C4 (New Zealand TV channel)

C4 was a New Zealand television channel owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand. C4 was available on both digital terrestrial and satellite platforms and played music around the clock and had some speciality music shows such as HomeGrown (New Zealand music show), Video Hits and Biggest Records Right Now. The channel was originally launched in 2003 as a re-branding of TV4 which had been broadcasting since 1997. On 1 May 2010, as C4 had been moving away from music programming since 2008, the jukebox side was split off and was re-launched as C4 2. C4 2 was only available on digital Freeview terrestrial and satellite platforms. At the end of 2010 an announcement was made that MediaWorks would again re-brand the current C4 channel as FOUR, which meant C4 2 would become just C4. C4 shut down on 26 June 2014 at 1 am. It was replaced by The Edge TV on 27 June 2014 at 4 pm.

Previous logo starting from 2003 to 2008
C42 logo used during the channel's existence between May 2010 and February 2011.

C4
CountryNew Zealand
Broadcast areanational
Programming
Picture format576i (16:9 SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerMediaWorks New Zealand
Sister channelsTV3, FOUR
History
Launched3 October 2003
Closed26 June 2014
Replaced byThe Edge TV
Availability
Terrestrial
DVB 64-QAM on band IV
Cable
DVB QAM
Satellite
DVB QPSK on 12644 MHz

History

C4 was launched on 3 October 2003, when TV4 (which first aired in 1997) ceased broadcasting and relaunched as a music channel called C4. The very first show broadcast on C4 was the 100 Best Music Videos of All Time a countdown show where viewers voted prior to the show for their favourite songs of all time. TV Programming on C4 included local made shows such as Select Live and The Official NZ Top 40. New Zealand On Air paid $500,000 for the first year of operation and C4 was to broadcast 58 hours a week of music television in prime-time, reaching 72% of the population, with a target of 20–25% New Zealand music content.

C4 had a deal with MTV Networks to air MTV programming in New Zealand, which proved successful, with shows such as Pimp My Ride proving popular among C4's target demographic. The MTV content on C4 remained on air after Sky TV launched a local MTV station featuring some of the same shows. MTV content was decreased in 2008 when the channel moved towards General Entertainment programming.

On 11 April 2007 C4 began broadcasting in 14:9 widescreen on SKY TV in New Zealand the same day TV3 began broadcasting in a 16:9 widescreen format. C4 then switched to a 16:9 widescreen format on 2 May 2007, the same day as Freeview launched. C4 screened in letterboxed 14:9 widescreen on 4:3 analogue VHF broadcasts.

24-hour broadcasts began in 2007 but only to digital viewers, in the TV4 days outside broadcast hours viewers would see a test pattern with Auckland's More FM playing in the background this was later replaced with Channel Z. Later the test pattern was replaced with overnight Informercials and Auto TV a show used to advertise cars. The move to 24-hour broadcasting saw the channel play continuous music videos overnight followed by a music breakfast show with no presenters, analogue viewers continued to see Infomercials during these times.

From 1 July 2008, the channel began the process of changing from a music channel to a youth oriented entertainment network, operating under the same programming direction of its sister station TV3. In addition, C4 moved to channel 12 on Sky Digital and TelstraClear InHome TV platforms to reflect its new programming direction with a reduced focus on music.

On 1 May 2010, as part of the contract with Freeview to provide at least four channels, MediaWorks launched a second C4 channel C4 2. C4 2 screened back to back a low cost jukebox of music videos, unhosted and uninterrupted. The channel was exclusively on the Freeview platform on channel 9.

At 6:00pm on 6 February 2011, C4 moved to Channel 9 on Freeview, thus replacing C4 2.[1] MediaWorks then launched FOUR in place of C4. The final show screened on C4 before the changeover was the Top 100 Music Videos Ever a similar show was used to launch C4 in 2003. The final music video screened before the changeover was Thriller by Michael Jackson. From 2011 onwards C4 screened a low cost jukebox of music videos once again compiled by theme and a re-run of FOUR live, many of the entertainment shows seen on C4 between 2008 and 2011 were moved to FOUR. C4 was available exclusively to Freeview viewers until 2012 when C4 returned to Sky.

On 25 September 2012, MediaWorks in an effort to get more regional advertising for TV3 decided to provide four regional simulcasts of the channel on the Freeview satellite platform, which resulted in no space for C4, so it was decided to replace the Sky simulcast of FOUR (which was already simulcast on Freeview) with C4, meaning only satellite viewers with either a generic DVB or Sky supplied receiver would be the only ones to get all channels via satellite.[2] Due to a number of certified Freeview receivers only scanning and setting Freeview channels. From October 2013, the TVNZ metadata on the Freeview satellite service was changed to include the C4 feed on the Sky service, so that certified Freeview receivers could manually add the channel.

C4 ceased broadcasting operations on 26 June 2014 at 1am. The final show to air on C4 was C42. The final music video to air on C4 was Exit To The City by The D4. A new music channel was launched by MediaWorks to replace C4 called The Edge TV which is run by The Edge radio station also owned by MediaWorks. The Edge TV was actually launched on Freeview channel 11 and a time shift version of FOUR called FOUR + 1 was launched in place of C4.

