Sundance Channel Programming Available On the iTunes Store Beginning Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Sundance Channel Programming Available On the iTunes Store Beginning Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Free Sneak Peek Of Jay Bakker Series 'One Punk Under God' On iTunes December 5-12, 2006

NEW YORK, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Sundance Channel today announced the availability of select television programming on the iTunes Store (http://www.itunes.com/). The announcement was made today by Christopher Barry, Vice President, Digital Media and Business Strategy, Sundance Channel. Episodes of groundbreaking Sundance Channel documentary series "The Hill," "The First Amendment Project," and "The Staircase" are available beginning November 7, 2006, for purchase and download priced at $1.99 (US) each.

Additionally, a sneak peek of the first episode of the six-part documentary series "One Punk Under God" featuring alternative Christian minister Jay Bakker, will be available as a free download on iTunes from December 5 to 12th, 2006. The series launches on Sundance Channel, on December 13th. The series airs every Wednesday night at 9:00pm and each successive episode will be available on iTunes the day after it premieres on Sundance Channel for $1.99 (US) each.

"Building on the success of our podcasts from "The Al Franken Show" and "The Hill" we are excited to expand our relationship with iTunes to include the sale of Sundance Channel documentaries and exclusive series on the iTunes Store," said Barry. "This relationship underscores our commitment to provide Sundance Channel content across all digital platforms."

"One Punk Under God"

An original six-part observational documentary series on the alternative Christian minister Jay Bakker, the only son of former Praise The Lord leaders, Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner. The series takes a behind-the-scenes look at the life of Bakker as he faces the professional, emotional and financial struggles of running his Revolution church in Atlanta, Georgia. The tattooed and pierced preacher is not necessarily the image of an American evangelist with his resolutely maverick stance and open tolerance for alternative lifestyle choices. But by fusing together punk and Christian values to create a non-denominational and inclusive parish, he is working to show the world just how hip and welcoming today's churches can be. The series will air on Sundance Channel Wednesdays at 9:00pm e/p from December 13 to January 17 and each episode will be available the following day on iTunes.

"The Hill"

This six-part documentary series offers a rare glimpse into the charged world of congressional politics. "The Hill" focuses on the inner-workings of the office of Congressman Wexler, an influential member of Congress who has battled the opposition, and sometimes even his own party, on politically sensitive issues such as Social Security reform and the war in Iraq. Wexler, a key member of the House Judiciary Committee and the International Relations Committee, is also actively involved in the Middle East. "The Hill" features Wexler's Chief of Staff Eric Johnson, Communications Director Lale Mamaux, Legislative Director Jonathan Katz, Legislative Assistant Halie Soifer, and Congressman Wexler.

"The Staircase"

Winner of The Peabody Award, The Dupont Award, and the IDA Award, The Staircase delves into the mystery surrounding the death of Kathleen Peterson, a Nortel executive who was married to novelist Michael Peterson. On the night of December 9, 2001, an agitated Michael Peterson called 911 and told the operator that he had found his wife, unconscious but still breathing, at the bottom of the stairs. When the police arrived, they found Kathleen lying dead in a pool of blood and began treating the home as a crime scene. One week later, Michael Peterson was charged with first-degree murder. In eight tautly structured chapters, The Staircase takes viewers inside an unpredictable real- life drama as Peterson's sons and adopted daughters rally to his defense and his legal team prepares to battle the prosecution. Meanwhile, Durham's district attorney and his assistant build a case that will put the Peterson marriage -- and Michael Peterson's private life -- at the center of the trial.

"The First Amendment Project"

A 3-part original series exploring the freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution, exploring how those liberties -- including freedom of speech and the right to peaceably assemble -- are tested by the political, social and cultural conditions of the moment. In "Fox v. Franken" directors Chris Hegedus and Nick Doob follow the story behind Fox Television's legal efforts to halt publication of Al Franken's book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. In "Poetic License" director Mario Van Peebles looks at famed writer and political activist Amiri Baraka, who was New Jersey's third Poet Laureate -- and its last after one of his poems was called anti-Semitic in 2002. In "Some Assembly Required" John Walter follows a range of characters protesting at the Republican National Convention in New York City.

Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Bold, uncompromising and irreverent, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries, and original programs, all unedited and commercial free. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is a venture of NBC Universal, Showtime Networks Inc. and Robert Redford. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression. Sundance Channel's website address is http://www.sundancechannel.com/.

Source: Sundance Channel

CONTACT: Sarah Eaton, +1-212-708-8043, sarah.eaton@sundancechannel.com;
or Katie Lanegran, +1-212-708-8044, katie.lanegran@sundancechannel.com

Web site: http://www.sundancechannel.com/

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