Witnesses testified about Smithsonian Institution operations and plans to collaborate with the Showtime cable network on various programming through a Smithsonian-on-Demand channel. Among the issues they addressed were public uses of Smithsonian collections, concerns surrounding the contract for Smithsonian-on-Demand, and details of the Smithsonian Business Ventures' announced partnership to create and distribute Smithsonian-related programming with CBS/Showtime Networks, Inc. by granting them first-refusal rights to access to the Smithsonian collections and experts. Members' questions focused on potential risks involved with curtailing access and use of the Smithsonian collections to filmmakers, rival networks, journalists and scholars.