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Music Box (TV)
Encyclopedia
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
's business ventures launched in 1983.
As a 24-hour TV channel in the 80s, Music Box was able to reach 60 million potential viewers in Europe and the Middle East thanks to satellite distribution. At the time, a satellite reception system was very expensive and for this reason the channel was very big in countries where cable TV was largely used, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Scandinavian countries. Music Box was also partially retransmitted on several terrestrial local channels in Italy and a special Italian version of Music Box was created in spring of 1988. A couple of Music Box shows were also retransmitted by Japanese broadcaster NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
.
In 1986, Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
from ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
decided to go 24 hours a day, but little cash was invested in that service, and so, most of the downtime was filled with a rebroadcast of Music Box. It was the first time that an ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
company (allegedly) broadcast 24 hours.
Music Box was originally based in the heart of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in a building where Virgin Vision and Super Channel
NBC Europe
NBC Europe was a satellite television channel based in the United Kingdom that broadcast across Europe...
were also based, and later gave home to the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
offices of CNN International
CNN International
CNN International is an international English language television network that carries news, current affairs, politics, opinions, and business programming worldwide. CNN is one of the world's largest news organizations. It is owned by Time Warner, and is affiliated with CNN, which is mainly...
and Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (UK)
Cartoon Network, commonly abbreviated as CN, is a British television channel available on Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk TV and UPC Ireland. Distributed by Turner Broadcasting System Europe , the channel primarily shows animated programming and was launched in the UK and Ireland as Cartoon Network...
and now Warehouse (Clothing retailer). The address during the satellite years was 19-21 Rathbone Place (London) and the public address for Music Box was P.O. Box 4DX, London W1A 4DX, England.
On 30 January 1987 Super Channel
NBC Europe
NBC Europe was a satellite television channel based in the United Kingdom that broadcast across Europe...
was launched on the same satellite frequency previously used by Music Box on pan-European satellite Eutelsat 1-F1
Eutelsat
Eutelsat S.A. is a French-based satellite provider. Providing coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, it is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues.Eutelsat’s satellites...
located at 13° east, replaced during 1987 by Eutelsat 1-F4
Eutelsat
Eutelsat S.A. is a French-based satellite provider. Providing coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, it is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues.Eutelsat’s satellites...
. For this reason Music Box stopped being a 24-hour TV channel, and Virgin set up Music Box as an independent producer of music programmes, continuing to broadcast its shows until the end of September 1987 for 10 hours a day on Super Channel. From October 1987 until January 1990 it was reduced from 10 hours a day to just a couple of hours a day of music programmes to be produced for Super Channel, with a two-month long break in late 1988 due to problems related with Super Channel, which was going to be sold. Music Box ended its satellite experience in January 1990 with the last pan-European showing of The Power Hour.
The creator of the three Satellite channels, as Director of Programmes, was Julian Mounter, who joined Music Box from Thames Television. Recognising that income for satellite television would not flow in any quantity for several years, Mounter set about negotiating revolutionary union deals to enable the use of smaller studio and location crews. He commandeered a boardroom at the HQ of Thorn EMI as one of the studios and a small basement on Shaftesbury Avenue, and it was there that many of the programmes were made before better facilities were found. The channels broke new ground in graphics, promotion and presentation, and set standards and practices still followed today. Mounter left in 1986 to become Director General of Television New Zealand, and the three channels then took on individual senior management.
Music Box as a satellite channel was sometimes said to have made a very small contribution to the demand for the demise of Communism in Eastern Europe as, in its prime, it was 'illegally' watched by young Eastern Europeans using home made satellite dishes, sometimes made out of dustbin lids. It gave many young people their first view of life in the West.
Directors on the channel included Geoffrey Davies, Rod Fairweather, John Leach, Les Harris
Les Harris
Les Harris is the name of:*Les Harris , UK motorcycle industry businessman*Les Harris , Canadian television and film producer...
, Ludo Graham
Ludo Graham
Ludo Graham is a British television producer, who has produced such series as Paddington Green for BBC1, That'll Teach 'Em for Channel 4, and Al Murray's Road to Berlin for the Discovery Channel....
, Simon Sanders and Siubhan Richmond.
After leaving satellite television, Music Box became a specialized producer of music shows for major British broadcasters and is now owned by Tinopolis
Tinopolis
Tinopolis plc is a Welsh independent television production company, owned by its senior management and private equity company Vitruvian Partners.Tinopolis produces over 2,500 hours of television annually for more than 200 UK and foreign broadcasters....
