Music & Memories

Last updated
Music & Memories
Music & Memories.png
Country United Kingdom
NetworkKeep It Country TV Ltd
Programming
Language(s) English
Picture format 1080p HDTV (upscaled)
History
Launched21 April 2010
Former namesShowcase 2 (2010-2014)
Showcase (2014-2016)
Keep It Country (2016-2019)
Spotlight TV (2019-2022)
Links
Website musicandmemories.tv
musicandmemories.uk
Availability
Terrestrial
Freeview Channel 271 (Channelbox)
Streaming media
Music & Memories Watch live
Channelbox iOS & Android

Music & Memories is a British music television channel available via the Freeview streaming service Channelbox. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The channel launched on Sky on 21 April 2010 as Showcase 2 on channel 216. On 1 September 2010, following the removal of Channel M and launch of Showcase +1 (which itself was replaced by fellow music channel WTF (then became Massive R&B, Planet Pop, Chilled TV and Now 90s)), it moved to channel 203. On 3 July 2012, following a Sky EPG reshuffle, it moved to channel 192.

On 3 December 2013, a timeshift channel launched on Sky channel 293, which moved to channel 238 on 19 August 2014 following another EPG clean-up. Showcase 2 was renamed as Showcase following the previous first channel's rebrand to Irish TV the previous month. On 1 June 2015, the timeshift channel closed and was replaced by Property Show. It moved to Sky channel 261 on 17 August 2015 following the closure of True Entertainment +1 and to free space for AMC from BT.

On 17 February 2016, the channel moved to Sky channel 389, being relabelled as Keep It Country the next month (it was previously a block). Operated by Phil Mack Country, the channel initially broadcast for 17 hours of each day because space for third party content left over from Showcase still had to be broadcast. [3] It launched on Freesat at the beginning of March 2016.

On 31 May 2016, the channel launched on Freeview, broadcasting via COM7 which is available to around 75% of the UK. [4]

From 26 January 2017 to 1 February 2017, Keep It Country was temporarily removed from Sky channel 389.

On 1 May 2018, following another EPG reshuffle, Keep It Country moved from Sky channel 389 to 376.

On 21 January 2019, the channel changed Freeview multiplex and increased its reach from 75% of the UK to 90% [5] but it was removed from the platform in June 2019.

The channel was renamed as Spotlight TV on 1 July 2019 [6] [7] and broadcasts on Freeview in the Greater Manchester area. After a short break in transmission the channel also moved to the "Hybrid TV channel" VisionTV (Channel 264 on Freeview), so people in the UK could watch it if they had a 'connected TV' [available to devices connected to the internet].

Early 2022, the channel had a shift and is now shown on SKY TV 365 or Freesat 500.

Phil Mack and BARB

On 10 July 2022, Phil Mack confirmed that Spotlight TV would be leaving Freesat and Sky on 31 August, with Mack [8] blaming BARB, which affected the cost he could sell advertising on the channel [9] whose viewing figures had underestimated the success of the channel and the monthly charge of £82,000 which allowed Spotlight to have its own channel number on the various platforms. Mack stated that BARB's figures were unfair as they were based on a small survey of 5,200 [10] viewers with many of those panel members not being fans of Irish country music, resulting in an unfair zero rating for the channel when Mack recorded thousands of fans tuning in, with Mack stating in the past [11] that Memory Lane had a weekly reach of 1.2 million. [12] He also stated that the Memory Lane show on 31 August 2022 would be his last and that he planned on starting a new channel called Music & Memories, which would be broadcast on FAST streaming service Channelbox [13] via Freeview channel 271. Mack also stated that he would be taking legal action against BARB over the reporting of the viewing figures and suggested that people contact Nadine Dorries, the UK'S Culture, Media and Digital Secretary to complain. [14]

On 31 August 2022, after Spotlight TV was added to Channelbox under its normal channel name, it was removed from Sky and Freesat. It was removed from VisionTV (channel 264) a few days later.

In early September Spotlight TV was renamed Music & Memories. [15] The version of Music & Memories on musicandmemories.tv carries no advertising and has a black on-screen bug, while the version on Channelbox carries advertising and has a white on-screen bug. In late September the channel moved to musicandmemories.uk and now has a white on-screen bug.

