The Hits

Infobox TV channel
name = The Hits
logosize = 132px
logofile = Thehits.png logoalt = The Hits logo
launch = October 30, 2002
closed date = August 15, 2008
replaced by names=4Music
share = 0.3%
share as of = February 2008
share source = [http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/monthreports.cfm?report=monthgmulti]
slogan = "Such a good feeling"
owner = Box Television
(Bauer Group/Channel 4)
web = [http://www.thehits-tv.co.uk/ www.thehits-tv.co.uk]
availability note =
(at time of closure)
terr serv 1 = Freeview
terr chan 1 = Channel 18
sat serv 1 = Sky Digital
sat chan 1 = Channel 360
cable serv 1 = Virgin Media
cable chan 1 = Channel 330
cable serv 2 = UPC Ireland
cable chan 2 = Channel 716| |

The Hits was a music video channel in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland owned by Box Television.

Overview and availability

The channel showcased a range of pop centering on chart hits and current favourites. Originally, the vast majority of music videos were selected by viewers by means of calling a premium rate telephone number, however the policy was abandoned with the channel playing an automated selection of videos and countdown shows presented by celebrities and singers past and present. Programming was often themed to coincide with events such as St. Patrick's Day and Christmas.

The channel was available free-to-air on the British Digital terrestrial television service Freeview on channel 18. It was the only pure music video channel operating on the Freeview platform (TMF - a channel owned by chief competitor MTV - and E4 broadcast music videos for only a portion of their schedule). It was also shown on Sky Digital, channel 360, but is encrypted, so that only Sky subscribers can view it. The Hits was also available on Virgin Media, channel 330, and is included in the basic (TV Size: M) package. It was also be seen through the British Forces Broadcasting Service.

Programmes on The Hits

When The Hits was being broardcast The Hits had different programmes.

Different Programmes on The Hits

87-07 is a series of programmes where a song is played from each of the years from 1987 to 2007. There was a more up to date version called 88-08 which is the same as 87-07 except it goes from 1988 to 2008. There were different collections of songs depending on different things that the songs had in common, an example of 87-07 is Cheesy Pop 87-07 which includes the songs Never Gonna Give You Up, Saturday Night (Whigfield song) and C'est La Vie (B*Witched song) which are all commonly known as "cheesy pop songs".

Another type of programme on the hits is where one hundred songs are played, usually counting down to a song that is featured as "number one". This varies from "100 Forgotten Gems of the Nineties" to "The Nation's Favourite Love Songs."

Sometimes there was a programme in the style of the above except there were fifty or in other cases twenty songs featured in the programme.

The Hits Chart used to be played at around 17:15 some days. The Hits Chart was simply a countdown of the biggest songs of the day.

The Hits had a programme called "Every Number One of the Nineties" which was what the title sugests, it played every number one of the nineties back to back. It was played in two parts over a bank holiday weekend in two parts, the first part on the Sunday and the second part on the Monday. "Every Number One of the Nineties" has been played on 4 Music in small segments. Another programme like it is "Every Number One of the Twentyfirst Century" which was every number one of this century played back to back.

2008 Replacement

On 20 February 2008, it was announced that The Hits was to be replaced by 4Music later in the year, and a trial period broadcast on Sundays under the 4Music banner was broadcast on Sunday evenings during the spring. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a89838/the-hits-to-be-renamed-4music.html Digital Spy] ] In June 2008 it was further announced that this replacement was to take place during the V Festival weekend on August 15th. [ http://www.brandrepublic.com/MediaWeek/News/822297/C4-set-launch-music-channel/ Media Week - C4 set to launch music channel.] ] The replaced station will show predominantly music videos, alongside live performances and Channel 4 programming like Star Stories and The Sunday Night Project, as well as documentaries about artists. [citenews|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a112422/the-hits-will-become-4music-in-august.html|title=The Hits will become 4Music in August|publisher=Digital Spy|accessdate=2008-07-18]

In recent weeks before the rebrand, 4Music had began airing teaser trailers for the channel as part of its extensive promotion of the rebrand, airing such quotes as "Get on all fours and we'll cover you with music," "With all the cunning of a squirrel, and the power of ten wolves... 4Music: the new channel from 4 & "Let us lick your mind... 4Music: the new channel from 4." During T4 On The Beach, one of the three stages was named, the 4Music stage, along in the concert programs, it has an ad which says, "Do You Party?...4Music...the new channel from 4." The website now redirects to 4Music's Website.

For more information on 4Music see 4Music

The Hits Last Shut Down

The Hits ceased broadcasting music videos on Friday 15 August 2008 at just after 6:00am, The last video played on The Hits was 'Thank You For The Music' by ABBAFact|date=August 2008 before fading in to a promo for 4Music. The last "Hits Chart" was broadcast on 13 August 2008 at 12:15pm and 5:15pm, with the number one video being "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry.Fact|date=August 2008

Ofcom controversy

In November 2007, Ofcom found The Hits had breached broadcast licence for failing to retain copies of its programming. Two viewers had complained questioning the authenticity of some of the winning entries on text-in quiz programme Win Win TV, broadcast overnight on June 26.

The broadcaster was unable to provide Ofcom with a review copy of the programme in question because of "problems with its logging system". Condition 11 of a Television Licensable Content Service license requires the broadcaster to keep recordings of all output for 60 days after transmission, providing Ofcom with any material on request.

"Failure to supply these recordings is a serious and significant breach of the broadcaster's license," the regulator noted. "This [incident] will be held on record." [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a80154/the-hits-rapped-for-text-in-programme.html Digital Spy] ]

The Hits Radio

In 2003, companion radio station The Hits Radio was launched.

References

External links

* [http://www.thehits-tv.co.uk The Hits]
* [http://www.channel4.com/music/ontv/0-9/4musicsundays.html 4Music Sundays]
* [http://4music.channel4.com 4Music]
* [http://www.myspace.com/4musictv 4Music on Myspace]
* [http://thehits.wikia.com The Hits Wiki]