The Documentary Channel has licensed U.S. broadcast rights to eight films from Pennebaker-Hegedus Films, including the U.S. TV premiere of “Al Franken: God Spoke.”
Also included in the deal is Oscar-nominated documentary “The War Room.”
The Film Sales Co. handles licensing on the films.
In a statement, D.A. Pennebaker said, "Chris [Hegedus] and I make these films to be seen – not just rarely seen – and are thrilled that the Documentary Channel will be airing what for some will be their North American TV premieres."
The Documentary Channel also said it plans to air a series of 28 music-related documentaries in June under the banner “Sound Check.”
The lineup includes four U.S. television premieres: “Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer” (June 7), “The Trials of Michael Jackson” (June 14), “Let Your Feet Do the Talkin’” (June 20), about buck dancing legend Thomas Maupin, and “Talking Guitars” (June 28), about master guitar craftsman Flip Scipio. “Festival Express” makes its DOC debut on June 21, telling the tale of a multi-band, five-day extravaganza aboard a chartered, customized party train that crossed Canada in the summer of 1970. All air at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Other films in the series are “Amy Cook: The Spaces In Between,” “Pixies: The Gouge,” “Icons Among Us: A Quiet Revolution,” “DocTalk: Music #114,” “Born 2 Boogie,” “Bob Marley: Prophecies and Messages,” “Small Town, Big Symphony,” “Everybody Loves the Tinklers,” “Icons Among Us: 12 Notes in Real Time,” “Guitar Legends,” “DocTalk: Music Personalities, Episode #105,” “Herb Alpert: Music for Your Eyes,” “Flamenco 5:15,” “When Fried Eggs Fly,” “Icons Among Us: Utopia,” “Goldie: When Saturn ReturnZ,” “RIP: A Remix Manifesto,” “Wired for Sound,” “Icons Among Us: Everything Everywhere,” “Nashville Blues: Stacy Mitchart,” “Speaking in Strings” and “Marc Bolan: The Final Word.”
DOC is primarily available through satellite television services Dish Network and DirecTV.
