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Documentary Channel™ Signs Exclusive U.S. T.V. Distribution Deal Through Northstar Media to Premiere 21 IMAX® Films

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 14, 2008) — Documentary Channel™ (DOC) has reached an exclusive agreement with IMAX Corporation through Norwalk, Conn.-based distributor Northstar Media to televise a collection of 21 films from the IMAX® library for the first time in the U.S., it was announced today by Documentary Channel founder and CEO Tom Neff and Northstar Media Co-Presidents Andy Weir and Pat McDonald. DOC, the first and only 24-hour U.S. television network devoted exclusively to independent documentary films, secured the exclusive IMAX XXI Film Package with a multi-year contract through Northstar Media.

“IMAX has an unparalleled reputation with both the film industry and general public for producing extraordinary, awe-inspiring film experiences and Documentary Channel is proud to be the network to bring these spectacular films to North American television audiences for the first time,” says Neff, an Oscar® nominated documentary filmmaker, who helms DOC. “They have been transferred to High Def with meticulous care, and DOC is thrilled with the opportunity of unveiling these films on television.”

Winner of the Academy Award® for Scientific and Technical Achievement in 1997, IMAX is well-respected for breathtaking imagery and high-quality entertainment, and is making this private collection of 21 films available for television exclusively through DOC in specially re-mastered high-definition and traditional broadcast formats.

“The Documentary Channel is committed to bringing high-quality content to their viewers, and the IMAX XXI Film Package is the perfect example of such commitment,” says Pat McDonald, Co-President of Northstar Media. “We are very pleased to have delivered this incredible film package on behalf of our client, as it allows both IMAX and the DOC Channel to extend their brands.”

Including such successful films as the Tom Hanks narrated “Magnificent Desolation,” Tom Cruise narrated “Space Station,” and “T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous,” the 21 films in the collection represent some of the most successful films in IMAX history. The films to appear on DOC have a combined estimated total of more than $600 million in gross box office receipts, including three of the top 10 largest grossing films in IMAX history.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to offer our viewers the chance to see these stunning IMAX films, which cover a huge swath of viewer demographics,” adds Neff, who also is a member of both the motion picture and television academies. “These IMAX documentaries will appeal to a very broad audience: from children to adults, from wildlife to space aficionados, from history lovers to film buffs to the socially conscious.”

The IMAX XXI Film Package will premiere on DOC throughout 2008, with specific titles and telecast schedules to be announced at a later date.

About Northstar Media: Northstar Media was founded by Pat McDonald and Andy Weir, who bring more than 30 years of collective experience in the field of programming and advertising sales to the Norwalk, Conn.-based television distribution company. Northstar Media identifies quality video, film and digital product and sells that product for its clients to multiple outlets in both the U.S. and international markets. Such outlets include Television, including but not limited to broadcast and cable networks, syndication, satellite, pay-per-view and high definition television. Other outlets include in-flight entertainment, video-on-demand and home video/DVD. Northstar Media can be found online at: www.northstar-media.com.

About Documentary Channel™: Documentary Channel (DOC) is the USA’s first 24-hour television network exclusively devoted to documentary films and is the Voice of the Independent Documentary Filmmaker. DOC seeks out and showcases independent, cutting-edge and international non-fiction programming rarely seen in the U.S., and often then only in film festivals or other special venues. Many of DOC’s programs are U.S. or world premieres on television. DOC is the television viewer’s round-the-clock opportunity to see fascinating, eclectic and award-winning documentary films of all lengths and genres, from classics to cutting-edge.

DOC has created partnerships and relationships with world-renowned organizations and festivals to bring the world’s greatest documentaries to television, often for the first time. These organizations include The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, The International Documentary Association, The National Film Board of Canada, Los Angeles Festival, Nashville Film Festival, Hot Springs, HotDocs, Durango Film Festival, Reel Women, and many others. In addition, DOC has teamed up with distinguished educational institutions including USC School of Cinema and the Academy of Art in San Francisco, among others, to introduce young, future documentary filmmakers to the viewing public.

Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., with offices in New York and Los Angeles, Documentary Channel was founded by CEO and Oscar®-nominated documentary filmmaker Tom Neff. DOC launched on DISH Network DISH Network (Channel 197) in January 2006, and now reaches over 21 million homes nationwide. DOC is carried by several broadcast stations in major television markets including NYC TV (Channel 25) throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. DOC’s Web site is located at www.documentarychannel.com. DOC was recognized after its first year as co-winner of the Emmy for Best Feature Documentary at the 28th Annual News & Documentary Emmy® Awards for the film, “Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire.”



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