truTV

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Court TV redirects here. For the Canadian TV network, see CourtTV Canada.
truTV
Launched July 1, 1991 (as Court TV)
January 1, 2008 (as truTV)
Network Turner Broadcasting System
Owned by Time Warner
Slogan Not Reality. Actuality.
Country United States
Formerly called Courtroom Television Network, or Court TV (July 1, 1991–December 31, 2007)
Website truTV.com

truTV is an American cable television network owned by Time Warner through its subsidiary, Turner Broadcasting. Named Court TV until December 31, 2007, the basis of the network's programing has traditionally been and still is live trial coverage and law enforcement/investigation-related shows; however, the network is branching out into some non-law enforcement related "real life reality television" or as truTV calls it, "actuality" television. CTVglobemedia's CourtTV Canada still continues to operate in Canada without the truTV branding.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] As Court TV

TruTV was formed in 1991 as Court TV. It began as a joint venture owned by Liberty Media (50%), Time Warner (25%) and NBC (25%) and led by Steven Brill. The network originally featured continuous live trial coverage, with analysis by anchors. The network came into its own during the O.J. Simpson trial.

Brill left the network in 1997. In 1998, NBC sold its share of the network to Time Warner. That same year, it began running several original and acquired programming in prime time, such as Homicide: Life on the Street and Forensic Files.

In 2004, recognizing the growth of its primetime programming, Court TV split itself into two divisions. Daytime trial coverage was branded as Court TV News, while primetime and weekend programming was branded as Court TV: Seriously Entertaining.

Time Warner bought full control of Court TV in 2006 and began running it as part of Turner Broadcasting.[1] The buyout of Court TV marks Time Warner's first instance of buying a TV network, rather than selling one, since the acquisition of TBS Networks in 1996.

[edit] Transition to truTV

On March 13, 2007, Time Warner announced that Court TV would change its name to truTV on New Year's Day 2008.

Steve Koonin, President of Turner Entertainment Networks, said the goal is to find a new name that suggests a broader lineup of shows. He said that the new target audience of the network is viewers known internally as "real engagers". They are typically male and young, 18 to 49 years old. Koonin believes that this audience wants programs that focus on real people and real situations.

On October 29, 2007, Court TV unveiled truTV's new logo and slogan: "Not Reality. Actuality." The initial branding campaign began on November 1, 2007. Starting in late November, the network began showing a bug alternating the Court TV and new truTV logos on screen. Starting on December 18, it began using a "Court TV becomes truTV on January 1, 2008" bug exclusively.

On December 31, 2007, after an episode of Most Shocking at 11:00PM Eastern/10:00PM Central, a three minute promo for the incoming network was played. This was followed by the Court TV ident shown with a 10 second countdown. At the stroke of midnight, the ident switched over to the truTV logo, and the bug switched to "Court TV is now truTV." In February the bug switched again to "truTV".

As part of the rebranding, daytime trial coverage, which previously aired from 9:00AM Eastern/8:00AM Central to 5:00PM Eastern/4:00PM Central, will be cut back to 9:00AM Eastern/8:00AM Central to 3:00PM Eastern/2:00PM Central and branded as "In Session." Originally, this led up to a talk show hosted by Star Jones at 3:00PM Eastern/2:00PM Central, but this was cancelled on February 1, 2008. From 3:00PM Eastern/2:00PM Central to 4:00AM Eastern/3:00AM Central on weekdays and throughout the weekend, it will run original investigation-based programming, as well as several new non-law enforcement related reality shows.

[edit] TruTV HD

TruTV HD launched January 1, 2008. It is currently available on Comcast.

[edit] Station presentation

Original CourtTV logo, used from July 1, 1991 to April 12, 2000

Second CourtTV logo, used from April 12, 2000 to 2005[2]

The last CourtTV logo, used from 2005 to December 31, 2007[3]

truTV logo, used since January 1, 2008

[edit] In Session

In Session (the successor to Court TV News) provides live coverage of trials, legal news, and details of highly-publicized crimes during their news programming hours from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Their coverage takes viewers into the courtrooms and shares analysis from anchors and guests to help viewers understand legal proceedings.

In Session also runs a blog, Sidebar, where the In Session team posts updated legal news and analysis.

[edit] Programs

[edit] Anchors, correspondents, and contributors

[edit] Former Court TV personalities

[edit] Primetime programming

[edit] Websites

In addition to truTV.com, the network also operates The Smoking Gun, a website that focuses on legal items often pertaining to famous people, such as mug shots and other public documents. It also owns the website Crime Library, which provides detailed information about infamous crimes and how they were solved. Online coverage of current trials (including In Session) is now hosted at sister website CNN.com's "Crime" section. truTV also maintains truTV video, a streaming video player, where users can watch "footage of car chases, dumb criminals, gun fights, drunk drivers, drug busts, naughty girls, police, things that blow up, taser attacks, naked thieves and more!"

[edit] Radio

On February 3, 2003, Court TV Plus debuted on Sirius Satellite Radio, featuring audio from Court TV programs. Originally on Channel 134, it was moved in September 2005 and aired on Channel 110 until the channel ceased operations on January 1, 2008.

[edit] Main competitors

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Time Warner buys remaining part of Court TV, USA Today, May 15, 2006
  2. ^ Court TV Debuts New $10M Thumbprint: New logo, slogan, programs on tap for network beginning April 12 mywire.com
  3. ^ Court TV rules in favor of new logo, branding variety.com

[edit] External links

Languages