This report was issued by the Government Accountability Office to the Subcommittee on the Interior, Environmen, and Related Agencies, Committe on Appropriation, House of Representatives.

In March 2006, the Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian) announced that it had entered into a 30-year contract with Showtime Networks Inc., (Showtime) to create a digital on-demand television channel. Members of Congress and other interested parties, particularly filmmakers, raised issues about the contracts potential effects on public access to and use of the Smithsonians collections, its confidential nature, and the process by which the Smithsonian negotiated it. This report discusses (1) the extent to which the Smithsonian followed its internal contracting guidelines, (2) what the Smithsonian gave up and received in return under the contract, (3) the Smithsonians implementation of the contract, and (4) the contractss potential impact on outside parties. GAO reviewed the contract and pertinent documents, and interviewed Smithsonian and Showtime officials.

Issued by the United State Government Accountability Office this report outlines details of the Smithsonian Institution's contract with Showtime networks.