If you didn’t think the return of the Court TV brand was limited to digital multicast distribution across the U.S., you’re correct.
There will now be access to true-life courtroom dramas taking place in America for those residing in the United Kingdom.
The Katz Networks offering is now available on Sky Television Channel 179 across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with more distribution agreements expected to be announced.
To be clear, there will be no powder wigs or barristers to be seen. Rather, Court TV’s U.K. channel provides viewers a window on the opening proceedings, gavel-to-gavel coverage, and verdict of U.S. trials.
And, given the five-hour time difference between London and New York, this coverage will appear in prime-time across Great Britain.
That said, U.K. audiences will soon get unique content designed to explain the differences between the two country’s systems — including why cameras are allowed in courtrooms in the U.S. but not in the U.K.
“There’s been nothing like Court TV in the United Kingdom until now,” said Jonathan Katz, President/CEO of Katz Networks, part of The E.W. Scripps Co. “American crime dramas have long been a staple on television worldwide, including the U.K., while global consumer interest in the real-life drama of true-crime programming has skyrocketed, with American reality crime content as the most-watched. Court TV is the only network covering these cases and these events live, as they happen, from start to finish. We anticipate viewers in the U.K. will embrace having a front-row seat to American criminal justice.”
For nearly two decades through 2008, the original Court TV served cable TV audiences before becoming Tru TV under Viacom. Katz Networks and Scripps rebooted Court TV in May 2019 as a digital multicast offering in an environment where cord-cutting is fueling over-the-air broadcast TV consumption.
What could possibly be of interest to British viewers? Upcoming U.S. trials Court TV plans to cover and air both in the U.S. and the U.K. include the death of George Floyd, and the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.
There’s also “The Jinx” Murder Trial, in which Robert Durst, a wealthy New York City real estate heir, faces first-degree murder charges in California as police allege he killed his longtime friend, Susan Berman.
And, there’s the R. Kelly sex abuse case.
The U.K. launch of Court TV just happens to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the O.J. Simpson murder trial verdict. On Oct. 3-4, Court TV will present a marathon of its 25-episode original docuseries “OJ25,” which looks back at the world-famous case, encapsulating the courtroom action in chronological order.
Court TV also airs original Court TV series “Judgment With Ashleigh Banfield,” hosted by the original Court TV alum who is also a former CNN and MSNBC legal analyst. The weekly series debuted Sept. 13.
Court TV’s British feed has its own social media hub: @CourtTVUK.
