4Music

Infobox TV channel
name = 4Music
logofile = 4music.png logoalt =
launch = 15 August 2008
picture format = 16:9, 576i (SDTV)
replaced names = The Hits
share =
share as of =
share source =
slogan = We like it if you watch!
owner = Box Television
(Bauer Group/Channel 4)
country = UK
flagicon|Ireland Ireland
sister names = Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4
timeshift names =
web = [http://www.4music.com/ www.4music.com]
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|

4Music is a music channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be run by and branded under Channel 4 and the only channel in the network to be broadcast in widescreen. The channel replaced The Hits. The channel is Free to Air (FTA) on Digital Terrestrial (Freeview), but a pay subscription channel on Digital Satellite (Sky Digital) despite all of its sister Channels (excluding 4 HD) having moved from subscription to FTA on Satellite. Unless 4Music becomes FTA it will not be possible to make it available on the Freesat platform.

Launch night

4Music launched on 15 August 2008. The channel launched with an on-screen countdown counting down from ten minutes down to zero. During the countdown, clips from popular music videos were faded through the screen including clips from promotions for the channel. The channel then launched with a promotional advert for the channel then fading into "Davina and Steve's 20 Big Ones"; the first song at number 20 being "The Pretender" by The Foo Fighters and Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" at number 1.

At 9pm, two hours after the main launch was Kylie Minogue's KYLIEX2008 tour. Completing the launch night line up was live coverage from Big Brother, where Rachel Rice was given a 'favourite things party' as she had survived that nights eviction. She and her chosen favourite housemate, Kathreya Kasisopa, were taken to a private room where Rachel's top 10 favourite songs were played. Live coverage of the 2008 V Festival was shown on 16th and 17th August and highlights shown on subsequent days.

Despite the arguments between Davina and Steve as to whose face appeared first on the channel, actually the first face on 4Music was Kylie Minogue, Introducing her live concert at 9PM on the launch night (as they later explained).

The launch also saw a new DOG appear on the screen and new idents with a woman swivling on a chair with the new pink 4Music logo in the background similar to the previous idea "The Hits" had with a TV suddenly filling with colour throughout the room.

4Music Programmes

Today's 4 Music Top 10

The first ever "Today's 4 Music Top 10" Chart was broadcast on 18 August 2008 at 12:00pm, with the first ever number one in the chart being "Changes" by Will Young.

The 4Music Buzz Chart

The first "4 Music Buzz Chart" was broadcast on 18 August 2008 at 12:00 am. It shows a selection of pre-released songs charted into a top 10, similar to sister channel The Box's "Box Breakers". The first number one in the chart was "Jump in the Pool" by Friendly Fires.

4Music Big Ones

A selection of pre-released and released singles. It plays all genres of music such as Hip-Hop, Rock, Pop, R'n'B, Dance, Folk, Indie etc.

References

External links

* [http://www.4music.com/ 4Music.com]