AMC Networks UK is refreshing its channel portfolio with changes to a number of its services coming this November.
- CBS Reality name dropped after 14 years.
- Horror and sci-fi channel ‘Legend’ to get a brand refresh with Horror Xtra being renamed.
- Changes to on-demand and streaming services, too.
The changes aim to provide a “clearer look and offering”, according to AMC Networks UK, which operates the channels as part of a joint venture with Paramount Global. A number of branding anomalies will be removed and the CBS brand will finally disappear from all of its channels and services, after a partial removal in mid-2022.
All changes will be rolled on Wednesday 22nd November, coinciding with the next regular monthly Freeview channel update.
But all of the affected linear channels are also available on Sky, Freesat, YouView and Virgin Media.
CBS Reality & Reality Xtra changes
CBS Reality will turn into True Crime. The move sees the CBS name dropped from the UK version of the channel after 14 years – it was originally introduced on 16th November 2009.
Sister channel Reality Xtra will become True Crime Xtra.
The +1 channel becomes True Crime+1.
Online and Streaming changes
Meanwhile, the existing ‘True Crime by CBS Reality’ service, available on various streaming services becomes ‘True Crime UK. The change comes ahead of a wider rollout on more platforms shortly.
Catch-up service CBS Catch Up Channels UK will become ‘Watch Free UK’. The service will continue to be available on Freeview, Freesat and YouView.
Horror Xtra rebranded
The current Horror Xtra channel will become Legend Xtra, aligning the channel more closely with the existing Legend channel. Legend, in turn, will receive what AMC calls a “brand transformation” as part of the changes.
The Horror Xtra name is an anomaly dating back to mid-2022 when the Horror Channel became Legend. Back then, Horror Xtra took over Horror Channel’s original slot on some platforms, including Sky, while on other platforms, including Freeview, Horror became Legend.
The CBS Reality brand itself also an anomaly – the channel escaped a rebrand at the end of June 2022, despite the CBS name disappearing from other all channels, even its spin-off channel Reality Xtra.
The new logos, shown above, feature AMC’s rectangle as a common identifier.
Corporate comment
Sam Rowden, VP Content Group, commented:
“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.”
Marc Thornham