Music Choice
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| Music Choice | |
|---|---|
| 200px | |
| Launched | 1987[1] |
| Owned by | Music Choice LLC (Comcast, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, Microsoft, Motorola/Arris, Sony Corporation of America) |
| Picture format | 480i (Video on demand), 480p (EDTV) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Horsham, Pennsylvania[2] |
| Website | www |
|
Availability
|
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| Cable | |
| Time Warner Cable | Channels 1900 (Music Choice On Demand) 1903, 1947-1950 |
| Verizon FiOS | Channels 1799-1849 |
| IPTV | |
| CenturyLink Prism | Channels 5101-5150 |
Music Choice (abbreviated as MC) is an American company that programs music and produces music-related content for digital cable television, mobile phone and cable modem users in the United States. Music Choice programs dozens of audio music channels for digital cable subscribers, as well as programs 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 for iOS and Android. Music Choice's interactive music video network, SWRV, was started in February 2010 and rebranded in 2013 to Music Choice Play.
Many digital cable and telco companies carry Music Choice, including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Verizon FiOS, Grande Communications, Service Electric Cable TV, CenturyLink Prism, and Bright House Networks. Other companies offer similar audio services for commercial customers, such as Sirius XM, Muzak, DMX and Stingray Music.
Contents
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 has 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, Time Warner Cable, 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
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As of 2014, Music Choice offers 53 linear channels: one video channel, MC Play, 46 and 4 new audio-with-slideshow channels, and one audio-only channel named Taste of Italy; the first, and last two, are only available in a few limited areas.[9]
Nearly all of Music Choice's audio music channels provide continuous music streaming with no talk, commercials or bumpers. MCU is an exception to the rule, as it has a few interruptions throughout the day when switching programing blocks.[10][11][11] Music Choice offers various streams across multiple genres, with each devoted to a particular genre. While a song is playing, artist, song and album information appears on screen as well as trivia facts, artist photos and generic graphics relevant to that particular channel.[10][12] Music Choice has an editorial staff that checks facts and finds images to provide for artists.[13] Music Choice programmers select the music based on current charts, music trends, sales, what they feel is hot in the industry and feedback from viewers.[13] All of Music Choice's channels are content edited except for six: Rap, Dance & EDM, Metal, Alternative, Rock Hits, and Adult Alternative.[13]
During each song, the screen design and logo will rotate to prevent burn-in on television screens.[10] Banner advertisements are displayed on every music channel in lieu of commercials, programmed by individual providers at the headend level via local insertion.[11][11][13] As of 2013, Music Choice has been found to be the fourth highest-ranking channel in Nielsen ratings based in the 12-34-year-old demographic.[14]
Music Choice on demand
Music Choice offers free video on demand content, including hundreds of music videos from many recording artists. Music Choice On Demand also features exclusive original programming:[15]
- Choice Cuts - Exclusive footage featuring popular artists
- Speaking Of... - A music news program hosted by Amanda Seales.
- Certified - An interactive music program in which fans decide their favorite featured artist
- Video Playlists - Themed playlists hosted by popular recording artists
Original programs are also available for viewing for a limited time after their premiere.
Music Choice online
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 free broadband music site offers subscribers access to simulcasts of all the music channels available on its television network, in addition to several online exclusives, though online-exclusive channels were eliminated on April 15, 2009.[16] Additional features include the ability to watch music videos and Music Choice original programming. This service is currently available to Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Grande Communications and Conway cable-modem users. Mobile app access to Music Choice's channels is also available on some providers via Music Choice's apps.
On August 23, 2008, Music Choice debuted user-interactive functionality, called ShowOff, as a feature of select music channels. Listeners can send in photos and short text messages via mobile phone, e-mail, AOL Instant Messenger and Music Choice's ShowOff webpage.[17]
Music Choice provided online original content known as MC Originals. The following is a list of MC Originals currently active as of July 2013:[18]
- 1st Rank: Short previews of Music Choice's favorite video of the week
- Chronicles: Documentary series interviewing popular hip hop artists and documenting their career
- Live Undefined: Live performances of recording artists exclusively performing for Music Choice. Performers include J. Cole and Daughtry
- Pop Quiz: Series in which film crews travel around cities asking random people questions related to music pop culture
- Primed: Interviews of very new recording artists usually interviewed during their debut album release
- The F Word: Interviews of currently famous recording artists and asking them about the negatives and positives of fame; interviewees have included Justin Bieber and Game
Former online-exclusive streams
Music Choice for several years featured programming exclusive to their website, streamed uninterrupted as if they were also on cable. These programs were eventually discontinued.
- Indie Rock - Underground alternative music (e.g. The Killers, The Strokes, Death Cab for Cutie)
- Old School Rap - 80s to 90s hip hop and rap (e.g. Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, Fresh Prince)
- Classic Disco - 70s to 80s disco (e.g. The Bee Gees, Earth, Wind, and Fire, K.C. and the Sunshine Band)
Mobile devices
Music Choice and SWRV also has availability on iOS devices.[19][20] As to on-demand and online content, Music Choice also has exclusive content available via mobile devices.[21] The line-up, as of July 2013, is as follows:[21]
- Top Ten Videos: A countdown of Music Choice's top ten videos of the week
- Naked: Interviews with recording artists
- OpinioNation: Fans and recording artists will debate the popular topics of the week
- New and Rookie Smell: Interviews with underground, upcoming recording artists.
See also
References
- ↑ [1] Archived June 18, 2013 at the Wayback Machine
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- ↑ [2][dead link]
- ↑ [3] Archived February 17, 2013 at the Wayback Machine
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- ↑ [4][dead link]
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- ↑ [10] Archived March 17, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ [11][dead link]
- ↑ [12][dead link]
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 [13][dead link]
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