, which also owns the firm Sunset+Vine, previously the owner of Music Box. The company's best known programme of this period was the late night ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
production Forever which features pop videos and interview clips from stock footage.
Programmes (productions from Music Box as a pan-European satellite channel - 1984-1990)
- Transmission (indie music, 1989 - with Simon Potter and later with Pat FishPat FishPat Fish is an English musician best known for his work as a member of the band The Jazz Butcher. -Early career:...
) - The Power Hour (hard rock, metal - with Dante Bonutto, and occasionally, Amanda Redington, 1986–87, later with Alison Craig, Jacky Lynn and Nikki Groocock)
- It's Simon Potter (music mix and music news presented by Simon Potter, 1988)
- Sunday Cinema (all about the latest movies, 1986 - with Sunie Fletcher)
- Sunday Smooch (music ballads and romance, with Gloria or Amanda Redington, 1986–1987, later renamed to "The Smooch" with Amanda Redington, 1988)
- Eurochart (the official Music&Media magazine's European Top 100 singles chart from Amsterdam with Dutch presenter Erik de Zwart, 1986–87)
- CountdownCountdown (Dutch TV series)The Dutch music show Countdown was a popular music show from 1978 to the early '90s, broadcast by the broadcasting system Veronica. It ranked as the top music show in the whole of Europe. Due to the popularity this show, the career of one of its hosts throughout the entire period, Adam Curry, rose...
(charts from Europe and live performances from Amsterdam with Dutch presenters Erik de Zwart and Adam CurryAdam CurryAdam Clark Curry is a broadcasting and Internet personality well known for his stint from 1987 to 1994 as a video jockey on the music video channel MTV. In the mid-1990s, Curry was a World Wide Web entrepreneur and one of the first celebrities to personally create and administer a Web site...
, 1987) - Off The Wall (fashion and trends from London, with Steve Blacknell in 1986, Simon Potter and Sunie Fletcher in 1987-1988)
- The Gaz Bag (with Gaz Top)
- The Shadow
- Music Box Live (live from the Music Box studios in London, new videos, competitions and regular features originally with Simon Potter and later with Nino Firetto, 1987 - also produced as "Pepsi Live")
- Chart Attack (the UK Top 40 singles chart, usually with Simon Potter, 1986–1988, occasionally with Mark Webster in 1987; with Tony Gregory in 1989)
- Boogie Box (dance videos with Martin Buchanan, 1987, with Michaela Strachan or Steve Walsh, 1988)
- Rockin' At The Speed Of Light (a chat with an artist on a fake beach in the Music Box studio and music videos - with Sunie Fletcher, and sometimes with Tony Dortie, 1987)
- The Face (music videos with Alison Craig, 1987)
- The Buzz (press review, news and music videos with Tony Dortie, 1987)
- Mug with Marty (music videos with Martin Buchanan, 1986)
- Private Eyes (music interviews by Sunie Fletcher, 1986)
- Music Box Special (interviews and special events, 1987)
- The Amanda Redington Show (music videos with Amanda RedingtonAmanda RedingtonAmanda Redington is a British presenter and actress. She has been a presenter for cable and satellite TV channels such as Music Box and Sky Channel, during the mid and late 1980s.Main presenter on GMTV for 8 years till 2002.The Heaven and Earth show BBC1 till 2001...
, 1987, later renamed to Supersonic) - Supersonic (music videos with Amanda Redington and also Barbie Wilde, 1987–1988)
- American StormAmerican Storm"American Storm" is the title of a song written by American singer-songwriter Bob Seger. It was recorded with The Silver Bullet Band and released in March 1986 as the lead single from their album Like a Rock. The single peaked at number 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number 2 on the...
(the latest videos from the USA, with Simon Potter, 1986) - Backtracks (classic videos, 1985–1986)
- Videopix (video request show, 1984-1987 With 'The Big Boys'- Martin Buchanan & Simon Potter: 1987-1988 - Nino Firetto)
- Non-stop Dance Hour (dance videos with Gloria, 1986)
- Global Chart Show (weekly show featuring singles and albums chart from the whole world, 1989)
- Tracking (music videos and press reviews, 1987–88, usually with Tony Dortie, occasionally with Nicky Campbell)
- The Rock Of Europe (interviews - 1988)
- Rockin' In The UK (indie music - 1988) (with Simon Potter and a little help from Rachel Davies)
- Totally Live (formerly known as Music Box Live (or Pepsi Live) with Nino Firetto, late 1987, and 1988, occasionally with Nicky Campbell or Simon Potter or Anthea Turner or Timmy Mallett)
- Nino FirettoNino FirettoNino Firetto is a radio presenter, TV host and actor, currently based in Exeter, England.-Biography:Nino Firetto shot to fame first as a DJ in the 1970s, then as a television personality in the 1980s...
