Cisneros brings Cl@se to class

Interactive educational channel relaunched

By ANDREW PAXMAN

MIAMI -- The Cisneros TV Group (CTG) has taken over the reins and relaunched interactive educational channel Cl@se, which will now target schoolkids across Latin America.

Distributed by Hughes-led satcaster Galaxy Latin America (GLA), the net is switching its focus from adult education to schoolroom use for kids 6-18.

CTG is the pay TV arm of Venezuela's Cisneros Group, which is a minority investor in GLA. Cisneros topper Gustavo Cisneros is the chief architect of Cl@se.

A GLA project

Cl@se was initially launched in November 1996 as a GLA-funded project, and its management was delegated to former equity partner Multivision of Mexico.

But grants that Cl@se sought from the World Bank and the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) failed to materialize, putting the required GLA decoder boxes beyond the economic reach of most Latino schools and colleges.

Over the last year, CTG has assumed ownership of the net, relocated its management to Miami and its uplink to Caracas, and -- earlier this month -- launched a Web site supplying orientation and aids to teachers.

Approach to vary

"Our approach will vary country by country, whether we seek government support or private-sector sponsorship," exec producer Maria Ignacia Arcaya said.

Thanks to pilot programs and limited local sponsorship, Cl@se is now available to 650 schools, but CTG hopes the net will reach more than 10 million tykes by 2001.

Programming includes edutainment like "The Magic Schoolbus" and "Beakman's World," as well as an array of BBC educational product.