NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 21, 2008) — The Documentary Channel® (DOC) will showcase the “Spirit of America” in November when it presents a variety of inspiring American-themed documentaries as part of its “Primetime Premieres” Monday lineup.

The special month of programming debuts Monday, Nov. 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT with the exclusive U.S. television premiere of “Spirit of the Marathon,” a documentary vying for Oscar® consideration that offers a rare glimpse inside the lives of six runners as they prepare for the challenging Chicago Marathon. On the following Monday, Nov. 10, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, DOC will exclusively telecast “American Belly Dancer” which captures the spirit of America’s entrepreneurship by examining the history and present-day modernization of the ancient art form of Middle Eastern dance known today in America as belly dancing.

The spirit of America’s drive to win the “space race” is the focus of “One Giant Leap” being telecast on Monday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Narrated by Emmy®-nominated actor Corbin Bernsen, “One Giant Leap” traces the 50-year history of the American space program directed by the civilian space agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Finally, on Monday, Nov. 24, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, DOC will hold the world television premiere of the network’s original production “TVA: Built for the People,” the epic journey of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signing of the TVA Act in 1933 to the impact of TVA on the lives of people across the Tennessee Valley today. Narrated by Golden Globe® and Emmy Award® winner Beau Bridges, “TVA: Built for the People” is directed by Academy Award® nominees Sean and Andrea Fine and executive produced by Oscar®-nominated and Emmy®-winning documentary filmmaker Tom Neff.

“This month, we wanted to offer our viewers a look inside the lives of our fellow Americans who have accomplished remarkable achievements in the face of challenge,” says Neff, The Documentary Channel founder and CEO. “The individuals featured in these films are prime examples that show us just how powerful the American spirit can be and we are thrilled to share their stories.”

DOC is available on DISH Network (Channel 197), and several broadcast stations in major markets including NYC TV (Channel 25) throughout the greater New York metropolitan area.

DOC’s “Spirit of America” primetime schedule for November is as follows:

Monday, Nov. 3 “The Spirit of the Marathon” 10:00 p.m. ET/PT

Monday, Nov. 10 “American Belly Dancer” 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

Monday, Nov. 17 “One Giant Leap: 50 Years of the American Space Program” 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

Monday, Nov. 24 “TVA: Built for the People” 9:00 p.m. ET/PT

Telecast one day following the New York City Marathon, “The Spirit of the Marathon” captures the individual journeys of six runners as they prepare for and ultimately face the challenge of the Chicago Marathon. “Spirit of the Marathon” is the first-ever non-fiction film to portray the drama and essence of the famed 26.2 mile event. Filmed over four continents, the film brings together a diverse cast from amateur athletes to marathon luminaries. Executive produced by Academy-Award® winning documentarian Mark Jonathan Harris, “Spirit of the Marathon” was selected one of the 20 outstanding documentary films by the International Documentary Association earlier this year after winning awards at the Chicago International Film Festival 2007 and Mammoth Film Festival 2007.

“American Belly Dancer” follows the journey of Miles Copeland, former manager of the Police and Sting and founder of IRS Records, as he holds an international search to form a troupe of belly dancers with the improbable mission of bringing Middle Eastern music to the heart of America. Directed by Jon Brandeis, “American Belly Dancer” tracks the auditioning process that spans America and beyond and the Troupe’s American road tour with the huge rock show, Lolapalooza. During their journey, the film reveals the hardships of making a living as a belly dancer and the dancer’s views about the history, extreme proliferation, feminism and misogyny of the ancient art form.

“One Giant Leap: 50 Years of the American Space Program” examines the history of the nation’s space program since President Dwight D. Eisenhower established NASA on Oct. 1, 1958. The film highlights the significant events in NASA’s history and offers a glimpse of future manned space programs to the moon, Mars and beyond. “One Giant Leap” includes interviews with individuals directly involved in the space program and their personal experience of what was and still is one of the greatest technological and human achievements in the history of mankind. It also includes exclusive expert interviews with Shuttle astronaut Robert “Hoot” Gibson; Mercury/Apollo astronaut Alan Shepard’s daughter, Laura Shepard Churchley; Apollo/Skylab astronaut Bill Pogue; Shuttle astronaut Jon McBride; Apollo astronaut Al Worden, Mercury-Apollo voice of launch control, Jack King, and space correspondent and anchor Bill Larson.

“TVA: Built for the People” is the compelling story of the Tennessee Valley Authority told through the eyes and experiences of the people themselves. Produced by BVI in association with The Documentary Channel, the film explores the transformation of the 41,000 square-mile river system that once ravaged the Tennessee Valley, rendering it virtually inhabitable, into one of the most prosperous and desirable places to live in the nation. FDR’s creation of TVA mobilized an entire nation into action to lift the South out of the grips of the Great Depression and ushered in the Atomic Age by providing the fundamental power recourses and facilities that enabled America to develop the first atomic bomb to ultimately win World War II.

About The Documentary Channel®: The 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, Oscar®-nominated and Emmy®-winning 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. 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.”