(guests, features such as "Papa Luigi", music videos and news, live from the Music Box "living room" - 1988) - Music Box News (the latest music news with Sunie Fletcher, Alison Craig or Andy Bird - a feature of "Music Box Live", "Pepsi Live" and later "Totally Live"). Paul McKennaPaul McKennaPaul McKenna is an English hypnotist and self-improvement author.McKenna has written and produced books and multimedia products, hosted self-improvement television shows and presents seminars in hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, weight loss and motivation.-Career:Paul McKenna started in...
made is television debut as the presenter of Music Box News. - Formula One (charts from Europe and performances from the German show "Formel Eins", with John LeslieJohn Leslie (television presenter)John Leslie is a Scottish former television presenter. He has presented BBC One's Blue Peter and ITV's This Morning and the ITV gameshow Wheel of Fortune. He was also the roving reporter for the first series of the UK version of Survivor...
who made his television debut, late 1987, and 1988) - European Top 40 (the European singles chart with Amanda Redington, 1988–89)
- Coca-Cola Rockfile (big events around Europe, monthly show with Simon Potter and Amanda Redington, 1988)
- Supertime Club (mix of cartoons and music videos, for younger viewers with Catherine Kirkwood and Mark Chase, 1988)
- Rox Box (interviews and specials, early 1987, co-produced with Belgian broadcaster RTBF and hosted by one of its presenters, Ray CokesRay CokesRay Cokes is an English television presenter. His father was an officer in the Royal Navy, who was stationed at various navy bases around the world. At age 15 they permanently relocated back to the UK...
, who went later to MTV Europe, and by Lucienne also from RTBF)
Programmes (productions for other British broadcasters, since 1990)
- BPM
- Raw Power (hard rock and metal show, previously known as The Power Hour from the satellite years, it was presented by Phil Alexander, 'Krusher' Joule, his dog Bullseye, and Ann Kirk - 1990-1997)
- Noisy Mothers (new name for "Raw Power")
- Club NationClub NationClub Nation is a weekly radio show of the Croatian/Dutch dj duo Tezija & Keyra, that is broadcast worldwide by over 30 radio stations.The show takes the format of a two hour mix in which they play new trance music, both promotional and commercially released....
- Vivid
- Sussed! (produced for NickelodeonNickelodeon (TV channel)Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
) - Buzz (produced for Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
) - Transmission (indie music videos, continuing on ITV after the satellite era of Music Box)
- Soundtrax (10 minute music shows for ITVITVITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
) - With…
- Forever
- Music With Attitude
- Popped In Crashed Out
- The Kerrang! AwardsThe Kerrang! AwardsThe Kerrang! Awards is an annual music awards show in the United Kingdom, founded by the music magazine, Kerrang!. The awards feature a mixture of readers' and critics' awards. The annual Kerrang! Awards ceremony is usually held in mid-August in London...
Presenters
The following presenters have all been employed by Music Box either as presenters or VJs:- Nino FirettoNino FirettoNino Firetto is a radio presenter, TV host and actor, currently based in Exeter, England.-Biography:Nino Firetto shot to fame first as a DJ in the 1970s, then as a television personality in the 1980s...
- Amanda RedingtonAmanda RedingtonAmanda Redington is a British presenter and actress. She has been a presenter for cable and satellite TV channels such as Music Box and Sky Channel, during the mid and late 1980s.Main presenter on GMTV for 8 years till 2002.The Heaven and Earth show BBC1 till 2001...
- Simon Potter
- Sunie Fletcher (previously at NME magazine, in the 90s at MTV Europe as an employee)
- Gareth JonesGareth Jones (presenter)Gareth Jones is a Welsh television presenter and celebrity. He began his broadcasting career under the name Gaz Top....
aka Gaz TopGareth Jones (presenter)Gareth Jones is a Welsh television presenter and celebrity. He began his broadcasting career under the name Gaz Top....
(later a presenter on The Children's Channel) - Martin Buchanan
- Dante Bonutto
- Alison Craig
- Steve Blacknell
- Mark Webster
- John LeslieJohn Leslie (television presenter)John Leslie is a Scottish former television presenter. He has presented BBC One's Blue Peter and ITV's This Morning and the ITV gameshow Wheel of Fortune. He was also the roving reporter for the first series of the UK version of Survivor...
