Paranormal television
Encyclopedia
Paranormal television is a genre
of popular reality television program
ming. Its scope comprises purportedly factual
investigations of paranormal
phenomena, rather than fiction
al representations found in such shows as The Ghosts of Motley Hall
and Ghostbusters
, or cartoon/children's series such as Scooby Doo and Rentaghost
.
is a well known example. Local TV news programs in the UK and USA have featured ghost stories since the 1960s. Paranormal television arose from this tradition.
One of the earliest paranormal TV shows was In Search Of..., hosted by Leonard Nimoy
which ran for six years from 1976. Rod Serling
was originally slated to host the series until his death in 1975. In Search Of... explored many paranormal topics, including UFOs, cryptozoological creatures (cryptids), lost civilizations, and other mysteries. Though the subject matter gradually lost popularity, the show gave way to future TV series following the same genre.
Ghostwatch
a fictional news broadcast about a haunted house in the UK that aired in 1992 created controversy when a majority of viewers believed the televised show was real.
Discovery Channel
started to explore the genre with some success from 1996. The Fox Broadcasting Company
had a news-style oriented show, Sightings
, that was hosted by Tim White (newscaster/reporter) and this show lasted for six years. MTV's Fear premiered in 2000, establishing the visual look and editing style followed by most paranormal reality television
show. In 2002, the British satellite channel LivingTV
launched the ghost-hunting series Most Haunted
. Its success helped spawn other shows on the channel, including Dead Famous and Jane Goldman Investigates, and the channel developed a distinctive identity based on paranormal programming. The production company responsible for these programs, Antix
, also produced two series of Spook School which followed the investigators of Para-Projects as they teach members of the public how to become paranormal investigators themselves.
Other notable shows include Creepy Canada
, Proof Positive
, America's Haunted Hotels, Ghost Hunters
(not to be confused with the earlier European Ghosthunters
), Ghost Adventures
, and A Haunting
. YTV, a Canadian youth-oriented station, has a more toned-down version of similar programming called Mystery Hunters
.
Noting the recent trend in reality shows that take the paranormal at face value, New York Times Culture editor Mike Hale characterized ghost hunting
shows as "pure theater" and compared the genre to professional wrestling
or soft core pornography for its formulaic, teasing approach.
LA Times staff writer Ed Stockly wrote that "the paranormal/supernatural-investigation subgenre that has cropped up on cable television over the last few years, which includes Ghost Hunters, Destination Truth, Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters International and a few others" promises to "take a skeptical approach in its investigations and to rely on science to confirm or disprove paranormal claims. So far not one has been able to consistently keep that promise."
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
of popular reality television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
ming. Its scope comprises purportedly factual
Factual television
Factual television is a genre of non-fiction television programming that documents actual events and people. These type of programs are also described as documentary, observational documentary, fly on the wall, docudrama, and reality television...
investigations of paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
phenomena, rather than fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al representations found in such shows as The Ghosts of Motley Hall
The Ghosts of Motley Hall
The Ghosts of Motley Hall was a British children's television series written by Richard Carpenter, produced and directed by Quentin Lawrence, and shown in 1976 by Granada Television.The series relates the adventures of 5 ghosts who haunt Motley Hall...
and Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American science fiction comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis and follows three eccentric parapsychologists in New York City, who start a...
, or cartoon/children's series such as Scooby Doo and Rentaghost
Rentaghost
Rentaghost is a British children's television comedy show, broadcast by the BBC between 6 January 1976 and 6 November 1984. The show's plot centred on the antics of a number of ghosts who worked for a firm called Rentaghost, which rented out the ghosts for various tasks.-Background:The company,...
.
History
Accounts of supernatural occurrences have always been common in the print media. The 1705 pamphlet "A True Relation of the Apparition of One Mrs Veal" by Daniel DefoeDaniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe , born Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist, and pamphleteer, who gained fame for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain and along with others such as Richardson,...
is a well known example. Local TV news programs in the UK and USA have featured ghost stories since the 1960s. Paranormal television arose from this tradition.
