NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 28, 2008) – Documentary Channel (DOC) announced today that international media industry veteran James J. Ackerman has joined the network as Chairman of the Board. In this position, he will share in the development of the overall strategic, distribution, and financial direction of the network. Ackerman brings to DOC more than 20 years of experience leading worldwide advanced media companies, and will work alongside Tom Neff, founder and CEO of Documentary Channel.

“James’ vast experience leading a number of successful international media companies, as well as his in-depth knowledge launching innovative entertainment services and technologies, will be a great asset to our growing company,” says Neff. “We are excited to have an executive who possesses such tremendous talent and complementary skills join our team.”

In February 2005, Ackerman founded Spinnaker Media LLC to develop innovative entertainment, educational and digital media companies. Spinnaker Media holdings include Propeller Consulting, Documentary Channel, InternetSafety.Com and Famplosion!. In 2006, Ackerman served as the (Interim) CEO of ClickStar Inc., a company founded by Intel Corporation and actor Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment.

Previously, Ackerman served as CEO of OpenTV Corp (NASDAQ) from 2000 to 2004, where he led the company through a transition from a pure software vendor to a world-leading provider of advanced interactive television technologies, applications and services.

Prior to this, as the CEO of British Interactive Broadcasting, Ackerman was responsible for launching the world’s first comprehensive interactive television service allowing consumers to shop, play games, email and bank on their TVs as part Sky Digital in the UK (BSkyB). He also served as managing director of Sky Ventures, where he oversaw BSkyB’s portfolio of joint venture channels including Nickelodeon UK, Paramount Comedy Channel, QVC UK, The History Channel UK and The National Geographic Channel.

Previously, Ackerman was the VP International at A&E Television Networks where he was responsible for the launch of The History Channel in the UK and Latin America.

“It is my great honor to join the Board of Documentary Channel as its Chairman,” comments Ackerman. “Under the leadership of founder and CEO Tom Neff, Documentary Channel has established itself as ‘the voice of the independent documentary filmmaker’. In today’s ever-changing world, documentaries stand out as one of the clearest means of exposing truth and encouraging hope. I look forward to working with Tom to develop this channel as a force on the media landscape domestically and overseas.”

A Los Angeles native and the son of actress Elinor Donahue (“Father Knows Best”) and the late television Executive Producer Harry Ackerman (“Bewitched,” “The Flying Nun”), Ackerman resides in Nashville with his wife, and two children.

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 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. 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 (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.