Court TV getting makeover in '08
By Paul J. Gough
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Court TV will next year take on a new name and look that emphasizes reality rather than legality.
Turner Broadcasting System Inc. said Tuesday that it would relaunch the network, which it fully acquired last year, on January 1, 2008. During a presentation to advertisers, executives promised more details by late summer.
They said the reason for the rebranding was simple enough: For years, since the network built its "CrimeTime Primetime" apart from the trial coverage during the daytime, Court TV has struggled to make the two ends meet cohesively.
"The Court TV brand does not accurately represent" what the network is in primetime, said Mark Juris, Court TV's general manager.
Juris said the brand has to catch up to the programming and promised that it would be an evolution and not a revolution on the channel. He said the channel will focus on what he called real-life stories and people aimed at a new demographic term: "real engagers," defined as people who want real-life, engaging programming told in the first person.
Executives said after the presentation that the daytime programming -- until 3 p.m. ET -- would remain trial coverage. But then Court TV would move to a two-hour talk show block anchored by Nancy Grace for one hour and Star Jones Reynolds for another.
Also unveiled Tuesday were several series already in production, including "Bounty Girls," about a group of Florida female bounty hunters; "The Real Hustle," about three con artists who target New Yorkers with their tricks; and "Most Daring," from the producers of Court TV's "Most Shocking." It announced quarterly specials from Turner's TheSmokingGun.com titled "The Smoking Gun Presents: The Dumbest Criminals in the World."
In development are several other series, including "Tiger Team," about a group of people who are hired by big business and government to test security systems; "The Room," about how police officers interrogate suspects; and "Bouncin' With Tiny Lister," which shows the nightclub scene through the eyes of bouncers.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
