Washington, D.C., June 14, 2002 – In a recent departure from its twelve-year-old early morning schedule, TV Marti is now available in Cuba in primetime (6 p.m.-10 p.m.) via a UHF signal. 

Anecdotal reports and phone calls from the island suggest that more viewers in Cuba are able to see the telecasts, including some living outside of Havana. Callers from Matanzas province, areas of Colon and elsewhere have provided descriptions of TV Marti programs. Surveys of actual viewership will be conducted later this summer.

Since its inauguration, TV Marti had followed a 3:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. schedule via a VHF signal in order to prevent interference with Cuban television. At the time, few if any Cubans on the island could receive UHF. Today, although Cuba does not have a UHF TV network, many more Cubans own television sets that can receive both UHF and VHF.

Along with Radio Marti, TV Marti provides balanced, uncensored news and information programming for the people of Cuba. 

For more information, contact Joe O’Connell at (202) 619-2538 or jdoconne@ibb.gov