SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL(TM) ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO AIR SPECIAL FEATURING GRAMMY(R) AWARD NOMINEE HOZIER

New York, July 9, 2015 - The latest special from the acclaimed Irish music series OTHER VOICES is headed to North America. The one-hour program, featuring worldwide sensation and Grammy Award-nominated artist Hozier, will be broadcast on Smithsonian Channel in the U.S. and Canada. OTHER VOICES is distributed by Monster Entertainment. Hosted by Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones and The Wire), OTHER VOICES is filmed in the spectacular seaside town of Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland, where the main performances are shot in the very intimate and beautiful 200-year old St. James' Church. The announcement was made today by David Royle, Executive Vice President of Programming and Production, Smithsonian Channel and Andrew Fitzpatrick, Chairman, Monster Entertainment.

Featuring Hozier's first ever television appearance at the time it was filmed, the special will include exclusive interview footage with the unique and talented artist, who taught himself how to play guitar and piano at 15, following in the footsteps of his musician father. The special will also present Hozier's live performances of some of his great songs, such as ''From Eden'', ''Work Song'' and the mega hit ''Take Me To Church'', which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2015 and won the Ivor Novello and multiple Billboard Awards. The song went to number two in the U.S. and the U.K., a feat matched by his debut album which is currently enjoying worldwide success.

Hozier is currently on a world tour, which includes shows at the Glastonbury Festival, Newport Folk Festival, the Olympia in Paris, New York's Radio City Music Hall, The Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California and LA's Microsoft Theatre.

OTHER VOICES is an eclectic music program which features intimate live performances and interviews with some of the biggest names in international music, including The National, Ellie Goulding, Snow Patrol, Florence & The Machine, Temper Trap, James Morrison, David Gray, and many others, as well and up-and-coming artists. Previously Smithsonian Channel aired an OTHER VOICES special on five-time Grammy winner, Amy Winehouse.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), owned by Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME(R) with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, Boomtowners, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Find out more at www.smithsonianchannel.com.