4ME
4ME was a digital advertorial datacasting service that launched on 18 September 2011 by Prime Media Group and Brand New Media.[1] It was formerly available to homes in the Prime7/GWN7 viewing area on channel 64, and the Seven-owned viewing area on channel 74.[2] The channel was closed at midnight on 30 April 2016 in regional areas after Brand New Media entered administration due to business troubles.[3] 4ME later ceased broadcasting in Seven-owned areas on 19 May 2016.
4ME | |
---|---|
Launched | 18 September 2011 |
Closed | 30 April 2016 (Prime7 markets) 19 May 2016 (Seven markets) |
Network | Prime7 |
Owned by | Prime Media Group Brand New Media |
Picture format | 576i (SDTV) 16:9 |
Slogan | Improve Yourself |
Country | Australia |
Language | English |
Formerly called | Television 4 (2011) TV4ME (2011–2013) |
Replaced by | ishop TV (Prime) 7food network (Seven) |
As a datacasting channel, the content on the channel is regulated, it must consist of mostly information, and the scope for entertainment is limited. It shows mainly Australian made informational programs and infomercials,[4][5][6] and as a datacasting service is prohibited from broadcasting programs that are wholly or substantially infotainment or lifestyle programs longer than 10 minutes.[7]
History
When launched in regional areas on 18 September 2011, the channel was known as Television 4. The channel changed to the name of TV4ME, when it was introduced to metropolitan areas in December 2011. It changed its name again, this time to 4ME, in 2013.
On 29 April 2016, Brand New Media, joint owner of 4ME alongside Prime Media Group, called in administrators after being hit with a series of "perfect storms" throughout its business interests. Prime announced that they will not renew the contract 4ME and LCN 64 on Prime-owned stations was re-purposed as an additional feed of Prime's other datacast channel ishop TV at midnight on 30 April 2016.[8][3] 4ME went off the air on Seven-owned stations on 19 May 2016 and was replaced with a placeholder card notifying viewers that the channel was unavailable. The channel was removed from the Seven multiplex on 26 May 2016.
References
- Nicole Cusack. "Television 4 is launching September 18th 2011 to ALL homes in Regional NSW, VIC, ACT and the Gold Coast". Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- David Knox (7 November 2011). "Seven to launch TV4 datacasting". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
- Knox, David (29 April 2016). "Datacasting channel 4ME in doubt as producers enter administration". TV Tonight. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- "Television 4". Brandnewmedia.com.au. 18 September 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- "Television 4, the new Freeview channel you don't want - Australian tech blog, podcast, reviews, photos - techAU". Techau.tv. 18 September 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- Paul McIntyre (26 September 2011). "Prime launches brand-funded datacast channel". AdNews. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- "Investigation Report No. 2814: Breach of TV4ME License Conditions – Category A television programs". Australian Communications and Media Authority. 27 November 2012. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
- Hayes, Alex (29 April 2016). "'Perfect storm' of problems forces Brand New Media into administration and out of TV4ME". mUmBRELLA. Retrieved 30 April 2016.