One of the earliest paranormal TV shows was In Search Of..., hosted by Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
which ran for six years from 1976. Rod Serling
Rod Serling
Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was an American screenwriter, novelist, television producer, and narrator best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science fiction anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen and helped form...
was originally slated to host the series until his death in 1975. In Search Of... explored many paranormal topics, including UFOs, cryptozoological creatures (cryptids), lost civilizations, and other mysteries. Though the subject matter gradually lost popularity, the show gave way to future TV series following the same genre.
Ghostwatch
Ghostwatch
Ghostwatch is a British reality–horror/mockumentary television movie, first broadcast on BBC1 on 31 October , 1992.Despite having been recorded weeks in advance, the narrative was presented as 'live' television...
a fictional news broadcast about a haunted house in the UK that aired in 1992 created controversy when a majority of viewers believed the televised show was real.
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
started to explore the genre with some success from 1996. The Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
had a news-style oriented show, Sightings
Sightings
Sightings was an American paranormal documentary and news television series that originally aired from April 17, 1992 to August 1, 1997 on Fox. The program began as a special titled The UFO Report: Sightings on October 18, 1991...
, that was hosted by Tim White (newscaster/reporter) and this show lasted for six years. MTV's Fear premiered in 2000, establishing the visual look and editing style followed by most paranormal reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show. In 2002, the British satellite channel LivingTV
LIVINGtv
Sky Living is a UK television channel owned by British Sky Broadcasting, who purchased the Living TV Group group in 2010. Originally launched as UK Living in 1993, the channel changed its name to Living TV in 1997 and then to Living in 2007. On 1 February 2011 Living changed its name to Sky Living...
launched the ghost-hunting series Most Haunted
Most Haunted
Most Haunted is a British paranormal documentary reality television series. The series was first shown on 25 May 2002 and ended on 21 July 2010. It was broadcast on Living and presented by Yvette Fielding. The programme was based on investigating purported paranormal activity...
. Its success helped spawn other shows on the channel, including Dead Famous and Jane Goldman Investigates, and the channel developed a distinctive identity based on paranormal programming. The production company responsible for these programs, Antix
Antix
Antix may refer to:* Antix , a 1985 game for MS-DOS developed by the creator of Tetris* Antix Productions, a UK television production company who produce Most Haunted* antiX, a Linux distribution based on MEPIS...
, also produced two series of Spook School which followed the investigators of Para-Projects as they teach members of the public how to become paranormal investigators themselves.
Other notable shows include Creepy Canada
Creepy Canada
Creepy Canada is a Canadian television series that aired on OLN. It focused on paranormal activities around Canada. The show first premiered on October 23, 2002 and began its third season on May 5, 2006...
, Proof Positive
Proof Positive
Proof Positive was a reality television paranormal investigation show broadcast by the SciFi Channel beginning in October 6, 2004 through December 8, 2004. It was shown as part of the "SciFi Wednesday" evening schedule line up in the United States along with other reality television programs as...
, America's Haunted Hotels, Ghost Hunters
Ghost Hunters
Ghost Hunters is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on October 6, 2004, on Syfy . The program features paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson who investigate places that are reported to be haunted. The two originally worked as plumbers for Roto-Rooter as...
(not to be confused with the earlier European Ghosthunters
Ghosthunters
Ghosthunters was a British paranormal documentary television series that originally aired from 1996 to 1997 on the Discovery Channel. The four-season program was produced by Inca Productions of Covent Garden, London , hosted by Ian Cashmore, and narrated by William Woollard...
), Ghost Adventures
Ghost Adventures
Ghost Adventures is a weekly American paranormal television series that premiered on October 17, 2008 on the Travel Channel. Currently produced by MY-Tupelo Entertainment , the program follows and stars ghost hunters Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin, as they investigate locations that are...
