Channel 4 has announced the launch of a new comedy and entertainment channel – E4 Extra – which will replace the existing incarnation of 4Music.
4Music isn’t disappearing though – the music channel, known for not playing much music, will become a full-time music channel, replacing Box Hits, which currently features a mix of entertainment, acquisitions and music.
E4 Extra will be the new home of shows such as Batwoman, Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Ninja Warrior Japan, Undercover Boss USA, The Big Bang Theory, The Inbetweeners and Derry Girls.
E4 Extra will inherit the EPG slot currently held by 4Music (Freeview 31, Virgin 337, Sky 139, Freesat 181 and YouView 31).
4Music will move into the channel slot currently occupied by Box Hits (Virgin 336, Sky 354 and Freesat 501).
4Music started life as a music channel, but it has changed over time in line with audience demands offering a blend of E4 flavoured comedy and entertainment. So E4 Extra feels like a natural evolution, strengthening the E4 brand and optimising the content mix between the channels.
Karl Warner, head of youth and digital, Channel 4
Going forward, E4 will hero large-scale reality and popular factual, whilst seamlessly partnering with E4 Extra where viewers can find scripted US favourites, comedy and entertainment.
With E4 branded shows already driving a significant proportion of viewers to All 4, streaming fans will now have an even broader offer from the E4 family.
Acknowledgements
PICTURED: E4 Extra ident. COPYRIGHT: Channel 4 Television Corporation.