Reelz
Reelz is an American digital cable and satellite television network owned by Hubbard Broadcasting, known for entertainment, true-crime, celebrity, reality and film programming.
Last updated October 25, 2026
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Overview
Reelz is an American television network owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. It launched on September 27, 2006, under the name ReelzChannel, initially targeting viewers interested in Hollywood, theatrical releases, home entertainment and the broader film and television business. Its early programming included movie reviews, entertainment-news formats, interview programs and material designed to complement cable operators' pay-per-view and video-on-demand offerings. The network's carriage arrangements allowed it to support provider-specific promotional information, including details about films available through individual distributors and television platforms. The service began with distribution on DirecTV and Dish Network before expanding through agreements with major cable companies, including Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Charter Communications and Altice. In early 2009, ReelzChannel moved its operations from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Hubbard Broadcasting also owns NBC affiliate KOB. The two operations remained separate facilities, but the relocation connected the network more closely with Hubbard's New Mexico presence. Around the same period, Reelz broadened its programming beyond entertainment news by adding acquired series and other general-interest content. A notable programming turning point came in 2011, when the network acquired and premiered The Kennedys, a miniseries about John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy and the Kennedy family's political and social world. The project had attracted substantial attention after History declined to air it, and its acquisition gave Reelz a higher-profile scripted and historical programming identity. The network subsequently carried additional miniseries, docudramas, films, reality programming and documentary material. Examples include Titanic: Sinking the Myths, a 2017 documentary-drama examining explanations surrounding the Titanic disaster, and The Story of the Songs, ordered in 2020 from ViacomCBS Networks UK in association with Paramount Network's British operation. In later years Reelz increasingly emphasized true crime, celebrity scandals, police and reality programming, while retaining selected entertainment-oriented shows and films. In June 2022, it acquired Cops, the long-running law-enforcement reality series. The network also commissioned On Patrol: Live, a spiritual successor to A&E's Live PD, helping establish a stronger contemporary reality and true-crime identity. Its schedule has continued to combine original productions with acquired series, films and special programming. Reelz launched a high-definition simulcast in 2010 and gradually expanded HD distribution across major television providers, including AT&T U-verse, Dish Network, DirecTV and Verizon Fios. In February 2023, Reelz reached an agreement with NBCUniversal's Peacock streaming service to make a linear Reelz feed and library programming available to Peacock subscribers. Some programming, including MLW Underground Wrestling, is subject to service-specific blackout and replacement arrangements because of exclusivity commitments involving WWE content. The network's distribution has fluctuated over time. It reached a reported peak of approximately 68 million U.S. pay-television households in 2015, but by November 2023 its reach had declined to about 35 million households. Reelz remains an active U.S. television brand whose present positioning centers on accessible factual entertainment, true crime, celebrity stories, reality series, films and selected original productions.
History
Reelz began broadcasting on September 27, 2006, as ReelzChannel, an American digital cable and satellite network owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. Its initial editorial concept was centered on Hollywood and the entertainment business. Programming included movie reviews, interview and entertainment-news formats, information about theatrical releases, and coverage of films moving to DVD, pay television and video-on-demand platforms. The network initially launched through DirecTV and Dish Network and later expanded its distribution through agreements with large cable operators. A distinctive part of the early service was its relationship with cable-system video marketplaces. ReelzChannel's carriage arrangements supported the insertion of provider-specific information about films offered through pay-per-view and video-on-demand services. This gave the network a promotional role alongside its editorial entertainment programming. Over time, however, the channel moved away from a narrowly Hollywood-focused format and began adding acquired series and broader factual entertainment. In early 2009, the network transferred its operations from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hubbard also owns KOB, an NBC-affiliated station in Albuquerque, although KOB and Reelz maintained separate facilities. The relocation coincided with a broader programming transition. Rather than concentrating almost exclusively on entertainment-industry information, Reelz began to build a schedule containing acquired shows, documentaries, miniseries, films and other factual formats. The acquisition of The Kennedys was an important early milestone in this transition. Reelz premiered the miniseries in August 2011 after History dropped the project. The production dramatized the Kennedy family's political and personal world and had generated controversy before its broadcast. Its arrival gave Reelz a high-profile original or acquired-event identity beyond conventional entertainment news. The network later presented other miniseries and documentary-drama projects, including JFK: The Smoking Gun, The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End and Titanic: Sinking the Myths. Reelz also developed and acquired programming with international production connections. In 2020 it ordered The Story of the Songs from ViacomCBS Networks UK in association with the British Paramount Network operation. The network's schedule continued to combine original productions with acquired programs, films and event coverage, including the first Critics' Choice Television Awards in 2011 and Miss USA 2015. The channel's technical distribution expanded through the launch of Reelz HD, a 720p high-definition simulcast, in 2010. AT&T U-verse, Dish Network, DirecTV and Verizon Fios were among the providers associated with subsequent HD carriage. Reelz also operated ReelzChannel In Your Room, a hotel-oriented service created with LodgeNet that combined network content with promotions for films available through hotel video-on-demand systems. During the 2010s and 2020s, Reelz increasingly became associated with true crime, celebrity scandals, reality television and factual documentary programming, while continuing to show films and selected entertainment programs. In June 2022 it acquired Cops and ordered On Patrol: Live, a successor concept to Live PD. In February 2023 it entered a distribution arrangement with Peacock, providing subscribers with a linear Reelz feed and library content. Certain programs are blacked out or replaced on Peacock because of separate exclusivity agreements involving WWE programming. The network's distribution footprint has changed substantially. Reelz was reported to reach approximately 68 million U.S. pay-television households at its 2015 peak, while the cited November 2023 estimate was approximately 35 million households. Despite that decline, Reelz remains active as a U.S. television network with a programming identity built around accessible factual entertainment, true crime, celebrity narratives, reality series, acquired films and selected original productions.
