Videomusic
Encyclopedia
Videomusic was an Italian music channel and one of the first music channels in Europe. It was founded by Marialina Marcucci and Pier Luigi Stefani (VM's Managing Director) in early 1984. The channel used to be broadcast from a location called "Il Ciocco", near the Castelvecchio Pascoli, Frazione
of Barga
in the province of Lucca
(Tuscany). It was developed by spreading its terrestrial signal to most of the Italian regions. Its brand became very popular among young people.
In 1988, its owners bought 90% of pan-European TV channel Super Channel, while remaining 10% was taken over by Virgin
. Between 1989 and 1990, Videomusic also produced some English language
music shows produced for Super Channel. Most of these shows were produced in Italy and were considered amateurish by European viewers who were used to watch high-quality music shows from Music Box which is a separate company, also broadcasting on Super Channel
until the end of 1989.
The Marcucci family sold Super Channel to the US's NBC
in September 1993, which rebranded it as NBC Super Channel.
In 1992, the logo and graphic set of Videomusic were changed to a new one.
In 1995, Videomusic was sold to Vittorio Cecchi Gori
, the owner of an Italian channel known as Telemontecarlo
. Later in 1996, Videomusic rebranded as TMC2 (Tele Monte Carlo 2) and its schedules includes sports, news and movies. However, the channel also retains music as its most important content and also retained the Videomusic logo during music programmes.
In 1997, the Videomusic logo disappeared, but music programmes were increased again. The intention of rebranding the channel again as Videomusic failed because Cecchi Gori sold it to Telecom Italia Media
, the co-owners of MTV Italia, which was later closed down forever in favour of a terrestrial retransmission of MTV Italy
. The Videomusic library is now owned by MTV Italy
.
Frazione
A frazione , in Italy, is the name given in administrative law to a type of territorial subdivision of a comune; for other administrative divisions, see municipio, circoscrizione, quartiere...
of Barga
Barga
Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" of the Serchio.-Geography:...
in the province of Lucca
Province of Lucca
The Province of Lucca is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lucca.It has an area of 1,773 km², and a total population of 372,244...
(Tuscany). It was developed by spreading its terrestrial signal to most of the Italian regions. Its brand became very popular among young people.
In 1988, its owners bought 90% of pan-European TV channel Super Channel, while remaining 10% was taken over by Virgin
Virgin Group
Virgin Group Limited is a British branded venture capital conglomerate organisation founded by business tycoon Richard Branson. The core business areas are travel, entertainment and lifestyle. Virgin Group's date of incorporation is listed as 1989 by Companies House, who class it as a holding...
. Between 1989 and 1990, Videomusic also produced some English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
music shows produced for Super Channel. Most of these shows were produced in Italy and were considered amateurish by European viewers who were used to watch high-quality music shows from Music Box which is a separate company, also broadcasting on Super Channel
NBC Europe
NBC Europe was a satellite television channel based in the United Kingdom that broadcast across Europe...
until the end of 1989.
The Marcucci family sold Super Channel to the US's NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in September 1993, which rebranded it as NBC Super Channel.
In 1992, the logo and graphic set of Videomusic were changed to a new one.
In 1995, Videomusic was sold to Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Vittorio Cecchi Gori
Vittorio Cecchi Gori is an Italian film producer and politician.Born in Florence, he is the son of Mario Cecchi Gori. He has produced numerous films, most notably Il Postino , which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.He was also senator from the Italian People's Party.He owned...
, the owner of an Italian channel known as Telemontecarlo
Telemontecarlo
Tele Monte Carlo was the Italian language television channel from the Principality of Monaco.-History:...
. Later in 1996, Videomusic rebranded as TMC2 (Tele Monte Carlo 2) and its schedules includes sports, news and movies. However, the channel also retains music as its most important content and also retained the Videomusic logo during music programmes.
In 1997, the Videomusic logo disappeared, but music programmes were increased again. The intention of rebranding the channel again as Videomusic failed because Cecchi Gori sold it to Telecom Italia Media
Telecom Italia Media
Telecom Italia Media is an Italian commercial television network, founded in Rome, Italy by Seat Pagine Gialle in 2003 and later acquired by Telecom Italia and listed on Italian Stock Exchange.-Overview:...
, the co-owners of MTV Italia, which was later closed down forever in favour of a terrestrial retransmission of MTV Italy
MTV Italy
MTV Italy is the Italian speaking version of the popular 24 hour music and youth entertainment channel. Unlike its counterparts elsewhere in Europe, MTV Italia is a national channel available free-to-air on terrestrial television since September 1, 1997 and available on digital terrestrial...
. The Videomusic library is now owned by MTV Italy
MTV Italy
MTV Italy is the Italian speaking version of the popular 24 hour music and youth entertainment channel. Unlike its counterparts elsewhere in Europe, MTV Italia is a national channel available free-to-air on terrestrial television since September 1, 1997 and available on digital terrestrial...
.