Viacom's Paramount Network to officially launch Jan. 18

Viacom has reportedly set an official date of Jan. 18 for the launch of Paramount Network, the rebranded version of Spike TV.

Paramount Network will kick off with a special live one-hour episode of “Lip Sync Battle,” one of the series that’s making the jump from Spike to Paramount.

Other returning series include “Ink Master,” “Bar Rescue,” and Bellator MMA fighting. New series queued up for January during the relaunch include “Waco,” a new limited event series starring Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch based on the 1993 Waco, Texas, siege.

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Ahead of the relaunch, Viacom has also started up a new website—along with various social media accounts—for Paramount Network, teasing upcoming series including “American Woman,” starring Alicia Silverstone and Mena Suvari, and “Heathers.”

Kevin Kay, president of Spike, TV Land and CMT, said the January relaunch was set in part so the new network wouldn’t have to compete too heavily with sports like NFL, NBA and NHL, but also so Viacom had time to put together a programming slate.

“While we were anxious to do the rebranding as quickly as possible, making great programming takes time,” Kay said.

In addition to the series noted on Paramount Network’s website, the channel will also have the Kevin Costner-starring drama “Yellowstone” and a six-part docu-series about Trayvon Martin, produced by Jay Z and the Weinstein Company.