Sony Entertainment Television will launch on April 7 with the UK premiere of US medical drama Hawthorne, starring and executive produced by Jada Pinkett Smith.

Sony has announced plans to launch its first UK television channel, Sony Entertainment TV, which will primarily be aimed at women. The channel, which will air on Sky 157, will include a re run of US teen drama Dawson’s Creek, and will screen Sony films including The Da Vinci Code, All the King’s Men and Philadelphia over weekend slots.

Kate Marsh, senior vice president, broadcast and channel development said there was “real space for a quality, scripted entertainment channel where our audience can indulge in a bit of ‘me-time’ with a mix of new and familiar content.”

Meanwhile Jada Pinkett Smith [pictured], who was at the launch in London this morning, said that no director had yet been signed for the new musical feature version of Annie, which she is co-producing for Sony, despite rumours that Glee creator Ryan Murphy is due to come onboard. Pinkett Smith is producing along with partners James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz and Will Smith for Overbrook Entertainment.

“We are still putting the project together, putting our feelers out there and thinking about what our team is going to be.”

I will say we are really excited about it and we are working really hard. Right now we are focusing on the vision and what team we can put together to execute that vision.”