4Music to become E4 Extra

[James2001]

I think someone saw that Box Hits was closing, thought it was The Box and got confused. No, The Box isn't closing.

[Gary Baldy]

Hang on, is there a source for "The Box" closing down tomorrow?

The Box itself is due to go away tomorrow

It isn't? 

Wikipedia said it was

[NancerOnTheLIVEForum]

Hang on, is there a source for "The Box" closing down tomorrow?

It isn't? 

Wikipedia said it was

Ah yes, trusty reliable Wikipedia...

[London Lite]

You really have to take Wikipedia with a pinch of salt as anyone can alter those entries on a whim.

In my spare time, I'm a Directory Editor for Media.info and we get some really strange submissions for altering the info for channels or those who want to jump the gun. We had one for example that wanted to change Syfy to Sky Sci-Fi weeks before it relaunches.

[Brekkie]

I'm guessing this plan has been a while in the making with Box Hits being positioned before The Box in the EPGs.

[James2001]

Hang on, is there a source for "The Box" closing down tomorrow?

It isn't? 

Wikipedia said it was

Ah yes, the same Wikipedia which told us that Ronnie Hazlehurst wrote Reach by S Club 7.

[Brekkie]

Do have to wonder what C4's long term plan for "The Box" is. As pointed out "Box Plus" has now been integrated into the C4 corporation but it is very clear the channels are still run at arms length. I always assumed one day they might sell it off but not sure the market is there now for buying up music channels, though Bauer, despite pulling out as owners, still must see value in continuing to run branded channels in partnership with them. Not quite sure where BOX Africa fits into this too - do they run that or just licence the brand?

For me this would have been the opportunity to commit to one brand or the other - so keep both The Box and Box Hits or rebrand them as 4Music and 4Music Hits. I get why C4 don't want to ditch the 4Music brand completely but not sure of the value of keeping both brands going with The Box also down to just one branded channel (though also operating KISS, Kerrang and Magic).

[This is UTV]

Now that 4Music is purely a music video channel again, I think they should ditch the other Box Plus channel brands and rebrand them under the 4MUSIC name, such as 4Music Classics (Magic), 4Music Hits (The Box), 4Music Xmas (for around the Xmas period), 4Music Rock (Kerrang), 4Music Dance (Kiss).

[London Lite]

Now that 4Music is purely a music video channel again, I think they should ditch the other Box Plus channel brands and rebrand them under the 4MUSIC name, such as 4Music Classics (Magic), 4Music Hits (The Box), 4Music Xmas (for around the Xmas period), 4Music Rock (Kerrang), 4Music Dance (Kiss).

It's likely that C4 have a franchise agreement with Bauer as part of the sale of the Box Plus Network which allows them to use the Bauer brands.

[Ash101]

Now that 4Music is purely a music video channel again, I think they should ditch the other Box Plus channel brands and rebrand them under the 4MUSIC name, such as 4Music Classics (Magic), 4Music Hits (The Box), 4Music Xmas (for around the Xmas period), 4Music Rock (Kerrang), 4Music Dance (Kiss).

It's likely that C4 have a franchise agreement with Bauer as part of the sale of the Box Plus Network which allows them to use the Bauer brands.

Indeed & I guess they've decided this agreement benefits them both?

Those radio stations have good reputations (for Bauer brands!) so the TV channels probably thrive from that, but then also it puts the brand name in peoples minds if they're scrolling through the music channels also.

I'm not sure a whole Channel 4 branded portfolio would benefit them - the only one to rebrand would the The Box, either as 4 Music Hits or maybe Hits (as in Bauer's station)

[London Lite]

If you look at the Kerrang! brand, only the radio station is operated by Bauer. The magazine was sold to Wasted Talent who publish it under a brand licence, so Bauer are earning revenue out of Kerrang from two organisations.

It's mutually beneficial for Bauer and C4 to continue using the Bauer brands for C4's music channels.

[PATV Scunthorpe]

While the company was dissolved, The Box Plus Network brand still exists. I don't really see the need to remove The Box, if anything we've simply reverted to 6 years ago, just sans Heat and SmashHits. The Box and 4Music may share the chart music, but each has their own unique programming with The Box sticking with current and future music via Box Fresh, and 4Music's throwing back to the 00s and 10s.

@Brekkie, Box Africa is operated alongside the rest, using an orange recolour of The Box graphics.

[Brekkie]

If you look at the Kerrang! brand, only the radio station is operated by Bauer.    The magazine was sold to Wasted Talent who publish it under a brand licence, so Bauer are earning revenue out of Kerrang from two organisations.

It's mutually beneficial for Bauer and C4 to continue using the Bauer brands for C4's music channels.

Other than 4Music Kerrang is their most popular channel too with a 0.04% share.  KISS has 0.02% and the rest have 0.01%, though Box Hits rated better than The Box.   4Music was at 0.17%, but obviously benefits from being on Freeview and sadly I suspect given how the schedule evolved the non-music content clearly rates better.

(based on the last monthly data chart I downloaded from BARB a few days ago)

[no1fanofthepals]

www.4music.com is broadcasting 4Music (the former Box Hits channel) but the boxplus website is not. It is still broadcasting E4 Extra (what used to be 4Music).

[JetixFann450]

Were ManVsMachine busy? This hurts to view, let alone for pre-longed periods of time. I know E4 Extra is merely just a low-cost Channel 4 channel based solely on repeats, but come on.