NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 26, 2007) — Documentary Channel (DOC), the first 24-hour television network devoted exclusively to independent documentary films, begins its second year with sights set on improving its benchmark programming achievements accomplished in year one, and will do so with the assistance of an Advisory Council of preeminent documentary filmmakers, the network announced today.

The destination network for all things documentary, DOC launched in January 2006 and quickly established itself as the premier provider of documentary programming that had not been accessible to the general public, including Academy Award®-nominated films screened only at festivals prior to their DOC television debut. Other content features cutting-edge, provocative and uncensored works in the genre, often put in context with interviews and commentary. After its first year of operation, DOC has emerged as the nation’s largest acquirer of independent documentary product.

DOC’s first-year milestones also include the unprecedented telecasting of more than 200 hours of domestic and international award-winning/nominated documentaries, with approximately 75 percent of the titles receiving their television premiere. Included among that elite collection are such titles as cult favorite “Half-Japanese, The Band Who Would Be King,” directed by 2005 Sundance Directing Award winner Jeff Feuerzeig; 2003 Hollywood Film Festival award winner “Khachaturian,” directed by Peter Rosen; and 2005 Sundance Audience Award Winner “Shake Hands with the Devil,” directed by Peter Raymont.

“In the last few years, audiences have discovered that documentaries can be both engaging and entertaining. Historically perceived as eclectic or ‘uncommercial,’ documentaries are now very commercial, as evidenced by their new power to command a large box office,” says Tom Neff, Documentary Channel Founder, CEO, and award-winning documentary filmmaker.

“As a result of this emerging popularity,” Neff continues, “the demand for the documentary has reached a critical mass and DOC is exclusively poised to satisfy that appetite 24/7 through our rapidly growing distribution and assorted menu of television world premiere films.”

DOC Advisory Council Offers Guidance on Programming Efforts

To create a community of support for its unprecedented array of content, DOC has solicited the volunteer help of notable, award-winning filmmakers from the documentary world to serve on its Advisory Council. The group includes Ken Burns (The Civil War, Baseball), Al Maysles (Gimme Shelter and The Gates), Freida Lee Mock (Return with Honor), Barbara Kopple (American Dream and The Hamptons), and Haskel Wexler (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest).

“Times have evolved to embrace the independent mindset, which exemplifies and drives the process of creating a documentary,” underscores Neff. “DOC has successfully created a home not only for documentary film fans, but for the filmmakers and professionals who share this passion and make their livelihood in the industry. The DOC Advisory Board provides an opportune vehicle for many of industry leaders to support not only the network, but each other’s work and the future of the genre.”

Academy Agreement Bolsters DOC’s Original Programming

Documentary Channel produces original product to complement the majority of its library, obtained through licensing and acquisitions. Headlining DOC’s original programming lineup is “Treasures of the Academy,” a series of Oscar-winning and -nominated documentaries and other “treasures” from the Archives of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, augmented by DOC exclusive interviews with filmmakers and Academy members which provides viewers with background on the Academy’s mission beyond the annual Academy Awards® ceremony. DOC also annually telecasts the “Oscar’s Picks” series around Oscar time, further underscoring DOC as the showcase television destination for Academy Award-winning and -nominated documentaries.

“We are very honored by our association with the Academy on many fronts,” says Neff, a member of AMPAS since 1992. “Not only have we been entrusted to telecast incredible programming, but we also work with the Academy Film Archive in film preservation and we donate a copy of every film or interview we telecast to the Archive, providing assets which ultimately end up as a research material for the public.”

DOC’s additional signature series include: “DocTalk@USC,” a monthly interview series with documentary filmmakers featuring Mark Jonathan Harris, head of the documentary division at University of Southern California (USC). Episodes are filmed at the USC Trojan Vision Center by students with DOC channel technicians. Also with a college theme, “DOC-U” focuses on budding filmmakers, telecasts student documentaries, and details the program offerings at their school programs nationwide.

“HotDocs” and “DocFest,” are original series that track the latest developments in the documentary world, including breaking news from the festival circuit. Explains Neff: “We’ll cover a festival, attend a premiere, or send a DOC news crew to get interviews with filmmakers of the new releases. We stay very current and strive to let the viewer know what is going on in the doc world.”

Distribution Surpasses 13 Million

EchoStar Satellite’s DISH Network (Channel 197) rocketed Documentary Channel’s launch in January 2006, with distribution to more then 13 million household subscribers. The network also is on track to exceed 30 million subscribers by the end of 2007.

“Documentary Channel is staking claim to a distinct niche of superior quality programming with wide-ranging appeal over many demographic categories,” says Eric Sahl, senior vice president of programming for DISH Network. “We believe it enhances the value of our satellite TV service to our subscribers and we’re happy to have them in our lineup of channel offerings.”

DOC’s first year was also distinguished by distribution agreements with broadcast outlets in three individual markets. DOC provides primetime content to WNYC, New York’s local PBS station; programming is distributed in Nashville, Tenn. via Comcast, Charter and local PBS station WNPT; PBS station KDBI in Denver is the DOC carrier.