Music Choice

Music Choice
Launched 1987[1]
Owned by Music Choice LLC (Comcast, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Microsoft, Motorola/Arris, Sony Corporation of America)
Picture format 480i/1080p (Video on demand), 480p (EDTV)
Country United States
Language English
Broadcast area Nationwide
Headquarters Horsham, Pennsylvania[2]
Formerly called Digital Cable Radio
Website www.musicchoice.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV Channels 801-886
Cable
Available on many cable systems Check provider for availability
Verizon FiOS Channels 1799–1899
IPTV
CenturyLink Prism Channels 5101-5150

Music Choice (abbreviated as MC) is an American company which produces music programming and music-related content for digital cable television, mobile phone and cable modem users. Music Choice also programs audio music channels for digital cable subscribers, and produces music-related content for on-demand customers with access to Music Choice On-Demand. Music Choice also offers video and audio music programming for cell phones, available through the Music Choice app.

Many digital cable and telco networks carry Music Choice, including, but not limited to: Comcast, Charter Communications, Altice USA, Cox Communications, Verizon FiOS, Grande Communications, Suddenlink Communications, Service Electric Cable TV, and Frontier Communications. DirecTV also provides Music Choice programming. Other companies offer similar audio services for commercial customers, including Sirius XM, Muzak, DMX, and Stingray Music.

Background

Music Choice (formerly known as Digital Cable Radio) was the first digital audio broadcast service in the world and, under its founder and CEO David Del Beccaro,[3][4][5][6] launched in test markets circa 1987. From its inception as an eight-channel audio service from Motorola's cable group, Music Choice evolved into a multi-platform interactive music network based in New York City that reaches millions of consumers across the country. Music Choice is a partnership owned by a consortium, including Comcast, Charter Communications through its acquisition of Time Warner Cable in May 2016, Cox Communications, EMI Music, Microsoft, Motorola/Arris, and Sony Corporation of America.

Music Choice launched its first 24-hour interactive music video cable channel, SWRV, in February 2010.[7]

Music Choice is the first ad-supported video on demand network to be measured by Nielsen Media Research's video on demand measurement service. Audience demographics are based on Nielsen's national People Meter.[8]

Music Choice channels

As of May 2017, Music Choice offers 75 audio channels and 25 video channels, making for a total of 100 channels. Some of the popular channels Music Choice offers includes Music Choice Max, Music Choice Pop & Country, Music Choice Teen Beats. In October 2016, Music Choice added Retro-Active. In May 2017, a major update came to Music Choice, adding 25 new audio channels and 25 new video channels, and making its interface interactive.

Nearly all of Music Choice's audio/video music channels provide continuous music and music video streaming commercial free. Music Choice offers various streams across multiple genres, with each devoted to a particular genre. While a song is playing, still video images are sent at a low bit-rate (30 seconds per frame) which consist of channel identification, artist, song and album information as well as trivia facts, artist photos and Music Choice's promos.[9][10] Music Choice programmers select the music based on current charts, music trends, sales, what they feel is hot and coming in the industry and feedback from viewers.[11] All of Music Choice's channels are censored except for: Rap, Hip-Hop Classics, Metal, Alternative, Rock Hits, Dance/EDM, Indie and Adult Alternative.

After each song, the screen design and logo will rotate to prevent burn-in on television screens.[9] Banner advertisements are displayed on every music channel in lieu of commercials, programmed by individual providers at the headend level via local insertion.[11][12][12] The color coding on the channel can be blue, pink, green or yellow depending on the dayparts.

Music Choice website and app

In August 2007, Music Choice began offering a free broadband music service to its cable partners for use by their cable-modem subscribers. Music Choice's website offers subscribers access to simulcasts of all 50 on-air audio-with-slideshow channels, along with 25 exclusive to the website and app. Additional features include the ability to watch music videos and Music Choice original programming. This service is currently available to Comcast, Cox Communications and Spectrum, Optimum, Grande Communications and Conway cable-modem users.[13] Mobile app access to Music Choice's channels is also available on some providers via Music Choice's apps, which are available through iOS and Google Play; all venues require TV Everywhere authentication, if available.

Music Choice on Demand

Music Choice offers free video on demand content, including hundreds of music videos from a large number of recording artists. Music Choice On Demand also features exclusive original programming and interviews with popular artists through segments such as:[1]

  • Primed: A profile on rising artists
  • Chronicles: Artists on their journeys to success
  • Behind the Lines: Artists discuss the lyrics and inspiration of their newest videos
  • MC Icons: A celebration of today’s artists
  • The F Word: Artists speak on how they deal with fame

Competitors

Music Choice filed a lawsuit against Stingray Digital in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in June 2016 over patent infringement. The patents in dispute are U.S. Patent Nos. 8,769,602, 9,357,245, 7,320,025 and 9,351,045 pertaining to the on screen formatting of Stingray Digital's channels.[14] Stingray countersued Music Choice on August 29, 2016 calling it a "smear campaign".[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Archived June 18, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "Music Choice Horsham PA, 19044 –". Manta.com. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  3. ↑ Archived August 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Archived February 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Dan Baker". On Demand Summit. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  6. ↑ Archived December 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "SWRV TV – Don't Just Watch". Music Choice. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  8. ↑ "Nielsen To Measure Music Choice On Demand". Multichannel News. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  9. 1 2 "Music Choice FAQ". Corporate.musicchoice.com.
  10. ↑ "News". Appalachia Tech. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
  11. 1 2 Archived June 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. 1 2 Archived June 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "About Music Choice Broadband Portal". Cox Communications. Retrieved 2017-11-17.
  14. ↑ Music Choice Sues Stingray, Accusing TV Rival of Patent Infringement Music Choice 2016-06-6
  15. ↑ Stingray counters Music Choice’s lawsuit, calls it smear campaign Globe And Mail 2016-08-30
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