Music Channels

An in depth look at a few of the current music channels.

MTV• MTV is an American based channel in New York City which

launched on the 1st of August 1981. • It was launched to play music videos with on air hosts known as

VJs. • They have been running the VMAs (Video Music Awards) since

1984. • It has become an international network with many different

channels in each continent. • The MTV network is owned by Viacom.• Recently MTV has changed to start showing less music videos

and more TV programs. By the mid 2000s MTV had reduced the amount of music videos they played, during the year 2000 they played eight hours of music each day which dramatically reduced to just three hours of music by 2008.

• MTV started to launch sister channels from this point on which played music solely such as MTV Hits which was launched in 2001.

VH1• VH1 which originally stood for video hits one is an American

channel based in New York City. • It is owned by Viacom but was originally created by Warner-

Amex Satellite Entertainment.• It was launched on January 1st 1985.• It was started as a build on from the success of MTV. The

concept was to target a slightly older demographic by sticking to the lighter side of pop music.

• Around the 1990s they began to diversify and start to focus more on teen music.

• In 2003 after a decline in viewing figures by 35% over the past few years they decided that they need to change. They started to target pop culture nostalgia.

• The channel has begun to play more reality shows and in 2005 they were playing 7 hours of music videos a day and now in 2010 they are playing music videos for around 5 hours a day.

The Box• Box Television is a network that owns many of the

music channel including The Box.• The channel was brought to the UK by Vincent Monsey

and Liz Leskowski. They had discovered the channel in Miami in 1991 as the Jukebox Network. The video Jukebox Network International Limited was launched in the UK in 1991.

• The box was launched in April 1992.• The channel is known for its first play feature which is

where many videos make their UK or World premiere. • In July 2007 50% of Box Television was sold to Channel

Four television Corporation and then in January 2008 the remaining 50% was sold to the Bauer Media Group.

4Music• It is a music and entertainment channel in the

United Kingdom that broadcasts 24 hours a day. • It was launched on the 15th August 2008.• It is part of the box television network which is

owned by the Bauer Media Group. • It replaced the music channel The Hits.• They play many different music related programs

such as Today’s 4Music Top 10.• It is aired on Sky, Virgin Media and Freeview.

Kerrang!TV• The music channel was launched in the spring of

2001. • It is owned by the Box Television Network and is

linked with the music magazine Kerrang!. • The channel mainly plays music from the genres of

nu metal and pop-punk. • The channel plays only music videos which has

become rare today as most also show other types of TV programs.

• Kerrang!TV is based mainly on text based requests.• It is only available on Sky and Virgin Media.