A New Horror channel (Chiller Network)

[dtemplar]

There's a wild rumor that NBC-Universal is planning to create a horror based channel:



NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - NBC Universal is considering creating a cable outlet devoted to horror-themed programing, drawing from a library of creepy film classics including marquee heavies Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and Wolfman.



It would mark the company's first in-house launch since it was formed in May by the merger of General Electric's NBC with most of French firm Vivendi Universal's showbiz assets, including Universal Pictures, USA Network and Sci Fi Channel.



The channel also would nicely complement Sci Fi, which has abandoned the horror genre in recent years for a more mainstream focus but could serve as the ideal venue for cross-promotion. NBC Universal declined comment.



The channel is said to be one of several ideas NBC Universal is tossing around; another natural application of the Universal library might come in the detective genre to capitalize on the likes of venerable Universal gumshoe dramas a la "The Rockford Files," "Columbo," "Magnum, P.I.," "Kojak" and, more recently, "Monk." Universal operates such a crime-centric channel in Latin America.



Meanwhile, the Trio network twists in the wind as NBC Universal devises a strategy to boost the niche outlet's distribution. Without a long-term plan in place, Trio could lose its slot to a new channel concept as early as next month, sources said.



Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

[Tobias]

A horror channel would rule, assuming NBC/Universal do it right.

They won't, by the way.

[Nick K.]

Meh... we'll see recent horror crap and horror themed reality shows...

[Adam Tyner]

Well, you have (http://www.horrorchannel.com/index.php) some (http://www.screamtelevision.ca/about.asp) options (http://voom.com/vhdo/mnst/index.jsp) now, if that's what you want. :)

[loyalheart]

i know some people who would go for the gumshoe channel lol

[Jeff Harris]

You know what I'd like to see NBC Universal create?

A science-fiction channel.

A channel that shows the best science-fiction shows and films ever made. A channel that shows golden and silver age dramas and comedies, kitchy science-fiction shows like Doctor Who, Out of This World, Red Dwarf, Logan's Run, and My Favorite Martian, modern science-fiction shows and specials, cutting edge and classic animated sci-fi, and science-fiction news shows and specials. A channel that celebrates science-fiction down to its core.

NBC Universal should use their combined skills to create a scien - wait, they have one already? You could have fooled me.

[Lord Dalek]

You know what I'd like to see NBC Universal create?

A science-fiction channel.

A channel that shows the best science-fiction shows and films ever made. A channel that shows golden and silver age dramas and comedies, kitchy science-fiction shows like Doctor Who, Out of This World, Red Dwarf, Logan's Run, and My Favorite Martian, modern science-fiction shows and specials, cutting edge and classic animated sci-fi, and science-fiction news shows and specials. A channel that celebrates science-fiction down to its core.

NBC Universal should use their combined skills to create a scien - wait, they have one already? You could have fooled me.Well they could split it up. Sorta like the relationship of Trio to Bravo.

[Tobias]

Shouldn't they concentrate on making USA, Sci-Fi, Trio and NBC good networks before making a new channel? As far as I'm concerned, all four of these channels only has one good show each (Monk, Andromeda, Laugh-In, and Scrubs)

[Jeff Harris]

Well they could split it up. Sorta like the relationship of Trio to Bravo.Well, Bravo abandoned the arts aspect of its inception almost the moment NBC bought it. Trio celebrates the arts and television as an art form while Bravo is a convoluted mess without a real identity anymore (and honestly, who could take a network that airs poker games, makeover shows, a celebrity interview show, and a few movies seriously anymore). Trio is clearly the better of the two networks.

But yet Trio will likely be the casualty if a horror network is made by the sounds of the news item.

I'm with Tobias on the part that NBC Universal needs to work to improve their other networks before they even think of creating another network. The first channel that really needs a head-to-toe makeover is Sci-Fi. Accent more on science-fiction, drop reality show concepts like Scare Tactics and Crossing Over, create strong morning, afternoon, evening, overnight, and weekend lineups, eliminate informercials altogether (the presence of infomercials weakens the overall look of a channel and shows that you really can't program an entire lineup), embrace anime and animation once again, and get rid of inappropriate films like The Flintstones.

Sometimes you have to spend money to make money.

[Supernovametalstar]

I hope the Trio channel sticks around. I like watching it from time to time. But I don't see this horror channel to be anything other than another version of AMC which runs old horror movies.

