Emap agreed earlier this week to provide a new 24-hour chart music TV channel called The Hits, which will mirror the format of its other music stations such as QTV, Kiss TV, Kerrang! and The Box.
It will broadcast music videos, short-form programmes, star appearances and 24-hour-a-day interactive content. Its music policy of mainstream chart-based hits will be similar to that of Emap's Big City Network, which broadcasts in the north of England.
Emap had been the only music channel signed up to the service when Freeview was officially unveiled this morning, until MTV Europe text-messaged its offer through to the BBC during a press conference.
MTV's channel, the Music Factory, is also a 24-hour music channel, which will be carefully targeted to the audiences watching the channel throughout the day.
There will be a breakfast show in the morning, followed by popular music to suit the daytime audience. The late afternoon slot will be filled with chart music for kids coming home from school. The evening schedule will be filled with music for the family, and there will be music through the night for insomniacs.
Other channels include two general entertainment channels, one of which is expected to be from BSkyB; UKTV's UK HomeStyle; and Flextech's FTN (Flextech Television Network).
Emap will also be providing three national 24-hour digital radio services, Smash Hits, Kiss and a new radio brand Kerrang!, all of which will be carried on Freeview.
The service will provide viewers with up to 30 digital television channels, including existing free-to-air channels such as BBC Choice, BBC Four, and news channels such as ITN News and BBC News 24, as well as interactive and digital radio channels.
The BBC, in conjunction with Crown Castle and BSkyB, saw off competition from around six other bidders, including ITV and Channel 4, for the 12-year licence to replace ITV Digital.
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