Court TV was originally launched in 1991 in the United States as a cable channel focused on true crime docuseries and live coverage of real trials across the country. The channel gained notoriety thanks to the OJ Simpson trial, but afterwards, the channel saw more success airing scripted programming such as Homicide: Life on the Street and Forensic Files, until eventually relaunching under the name truTV.
In 2019, Katz Broadcasting decided to relaunch Court TV, once again focusing on live coverage of trials across the country. Instead of relying on being included in cable packages, it was instead decided to offer the channel for free via streaming as well as over-the-air broadcasts. With widespread coverage of several high profile court cases, the channel saw success early, allowing the channel to carve out the niche the original channel failed to accomplish.
Once that was successful, Katz decided to expand the brand. Escape, the Distaff Counterpart to Grit, which already had a focus on true crime docuseries and crime procedurals, was rebranded as Court TV Mystery, adding several high profile cop shows to its lineup. In February 2022, Court TV Mystery was rebranded under the Ion banner, becoming Ion Mystery.
Currently, Court TV can be seen over-the-air, streaming for free via its website and Pluto TV, as well as YouTube TV.
Court TV Original Series and Specials:
- Black and Blue
- Chaos in Kenosha: The Kyle Rittenhouse Case
- A Clown at the Door
- Court TV Podcast
- The Doomsday Couple
- Hollywood Predator: The Trial of Harvey Weinstein
- "I Can't Breathe": George Floyd
- Judgment with Ashley Banfield
- The Killing of Ahmaud Arbery
- Mystery on a Snake Farm
- Murder and the Menendez Brothers (Podcast)
- Someone They Knew with Tamron Hall
- OJ 25
