Ion Mystery

Ion Mystery is an American digital television network that shows many interesting mystery and true crime shows. It is owned by Ion Media, which is part of the E. W. Scripps Company. You can watch Ion Mystery on digital channels of regular TV stations and some cable services in different areas.

The network focuses on shows about solving crimes, police work, and legal cases. These programs help people understand how investigations work and how justice is served. Because of this, Ion Mystery is popular with viewers who enjoy puzzles and real-life detective stories.

Ion Mystery has changed its name a few times. It was first called Escape, then became Court TV Mystery, and finally, it is now known as Ion Mystery. No matter what it is called, the network continues to bring exciting and thought-provoking stories to its audience.

History

Katz Broadcasting announced the start of a television network called Escape and another network called Grit on April 3, 2014. The plan was to begin showing these networks that summer. Escape officially started on August 18, 2014, with a movie from 1981 called Body Heat.

Later, on August 1, 2017, the E. W. Scripps Company bought most of Katz Broadcasting, which included Escape and Grit. In 2019, Escape changed its name to Court TV Mystery. After Scripps bought Ion Media in 2021, the network moved to different stations. Finally, on February 24, 2022, the network became Ion Mystery, focusing more on mystery shows.

Programming on Ion Mystery

Ion Mystery shows many exciting mystery and crime-solving shows. Some of the shows you can watch now include 18 Wheels of Justice, Bones, Criminal Minds, Crime Stories, CSI: Miami, Hawaii Five-O, The Listener, MacGyver, Midsomer Murders, Murderous Affairs, NCIS: New Orleans, and Scorpion.

In the past, Ion Mystery also showed shows like American Greed, Born Behind Bars, Cheaters, Corrupt Crimes, Crime 360, Crime Watch Daily, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: NY, Da Vinci's Inquest, The First 48, Forensic Files, I Killed My BFF, LAPD: Life on the Beat, Law & Order, Leverage, Leverage: Redemption, Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force, Scandal, Snapped, Someone They Knew with Tamron Hall, Swift Justice with Nancy Grace, and Unsolved Mysteries.

Programming

Ion Mystery shows many types of mystery and crime shows. You can watch dramas about solving crimes, reality shows that re-enact real crime stories, and some movies.

The network started with a focus on true crime stories, especially for female viewers. Over time, it added many different shows and movies about solving mysteries and crimes. Some popular shows include Forensic Files, Snapped, and Cold Case. The movies shown are from the 1980s to the 2000s and come from many different film studios.

Affiliates

Main article: List of Ion Mystery affiliates

As of January 1, 2018, Ion Mystery had agreements with 165 television stations in 65 areas. These stations reach about 86% of all homes in the United States that have a television. The network began by working with different companies to show its shows. Over time, more stations joined to carry Ion Mystery.

When the network first started, it made deals with Univision Communications to show its programs in major cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Later, it made deals with other companies like Raycom Media, Cox Media Group, and Citadel Communications to add more stations. By August 2014, Ion Mystery was available in 33 areas, reaching about 50% of homes with televisions.

In May 2015, the E. W. Scripps Company helped expand Ion Mystery to even more homes, adding stations in cities such as Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee. By November 2015, new deals added stations in Seattle, Grand Rapids, Albuquerque, St. Louis, and New Orleans. By January 2017, Ion Mystery reached over 76% of all homes with televisions in the United States.