DOC Channel Founder Sets Up New Venture

NASHVILLE: Tom Neff, founder and former CEO of The Documentary Channel (DOC), has set up a new venture to develop "branded documentaries."

Via Tom Neff Productions (TNP), Neff will develop titles built around corporations and institutions, relaying their histories and issues that are of importance to them. His previous credits include Speed Dreams for Exxon, Built for the People for the Tennessee Valley Authority, and emPOWERed for the Environmental Protection Agency, which all aired on DOC.

“Through documentaries, organizations can reinforce their brands in a way that has tremendous staying-power with audiences,” said Neff. “They can tell their stories directly by creating a documentary on their history, or indirectly by sponsoring a documentary about a cause that concerns them, such as public health or the environment.”

Neff has left DOC to pursue his new venture. He was CEO until last year, when he transitioned to chief creative officer and James Ackerman took over as president and CEO. "I am extremely proud of what we were able to create at DOC, providing a much-needed outlet for an often overlooked but critically important international art form—documentary film. I am now looking forward to working with corporations and other organizations to create branded documentaries for television, while also consulting with other channels on programming and brand.”

TNP is currently pursuing and seeking corporate partnership for a documentary on Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross. It is also looking for partners on American Visions, showcasing American companies and their founders, and Voices, focused on documentary filmmakers of color.