The music channel responsible for bringing us Osher Günsberg (ahem, Andrew G), Danny Clayton and Jane Gazzo is no longer, with Foxtel canning its youth music network, Channel V Australia.
An email leaked by Pedestrian.TV from head of channel & operations for Foxtel Networks Stephen Baldwin and the executive director of television Brian Walsh confirmed the closure overnight, placing the blame on services like YouTube for the “steady decline” in audience views.
In a statement sent to B&T , a Foxtel spokesperson revealed the network would be “making some changes to our music channels”.
“Starting from this Saturday, February 27 you will begin to see some changes to Channel [V]. Following on from that, from March 25 we will no longer use the Channel [V] brand, which will change to [V] Hits and [V] Hits +2.
“[V] Hits features a line-up of music videos and countdowns, including the latest hits from Australia and around the world. There are no changes to MAX, CMC or Smooth.”
In the email published by P.TV, Baldwin and Walsh said “We are making changes across our organisation in order to be match fit in an increasingly competitive landscape.
“Over the past several years music clips have become ubiquitous with availability on services like YouTube, whilst linear broadcast audiences for music channels have been in steady decline. In order to run the Foxtel music services more efficiently we have decided to merge Channel [V] and [V] Hits.
“The new service will be called [V] Hits and we will create a +2 of this channel. [V] Hits will continue to be a clip based channel with no long form content. This change will begin to take place this Saturday, with the channel branding completed by late March.
“I would also like to thank those team members leaving us today. You leave with our best wishes for your onward journey.”
Previous hosts of Channel V have already taken to Twitter to pay tribute to the iconic Aussie network.
After 20 years of music television, @channelv says goodbye this friday..Thanks for the memories and the great times. I loved working wit you
— Jane Gazzo (@JaneGazzo) February 23, 2016
Channel V is closing on Friday. Must have been a tough call to make for MGMT. 20yrs of cutting edge TV, sad to see it go.
— Osher Günsberg (@oshergunsberg) February 23, 2016
In 4 months time I’ll celebrate my 14th year at Channel V. That is nearly half my life and 1000s of hrs of live TV. I loved every moment — Danny Clayton (@DannyjClayton) February 23, 2016
Nostalgia time. Pre-beard… and probably pre-puberty, working for @channelv at the Big Day Out.… https://t.co/BFUmdVochc
— Danny Clayton (@DannyjClayton) February 24, 2016
Here’s to you, @channelv. pic.twitter.com/FXo2XkYGut — Billy Russell (@wiljrussell) February 23, 2016
