Discovery, Nat Geo, NBCU vets launch Justice Network

A collection of veteran US TV execs have come together to launch a new true-crime channel, Justice Network.

The US cable net count has been created by Bounce TV founder Lonnie Cooper.

Steve Schiffman, former president of Nat Geo; Barry Wallach, former president of NBCUniversal US TV distribution; and John Ford, the ex Discovery Channel president, are all among the senior executive team.

Schiffman will be CEO of the new US cable net, which will work with stations group Gannett Broadcasting and cover a third of the US when it rolls out in January, 2015.

“Recognising that by 2013, half of the top 50-rated prime shows on television were justice-oriented programming, our management team saw the need to satisfy America’s obsession with justice,” he said.

“We are proud to be a part of this unique multicast network’s efforts to make a difference in people’s lives, fight crime and to keep communities safer.”

The new channel will work with Crime Stoppers USA, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and other law enforcement agencies and have regular public service announcements, including ‘bad person of the week’, and safety tips for viewers.

At launch, the programming line-up will include Body of Evidence, Psychic Detectives, LA Forensics, Missing Persons Unit and Murder by the Book.