, and A Haunting
A Haunting
A Haunting is an American paranormal docudrama anthology television series that originally aired from October 28, 2005 to November 9, 2007 on the Discovery Channel. The program features narrations, interviews, and dramatic re-enactments based on various accounts of paranormal experiences at...
. YTV, a Canadian youth-oriented station, has a more toned-down version of similar programming called Mystery Hunters
Mystery Hunters
Mystery Hunters is a Canadian Documentary television series aimed at a Young audience. It aired on YTV in Canada and on Discovery Kids in the United States. It was also dubbed in Japanese and aired in Japan on NHK....
.
Noting the recent trend in reality shows that take the paranormal at face value, New York Times Culture editor Mike Hale characterized ghost hunting
Ghost hunting
Ghost Hunting is the process of investigating locations that are reported to be haunted by ghosts.Typically, a ghost hunting team will attempt to collect evidence claimed to be supportive of paranormal activity...
shows as "pure theater" and compared the genre to professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
or soft core pornography for its formulaic, teasing approach.
LA Times staff writer Ed Stockly wrote that "the paranormal/supernatural-investigation subgenre that has cropped up on cable television over the last few years, which includes Ghost Hunters, Destination Truth, Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters International and a few others" promises to "take a skeptical approach in its investigations and to rely on science to confirm or disprove paranormal claims. So far not one has been able to consistently keep that promise."
Examples of notable programs
| Program | Original Run Years (Premiere–Finale) | Original Channel/Network |
|---|---|---|
| 6ixth Sense 6ixth Sense 6ixth Sense is a British television programme, shown on Living. Hosted by Colin Fry, it features him giving psychic readings to members of the audience, and occasionally shows one-to-one readings with members of the public.... with Colin Fry Colin Fry Colin Fry is an English television personality, entertainer, who purports to be a psychic medium. His critics assert that he has no paranormal powers and merely uses basic cold reading techniques... |
2002 | Living TV (UK) |
| Ancient Mysteries | 1994 - 1998 | A&E |
| The Antiques Ghost Show The Antiques Ghost Show In the spring of 2003 Derek Acorah appeared in the Living TV programme The Antiques Ghost Show. In the show Derek discovers the hidden histories of people's family pasts by psychically connecting with their cherished heirlooms.... |
2003 | Living TV (UK) |
| Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World is a thirteen part British television series looking at unexplained phenomena from around the world. It was produced by Yorkshire Television for the ITV network and first broadcast in September 1980.... |
1980 | ITV ITV ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK... |
| Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe was a popular eighteen part television series looking at unexplained phenomena across the universe. It was first broadcast in 1994 in the UK by independent television network ITV. It was the sequel to Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World and Arthur C... |
1995 | ITV ITV ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK... |
| Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers is a popular thirteen part British television series looking at strange worlds of the paranormal. It was produced by Yorkshire Television for the ITV network and first broadcast in 1985. It was the sequel to the 1980 series Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious... |
1985 | ITV ITV ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK... |
| America's Haunted Castles | 2005 | Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| Beyond Beyond (TV series) Beyond is a Canadian paranormal documentary television series produced by Renegade Motion Pictures. It began airing in January 2005 and is currently in its second run. Alannah Myles has taken on the role as host for seasons III and IV.... |
2005 | n/a (Canada) |
| Creepy Canada Creepy Canada Creepy Canada is a Canadian television series that aired on OLN. It focused on paranormal activities around Canada. The show first premiered on October 23, 2002 and began its third season on May 5, 2006... |
2002–2006 | n/a (Canada) |
| Celebrity Ghost Stories Celebrity Ghost Stories Celebrity Ghost Stories is a television show on BIO & A&E Network. It is a reality show that interviews various celebrities who have witnessed paranormal events at certain points in their lives.-Season 1 - ::... |
2009–present | Biography Channel |
| Crossing Over with John Edward John Edward John Edward McGee, Jr. is an American television personality and professional psychic medium. He is best known for his TV shows Crossing Over with John Edward and John Edward Cross Country.... |
