Looking to build on its Nielsen momentum in the new year, Investigation Discovery is teaming with a number of name brands during 2015.

As part of Discovery Communications session at the 2015 TCA winter press tour, Investigation Discovery, which saw its primetime audience grow 13% to an average of 909,000 watchers in 2014 to finish 24th overall, said it is working with journalist Chris Hansen on a new six-part series.

In Killer Instinct with Chris Hansen, the former Dateline NBC investigative reporter, will go into the field to take an in-depth look at some of America’s most horrific crimes, talking to people closest to the crimes that have shocked a nation. Killer Instinct, a co-production between Investigation Discovery and ITN Productions, is slated to debut in the third quarter.

ID, the fastest-growing network among cable’s top 25 in primetime last year, is also tapping into the staff of Vanity Fair to help shed light on some of the era’s most intriguing and salacious crimes and murders. The first of a dozen hours of Vanity Fair Confidential, created by Emmy-winning True Entertainment, will bow on Jan. 19 at 9 p.m. (ET).

The network has also commissioned In the Line of Fire from Atlas Media. The special will focus on some of the most captivating stories of heroic law enforcement in the face of insurmountable odds. Scheduled to bow this spring, In The Line of Fire will be presented by CBS News legal analyst and former trial attorney Rikki Klieman.

http://www.multichannel.com/news/content/2014-tough-ratings-year-cables-...