[Tobias]

If NBC/Universal were smart, they'd incorporate classic and modern horror movies every night:

- Child's Play 2, 3, Bride of Chucky
- The Mummy, the Mummy Returns
- The classic Dracula, Wolfman, Frankenstein films
- Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight/Bordello of Blood
and whatever other horror movies are in their library, plus it wouldn't be hard to get the broadcast rights to:

-A Nightmare on Elm Street
-Friday the 13th
-Halloween
-Leprechaun
-the Stephen King movie library
-all the smaller horror movies that never got sequels

Then there's t.v. shows:

-Tales From the Crypt
-Twilight Zone
-Friday the 13th
-The Outer Limits
whatever other horror based t.v. shows there were

They even do a kids block, since there were a few shows based on horror characters/concepts:

-Mummies Alive!
-Count Duckula
-New Kids on the Block
-My Pet Monster

There is SO MUCH potential for this network. I'm just waiting for them to screw this up before the channel even launches.

[Michael24]

Is this the same horror channel that I read (awhile back) that John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Toe Hooper, and the like were involved with? I'd love an all-horror channel.

[dtemplar]

I would like to see Tales From the Darkside on this new Horror Channel

[Harley_Quinn]

A horror channel would rule, assuming NBC/Universal do it right.

They won't, by the way.We can hope right? A horror channel would be awesome!

[dtemplar]

A new horror channel is coming in March from NBC Universal:


In an unexpected move, NBC Universal plans to roll out Chiller, a new digital cable network devoted to horror-themed programming, Variety reported.

The cable network will launch March 1 and initially be seen in 12 million homes via a carriage deal with DirecTV. The channel also will be offered on DirecTV's new tier of 100 HD channels slated to roll out later this year, the trade paper reported.

NBC U has already started pitching other cable operators on the channel and is hoping to land carriage agreement on other systems.

Jeff Gaspin, NBC Universal's president of cable entertainment, digital content and cross-network strategy, is expected to announce the network on Jan. 12 at the TV Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif. Dan Harrison, senior vice president of emerging networks for NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, will be in charge of the channel.

Chiller will take advantage of NBC U's deep reservoir of horror-related TV shows (Alfred Hitchcock Presents) and films (The Shining, Psycho), many of them from the old MCA library. But Gaspin said the cabler also has acquired programming from other companies, including 20th Century Fox TV, Sony, Warner Brothers TV and Lionsgate.

Other programming assets include Twin Peaks, Tales From the Crypt, Freddy's Nightmares and Friday the 13th: The Series.

[Lord Dalek]

Twin Peaks is horror? News to me.

[dtemplar]

Twin Peaks is horror? News to me.

I never picture Twin Peaks as horror. It should be on Sleuth.

[Michael24]

I really need to get DirecTV. :mad:

[Robin2099]

Ok, so just to be clear, you need a satelite dish in order to have direct tv right, or does it work with digital cable too?

[bigddan11]

Ok, so just to be clear, you need a satelite dish in order to have direct tv right, or does it work with digital cable too?
Direct TV is a satelite company, so you have to have one of their satelite dishes.

[Zorak Masaki]

-
New Kids on the Block



Huh? I mean, NKOTB WERE horrible, but i dont think that merits them being on a horror channel.

[simpsonsfan]

Direct TV is a satelite company, so you have to have one of their satelite dishes.What about Dish network will it be availible on that.

[Kolbar]

They need to get the rights to show "Dark Shadows"! That would be the icing on the cake for me. They could also show "Night Gallery" if they could get the rights.

[Lord Dalek]

They need to get the rights to show "Dark Shadows"! That would be the icing on the cake for me. They could also show "Night Gallery" if they could get the rights.If Chiller has Twin Peaks (a fellow member of the Worldvision/Paramount stable) then acquiring the rights to Dark Shadows should be no problem. Night Gallery of course is a Universal property and should be easy to grab or allready locked in.

[Peter Paltridge]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I wouldn't want to be flipping the channels and suddenly see some massive ugly piece of gore.

[Tobias]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I wouldn't want to be flipping the channels and suddenly see some massive ugly piece of gore.

Well, hopefully E! won't renew 'House of Carters' and you won't have to worry about that happening.

[Sandoz]

Twin Peaks is horror? News to me.
Fire Walk With Me, maybe, but definitely not the show itself.


Maybe I'm in the minority, but I wouldn't want to be flipping the channels and suddenly see some massive ugly piece of gore.
That's a common risk these days even if you don't subscribe to a horror channel.

[the greenman]

Definitely seems intriguing to me. Hope they play Poltergeist: Legacy, Dracula the Series, Werewolf, Forever KNight, She-Wolf of London, Nightmare Cafe, Tales from the Darkside, and Monsters. Maybe even comedy like the Addams Family and The Munsters.

[Robin2099]

Direct TV is a satelite company, so you have to have one of their satelite dishes.
Figures. I was incredibally excited about the news too, but I only have digital cable. :sad:

[dtemplar]

Figures. I was incredibally excited about the news too, but I only have digital cable. :sad:

You probably might get Chiller if you have digital cable.

[dtemplar]

They have a website:

www.chillertv.com (http://www.chillertv.com)

So far, there's nothing new on the site until late February or early March.

