The channel features original non-fiction programming that covers a wide range of historical, scientific, and cultural subjects.

[3] As of December 2023[update], Smithsonian Channel is available to approximately 39,000,000 pay television households in the United States.

After CBS remerged with Viacom, the channel was removed from Showtime Networks and was moved under the MTV Entertainment Group.

The Smithsonian Channel is one of Paramount+'s 7 flagship brands, alongside CBS, Showtime, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, and Comedy Central.

The Smithsonian Channel features a wide array of programming covering science, nature, culture, history, air and spacecraft, and documentaries.

[38][39][40] In December 2018, HD test transmissions for the Smithsonian Channel were broadcast on the Astra 2G satellite used by the UK's Sky platform.

[45] Under the contract, Showtime would be able to deny permission to other media producers wishing access to Smithsonian collections.