Smithsonian Deal With Showtime Restricts Access By Filmmakers

The Showtime agreement created a new division, Smithsonian Networks, which will offer film products that would be available on-demand to the cable company's subscribers. The Smithsonian made no investment, museum officials said.

The Smithsonian declined to release the agreement, insisting that the terms are "proprietary." The deal, which went into effect Jan. 1, was announced March 9; the controversy was first reported on last week by the New York Times. All contracts with filmmakers made prior to the change, said Kim, are being honored. Since the change, 24 requests out of 26 have been approved, said David Royle, executive vice president for Smithsonian on Demand. By December, when the new Smithsonian on Demand programming becomes available, 40 hours of it should be available.

The new relationship with the filmmakers has several tiers.

"If the entire subject revolves around the Smithsonian, we would look at it and say maybe we want that for Smithsonian on Demand," St. Thomas said. "If we do, we would begin hiring producers to put these pieces together. Showtime and the Smithsonian don't have the staff."

Requests from scholars, journalists and educators will be usually approved, she said, stressing that news and curriculum programs would have access to the archives.

Royle believes the deal will create opportunities, not limit them. "Filmmakers welcome with open arms the opportunity to get funding to make quality filmmaking," said Royle, a veteran of National Geographic Television and Film. "Whenever you have a change like this, you are going to have a few bumpy moments. This is not a situation where anyone intends to stop people from making great films."

In recent years the Smithsonian has signed controversial agreements with donors for large gifts for the restoration of buildings and other needs. In return it has frequently given the donor a prominent name on a piece of Smithsonian real estate. The American History museum added "Behring Center" to its title in acknowledgement of an $80 million gift from businessman Kenneth Behring. At the National Air and Space Museum, the name of the movie theater was changed after a donation from Lockheed-Martin Corp. Those moves have all been criticized from within and outside of the Smithsonian.

Smithsonian officials last week told Congress that, in addition to the $644 million federal appropriation required for salaries, operations and general maintenance, it also needs about $94 million a year to reduce a backlog on repairs.