Currently the owners search for funding a new satellite channel [16]

Programming

The majority of the channel's output is country music but recently the channel has added a "small number of shows from other genres," mostly oldies and classic hits from the second half of the 20th century, to encourage more viewers to watch the channel as part of its overall growth plans. [17] As of 2022, the nostalgic television network hosts a variety of hour-long themed programmes such as The Irish Music Hour hosted by Phil Mack & Natasha Magee, American Country Mix or Stacey Jackson In The 80s hosted by Stacey Jackson.

Programmes and presenters

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yesterday (TV channel)</span> UKTV channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland

Yesterday is a British free-to-air history-oriented television channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It launched on 30 October 2002 as UK History and relaunched in its current format on 2 March 2009. It is available on satellite through Sky, Freesat and through the digital terrestrial provider Freeview. Hours on Freeview had previously been cut, with transmissions finishing at 6 pm, but were restored on 1 June 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ITV3</span> British free-to-air television channel

ITV3 is a British free-to-air television channel owned by ITV Digital Channels, a division of ITV plc. The channel was first launched on Monday 1 November 2004 at 9 pm, replacing Plus (Granada). ITV3 is the sixth-largest UK television channel by audience share and the largest after the five main terrestrial services, the position which was previously held by its sister station ITV2. The channel is known for repeats of ITV dramas, and including sequential reruns of Agatha Christie's Poirot, Classic Coronation Street, Classic Emmerdale, Heartbeat, Inspector Morse and A Touch of Frost, amongst others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiny Pop</span> British childrens television channel

Tiny Pop is a British free-to-air children's television channel in the United Kingdom, owned by Narrative Entertainment UK Limited. Broadcast on many of the major digital television platforms in the UK, Tiny Pop, which was launched on 8 September 2003 as Pop Plus, and shows, its target audience is children aged 7 and under. The station broadcasts principally animated content sourced from various distributors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now 70s</span> British TV music channel, formerly known as Channel U and Channel AKA

Now 70s is a British free-to-air music television channel, owned by All Around the World Productions, available through Sky UK, Freeview and Virgin Media within the UK. It focuses on music from the 1970s, being the third decade-oriented channel in the Now portfolio, along with Now 80s and Now 90s.

Freesat is a British free-to-air satellite television service, first formed as a joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc and now owned by Everyone TV. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008. Freesat offers a satellite alternative to the Freeview service on digital terrestrial television, with a broadly similar selection of channels available without subscription for users purchasing a receiver.

Legend is a British free-to-air television channel specialising in sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, action and cult series. It is broadcast in the UK and Ireland. The channel is known for its horror movies during the evenings and early hours with its schedule featuring in the Films section of the Radio Times rather than with the General Entertainment channels.

Box Hits was a British commercial television channel owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. The channel broadcast general pop music in shows such as Chartbusters, which was recent music and Pop Domination, which showcased new and old music. It also shows other programmes such as themed countdowns and charts such as Top 50 Boy Bands. The channel also had hours dedicated to a particular artist or band such as Pussycat Dolls: Ultimate 10. It was originally based on the former Smash Hits magazine, which was owned by EMAP. The channel shut down on 29 June 2022 at 6am and was replaced with a new version of 4Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JML Direct TV</span> Series of British television shopping channels owned by John Mills Limited

JML Direct TV is a television shopping channel owned by JML Direct Limited that mainly broadcasts infomercials featuring various products from the company. The channel is broadcast on Sky and Freesat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quest (British TV channel)</span> British and Irish television channel owned by Warner Bros Discovery

Quest is a British and Irish free-to-air television channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Quest provides factual, lifestyle, entertainment programmes and other imported material, as well as films and sports coverage. The channel is operated by Warner Bros. Discovery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viva (British and Irish TV channel)</span> Free-to-air music television channel

Viva was a British free-to-air music television channel owned by Viacom International Media Networks Europe. The channel launched on 26 October 2009, replacing TMF, and ceased broadcasting on 31 January 2018.

