Sony Crime Channel launched in February 2018, replacing the original
Sony Channel, and
True Crime on
Freeview and
Freesat. At time of launch, it broadcast a range of crime dramas, including the free-to-air premiere of
Orange Is the New Black as well as reruns of
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and
Hustle. In June 2019, ultimately due to low ratings,
Sony announced that the channel would be downgraded, reducing its output to reality crime programming, akin to its now defunct sister channels
True Crime and
TruTV. Prior to these changes, a month earlier, the channel was withdrawn from
Freesat and was moved to the G-MAN multiplex on
Freeview, reducing availability to Manchester only and moved to channel 60. Additionally, its broadcast hours were cut down to 4:00 - 6:00 and its +1 service was replaced by
Movies4Men +1. These
Freeview changes occurred as a result of
True Entertainment and
True Movies moving to the local multiplex. In September 2019, as part of a revamp of
Sony's entertainment portfolio in the UK, Sony Crime Channel was the only channel without any sign of change. The channel swapped places with
True Entertainment on
Sky prior to
Sony Channel's re-launch in the UK. The channel was replaced by
Sony Channel +1 on
Freeview, and at the end of the following month, Sony Crime Channel +1 closed on
Sky. The channel abruptly closed on 9 June 2020 after the announce of its closure. On 13 August 2020, an editor on the site
TV Channel Lists noticed Sony Crime began broadcasting again with
colour bars. This indicated that Sony Crime may make a return in the near-future. However, as of 10 September 2020, the channel's slot on Sky was occupied by
Court TV. ==References==