If the plans are given the green light, the channel will initially be launched in the US with EchoStar Communications, whose satellite dish network reaches 10.5m subscribers, according to reports in The New York Times and Reuters.
The channel would be timed to debut in the first or second quarter of 2005 and would allow Universal to draw on a massive array of artists, who also include 50 Cent, Shania Twain, Guns 'N Roses and Queens of the Stone Age.
If successful, Universal will look to expand the channel globally to compete with MTV, which has moved away from an all-music playing channel with regular series 'The Osbournes' and 'The Real World'.
The Universal Music stable includes such labels as Island Def Jam, Motown, Verve, Mercury and Decca.
Other artists signed to its label include LL Cool J, Busted, Lionel Richie, Amy Winehouse, Counting Crows, BB King, Jay-Z and Ashanti.
Universal Music was unable to make a comment about the proposed plans.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
.jpg)
.jpg)