- Erik de ZwartErik de ZwartErik de Zwart is a Dutch radio and television maker, former D.J., former Music Box, The Music Factory and MTV V.J...
- Adam CurryAdam CurryAdam Clark Curry is a broadcasting and Internet personality well known for his stint from 1987 to 1994 as a video jockey on the music video channel MTV. In the mid-1990s, Curry was a World Wide Web entrepreneur and one of the first celebrities to personally create and administer a Web site...
- Naomi RyanNaomi RyanNaomi Ryan is a British actress who has appeared in Dream Team as Ashleigh King, Mile High as Lehann Evans and Coronation Street where she played Underworld factory worker Bobbi Lewis.-Naomi Russell:...
- Leigh FrancisLeigh FrancisLeigh Szaak Francis is an English impressionist born in Leeds. He is best known for his work as the creator of Channel 4's Bo' Selecta!, and for his portrayal of Keith Lemon for several ITV programmes. Francis lives in Camden Town, London, and on October 31, 2003, at Allerton Castle, North...
- Barbie WildeBarbie WildeBarbie Wilde is a Canadian actress and writer, perhaps best known for appearing as the Female Cenobite in Hellbound: Hellraiser II - the second of eight Hellraiser films based on Clive Barker's novella, The Hellbound Heart...
- Tony DortieTony DortieTony Dortie is a British TV personality. He recently set up his own production company called Triple T Entertainment . He has appeared on various popular entertainment networks such as BBC, ITV Schofields Quest , MTV, BBC World Service, 3e Glam Slam source and various others as a host. He is...
- Anthea TurnerAnthea TurnerAnthea Millicent Turner is an English television presenter and media personality.-Education:Turner was educated at the independent St. Dominic's High School in Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent....
- Timmy MallettTimmy MallettTimmy Mallett is a TV presenter and broadcaster in the UK. He achieved cult status on BBC Radio Oxford and Manchester's Piccadilly Radio and later on TV-am...
- Phil Alexander
- Gloria (?)
- Paul KayePaul KayePaul Kaye is an English comedian and actor. He achieved notoriety in 1995 portraying the character of Dennis Pennis, a shock interviewer on The Sunday Show...
- Rachel Davies
- Michaela StrachanMichaela StrachanMichaela Evelyn Ann Strachan is an English television presenter.-Personal life:Strachan attended Claremont Fan Court School, Esher, a Christian Science school. Later, while at college, she briefly held jobs as an Avon lady and as a kissogram...
- Julie BrownDowntown Julie BrownJulie Dorne Brown, also known as Downtown Julie Brown , is an English actress and former MTV VJ.Of mixed race, Brown's father, Valentine Brown, was Jamaican and her mother, Doreen, is white...
- Gary CrowleyGary CrowleyGary Crowley is an English broadcaster and DJ.When he was at school in the late Seventies Crowley started a punk fanzine titled The Modern World, interviewing some of the most important bands of the day including the Sex Pistols, the Clash and the Jam.After leaving school he took up a junior...
- Nicky CampbellNicky CampbellNicholas Andrew Argyll "Nicky" Campbell is a Scottish radio and television presenter and journalist. He is known for his time presenting on programmes such as the consumer affairs programme Watchdog...
- Andy BirdAndy Bird- Early life :Bird grew up in Warrington, England and was schooled at King's School, Macclesfield. In 1985 Bird gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English language and literature at Newcastle University.- Career :...
(later involved with The Disney Channel) - Nikki Groocock
- Jacky Lynn
- Steve 'Krusher' Joule and his heavy metal hunting hound Bullseye
- Catherine Kirkwood
- Paul Cooke (previously Capital Radio)
- Sam Wilson
- Mark Chase
- Tony Gregory
- Pat FishPat FishPat Fish is an English musician best known for his work as a member of the band The Jazz Butcher. -Early career:...
- Eddie Kid
Some presenters also recorded a track and video for a song called "Back To The Rhythm" under the name of "The Rap Pack
The Rap Pack
The Rap Pack was the name of a British musical group formed by presenters of a Pan-European London-based music channel called Music Box, which existed in the mid 1980s....
", in December 1986. The Rap Pack were: Nino Firetto, Amanda Redington, Gloria, Timmy Mallett, Steve Blacknell, Simon Potter and Martin Buchanan.
Last music video as a channel on its own
The last music video that they played before it turned into Super ChannelNBC Europe
NBC Europe was a satellite television channel based in the United Kingdom that broadcast across Europe...
(30 January 1987) was "Don't Give Up" by Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
& Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
.