin Realty | August 21, 2007 12:52 PM
Ficker, I have to admit you have a good idea there. I still disagree with you on almost EVERYTHING else!
Posted by: Donny | August 22, 2007 9:47 PM
I'm not aware that V-me encourages Spanish-speaking residents to give up on learning English. Quite the contrary. If you really looked into what this channel is all about, it's to make Spanish-speaking residents better US-citizens by informing them of our culture and history AND encourage them to learn the language. This is a channel that features the high-quality programming you'd expect from public TV--not the kind of low-brow fare you find on the other Spanish language services. In spite of the racist, xenophobic vitriol you may hear, this channel's goal is to help our Hispanic neighbors--the fastest growing segment of our population--become assimilated American citizens.
Posted by: mercury | August 26, 2007 1:51 PM
More public dollars for illegal immigrants. This country should care as much about its legal residents.
Posted by: cranky gringo | August 27, 2007 7:37 AM
Cool post! I'm add to bookmark... Autor what is youre name?
Realy best blog...
Posted by: GlavMed | November 2, 2007 9:03 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Mr. Wagner says the station will be, "all Spanish." He also mentions edudcational programming. I hope this station will be more than another Spanish babysitter. There are tens of thousands of Spanish speaking residents in the Washington D.C. area who need to learn English. And Public Television could have many hours of English classes that people could take in the comfort of their own home. The odds are that nobody in the United States is going to be a booming success unless they know English. With Public TV there will be no excuse not to speak and write English if programmers make good choices. Costs would be lower for everyone than with classes at schools after hours.