Channel M - Original programming axed

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/17/channel-m

Looks like since they've sold the regional newspaper group and lost access to their newsgathering, but couldn't sell Channel M, they are axeing the original programming on the channel...

Couldn't see a post on this - apologies if I've duplicated someone else's.

OFCOM should have something to say about that.

*Should*

You agree to a service level, you break that agreement, you should be out the door. Simple as that.

It's a shame. What future for Andy Crane ?

I think it was fairly obvious the whole channel's days were numbered when they went so quiet on ever launching on their Freeview mux. Still, it is a shame to see the end of pretty much the only local channel to have ever managed a remotely successful service for so long (and lets face it, cutting to 4 staff behind the station is as good as a closure).

It will be interesting to see what actually happens to the local mux now assuming they never launch, as I can't imagine anyone else really wanting it.

He's on regularly on BBC Radio Manchester, but he'll be off the TV for now I suppose.

Terrible news really, but I think the writing has been on the wall since GMG sold off the MEN Media Group to Trinity Mirror, as the station's News coverage was heavily influenced from the MEN, even some of their bulletins coming from the MEN Building off Deansgate says it too really. As the station is taking off all original content it's near enough closed down now, all I can expect I presume is constant simulcasts of EuroNews, Teleshopping and Highways Agency cameras showing the M60 whilst Real Radio is playing in the background.

I've been watching the station on and off since 2004 and it's come along away in that time, they had the right mix a few years ago when they had a couple of Live hours of News a day with some Local content and some imported content from the Canadian CityTV channels. But I think they got to a point where they were producing almost everything on the channel, 3 hours at Breakfast, 30 mins at Lunch, 2 hours at Teatime and another hour at 9pm, and that must have cost GMG a lot of money, especially for a station that really wasn't widely viewed.

Again a terrible shame its come to this for the channel, I would have thought getting themselves on DTT would have been a boost for them, not a major one, but one to get an audience of some form with some Local content thrown in. But for a Local TV RSL service in the UK, it hasn't done too bad and has produced some excellent Local programming, especially at a time when ITV were reducing theirs.

Must be a matter of time now before GMG pulls the plug on Channel M altogether, surely?

It's probably only got a few weeks left, can't see it going much longer.

Don't like dragging up old threads, but as of today Channel M is no-more, on Virgin Media we're just getting a black screen, apparently on Sky it's EPG slot has been taken by Lakes TV.

I guess this doesn't help or give confidence to the Government's plans of Local TV stations does it? Shame to see it go altogether, considering it had some good Local content at one point.

It's not gone completely, they said they were going to stop broadcasting on Sky as reported here

Not sure why it woud have gone from Virgin too, other than maybe they were using Sky to broadcast it themselves. I'd check if it's actually still broadcasting terrestrially, but it's a bit of a faff for me at the minute.

I don't think VM were using the Sky feed, it's been on Cable longer than what it has done on Sky, but I could be wrong. Bit of a bad decision for it to leave Sky, that's where its audience was boosted when it got added back a few years ago, but if its not viable and not paying the bills, well I guess that explains it.

I'm not in reach of a DTT signal for Channel M here in Warrington, considering we originally could get a watchable picture when it was on Analogue.

This article was published on How Do recently

Channel M to relaunch next year
Monday, 08 November 2010

Channel M’s future is finally becoming clearer, as the GMG-owned local TV station gets set to relaunch with a renewed emphasis on original content and news programming next spring.

The channel - seemingly equally loved and loathed, if outside observers were to judge it from How-Do comment boards - has been at the centre of an ongoing soap opera since GMG began a cost-cutting restructuring programme back in April 2009.

This led to the end of its music, news and breakfast programming, before the station was then (very publicly) omitted from GMG’s sale of MEN Media to Trinity Mirror. It was eventually left with just four members of staff, down from a former headcount of in excess of 80.

However, since control moved from MEN Media to GMG Radio, fresh momentum has been growing behind the channel - as the coalition government made clear its support for local TV and GMG itself began talking about a long-term sustainable business model and the “unique and exciting opportunity” the channel provided for the group.

Now new station controller John Furlong, recruited in September from Ofcom, has revealed that the station will relaunch next year and introduce fresh, original content.

When quizzed by How-Do on the rebirth of the channel, Furlong was reticent about revealing details, noting only “our plans for the future of Channel M are at an early stage,” and that “we hope to be in a position to reveal more in the New Year.”

However, Furlong was more vocal at the Local Television conference at City University on Friday, where he noted that the new look Channel M would focus on news content, produced in tandem with the GMG Radio team, and a variety of original content through the day and evening.

He noted that the current “holding pattern” of programming was “not where we want to be in four or five months time.”

Furlong went further in conversation with Press Gazette at the conference, stating that the channel would be producing original content in primetime, and showcasing community programming, student content and local political shows during the daytime.

He also informed delegates that the channel needed to create a business model whereby it made money, but added “we don’t expect to make extraordinary revenues from it.”

Furlong has already made moves back towards original content on the station, informing How-Do only last month that a new Sunday afternoon slot would showcase local film talent.

http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/north-west-broadcasting/channel-m-to-relaunch-next-year-201011089526/