The Box Plus Network

Last updated

The Box Plus Network Ltd
Company type Limited company
Industry Mass media
Founded1992;32 years ago (1992)
Defunct30 July 2019;4 years ago (2019-07-30)
FateIntegrated into Channel 4 [1]
Headquarters
Horseferry Road, London [2]
,
United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom
Services Television, online
Parent Channel Four Television Corporation
Website www.boxplus.com

The Box Plus Network (formerly Video Jukebox Network International Ltd and Box Television Ltd) was a British television company owned by Channel Four Television Corporation, and specialising in music programming. Channel Four acquired a 50% share in Box Television (established 1992) in 2007, and gained full control in 2019. The five remaining channels closed on 30 June 2024.

Contents

History

The Box began as a cable television service in 1992, showing music videos. It was taken over by the publishing company Emap in the late 1990s, and began to broadcast via satellite and Freeview alongside other music channels which used Emap-owned brands. Emap sold its broadcasting business to Bauer Media in 2007, and a 50:50 joint venture was established between Bauer and Channel Four. [3]

On 2 April 2013, all The Box Plus Network channels went free-to-air on satellite, apart from 4Music which went free-to-view. [4]

On 8 January 2019, Channel 4 acquired Bauer's 50% stake in the company to take full ownership of The Box Plus Network. [5] In July of that year, operations of Box Plus moved into Channel 4's main business operations. [1] The company was based in Victoria, London.

On 16 November 2023, [6] the ability to stream the Box Plus Network's channels on their website and the 4Music player was removed. [7]

On 29 January 2024, as part of a range of cuts announced by Channel Four Television Corporation, it was announced that all channels in The Box Plus Network would be closed down by the end of the year. [8] [9]

Channel 4's portfolio of music channels – The Box, Magic, Kiss, 4Music and Kerrang! closed on 30 June 2024. [3]

Final channels

Box Television logo used until 2013. Box Television logo.png
Box Television logo used until 2013.

The Box

The Box was well known for its First Play feature, where many videos often made their UK or world première. This new music was often shown through the Box Fresh show on the channel.

Kiss

Kiss TV was a commercial music television channel from The Box Plus Network available on the Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media digital TV platforms. The playlist covered a wide range of rhythmic music including: urban, grime, electronic, dance, hip hop and R&B, although after its relaunch in Summer 2006, (and the launch of a sister channel Q) it began to focus more on dance music once again. It was based on format of the Kiss brand from Bauer which also exists in the Kiss Radio station.

Magic

Magic TV played mainly easy listening music videos from the 1980s to 2000s and sometimes 1970s as well. It was based on format of the Magic brand from Bauer which exists in the Magic Radio station and Magic branded CDs.

Kerrang!

Kerrang! specialised in Rock Music. As of 2005, all of its programme content was music videos, the majority of which were open scheduled, for text requests from their playlist. It is based on format of Kerrang! brand from Bauer which also exists in Kerrang Radio and Kerrang! magazine.

4Music

4Music was the only Channel 4-branded channel within the Box Plus Network and showcases a range of pop centring on chart hits and current favourites, along with, until 2022, a range of comedy and reality TV programmes from Channel 4 and E4. The channel was formerly available free-to-air on the British digital terrestrial television service Freeview on channel 31. On June 29, 2022, the channel moved to the slot accompanied by Box Hits, while its current slot was used to launch E4 Extra. With this, the channel was fully transitioned back to an all-music schedule.

Prior defunct channels

Box Africa

In July 2012, [10] Box Television launched a 24-hour pan-African music channel. [11] The channel focused on international and local music from across the African continent [12] and was available in 15 countries of Africa. Box Television also made available its other major channels across Africa. [13] The channel ceased broadcasting in late 2020.

Box Hits

Box Hits (formerly Smash Hits) broadcast general mainstream pop music from the past few years. Formerly called Smash Hits, it took its name and format of the Smash Hits brand from Bauer which existed in Smash Hits Radio and once ran as a magazine. It shut down on 29 June 2022, and was replaced with 4Music.

The Hits

The Hits closed on 15 August 2008. It was replaced by 4Music. Its sister radio station remains on the air.

Q

Q specialised in indie, rock and alternative. In common with other Box Television channels, Q was originally a jukebox channel, where music video selections made were by the viewers using premium rate phone lines; however this element was dropped in 2004. It is based on format of the Q brand from Bauer which exists in Q Magazine and Q Radio. Q closed on 3 July 2012, when it was replaced by Heat.

Box Upfront

Box Upfront (formerly Heat) was a fresh music channel which launched on 3 July 2012. It formerly took its name and format from Bauer's weekly Heat magazine, and broadcast showbiz news, celebrity features and music videos. [14] It replaced Q on Sky, Smallworld Cable, UPC Ireland, Virgin Media and in Iceland on Síminn. [15] The channel closed on 9 January 2020.

