Free Speech TV to Premiere New Documentaries & Progressive Action Calendar in Spring Membership Drive

Also Announces Carriage Agreement with DIRECTV

DENVER, May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National multimedia broadcaster Free Speech TV will premiere several hard-hitting new documentaries and launch a new "Progressive Action Calendar" during its Spring Membership Drive, which runs from May 10th  through May 30th.  The network's four daily news programs—The Thom Hartmann Program, GRITtv with Laura Flanders, Democracy Now!, and Al Jazeera English News—will also air during the drive, offering a unique analysis of the day's major headlines, as well as a look at the stories not typically covered in the U.S. corporate media.

"As a non-profit network, Free Speech TV is sustained by our viewers' support, which keeps us fiercely independent," said Executive Director Don Rojas. "That's why Free Speech TV can tread where many larger networks dare not, as our viewers will be reminded with our premieres this May."

In light of the headline-grabbing federal charges recently filed against Goldman Sachs, Plunder: The Crime of Our Time seems particularly prescient.  Interrogating the roots of the current economic crisis, the investigative documentary exposes the criminal activity that led to the collapse of the housing market. Former CNN and Emmy award-winning ABC News producer Danny Schechter speaks with involved bankers, respected economists, top journalists, including Paul Krugman (New York Times), as well as convicted white-collar criminal and whistle-blower Sam Antar.

The Coca-Cola Case, by directors German Gutierrez and Carmen Garcia, offers a fresh look at the world's favorite soda, documenting the real costs of this cheap, ubiquitous drink. Following two American labor rights lawyers, the documentary investigates charges of union busting—and more— at Coca-Cola bottling plants in Colombia, Guatemala and Turkey. In Colombia alone, an estimated 470 unionists have been assassinated since 2002, usually by paramilitaries hired by private companies intent on destroying union-building campaigns.

Dubbed by one trade publication as "The Supersize Me of the Communications World," Pirate Radio USA documents the underground world of micro-radio stations, where people play what they want and say what they want—at least until the FCC catches them. Popular Seattle DJ's "Him" and "Her" take viewers on a rock -n-roll journey inside rogue radio stations springing up across the country. The filmmakers contend that pirate radio, operating in the shadow of the media megaliths, is "not about Left vs. Right, it's about Big vs. Small."

During the Spring Drive, Free Speech TV will also debut its new "Progressive Action Calendar," a one-stop resource for viewers looking for social justice events and actions. "We are launching the calendar in response to calls from our viewers who want to know what positive action they can take after watching Free Speech TV and learning about the challenges our society faces," noted Rojas.

"Our calendar is open to grassroots community organizers, large and small, across the country. We are encouraging 'citizen journalists' to report back on the events they attend." The calendar will launch first on www.freespeech.org, with a television version planned for Fall 2010.

Other films premiering in May include David Edward's documentary Sprawling from Grace, about the suburbanization of the country, and Percy Schmeiser: David v. Monsanto, about the Canadian farmer sued by the chemical company after wind blew its patented seeds into his garden. In response to viewer requests, Free Speech TV is offering an encore broadcast of The Future of Food , an in-depth investigation into genetically-modified foods, industrial agriculture and the growing popularity of organic and sustainable farming alternatives.

Rojas added that Free Speech TV plans a public announcement during its Membership Drive that the network and DIRECTV have recently signed a carriage agreement. "For over ten years, Free Speech TV has been looking toward the day when we could join forces with the country's largest direct broadcast satellite operator. We eagerly anticipate the launch of our DIRECTV channel later this year." Details of the carriage arrangement will be released closer to the launch date.

Free Speech TV (www.freespeech.org) is an independent, non-profit multi-platform digital media pioneer. Promoting voices and perspectives under-represented in the media, Free Speech TV broadcasts and webcasts independently-produced programs addressing social, political, cultural, and environmental issues. Free Speech TV currently reaches 30 million U.S. homes, airing fulltime on DISH Network (channel 9415) and part-time on over 200 cable affiliates.

SOURCE Free Speech TV