MIAMI and NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TED, the global nonprofit whose TED Talks will be watched or listened to more than one billion times this year, announces today its partnership with Spanish-language U.S. network Vme TV to create a 13-episode television series dedicated to ideas that can influence how Hispanics – America's largest minority group – can shape the future. Together, TED and Vme TV will broadcast "Soy TED," a studio-produced program where invited guests take ideas from world-famous TED Talks in provocative new directions for the Latino community. "Soy TED" debuts September 25, 2015 at 7 p.m. ET.
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"When we looked at new ways to channel ideas from TED speakers to communities most likely to shape American society over the next decade, we kept coming back to the Hispanic public in the United States," said Deron Triff, TED's Director of Global Distribution and Licensing. "Here's a group whose power and potential to transform America is accelerating rapidly. We thought, if we can bring new knowledge to this audience, the possibilities for inspiration and, ultimately, action could be very interesting. Our hope is to eventually attach other media companies, corporations and organizations to TED's collaboration with Vme, opening doors to share, promote and find ideas worth spreading from the Spanish-speaking population in the U.S."
Hosted by Vme TV Chairman Eduardo Hauser, "Soy TED" will embrace TED's spirit of curiosity and learning through fascinating conversations about TED Talks and original videos that energize new thinking around innovation, science, learning, food, success, and the human condition. Special guests already slated to participate include former NASA astronaut and record holder for most spaceflights, Franklin Chang Diaz as well as Carlos Páez, one of 16 survivors of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 who spent 72 days in the "Cordillera de los Andes." Ismael Cala, renowned journalist and motivational speaker, is also among other highly regarded influencers who will build on TED Talks through their own ideas and experiences.
"At Vme TV, we believe that smart, thoughtful television content directed at a new generation of curious, upwardly mobile Latinos will influence important advancements in America. With the increasing influence of our culture, we have a unique opportunity to share the wisdom of TED's speakers in Spanish," said Eduardo Hauser, the program's host and executive producer. "We are very proud that TED has chosen Vme TV to be their television vehicle in reaching the U.S. Hispanic audience and are excited about the potential to attach other partners to this initiative that can extend across media and events, while building the Latino community's connection to ideas that are shaping the future."
Established in 2007 as the first national Spanish-language television network in association with public television stations, Vme TV aims to provide enriching, quality Spanish-language programming to educate, inspire, motivate and entertain. Today, Vme TV can be seen in 43 markets across the U.S., reaching more than 70 million homes.
For its part, TED has dedicated 30 years to curating ideas from the world's brightest and most inspiring thinkers and doers. In the last seven years, it has created an unprecedented global platform for distributing that content, mostly in the form of compelling lecture videos, globally in more than 100 languages—for free. Together, TED and Vme's combined efforts will provide stimulating content to a powerful community that is shaping culture and making a positive impact on the nation and across continents.
About Vme Television
Vme TV (pronounced veh-meh), is the first national Spanish-language television network in association with public television stations. Reaching more than 70 million households in the United States, Vme TV is broadcast in 43 markets by PBS stations and is available on DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-verse, as well as major cable companies including Comcast. The 24-hour digital broadcast service is dedicated to entertain, educate and inspire families in Spanish with a contemporary mix of original productions, exclusive premieres, acquisitions, and popular public television programs specially adapted for Hispanics. To find your local channel or to learn more about Vme TV, visit www.vmetv.com or follow us on social media via www.facebook.com/vmetv or www.twitter.com/vmetv.
About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or fewer) delivered by today's leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED's annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, its TEDWomen conference and its TEDGlobal conferences—then made available, free, on TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.
TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; the TED Radio Hour on NPR; TED-Ed, a service that pairs educators with animators to create lessons worth sharing; the annual million-dollar TED Prize, which funds exceptional individuals with a "wish," or idea, to create change in the world; TEDx, which provides licenses to thousands of individuals and groups who host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.
About Eduardo Hauser
Eduardo Hauser is a media, education and technology expert with more than 20 years of experience as an executive and entrepreneur. Hauser is Vme TV's chairman and the founder and Managing Partner of Hauser & Co., an investment and advisory firm. Hauser is an active member of several non-profit organizations, currently sits on the boards of Pine Crest School and the Duke University Law School Board of Visitors; and is a past member of the boards of NPR and the Knight Foundation's Journalism Program. Hauser has a J.D. from Venezuela's Universidad Catolica Andres Bello and a Master of Laws degree (LLM) from Duke University.