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JonInMiddleGA
07-11-2007, 11:57 AM
http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2007/07/11/trutv_0712.html

Court TV getting new format, name: truTV

By SCOTT LEITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/11/07

Court TV is getting a new name – truTV – and several new programs next year as part of a revamp of the cable network.

Turner Broadcasting System, the still-new operator of Court TV, announced details of the change Wednesday. Turner had said in March that it planned to reshape and rename the network.

http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/08/36/88/image_5588368.jpg

Turner wants to refocus Court TV with programs that feature real-life stories, not just court coverage. The name change is part of the switch and will take effect in 2008.

One new series – with the working title "Black Gold" – will follow the lives of oil prospectors in Texas. The program's producer is among those who created "Deadliest Catch" on Discovery Channel.

Another, "Neighbors 911," will feature a former Green Beret who mediates neighborhood disputes.

"With this new name, truTV joins its sister networks TNT, TBS and TCM in establishing itself a solid, identifiable brand," Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks, said in a prepared statement.

Time Warner — Turner's parent — last year spent $735 million to acquire full ownership of Court TV. Previously, the network was a joint venture of Time Warner and Liberty Media.

Atlanta-based Turner took control of Court TV after the deal and has spent months planning ways to recharge the network.

Ksyrup
07-11-2007, 12:12 PM
One new series – with the working title "Black Gold" – will follow the lives of oil prospectors in Texas. The program's producer is among those who created "Deadliest Catch" on Discovery Channel.



Nooooooo! As much as I love Deadliest Catch and enjoy Ice Road Truckers, there's something disconcerting about cranking out series after series in the same cookie-cutter format. DC and IRT are identically produced, right down to the 80s rock band theme song, character sketches, maps, showing the standings at precisely 9 minutes to the hour, etc. No sir, don't like it!

Young Drachma
07-11-2007, 12:18 PM
Oops.

Ksyrup
07-11-2007, 12:25 PM
Poor Court TV...not enough OJs in the world.

path12
07-11-2007, 12:32 PM
I haven't seen IRT, but I love Deadliest Catch and think that the oil prospectors would be pretty damn interesting.

rkmsuf
07-11-2007, 12:33 PM
aye, where's my pirateTV?

sabotai
07-11-2007, 12:48 PM
I've seen Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers, but neither really captured me. The oil prospecting sounds really neat though.

Ksyrup
07-11-2007, 12:53 PM
I haven't seen IRT, but I love Deadliest Catch and think that the oil prospectors would be pretty damn interesting.

They're all interesting, but I just don't like how formulaic IRT is based on DC. It's basically plug-and-play. The only differences are the underlying subject and the narrator.

BrianD
07-11-2007, 02:01 PM
Does Court TV show anything other than Cops anyway? No real loss.

AZSpeechCoach
07-11-2007, 04:27 PM
Does Court TV show anything other than Cops anyway? No real loss.

But I liked being able to turn the TV on at any time of day or night and having a good chance of watching COPS. Now, I might have to watch something with a plot. :(