Box Upfront

{{short description|British free-to-air television channel}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2019}}

{{Infobox television channel

| name = Box Upfront

| logo = File:Box_Upfront_logo.png

| logo_caption = Logo used from 2016 to 2020

| logo_size = 250px

| launch_date = 3 July 2012 ({{age in years and days|2012|07|03|2024|08|16}})

| closed_date = 9 January 2020

| owner = The Box Plus Network
(Channel Four Television Corporation)

| country = United Kingdom

| sister_channels = {{hlist|4Music|The Box|Kerrang!|Kiss|Magic}}

| replaced = Q

| former_names = Heat (2012–2016)

}}

File:Heat (TV channel) logo.png

Box Upfront was a British music video television channel owned by The Box Plus Network. It launched on 3 July 2012 as Heat and was originally based on the magazine of the same name. The channel replaced Q.{{cite web|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/television/article/1133462/bauer-axes-q-tv-nearly-12-years-heat-tv/|title=Bauer axes Q TV after nearly 12 years to make way for Heat TV|publisher=Brand Republic|date=23 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729202241/http://www.brandrepublic.com/television/article/1133462/bauer-axes-q-tv-nearly-12-years-heat-tv/|archive-date=29 July 2012}}

The channel featured daily celebrity gossip show Heat's Huge News, as well as a 60-minute programme rounding up weeks stories, titled Heat's Huge Week of News, which was produced by ITN.{{cite web|url=http://corporate.itn.co.uk/press.php?parent_id=13&content_id=1354|title=ITN PRODUCTIONS WINS CELEBRITY NEWS DEAL FOR HEAT TV|publisher=ITN|date=28 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910061803/http://corporate.itn.co.uk/press.php?parent_id=13&content_id=1354|archive-date=10 September 2012}} In addition, ITN Productions co-produced celebrity documentary series Real Stories with Box Television. Heat also featured The Heat-Ometer, its pick of the 20 biggest music videos narrated by Heat editor, Lucie Cave.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/may/23/heat-tv-launch-3-july|title=Heat TV to launch on 3 July|work=The Guardian|date=23 May 2012}}

Box Upfront broadcast current and future mainstream pop music videos 24/7.

On 2 April 2013, all Box Television channels went free-to-air on satellite, apart from 4Music which went free-to-view.{{cite web|url=http://www.a516digital.com/2013/04/bauers-box-channels-appear-free-to-air.html|title=Bauer's Box channels appear free-to-air on satellite|publisher=a516digital|date=2 April 2013}} As a result, the channels were removed from the Sky EPG in Ireland.{{cite web|title=YouTube video showing the channels removed from the Sky EPG in Ireland|website=YouTube |date=2013-04-03|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaB9otgbEEE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/uaB9otgbEEE |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|access-date=2020-03-29}}{{cbignore}} However, Heat launched on Freesat on 29 April 2013, alongside Magic, following the addition of four other Box Television channels on 15 April.{{cite web|url=http://www.a516digital.com/2013/04/magic-and-heat-tv-stations-added-to.html|title=Magic and Heat TV stations added to Freesat|publisher=a516digital|date=29 April 2013}}

On 25 May 2016, the channel was rebranded as Box Upfront.{{cite web |url=http://www.boxplus.com/latest-news/the-box-plus-network-announces-the-biggest-refresh-in-its-24-year-history/ |title=The Box Plus Network announces the biggest refresh in its 24-year history |publisher=The Box Plus Network |date=19 May 2016 |access-date=26 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701182827/http://www.boxplus.com/latest-news/the-box-plus-network-announces-the-biggest-refresh-in-its-24-year-history/ |archive-date=1 July 2016 |url-status=dead }}

On 1 November 2019, the channel temporarily rebranded as a Christmas music channel called BoXmas, a role also occupied by sister channel Magic (albeit not temporarily rebranded). As the impending shutdown was announced during the rebrand, the channel kept the BoXmas branding, but shifted to a playlist similar to Box Hits on 26 December. Box Upfront ceased to broadcast on 9 January 2020, signing off with a block of departure-themed songs; "Goodbyes" by Post Malone featuring Young Thug, "Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC, and "Goodbye" by Spice Girls were the last videos played before it ended operations. The channel space then transitioned to a slide stating that BoXmas was "taking a break" and would be back for the next holiday season (though obviously on a different channel), and redirecting viewers to its sister channels.[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oRziiwY1Hhw The End of Box Upfront (9 January 2020)- YouTube] In October 2020, The Box temporarily rebranded as BoXmas, thus making that channel the new home of BoXmas.