Chiller (TV network)

{{Short description|Former American television network}} {{Use American English|date=January 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}} {{More citations needed|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox television channel | name = Chiller | logo = Chiller logo.svg | logo_size = 250px | logo_caption = | launch_date = {{Start date and age|2007|3|1}} | closed_date = {{End date and age|2017|12|31}} | headquarters = [[30 Rockefeller Plaza]], [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S. | owner = {{Plainlist| * [[NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group]] * ([[NBCUniversal]] / [[Comcast]]) }} | picture_format = {{Plainlist| * [[480i]] ([[SDTV]]) * [[1080i]] ([[HDTV]]) }} | website = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230230146/http://www.chillertv.com/ |date=December 30, 2017 |title=http://chillertv.com}} }} '''Chiller''' was an American [[cable television|cable]] and [[satellite television|satellite]] [[television network]] owned by [[NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group]] subsidiary of [[NBCUniversal]], all owned by [[Comcast]]. Chiller specialized in horror, thriller and suspense programming, mainly films. It also operated its own film [[production company]] as well.

As of February 2015, 38,820,000 American households (33.4% of households with television) received Chiller, though this declined with later removals by several cable services as carriage agreements expired.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/22/list-of-how-many-homes-each-cable-network-is-in-as-of-february-2015/366230/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223220414/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/22/list-of-how-many-homes-each-cable-network-is-in-as-of-february-2015/366230/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 23, 2015|title=List of how many homes each cable network is in as of February 2015|last=Seidman|first=Robert|work=TV by the Numbers|date=February 22, 2015|access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref>

The channel ceased operations on December 31, 2017.<ref name="Shut Down"/><ref name="Lights Off"/><ref name="Plug Pulled"/><ref name="Going Dark"/>

==History== On January 12, 2007, [[NBCUniversal]] announced the launch of Chiller on March 1, dedicated to films and television shows related to the [[Horror fiction|horror]] genre. The company also stated that, aside from their own content, Chiller would feature content from competing [[film studio]]s, including [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]], [[Sony]], [[Warner Bros.]], and [[20th Century Fox]].<ref name="Chiller TV">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/nbc-universal-directv-team-on-chiller-1117957250/|title=NBC Universal, DirecTV team on Chiller|last=Adalian|first=Josef|work=Variety|date=January 11, 2017|access-date=January 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211142914/http://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/nbc-universal-directv-team-on-chiller-1117957250/|archive-date=December 11, 2015}}</ref> In February 2007, [[Audience (TV network)|The 101]], channel 101 on [[DirecTV]], aired a "preview" of Chiller, featuring the [[pilot episodes]] of ''[[Twin Peaks]]'' and ''[[American Gothic (1995 TV series)|American Gothic]]'', as well as various [[horror film|horror movies]] and programs. [[Cloo|Sleuth]], NBC Universal's mystery-themed network, later known as Cloo, aired a fourteen-hour movie marathon entitled "Chiller On Sleuth" to promote the launch of Chiller. The channel officially launched at 6:00 am Eastern/5:00 am Central on March 1. After a brief introduction to the channel, Chiller aired its first program, ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985 TV series)|Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]''.

On July 30, 2014, its carriage was merged with that of its former competitor [[Fearnet]], a network launched by [[Comcast]] in 2006 as a [[video on demand]] service six years before their purchase of NBC Universal.

===Carriage decline and closure=== In 2017, NBCUniversal began to eliminate some of its non-prime networks in NBCU's cable portfolio by closing or rebranding these networks. [[Cloo]] closed on February 1, 2017, along with [[Esquire Network]] on June 28, and Universal HD was rebranded as the [[Olympic Channel (American TV channel)|Olympic Channel]] on July 14.

On February 1, 2017 (the same day sister network Cloo shut down), [[Dish Network|Dish]] removed the channel from their lineup, which cited that most of the network's rerun-centric programming was duplicative of that available on other networks and streaming services, with [[Charter Communications]] ([[Charter Spectrum|Spectrum]], [[Time Warner Cable]] and [[Bright House Networks]] subsidiaries) removing the network along with [[Esquire Network]] on April 25 for the same reason.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvanswerman.com/2017/02/28/charter-to-drop-chiller-channel/|title=Charter to Drop Chiller Channel|last=Swann|first=Phillip|work=TV Answer Man|date=February 28, 2017|access-date=March 7, 2017}}</ref> Five months later on October 2, 2017, [[Verizon FiOS]] discontinued carriage of the channel, while [[Mediacom]] quietly removed the channel from their lineup on October 23.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.cityofgalena.org/documents/filelibrary/top_tabs/city_services/cable_TV/2017_notices/092517_Mediacom_Channel_Change_216074AD6CB89.pdf|title=Subject: Channel Change (to City of Galena, Illinois)|last=Grassely|first=Lee|work=[[Mediacom]]|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref>