All shows that aired on C4

Amp'd

Amp'd aired on Thursday nights. It featured hard rock and alternative music, and was hosted by Jono Pryor.

Animation Station

Aired every Wednesday night. Would feature Animated shows such as South Park and Futurama.

Pop Machete

Pop Machete was a half-hour-long programme aired Thursday at 9pm on C4. Hosted by Damien Blank and Craig Easson. Pop Machete features alternative music videos, news and interviews.

The Takeover

The Takeover was a half-hour-long programme that follows-up after Pop Machete at 9:30 pm on C4. Hosted by Damien Blank, Craig Easson and a randomly selected band. The band has control over the music programming over the half-hour.

Holla Hour

Holla Hour was a classic C4 programme hosted by DJ Sir-Vere on Mondays at 10 pm on C4. Returning after a long absence on the TV channel, Holla Hour features the latest hip hop music videos, interviews and news in Hip Hop and Rn'B music. Final show was on 23 June at 10:00 pm.

C42

C42 aired daily on C4 from 11 pm to 5 am, 5 am to 6 am (on Tuesday – Saturday) and 11 am – 1 pm daily. The programme aired alternative music videos back-to-back with ad-breaks at the hour. Final show was on 25 June at 9 pm.

Spoon

Spoon was a classic C4 programme which aired "smooth music videos" in the early hours of the morning. Spoon aired on Sunday and Monday mornings from 5 am to 6 am on C4.

The Big Breakfast

The Big Breakfast was where you can listen to a random mix of music videos dating from back in the days up to today's hit music vids. The Big Breakfast aired on C4 every morning from 6am to 9am. Final show was on 25 June at 6 am.

Common Ground

Common Ground aired R&B and hip hop music videos on C4 airing at random programme slot times throughout the week.

Blender

Blender plays hit music videos back to back daily at 2 pm on C4 and at random programme slot times throughout the week. Final show was on 25 June from 9 am to 9 pm.

Video Hits

Video Hits highlighted one or many artists with their latest hits or classic video hits. Video Hits aired at random programme slot times throughout the week.

C4U

C4U was where the viewers have the opportunity to have their own playlist aired on C4 for half an hour. Viewers were able to submit their playlist at the C4 website.[3] C4U aired on Saturday and Sunday nights at 7:30.

UChoose40

UChoose40 aired themed-countdowns whether it may be about "Gone but not forgotten", "90's Music", "Worst songs of the decade", "15 Minutes Of Fame" or "Party Floor Fillers". C4 picked the theme and the viewers were given the chance to decide how the countdown plays out by voting for their favourite tracks out of the list provided on the C4 website.[4] UChoose40 aired on Saturday nights at 8pm.

What's The Theme

What's The Theme played out an hour of a random topic theme. May it be "Pop Princesses", "Coming to the country soon" or "Kiwi artists making it big overseas". Aired on C4 at random programme slot times throughout the week. (Final show was on 24 June 2014).

Top 10

Top 10 showed you the countdown of an artist, a topic or just a top 10 for the sake of it. Counting down from 10 to 1. Top 10 aired on C4 daily at 9 am to 10 am. (Final show was on 24 June 2014).

Twice as Nice

Twice as Nice aired music videos from one artist back to back. Twice as Nice aired at random programme slot times throughout the week.

FOUR Live

FOUR Live on C4 was a repeat of the broadcast which aired earlier on FOUR. FOUR Live was hosted by Shannon Ryan (2012–13), Drew Neemia and Kanoa Lloyd. The programme is 90 minutes of interviews, news and music videos airing with the viewers say. The FOUR Live repeat aired at 7:30 weeknights on C4.

Fade to Black

Fade to Black was a programme which aired rock music videos on C4. The programme aired at random programme slot times throughout the week. Final show was on 24 June.

The Best

The Best was the best of an artist or maybe a time of music. The Best aired at random programme slot times throughout the week on C4.

Homegrown

Homegrown played 100% New Zealand kiwi music on C4. Homegrown aired at random programme slot times throughout the week.

Technologic

Technologic plays out the best dance music videos. Technologic aired at random programme slot times throughout the week on C4.

Added This Week

Added This Week gave C4 the chance to play out the newest music videos to hit the music scene. Sometimes if you're lucky, it may have been hours-of-the-release of a video. Added This Week played out at random programme slot times throughout the week.

10 Years of...

10 Years of... Pop music? Rock music? Trendy and popular videos? 10 Years of... was a show that gave C4 the chance to do a casual throwback.

So Hot Right Now

So Hot Right Now was where the hottest videos of the week, right now aired on C4. The programme aired at random programme slot times throughout the week.

Steel Mill

Steel Mill was a programme which aired metal music. Steel Mill no longer aired on the station.

C4 select live

C4 select live was hosted by Joel Defries and text to select to song to play

Select Late

Select late was aired very late

Freestyle

Freestyle was hosted by Teuila Blakely C4’s live music show

Edge Chart

Edge Chart was a radio station chart countdown

References
Notes
  1. C4 moves to Freeview platform in early 2011 – Throng
  2. MediaWorks Notice.
  3. C4U – C4 – Shows – TV – FOUR
  4. UChoose40 – C4 – Shows – TV – FOUR
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