Heartbreak after TV channel suddenly vanishes-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Sky has decided to cancel Chart Show Retro after just a few months (Picture: Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images)

It’s a sad day for Chart Show Retro fans as Sky has abruptly axed the music channel.

The broadcaster revived the show, which plays ‘nostalgic music’, in March but its return has been very short-lived.

Chart Show Retro is instead being replaced by That’s Dance, which puts a spotlight on dance and club tracks from over the decades.

The channel’s cancellation comes amid a turbulent period for music TV as social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok dominate.

Earlier this month, Channel 4 axed five whole channels as the broadcaster’s spending cuts continue.

Music channel Kerrang! was among those to have been given the chop after more than two decades on air.

The ‘nostalgia’ music channel is being replaced by That’s Dance (Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood)

It has been a tough time for music TV with the rise of YouTube and social media (Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management )

It showcased music videos for alternative artists including skate-punk, indie rock, metal, and rock bands.

The news devastated fans on social media, with Jake writing on X: ‘Kerrang TV is closing down thank u for raising me and changing the entire trajectory of my life.’

Account Cries Tired referenced the recent breakup of an iconic band in her social media post: ‘Kerrang tv shutting down, you me at six breaking up, 14 years old me is screaming and throwing up.’

Robin described Kerrang! TV as her ‘whole world as a teenager’ and credited it for helping her discover ‘alt music’.

Other broadcasters have also axed music channels (Picture: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)

Under Channel 4′s five-year plan to become a digital-first public service streamer by 2030, other music channels The Box, Magic, Kiss, and 4Music were also scrapped.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the broadcaster previously said:  ‘As we announced earlier this year as part of Channel 4’s digital-first Fast Forward strategy, we will be closing our Box network of channels from 1 July across all platforms – as they are no longer of sufficient scale to deliver meaningful return on investment.’

They continued to The Sun: ‘Our strategy reflects the generational shift in TV viewing and involves reducing costs – particularly in linear activities – to allow us to invest in digital priorities and stay competitive in a world of global entertainment conglomerates and social media giants.’

Channel 4 scrapped five music channels this month (Picture: Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images)

As part of its plan, Channel 4 will have ‘fewer, stronger new titles that generate more scale and impact’, increase YouTube content, and ‘reduce headcount by 18%’ which will mean around 200 redundancies and the closure of around 40 unfilled roles

The broadcaster has recently been making bold decisions to cut loose some of its non-music programming, including Rise and Fall, Question of Sport, Steph’s Packed Lunch, and The Big Celebrity Detox. 

Metro.co.uk has contacted Sky for comment.

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