Dark is a Spanish pay television channel dedicated exclusively to horror and suspense programming, owned and operated by AMC Networks International Southern Europe (AMCNISE). Launched on 31 October 2016 — Halloween — Dark is described by its operator as the only channel in Spain devoted entirely to the horror genre in all its forms, encompassing slasher, horror comedy, psychological horror, and anime. The channel replaced the general entertainment network Buzz across the main Spanish pay-television platforms, and traces its lineage to Canal 18, an adult content channel that began broadcasting in September 1997 following the launch of the Vía Digital cable operator.
History
Canal 18 (1997–2013)
The channel that would ultimately become Dark originated as Canal 18, an adult-oriented pay-television channel that launched in September 1997 following the debut of the Vía Digital cable operator in Spain. Canal 18 specialised primarily in suspense and horror films produced in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, supplemented by pornographic films broadcast from midnight onward. At the end of 1999, Canal 18 was acquired by Mediapark, under which its programming refocused on horror content while retaining the adult programming bloc at midnight.
On 1 November 2006, following the separation of the contents previously shared with Buzz, the channel operated a split schedule: the Dark brand was used for horror and suspense content broadcast from 9:30 to 00:00, at which point Canal 18 assumed control of the dial for its adult programming bloc running from midnight to 05:00.
Buzz Rojo / Canal 18 and Buzz Rojo (2011–2016)
On 1 July 2009, Teuve merged the operations of Buzz and the Dark/Canal 18 split schedule, consolidating the brands. On 1 February 2011, Chello Multicanal re-launched the horror-oriented feed under the name Buzz Rojo, which broadcast horror films and series from 09:30 to 00:00, at which point Canal 18 resumed with its adult programming bloc. Buzz Rojo effectively carried on the editorial identity of the original Dark brand from the 2006–2009 period.
On 2 September 2013, Chello Multicanal eliminated Canal 18 following sixteen years of uninterrupted broadcasting, citing legal issues. Canal 18 was replaced on the adult bloc by Dorcel TV, a European erotic television channel founded in 2006. From this point, the channel operated solely under the Buzz Rojo name with a horror and suspense programming identity throughout the day.
Launch as Dark (2016–present)
On 31 October 2016 — Halloween — AMC Networks International Southern Europe relaunched the channel under the new brand Dark, positioning it as the first and only pay-television channel in Spain dedicated entirely to the horror genre. The rebranded channel replaced Buzz across the major pay-television platforms, including Movistar+, Vodafone TV, Euskaltel, R, and Telecable, as well as various regional cable networks.
Eduardo Zulueta, president of AMC Networks International Iberia and Latin America, stated at the channel's launch that horror content consumption in Spain had increased by 19% compared to 2015, and that the genre ranked among the most popular with millennial audiences. To mark the Halloween launch, Dark aired a marathon of all ten episodes of the first season of Ash vs. Evil Dead beginning at 18:06:06 — a reference to the Number of the Beast, 666.
Programming
Dark's programming slate spans all major subgenres of horror and suspense, including slasher, horror comedy, psychological horror, and anime with horror themes. The channel carries both acquired Hollywood productions and European horror cinema, with a particular emphasis on content from the 1980s and 1990s alongside contemporary productions.
Notable titles that have aired on Dark include:
Title Genre Country of Origin Notes Ash vs. Evil Dead Horror comedy series United States Spanish premiere of Season 2 aired on Dark at launch; Season 1 marathon broadcast on 31 October 2016 Eden Lake Psychological horror film United Kingdom Part of launch programming slate Don't Speak Horror film United States Part of launch programming slate Wax Horror film Spain Part of launch programming slate El vengador tóxico (The Toxic Avenger) Horror comedy film United States Part of launch programming slate
Distribution
Platform / Operator Notes Movistar+ Available from 31 October 2016 Vodafone TV Available from 31 October 2016; replaced Buzz Euskaltel Available from 31 October 2016; replaced Buzz R Cable Available from 31 October 2016; replaced Buzz Telecable Available from 31 October 2016; replaced Buzz Local cable networks Available from 31 October 2016 across various regional operators
See also
AMC Networks International Southern Europe Buzz (Spanish TV channel) (predecessor) XTRM (sister channel) AMC Crime (sister channel)
References