On November 8, 2017, [[Cox Communications|Cox]] removed Chiller from its lineup when it refused to continue their carriage of Chiller within their new carriage agreements with NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group, removing the network from several Cox regional outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvanswerman.com/2017/10/10/cox-to-drop-nbc-owned-chiller-channel/|title=Cox to Drop NBC-Owned Chiller Channel|last=Swann|first=Phillip|work=TV Answer Man|date=October 11, 2017|access-date=October 13, 2017}}</ref>

On November 16, 2017, NBCUniversal Cable Networks confirmed that the channel would close on December 31.<ref name="Shut Down">{{cite web|url=https://tvanswerman.com/2017/11/16/nbc-to-shut-down-chiller-channel-exclusive/|title=NBC to Shut Down Chiller Channel: Exclusive|last=Swann|first=Phillip|work=TV Answer Man|date=November 16, 2017|access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Lights Off">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbcuniversal-turning-lights-chiller-network-1059027|title=NBCUniversal Turning Lights Off on Chiller Network|last=O'Connell|first=Michael|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 16, 2017|access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Plug Pulled">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/nbcuniversal-shutter-chiller-cable-channel-1202616649/|title=NBCUniversal Cable to Shutter Chiller Channel|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 16, 2017|access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Going Dark">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/chiller-shut-down-cable-channel-nbcuniversal-slasher-1202209932/|title=Chiller Going Dark As NBCUniversal Axes Horror-Centric Channel|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=November 16, 2017|access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref> [[Google Fiber]] removed Chiller from its lineup on December 20,<ref>{{cite web|title=View changes to your channel line-up|url=https://support.google.com/fiber/answer/7073000?hl=en|website=Google|access-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref> which left [[DirecTV]] and [[AT&T U-Verse]] as two of the last providers to carry Chiller until its closure. A year-end ratings recap showed Chiller as ranked 127 out of 136 networks, averaging 36,000 viewers a night.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/12/highest-network-ratings-2017-most-watched-hbo-cbs-espn-fx-msnbc-fox-news-1201911363/|title=Highest Network Ratings of 2017: Most Watched Winners & Losers|last=Schneider|first=Michael|date=December 28, 2017|work=[[IndieWire]]|access-date=December 28, 2017}}</ref>

The network officially shut down around 11:59 p.m. ET on December 31 after an airing of ''[[The Babadook]]'' with a simple message saying "Thank you for watching Chiller. GOOD NIGHT!".

==Programming== {{See also|List of programs broadcast by Chiller}}

===Originals=== {{update section|date=March 2016}} On December 17, 2010, Chiller premiered ''Chiller 13: The Decade's Scariest Movie Moments''. The countdown special featured a diverse group of pop culture mavens and horror movie experts looking back on the top 13 scary movie moments between 2000 and 2010. Show participants include renowned special makeup effects supervisor [[Greg Nicotero]] (''[[The Walking Dead (TV series)|The Walking Dead]]''), comedians Dan Gurewitch and David Young ([[CollegeHumor]]), actress [[Betsy Russell]] (the ''[[Saw (franchise)|Saw]]'' films), writer [[Steve Niles]], [[Tony Todd]] and horror film director [[Lucky McKee]] among others. In October 2011, Chiller continued the franchise with ''Chiller 13: Horror's Creepiest Kids''.

In December 2011, Chiller premiered its first original movie entitled ''[[Remains (film)|Remains]]'', based on the [[IDW Publishing]] [[comic book]] by [[Steve Niles]] and [[Kieron Dwyer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsarama.com/pages/Other_Publishers/Remains_web.htm |title=Looking at IDW's Remains |publisher=[[Newsarama]] |date=March 11, 2004 |access-date=September 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525195838/http://www.newsarama.com/pages/Other_Publishers/Remains_web.htm |archive-date=May 25, 2007 }}</ref>

On March 4, 2016, Chiller premiered its only original television series entitled ''[[Slasher (TV series)|Slasher]]''.<ref>[http://www.thetvjunkies.com/slasher-interview-aaron-martin/ "Slasher delivers a good old-fashioned murder mystery,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828013435/http://www.thetvjunkies.com/slasher-interview-aaron-martin/ |date=August 28, 2017 }} from ''The TV Junkies'', March 3, 2016</ref><ref name=Deadline-5-5-2015>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/chiller-original-series-slasher-2015-1201421018/|title=Chiller Unveils First Original Series 'Slasher', More New Movies|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=May 5, 2015|access-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref> [[Netflix]] acquired the licensing rights to the series after the first season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://playbackonline.ca/2017/05/09/slasher-returns-for-a-second-season/|title=Slasher returns for a second season|publisher=Playback Online|date=May 9, 2017|access-date=May 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/coming-soon/october-2017-new-netflix-releases/|title=October 2017 New Netflix Releases|last = Moore|first = Kasey|date = September 20, 2017|work = WhatsonNetlix|access-date = May 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/is-slasher-2-guilty-party-a-true-story-the-netflix-series-honors-some-legendary-horror-classics-2920053|title=Is 'Slasher 2: Guilty Party' A True Story? The Netflix Series Honors Some Legendary Horror Classics|last = Urqyhart-White|first = Alaina|date = October 17, 2017|work = Bustle|access-date = May 23, 2019}}</ref>

===Acquired programs=== Chiller's acquired slate included genre films, international series (''[[Afterlife (TV series)|Afterlife]]'', ''[[Apparitions (TV series)|Apparitions]]''), non-scripted programs (''[[Fear Factor]]''), and anthology shows (''[[Masters of Horror]]'').

