True Crime Network
4:3 letterbox | |
Ownership | |
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Owner | Tegna Inc. |
Parent | True Crime Network, LLC |
Key people | |
History | |
Founded | November 10, 2014 |
Launched | January 20, 2015 |
Founder | Lonnie Cooper[3][4] |
Former names | Justice Network (2015–2020) |
Links | |
Website | truecrimenetworktv |
True Crime Network (formerly Justice Network) is an American digital multicast television network that is operated by True Crime Network, LLC, a limited liability company, which is owned by Tegna Inc. The network specializes in true crime, investigation and forensic science documentary programming aimed at adults – with a skew toward women – between the ages of 25 and 54.
The network, which broadcasts in 480i standard definition, is available in several large and mid-sized markets via digital subchannel affiliations with broadcast television stations, along with carriage of True Crime Network-affiliated subchannels on cable television providers in most of its market coverage via existing carriage agreements for local broadcast stations.
On July 13, 2020, it was announced that Justice Network would relaunch as True Crime Network on July 27.[5]
History
The concept for the network was developed in 2013, when network founder Lonnie Cooper (a former executive at
The formation of Justice Network was announced on November 10, 2014, with the
The network launched at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 20, 2015.[7][8] On March 6, 2016, the network premiered its own original programs co-produced with TwoFour Productions and Zodiak Productions.[9]
In November 2017, Justice Network and the Justice Network, LLC parent entity were placed into a new corporate parent, Cooper Media, which was also founded to serve as the owner of its documentary- and history-themed sister network Quest (which launched on several Tegna-owned or -operated stations in January 2018).[10] In May 2019, it was announced that Tegna would acquire Cooper Media, thus becoming the parent company of Justice Network and Quest.[11]
On July 13, 2020, it was announced by parent company Tegna that Justice Network would rebrand on July 27 as True Crime Network, capitalizing on the growing popularity of the true crime genre on television. The company will also release a free over-the-top streaming service of the same name that will feature programming live and on-demand.[12][5]
Programming
A limited number of stations carry traditional
Crime and investigation programming
True Crime Network relies on crime and justice-related programming sourced from various production companies. As Justice Network, it aired a selection of programs previously broadcast on Court TV/TruTV until 2019, when Court TV was relaunched by the E. W. Scripps Company.[1][9][13] Justice Network's syndication agreement with Turner Entertainment was announced with the network on November 10, 2014. The network's decision to focus on crime-focused programming is based on various factors in addition to viewer interest in the genre, as it is intended to help tie into its public service mission, and because the genre is of relatively low cost to acquire and produce compared to other fact-based genres.[4][13]
No originally produced programming appeared on Justice Network at its launch, although plans were put forth to start developing original content within the network's first year.[4] Indeed, Justice Network would develop two original series that were co-produced by the network – Killing Spree (produced in conjunction with TwoFour Productions) and Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer (produced with Zodiak Productions) – that premiered on March 6, 2016.[9]
Public service
In addition, the network airs 90 seconds of
- "BeSAFE: Most Wanted" – a segment featuring a specific profile of a wanted fugitive accused of a violent or non-violent felony;
- "BeSAFE: Missing Children" – a report on a missing child (featuring information on when they were last seen before they were abducted or ran away and the child's statistics);
- "BeSAFE: Safety Tips" – a segment providing safety tips informing the public on how to prevent themselves from becoming victims of a crime or abduction.[2]
The PSAs are mainly tailored to the specific region of the local True Crime Network affiliate, with additional information on the fugitives and missing children profiled available on the network's website.[8] John Walsh, founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, serves as the network's on-air spokesperson and announcer of the PSA interstitials.[7] John's son, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children child advocate Callahan Walsh, appears in the network's NCMEC safety and missing child profile PSAs, while Sgt. Ralph Woolfolk of the Atlanta Police Department (who, in his prior career as a child actor, was known for his role as Derek "Dee Dee" Parker in the 1990s Nickelodeon sitcom My Brother and Me) appears in the network's "BeSAFE" PSA interstitials.[13]
Affiliates
As of August 8, 2016[update], True Crime Network has current or pending affiliation agreements with television stations in 65 media markets (including 24 of the top 30), covering 57% of all households of at least one television set in the United States. The network is selective in the stations with which it affiliates, preferring those that maintain a local news department and community initiatives.[15]
When its launch was announced, the network reached a charter affiliation agreement with the Gannett Company's broadcasting unit (now split into a separate company named Tegna as of June 29, 2015), which initially debuted the network on 22 of its television stations.
As a result of
References
- ^ a b c de Moraes, Lisa (November 10, 2014). "Justice Network Launches In January With Focus On True Crime". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Wallach, Other TV Vets Launching Diginet". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. November 10, 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-10-03. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
- ^ a b Littleton, Cynthia (November 12, 2014). "TV Biz Vets Team to Launch Digital Justice Network with Gannett". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Ritchie, Kevin (January 20, 2015). "Schiffman, Ford outline vision for Justice". RealScreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
- ^ a b Barnes, Jess (2020-07-13). "Justice Network will Relaunch as True Crime Network This Month". Cord Cutters News. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ Lafayette, Jon (November 10, 2014). "Network Aims To Capture Viewers And Bring Bad Guys to Justice". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- ^ a b Downey, Kevin (January 20, 2015). "Justice Network Debuts With John Walsh". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Archived from the original on 2015-10-03. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- ^ Fox Interactive Media. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- ^ a b c Buckman, Adam (February 19, 2016). "Justice Network To Debut 2 Original Series". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ^ Miller, Mark K. (November 7, 2017). "Tegna, Cooper Media to Launch Quest Diginet". TVNewsCheck.com. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
- ^ Hayes, Dade (May 6, 2019). "Tegna Acquires Multicast Networks Quest And Justice Network In $91M Deal". Deadline. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ "TEGNA's Justice Network to Relaunch as True Crime Network, Creating the First 24/7 True Crime Broadcast Network". Business Wire. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ a b c Harry A., Jessell (July 19, 2017). "Bringing Justice To The Entire Country". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Archived from the original on 2020-10-27. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
- ^ Miller, Mark K. (August 28, 2017). "Justice Network Reaches Big Milestones". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Archived from the original on 2020-09-27. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ a b Buckman, Adam (August 8, 2016). "Justice Network Grows To 57% Coverage". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Archived from the original on 2018-10-22. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ^ Lafayette, Jon (January 18, 2015). "Exclusive: Comedy Multicast Net Launching on ABC, Scripps". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- ^ Miller, Mark K. (September 6, 2017). "Univision Adds Justice Network In 11 Markets". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Archived from the original on 2020-09-27. Retrieved November 7, 2017.