Much Music becomes Fuse, get new studio in MSG.

[AJ2086]

MuchMusic USA Becomes Less of a Mouthful
Tue, Apr 8, 2003 09:21 PM PDT






LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - For the record: popular cable music networks BET, CMT, MTV, MTV2, VH1 and VH1 Classic are all owned by one company, Viacom.

However, although it has adopted MTV's original business plan for its current one, MuchMusic USA, is a division of Rainbow Media, which also owns AMC and WE: Women's Entertainment. And come May 19 the network that is available in 30 million homes nationwide, will change its name to Fuse in an attempt to better connect with its target demographic of 12 to 34-year-olds.

"There was really only one company's voice in popular music and culture, and we thought there should be another," Josh Sapan, president of Rainbow Media tells the AP.

Throwing stones at Goliath, Fuse is also building a $12 million studio with windows open to the street across from Madison Square Gardens, less than 15 blocks from MTV's similar studio that Carson Daly has made feel like home to youth across the country courtesy of "TRL."

[BearsFan]

This is sad news. I miss the days when "MMUSA" was just MuchMusic, and used the feed from MuchMusic in Toronto. I miss their VeeJays, their in studio guests, and music mix(es).

--BearsFan

[Kevin]

Originally posted by BearsFan
This is sad news. I miss the days when "MMUSA" was just MuchMusic, and used the feed from MuchMusic in Toronto. I miss their VeeJays, their in studio guests, and music mix(es).

--BearsFan I agree...I wish E* had added MuchMusic before it switched to MMUSA...MMUSA was starting to phase out the Canadian programming when E* added it and in a few months it was entirely gone. MMUSA is still a good channel (at least better than MTV2) since all the programming is entirely music video based....I sure hope they don't ruin it with non-music based programming.

[RichW]

"...will change its name to Fuse in an attempt to better connect with its target demographic of 12 to 34-year-olds."

Egad! We now desperately need the OFMC (Old F*rts Music Channel). Charlie, can you hear us!!

[Steve Mehs]

Great, ages 12-34, lemme guess, hip-hop and top 20 or 40 (whatever they call it) :mad:

I hope they keep the two halfway decent shows, Uranium and Rockzilla. Metal Mania on VH-1 Classic keeps me going but I would like something more current so I try to catch Uranium. Also, Behind The Music That Sucks is a hilarious show.

[spanishannouncetable]

Originally posted by RichW
"...will change its name to Fuse in an attempt to better connect with its target demographic of 12 to 34-year-olds."

Egad! We now desperately need the OFMC (Old F*rts Music Channel). Charlie, can you hear us!!

This channel already exists. It's called VH1 Classic :p (one of my favorite channels BTW)

[BobMurdoch]

I liked them better when they played more Canada centric programming.... Great Artists like Amanda Marshall that get no play here were featured often. Oh well...... time to go back to XM to discover my new music.

[BearsFan]

Originally posted by BobMurdoch
I liked them better when they played more Canada centric programming.... Great Artists like Amanda Marshall that get no play here were featured often. Oh well...... time to go back to XM to discover my new music.

Right on, this is exactly what I'm talking about...the Canadian music I miss. It wasn't even that I really liked all of it, but it was intriguing to see what new music/artists were out there.

MTV 2 is "okay." I don't mind their "Definitive" series once in awhile, and they run some specials occasionally that I enjoy.

That said, I *do* try to be more "rounded" musically, and not ignore other genres, but I'm tired of MTV 2 running incessant "Hip-Hop" nightly. Again, I don't mind some of that, but do we HAVE to have Eminem, Missy Elliot, and other no-talent @$$ clowns like Jay-Z, "50 Cent," and "Ja Rule" every single night of the week????!!!!? Sheesh. Enough already. I don't mind the blox of music, but not for hours upon hours.

:rant:

We now return to your regularly scheduled program, already in progress. :hi:

--BearsFan

[angiodan]

With all these new international channels Charlie is going to add, I would love to see a Canadian package.

Maybe there are legal reasons preventing this, or maybe I'm the only one who would be interested, so it wouldn't be profitable!

CBC, CTV, City-tv, Global, TSN, Much Music and a couple of others would be great.

[Jacob S]

Is it just a name change or a complete change? The way you guys are talking its going to change completely instead of just a name change. I like the MuchMusic name better than Fuse, but thats probably just because I am used to the MuchMusic name more.

[Ontarian]

Except for the CBC, a Canadian package would be impossible in the U.S. because channels like CTV,Global and TSN carry too much American Programming and they only have rights to broadcast in Canada unfortunately. The CBC owns the rights to most of its programming so airing in the U.S. wouldnt' be a problem. Some of the MuchMusic offshoots, like MuchLoud, MuchVibe, MuchMoreMusic and the new MuchMoreRetro could likely air in the U.S. if the folks at CHUM who own these channels try to secure U.S. carriage.

[J.P. LePuck]

Originally posted by Jacob S
Is it just a name change or a complete change? The way you guys are talking its going to change completely instead of just a name change.

The MuchMusic name/format is franchised in different markets by MuchMusic owner, CHUM.

CHUM, owner in Canada of CityTV, the "NewXX" tv stations, and FashionTV; decided not to renew the licencing agreement with MuchMusicUSA.

[Bub2001]

here is the press release from chum. maybe we can get muchmusic canada here again in the U.S.
http://www.chumlimited.com/press/releasetelevision.asp?stationID=92&pressID=639

[Steve Mehs]

Well the big name change occurs tomorrow, my 2 shows, Uranium and Rockzilla appear to still be intact.

[Jacob S]

Why dont they add The VH-1 and MTV suite channels if they got MTV2 and VH-1 Classic but not the rest of them?

[jcc]

Some of the MuchMusic offshoots, like MuchLoud, MuchVibe, MuchMoreMusic and the new MuchMoreRetro could likely air in the U.S. if the folks at CHUM who own these channels try to secure U.S. carriage.


We'll, I wish they were carried in the US because they play music videos all the time, specifically MuchLoud and MuchMoreRetro, and because they are commercial free. VH1 Classic doesn't cut it since they don't play music videos all the time, except for special occasions when they have 80s songs in alphabetical order or artists. I know if it isn't music videos for the most part it's something to do with music I should be happy though with the fact that they play some music videos at all

My apologizes for replying to a thread that's more than 2840 days old

[dennispap]

]We'll, I wish they were carried in the US because they play music videos all the time,[/B] specifically MuchLoud and MuchMoreRetro, and because they are commercial free.

Amen to that!!!!

[The Merg]

Now that is resurrecting a dead thread! Almost 8 years old!

The funny thing was that I didn't look at the OP date and started thinking that wasn't there already a channel called Fuse...

- Merg

[smiddy]

The wonders of modern computerology, and of course, resurrection, with Easter and all coming. :p