EMAP yesterday announced it was selling half of its TV business, Box Television Limited, to Channel Four in a bid to create a "powerhouse in British music television". Actually that looks like that's what they said, and actually I just said it. But it's a good line, they should use it.
EMAP TV operates all those jukebox TV channels, many of which utilise brands originally established elsewhere in the media group's operations, including Q, Kerrang!, Smash Hits and Kiss. It all began, of course, with The Box, hence the TV division's company name, and in more recent times sister station The Hits has become higher profile because it airs on the Freeview terrestrial digital TV system as well as cable and satellite networks.
Channel 4 doesn't currently operate a bespoke music station, though its digital channel E4 more or less operates as one during the day. What's more, Channel 4's late night 4Music strand has grown considerably in recent years, making the network the biggest terrestrial broadcaster of music programming in the UK. Channel 4's importance in the music space is also likely to increase when it launches its national digital radio network, the licence for which it won earlier this month, especially with the planned Pure4 music station.
Quite what Channel 4's acquisition of a stake in EMAP's TV business means regarding future output isn't clear, though presumably it will secure EMAP, whose consumer focused operations have been struggling a little of late, with a nice revenue boost. The two companies' announcement of their alliance talked a lot about "emerging platforms" and "video-on-demand", so presumably the two media firms hope to collaborate on new or relaunched digital services. Rumour also has it that The Hits might be replaced on Freeview by a new 4Music channel combining the jukebox TV forumula with reruns of C4's growing archive of music programmes and sessions.
Anyway, enough speculation, more quotes from EMAP Consumer Media CEOs on the deal. Here's what the man himself, Mr Paul Keenan, has to say: "This alliance will enable us to increase our music brands' presence on new and emerging platforms, including video-on-demand, opening up new opportunities outside of the traditional broadcast market for both audience and revenue growth. EMAP and Channel 4 are likeminded partners and together we make a formidable force in an otherwise fragmenting and challenging market".