GoTV (stylized as gotv) was a 24-hour music and animation television channel based in Vienna, Austria. It launched on 1 October 2002 and ceased operations on 1 June 2022.
Background
The channel originated from a local cable-only music channel called TIV ("True Image Vision"), which launched in 1996 on UPC Telekabel in Vienna. GoTV CEO Thomas Maderbacher (a member of the Austrian band The Wiener) became a majority stakeholder in ET Multimedia and helped launch GoTV on 1 October 2002. It became Austria's first youth and music channel. Upon launch, it was available to approximately 1 million viewers and reached 50% of digital cable operators in Austria.
The channel expanded into other parts of Europe when it began broadcasting unencrypted via Astra 19.2°E on 1 May 2004. It primarily targeted German-speaking territories, mainly Austria, but was also available on some digital television providers in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Closure
Beginning in February 2022, a number of cable operators in both Austria and Germany dropped the channel. Financial difficulties led to the channel's closure. On 18 May 2022, the owners confirmed that GoTV would shut down on 1 June 2022. The last music video broadcast on the channel was Daft Punk's "One More Time."
Programming Strategy
The channel featured music from established and underground local artists, as well as music from Europe and North America. It predominantly used the German language and played a broad mix of genres including pop, rock, hip hop, dance, heavy metal, and alternative. In addition to music videos, the channel offered news, events guides, competitions, and film promos.
On-Air Identity
GoTV used the same on-air identity from its launch in 2003, with some changes over time. The on-air idents were designed by Zoe Irvine, and the channel's presenter was an animated logo designed by Axel Stockburger. The idents changed depending on the emotions of the GoTV logo.
Shows
Shows before shutdown included At home, Hosted by, Homemade, Play it again, Clubnight, Hardplay, Neu auf go tv, FM4 charts, and Go tv charts. Former shows included Austrian charts, Austrian indie chart, Austrian long-play chart, Austrian singles chart, US ranking, UK ranking, Euro ranking, German ranking, Vote, Nokia music store top 10, Box, Too early, Early enough, and Made in Europe.
Technical Information
- Country: Austria
- Broadcast area: Europe
- Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
- Picture format: 576i (16:9 SDTV)
- Owner: gotv Fernseh Ges.m.b.H.
- Launched: 1 October 2002
- Closed: 1 June 2022
