Why You Should Be Watching Court TV!

In this age where reality shows are a dime a dozen, more and more people are discovering that there are some things that are stranger than life to watch - and most of them are on CourtTV!

From the latest in the O.J. Simpson case to the Anna Nicole Smith custody battle to the less publicised cases around the country Court TV has provided live and informative coverage for years without missing a beat. For those looking for a glance inside the inner workings of the American legal system Court TV has everything you want and need.

When Court TV first hit the airwaves in 1991 people were skeptical - what sort of audience would want to see live coverage of a trial from start to finish? Would people want to see the jury being selected? Wait for the prosecution to present their case and then the defense? Sit around and wait for a verdict? The amazing truth was shown in the ratings - people were intrigued to see what happened inside the legal system as never before.

Interviews with lawyers, witnesses and psychologists create a vibrant atmosphere where the trial ceases to be a dry, boring affair and instead takes on a life of its own as the anchors, usually lawyers themselves, take the legal process and make it accessible to the mainstream public.

CourtTV's biggest coup to date has to have been their coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial over a decade ago. From the start of the murder trial to the suspense over the verdict to the stunning results, Court TV reporters were there to give every intimate detail and to inform the public beyond what the regular news outlets were providing.

But the coverage didn't stop there - while covering live trials created a vibrant atmosphere for the viewer, Court TV went on to program a series of shows aimed directly at the public's need and demand for more information. Thus shows such as "Forensic Files" and "Beach Patrol" were created and broadcast, merging the dry science of forensics and the frenzied appeal of reality shows such as "COPS" into a format that drew even more viewers to the network. With the success of forensic-based shows such as "CSI" and "Bones" the demand for more factual shows has increased as the public seeks more information on how these shows are based in reality and how the science can get both prosecutions and acquittals.

Court TV also expanded into more media-based coverage with shows such as "Hollywood Heat"; with anchor Ashley Banfield discussing and expanding on the current legal woes of many popular celebrities currently dealing with the law. As the media circus surrounding the unfortunate death of Anna Nicole Smith showed, there is a huge audience hanging on every move a celebrity makes, especially where the legal system is involved.

The reading public is also being drawn in to this network by the creation and broadcast of shows such as "Murder By the Book" and Dominick Dunne's "Power, Privilege and Justice" - showcasing some of the hottest mystery and crime authors around as well as highlighting the high society scandals that we all love to read about.

Now Court TV is taking another move forward - in January of 2008 the channel will be renamed TruTV with the new slogan "Not Reality. Actuality.". Continuing the trend begun over a decade ago with the broadcast of live trials, the new network will now expand into the reality show area with such new creations as "Ski Patrol", detailing the dangerous lives of those who patrol the ski slopes and keep people safe as well as protecting the environment and "Black Gold". "Black Gold" is the working title for a new show showing the dangerous and sometimes lethal happenings of wildcatters at work, oil prospectors seeking to strike oil under the most trying and dangerous of situations.

From their humble beginnings broadcasting the trial of Florida v. Robert Scott Hill to their new incarnation as Tru TV, Court TV has been a pioneering force in the cable network field, producing quality reality shows as well as providing a vital service for the viewing public - seeing American justice live and in a format anyone can understand. Why not check out what they have to offer?