Documentary Channel (TV network)
| Documentary Channel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | January 26, 2006 |
| Closed | August 1, 2013 |
| Owned by | Participant Media |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Slogan | Passionate. Perspective. |
| Country | United States |
| Broadcast area | National |
| Headquarters | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Replaced by | Pivot |
The Documentary Channel was an American digital cable and satellite television network that featured documentary programming. It aired independent documentary films from around the world, including those not released in the United States. The channel (along with Halogen TV) was replaced by Pivot, a channel aimed at young adults between 18 and 34 years old, that is also owned by Participant Media, and debuted on August 1, 2013.[1] Pivot continues airing documentaries.
Background
Documentary Channel launched in January 2006. It was founded by Tom Neff,[2] Oscar nominated and Emmy winning documentarian, and attorney John Forbess. Originally, it was supported in part by WNPT, the Nashville PBS station.
Documentary Channel won its first Emmy Award, for Outstanding Documentary, in September 2007, for Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire.[3]
Documentary Channel's signature series, DocTalk, entered its third season July 1, 2011. DocTalk was a weekly half-hour program featuring filmmakers and their newest documentary film projects and releases.
The channel was independently owned and operated until it was purchased by Participant Media in December 2012.
Closure
Documentary Channel built up to the launch of Pivot with a countdown clock in the bottom right hand corner of the screen, where the logo normally is, saying "xx Hours xx Minutes until we Pivot", but there was no special programing taking a look back at the channel's history, instead just showing a normal day of programing.
At approximately 6 p.m ET on Dish receivers, the channel's EPG name changed from "DOC" to "PIVOT", signifying the change happening overnight, in 12 hours time.
At 5:40 a.m ET, the channel's final documentary, 8: The Mormon Proposition, ended. 5 minutes later, the channel's final regularly scheduled program, the channel's original program Doc Talk, began, with the subject being "Full Frame Fest 2". At 5:58 a.m ET, the channel began playing an old style Indian Head test card, and started playing Edward R. Murrow's "Wires and Lights in a Box" speech, talking about how television can help people learn, but only if they accept it. Midway through the speech, in the bottom right, a message said:
Good night, and good luck.Coming in October pivot.tv
At 6:00:04 a.m ET, Documentary Channel ended, and Pivot begun, with the final words spoken on the network being "Good night, and good luck."
References
- ↑ Wake Up, Kids: Disruptive TV Is Here Via Participant Media’s Pivot Cabler, Variety, March 27, 2013.
- ↑ A conversation with Tom Neff, Documentary Channel Nashville Business Journal March 13, 2009
- ↑ Nashville-based Documentary Channel grabs an Emmy Nashville Business Journal October 17, 2007
External links
- An Idea Whose Time Has Come - DigitalFilmmaker article on Documentary Channel's launch
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