All Around the World Productions (AATW), who broadcast 4 music video channels using the Now and Clubland brands, have changed their line-up. Following the temporary festive music service which replaced Now 90s over the Christmas and New Year period, instead of reverting to Now 90s, a new Now Rock channel was launchedin its place.
Now Rock is the second rock based music channel now available, the other being Kerrang which is part of the Channel 4 Television Corporation owned Box Plus Network. Now Rock joins existing Clubland, Now 70s, and Now 80s in the AATW portfolio.
Initial author observations suggest that Now Rock is focussing on classic rock from the 70s and 80s period, unlike Kerrang which has a much greater emphasis on newer music. This means that both channels are unlikely to be direct competitors.
Now Rock, along with its sister channels, is currently available on free-to-air satellite and cable (Virgin Media). Although free-to-air, the channels are on the Sky EPG only and not on the Freesat EPG. However, all four channels can be manually tuned in on Freesat and generic satellite receivers. AATW have now withdrawn all of their channels from terrestrial TV (Freeview), in a move likely connected to That’s TV acquiring the Greater Manchester Freeview multiplex (and launching their own decade based music channels).