Trace Hits will cease broadcasting on Sky satellite channel 359 this Thursday. The channel, which originally went on air as Chart Show TV in 2002, has struggled to find its niche under new owners.
Trace purchased Sony Pictures Television’s UK music channel business in December 2018, as part of a global expansion of the company, which also operates music channels and radio stations in French-speaking countries.
The following year, the three channels purchased as part of the deal rebranded to carry the Trace brand. The changes saw flagship channel Chart Show TV switch from a top 40 chart channel to an urban music channel.
In November 2019, Chart Show TV became Trace Urban, Chart Show Hits turned into Trace Latina, creating UK versions of Trace channels broadcast elsewhere. Meanwhile, The Vault became Trace Vault.
But the new Trace channels failed to gain traction in the declining UK music channel business, with apps including YouTube, Spotify and Vevo replacing the role of music TV channels among younger audiences.
In 2020, the Trace service on Sky was reduced to two channels, when Trace Latina was closed. Trace Urban continued with a window of programming from Trace Latina. Then in 2021, Trace Urban was replaced by Trace Hits on Sky. This became Trace Xmas in the autumn.
The closure of Trace Hits will leave just one Sky channel remaining: Trace Vault, which features music videos from the 90s and 00s, alongside series from that era including Kenan and Kel and Power Rangers.
Alternative ways to watch Trace’s services in the UK
However, Trace has been increasing its presence on streaming platforms. In the UK, Trace offers:
- Trace Urban and Trace Brazuca on Channelbox (Freeview 271).
- Trace Urban and Trace Sports Stars on Samsung TV Plus.
But Trace’s own TV streaming platform, Traceplay, later Trace+, has disappeared …without a trace.
Marc Thornham