CBS Reality is a European pay television channel specializing in reality-based programming, including true crime documentaries and factual entertainment. It is operated by AMC Networks International in partnership with Paramount Networks EMEAA. The channel was launched on 1 December 1999 as Reality TV, rebranded to Zone Reality in 2006, and adopted the CBS Reality name in 2009 following a joint venture between CBS Studios International and Chellomedia. In 2014, AMC Networks acquired Chellomedia, which was subsequently rebranded as AMC Networks International.
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| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Poland, Romania, Middle East and Africa |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English, Polish, Romanian |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (Poland) 576i 16:9 SDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | AMC Networks International Paramount Networks EMEAA |
| Sister channels | CBS Europa |
| History | |
| Launched | 1 December 1999 |
| Closed | 1 June 2022 (Russia) 23 November 2023 (UK and Ireland, replaced by True Crime) 31 December 2023 (Czech Republic, Slovakia and in the Netherlands)[1][2] 3 January 2024 (CIS, Baltic,[3] Hungary, Bulgaria and Croatia)[4][5][6][7] |
| Replaced by | True Crime (UK and Ireland) |
| Former names | Reality TV (1999–2006) Zone Reality (2006–2012) |
| Links | |
| Website | |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| See separate section | |
In recent years, CBS Reality has significantly reduced its presence across Europe. The channel ceased broadcasting in numerous countries, including Portugal, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, and much of Central and Eastern Europe. In the UK and Ireland, the channel was rebranded as True Crime in late 2023, under the same ownership. As of 2025, CBS Reality remains available only in Poland and Romania, where it continues to operate with localized feeds. Outside of Europe, CBS Reality continues to broadcast in the Middle East and Africa.
History
editCBS Reality was launched as Reality TV on 1 December 1999 as a joint-venture between UPCtv and Zone Vision.[8] The Reality TV channel began broadcasting in Poland on 17 March 2000 on the UPC subsidiary Wizja TV satellite platform. The channel started broadcasting to Africa on 1 November 2001.[9] In 2005, Liberty Global, owner of UPC, bought Zone Vision. In 2006, they decided to put all their channels under the unified "Zone" brand. Reality TV became Zone Reality.[10]
On 1 August 2012, Chellomedia revealed that the European version of Zone Reality would be rebranded into CBS Reality.[11] In Europe, Zone Reality was rebranded on 3 December 2012.[12] AMC Networks acquired Chellomedia on 2 February 2014. Chellomedia was rebranded as AMC Networks International on 8 July 2014.[13]
CBS Reality is available in HD in Poland since 23 September 2019.[14]
A dedicated Romanian feed was launched on 13 May 2022, with a different schedule and Romanian adverts. However, promos and trailers are subtitled in Romanian.
CBS Reality closed on 1 June 2022 in Russia,[15][16] and on 1 July 2022 in Portugal.
CBS Reality closed in the UK on 22 November 2023 and was rebranded as True Crime.[17]
CBS Reality closed on 31 December 2023 in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and in the Netherlands.[18]
CBS Reality closed on 3 January 2024 in Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, CIS and Baltic.[3]
Availability
editCable
edit- Cosmote TV (Greece): Channel 452
- Hot (Israel): Channel 48
- UPC (Poland): Channel 392
- Orange (Romania): Channel 372
- Digi (Romania): Channel 153
- Vodafone (Romania): Channel 303
IPTV
edit- Gibtelecom (Gibraltar)
- Orange (Romania): Channel 372
- Etisalat Channel 358
Satellite
editLogos
edit-
Reality TV (2002–2006) -
Zone Reality (2006–2012) -
CBS Reality (2012–2017)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Kon?í placená televize CBS Reality".
- ^ "CBS Reality stopt".
- ^ a b "VK.com | VK".
- ^ "TV-M?sor - musor.tv, a tv m?sorújság".
- ^ "CBS Reality".
- ^ "Tisztelt El?fizet?ink!" (PDF). DIGI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2023.
- ^ "ТВ програма - CBS Reality | DNES.BG Новини".
- ^ Zone Vision. "UPCtv and Zone Vision launch new channel: Reality TV". Archived from the original on 17 June 2002.
- ^ "Zone Vision brings Reality TV channel to Africa", Africa Film & TV Magazine, no. 32, February-April 2002
- ^ "Zone Vision unveils new unified branding". Digital Spy. 20 June 2006.
- ^ "CBS and Chellomedia take entertainment across EMEA". Broadband TV News. 1 August 2012.
- ^ "Rebranded CBS channels set to launch". Broadband TV News. 30 October 2012.
- ^ "Chellomedia to become AMC Networks International". Broadband TV News. 8 July 2014.
- ^ Anita Ka?mierska (23 September 2019). "CBS Reality ju? nadaje w HD". satkurier.pl (in Polish).
- ^ "Изменения в вещании каналов - НТВ-ПЛЮС Дальний Восток, Запад, Восток". ntvplus.ru. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Отключение телеканала CBS Reality (кнопка №162) (01 июня 2022)". akado.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "AMC NETWORKS INTERNATIONAL UK UNVEILS A FRESH AND COHESIVE NEW LOOK FOR ITS UK PORTFOLIO OF CHANNELS AND STREAMING SERVICES". amcnetworks.com. 31 October 2023.
- ^ Kriek, Jarco (2 January 2024). "Diverse zenders gestopt met lineaire distributie". Totaal TV (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 December 2024.