VOX (TV channel)

Infobox Network
network_name = VOX
network_
country = GER
network_type = Broadcast television network
available = GER AUT CHE
owner = RTL Group (49,9 %) RTL Television (49,8 %) DCTP (0,3 %)
key_people = Frank Hoffmann (president)
launch_date = January 25, 1993
founder =
past_names =
slogan = VOX macht an
website = [http://www.vox.de/ www.vox.de]

VOX is a German television channel, headquartered in Cologne and part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest TV, radio, and production company. The channel officially launched at 5 p.m. on January 25, 1993. Prior to that, test transmissions had been made using the informal name "Westschienenkanal" ("West slot channel", a reference to "Nordschienenkanal" and "Südschienenkanal", which the other two German private channels RTL Television and Sat.1 were informally called in the 1980s). [cite news | url = http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/0,1518,443260,00.html | title = TV Sender Vox: Perfekt berieselt | publisher = Spiegel | language = German | date = 2006-10-19 | first = Peer | last = Schader] The channel mainly broadcasts documentaries and U.S. series and movies.

History

VOX started transmiting on 25 January 1993. It hopeed to compete with public television by broadcasting many live and information-based programs. The channel was originally owned by a mixture of various German media companies: UFA (Bertelsmann AG) 24,9%, Westdeutsche Medienbeteiligungsgesellschaft 25,1%, Holtzbrinck-Verlag 14,5%, dctp 11%, Mittelständische Unternehmensbeteiligung 10%, Warner Music Germany 14,5%. The director of program at launch was Ruprecht Eser. One year after the channel's launch it seemed clear that the original program concept could not work. Market share among the target group relevant for advertisers was, at 1.5%, too low to attract much advertising. VOX made large loses. By February 1994, all of the original partners except UFA and dctp sold their stakes. As a result of the loses, the quality of programs began to fall. VOX had to repeat its movies every few weeks just to fill the schedule. On April 1st, 1994, VOX went into liquidation. More than 250 employees were laid off. On April 1st, 1994 VOX goes into the liquidation. More than 250 workers must leave the TV-station. By November 1994 VOX had new owners: News German Television Holding (News Corporation) 49,9%, Canal + 24,9%, UFA (Bertelsmann AG) 24,9% and dctp 0,3%. Gradually VOX gained a foothold in the German television landscape. In 1998, VOX signed an output deal with 20th Century Fox, leading to more series and movies being broadcast along side magazine-style shows. In December 1999 RTL Television bought outNews Corporation. A short time latercanal+ sold its share to UFA (Bertelsmann AG). 99.7 % of the channel now belonged to RTL Group, the remaining 0,3% remain in the ownership of dctp.Now, VOX is the most successful private television station of the so-called "second generation". The channel had so much success with series such as ' and ' that they were transferred to the more widely-watched sister channelRTL Television. "" gets a market share of up to 21% on VOX. Audience share(March 2008):5.4%. 14-49 year-olds: 7.4%.

Programs

*7th Heaven ("Eine himmlische Familie")
*Ally McBeal
*Boston Legal
*Boston Public
*Close to Home
*The Closer
*Crossing Jordan ("Crossing Jordan – Pathologin mit Profil")
*
*Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman ("Dr. Quinn - Ärztin aus Leidenschaft")
*Everwood
*Gilmore Girls
*Home Improvement ("Hör mal, wer da hämmert")
*The Hour of Power
*Judging Amy ("Für alle Fälle Amy")
* ("Criminal Intent - Verbrechen im Visier")
*McLeod's Daughters ("McLeod's Töchter")
*The Nanny ("Die Nanny")
*Profiler
*Six Feet Under ("Six Feet Under - Gestorben wird immer")
*Third Watch ("Third Watch – Einsatz am Limit")
*Shark
*Men in Trees

References

External links

*de icon [http://www.vox.de/ Official Site]
*de icon [http://presse.vox.de/chronik/chronik/chronik_1991.html 15 Jahre VOX]