- 2023
Peacock distribution agreement
[1]Peacock began carrying a Reelz linear feed and library programming under an agreement with the network.
- 2022
True-crime and police programming expands
[1]Reelz acquired Cops and greenlit On Patrol: Live.
- 2020
The Story of the Songs ordered
[1]Reelz commissioned The Story of the Songs from ViacomCBS Networks UK and its production partners.
- 2017
Titanic documentary-drama premieres
[1]Reelz premiered Titanic: Sinking the Myths, a factual production examining explanations for the Titanic disaster.
- 2011
The Kennedys premieres on Reelz
[1]Reelz acquired and premiered The Kennedys after History declined to broadcast the miniseries.
- 2010
HD simulcast launches
[1]Reelz introduced Reelz HD, a 720p high-definition simulcast.
- 2009
Operations move to Albuquerque
[1]The network moved its operations from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- 2006
Network launch
[1]ReelzChannel began broadcasting on September 27 as a digital cable and satellite network focused initially on Hollywood and entertainment-industry programming.
Products and positioning
A U.S. factual-entertainment and general-interest television network combining celebrity and Hollywood coverage with true crime, reality series, documentaries, films and acquired programming.
Cable and satellite television · 2006
Reelz linear television network
The core Reelz service is a U.S. digital cable and satellite television network. It combines original and acquired factual entertainment, true-crime series, celebrity programming, reality formats, documentaries, films and selected scripted or miniseries content. The channel was initially built around Hollywood and entertainment-industry coverage but later developed a broader general-interest schedule.
High-definition television service · 2010
Reelz HD
Reelz HD is the network's 720p high-definition simulcast. It launched in 2010 and was subsequently distributed by multiple television providers, including AT&T U-verse, Dish Network, DirecTV and Verizon Fios.
Streaming television · 2023
Reelz streaming distribution
Through its 2023 agreement with Peacock, Reelz made a linear channel feed and selected library programming available to streaming subscribers. Availability can vary by title because of separate rights and exclusivity arrangements.
Hotel television service
ReelzChannel In Your Room
A former hotel-oriented service operated with LodgeNet. It combined Reelz programming with reviews and promotional information for films available through participating hotels' video-on-demand systems.
Controversies
2020
Hubbard sues Facebook over Reels name
Hubbard Broadcasting filed suit against Facebook in a Minnesota U.S. district court, alleging trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and unfair competition over the Reels name, which Hubbard says conflicts with its REELZ service and trademarks. The allegations are not presented as a court determination.
Brand decisions
2023
Distribution through PeacockStrategyBackground
Reelz pursued streaming distribution alongside its traditional pay-television carriage.
Action taken
The network agreed with Peacock to provide a linear Reelz feed and library programming to subscribers.
Aftermath
The agreement extended Reelz's availability to a streaming audience, although certain programs may be replaced or blacked out because of rights restrictions.
2022
Expansion into police and true-crime realityStrategyBackground
Reelz was building a stronger identity around true crime, celebrity stories and reality programming.
Action taken
The network acquired Cops and greenlit On Patrol: Live.
Aftermath
These programs strengthened Reelz's position in law-enforcement and true-crime reality television.
2011
Acquisition and premiere of The KennedysProduct launchBackground
History declined to air the Kennedy family miniseries, leaving its distribution rights available.
Action taken
Reelz acquired the rights and premiered the miniseries in August 2011.
Aftermath
The title became a prominent event program for Reelz and reinforced the network's move into miniseries and high-profile factual or dramatized programming.
2009
Relocation and programming broadeningStrategyBackground
ReelzChannel moved its operations from Los Angeles to Albuquerque as the network sought to expand beyond its original entertainment-news and Hollywood-focused format.
Action taken
The network relocated operations and added more acquired series and broader factual programming.
Aftermath
Reelz developed into a more general entertainment and factual network rather than remaining narrowly focused on movie-industry information.
Recent events
Reported
Hubbard sues Facebook over Reels name[3]
Hubbard Broadcasting filed suit against Facebook in a Minnesota U.S. district court, alleging trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and unfair competition over the Reels name, which Hubbard says conflicts with its REELZ service and trademarks. The allegations are not presented as a court determination.
REELZ announces two series podcasts for PodcastOne[4]
REELZ announced that its Autopsy: The Last Hours of... and Copycat Killers series podcasts would launch on PodcastOne on October 30 and November 21, 2019, respectively, with new episodes also available on Apple Podcasts.
Sources4 sources
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