Flaunt (TV channel)
| Flaunt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | 17 April 2003 |
| Closed | 17 March 2010 |
| Owned by | CSC Media Group |
| Picture format | 16:9, 576i (SDTV) |
| Sister channel(s) |
Bliss Chart Show TV Flava Kix! NME TV Pop Pop Girl Scuzz Tiny Pop True Entertainment True Movies True Movies 2 The Vault |
| Website |
www.loveflaunt.com (no longer active) |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Sky | Channel 376 |
| Eutelsat 28A | 11642V 27500 2/3 |
Flaunt was a British electronic dance music TV channel owned and operated by CSC Media Group (formerly Chart Show Channels).
History
Flaunt launched in April 2003. Originally owned by Sky alongside its sister channels The Amp & Scuzz. In September 2005, the channels were operated by the CSC Media Group whilst Sky still retained full ownership .
Flaunt originally started out as a Pop and Dance channel from its launch during its first incarnation. The channel had a more female oriented appeal for the first year of its existence. Its first logo was a Pink logo and had Grey and white graphics. The channel did one time used to air entertainment programming from Red Carpet Bitch with British TV Presenter Julian Bennett that focused on Celebrity gossip. The Flaunt Chart Show which used to be a weekly chart countdown on the UK Top 20 pop singles which was also broadcast on the UK TV channel Channel 5 from 2003 until 2004. Flaunt also had first time exclusive rights to air Popworld before Channel 4 aired it on their main channel which is a show made by Channel 4.
In October 2004 Flaunt had received a new logo, this time they adopted a blue theme with a circular graphics theme, it had a parrot mascot during this period where he appeared in many of its idents. The idents were produced by Mark Chandler.
In July 2006, Flaunt relaunched as an Gay oriented music channel, it focused mostly on the Gay Club culture and LGBT Icons like Kylie Minogue , Madonna , Cher , Cyndi Lauper. Flaunt also underwent a new logo and graphics to coincide with the new audience target. Its idents consisted mostly on topless men and men at the gym working out and a disco ball shadow. Flaunt also hosted a competition to find the Face of Flaunt to find the next TV presenter. However the winner only managed to host a few shows shortly before the channel was sold to the CSC Media Group in December. In December 2006, Flaunt and sister channels The Amp & Scuzz were sold to the CSC Media Group. Flaunt and its sister channels The Amp & Scuzz were encrypted in NDS from its launch until December 2006. Flaunt, Scuzz & The Amp went FTA shortly before Christmas 2006, the channels went Free to air on any satellite receiver along with being available on Sky, Freesat and broadcasting on the Eutelsat 28A communications satellite could view the channels for the first time all across parts of Europe.
However shortly after going Free to air Flaunt axed its Gay theming and opted to become more aimed at the Dance music audience rather than focusing exclusively on the niche Gay audience. The channel previously had a Dance music appeal prior before turning exclusively into an all Dance music channel before 2007 rebrand.
In March 2007, Flaunt was revamped into an Electronic music channel playing various types of dance music such as Trance music, Techno music , House music, Electronica, Ambient music and Trip hop. Flaunt did not change its presentation that much during this period however they did ditch the baby blue and pink glittery graphics and disco ball logo in favour of a purple and blue logo and swish graphics. During this period Flaunt had gained quick popularity in the Dance music scene playing a wide range of popular dance hits to dance classics and to lesser known obscure songs. Flaunt also had special events in Ibiza in their Flaunt Sessions show hosted by Singer/Songwriter Chantal Matar. Superstar DJ's Ferry Corsten , Paul van Dyk , Tiesto presented Flaunt at Creamfields. Dance Acts Infernal , September , Chicane , Freemasons were also guests at Flaunt Sessions where they presented their favourite dance songs and presented their own songs. DJ and Radio Host Pete Tong was also a guest to present several shows on the Flaunt during the WMC specials. Flaunt started to become highly respected within' the British dance music community throughout this era. The channel was mostly House and Euro music oriented by playing artists from the likes Freemasons , Axwell , Stonebridge , Solu Music , The Shapeshifters , Kate Ryan , Jessy De Smet.
In May 2008, Flaunt rebranded with a new look logo along with a new graphics set this time they adopted a retro type font with a white logo and the graphics presentation were graphic equalisers. This period Flaunt begun to experiment with more thematic shows and became more Trance oriented during the late nights by playing videos from the likes of Solarstone , iiO , The Thrillseekers , Armin van Buuren , Above & Beyond , Richard Durand , Filo & Peri , Paul Oakenfold , DT8 Project , Ferry Corsten , ATB
On Tuesday 6 May 2008, CSC Media launched a +1 timeshift channel called Flaunt +1. It was available 24 hours a day on Sky 367. However, after nearly 4 weeks on air, Flaunt +1 was replaced with Pop Girl +1 on 4 June 2008.
After almost 7 years on air Flaunt closed down on the 17th March 2010.
Former programming
- Flaunt Anthems
- Party Hard
- Get Up Flaunt It!
- Flaunt Classics
- 100% Dance
- Non Stop Party!
- Total Trance
- Nothing But...
- Weekender
- Flaunt Lounge
- Flaunt Party
Ofcom licences mix-up/Flava TV channel
The problems started on Monday 18 February 2008, when the currently named "Flava" Ofcom Licence was renamed from its original name of Flaunt to Flava. This caused a major uproar about the fact that Flaunt, a 24/7 dance channel would be closed, in favour of Flava (a 24/7 Urban/R&B music channel, similar to Kiss and B4). This, however turned out to be an error on Ofcom's part and they accidentally changed Flaunt, when they were meant to change the B4 one. But, on the following Monday, Ofcom corrected the problem by removing the B4 licence, keeping the newly renamed Flava licence and adding a new Flaunt licence.
Virgin Media removal
On 6 November 2007, Flaunt along with Bliss and Scuzz, were removed from Virgin Media's ex-NTL platform as a deal with Chart Show Channels could not be made to make the channels available to their ex-Telewest platform.