Zone Romantica is to launch on the UK satellite platform next week with a raft of well known US content to appeal to a female audience.

David E Kelley creations Ally McBeal and Chicago Hope have been acquired from 20th Century Fox Television Distribution for the channel, and will feature alongside the UK premiere of Kelley's drama series Snoops.

Snoops centres around an unconventional LA detective agency, run by Glenn Hall - played by Gina Gershon (Pretty in Pink, Showgirls) - who is more than willing to bend the rules for her clients.

Iconic US soaps - Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, Guiding Light - will also air on the channel, which broadcasts from 8am to 3am daily, with teleshopping from 3am-5am.

Kathy Fairburn, head of programming and acquisitions at Zonemedia, said: "We believe Zone Romantica is a long-overdue addition to the TV landscape in the UK, offering a mix of good escapist fun and emotionally charged drama. The channel provides the perfect home for long-running series and feature films tailor-made to appeal to women, and we are confident it will garner the same following in the UK as it has throughout Europe and the rest of the world."

Owned by global media group Chellomedia’s channel operator Zonemedia, the channel will be available on Sky channel 146 from Monday September 3.

Zonemedia also operates Zone Reality, Zone Club, Zone Horror, Zone Fantasy and Extreme Sports Channel, which broadcast in over 125 countries in 24 languages.