bluepenguin
12-17-2009, 03:44 PM
Documentary Channel sheds non-profit status — and Nashville Public Television audience
Nashville Public Television will no longer carry programming from Nashville-based The Documentary Channel, a decision that is tied to the independently-owned cable network’s relaunch as a fully commercial service.
Officials with both organizations described the decision as a mutual one and said The Documentary Channel’s move to a commercial service this summer has created operational headaches on both sides. The move will take effect late this year or early next year.
In a phone interview today with Nashville Business Journal, The Documentary Channel President and CEO James Ackerman said it is an exciting time for the company, which launched in 2006 as a “public-interest channel” with yearly carriage, or distribution, agreements with satellite provider Dish Network.
“Over the summer, we were able to negotiate a full transition to commercial,” Ackerman said. “We are now out aggressively pursuing cable operators.”
The Documentary Channel jettisoned its non-profit status, was freed from the advertising restrictions of public-interest channels and entered into a multi-year carriage agreement with Dish.
Ackerman said the transition has strengthened the company’s financial wherewithal and allowed it to grow. Ackerman, previously chairman of the company, became CEO in the process. Previous CEO and company founder Tom Neff remains with the company as its chief creative officer.
The company’s redistribution deal with Nashville Public Television, however, no longer fits as both sides would have to work to replace The Documentary Channel’s commercial advertising spots so that it can air on the public television station.
Ackerman said The Documentary Channel will continue to be shown on Monday nights on New York public station NYC TV, however, for strategic reasons. Ackerman said many advertisers are based in New York.
Ackerman would not reveal company financials or the details of its transition to a commercial service. The company also told trade publication Multichannel News that it would not discuss its structure when asked if Dish had taken an equity stake in the channel.
Ackerman said that besides transactions between individual investors, most of the company’s original investors are still with The Documentary Channel. The company claims 25 million subscribers.
Ackerman said the channel will still focus on the independent filmmakers who make up 90 percent of its lineup. The channel will launch its first original weekly series, DocTalk, Jan. 1, and recently inked a deal with Image Entertainment for 16 films including Academy Award-winner “Born Into Brothels.”
Ackerman said the company also has had success in developing sponsored documentaries, such as a racing film wholly sponsored by a motor oil company.
Nashville Public Television Program Manager Justin Harvey said The Documentary Channel currently airs on the network daily from 10 p.m. to 6 p.m. It will be replaced by PBS programming, movies and global news.
Ackerman said that Nashvillians who miss The Documentary Channel and are not Dish subscribers should call their cable or satellite provider to request the channel.
Nashville Public Television will no longer carry programming from Nashville-based The Documentary Channel, a decision that is tied to the independently-owned cable network’s relaunch as a fully commercial service.
Officials with both organizations described the decision as a mutual one and said The Documentary Channel’s move to a commercial service this summer has created operational headaches on both sides. The move will take effect late this year or early next year.
In a phone interview today with Nashville Business Journal, The Documentary Channel President and CEO James Ackerman said it is an exciting time for the company, which launched in 2006 as a “public-interest channel” with yearly carriage, or distribution, agreements with satellite provider Dish Network.
“Over the summer, we were able to negotiate a full transition to commercial,” Ackerman said. “We are now out aggressively pursuing cable operators.”
The Documentary Channel jettisoned its non-profit status, was freed from the advertising restrictions of public-interest channels and entered into a multi-year carriage agreement with Dish.
Ackerman said the transition has strengthened the company’s financial wherewithal and allowed it to grow. Ackerman, previously chairman of the company, became CEO in the process. Previous CEO and company founder Tom Neff remains with the company as its chief creative officer.
The company’s redistribution deal with Nashville Public Television, however, no longer fits as both sides would have to work to replace The Documentary Channel’s commercial advertising spots so that it can air on the public television station.
Ackerman said The Documentary Channel will continue to be shown on Monday nights on New York public station NYC TV, however, for strategic reasons. Ackerman said many advertisers are based in New York.
Ackerman would not reveal company financials or the details of its transition to a commercial service. The company also told trade publication Multichannel News that it would not discuss its structure when asked if Dish had taken an equity stake in the channel.
Ackerman said that besides transactions between individual investors, most of the company’s original investors are still with The Documentary Channel. The company claims 25 million subscribers.
Ackerman said the channel will still focus on the independent filmmakers who make up 90 percent of its lineup. The channel will launch its first original weekly series, DocTalk, Jan. 1, and recently inked a deal with Image Entertainment for 16 films including Academy Award-winner “Born Into Brothels.”
Ackerman said the company also has had success in developing sponsored documentaries, such as a racing film wholly sponsored by a motor oil company.
Nashville Public Television Program Manager Justin Harvey said The Documentary Channel currently airs on the network daily from 10 p.m. to 6 p.m. It will be replaced by PBS programming, movies and global news.
Ackerman said that Nashvillians who miss The Documentary Channel and are not Dish subscribers should call their cable or satellite provider to request the channel.