Hit40UK to launch chart show on C4

Hit40UK, the commercial radio network chart, is launching a weekly television chart show on Channel 4. The radio show’s sponsor, Woolworths, will extend its deal to include the TV show until the end of 2005.

The weekly 30-minute show will launch on Channel 4’s youth strand T4 on September 4. It will be video-led and will have a voiceover by Simon Hirst, who co-presents the radio show. It will also include interviews and the chart rundown.

The network chart has been launched on TV before under its previous guise as the Pepsi Chart, which was shown on Five. The chart was relaunched as Hit40UK in January 2003 following the end of the long-running Pepsi sponsorship.

The running of the chart was also taken over by Capital Radio Group, Chrysalis Radio, GWR and Scottish Radio Holdings. EMAP Performance pulled out of the deal and launched its own chart under the Smash Hits! brand. The Smash Hits! chart also had a stint on T4 but went off air about a year ago (MW September 19, 2002).

The TV show will be produced by Somethin’ Else, the independent production company that also produces the radio show.