A+E Networks is refreshing its network Crime + Investigation around the world, introducing a new and refined brand positioning, updated on-air look and enhanced programming strategy, said Amanda Hill, chief marketing officer, A+E Networks on Wednesday.
“Crime + Investigation has long taken a unique and intelligent approach to the true-crime genre. We do what we do because truth is worth pursuing - through powerful storytelling across multiple platforms,” said Hill in a statement. “We now have a clearer positioning and a more contemporary look and feel — one which is fresh, bold and unexpected. We made some brave decisions with our channel partners on logo design, imagery, use of typography and brand spots. The result is a distinctive, modern package about which we are all hugely proud and which we know viewers will enthusiastically embrace.”
“Crime + Investigation has a fiercely loyal and passionate fan base worldwide,” said Patrick Vien, executive managing director, international, A+E Networks, also in a statement. “We are thrilled to unveil this evolved vision which will help us to continue elevating the crime genre with thought-provoking, investigative storytelling driven by human ingenuity. Paired with significant investment in original programming, we are confident that CI will reach new heights as we bring both core fans and new audiences even deeper into some of the most galvanizing investigations of our time.”
The rebrand comes on the same day that NBCUniversal’s cable network, Oxygen, announced it was rebranding itself as a true-crime network.
UK-based creative agency Dixon Baxi created the new brand look for Crime + Investigation, which includes a straightforward san serif font highlighted with red accents and red lines.
“Working with Dixon Baxi on both the brand strategy and creative execution was a great benefit,” said Hill in a statement. “It allowed us to move smoothly from one stage to the next with a team that were already fully invested in the brand and had a clear vision of where we were aiming to take it.”
Part of the new vision for Crime + Investigation vision includes 250 new hours of programming. The full lineup will be announced later this quarter, but headlining it is the return of true-crime series Cold Case Files in the U.S. on Feb. 27 with ten one-hour episodes. The all-new production will be narrated by Danny Glover.
Cold Case Files, which explores unsolved cases, comes from Blumhouse Television, which also produced HBO’s The Jinx, and independent production studio, Ample.
Other new programs coming to C+I include docu-series Nightwatch, which follows teams of emergency responders working the overnight shift. Nightwatch comes from prolific executive producer Dick Wolf and his production company, Wolf reality, as well as 44 Blue Productions.
Babies Behind Bars follows a program at the Indiana Women’s Prison that works with mothers who give birth to babies in jail, and then are allowed to keep them while incarcerated.
60 Days In, which airs in the U.S. on A&E, is another docu-series. This one tracks seven civilians as they enter prison for two months to see what it’s really like to go to jail. Season one follows the volunteers as they head into Indiana’s Clark Country jail.
Another off A&E series is Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, a six-episode documentary. Remini relates her story of leaving the church after 34 years in 2013.
24 to Life joins people on their journey just before they enter prison. The subjects of this series are living their last day of freedom before going to jail to serve long sentences.
Monster in My Family delves into the backgrounds of some of the world’s most notorious serial killers from the points of view of their friends and family.
And finally, Police Patrol is a spin-off another another docu-series, Live PD, telling the full story of every case through the eyes of the police officers who were there.
Crime + Investigation reaches more than 50 million households in 18 languages in more than 170 territories worldwide.
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