Box Upfront

Box Upfront
Logo used from 2016 to 2020
CountryUnited Kingdom
Ownership
OwnerThe Box Plus Network
(Channel Four Television Corporation)
Sister channels
History
Launched3 July 2012 (12 years, 44 days)
ReplacedQ
Closed9 January 2020
Former namesHeat (2012–2016)
Heat logo (2012-2015)

Box Upfront was a British music video television channel owned by The Box Plus Network. It launched on 3 July 2012 as Heat and was originally based on the magazine of the same name. The channel replaced Q.[1]

The channel featured daily celebrity gossip show Heat's Huge News, as well as a 60-minute programme rounding up weeks stories, titled Heat's Huge Week of News, which was produced by ITN.[2] In addition, ITN Productions co-produced celebrity documentary series Real Stories with Box Television. Heat also featured The Heat-Ometer, its pick of the 20 biggest music videos narrated by Heat editor, Lucie Cave.[3]

Box Upfront broadcast current and future mainstream pop music videos 24/7.

On 2 April 2013, all Box Television channels went free-to-air on satellite, apart from 4Music which went free-to-view.[4] As a result, the channels were removed from the Sky EPG in Ireland.[5] However, Heat launched on Freesat on 29 April 2013, alongside Magic, following the addition of four other Box Television channels on 15 April.[6]

On 25 May 2016, the channel was rebranded as Box Upfront.[7] On 1 November 2019, the channel temporarily rebranded as a Christmas music channel called BoXmas, a role also occupied by sister channel Magic (albeit not temporarily rebranded). As the impending shutdown was announced during the rebrand, the channel kept the BoXmas branding, but shifted to a playlist similar to Box Hits on 26 December. Box Upfront ceased to broadcast on 9 January 2020, signing off with a block of departure-themed songs; "Goodbyes" by Post Malone featuring Young Thug, "Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC, and "Goodbye" by Spice Girls were the last videos played before it ended operations. The channel space then transitioned to a slide stating that BoXmas was "taking a break" and would be back for the next holiday season (though obviously on a different channel), and redirecting viewers to its sister channels.[8] In October 2020, The Box temporarily rebranded as BoXmas, thus making that channel the new home of BoXmas.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Bauer axes Q TV after nearly 12 years to make way for Heat TV". Brand Republic. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012.
  2. ^ "ITN PRODUCTIONS WINS CELEBRITY NEWS DEAL FOR HEAT TV". ITN. 28 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Heat TV to launch on 3 July". The Guardian. 23 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Bauer's Box channels appear free-to-air on satellite". a516digital. 2 April 2013.
  5. ^ "YouTube video showing the channels removed from the Sky EPG in Ireland". YouTube. 3 April 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Magic and Heat TV stations added to Freesat". a516digital. 29 April 2013.
  7. ^ "The Box Plus Network announces the biggest refresh in its 24-year history". The Box Plus Network. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  8. ^ The End of Box Upfront (9 January 2020)- YouTube