1999–2004 | SyFy Syfy Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a... |
| Dead Famous | 2004–2006 | n/a |
| Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns is a paranormal reality television series which featured noted Medium Derek Acorah as he visited towns in the UK to investigate hauntings. The team would travel in the "Ghost Town Van" and would allow townsfolk to tell the team about their encounters with hauntings in... |
2005 | Living TV (UK), Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| Destination Truth Destination Truth Destination Truth is a weekly American paranormal reality television series that premiered on June 6, 2007 on Syfy. Produced by Mandt Bros. Productions and Ping Pong Productions, the program follows paranormal researcher Josh Gates around the world to investigate claims of the supernatural, mainly... |
2007–present | Syfy Syfy Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a... |
| Encounters: The Hidden Truth Encounters (TV series) Encounters: The Hidden Truth was an hour-long TV series that featured real-life stories of paranormal phenomena. The format featured a host and a team of reporters presenting 3 or 4 stories per episode dealing with UFOs, crop circles, exorcism, prophets, psychics, reincarnation, and other... |
1991 | Fox Network |
| Extreme Paranormal Extreme Paranormal Extreme Paranormal is an American paranormal documentary TV special that premiered on Monday, October 26, 2009 on A&E Network at 10pm EST. It aired as a two-part 1 hour special for Halloween and followed the missions of three paranormal investigators that go to extremes in order to make contact... |
2009 | A&E Network A&E Network The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched... |
| Extreme Ghost Stories Extreme Ghost Stories Extreme Ghost Stories is a British supernatural documentary television series produced by ITV Granada, consisting of four one-hour episodes.-Origin:... |
2006–2007 | ITV1 ITV1 ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their... (UK) WE We We is the first-person, plural personal pronoun in Modern English.- Atypical uses of we : A nosism is the use of 'we' to refer to oneself.... (US) |
| Exploring the Unknown | 1999 | Saban Entertainment, Fox Kids Fox Kids Fox Kids was the Fox Broadcasting Company's American children's programming division and brand name from September 8, 1990 until September 7, 2002. It was owned by Fox Television Entertainment airing programming on Monday–Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.Depending on the show, the... |
| Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files -Reviews:The show has been described as Mythbusters meets Destination Truth. A Variety magazine review says – "Now we know what Fox Mulder would have done after leaving "The X-Files" unit: Get his own reality-TV show!"-Criticism:... |
2009–present | Syfy Syfy Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a... |
| Fenómeno | 2000 | RTP2, Mínima Ideia (Portugal) |
| Fortean TV Fortean TV Fortean TV is a British paranormal documentary television series that originally aired from to on Channel 4. Produced by Rapido TV, the program features anomalous phenomena and the paranormal. It was based upon the Fortean Times magazine and was presented by Reverend Lionel Fanthorpe... |
1997–1998 | Channel 4 Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel... |
| Ghost Adventures Ghost Adventures Ghost Adventures is a weekly American paranormal television series that premiered on October 17, 2008 on the Travel Channel. Currently produced by MY-Tupelo Entertainment , the program follows and stars ghost hunters Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin, as they investigate locations that are... |
2008–present | Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| Ghost Hunters Ghost Hunters Ghost Hunters is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on October 6, 2004, on Syfy . The program features paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson who investigate places that are reported to be haunted. The two originally worked as plumbers for Roto-Rooter as... |
2004–present | Syfy Syfy Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a... |
| Ghost Hunters Academy Ghost Hunters Academy Ghost Hunters Academy is a paranormal reality television series that premiered on November 11, 2009 on the Syfy channel. The program is the third spin-off series based on Ghost Hunters... |
2009–2010 | Syfy Syfy Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a... |
| Ghost Hunters International Ghost Hunters International Ghost Hunters International is a spin-off series of Ghost Hunters that airs on Syfy. The series premiered on January 9, 2008... |
2007–present | Syfy Syfy Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a... |
