Kix (UK and Ireland TV channel)

Kix
Launched 19 May 2008
Owned by Sony Pictures Television
Picture format 16:9/4:3, 576i (SDTV)
Audience share 0.05% (September 2015 (2015-09), BARB)
Country United Kingdom
Formerly called Kix! (2008-2013)
Replaced Pop +1
Sister channel(s) Chart Show Dance
Chart Show TV
Flava
Pop
Scuzz
Starz TV
Tiny Pop
True Movies 1
True Movies 2
True Drama
True Entertainment
The Vault
Timeshift service Kix +1
Website kixtv.co.uk
Availability
Satellite
Freesat Channel 606
Sky Channel 627
Channel 629 (+1)
Eutelsat 28A 11307 V 27500 2/3
11307 V 27500 2/3 (+1)

Kix is a free-to-air children's television channel in the United Kingdom, owned by CSC Media Group. As of June 2014, it broadcasts cartoons, action and adventure series, extreme sports and music videos on Sky and Freesat. Its target audience is 7 to 12-year-old boys.[1]

History

The AGB Nielsen Media Research website initially announced that the channel would be called Klix and be put on Sky,[2] however, this was a mistake and the channel is in fact called Kix!. The correction was made with a new document, which stated that all the other details will remain the same as posted in the original article.[3] At 06:00 on 19 May 2008, Pop +1 ceased broadcast and was directly replaced on-air with Kix content. Medabots was the first programme to be broadcast under the Kix! identity.

19 May 2008 - July 2014

Kix was the fourth dedicated kids' channel to be launched by CSC: its three sister channels are Pop which was launched on 29 May 2003, and shows cartoons and pop music videos for a mixed audience; Tiny Pop, which was launched on 27 July 2004, and shows cartoons for young children and pre-schoolers; and Pop Girl, launched on 6 August 2007, and also shows cartoons and live action shows but is aimed at a female-led audience. Some programmes which have aired on Kix have been screened on one or more of the sister channels as well.

On 8 August 2008, Kix launched onto the Freesat platform on channel 606.

On 7 May 2013, Kix! was renamed to Kix.[4] The labelling on the onscreen programme guide was changed in accordance with this. However, the channel logo continues to include the exclamation mark.

Kix moved over to 16:9 widescreen broadcasting on 8 July 2013; Pop, Pop Girl and Tiny Pop had all previously moved over to the wider format. Kix retained a version of its prior onscreen graphics, rather than completely relaunching its presentation alongside the move (as Pop Girl had done).

Kix Power and Kix +1

On 22 July 2013, Kix received a spin-off channel, Kix Power, which replaced Pop Girl +1 on Sky.[4] The subsidiary channel broadcast only Power Rangers programming. Kix Power was replaced by a Kix +1 service on 1 October 2013, and this timeshift ran through October and November. Kix Power was then reintroduced at the end of November for a second run, to operate in the run-up to Christmas, with Kix +1 resuming at the start of January 2014. Kix Power will return, again replacing Kix +1 (or Kix +), on an ad-hoc basis around major school holiday periods; the channel will open its third run in early April 2014, building up to the Easter break, and for the first time will screen content not related to the Power Rangers franchise: a daily online vote will determine the show to be played as a block on Kix Power the following day. On 22 April 2014, Kix +1 relaunched, this time as Kix +. On 14 July 2014, Kix + was closed down and replaced with Pop +1, which closed in 2008 and was replaced with the actual Kix channel. On 27 October 2014, Kix was rebranded as Kix Power for the October half-term. On 1 October 2015, Kix +1 relaunched, replacing Pop Girl,

Presenters

As with other CSC stations, Kix rarely uses on-screen presenters; most programme links, trailers and promotions are provided in voiceover only. The channel's lead voice artist since its launch has been former Kerrang! Radio and CNX presenter Christian Stevenson, whose voice is heard on into-programme links, end-credit promotions, and most of the channel's trailers. In 2013, former Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere joined Kix to host the presented-in-vision segments filmed at the Power Rangers anniversary shopping centre tour which was run in conjunction with intu Properties and which tied in with the first run of Kix Power; since then, Akinwolere has continued to contribute occasional voiceovers to selected trails and promos on Kix, though Stevenson also continues to be used for other sequences. Kix will also occasionally screen group-wide promos being played across CSC stations, which may feature other voiceover artists drawn from the pool used by the company.

Music, film and extreme sports programming

At launch, Kix! stated that in addition to cartoons, it would also broadcast music and extreme sports programming. In addition to full scheduled shows, elements of these formats have also occasionally been used as short filler between scheduled programmes.

In 2009 Kix! launched Kix Flix!, which was a film and DVD review programme. The channel had previously broadcast promotional/review pieces for films under the Kix Flix! banner in a short unbilled slot, similar to the Popcorn slot on Pop, but in 2009 a new, more substantial Kix Flix! launched as a billed 15-minute programme, with profiles of several film/DVD releases in each edition. This programme also aired on the entertainment channel Film24 under the title "Kids Flix!". This programme ceased to broadcast at around the time Film24 collapsed and ceased original programming.

Programmes

Current Programming

The current programming (according to Kix's website) is:[5]

Former Programming

Kix Through the Night

A late-night schedule follows, consisting of a show running back-to-back. It runs for many different times. The block is entitled as Kix Through The Night.

Kix Through the Night programming

The current programming (according to Kix's website) is:[5]

Teen Kix!

In late 2009, a new programming block within Kix! began. "Teenage Kix!" or simply "Teen Kix!", initially ran from 20:00 until the channel's close at 23:30, though as of Easter 2010 the block was extended to begin at 6pm. The block includes action and adventure shows, the majority of which were already part of the Kix! schedule prior to the block being established. The introduction of the Teen block also saw the reintroduction of Kix! Xtreme and, for a time, Kix! Mix as full half-hour shows. The Teen block was subsequently scrapped in favour of using the general Kix! branding in the evenings.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kix | Showreel | CSC Media". Cscmediagroup.com. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑
  4. 1 2 "News". Overnights.tv. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  5. 1 2 http://www.kixtv.co.uk/whats-on/

External links

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