• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, April 18, 2008

As the 8-month-old Smithsonian Channel begins selling ads, it has hired a rep firm that's also pitching offerings such as "Punk'd" and a UFC series.

The channel, a joint venture between Showtime and the Smithsonian Institution, has tapped Trifecta Entertainment & Media to handle sales.

In nearly 23 million homes, the channel has been ad-free so far--but plans to boost revenues via PBS-style sponsorships and other non-traditional promotional models, according to a Showtime representative.

Smithsonian Channel programming focuses on documentaries and "innovative and groundbreaking programs highlighting America's historical, cultural and scientific heritage."

The channel is available only in HD, and on DirecTV and Charter, among four distributors.

"Advertising sales is an integral part of our business strategy," said Tom Hayden, general manager of Smithsonian Networks operations.

Trifecta serves as a sales representative for syndicated series such as "Punk'd," the former MTV series where actor Ashton Kutcher plays pranks on fellow celebrities; "American Idol Rewind," which recounts previous seasons of the smash Fox hit; and "UFC Wired," hosted by former "Fear Factor" host Joe Rogan and focusing on the mixed martial arts competition.