Katz’s Escape bags crime trio

Escape, a new female-skewed channel from Katz Broadcasting, has acquired more than 500 hours of crime programming.

The over-the-air broadcast network has taken 150 episodes of Snapped from NBCUniversal Television & New Media US and Canada, 175 episodes of Unsolved Mysteries from Cosgrove/Meurer Productions, and 213 episodes of Forensic Files from Trifecta Entertainment & Media.

Snapped looks into cases of everyday women accused of murder, while Unsolved Mysteries profiles open cases. Forensic Files profiles crimes through the filter of forensic science.

The deals total 538 episodes for Escape, which Univision announced launch of back in April alongside war and Westerns channel Grit. Katz Broadcasting owns and operates both channels.

“These three series are in the true-crime television hall of fame,” said Jonathan Katz, the former Turner Broadcasting Systems exec who is president and CEO of Katz Broadcasting.

“We are assembling a mystery and drama-fuelled line-up that will provide viewers the opportunity to escape from their daily lives.”

Escape and sister channel Grit are currently cleared for broadcast in 50% of the US.