V (Australian TV channel)

[V]
Launched	2004
Owned by	Foxtel Networks
Audience share	0.2% (February 2008, [1])
Slogan	It's All About The Hits
Country	Australia
Language	English
Broadcast area	Australia
Formerly called	Club [V] Channel [V]2 [V] Hits
Sister channel(s)	Foxtel Networks channels
Timeshift service	[V] + 2
Website	http://vmusic.com.au
Availability
Satellite
Foxtel	Channel 801 Channel 802 (+ 2)
Cable
Foxtel	Channel 801 Channel 802 (+ 2)
Optus TV	Channel 801 Channel 802 (+ 2)
IPTV
Xbox 360	Channel 801 Channel 802 (+ 2)
Streaming media
Foxtel Go	Channel 801

[V] is an Australian pay-TV channel. [V] is owned and operated by foxtel. It can be watched on foxtel Digital and Optus's digital service.

In 2016, Foxtel decided to close Channel V Australia and refocus [V] Hits as its main channel. However, in 2017 [V] Hits was re-positioned as [V] and [V] Hits +2 was rebranded as [V]+2; a timeshift channel^[2].

History

As part of foxtel's expansion of 20 new channels Club [V] was launched in 2004; the stations focused on dance music and it was originally ad-free^[3]

The new name and format of Club [V] was launched on 12 January 2007. In the lead-up to the switch, a message was frequently broadcast on the channel, promising viewers that "A Change is Coming". Since the re-launch, Channel V and Channel [V]² had become more closely tied in with each other for example showing viewers what is currently playing on the opposite channel. Both Channels used the same format for displaying song information. Even though the channels are tied-in with each other, Channel [V]² does not play any entertainment oriented shows, instead playing ads for them.

Club [V] logo

Channel [V]² logo

On 15 November 2009, [V]² relaunched as [V] Hits - a 24-hour pop, rock, urban and dance music channel. On 19 June 2012, [V] Hits was investigated as the music video "Born this Way" by Lady Gaga (aired at 6:15pm that day) was considered to have some inappropriate scenes.^[4]

[V] Hits logo

On 25 March 2016, a two-hour timeshift version of [V] Hits launched, replacing sister channel Channel [V]. This coincided with the relaunch of [V] Hits as the main music clip channel, featuring only music videos and countdowns.^[5][6][7][8]

On 30 November 2016, [V] Hits + 2 moved from channel 803 to 802.^[9] In 2017; [V] Hits was re-positioned as [V].

Format

Throughout the day, [V] Hits holds several countdowns based on certain themes. A large number of the countdowns are top charts based on ratings from country to country. Much larger countdowns can be seen for special occasions, such as the Top 50, Top 100 and Top 200.

In January 2010, [V] Hits aired the "10,000 Hits" countdown, believed to be the largest of its kind ever undertaken.

The overnight output (midnight/10:30pm-6am) is advert-free.

References