[Robin2099]

You probably might get Chiller if you have digital cable. God I hope so. I have been waiting for a horror film chanel for a very loooooong time.

[dtemplar]

Just 4 weeks and counting.

[JohnCrichton]

Definitely seems intriguing to me. Hope they play Poltergeist: Legacy, Dracula the Series, Werewolf, Forever KNight, She-Wolf of London, Nightmare Cafe, Tales from the Darkside, and Monsters. Maybe even comedy like the Addams Family and The Munsters.

Exactally what I was thinking. But of course, don't forget Buffy and Angel.

Not to mention there's a heafty ton of horror anime out there like Gungrave and Hellsing.

Channel like this has potential....... that will more than likely be squandered, but it's fun to dream. :anime:

[Kolbar]

I don't know if someone already said it or not, but will this be a HD channel to go alongside Universal HD?

[the greenman]

Exactally what I was thinking. But of course, don't forget Buffy and Angel.

Not to mention there's a heafty ton of horror anime out there like Gungrave and Hellsing.

Channel like this has potential....... that will more than likely be squandered, but it's fun to dream. :anime:

Yeah, horror cartoons would be cool. I just can't think of much outside of anime. I suppose they could show something like that old Mummies Alive show, but I'd rather have Vampire Hunter D.

[Robin2099]

Yeah, horror cartoons would be cool. I just can't think of much outside of anime. I suppose they could show something like that old Mummies Alive show, but I'd rather have Vampire Hunter D. cough Tales from the Cryptkeeper cough

[dtemplar]

I don't know if someone already said it or not, but will this be a HD channel to go alongside Universal HD?

Yes. There's plans for an HD version of Chiller.

[Tobias]

cough Tales from the Cryptkeeper cough

The Rea Ghostbusters
Extreme Ghostbusters
Darkstalkers
Mighty Max (This show had horror movie elements to virtually every episode)
Count Duckula
Spawn

[dtemplar]

I found this site for Chiller's schedule:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=3466131

[hobbyfan]

If NBC/Universal were smart, they'd incorporate classic and modern horror movies every night:

- Child's Play 2, 3, Bride of Chucky
- The Mummy, the Mummy Returns
- The classic Dracula, Wolfman, Frankenstein films
- Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight/Bordello of Blood

They already own the cable rights to Mummy & Mummy Returns, since those have aired on Sci-Fi & USA already. Running the classic Uni horror library would rule, of course.



and whatever other horror movies are in their library, plus it wouldn't be hard to get the broadcast rights to:

-A Nightmare on Elm Street
-Friday the 13th
-Halloween
-Leprechaun
-the Stephen King movie library
-all the smaller horror movies that never got sequels

Then there's t.v. shows:

-Tales From the Crypt
-Twilight Zone
-Friday the 13th
-The Outer Limits
whatever other horror based t.v. shows there were

Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and Tales From The Crypt are in the Sci-Fi library. Moving TZ to Chiller would enable them to put it in a prime spot as opposed to its current late night berth. And we can do without the daily 9-4 rerun "chain reactions", too, BTW.

[EroSennin]

In case anyone was wondering Chiller will be on chanel 257 right between TCM and FMC. Now FMC plays movies uncut TCM does not(atleast I dont think so)
so is Chiller a commercial Station or are we gonna get uncut movies. This is really gonna suck if they only show edited.

[Space Cadet]

In case anyone was wondering Chiller will be on chanel 257 right between TCM and FMC. Now FMC plays movies uncut TCM does not(atleast I dont think so)
so is Chiller a commercial Station or are we gonna get uncut movies. This is really gonna suck if they only show edited.


Uh, if I remember correctly, TCM does play uncut movies.

[ZumbidoMetal]

Sure you aren't confusing TCM with AMC? TCM airs almost all movies uncut and everything is commercial free.

I think it's doubtful Dish will ever get Chiller, unless NBC-Universal seriously play hardball (No Chiller=No USA). They don't seem to have any interest in new networks unless it's added free to a current agreement, something the CEO likes, or they are paid to carry it.

[PhatMan]

Now that it has launched what are your thoughts about it. I just discovered it on Saturday night and even though I don't know if the Movies they show are cut or not I think it will be a fun Station to turn to at nights. I don't get why Twin Peaks is on this station though but its nice to see Night Gallery Monsters and Friday the 13th series. I also heard they are adding Freddy's Nightmares I haven't seen that show in a long time. I kinda wish though they could get the rights to Tales from the Darkside.

[dtemplar]

Chiller can now be seen on Dish Network, and there are plans of bringing the channel to cable as well.

[Blackstar]

DirecTV has had Chiller for a few months now. It's 257 here in Baltimore Maryland.

[dtemplar]

DirecTV has had Chiller for a few months now. It's 257 here in Baltimore Maryland.

199 on Dish Network