In an unexpected move, NBC Universal plans to roll out a new digital cable network devoted to horror-themed programming.
Dubbed Chiller, cabler will launch March 1 and initially be seen in 12 million homes via a carriage deal with DirecTV. Channel also will be offered on DirecTV's new tier of 100 HD channels slated to roll out later this year.
NBC U has already started pitching other cable operators on the channel and is hoping to land carriage agreement on other systems.
Jeff Gaspin, NBC U prexy of cable entertainment, digital content and cross-network strategy, will announce the network today at the TV Critics Assn. winter press tour in Pasadena. Dan Harrison, senior VP of emerging networks for NBC U Cable Entertainment, will be in charge of the channel.
Chiller will take advantage of NBC U's deep reservoir of horror-related TV shows ("Alfred Hitchcock Presents") and films ("The Shining," "Psycho"), many of them from the old MCA library. But Gaspin said the cabler also has acquired programming from other congloms, including 20th Century Fox TV, Sony, Warner Bros. TV and Lionsgate.
