OFF THE AIR
Sky and Virgin customers to lose beloved station after 31 years of broadcasting as Channel 4 announces major cuts
The broadcaster is also moving out of London
CHANNEL 4 is set to pull the Box music channels from the airwaves, alongside other small linear channels.
It forms part of the broadcaster's five-year plan, in which it aims to become a "digital-first" public streaming service by 2030.
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During its announcement of the new "digital-first" regime, Channel 4 said it is "proposing to close small linear channels that no longer deliver revenues or public value at scale, including the Box channels in 2024 and others at the right time."
The Box, Magic, Kerrang, Kiss and 4Music all fall under Channel 4's "Box channels" umbrella.
While the broadcaster hasn't name-dropped each of them, it's expected they are all included in the cull.
A brief history: The Box
From video request dial-ins to its acquisition by Channel 4, the Box has brought music to people's screens across the UK and the US for 31 years.
The Box was brought to the UK in 1992, inspired by the original Miami-based channel The Jukebox Network.
It has been rocking on the airwaves ever since.
Channel 4 bought a 50 per cent stake in the channel in 2007 for an undisclosed sum, and eventually assumed full ownership in 2019.
When it first began, fans could phone in to request music videos of their favourite genres or bands, that could be queued automatically.
Video requests cost a couple quid and took around 20 minutes to be broadcast after being ordered.
The Box has roughly 1,800 music videos in its backpocket to air to viewers in its heyday.
Viewers could even request their top music clips over the internet or via set-top box.
Since then, the channel has become well known for its "First Play" feature, where many videos often make their UK or world premiere.
The disappearance of these music channels come hand-in-hand with around 200 job cuts - or 18 per cent of the organisation's workforce.
I am very sad that some of our excellent colleagues will lose their jobs because of the changes ahead.
Alex Mahon, CEO, Channel 4
"The strategy – called Fast Forward – will ensure Channel 4 embraces the generational shift that is taking place in TV viewing, to elevate its impact across the UK and stand out in a world of global entertainment conglomerates and social media giants," the broadcaster said in the announcement.
Channel 4 began shifting its focus from traditional broadcasting to digital in 2020.
Money made from the More 4 on-demand service and other digital avenues now make up nearly a third of all revenue at the organisation.
The goal is for that percentage to swell to half by 2030.
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Channel 4 boss Alex Mahon said: "Channel 4 was designed to be ahead of the curve and has never stood still.
“While getting ourselves into the right shape for the future is without doubt the right action to take, it does involve making difficult decisions.
"I am very sad that some of our excellent colleagues will lose their jobs because of the changes ahead.
"But the reality of the rapid downshift in the UK economy and advertising market demand that we must change structurally."
Channel 4 is also mulling plans to exit out of its iconic London headquarters in the next few years amid a shift to "flexible" working.
The organisation aims to branch out across the UK, by supporting 600 new jobs outside of the capital by 2025.