A new, on-demand television service with original, branded content culled from the resources of the Smithsonian Institution is being developed in a joint venture between the Smithsonian and Showtime
Networks. Dubbed Smithsonian Networks, the non-ad-supported service is slated to be launched in December 2006, and will offer a collection of up to 40 hours of programming, refreshed monthly for
multi-channel distributors' on demand-enabled households. Content will include documentaries, events, and short subject programming covering scientific, cultural, and historical events, as well as
children's programming.
--John Wolfe