Channel U TV
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Channel U TV | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 2003 |
| Owned by | Video Interactive Television[1] |
| Sister channel(s) | Fizz |
| Website | www.channelu.tv |
| Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Sky Digital | Channel 360 |
| Eurobird 1 | 11389H 27500 2/3 |
Channel U TV is a digital satellite TV channel, owned by Video Interactive Television. It is available through Sky Digital within the UK on channel 360. It is also trying to add its programming to the Virgin Media cable service.
The station is known for being the starting point for many UK urban acts as it plays lower budget videos from lesser known artists, and in their own words, 'Don't play the same American stuff over and over again' (compare MTV Base) That said, the channel does play US hip hop, rap and R'n'B videos. The channel's main focus is the genre of Grime music and also UK hip hop.
Channel U is a significant outlet not only for established artists, but also for those who are just starting out. Its material "includ[es] crude productions shot with handheld digital video cameras,"[2] and helps new musicians attract attention and build a fan base.[3] According to its website, "[t]he aim of the channel was to highlight to the public, the raw and unsigned talent we have in the UK, and give them a platform from which they could perform,"[4] and it has been successful in this mission, as suggested by the production and popularity of such compilation CDs as Channel U: The Album.[5]
Many artists have expressed their loyalty to the channel in their lyrics; for example, in Lady Sovereign's 9 to 5, "channel who? oh channel U, the ones who made me huge, like Katie Price's boobs!". Other artists to comment on Channel U include Kano, Lethal Bizzle, Sway, Remi Nicole, Wong, Jammer, Bashy and Dizzee Rascal. Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip negatively mention Channel U in their song Fixed.
In October 2005, the first annual Channel U Awards were held in London with live performances from its underground playlist.
In June 2005, the channel was fined £19,000 by Ofcom for a number of offences, including the broadcasting of inappropriate material, using premium rate telephone services in programmes, and failing to ensure a clear distinction between programmes and advertisements.[1]
Before he joined MTV to host the British version of Pimp My Ride, Tim Westwood had a show on Channel U, along with his other media activity.
Channel U also has a sister channel called Fizz, which plays music from all genres, and has a heavy interactive texting element.
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ Licence Details for Channel U
- ^ Frere-Jones, Sasha. 21 March 2005. "True Grime: A Genre's Magic Moment." The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/03/21/050321crmu_music. Accessed 14 March 2008.
- ^ Leon B. 03 September 2007. "Channel U: The Future Of UK Urban Music?" The Scene Magazine. http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=1007. Accessed 14 March 2008.
- ^ "The Channel U Shop: About." http://www.channelu.tv/shop/index1.html. Accessed 14 March 2008.
- ^ Various artists, Channel U: The Album | | guardian.co.uk Arts
