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Vox (TV)
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VOX is a German television channel, headquartered in Cologne and part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest TV, radio, and production company. The channel officially launched at 5 p.m. on January 25, 1993. Prior to that, test transmissions had been made using the informal name Westschienenkanal (West slot channel, a reference to Nordschienenkanal and Südschienenkanal, which the other two German private channels RTL Television and Sat.1 were informally called in the 1980s).
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Encyclopedia
VOX is a German television channel, headquartered in Cologne and part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest TV, radio, and production company. The channel officially launched at 5 p.m. on January 25, 1993. Prior to that, test transmissions had been made using the informal name Westschienenkanal (West slot channel, a reference to Nordschienenkanal and Südschienenkanal, which the other two German private channels RTL Television and Sat.1 were informally called in the 1980s). The channel mainly broadcasts documentaries and U.S. series and movies.
History
VOX started transmitting on 25 January 1993. It hoped to compete with public television by broadcasting many live and information-based programs. The channel was originally owned by a mixture of various German media companies: UFA (Bertelsmann AG) 24,9%, Westdeutsche Medienbeteiligungsgesellschaft 25,1%, Holtzbrinck-Verlag 14,5%, dctp 11%, Mittelständische Unternehmensbeteiligung 10%, Warner Music Germany 14,5%. The director of program at launch was Ruprecht Eser.
One year after the channel's launch it seemed clear that the original program concept could not work. Market share among the target group relevant for advertisers was, at 1.5%, too low to attract much advertising. VOX made large losses. By February 1994, all of the original partners except UFA and dctp sold their stakes. As a result of the loses, the quality of programs began to fall. VOX had to repeat its movies every few weeks just to fill the schedule. On April 1st, 1994, VOX went into liquidation. More than 250 employees were laid off.
By November 1994 VOX had new owners: News German Television Holding (News Corporation) 49,9%, Canal + 24,9%, UFA (Bertelsmann AG) 24,9% and dctp 0,3%.
Gradually VOX gained a foothold in the German television landscape. In 1998, VOX signed an output deal with 20th Century Fox, leading to more series and movies being broadcast along side magazine-style shows.
In December 1999 RTL Television bought out News Corporation. A short time later canal+ sold its share to UFA (Bertelsmann AG). 99.7 % of the channel now belonged to RTL Group, the remaining 0,3% remain in the ownership of dctp.
Now, VOX is the most successful private television station of the so-called "second generation". The channel had so much success with series such as CSI and CSI: Miami that they were transferred to the more widely-watched sister channel RTL Television. CSI: NY gets a market share of up to 21% on VOX.
Audience share (March 2008): 5.4%. 14-49 year-olds: 7.4%.
Programs
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