Home > News > Content & Channels > AMC Networks International UK unveils a fresh and cohesive new look for its UK portfolio of channels and streaming services
True Crime from CBS Reality is renamed to TRUE CRIME UK
AMC Networks International UK has announced that it will rebrand its portfolio of UK channels and streaming services owned by the CBS AMC Networks UK Channels Partnership, a joint venture with Paramount Global.
The rebrand will be rolled out on 22 November and provides an exciting opportunity to introduce a clearer look and offering across the joint venture’s channels and services in the UK, while retaining familiar colouring for its dedicated audiences and renaming of the services to better reflect their content offering to attract new viewers. The whole portfolio is now brought together with the signature open box branding.
CBS Reality, which has been the UK’s #1 factual entertainment channel amongst adult women1 since 2016 and has been airing popular original, expert-led true crime programming, will be renamed to TRUE CRIME, and streaming brand True Crime from CBS Reality will change from to TRUE CRIME UK.
Entertainment channel LEGEND, which features action, sci-fi, adventure and western series and movies, and which was renamed from Horror Channel in 2022, will also go through a brand transformation.
This portfolio of channels reaches viewers in more than 25 million homes throughout the UK via the Sky, Virgin Media, Freesat and Freeview platforms, and on-demand content from both the TRUE CRIME and LEGEND channel brands are available currently on free on-demand player CBS Catch Up Channels UK which will become WATCH FREE UK. WATCH FREE UK is accessible directly via FreeView, Freesat and Youview, and downloadable via IOS, Android, and all major device/manufacturer stores.
Other channels in the portfolio to rebrand include LEGEND XTRA and TRUE CRIME XTRA, and time-shift versions LEGEND XTRA +1 and TRUE CRIME +1.
Sam Rowden, VP, Content Group said, “With such a vast array of content available across so many platforms, we wanted to elevate our UK portfolio to be more easily recognisable and accessible, and to clearly reflect our content offering. This rebrand closely aligns with our aim to provide carefully curated services catering to both existing and new audiences, wherever they choose to watch our programmes.”
The new look was developed with Second Home Studios alongside AMCNI UK’s in-house creative team led by Creative, Marketing and Communications Director Matt Stott, and the updated identity is supported by a marketing campaign including on air and digital media elements.
Current programming highlights on TRUE CRIME include original content such as “Evidence of Evil”, “Murder by the Sea”, “Killers: Caught on Camera”, “Donal Macintyre’s Killer Evidence”, “The Truth About My Murder” and exclusive third-party content including “Medical Detectives”.
Upcoming content on LEGEND includes series “The Six Million Dollar Man”, “Walker Texas Ranger” action movie titles Hard Target, Barb Wire and thriller Sneakers alongside Jet Pilot and Angel and the Bad Man starring John Wayne, from the westerns collection.
1 Based on 0900-2959 daypart, All adults 2022. Source: BARB/Techedge, audience shares based on whole day viewing, adults.
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