| Ghost Lab Ghost Lab Ghost Lab is a weekly American paranormal documentary television series that premiered on October 6, 2009 on the Discovery Channel. Produced by Paper Route Productions and Go Go Luckey Entertainment, the program is narrated by Mike Rowe... |
2009–2011 | Discovery Channel Discovery Channel Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav... |
| Ghost Stories Ghost Stories (TV series) Ghost Stories is an American horror anthology television series that ran from 1997 to 1998 on the cable channel FOX Family.The show was narrated by Rip Torn and originally two episodes were presented back to back in an hour-long segment... |
1997–1998 | FOX Family Fox Family Fox Family may refer to:* The Fox Family, a 2006 South Korean film* Fox Family, a former name of American television cable network ABC Family... |
| Ghost Stories Ghost Stories (2009 TV series) Ghost Stories is an American paranormal documentary television series that premiered on October 16, 2009 on the Travel Channel. The program is produced by MY Tupelo Entertainment for the Travel Channel. As its title implies, the series features ghost stories... |
2009–present | Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| Ghost Story | 2006 | (UK) |
| Ghost Trackers Ghost Trackers Ghost Trackers is a children's reality show on HBO that was previously aired on Discovery Kids Canada, & YTV.-Show summary:Middle-school age contestants compete for the title of "top tracker" by investigating supposedly haunted places armed with "ghost tracking technology." Previously hidden... |
2006 | YTV |
| Ghost Whisperer Ghost Whisperer Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts... |
2005–2010 | CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of... |
| Ghosthunters Ghosthunters Ghosthunters was a British paranormal documentary television series that originally aired from 1996 to 1997 on the Discovery Channel. The four-season program was produced by Inca Productions of Covent Garden, London , hosted by Ian Cashmore, and narrated by William Woollard... |
1996 | Discovery Channel Europe Discovery Channel Europe Discovery Channel Europe is the Pan-European version of the Discovery Channel.Over the years, the Discovery Channel has been split into many different channels for specific regions... |
| Ghostly Encounters Ghostly Encounters Ghostly Encounters is a Canadian paranormal documentary television series that premiered on , on Viva/W Network. The program also airs on A&E's The Biography Channel in the United States... |
2009–present | Viva/W Network W Network W Network is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. W Network broadcasts lifestyle and entertainment programming aimed at women.... (Canada), A&E Network A&E Network The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched... , Biography Channel |
| The Girly Ghosthunters The Girly Ghosthunters The Girly Ghosthunters was a 30-minute Canadian paranormal TV series. It was first broadcast on Friday, January 14, 2005, on the Canadian SPACE speciality channel. The thirteenth and last episode was broadcast April 15, 2005. The show featured four young women visiting alleged and/or documented... |
2005 | n/a (Canada) |
| The Haunted The Haunted (TV series) The Haunted is an American paranormal documentary television series that premiered on November 22, 2009 on Animal Planet. Produced by Picture Shack Entertainment, the program features ghost stories and paranormal investigations involving animals. With similar title and motion graphics, the show is... |
2009-present | Animal Planet Animal Planet Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:... |
| Haunted Houses: Tortured Souls & Restless Spirits | 2005 | Biography Channel |
| Haunted History Haunted History Haunted History was a 1998 UFA/Cafe Productions series exploring the supernatural. Executive Producer Ed Babbage for Cafe . The American version of the show also debuted in 1998 with the same premise of exploring the world to investigate the "haunted history" of reportedly haunted... |
1998–2008 | History Channel, Biography Channel |
| Haunted Homes Haunted Homes Haunted Homes is a British reality television series made by September Films Productions. The show began with a pilot in 2004 which aired on ITV and a 'fictitious' episode of an Ouija Board... |
2006 | ITV ITV ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK... |
| Haunted Hotels Haunted Hotels Haunted Hotels is an American paranormal television series that premiered on October 24, 2001 on the Travel Channel. The series features haunted hotels in America and the ghost stories that are told from employees and guests alike who work and stay in them... |
2002-2006 | Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| Haunted Lighthouses of America | 2006 | Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| A Haunting A Haunting A Haunting is an American paranormal docudrama anthology television series that originally aired from October 28, 2005 to November 9, 2007 on the Discovery Channel. The program features narrations, interviews, and dramatic re-enactments based on various accounts of paranormal experiences at... |
