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VH1 to become entertainment channel

(April 2018)

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SP
Steve in Pudsey
Last time I watched VH1 it was Pop up Video for a big chunk of the day
JA
james-2001
That must have been a long time ago, I don't think they've shown that since the mid-00s.
ST
Stuart
VH1 here in the U.S. is more of an entertainment channel nowadays (then again, even though I'm 19, I still remember when VH1 still showed music videos and music related programming that wasn't reality TV).

So I won't be too surprised if VH1 UK gets more or less the same schedule as the U.S. version.


I'm old enough to remember when the History Channel focused on, you know, history, when the Discovery Channel aired intelligent documentaries, and when TLC stood for The Learning Channel.

I think the current channel called TLC is a replacement for "Discovery Travel & Living Channel", not "The Learning Channel".


http://i66.tinypic.com/2m5xzzl.png

It's just an unfortunate coincidence that it has the same initials as a far better former channel.
Last edited by Stuart on 14 April 2018 11:40pm
JA
james-2001
The same logo as the US version of The Learning Channel went on to have as well.
TM
tmf9
That must have been a long time ago, I don't think they've shown that since the mid-00s.


There was a new series of Pop Up Video in 2011/12. It was shown on VH1 UK but only at midnight. They had a spell of airing music related programmes from VH1 US late at night with no promotion several years ago.
SP
Steve in Pudsey
You're right, late 90s/early 00s would be the period when I watched this stuff.
JA
james-2001
To be fair, even in the 90s/early 00s when MTV & VH1 were putting out back to back videos, it always felt like more thought had gone into the playlisting, not to mention the surrounding presentation, than you get on any current music channel. There were lots of decent music related shows too which I don't think there's been anything comparable on any music channels for the best part of 15 years. Trending Live is probably the closest there's been to any 90s MTV-style programming since the mid-00s.
BH
BillyH Founding member
MTV Dance in the early-mid 00s was incredible. All sorts of well-known to obscure stuff played spanning from the 80s to then-present day, particularly in the early hours of the morning.

I remember on more than one occasion a video played that was so low-budget and baffling (shot on videotape, random people in costumes gyrating and posing to the music) I thought the signal had been hacked and I was watching some kind of pirate transmission.
JA
james-2001
I remember on more than one occasion a video played that was so low-budget and baffling (shot on videotape, random people in costumes gyrating and posing to the music) I thought the signal had been hacked and I was watching some kind of pirate transmission.


At least it wasn't Max Headroom being spanked with a fly swatter!

171 days later

TM
tmf9
After a soft launch earlier this year VH1 has today officially relaunched as an Entertainment channel, chasing the ITVBe/TLC/E! audience. There are new on screen graphics taken from the Italian version, although idents/bumpers remain unchanged. Music videos have now been dropped completely.
JA
james-2001
Even less music choice now, especially as Vintage TV has all but closed.
KE
kernow
A sign of the times unfortunately, with things like You Tube and Spotify partly to blame.

Channels like 4Music and The Vault are going in a similar direction to VH1, which has basically repeated what MTV did around 10 years ago.

Vintage TV got very good ratings (typically higher than any other music channel I believe), and even they don't appear to have been able to generate enough advertising revenue to keep going.

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