It didn�t take long for the new mega merger between AOL and Time Warner to make its presence known in the entertainment industry. The new media titian now plans to take on Viacom�s stranglehold on cable music by launching their own music channel to compete against MTV, VH1 and MTV2 (which are all owned by Viacom) according to a story last week by MSNBC. In their report, unnamed inside sources spilled the beans on plans of a new music channel offering from AOL/Time Warner that will likely hit the airwaves at the end of this year or early 2002. 

Although, AOL/TW would not officially go on record with MSNBC, their unnamed sources provided the following details on the planed music channel. 
  The name of the station is likely to be AOL Music 
It�s official announcement will likely come in the form of a Super Bowl commercial. 
WB founder and Chairman Jamie Kellner will most likely be the head of the new network. 

 

What is not known at this time is whether the new music channel will be a 24 hour station or whether it will share it�s time with another AOL/TW channel like TNT.  �AOL Music� won�t have to look far for subscribers or content. Since the parent company also serves 12.7 million customers through Time Warner Cable, they have a good start at market share. They will also have the pick of the litter for exclusive music content since AOL/TW also owns Warner Music, which has an impressive roster of talent through their various music labels - Atlantic, Elektra, London-Sire Records Inc., Rhino, Warner Bros. Records and Warner Music International. You can expect some convergence of content offerings through AOL when the station launches, like tour dates, artist information etc. 

What remains unclear is whether the new station will be like classic MTV, which offered music videos full time or if their aim is to offer original programming like the current MTV and VH1 channels. If the latter is the case, then will this really be a �music� channel?  We will have to wait and see. But one thing is sure, MTV will get some much-needed competition and that can only benefit the fans. 

Read the MSNBC report