smoothfm to become Foxtel music channel
Listening radio station smoothfm is to see its format extended to television, with the launch of a new music channel on Foxtel.
The move is also a sign of the growing closeness between Lachlan Murdoch’s DMG Radio and Foxtel, which is jointly owned by News Corp and Telstra. Ten has reportedly been in talks to merge its sales operation with that of Foxtel’s sales house MCN.
The new channel will launch in a month’s time, on December 3.
Paul Jackson, DMG Radio’s Group Program Director said: “This is a fantastic opportunity, a unique partnership between smoothfm and Foxtel to launch smoothfm’s new channel that really underlines the strength of the easy listening format.”
Brian Walsh, Foxtel’s executive director of television said: “Smooth on Foxtel will feature the highly successful adult contemporary music synonymous with smoothfm, with a with a range of programming such as countdowns, concert specials and music videos from iconic artists such as Madonna, Michael Bublè, Adele, Whitney Houston, Fleetwood Mac, Robbie Williams, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey.”
Smoothfm launched in Sydney and Melbourne last year, with DMG now also making it available on its digital channels where digital radio exists nationally.
Asked about the commercial nature of the arrangement, a DMG spokesman told Mumbrella: “There is a binding commercial agreement between the parties and whilst the details of that won’t be disclosed, the key part of the value exchange is the cross promotional benefit that each party provides the other.”
In addition, Foxtel is reducing the number of MTV channels from three to two, with MTV Hits, MTV Classics and MTV Live replaced by the new channels MTV Dance and MTV Music.
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Smooth has to be one of media’s biggest success stories over the past year. Great partnership
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