Jointly owned by the 164-year-old Smithsonian Institution and CBS’s Showtime Network, Smithsonian Channel delivers programmes that are entertaining and informative.
Just four years old, it is currently in 9 million US homes and recently boosted its reach via a 10-year carriage deal with cable operator Comcast.
Smithsonian has also built a steadily growing portfolio of co-productions, including several with the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
What is the target demographic and brief?
We’re aiming at a family audience, including adults who are curious about the world. Our subjects cover history, natural history, science, art, music and popular culture. We’re looking for non-fiction programmes that tell a good story, and that are entertaining and informative.
What is the network’s tariff and funding situation?
We’re looking for good ideas that come with a percentage of the budget in place. Everything has to be in HD and 5.1 surround sound. And if it has already aired on another channel, we won’t be interested.
What does the network want and what slots are available?
We co-produce several programmes with UK broadcasters, but the subjects must have an American aspect. They include Timewatch, the BBC’s history-themed series. We have co-produced programmes about Omaha Beach, among other topics. Docu-drama Hindenburg: The Untold Story was commissioned from Pioneer Productions for Smithsonian, C4 and German network ZDF. And Concorde: Flying Supersonic was co-commissioned with C4 and produced by Darlow Smithson.
What has the network recently commissioned and what is in production?
Born Fighting, co-produced with STV Production (in association with Ulster TV), is a two-part history of Scotch-Irish Americans that goes on air next year. We’ve just co-produced with UK-based Eagle Rock Entertainment the pilot for a film about musician Phil Collins called Phil Collins: Going Back To Detroit. The Furious Force Of Rhymes, which traces the evolution of hip-hop music from the Bronx to the rest of the world, was directed by Josh Little for Smithsonian Networks, ARTE, Link TV and France’s Les Films d’Ici. Women In Science is a series that looks at extraordinary contemporary female scientists.
What are the cross-platform opportunities?
A very smart selling tool for any producer is to be able to say to a broadcaster that there are ideas for cross-platform distribution. We have a website and an iPhone app and we are on all sorts of digital platforms in the US.
What is the best way to pitch to the network?
Send us a completed submission form, which is on our website. Then send the proposal to Chris Hoelzl, vice-president of development, on choelzl@smithsoniannetworks.com. It has to be succinct and include some information about costs.
Who are your top programme suppliers and how many hours do you commission a year?
Suppliers include Darlow Smithson, Off The Fence, Pioneer Productions and Eagle Rock. We commission 30 hours of original productions and 40 hours of co-productions. And we are expecting that number to grow rapidly.
What have been the top programmes in 2009-10?
- Apocalypse: The Second World War by CC&C for France Televisions
- Concorde: Flying Supersonic by Darlow Smithson for Smithsonian and C4
- Stealth: Flying Invisible by Fiveson Entertainment for Smithsonian Networks
- White House Revealed, a Smithsonian Networks original production
- The Real Story by Blink Films for Smithsonian Networks and Five
- Aerial America by Smithsonian Networks and Skyworks
- Sound Revolution, with Morgan Freeman, by Smithsonian Networks and Eagle Rock Entertainment
No comments yet