Canada's High Fidelity HDTV, Smithsonian Networks in Exclusive Deal

TORONTO, May 22: High
Fidelity HDTV has reached an agreement with Smithsonian Networks to exclusively
air programming from the U.S.-based Smithsonian Channel HD on three of its
networks—Oasis HD, Equator HD and Treasure HD—in Canada.

Programming from
Smithsonian Networks will be added to the broadcast schedules of Oasis HD,
Equator HD and Treasure HD within weeks. Smithsonian Channel HD’s programming
covers genres such as wildlife, technology, history, culture and children’s
content. It offers branded original content drawn largely from the assets of
the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex,
and features documentaries and short-subject films such as world’s finest cars,
unbelievable flying objects and batwomen of Panama.

“Smithsonian Networks’
programming is a perfect fit for our suite of all-HD channels, and we are very
proud to be able to offer it for the first time to Canadian viewers,” said John
Panikkar, a partner and co-founder of High Fidelity HDTV. “We have made a
commitment to Canadian viewers to offer the best in non-fiction HD programming,
and Smithsonian Networks is a standard-bearer for that promise.”

“As one of our first
international distributors, this deal clearly demonstrates the brand value of
the Smithsonian name throughout the world,” said Tom Hayden, the general
manager of Smithsonian Networks. “We welcome High Fidelity HDTV to our family
and look forward to providing our Canadian friends with the best in HD programming.”

—By Irene Lew