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CBS Reality

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the European TV channel. For the former British channel named CBS Reality, see True Crime (AMC Networks).

CBS Reality
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaPoland, Romania, Middle East and Africa
Programming
LanguagesEnglish, Polish, Romanian
Picture format1080i HDTV (Poland)
576i 16:9 SDTV
Ownership
OwnerAMC Networks International
Paramount Networks EMEAA
Sister channelsCBS Europa
History
Launched1 December 1999; 25 years ago (1999-12-01)
Closed1 June 2022; 3 years ago (2022-06-01) (Russia)
23 November 2023; 23 months ago (2023-11-23) (UK and Ireland, replaced by True Crime)
31 December 2023; 22 months ago (2023-12-31) (Czech Republic, Slovakia and in the Netherlands)[1][2]
3 January 2024; 22 months ago (2024-01-03) (CIS, Baltic,[3] Hungary, Bulgaria and Croatia)[4][5][6][7]
31 December 2025; 56 days' time (2025-12-31) (Poland)
Replaced byTrue Crime (UK and Ireland)
Former namesReality TV (1999–2006)
Zone Reality (2006–2012)
Links
Website
Availability
Terrestrial
See separate section

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.

In recent years, CBS Reality has significantly reduced its presence across Europe. The channel ceased broadcasting in selected countries, including Portugal (2022), the Netherlands (by 31 December 2023) and parts of Central and Eastern Europe (by 31 December 2023).[8][9][10] In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the channel was rebranded as True Crime in November 2023 under the same ownership.[11][12] Earlier rationalisation outside Europe also included the withdrawal of a Southeast Asia feed (then branded Zone Reality/Reality TV) that operated in the mid-2000s.[13][14] As of 2025, CBS Reality remains available only in Poland and Romania, where it continues to operate with localized feeds. Outside Europe, the brand continues in the Middle East and Africa.[15][16][17]

Programming is centered on true crime and factual entertainment, including police-pursuit and custody series and courtroom shows; the schedule has featured U.S. imports from networks such as truTV/Court TV (Bait Car, Jail) alongside titles like Judge Judy and 48 Hours.[18][19][20]

History

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CBS Reality was launched as Reality TV on 1 December 1999 as a joint-venture between UPCtv and Zone Vision.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23]

On 1 August 2012, Chellomedia revealed that the European version of Zone Reality would be rebranded into CBS Reality.[24] In Europe, Zone Reality was rebranded on 3 December 2012.[25] AMC Networks acquired Chellomedia on 2 February 2014. Chellomedia was rebranded as AMC Networks International on 8 July 2014.[26]

CBS Reality is available in HD in Poland since 23 September 2019.[27]

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,[28][29] and on 1 July 2022 in Portugal.

CBS Reality closed in the UK on 22 November 2023 and was rebranded as True Crime.[30]

CBS Reality closed on 31 December 2023 in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and in the Netherlands.[31]

CBS Reality closed on 3 January 2024 in Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, CIS and Baltic.[3]

CBS Reality is scheduled to close down alongside Film Cafe in Poland on December 31, 2025.[32]

Availability

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Cable

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  • Hot (Israel): Channel 48
  • UPC (Poland): Channel 392
  • Orange (Romania): Channel 372
  • Digi (Romania): Channel 153
  • Vodafone (Romania): Channel 303

IPTV

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Satellite

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  • DStv (South Africa): Channel 132
  • Yes (Israel): Channel 64
  • Orange (Romania): Channel 370

Logos

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  • Reality TV (2002–2006)
    Reality TV (2002–2006)
  • Zone Reality (2006–2012)
    Zone Reality (2006–2012)
  • CBS Reality (2012–2017)
    CBS Reality (2012–2017)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Končí placená televize CBS Reality".
  2. ^ "CBS Reality stopt".
  3. ^ a b "VK.com | VK".
  4. ^ "TV-Műsor - musor.tv, a tv műsorújság".
  5. ^ "CBS Reality".
  6. ^ "Tisztelt Előfizetőink!" (PDF). DIGI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2023.
  7. ^ "ТВ програма - CBS Reality | DNES.BG Новини".
  8. ^ "CBS Reality e Jim Jam saem da MEO". Olhar o Largo. 20 May 2022.
  9. ^ "CBS Reality stopt". TotaalTV. 2 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Končí placená televize CBS Reality". MediaGuru.cz. 1 December 2023.
  11. ^ "AMC Networks International UK unveils a fresh and cohesive new look for its UK portfolio of channels and streaming services" (Press release). AMC Networks International UK. 31 October 2023.
  12. ^ "CBS Reality is rebranding as 'True Crime' on Freeview, Sky and Freesat". Cord Busters. 22 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Zonemedia's Zone Reality Channel in Asia to Produce Two Local Shows". World Screen. 27 March 2007.
  14. ^ "Asian Zone Reality to create two locally produced shows". 4RFV. 2007.
  15. ^ "AMC Networks International UK launches dedicated local feed of CBS Reality in Romania" (Press release). AMC Networks. 13 May 2022.
  16. ^ "CBS Reality i Film Cafe zakończą nadawanie". Press.pl. 1 October 2025.
  17. ^ "CBS Reality – DStv channel 132". DStv.
  18. ^ "About CBS Reality (EMEA)". cbsreality.tv.
  19. ^ "Would You Be Tempted? Bait Car arrives this December on CBS Reality". CBS Reality. 30 November 2015.
  20. ^ "Bait Car". TV Guide.
  21. ^ Zone Vision. "UPCtv and Zone Vision launch new channel: Reality TV". Archived from the original on 17 June 2002.
  22. ^ "Zone Vision brings Reality TV channel to Africa", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 32, February-April 2002
  23. ^ "Zone Vision unveils new unified branding". Digital Spy. 20 June 2006.
  24. ^ "CBS and Chellomedia take entertainment across EMEA". Broadband TV News. 1 August 2012.
  25. ^ "Rebranded CBS channels set to launch". Broadband TV News. 30 October 2012.
  26. ^ "Chellomedia to become AMC Networks International". Broadband TV News. 8 July 2014.
  27. ^ Anita Kaźmierska (23 September 2019). "CBS Reality już nadaje w HD". satkurier.pl (in Polish).
  28. ^ "Изменения в вещании каналов - НТВ-ПЛЮС Дальний Восток, Запад, Восток". ntvplus.ru. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  29. ^ "Отключение телеканала CBS Reality (кнопка №162) (01 июня 2022)". akado.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ Kriek, Jarco (2 January 2024). "Diverse zenders gestopt met lineaire distributie". Totaal TV (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  32. ^ "CBS Reality i Film Cafe zakończą nadawanie". Press.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 4 October 2025.
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