What Happened to Court TV Streaming?

Court TV, initially launched on July 1, 1991, revolutionized television by offering live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of high-profile courtroom proceedings, alongside legal analysis and true-crime programming. This pioneering approach made trials like those of the Menendez brothers and O.J. Simpson must-watch television, establishing Court TV as a significant cable network. However, as viewer habits shifted and the network expanded its scope beyond strict trial coverage, it was rebranded as truTV on January 1, 2008, shifting its focus towards action-oriented reality series.

The iconic Court TV brand lay dormant for over a decade until E.W. Scripps Company, through its Katz Networks unit, acquired the intellectual property rights and the extensive 100,000-hour programming library from Turner Broadcasting in December 2018. This acquisition paved the way for a grand relaunch of Court TV on May 8, 2019. The revived network aimed to recapture its original mission, providing 24/7 live trial coverage, in-depth legal reporting, and expert analysis, led by original Court TV anchor Vinnie Politan.

From its relaunch, Court TV embraced a multi-platform distribution strategy to reach modern audiences. It became available as a digital broadcast television network over-the-air (OTA) in numerous markets, on cable and satellite, and significantly, through various streaming services. Dedicated Court TV apps were launched for Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, iOS, and Android devices, and its content was made available on its website, CourtTV.com. The network further expanded its streaming footprint by being added to services like YouTube TV in May 2020, and later to platforms such as Pluto TV, FuboTV, Sling Freestream, and Peacock, among others. This broad availability allowed Court TV to cover major trials like the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard defamation trial, the Alex Murdaugh proceedings, and the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, drawing substantial viewership across its diverse platforms.

A pivotal development occurred in February 2026, when E.W. Scripps announced an agreement to sell Court TV to Law&Crime. Law&Crime, a multiplatform true crime and legal content studio founded by ABC News Chief Legal Analyst Dan Abrams, had itself been acquired by media creator holding company Jellysmack in 2023. The sale, the financial details of which were not disclosed, was part of Scripps' strategy to strengthen its balance sheet. Under Law&Crime's ownership, Court TV is set to continue as a standalone channel and brand, serving as the central hub for trial-specific content and coverage, leveraging Law&Crime's existing digital and social media expertise.

As of August 2026, Court TV Streaming remains an active and accessible platform for legal journalism. It continues to provide live coverage of ongoing trials, such as the "Accused Killer Mom Trial," and offers a library of past cases and original programming on demand. The acquisition by Law&Crime positions Court TV to further integrate with a robust digital content ecosystem, ensuring its relevance in the evolving landscape of true crime and legal streaming.