In July 2015, the channel aired a weekly anime block. The weekly block aired from midnight to 2:00 am on Wednesdays, but was summarily cancelled due to poor ratings. Anime shows that aired on the block included ''[[Tokyo Majin]]'', ''[[Devil May Cry: The Animated Series]]'', ''[[Is This a Zombie?]]'', and ''[[Black Blood Brothers]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. TV Channel Chiller Runs Anime Block on Wednesdays|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-07-15/u.s-tv-channel-chiller-runs-anime-block-on-wednesdays/.90499|access-date=July 2, 2021|website=Anime News Network|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=The Failed Anime Block that Everyone Forgot About|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh8r_Q4NCPs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/mh8r_Q4NCPs |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=July 2, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Dare 2 Direct Film Festivals=== In October 2007, Chiller announced its "Dare 2 Direct Film Festival" which premiered on [[Halloween]] night. Viewers uploaded 300 short films and the winners aired on this original special.

Chiller renewed its Dare 2 Direct Film Festival in 2008, which aired on Halloween night. The channel premiered webisodes of an original film, "The Hills Are Alive" from [[Tim Burton]] protégé [[Caroline Thompson]] (co-screenwriter of ''[[Tim Burton's Corpse Bride]]'' and screenwriter of ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'') in July on chillertv.com, and aired the complete film as its first original film in October.

==Chiller Films== [[File:Chiller Films logo.svg|right|240px]]

Chiller Films was a film production company based in New York that specialized in indie horror and thriller films. It was launched in 2011, to give select Chiller movies limited theatrical runs and nationwide VOD distribution, using a [[Simultaneous release|simultaneous]], or "day-and date" film release strategy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/06/chiller-adds-deep-in-the-darkness-drew-barrymores-animal-to-original-film-slate-525238/|title=Chiller Adds 'Deep In The Darkness', Drew Barrymore's 'Animal' To Original Film Slate|last=Yamato|first=Jen|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 19, 2013|access-date=June 17, 2015}}</ref> The films were released in a limited number of small and multiplex theaters in large markets, along with release on [[video on demand]] through cable providers and online film retailers the same day. Most of the films are from [[independent film]]makers who then license their properties to Chiller Films. Chiller Films quietly closed in December 2017, alongside the closure of the Chiller channel it was connected to.

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Title !! Year !! Production Co. |- | ''[[Remains (film)|Remains]]'' || rowspan="4" | 2012 || Chiller Films IDW Publishing |- | ''[[The American Scream]]'' || Chiller Films Brainstorm Media |- | ''[[Dead Souls (2012 film)|Dead Souls]]'' || Chiller Films Synthetic Productions |- | ''[[Ghoul (novel)|Ghoul]]'' || Chiller Films Modernciné |- | ''[[Beneath (2013 film)|Beneath]]'' || rowspan="3" | 2013 || [[Glass Eye Pix]] |- | ''[[Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear]]'' || Chiller Films Synthetic Cinema International |- | ''[[The Monkey's Paw (2013 film)|The Monkey's Paw]]'' || TMP Films |- | ''[[Animal (2014 film)|Animal]]'' || rowspan="2" | 2014 || [[Flower Films]] Synthetic Cinema International |- | ''[[Deep in the Darkness#Film adaptation|Deep in the Darkness]]'' || Chiller Films Synthetic Cinema International |- | ''[[The Boy (2015 film)|The Boy]]'' || 2015 || [[SpectreVision]] |- | ''[[SiREN]]'' || 2016 || [[Studio71]] |- | ''[[Camera Obscura (2017 film)|Camera Obscura]]'' || rowspan="2" | 2017 || Chiller Films Hood River Entertainment Paper Street Pictures |- | ''[[Dementia 13 (2017 film)|Dementia 13]]'' || Pipeline Entertainment Haloran LLC |}

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links==

{{commons category|Chiller (TV network)}} * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228220650/http://chillertv.com/ |date=December 28, 2017 |title=Official website}}

[[Category:English-language television stations in the United States]] [[Category:NBCUniversal networks]] [[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2007]] [[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2017]] [[Category:Defunct companies based in New York City]] [[Category:Film distributors of the United States]] [[Category:Defunct television networks in the United States]]