2005–2007 | Discovery Channel Discovery Channel Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav... |
| Haunting Evidence Haunting Evidence Haunting Evidence is an American documentary television series following the travels of a psychic profiler, a medium, and a paranormal investigator. The trio travels the United States investigating "cold case" homicide and missing persons cases... |
2006 | TruTV |
| I'm Famous and Frightened! I'm Famous and Frightened! I'm Famous and Frightened was a Living TV reality TV show in which 8 celebrities stayed for three nights in a "haunted" castle. They had to then do terrifying challenges in order to raise money for charity; each one was evicted until only the winner was left.The first series aired on Friday 12... |
2004 | n/a |
| In Search Of... | 1976–1982 | n/a |
| Investigations of the Unexplained | 2007 | Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| James Randi James Randi James Randi is a Canadian-American stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. Randi is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation... : Psychic Investigator |
1991 | n/a |
| Jane Goldman Investigates | 2003 | Living TV |
| Most Haunted Most Haunted Most Haunted is a British paranormal documentary reality television series. The series was first shown on 25 May 2002 and ended on 21 July 2010. It was broadcast on Living and presented by Yvette Fielding. The programme was based on investigating purported paranormal activity... |
2002–2010 | Living TV (UK), Paranormal Channel Paranormal Channel The Unexplained Channel was an entertainment TV channel broadcast in the UK on the Sky Digital platform. The channel claimed to be the first TV channel in the world dedicated to the paranormal, and aimed to be ground breaking in its investigation of the subject.... (UK), Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| Most Haunted Live! Most Haunted Live! Most Haunted Live was a spin-off of the paranormal reality television series Most Haunted and was also produced by Antix Productions. The show consists of paranormal investigations broadcast live over a period of one or more nights, usually with interactive sections that involve the... |
2002 | Living TV (UK), Paranormal Channel Paranormal Channel The Unexplained Channel was an entertainment TV channel broadcast in the UK on the Sky Digital platform. The channel claimed to be the first TV channel in the world dedicated to the paranormal, and aimed to be ground breaking in its investigation of the subject.... (UK), Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| Most Terrifying Places in America Most Terrifying Places in America Most Terrifying Places in America is an American paranormal documentary television series that premiered on October 9, 2009 on the Travel Channel as a stand alone special. This special was then broken down into a parted series. The series is exactly what its title implies, traveling the country in... |
2008–present | Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| MTV's Fear MTV's Fear MTV's Fear is an American paranormal reality television series that originally aired from 2000 to 2002 on MTV. The program follows a group of 5 or more contestants being left at an allegedly haunted location and led them on a series of dares over two nights to explore and confirm whether or not the... |
2000–2002 | MTV MTV MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs.... |
| My Ghost Story My Ghost Story My Ghost Story is an American television series on the paranormal, which premiered on July 17, 2010 on the Biography Channel. The series features ghost stories told from a person's own experience with the supernatural. Each episode features first hand eyewitness accounts of stories of encounters at... |
2010–present | Biography Channel |
| Mystery Hunters Mystery Hunters Mystery Hunters is a Canadian Documentary television series aimed at a Young audience. It aired on YTV in Canada and on Discovery Kids in the United States. It was also dubbed in Japanese and aired in Japan on NHK.... |
2002–2006 | Discovery Networks, YTV |
| Nachtwakers | 2011–present | RTV Oost (Netherlands) |
| One Step Beyond One Step Beyond -Television:* Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond, an American anthology television series 1959-1961, hosted by John Newland* One Step Beyond , a program broadcast by Discovery Channel... |
1959–1961 | n/a |
| The Othersiders The Othersiders The Othersiders is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on June 17, 2009 on the Cartoon Network. The program follows a group of five teenagers who are interested in the paranormal and explore reportedly haunted sites to discover any paranormal activity. Aimed for a teen... |
