CheddarU

This article is about the TV channel. For the Iranian university, see Mohajer Technical And Vocational College of Isfahan.
This article is about the on-campus channel. For the digital cable channel, see MTVU.
CheddarU
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaClosed-circuit on U.S. college campuses
HeadquartersNew York City, New York
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format16:9 480i SDTV
Ownership
OwnerViacom Media Networks
(2002–2018)
Cheddar (2018–present)
History
LaunchedFebruary 2002; 22 years ago (2002-02)
ReplacedMTVU (college cable television, 2004–2018; MTVU remains a digital cable network)
Former namesCollege Television Network (2002–2004)
MTVU (2004–2018)
Links
Websitecheddar.com/cheddaru

CheddarU was an American closed-circuit network available on 650 U.S. college campuses owned by Cheddar, as part of internally originated cable systems that are a part of on-campus housing or college closed-circuit television systems.[1] In 2018, Cheddar acquired MTV Networks on Campus, a former division of Viacom, to launch the channel. Cheddar also acquired RateMyProfessors.com, which was part of the MTVU division since 2007, in October 2018.[2][3]

History

MTV Networks' proposal for a channel targeting college students, tentatively called MTV University, became public in February 2002.[1] According to The New York Times, the channel was seeking to compete with Burly Bear Network, which was available to 450 campuses and had been attracting nearly a million viewers a week, along with College Television Network (CTN) and the most recent entrant at the time, Zilo.[1]

Seven months later, after CTN ended up in financial trouble and as National Lampoon had just acquired the defunct Burly Bear, MTV Networks acquired CTN for $15 million.[4]

In February 2008, MTV Networks discontinued VH1 Uno, a sparsely viewed Spanish language music video channel, and replaced it with MTVU, to expand the channel into traditional cable distribution.[5][6]

In May 2018, Cheddar TV acquired Viacom's MTV Networks on Campus; outlets associated with that service will be converted to carry CheddarU, a new secondary feed which will stream content from the flagship financial-news streaming service and segments from Cheddar Big News to 9 million students on more than 600 campuses; universities which previously screened MTV Networks on Campus will continue to receive CheddarU at no cost in exchange for access to the campus. MTVU continues to be available to linear TV platforms via Viacom.[7] Universities that qualify, can receive the CheddarU service for free. CheddarU is part of the ChedNet division of Cheddar, a division focusing on bringing the service to public screens such as gyms, bars, airports, hotels and other public venues.[8][9][10] CheddarU officially launched in over 650 campuses on July 26, 2018, and was rolled out to all campuses by August 1, 2018.[11] It is unclear when it shut down.

References

  1. ^ a b c Rutenberg, Jim (February 18, 2002). "Big MTV on Campus?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
  2. ^ Kramer, Staci D. (17 January 2007). "MTVN Pumps UP MTVU With Acquisition Of RateMyProfessors.com". gigaom.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  3. ^ Spangler, Todd (February 27, 2019). "Cheddar Buys 'Rate My Professors' Website From Viacom". Variety. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "MTV Acquires College Television Network". The New York Times. September 21, 2002. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
  5. ^ "mtvU Adds 2.6 Million Subscribers, Launches on Charter, Verizon FiOS, Suddenlink, AT&T and Nearly 70 Other Carriers Nationwide". MTV Networks press release. PR Newswire via CNNMoney.com. 29 January 2008. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  6. ^ "MTV2 Replacing VHUno February 2nd". Charter Communications system message. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Cheddar Acquires MTV Networks on Campus from Viacom". June 2018.
  8. ^ Fletcher, Bevin (June 1, 2018). "Cheddar Acquires MTV Networks on Campus from Viacom". CED Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  9. ^ Mullin, Benjamin (May 31, 2018). "Streaming Service Cheddar Targets College Students After Acquiring MTV Campus Distribution Network". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  10. ^ Bouma, Luke (May 31, 2018). "Viacom is selling MTV Campus Networks to Cheddar". Cord Cutters. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  11. ^ "CheddarU Launches to More Than 650 Campuses Reaching 7+ Million Students". Business Wire. Retrieved 15 October 2024.


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