3 minute read
Business Spotlight: DETV
BY REGINA DONATO
Focusing the camera on all the positive things happening Delaware, DETV Founder Ivan Thomas has helped reshape the modern media landscape in Delaware. Based in Wilmington, DETV connects with its viewers through a variety of programming by celebrating the stories and voices that make the First State unique.
“I had an idea about 15 years ago to create a platform the community can use regardless of race, color, religious background, or politics,” Thomas says, who is a lifelong Delawarean. “I wanted to create something that brought my community together.”
Thomas’ journey to founding DETV is deeply personal. “When I created DETV, I was in a deep depression,” he recalls. “I was in a Buddhist temple, and this lady walks up to me and says, ‘Do you understand the power of pictures?’ And I said no. She said, ‘Pictures have still energy. They can have a person relive a moment within a second of looking at a picture.’”
And for Thomas, that was the spark. He started taking pictures, learning the science of photography, and then telling stories. “That’s when I saw the gap of information and thought, ‘How can I fill it?,’” reflects Thomas.
“Good Morning Wilmington,” the station’s flagship morning show, delivers local news and events to start the day. Political discussions take center stage on “The Agenda,” while “Every Woman” showcases the resilience and creativity of women from diverse backgrounds. Sports fans tune in weekly for local and national updates, and “DETV Kids” inspires the next generation of storytellers with hands-on training in broadcasting and photojournalism.
“Here in Delaware, it used to be an oasis. For a while, it became a desert for good journalism, good news, and good information,” Thomas says. “That’s what DETV and other organizations are going to fill. We’re building a market in Delaware that hasn’t existed in a very long time.” Thomas stresses the importance of working together. “We’re not in competition; we’re in collaboration with other news outlets in the state. We ultimately just want to get information to the people.”
Thomas and the DETV team are passionate about providing unbiased, quality information. “It’s not just about creating content,” he says. “It’s about creating a listener and a viewer who understands. We need to educate our audience on how to be part of the conversation, not just the subject of it.”
Thomas’ key to providing the highest quality content is simple: “PUTP — Pick up the phone. Trust, but double-check.”
As the media landscape evolves, DETV evolves with it. “One day I woke up and realized it’s not just about TV,” Thomas says. “The days of appointed TV watching are done and over. I went out onto the street and asked, ‘How are you consuming content?’” These answers shaped DETV’s strategy, who ensures the station is now accessible across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and its website.
Whether through timely political debates, morning shows, or covering important community events, DETV is committed to fulfilling Thomas’ original vision of 200% positive news, 100% of the time. “I get paid to work with good friends and do something I love,” concludes Thomas. “It’s the American dream.”
