Foxtel closes Channel V, MAX and CMC to make way for ViacomCBS partnership
Foxtel has closed its three music channels, Channel V, MAX and CMC, in favour of an extended partnership with ViacomCBS.
The parent company of MTV and Nickelodeon will provide Foxtel will a “broader range of music genres”, it said, including a kid-friendly music channel.
Channel V closes after 25 years in Australia with 70 jobs expected to be cut. The Bachelor host Osher Günsberg added his voice to the collection of unhappy media personalities, having started his career on the channel.
“We worked our balls off. We partied hard and then we worked some more. It was incredible fun,” said the host.
“Thanks Channel [v]. For everything.”
The new channel lineup will take place from 1 July, covering ‘every music style’, including rock, pop, contemporary, country, dance, urban, R&B, easy listening and classics. MTV HITS will be the flagship channel, alongside MTV Classic, Club MTV, CMT (Country Music Television) and Nick Music for four to 15-year-olds.
The expanded portfolio will be owned and operated by ViacomCBS with the MTV and CMT-branded channels all programmed in Australia for Australian audiences. The agreement also includes the renewal of Nickelodeon, Nick Jr and MTV.
Wow. Gutted to hear @Foxtel is axing [V] (& Max, CMC). I truly miss the glory days of Room 208, whatUwant and the BDO broadcasts. Thanks for literally soundtracking my adolescence and for giving this potty mouthed 21 year old her first ever crack at music presenting, 8 years ago. pic.twitter.com/s7f8NViyMH
— Bridget Hustwaite (@BHustwaite) May 4, 2020
Foxtel chief commercial officer, Amanda Laing, said: “We are delighted to forge this new partnership with ViacomCBS which reaffirms Foxtel’s commitment to music television designed for Australian audiences.
“The agreement continues the refresh of Foxtel’s channel line-up and provides our customers with an even greater choice of music genres. ViacomCBS are global leaders in music television with a long-standing commitment to Australian music and we are pleased to continue building on our relationship with them with this historic new arrangement.”
ViacomCBS executive vice president, music and talent programming / events, Bruce Gillmer said: “Expanding ViacomCBS Networks International’s portfolio of music channels allows us to build even deeper relationships with Australian music fans, artists and labels. These branded channels resonate with music fans all over the world and launching in Australia gives us even more opportunity to bring audiences great music across genres.
“We’ve showcased incredible Australian artists from Gang of Youths to The Veronicas internationally. Launching these new music brands on Foxtel gives more Australian artists the opportunity to connect with fans locally and, potentially, around the world.”
Foxtel executive director of television, Brian Walsh, added: “Music remains as a strategically important part of the Foxtel content story and emphasises the depth and richness of our programming. These new channels will all be programmed by Australians, for Australians continuing our passion for local music curation.
“We are proud of the heritage of our owned and operated music channels and the success they have enjoyed entertaining Foxtel customers for the past 25 years. I want to acknowledge the management and music teams, past and present, who created Channel V, Max and CMC.
“Creating a great entertainment experience for our subscribers means constant renewal in every aspect of our business and our partnership with Viacom provides a fresh, new direction for music on Foxtel.”
topics
Amanda Laing
Brian Walsh
Bruce Gillmer
Channel V
CMC
Foxtel
Max
MTV
MTV Australia
Nickelodeon
ViacomCBS
Saddest part of this – apart from the loss of good quality programming and live music on TV – is the loss of promotion of our local music scene. So I am interested to see what this actually means… “ViacomCBS Networks International’s portfolio of music channels allows us to build even deeper relationships with Australian music fans, artists and labels”.
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I think the “70 jobs expected to be cut” refers to all the recent redundancies at Foxtel. There sure as heck weren’t 70 people working the music channels at North Ryde.
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Correct.
That team has been consistently downsized over the years. There’ll be people going, but nowhere near that number (which refers to other recent losses elsewhere).
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Well this probably means the end of Foxtel for me. removing CMC is a “kick in the guts” for me and all country music fans in Australia. I will definitely look for other avenues for my entertainment.
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I agree Murray. CMT will only be showing American artists and a splattering of more well known international artists.
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What’s even more disappointing is I am a Foxtel subscriber and there was no notification given of any changes, let alone any chance to voice an opinion of what was going to happen.
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Wow, what a sad day for Gen X and baby boomer viewers of Foxtel. This statement could quite easily be interpreted as evidence that those citizens and Foxtel viewers are no longer considered socially or commercially relevant to Foxtel management. Many of us from these two generations grew up being entertained by Max Music. Listening to/watching Max Music was also an opportunity to relive our youth from the vast catalogue of retro music.
Question for Foxtel: Would you like viewers of these two generations to unsubscribe from Foxtel? If so, just come out and say it!
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Agree with your sentiments.
I am at the upper end of Gen Y, where grew up on Channel V and migrated to Max. This exposed me to many artists that otherwise wouldn’t have and entertained for best part of twenty years.
Seems a disappointment no other options could be considered. Move to more clips, less productions, negotiate with record companies.
The replacements are poor. Picture quality no good and minimal local content
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