Olympic Channel to get its own original documentary series

The over the top streaming Olympic Channel which launched after the Rio Games has been streaming its own content. The content has either been short vignettes or various live sporting events. But now the Olympic Channel has announced a new original documentary series with some heavy Hollywood hitters producing the films.

“Five Rings Films” will be produced by Steven Spielberg associate Frank Marshall and Mandalay Sports Media which is led by Mike Tollin who has produced many original films including the ESPN 30 for 30 doc “Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?”

The Olympic Channel series will be a five-episode series. According to the official announcement, it will look at various subjects:

“Scheduled to launch in 2017, each hour-long special will showcase the incredible humanity, variety and achievements of the modern Olympic era.

“…In addition to depictions of iconic individuals and record-breaking teams, the “Five Rings Films” (wt) documentaries will spotlight athletes who have made an impact beyond sports, in realms ranging from politics to the environment to social justice. Additional subjects and directors for the series will be announced in the coming months.”

The first film will be directed by Peter Berg who directed “Friday Night Lights” and “Patriots Day,” and will showcase Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson who won heavyweight gold medals in 1972, 1976 and 1980 and also turned down $5 million to fight Muhammad Ali.

By streaming its own documentary series, the Olympic Channel has some content that could give it some destination programming and in turn, attract viewers and give it some much needed buzz.

If the first batch of “Five Rings Films” is successful in bringing eyeballs to the Olympic Channel, we’ll see if there will be another series of documentaries down the road.