2009 | Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (United States) Cartoon Network is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting which primarily airs animated programming. The channel was launched on October 1, 1992 after Turner purchased the animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1991... |
| Paranormal? Paranormal? Paranormal? is a paranormal documentary television series that premiered in the UK in July 2005 on the National Geographic Channel.-Premise:... |
2005 | National Geographic Channel National Geographic Channel National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual... |
| Paranormal Challenge Paranormal Challenge Paranormal Challenge is an American paranormal competitive reality spinoff television series that premiered on June 17, 2011 on the Travel Channel... |
2011 | Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| Paranormal Cops Paranormal Cops Paranormal Cops is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on January 19, 2010 on A&E. The program is produced by NorthSouth Productions for A&E... |
2010 | A&E Network A&E Network The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched... |
| Paranormal State Paranormal State Paranormal State is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on the A&E Network on December 10, 2007. The program follows and stars the Pennsylvania State University Paranormal Research Society, a student-led college club... |
2006–present | A&E Network A&E Network The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched... |
| Paranormal State: The New Class Paranormal State: The New Class Paranormal State: The New Class is an American paranormal docudrama television series that premiered on the A&E Network on November 21, 2010. The show follows six members of , a college student-led group consisting of Christopher Lien, Savahanna Lien Wise, , Stephen Wise, Daniel Hendry, and . Four... |
2010-present | A&E Network A&E Network The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched... |
| Paranormal Witness Paranormal Witness Paranormal Witness is an American paranormal reality television series filmed in a documentary-style that feature eyewitness accounts from everyday people that have experienced paranormal activity. The series premiered on September 7, 2011 on Syfy with new episodes airing Wednesdays at 10pm... |
2011-present | Syfy Syfy Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a... |
| Proof Positive Proof Positive Proof Positive was a reality television paranormal investigation show broadcast by the SciFi Channel beginning in October 6, 2004 through December 8, 2004. It was shown as part of the "SciFi Wednesday" evening schedule line up in the United States along with other reality television programs as... |
2004 | Syfy Syfy Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a... |
| Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal is a Canadian science fiction drama television series which was filmed in and around Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and aired 88 episodes over four seasons from 1996 to 2000... |
1996–2000 | n/a (Canada) |
| Psychic Detectives Psychic Detectives Psychic Detectives or Psychic Investigators is a television program produced by StoryHouse Productions for Court TV, as of 2006 in its 5th season. The program documents real-life cases of situations in which police departments have enlisted the aid of psychics in solving difficult cases... with Tony Stockwell Tony Stockwell Tony Stockwell is a British author, television personality and psychic medium. He was born in Walthamstow, East London.-Career:Stockwell was born on London's East End. His career as a medium began at the age of 16 when he was invited to a local Spiritualist church by a friend to see another medium... |
? | n/a |
| Psychic Kids Psychic Kids Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal is a paranormal television series broadcast on the A&E television network. Hosted by Chip Coffey, an American psychic investigator, with Edy Nathan, Chris Fleming, and Kim Russo, the show brings together children who report having psychic abilities with... |
2009–present | Biography Channel |
| Psychic Witness | 2005 | Discovery Channel Discovery Channel Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav... |
| Scared! Scared! Scared! , formerly titled as Scared on Staten Island!, is an American paranormal public-access television cable TV series that premiered on September 12, 2002 on Staten Island Community Television... |
2002 | n/a |
| Scariest Places on Earth Scariest Places On Earth Scariest Places on Earth is an American paranormal documentary reality television series that originally aired from October 23, 2000 to October 29, 2006. The program was produced by Triage Entertainment for the Fox Family Channel, which is now ABC Family and owns the rights to the show... |
2001–2006 | ABC Family ABC Family ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company... |
