CMT Music
CMT Music (formerly CMT Pure Country) is an American pay television channel and a sister network to CMT. It is part of the ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks division of ViacomCBS. It showcases country music videos, using the same 8-hour programming wheel schedule as its sister networks.
 | |
| Country |  United States |
|---|---|
| Slogan | All music, all the time. |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks |
| Sister channels | CMT |
| History | |
| Launched | August 1, 1998 |
| Former names | VH1 Country (1998–2006) CMT Pure Country (2006–16) |
| Links | |
| Website | cmt |
| Availability | |
| Cable | |
| Available on most cable systems | Channel slots vary on each operator |
| Satellite | |
| Dish Network | Channel 364 |
| C-Band | AMC 18-Channel 235 (H2H 4DTV) |
| IPTV | |
| Verizon FiOS | Channel 222 |
| AT&T U-verse | Channel 527 |
History
The network was first launched as VH1 Country, a country music video-oriented spinoff of VH1. The channel launched on August 1, 1998, predating the merger of CBS Cable networks TNN and CMT into Viacom). On May 27, 2006, the channel rebranded as CMT Pure Country, as part of a realignment to use the CMT brand for all country music-related programming.
On January 4, 2016, the network's name was changed to CMT Music.[1] Outside of the addition of full-length video tags throughout videos and new imaging, no major changes came to the channel's programming. In 2015, the network discontinued specific video blocks due to that year's cutbacks throughout Viacom, including music video programmers.
Programming
Currently, the network offers an eight-hour wheel of videos, all under the EPG-only title of CMT Music with little theming of video blocks. As Pure Country, the network featured branded blocks of programming sub-divided by genres and periods of time.
- Pure Vintage featured a mix of classic and vintage country music videos that were filmed and aired prior to 2000, including older performance video clips of songs. The block aired for 30 minutes, twice a day. As of 2015, it is no longer included on the schedule.
- The Edge Bluegrass, neo-traditionalist country, and Americana music videos are featured. Originally branded as Wide Open Country
- Studio 330 Sessions Live sessions recorded at CMT's studios in Nashville (330 refers to CMT's Nashville address, 330 Commerce Street), which has since been discontinued with CMT's growing reality-specific focus. Segments from the sessions continue to air in the channel's current rotation.
- Pure 12 Pack Countdown As with all of MTV's countdown shows, a limited pool of videos was voted on by fans online and sorted by popularity without industry or recording metrics.
References
- "CMT Pure Country will rebrand as CMT Music 1/4/16". Comcast Cable forum notification. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.