Channel 5 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel launched in 1997. It is the fifth national terrestrial channel in the United Kingdom and is owned by Channel Five Broadcasting Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American media conglomerate Paramount Global, which is grouped under the Paramount Networks UK & Australia division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">QVC Beauty</span> Television channel

QVC Beauty is a digital television shopping channel broadcast in the United Kingdom, specializing in beauty products. It is the sister channel to QVC. The channel launched on Tuesday 26 October 2010 and is available on Sky, Freesat and online, and was formerly available on Freeview until 21 June 2023 when it was replaced by QVC2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now Rock</span> Television channel

Now Rock is a British free-to-air music television channel, focusing exclusively on playing rock music for 10 months of the year, with a sister channel called Now 90s featuring rock hits from the 1990s available in other territories. For the other two months, Now Christmas takes over with their Christmas service not only playing hits from the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trace Latina</span> Television channel

Trace Latina was a music channel specialising mostly in urban Latin music. It broadcasts in the United Kingdom via the Channelbox streaming platform on Freeview UK channel 271 and in France

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That's TV</span> Network of local television services in the United Kingdom

That's TV is a national television network in the United Kingdom, broadcasting via Sky, Freesat, Freeview, and Virgin Media. That's TV started off as the owner of a number of local television licences in several conurbations, but even though regional news can still be found via these services, these channels simulcast the classic hits and television schedule of the national That's TV channel for most of the day. That's Television Ltd is owned by That's Media Ltd, which is based at The Flint Glass Works in the Ancoats neighbourhood of Manchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quest Red</span> Digital television channel in the United Kingdom

Quest Red is a British free-to-air television channel in the United Kingdom broadcasting factual, lifestyle, crime and reality programming aimed at a female audience. The channel is operated by Warner Bros. Discovery and runs as a sibling to Discovery's established Freeview channel Quest, launched in 2009.

Channelbox, is a British over-the-top streaming service based in the United Kingdom which offers a selection of free-to-air TV channels, delivering them to the Freeview (UK) platform.

References

  1. "Country Music channel Spotlight to exit Sky and Freesat". 26 August 2022.
  2. "Channelbox launches on Freeview". 24 September 2019.
  3. Country Music channel takes over Showcase
  4. Keep It Country makes Freeview debut
  5. Keep It Country announces Freeview expansion
  6. Keep It Country TV on Twitter: "Keep your eyes peeled for an exciting new re-launch coming soon... Featuring all your favourite #CountryMusic #Nostalgia #EasyListening #MemoryLane #PatheNews #Documentaries #ClassicMovies #ClassicProgrammes #SpotlightTV"
  7. Jessica Lynn on Twitter: "I have BIG NEWS ya'll! My last TV show "Takin' Over" is going nationwide in The #UK July 5th on Spotlight TV, previously @KeepItCountryTV ! It will be followed by my brand new TV special due out Aug once it releases in America! Mark your calendars and I'll see you on tour in Aug"
  8. https://www.philmackcountry.com
  9. "Our Future – SpotlightTV".
  10. "Our Future – SpotlightTV".
  11. "Keep it Country defend decision to leave Freeview | the Irish World".
  12. "Country Music channel Spotlight to exit Sky and Freesat". 26 August 2022.
  13. http://www.channelbox.tv
  14. "Our Future – SpotlightTV".
  15. "Latest update on our new channel". Archived from the original on 7 September 2022.
  16. https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/philip-mclaughlin-1 [ bare URL ]
  17. Keep It Country announces Freeview expansion
  18. "Shows – SpotlightTV".
  19. "American Country Mix – SpotlightTV".
  20. "Brolly & Friends – SpotlightTV".
  21. "Caitlin's Country – SpotlightTV".
  22. "Country Jamboree – SpotlightTV".
  23. "Glenn Rogers Crazy World – SpotlightTV".
  24. "Hayley's Happy Hour – SpotlightTV".
  25. "Kelly Talks Country – SpotlightTV".
  26. "Maria's Gospel Hour – SpotlightTV".
  27. "Sarah Jory's Hot Picks – SpotlightTV".
  28. "Saturday Night with Hayley Palmer – SpotlightTV".
  29. "Shauna's Country – SpotlightTV".
  30. "Stacey Jackson in the 80s – SpotlightTV".
  31. "Steve's Country Showdown – SpotlightTV".