KUED Channel 7 has launched V-me, the first national Spanish-language network to join forces with public TV to air programs aimed at Latino viewers.

Broadcasts began Oct. 23 on KUED's digital channel 7-3. V-me (the name comes from veme, the Spanish word for "see me") is also available to cable subscribers on Comcast's Digital 108 channel.

V-me's programs were developed by WNET in New York. They range from food, travel, yoga and self-improvement presentations to documentaries, current-affairs shows and contemporary Spanish-language movies that commercial stations avoid.

A big part of the morning lineup is programs for preschoolers, including a Spanish version of "Sesame Street" called "Plaza Sésamo."

"It's fantastic. Having this educational programming is a wonderful opportunity for Spanish- and English-speaking children. Everybody knows being bilingual makes you twice as bright," said Patricia Dark, executive director of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Scott Chaffin, director of broadcasting for KUED, said the steady rise of the Latino population along the Wasatch Front drove the station to offer V-me programs.

"We are watching the demographics, as everyone else is. Given that somewhere between 15 percent and 18 percent of the metropolitan area is Hispanic, we think we've got a lineup of great programming that [Hispanics] will find of considerable interest and is quite different than the usual selections of Hispanic media," Chaffin said.

Earlier this year, Little Rock, Ark.-based Equity Media Holdings Corp. began broadcasting news programs in Salt Lake City. The company owns KUTH, affiliated with Univision, and KUTF, which is allied with Telefutura, a relatively new network launched by Univision in 2002.

In May, LatinAmerican Broadcasting Inc. began transmitting its signal on KCBUDT Channel 3 in Salt Lake. The network said it would offer programs and advertising that address the needs of the Latino community.

Comcast offers five Spanish-language channels as part of its cable package. Digital customers can get a package of 18 Spanish-language stations.

Much of the programming beamed to Latino viewers has been limited to sports, soap operas and other shows that advertisers will support. The V-me lineup will broaden what Latinos can watch, said Joe Reyna, a Zions Bank regional vice president.

"It's very encouraging. The quality of public television programming was not available to Spanish speakers," Reyna said.

pbeebe@sltrib.com