Box Plus app

In 2017, The Box Plus Network launched the Box Plus app, available on Now TV, Roku, EETV, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox, iOS and Android devices. The app was free to use, and included the ability to stream Box Plus Network channels alongside a catch up service.[ citation needed ] By 2024, the app had been discontinued for some time. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerrang! Radio</span> British digital radio station

Kerrang! Radio is a British specialist digital rock music radio station related to Kerrang! magazine. It is owned and operated by Bauer and forms part of the Kiss Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic (UK radio station)</span> Adult contemporary radio station in London

Magic Radio is a British digital radio station owned and operated by Bauer. The station is available on 105.4 FM in London and across the UK on Digital Radio, on the Magic Radio app, online, and on Smart speakers. It plays "soft adult contemporary classics" such as Elton John, Madonna, Hot Chocolate, Whitney Houston, UB40, Simply Red, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic (English former radio network)</span> Former British radio network

Magic was an AM radio network based in Northern England.

<i>Smash Hits</i> British music magazine, 1978 to 2006

Smash Hits was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand for a spin-off digital television channel, which was later renamed Box Hits, and website. A digital radio station was also available but closed on 5 August 2013.

Kerrang! TV was a British music television channel owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. The network used the branding of the music magazine Kerrang! under a brand licensing agreement with Bauer Media Group. The channel primarily broadcast music videos without set scheduling to allow text requests for their playlists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Box (British and Irish TV channel)</span> Defunct British television channel

The Box was a television channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland, owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It primarily broadcasts music videos and music-related programmes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Channel Four Television Corporation</span> British media company headquartered in London

Channel Four Television Corporation is a British state-owned media company which runs 12 television channels and a streaming service. Unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is instead funded entirely by its own commercial activities. Its original and principal activity is the British national television network Channel 4.

<i>Hit40UK</i> UK radio programme

Hit40UK was a networked Top 40 chart show broadcasting on around 130 UK commercial radio stations every Sunday from 4pm to 7pm. It was also a TV programme shown on 4Music. The radio version was produced in house by Global Radio and Somethin' Else.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiss TV</span> British television channel

Kiss TV was a music video television channel owned by Channel Four Television based on the format of the Bauer Media Audio UK-owned national radio station Kiss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic (TV channel)</span> British television channel

Magic was a British music television channel owned by Channel Four Television Corporation. The channel played mainly easy listening music videos and was based on the Magic radio station owned by Bauer Media Audio UK. Magic focused on music from the 1970s to the present day. During Christmas of each year, The channel only played Christmas music under their block called "Christmas is Magic".

Q was a UK music channel based on Q Magazine, launched on 2 October 2000. It was operated by Box Television, and specialised in indie, rock and alternative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bauer Media Audio UK</span> UK-based radio division of the Bauer Media Group

Bauer Media Audio UK is a UK-based radio division of Bauer Media Group owning brands; Absolute Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, Jazz FM, Scala Radio, Hits Radio, KISS, Planet Rock, Magic, Kerrang! Radio and Heat Radio.

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">Box Upfront</span> British free-to-air television channel

Box Upfront was a British music video television channel owned by The Box Plus Network. It launched on 3 July 2012 as Heat and was originally based on the magazine of the same name. The channel replaced Q.

Heat Radio is a British digital radio station, owned and operated by Bauer as part of the Kiss Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bauer Media Group</span> German multimedia conglomerate

Heinrich Bauer Publishing, trading as Bauer Media Group, is a German multimedia conglomerate headquartered in Hamburg. It operates worldwide and owns more than 600 magazines, over 400 digital products and 50 radio and TV stations, as well as print shops, postal, distribution and marketing services. Bauer has a workforce of approximately 11,000 in 17 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4Music</span> Defunct British free-to-air television channel

4Music was a British music television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. Launched on 15 August 2008, the original incarnation, replacing The Hits television channel, showed a mix of music and entertainment programming.

This is a timeline of the history of Channel 4.

A timeline of notable events relating to Hits Radio, a British commercial radio station operated by Bauer Media Audio UK.

References

  1. 1 2 "Box Plus MD Matt Rennie and COO Anthony Lilleyman to step down as Channel 4 integrates Box into business operations". Channel 4. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  2. ↑ "THE BOX PLUS NETWORK LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
  3. 1 2 3 "Channel 4 confirms Sky, Virgin and Freesat music channel closure date". RXTV. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  4. ↑ "Bauer's Box channels appear free-to-air on satellite". a516digital. 2 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Channel 4 acquires full ownership of The Box Plus Network". Channel 4. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  6. ↑ "Unfortunately the 4 Music player will no longer be available online as of 16 November 2023". Channel 4. 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "We Are Sorry Our Services Are No Longer Streaming on This Website". www.boxplus.com. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Sweney, Mark (29 January 2024). "Channel 4 says it is to sell London HQ as it confirms job cuts". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  9. ↑ "Channel 4 shares plans to become digital-first public service streamer by 2030 | Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "Box TV launches in Africa". Digital TV Europe. 4 July 2012.
  11. ↑ " @BoxTVAfrica " on Twitter
  12. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : "Scott Monks on the launch of Box TV Africa and differences in mainstream and genre musics". YouTube . 13 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "Box TV extended its African partnerships". Balancing Act. 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 20 March 2016 – via Internet Archive.
  14. ↑ "Heat TV to launch on 3 July". The Guardian. 23 May 2012.
  15. ↑ "Bauer axes Q TV after nearly 12 years to make way for Heat TV". Brand Republic. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012.
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