Independent public broadcaster MHz NETWORKS has launched WORLDVIEW, an internationally diverse 24/7 program stream for public television stations. MHz NETWORKS features programs from around the world on air and online in more than 20 different languages.
The new stream aims to attract globally aware viewers with a wide range of international programming blocks - - World News, Foreign Affairs, International Mysteries, World Music, Sports, and Foreign Films — all of it English accessible (in English or subtitled).
“The idea is to make the world, and all its rhythms, opinions, textures, easier for Americans to understand,” says Frederick Thomas, the executive behind WORLDVIEW. “The channel will tell all of the stories about the world, good and bad.”
The evening World News block features newscasts from Taiwan, India, Japan, France and Germany — with Bolivian and Russian news being added in March, and Pan-African news arriving by June.
The World Music block features Strictly Global, with videos from across the globe and the Emmy Award-winning MHz Presents, which features artists from all genres of music. The International Mystery block features iconic detectives from all over the world; the super sleuths that become “can’t miss it” viewing opportunities.
Another important audience for WORLDVIEW will be America’s recent immigrants, who represent a wide range of countries. “Through our experience in the Washington, D.C. market we know that immigrants will support this type of programming, and the stations that carry it, because they feel they have a stake in it, like an investment,” says Thomas. In Washington, MHz has been successful at raising on-air pledge dollars in at least six different languages: Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Vietnamese, Urdu, and French, and has acquired significant local underwriting from businesses wishing to reach these viewers.
MHz NETWORKS operates in Northern Virginia and serves the Washington, D.C. market through WNVC and WNVT, and is owned by Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation (CPBC), headquartered in Richmond, VA. CPBC is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation which also operates WCVE-TV/FM and WCVW in Richmond, VA and WHTJ-TV in Charlottesville, VA.
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