| Scary...But True | 2001 | Syfy Syfy Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a... , YTV, Chiller |
| Scream Team Scream Team Scream Team was a 2001 LivingTV Paranormal television series, as well as the name of an unrelated 2002 film. This article deals with the British TV series, not the film... |
2002 | Living TV |
| Sightings | 1992–1997 | Fox Network, Syfy Syfy Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a... , syndicated television |
| The Sleep of Reason The Sleep of Reason The Sleep of Reason is a BBC Books original novel written by Martin Day and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who... with Steve Bell Steve Bell Steve Bell may refer to:* Steve Bell , first anchor of the ABC News program World News This Morning, previously reporter for WOWT-TV* Steve Bell , English cartoonist* Steven Bell, rugby league player... |
2007 | Studio Universal Studio Universal Studio Universal is a specialty television channel focused on films, owned by Universal Networks International. The programming is based on films and related programs with interviews, insights, short films and frequent themed nights or seasons in which are shown a number of films centred around... |
| Spook School | 2007–2008 | Unexplained Channel, Antix Productions Antix Productions Antix Productions is a television production company founded by Yvette Fielding and Karl Beattie in 2001. The company have produced shows for broadcasters such as Living and ITV in the UK and Travel Channel in the USA... |
| Strange But True? | 1993 | n/a |
| Strange Universe Strange Universe Strange Universe was a syndicated daily half-hour program about paranormal phenomena. It was hosted by Emmitt Miller and Dana Adams. In February of 1997 Adams was dropped as co-host and miller became the only host. It was on the air from 1996 to 1998 for a total of 390 episodes.-External links:* ... |
1996 | UPN UPN United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's... , syndicated television |
| Truth or Scare Truth or Scare Truth or Scare is a television series on the Discovery Kids network. The show aired from October 25, 2001 to January 1, 2003. Each episode was 30 minutes long with commercials.... |
2001–2003 | Discovery Kids Discovery Kids Discovery Kids is an American website owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. created for children. Until October 10, 2010, it was an American digital cable specialty channel, owned by Discovery Communications with television programming for education of children. It was launched in October 1996... , The Hub |
| The Unexplained The Unexplained The Unexplained is an American documentary television series that originally aired from 1996 to 2000 on A&E and was later broadcast by the Biography Channel. The program features various mysteries, paranormal, psychic phenomena, and other topics that are considered to be "unexplained." Earlier... |
2009 | Biography Channel |
| The UneXplained The Unexplained (2011 TV series) The Unexplained is an American paranormal documentary television series that premiered on April 30, 2011 on Biography Channel. The series features "unexplained" or unusual occurrences, that happen to everyday people in the United States as they document their lives... |
2011 | Biography Channel |
| UFO Abductions | 1991 | n/a |
| Unexplained Canada Unexplained Canada Unexplained Canada is a show that aired on Space, a Canadian cable television station. It was a six-part series coming from many different perspectives of historical/social mysteries. It was hosted by John Robert Colombo and premiered January 2006. The show was produced by KarowPrime Films in Canada.... |
2006 | Space |
| Unexplained Mysteries Unexplained Mysteries Unexplained Mysteries is an American documentary television show that originally aired in 2003-2004 for a single season and is currently in syndication. The show deals with eyewitness accounts of paranormal activity, especially aliens, UFOs, and ghosts; almost all of the them rehashed reports from... |
2003 | syndicated television |
| Unsolved Mysteries Unsolved Mysteries Unsolved Mysteries is an American television program, hosted by Robert Stack, from 1987 until 2002, and later by Dennis Farina, starting in 2008... |
1987 1997 2001 |
NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago... CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of... Lifetime Lifetime Television Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks... |
| Weird Travels Weird Travels Weird Travels is an American documentary paranormal television series that originally aired from 2003 to 2006 on the Travel Channel. Produced by Authentic Entertainment, the program features various paranormal subjects around the world, especially cryptozoological creatures... |
2003–2006 | Travel Channel Travel Channel The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,... |
| World's Scariest Ghosts Caught on Tape | 1990s | ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948... |