THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
Court TV is bringing live coverage of US legal cases to the UK, as it launches on Sky television channel 179.
The channel has been a well known broadcaster in the US since its original launch in 1991. The original channel was rebranded as TruTV in 2008, but the Court TV name was relaunched in 2019. Court TV broadcasts a combination of live legal cases from US courtrooms, along with documentaries and other features on the American judicial system. The UK version of the channel is expected to introduce additional content specifically for a UK based audience, including explaining the differences between the judicial systems in the US and the UK, and explaining why cameras are allowed to film in US courtrooms.
Jonathan Katz, president and CEO of Katz Networks, part of The E.W. Scripps Company which owns Court TV, said that "There's been nothing like Court TV in the United Kingdom until now. American crime dramas have long been a staple on television worldwide, including the UK, 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 UK will embrace having a front-row seat to American criminal justice."
Some of the cases which will be broadcast on the channel in the UK include high profile trials, including the four Minneapolis police officers who are to be tried for the death of George Floyd. The trial of three white Americans accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery will also be broadcast.
CourtTV also expect further distribution agreements to be announced.
To tune in to CourtTV in the UK, you'll need to be subscriped to Sky television services. You can also find out the latest from CourtTV on social media, via the handle @CourtTVUK.
