Horror Channel gains millions of fresh eyeballs with launch on Freeview

Horror Channel Gains Millions of Fresh Eyeballs

with Launch on Freeview, Friday the 13^th March

Horror Channel, which is owned and operated by the CBS AMC Networks UK Channels Partnership, announced today that it is launching on the UK’s most-watched digital TV service, Freeview on Friday, 13^th March. It will be available on Freeview channel number 70 and is currently carried on Sky channel 319, Freesat channel 138, and Virgin channel 149. 

The launch will result in a 90% DTT coverage in the UK, making Horror Channel available in 17 million Freeview homes*. Horror Channel is already the second largest free to air movie channel in cable and satellite homes**.

Recent Horror Channel premieres include Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof and Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, while iconic series such as the channel’s highest-rated series*** the classicDoctor Who and The Incredible Hulk remain firm favourites. The spring line-up will include the “Apocalypse season” on Horror Channel with Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror and Stephen King’s The Stand.

Tanya Gugenheim, Chief Business Development Officer, AMC Networks International – Zone said:  “Horror Channel has become the third channel in the CBS AMC Channel portfolio to launch on Freeview within a year, joining CBS Reality and CBS Action and underscoring the demand for our content offering. The channel already boasts a loyal fan base, and we’re pleased to introduce it to a broader audience through Freeview.”

Guy North, Managing Director at Freeview said: “We’re excited to welcome another member of the CBS AMC Channel portfolio to Freeview. Horror Channel will provide the bravest of our viewers with plenty of thrilling programmes alongside cult classics and fantasy favourites for the more faint-hearted.”

Mike Finchen, Director, Digital Terrestrial Television at Arqiva said: "We are delighted to welcome Horror Channel to the Freeview platform. Arqiva is committed to broadcasting a variety of content to offer viewers the best possible channel and programme choices - Horror Channel is a great addition."

Horror Channel, the UK’s first thematic TV channel dedicated to the dark side of cinema and TV,launched in November 2009 and offers an eclectic mix of ground-breaking and genre-defining content including niche, cult and box office smash movies along with fantasy, sci-fi and supernatural series. Popular shows include the iconic Star Trek series from CBS, Stephen King adaptations The Langoliers and The Stand, TV series Tales from the Darkside, The Invaders, Wonder Woman and classic Doctor Who; a movie portfolio spanning all horror genres featuring some of the most controversial films made in the history of horror.

*   there are 19 million (main and second set) Freeview homes in the UK as of March 2015, Freeview

** amongst Horror Channel’s key 16-44 age group, based on average 000s, day part 0900-2829, BARB-Tech Edge

**  within the last 2 years – so far 3  million adults have tuned in to see Who on Horror, BARB-Tech Edge